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Djokovic Overcomes Norrie to Make US Open Last 16

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts against Cameron Norrie, of Great Britain, following a third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts against Cameron Norrie, of Great Britain, following a third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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Djokovic Overcomes Norrie to Make US Open Last 16

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts against Cameron Norrie, of Great Britain, following a third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts against Cameron Norrie, of Great Britain, following a third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Novak Djokovic beat Britain's Cameron Norrie in four sets on Friday to became the oldest man to reach the US Open last 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991.

The 38-year-old Djokovic earned a record 192nd Grand Slam match win on hard courts as he defeated Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3, staying in the hunt for an unprecedented 25th major title.

"Coming into any match you really want to win in straight sets without any drama but obviously that's not possible," said Djokovic.

"It's good that I get tested. I obviously haven't had any matches since Wimbledon.

"I'm still trying to find my rhythm and my groove on the court."

Djokovic has now defeated Norrie in all seven of their meetings and is through to the fourth round in New York for the 16th time in his career.

On Sunday he will play German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff, who has already knocked out two seeds in Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe, AFP reported.

A lone break of Norrie's serve in the seventh game was enough for Djokovic to pocket the opening set, but not before he summoned the physio to work on his lower back.

The Serbian star headed off court for a medical timeout and returned to serve out the first set.

"It's all right, you have some ups and downs. You don't want to reveal too much to the rivals listening," said a grinning Djokovic, refusing to elaborate on the nature of his back issue.

He had the chance to make further inroads in the second set but Norrie saved three break points and then pinched the tie-break from his smoldering rival who double-faulted on set point.

Norrie took that momentum into the third set with an early break, drawing an emphatic response from Djokovic as he responded by winning four straight games.

Djokovic soon made the set his and another break to start the fourth set gave him the cushion required to close out a milestone victory.

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Sports

Pino, Williams Injuries Mar Spain's World Cup Progress

Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP
Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP
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Pino, Williams Injuries Mar Spain's World Cup Progress

Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP
Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP

Spain's progress to the last 32 of the World Cup came at a cost as Yeremy Pino's tournament appears over, while Nico Williams suffered another muscle injury in Friday's 1-0 win over Uruguay.

Crystal Palace's Pino was forced to play out the final few minutes struggling with a shoulder injury after Luis de la Fuente had used his three windows to make substitutions, said AFP.

Williams was only introduced 15 minutes from time after being nursed back into action after an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao.

But he ended the game with an issue that could be a bodyblow to La Roja's hopes of World Cup glory.

The latest injuries leave De la Fuente desperately short of options in wide areas.

Lamine Yamal is yet to play 90 minutes in over two months on his return from a hamstring injury and Liverpool's new signing Victor Munoz has not featured at the World Cup after a setback in his return from a muscle problem.

"Nico was experiencing some slight discomfort. It could be a strain or just fatigue, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure," said De la Fuente.

"However, and I am really sad about this, what really concerns me is Yeremy's injury. It looks bad and there is a very strong possibility he will miss the rest of the tournament."

Spain were far from their fluid best in Guadalajara as Alex Baena's goal, thanks to a goalkeeping error from Fernando Muslera, secured top spot in Group H.

The European champions will next face Austria or Algeria in Los Angeles.

De la Fuente conceded his side must improve once the knockout stages get underway, but praised Spain's discipline as Uruguay lost their heads in bowing out of the tournament.

Some lenient refereeing from American official Ismail Elfath had allowed the South Americans physical approach to thrive until Agustin Canobbio was shown a red card in stoppage time for a wild lunge on Pau Cubarsi.

"I am proud of my players in a match that pushed us to the limit in every sense of the word, physically very demanding and rough, that we stood up to be counted," added De la Fuente.

"We know we can find ourselves in games like this and the most important thing is that we rose to the occasion, even if the performance wasn't particularly dazzling.

"In football, you can't always play with the brilliance you wish for, or that we are capable of showing at other times.

"We maintained an incredibly high level of concentration, responsibility, and composure, and we avoided rising to the many provocations that could have led to serious trouble."

