Medvedev Downplays Indian Wells Win Over Alcaraz, Says Young Guns Still Ahead

Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP)
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP)
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Medvedev Downplays Indian Wells Win Over Alcaraz, Says Young Guns Still Ahead

Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP)
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP)

Daniil Medvedev said ‌his Indian Wells semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday would prove nothing more than a temporary setback for the Spaniard, and that he and Jannik Sinner were playing at a totally different level from the rest of the tour.

Medvedev beat the world number one 6-3 7-6(3) to end his 16-match winning start to the year and ruin the seven-times Grand Slam champion's bid for a third Indian Wells title.

After being overshadowed for so long by the "Big Three" of Roger Federer, ‌Rafa Nadal and ‌Novak Djokovic, the 30-year-old Medvedev and his ‌peers ⁠have found it ⁠just as tough against the dominant duo of Alcaraz and Sinner, who have won 10 of the last 11 Grand Slams.

Asked if Saturday's win showed the young guns were not completely out of reach, Medvedev said he was too old to be thinking about catching them.

"I don't care too much about ⁠these things, because I'm already, first of ‌all, a bit too old. I'm ‌not Next Gen anymore," Medvedev, who will play Sinner in the ‌final, told reporters.

"I had a tough year last year, so ‌even more perspective now that I need to do my best, that's it. Jannik and Carlos are far better than all of us. Only one match we can beat them ... they are so ‌good. They are so much better than us.

"Djokovic, Federer, Nadal were so much better than ⁠us. But ⁠Djokovic, Nadal, and Jannik and Carlos are probably also better than all the ones that were there before. They would struggle against them. It is what it is."

Medvedev said that while the 22-year-old Alcaraz would probably be the favorite every time they meet, he had to go into their matches thinking he can win.

"Maybe I play 10 matches against Carlos, probably I'm going to lose more than I'm going to win," he added.

"But whenever I go on court, I need to believe in myself, I need to do my best, and try to win as much as I can."



Barcola Returns to PSG Squad Ahead of Champions League Clash with Liverpool

Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Barcola Returns to PSG Squad Ahead of Champions League Clash with Liverpool

Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Paris St Germain forward Bradley Barcola has been named in the squad for their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Liverpool, the Ligue 1 club ⁠said on Monday.

The France international had been sidelined for a month after suffering a ⁠severe ankle ligament sprain during the Champions League last-16 second leg at Chelsea.

Barcola missed PSG's last three matches across all competitions, as well as France's ⁠friendlies ⁠in the US against Brazil and Colombia.

PSG, the European Cup holders, take a 2-0 lead over Liverpool into Tuesday's game.


Rashford with Point to Prove as Barca Target Atletico Comeback

 Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)
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Rashford with Point to Prove as Barca Target Atletico Comeback

 Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)

Marcus Rashford had his chance against Atletico Madrid, but failed to take it -- or any of the next five that came along on a frustrating European night.

On Tuesday the England international has another opportunity to try and inspire Barcelona to a Champions League comeback in the Spanish capital.

Rashford fired blanks as Barca suffered a 2-0 quarter-final first leg defeat, but the England international was also his team's brightest spark against the Rojiblancos, even though the killer finish eluded him.

The 28-year-old, on loan from Manchester United, has a point to prove in the second leg, particularly with his future at the club on the line -- as well as a potential World Cup spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

Barcelona have not yet made a decision on whether to trigger the 30 million euro ($35 million) clause in Rashford's loan deal to make his switch to Camp Nou permanent.

With Raphinha out injured, Rashford has been the natural choice on Barca's left flank.

Rashford burst beyond Atletico full-back Nahuel Molina on numerous occasions at Camp Nou but could not capitalize.

"This team is always going to create chances, there's so much quality in possession... today the goal didn't go in, but we can't shy away from the responsibility to take these chances," Rashford told CBS.

"On another day, on another night, they go in."

On Saturday, Flick began with Rashford on the bench for Barcelona's 4-1 thrashing of Espanyol in La Liga, likely to save the forward's energy for the visit to Atletico's Metropolitano stadium.

Rashford came on after 65 minutes and netted the fourth in the last minute with a cushioned volley, which Flick hopes will raise his confidence levels.

"I'm happy Marcus scored a goal today, it was very important for us," said Flick.

Rashford also scored against Atletico at the Metropolitano on April 4 in La Liga, with the second leg the third in a trilogy of clashes between the sides in under a fortnight.

The Englishman has six goals in 26 La Liga appearances, with his finishing an area that could be improved.

In the Champions League, Rashford has netted five times in 10 games and, if the pattern of the first leg is repeated, could be Barca's main attacking threat again.

Talented teenager Lamine Yamal was double and triple marked, in the first leg, creating more room for Rashford to fly into.

- 'Unbelievable' mindset -

Rashford believes Barca can mount a comeback to reach the semi-finals for a second season running.

"The mindset and the intent that we had to try to get back into the game is unbelievable, and we're going to have to use this, and we need all of this in the next game in order to come back," said Rashford.

"We know what we are capable of when we're playing at our highest level and we can take the game away from anybody. We have to look to do this in the next game."

Barca left the first leg furious at not being given a penalty when Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched the ball with his hand at a goal kick.

"It's a penalty, it's happened before and it's always given as a penalty," Rashford added. "It's common sense that it's a penalty."

One area of the game where Rashford has not always satisfied Flick this season has been in his work-rate off the ball, not close to Raphinha's intense pressing, which is a key to how the coach likes to play.

"(Pressing) is also a part of our game which is very important, not just with the ball (where) everyone knows he's fantastic," said Flick on the eve of the first leg.

"We need him... to help his team-mate on the flank."

In response, Rashford produced one of his best displays in that regard, and also tracked back well against Espanyol, showing he is heeding his coach's instructions.

The forward's 30-million-euro fee would be straightforward for some clubs given Rashford's numbers this season.

The attacker has 12 goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances, many as a substitute, but at cash-strapped Barca any such deal would represent a significant chunk of the summer budget.

Signing Rashford might mean not being able to move for a much-needed defensive reinforcement.

Rashford's job against Atletico is to make the question a no-brainer, even on Barca's budget.


Ghanaian Soccer Player Dominic Frimpong Killed in Attack on Berekum Chelsea Team Bus

FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
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Ghanaian Soccer Player Dominic Frimpong Killed in Attack on Berekum Chelsea Team Bus

FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo

Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong has been killed in an armed robbery on his side’s team bus as they returned from a Ghana Premier League fixture at Samartex on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said.

The robbers fired at ⁠the bus as ⁠it tried to reverse, striking Frimpong, 20, in the head. He later died in hospital and is the ⁠only reported casualty from the incident.

"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the passing of Dominic Frimpong of Berekum Chelsea Football Club," it said.

"The incident ⁠has ⁠sent shockwaves across the entire football fraternity. The GFA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his teammates, technical staff, management, and all at Berekum Chelsea during this extremely difficult time."