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Tag: Felix

  • le président de l’Atlético est heureux pour João Félix

    le président de l’Atlético est heureux pour João Félix

    La suite après cette publicité

    Loin de nous l’idée de vouloir tomber dans des conclusions hâtives à ce stade de la saison mais force est de constater que João Félix renaît de ses cendres au FC Barcelone. Prêté par l’Atlético Madrid, où il n’avait jamais su montrer l’étendue de son talent de manière consistante, le métronome portugais rayonne en Catalogne et a déjà inscrit 4 buts et délivré 2 passes décisives en 5 matches sous les ordres de Xavi.

    Interrogé sur la métamorphose de son ancien joueur, encore sous contrat avec son club néanmoins, Enrique Cerezo, le président de l’Atlético, s’est frotté les mains de ses débuts en fanfare de l’attaquant droitier de 23 ans : « c’est notre joueur, nous devons le protéger, l’aider et penser que s’il va bien, il est bon pour nous. Nous avons toujours dit, j’ai dit, que c’est un joueur fantastique et il le montre à Barcelone. Il ne s’est pas adapté avec nous, il n’a pas eu de chance. Et pourtant, c’est un grand joueur à Barcelone et il le démontre. Les grands joueurs finissent toujours par montrer leur talent.» Des propos élogieux qui, cependant, ne devraient pas réparer la fracture entre le Portugais et les Colchoneros.

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  • Will Felix Or Andy Claim The Washington Title?

    Will Felix Or Andy Claim The Washington Title?

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    Will a star like Felix Auger-Aliassime or Andy Murray emerge from the Mubadala Citi DC Open as champion?

    The former Top 10 players, who practised together on Saturday, will try to make a splash at this week’s ATP 500 in the United States’ capital. The pair cannot meet in the draw until the championship match.

    [ATP APP]

    Auger-Aliassime is the third seed and will face an opening test against reigning Dallas Open champion Wu Yibing or Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki. This will be the Canadian’s third appearance in Washington, having lost in the third round in 2019 and 2021.

    The 22-year-old, currently No. 12 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, was upset in the first round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon and will be keen to find his form this week. 

    Andy Murray
    Photo: Peter Staples
    Former World No. 1 Murray has more experience in Washington, having tallied a 7-3 record at the event. The Scot first competed in the tournament in 2006, before the creation of the ATP 500 series.

    That year, Murray defeated a series of notable opponents — Feliciano Lopez, Mardy Fish and Dmitry Tursunov among them — en route to the final, which he lost to Arnaud Clement. The Scot in 2018 even played a match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open that ended after 3 a.m.

    One year on from a first-round exit in Washington, the 15th seed will open against Atlanta finalist Aleksandar Vukic or 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima. He could face top seed Taylor Fritz in the third round.

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  • Nadal Faces Draper Test; Tsitsipas, Felix In Action On Australian Open Day 1

    Nadal Faces Draper Test; Tsitsipas, Felix In Action On Australian Open Day 1

    The opening day of Grand Slam action for 2023 features a host of star names looking to make an early statement at the Australian Open. Top 10 stars Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev are all in action, when a trio of home favourites are also hoping to make their mark on Monday in Melbourne.

    ATPTour.com looks at some of the biggest clashes on the Day 1 schedule.

    View Schedule | View Singles Draw

    [ATP APP]

    [1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Jack Draper (GBR)

    Defending champion and top seed Nadal arrives at Melbourne Park in a relative slump by his own lofty standards. The Spaniard has lost six of his past seven matches and faces a difficult proposition first up in Melbourne in fast-rising Briton Jack Draper. Yet Nadal knows as well as anyone how to rouse his best level at a Grand Slam — the 36-year-old is chasing a record-extending 23rd major title this fortnight in Australia.

    “[It is] probably one of the toughest first rounds possible, being seeded,” acknowledged Nadal when asked about the Draper clash. “[He is] young, powerful, growing very, very fast in the rankings, playing well… [It is] a big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. Let’s see. I’m here to just give myself a chance.”

    Draper reached his second ATP Tour semi-final last week at the Adelaide International 2 and the big-hitting lefty is considered one of the game’s brightest prospects. With little to lose in his maiden ATP Head2Head meeting against one of the greats of the sport, the 21-year-old is ready to relish the occasion when he steps out onto Rod Laver Arena.

    “It’ll be amazing to play on court with him, he’s a great champion,” said Draper of Nadal. “[There are] a lot of emotions obviously when I think of playing him… Whatever happens, it’ll be a special occasion for me, still very young in my career, so it’s great to have these sort of experiences and exposure to playing someone like Rafa on a big court like that.”

    [3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Quentin Halys (FRA)

    There is a little extra on the line for World No. 4 Tsitsipas as he bids for his maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne. Should he lift the trophy, the 24-year-old will also rise to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time.

