Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

14:50-30 August 2026 AD ـ 17 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated teenage star Lamine Yamal is finding his way back to his "top level" ahead of Monday's LaLiga clash against Rayo Vallecano.

The 19-year-old struggled in Barca's first match of the season at Elche but improved against Athletic Bilbao in the second, albeit without finding the net.

Flick said the Spanish World Cup winner is returning to his best, which Yamal has not hit since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

The winger returned at the World Cup but, despite Spain's success, had limited individual impact at the tournament.

"I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how is he doing. And of course, look at his situation, he played a World Cup after a huge injury," Flick told reporters Sunday.

"Now he's coming back after three weeks' holiday... and also the first game maybe was not his best game.

"But I said this, I was very happy that he starts the game and he worked for the team."

Yamal disappointed in the first half against Athletic on Thursday, but stepped up a gear after the break.

"He played 90 minutes against Bilbao. And for him at the moment, it's also good to (have) 90 minutes on the pitch," continued Flick.

"We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn't see this in the training (session) today, but I saw it and it was excellent.

"Everyone loves Lamine and he's in a good way. And we have to support him and we do that."

Yamal seemed in a bad mood after the game against Elche, but happier in training ahead of the Rayo clash.

"Of course, it's always good when the players are smiling, but it's not every day the same day," added Flick.

"I'm also not smiling every day -- it's like that."

Barca won both of their opening fixtures with Raphinha playing as a makeshift number nine, with the champions unable to land top target Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

"Of course I'm happy with my team, (sporting director) Deco is working on that to strengthen the team. We don't have pressure," said Flick, reiterating he is content with the players available to him if Barca don't sign a new striker.

Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)

08:59-30 August 2026 AD ـ 17 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)

Tottenham Hotspur's initially improved ‌performance against Newcastle United gave way once again to familiar failings in Saturday's limp 2-0 loss, leaving coach Roberto De Zerbi's attempt to establish a connection with their fans in tatters.

After a dreadful display at Brentford last weekend, in which the scoreline of 3-0 arguably flattered the visitors, Spurs looked sharper for much of the first hour against Newcastle before any optimism was dashed by two cheap goals.

Spurs showed glimpses of the crisp attacking play De Zerbi was hired to bring. Then the fragility that led to the Italian becoming their third ‌coach of ‌last season came to the fore as they ‌unraveled ⁠in the second ⁠half.

De Zerbi wrote in his program notes that he wanted the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to become "a fortress". Instead, there were thousands of empty seats by the end of Spurs' 21st defeat in their last 39 home league games.

A summer splurge of more than £300 million ($406 million) was an attempt to overhaul a squad which had finished 17th in consecutive ⁠seasons. But, as De Zerbi frankly admitted, "you can't buy ‌mentality in the transfer market".

DE ZERBI ‌INSISTS SPURS IMPROVING

"I'm sorry for the fans, for the environment, because after two ‌defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same history, the same ‌as the last two seasons," De Zerbi told reporters.

"I have no doubt it's not like this. I can't change my opinion for two defeats. I have big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Though even as ‌De Zerbi talked up the "great project" of rebuilding Spurs, he hinted at a future without him, saying ⁠the squad ⁠would show its quality "with me or with another coach".

Newcastle, meanwhile, are almost a mirror image of Spurs, with an unbeaten start dispelling doubts which had grown over the summer after key players Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes left the club, as did coach Eddie Howe.

Wissa, who suffered from injuries after he joined last summer, has already matched his haul of league goals last season and said Newcastle's remaining players "have to step up" after a summer of significant departures.

Newcastle's new recruits have started well, with midfielder Nico Gonzalez particularly impressive on his debut, though Wissa reserved special praise for new coach Matthias Jaissle: "I think he's the best signing of Newcastle so far."

Sports

Djokovic Says Early Exit in Cincinnati Helped Him Prepare for US Open

Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during Fan Week as part of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

08:51-30 August 2026 AD ـ 17 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Djokovic Says Early Exit in Cincinnati Helped Him Prepare for US Open

Novak Djokovic said he ‌is never satisfied with early losses but that his second-round exit at the Cincinnati Open gave him extra time to prepare for the US Open, where he will chase a record 25th Grand Slam singles crown.

