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Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam title on Monday (May 27) against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz at Roland Garros, while Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will also open their campaigns. Djokovic is looking for a second French Open title. (File photo: AFP/CHRISTOPHE SIMON) Here, AFP Sport looked at three matches to watch on the second day of the French Open: NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB x1) v HUBERT HURKACZ (POL) First meeting World number one Djokovic can become only the second man in history to hold all four Grand Slams simultaneously twice if he triumphs in Paris. The 32-year-old has completely turned his fortunes around since dropping out of the world's top 20 last year following a shock quarter-final loss to Marco Cecchinato. Victory at Wimbledon was his first at a major since 2016, and he has since added two more to move to 15 in total -- behind only Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time list. But Djokovic may not have things all his own way … [Read more...] about Djokovic faces tricky Roland Garros opener

Juventus on Sunday (May 26) poured cold water over rumours in Italy that they were planning a dramatic pounce for Pep Guardiola, saying that they had never even spoken to the Manchester City boss. Italian media claimed Pep Guardiola was a realistic candidate to replace outgoing coach Massimiliano Allegri. (AFP/Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS) "It's a strange world, we've not had any contact with Guardiola and nor have we ever thought about it given that he's under contract," Juve's sporting director Fabio Paratici said to DAZN ahead of their final day clash at Sampdoria. Juve sealed their eighth straight Serie A title weeks ago and are on the hunt for a new boss after removing Massimiliano Allegri earlier this month, following a Champions League quarter-final exit to Ajax in April. Allegri had won the league five times in as many years but the club are without a Champions League title in over two decades despite signing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer. Paratici added that Juve would wait … [Read more...] about Juventus deny rumours of Guardiola swoop

German fifth seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber was knocked out of Roland Garros in the first round on Sunday (May 26) by Russian world number 81 Anastasia Potapova. Shock victory: Anastasia Potapova on her way to victory over Angelique Kerber. (Photo: AFP/Anne-Christine Poujoulat) Kerber, bidding to complete a career Grand Slam, slumped to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat to the 18-year-old who was making her Paris debut. Kerber had come into Roland Garros carrying a right ankle injury which forced her to pull out of the Italian Open and retire from her second round tie in Madrid. "I had a lot of confidence and I have to thank my coach for that," said Potapova who hit 28 winners past her German opponent who has now lost six times in the French Open first round. The Russian's first win over a top 10 player gives her a second round clash against either China's Wang Yafan or Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic. AFP … [Read more...] about Russian teen Potapova ends Kerber Grand Slam bid

Neymar arrived at Brazil's national team headquarters near Rio de Janeiro on Saturday (May 25) as the country begins its preparations for next month's Copa America tournament. Neymar, suspended for the end of the French league season, will join Brazil's Copa America squad earlier than expected. (Photo: AFP/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) The Paris Saint-Germain forward touched down in a helicopter at the training complex in Teresopolis, three days ahead of schedule. "There's a lot of pressure but when our team gets on the same page, with the help of the supporters, we're unstoppable," Neymar said in a video posted by the Brazilian FA on social media. "I've already played two competitions here. I've known the bad side but also the good side," he said. Neymar, 27, missed the humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat by Germany in 2014 due to injury after fracturing his back in the previous round. A year earlier he was named player of the tournament at the Confederations Cup as Brazil … [Read more...] about Neymar to arrive early in Brazil for Copa America

Bayern Munich's goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer will play in this weekend's German Cup final against RB Leipzig, coach Niko Kovac revealed on Friday (May 24). Niko Kovac (L) revealed on Friday that captain Manuel Neuer (R) will be fit for Saturday's German Cup final. (Photo: AFP/John MacDougall) Neuer, 33, has been out injured since mid-April after sustaining a calf injury in a Bundesliga game against Fortuna Duesseldorf. The Bayern number one had hoped to return to the first team two weeks ago, but was still out of action when Bayern wrapped up the league title in Munich last weekend. Kovac, though, said on Friday that his captain would be back on the pitch at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Saturday evening. "Manuel will play tomorrow, because he is our captain and has played well this season," said the Bayern coach. Neuer said that the cup final in Berlin was always "something special". "The coach knows that I have missed the last few weeks, but we have played some … [Read more...] about Neuer to make cup final return for Bayern