    If that is to happen, though, Tsitsipas will have to start by defeating Quentin Halys for the first time in three attempts. Although they have never faced off in a tour-level match, Halys defeated the Greek in an ITF Futures match in 2014 and an ATP Challenger Tour match in 2018. The 26-year-old Frenchman Halys has other reasons to feel confident — he currently sits at a career-high No. 64 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and pushed Novak Djokovic to two tie-breaks in Adelaide two weeks ago, with the Serbian later saying Halys was playing ‘like a Top 10 opponent’.

    Nonetheless, Tsitsipas will hope that the support of Melbourne’s considerable Greek community can spur him to another strong performance at an event where he reached the semi-finals in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

    [6] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs. Vasek Pospisil (CAN)

    A fifth tour-level meeting between Auger-Aliassime and his fellow Canadian Pospisil promises plenty of huge serving and forehand action on Kia Arena. The sixth-seeded Auger-Aliassime leads his countryman 3-1 in the pair’s ATP Head2Head series, but the 32-year-old Pospisil triumphed in straight sets in their most recent meeting, in 2020 in Vienna.

    Auger-Aliassime reached the quarter-finals for the first time in Melbourne a year ago before falling to Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller. That run kick-started a stellar season for the 22-year-old in which he won his first four ATP Tour titles and qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. Can he bring his best to the big stage again against Pospisil on Monday?

    [7] Daniil Medvedev vs. Marcos Giron (USA)

    Medvedev will hope his clash with World No. 56 Giron is just the start of another strong run at Melbourne Park. The 26-year-old reached the championship match in 2021 and 2022, and despite falling just short of the title with defeats to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, respectively, Medvedev’s combination of big serving and outstanding defence is more than capable of powering another deep run.

    The seventh seed won his only previous tour-level clash with Giron at the Western & Southern Open in 2020. The American is making his fourth consecutive Australian Open main draw appearance, but he is yet to reach the second round. He has posted some impressive results on Tour since last year’s visit to Melbourne, however, including reaching his first final in San Diego, and he arrives in Australia off the back of a quarter-final run in Auckland.

    Also In Action…

    A trio of home wild cards will seek to channel the support of the locals in their first-round matches on Monday. Jason Kubler was unbeaten for Team Australia at the recent United Cup, where he downed Daniel Evans and Albert Ramos-Vinolas, and the World No. 86 will look to build on that form against Sebastian Baez. John Millman takes on big-serving lefty Marc-Andrea Huesler, while Rinky Hijikata plays qualifier Yannick Hanfmann.

    Fresh from guiding Team Poland on a run to the United Cup semi-finals alongside WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz starts his Australian Open campaign against Spaniard Pedro Martinez. The Pole has never been past the second round in Melbourne, while 11th seed Cameron Norrie’s best previous run was a third-round showing in 2021. The Briton also takes to court on Monday against #NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

    One man who has plenty of experience of going deep into the Melbourne draw is 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka. He takes on Alex Molcan in his first Australian Open match since 2021 after missing last year due to injury. The 2018 semi-finalist Kyle Edmund also makes his Melbourne Park comeback. The Briton last competed at the hard-court Slam in 2020, and he faces a daunting opening test in 15th seed and 2022 quarter-finalist Jannik Sinner.

    Other seeded players in action Monday include Frances Tiafoe, who takes on Daniel Altmaier, Lorenzo Musetti, who meets Lloyd Harris, and Sebastian Korda, who starts against Cristian Garin.

  • Felix, Rune, Musetti Among First-Time ATP Tour Titlists

    Felix, Rune, Musetti Among First-Time ATP Tour Titlists

    ATPTour.com’s annual season-in-review series looks back at 2022’s best matches, biggest upsets, most dramatic comebacks and more. Today, we feature the first-time ATP Tour title winners of the season.

    Securing a match win on the ATP Tour is hard enough, but stringing together a series of back-to-back victories across a single week to lift a trophy requires even greater technical consistency, physical discipline and mental focus.

    This year, 12 players managed that feat for the first time, hitting a milestone that will forever stand out in the context of their careers. As part of our annual season-in-review series, ATPTour.com reflects on the lineup of stars who clinched their maiden ATP Tour title in 2022.

    [ATP APP]

    Thanasi Kokkinakis, Adelaide
    Kokkinakis clinched an emotional victory in his hometown at the Adelaide International 2 in January, a reward for the Australian’s commitment and hard work after a series of devastating injuries. His run at the ATP 250 event included hard-fought three-set wins against three of the biggest servers on Tour in John Isner, Marin Cilic and Arthur Rinderknech.

    “I wouldn’t want to win my first title anywhere else,” said Kokkinakis after edging Rinderknech 6-7(6), 7-6(5) 6-3 in the final. “To my family, friends and coaches, what a ride it’s been. You have seen me at my lowest lows and now the highest high. It’s been a serious journey. For now, I am so happy.”


    Kokkinakis kisses the court in Adelaide. Photo Credit: David Mariuz/Tennis Australia

    Alexander Bublik, Montpellier
    Bublik capped a rock-solid week at the Open Sud de France – Montpellier by claiming the biggest win of his career to seal his maiden tour-level crown. The Kazakh deployed his trademark combination of big-hitting and deft touches to stun World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the championship match at the ATP 250 event. It was Bublik’s first victory in five championship match appearances.