The world number five fell to Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante in Cincinnati after struggling in the heat and requiring a medical timeout.

"I don't like early ‌losses anywhere, to ‌be honest, but it gave ‌me ⁠time to be ⁠preparing for the US Open in a most adequate way," the 39-year-old Serbian told reporters in Flushing Meadows on Saturday.

He said he had a couple weeks to train and get his body and mind "into the right state" heading ⁠into New York.

"If you ask me ‌if I'm prepared, ‌I feel like I am, as best as I ‌can be, but it's different training and ‌then getting out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing best-of-five (sets)," Djokovic said.

"The opening matches are always for me, particularly in the last few years, ‌quite challenging," he added. "So hopefully I can overcome the first hurdle and ⁠build from ⁠there."

Djokovic also said he was proud to be appearing at his 20th US Open, which he has won four times.

"Obviously longevity was always one of the goals when I was younger, trying to have long career, trying to have more shots at Grand Slams, and stay healthy long enough so that I can perform for as many years as possible," he said.

Sports

Emotional Federer Full of Love and Gratitude at Hall of Fame Induction

Inductee Roger Federer poses for a photo with his golden racquet following the International Tennis Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Ceremony on August 29, 2026 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Getty Images/AFP)

08:02-30 August 2026 AD ـ 17 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Emotional Federer Full of Love and Gratitude at Hall of Fame Induction

An emotional Roger Federer said he was still writing his ‌love letter to the sport that "meant the world" to him on Saturday as the 20-time Grand Slam champion was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Federer, who was inducted alongside broadcaster and journalist Mary Carillo, reflected on his storied career in a speech that brought him to tears a few times.

"This is one of the greatest honors of my life," said Federer. "They call this the Hall of Fame, but fame was never the goal.

"My goal was to spend my life doing something I love ... with people who love it as much as I do."

The Swiss captured a men's-record eight Wimbledon titles and spent 310 weeks as the world number one. He also won six Australian Open crowns, five US Open titles and one French Open ‌title.

And he did ‌it all while playing with elegance, a signature headband – apparently wearing ‌more ⁠than 5,000 of ⁠them during his career, he quipped in his address – and almost always two pairs of socks.

"Tennis meant the world to me. Not just playing, not just winning, but creating something new," said Federer, who retired in 2022 with 103 ATP Tour titles.

"It's a mentality I have. I used to play serve and volley, I had a transition game, I played way beyond the baseline sometimes, or on top of the baseline. And I would even try to sneak up on my opponents on ⁠my return, and some call it the SABR (Sneak Attack by Roger) ‌today.

"This is what was important to me on the court, ‌but so much of what was really important happened off the court."

The 45-year-old got emotional while thanking ‌his coaches, doctors and family, including wife Mirka, who praised Federer for his character off ‌the court as husband, father and friend.

As his name entered the Hall of Fame, Federer said he was proud that Switzerland was coming with him, recalling how he loved watching tennis as a 13-year-old ball boy in Basel.

"I'm still writing my love letter to tennis, and my time as a player is done, ‌but tennis will always stand at the intersection of everything I care most about," he said.

"My family, our friendships, the past 40 ⁠years, the future we're ⁠building – tennis, for me, is responsible for it all. So this is not a goodbye."

The Swiss said he was "incredibly lucky" to have played with different generations of tennis players, from Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt to Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

But he added that his induction was not only an opportunity to look back on his career, but also ahead to the future of the game.

"We all leave the court eventually, but the sport keeps evolving," said Federer. "And as the pace of professional tennis speeds up, as the sport becomes even more global, I so hope it will keep some of that amateur spirit. Keep the camaraderie among the players.

"I hope the players will stay young at heart and stay true to their authentic selves, and always remember, never stop asking questions or taking risks.

"Do things with the game, we've never seen before. Keep pushing this sport we love to the next level and keep getting better, better, and better."

Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

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