Sports

Saudi Arabia’s Failure to Create Chances Sealed Fate, Coach Says

Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s Failure to Create Chances Sealed Fate, Coach Says

Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)

Saudi ‌Arabia's inability to hold the ball and create attacking chances doomed the team in a goalless draw with Cape Verde at Houston Stadium on Friday in their final World Cup Group H match, coach Georgios Donis said.

"We were very poor ‌in creating ‌actions. One cannot win ‌a ⁠game this way," ⁠he said.

He added that Saudi Arabia had problems putting pressure on Cape Verde's backline aside from a short period of time in the ⁠second half.

"Our line of ‌attack was ‌not doing well. Our greatest problem ‌today was creation and this ‌was self-evident."

Donis praised his players, saying the World Cup journey was a good experience, but ‌he would need to reassess the performance down the ⁠road.

"It ⁠was not what we wanted because when playing in such a match against a team more or less the same level of us our level was not good. This gives cause for concern," he said.

"The journey was good and I would like to thank the players."

Sports

Uruguay Crash Out of World Cup as Spain Avoid Argentina Clash

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (23) is beaten by a shot from Spain's Alex Baena (15) for the opining goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (23) is beaten by a shot from Spain's Alex Baena (15) for the opining goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
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Uruguay Crash Out of World Cup as Spain Avoid Argentina Clash

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (23) is beaten by a shot from Spain's Alex Baena (15) for the opining goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (23) is beaten by a shot from Spain's Alex Baena (15) for the opining goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP)

Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win in Guadalajara to secure top spot in Group H.

Alex Baena's weak shot slipped through Muslera's grasp for the only goal as Spain avoided a last-32 showdown against Argentina.

The European champions will instead face Austria or Algeria next in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Uruguay's defeat allowed debutants Cape Verde to secure second place and a meeting with Lionel Messi and the defending champions thanks to a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.

Two-time winners Uruguay become the highest ranked side to crash out in the group stages as the defeat rounded off a miserable tournament for Marcelo Bielsa and his squad.

After draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, reports of a revolt in the Uruguay camp emerged with leading players, including Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, clashing with Bielsa over his tactics.

Bielsa controversially substituted Valverde on the hour mark and said the decision to replace Muslera at half-time had been taken by the player himself.

"Journalists and fans of Uruguayan football legitimately want to pin the blame on me. I'm the person responsible and I have to accept it," said Bielsa.

Spain's King Felipe was among those in attendance but the only clash between two former winners of the World Cup in the group stages was a huge disappointment.

Lamine Yamal's to the starting line-up had sparked the Spanish attack into life in a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia after La Roja began in underwhelming fashion with a goalless draw against Cape Verde.

But another labored attacking performance leaves Luis de la Fuente with plenty to ponder before the knockout stages begin on Sunday.

- Spain's injury concerns -

To add to Spain's concerns a shoulder injury suffered by Yeremy Pino may have ended his tournament, while Nico Williams also ended a bruising encounter with a muscle problem.

"In football, you can't always play with the brilliance you wish for, or that we are capable of showing at other times," said De la Fuente.

"We maintained an incredibly high level of concentration, responsibility, and composure, and we avoided rising to the many provocations that could have led to serious trouble."

A hero of Uruguay's run to the semi-finals in 2010, Muslera was at fault for both Cape Verde's goals in a 2-2 draw.

And in Guadalajara, Spain had barely threatened the Uruguay goal before the 40-year-old allowed Baena's shot to dribble over the line from Marcos Llorente's cross on 42 minutes.

Muslera was replaced at half-time by Sergio Rochet and the Uruguay boss made an even bolder call when Valverde was taken off on the hour mark.

Yamal was replaced 15 minutes from time as his minutes continue to be managed after a hamstring injury ended his club season prematurely.

His replacement Ferran Torres should have doubled the lead five minutes from time but hit the bar with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Uruguay's miserable tournament was summed up when Agustin Canobbio was shown a straight red card in stoppage time for a wild lunge on Pau Cubarsi.

Hyped as one of the pre-tournament favorites, Spain are now 34 competitive games unbeaten and are yet to concede a goal at the World Cup.

But in stark contrast to some of the scintillating attacking play on show from the likes of France, Argentina and the Netherlands, La Roja are yet to convince in their quest for a second World Cup triumph.