Roger Federer on Friday (May 24) hailed the "wonderful" addition of the Laver Cup, one of three men's tennis team events, to the official ATP calendar. Federer helped create the Laver Cup - named after Australian great Rod Laver. (Photo: AFP/Matthew Stockman) The tournament, inspired by golf's Ryder Cup, pits teams from Europe and the "rest of the world" against each other and was first held in 2017. It will be in competition with the revamped Davis Cup and the ATP World Team Cup. "As I come closer to the end of my playing career, it's wonderful to know that the Laver Cup will be part of the tour that I've dedicated more than 20 years of my life to," said the 37-year-old Federer in a statement after the announcement that the Laver Cup would be added to the ATP Tour. This year's edition will be held in Geneva from Sep 20 to Sep 22, with Bjorn Borg's Team Europe the defending champions after defeating the John McEnroe-led Team World in 2018 in Chicago. World number one Novak … [Read more...] about Federer hails “wonderful” Laver Cup addition to ATP Tour

Arsenal and Chelsea have returned over half of their combined allocation of 12,000 tickets for next week's Europa League final due to the difficulty and great expense for fans travelling to Azerbaijan. Fans face a 5,000 mile round trip to see Arsenal and Chelsea face off in the Europa League final in Baku. (Photo: AFP/Ian Kington) A lack of direct flights between London and Baku means supporters face costs of over £1,000 (US$1,300) just to make the 5,000-mile round trip before tickets and accommodation are taken into account. Arsenal had initially complained over their small allocation, but confirmed to AFP that they have returned 2,200 tickets for the Gunners' first European final in 13 years. AFP understands that Chelsea have sold just 2,000 of their 6,000 allocation. UEFA denied reports that sponsors had also returned tickets and said they were confident that local fans will snap up the spare tickets to ensure there is a capacity crowd at the 68,000 Olympic Stadium. … [Read more...] about Arsenal, Chelsea return unsold Europa League final tickets

Lewis Hamilton topped the times for Mercedes ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen in Thursday (May 23) morning's opening free practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton on top in Monaco first practice. (Photo: AFP/Boris HORVAT) In a sombre atmosphere following the death of three-time champion Niki Lauda, the championship leader and defending five-time champion clocked a fastest lap of the famous Mediterranean street circuit in one minute and 12.106 seconds to outpace the Dutchman by 0.059 seconds. Hamilton's Silver Arrows team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third, only 0.072 seconds adrift of the Englishman, ahead of Monegasque Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and his team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly in the second Red Bull. The two Ferraris were three-tenths and seven-tenths slower than Hamilton respectively. It was the first time a Mercedes car had led a Monaco session since 2017, boosting their hopes of extending their dominant season-opening streak of an … [Read more...] about Hamilton edges Verstappen in opening Monaco practice

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday (May 22) announced 10 fresh candidates for its executive board, a list that omits athletics supremo Sebastian Coe and FIFA head Gianni Infantino. IAAF President Sebastian Coe and FIFA president GianniInfantino (right) are not on the list of potential new recruits to IOC Executive Board members. (AFP/FABRICE COFFRINI) The IOC Elections Committee's nominees to become new members of the IOC's governing body in June include Spyros Capralos, President of the Greek Olympic Committee. In 2012, he received a warning for his involvement in ticketing at the London 2012 Games. "It was seven years ago," IOC President Thomas Bach told reporters. The commission, chaired by Princess Anne, ruled that Capralos had served his sentence and that a warning should not mean permanent exclusion. "IOC Members are representatives of the IOC in their respective countries, where they promote Olympism and its values," Bach said in a statement. "These 10 … [Read more...] about IOC eyes 10 new board members but omits Coe and Infantino

A top EU court on Wednesday (May 22) cancelled a European Commission decision from 2016 that forced Spain to recover 18.4 million euros from Real Madrid because it considered a real estate refund as illegal state aid. In a decision handed down in July 2016, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Real madrid and the Madrid City Hall had agreed an illegal transaction involving the sale of municipal land. (Photo: AFP/Franck FIFE) "The Commission could not classify the disputed measure as state aid", as it did not "sufficiently demonstrate that it conferred an advantage to the plaintiff," said the ruling of the General Court of the European Union. In a decision handed down in July 2016, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the club and the Madrid City Hall had agreed an illegal transaction involving the sale of municipal land. In the deal, the club had paid 595,000 euros in 1998 for the land, but the operation had not come to fruition for technical … [Read more...] about EU court cancels 18.4 million euro Real Madrid state aid refund