    “I played four finals before and [in] the fifth final I have won against a great player [in] Sascha,” said Bublik after his 6-4, 6-3 victory. “It is great. All my game together. I was serving well and returned well and kept my nerve. I was lucky [at some] moments, and when I had my chances, I used them.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Alexander Bublik
    Bublik holds his trophy in Montpellier. Photo Credit: JB Autissier/Panoramic.

    Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rotterdam
    After his eight previous tour-level finals all ended in disappointment, Auger-Aliassime could have been forgiven for showing nerves in February when he took on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. Yet the Canadian barely looked back as he charged past the World No. 4 Greek 6-4, 6-2 to break his trophy duck at the ATP 500 event.

    “It is definitely a dream come true,” Auger-Aliassime, who went on to lift three further titles in a standout 2022 season, told ATPTour.com after his triumph in The Netherlands. “It is something I have been working for and suffering for at times because we all know my story, having lost finals before, so this one is even more special for me.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Pedro Martinez, Santiago
    A gruelling week on the Santiago clay ended with a maiden ATP Tour title for Martinez, who came through three-set battles against top-quality clay-courters Jaume Munar, Alejandro Tabilo and Sebastian Baez to claim victory at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open. The 24-year-old’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 championship match triumph against Baez made him the fifth Spanish tour-level titlist of a 2022 season that was barely two months old.

    “We have a really good culture of tennis in Spain, so that’s what gives you confidence to reach new things,” Martinez later told ATPTour.com. “I hope I can go higher in the rankings and keep playing like this.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Pedro Martinez
    Martinez triumphs in Santiago. Photo Credit: Matias Donoso|@chile_open/@chileopentenis

    Holger Rune, Munich
    “If I look through the week, what a week,” said Rune after charging to his maiden tour-level crown without dropping a set at April’s BMW Open by American Express. “I played some unbelievable tennis, really fighting my way through it. To be playing here in Munich and winning my first ATP title in front of such a brilliant crowd, I couldn’t really ask for more.”

    Rune’s run included his maiden Top 10 victory against home favourite Alexander Zverev in the second round before Botic van de Zandschulp’s retirement at 4-3 in the first set of the final saw the 19-year-old lift the trophy. It was only a sign of things to come for Rune, who later put together a stunning late-season charge to win 19 of his final 21 matches of the year, lift further trophies in Stockholm and Paris, and break into the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time. Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Holger Rune
    Rune lifts the trophy in Munich. Photo Credit: Christof Stache/Getty Images.

    Sebastian Baez, Estoril
    Baez drew inspiration from an unlikely source en route to his maiden ATP Tour title at the Millennium Estoril Open — his championship match opponent Frances Tiafoe. The Argentine had noticed the words “Why not me?” on Tiafoe’s bracelet early in the week and wrote them on the camera lens after each of his victories in Portugal.

    When the pair eventually met in the final, it was Baez who charged to a 6-3, 6-2 triumph at the ATP 250 event. After receiving the trophy, Baez said to Tiafoe: “Why not me? And why not you, man?” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Tim van Rijthoven, ‘s-Hertogenbosch
    Van Rijthoven was still searching for his maiden main-draw win on the ATP Tour prior to arriving in ‘s-Hertogenbosch for the Libema Open in June. By the end of the week, the No. 205-ranked home wild card had five, after a stunning streak of clean-hitting grass-court tennis moved him past Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev to become the lowest-ranked tour-level titlist of 2022.

    “I never thought I would win the tournament,” said Van Rijthoven, who raced past Medvedev 6-4, 6-1 to become the first Dutchman to win the ATP 250 event since 2003. “I wanted to maybe upset one player. But to upset a couple of players and win the title is just incredible.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Tim Van Rijthoven
    Van Rijthoven celebrates in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Photo Credit: Libema Open.

    Maxime Cressy, Newport
    With Alexander Bublik leading 6-2, 3-0 in the Infosys Hall of Fame Open championship match in Newport, Cressy’s hopes of clinching his maiden ATP Tour title in his third final were on the ropes. Yet the American’s unwavering commitment to his serve-and-volley tactics engineered one of the comebacks of the 2022 season, as the 25-year-old rallied to a dramatic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory at the grass-court ATP 250 event.

    “My dream is to really make serve and volley great again and inspire many people to start playing that game style,” Cressy later told ATPTour.com. “I’ve seen other players do it a lot more, like Rafa [Nadal]. If I can impact the tennis world and make serve and volley a game style that people enjoy and want to play, it’s going to be big.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Maxime Cressy
    Cressy comes forward in Newport. Photo Credit: Ben Solomon/International Tennis Hall of Fame.

    Francisco Cerundolo, Bastad
    Cerundolo’s charge to his maiden tour-level crown at the Nordea Open simultaneously banished some disappointing memories of his first ATP Tour final, a heavy loss to countryman Diego Schwartzman in Buenos Aires in 2021. The 23-year-old Cerundolo kept cool throughout his run in Bastad, where his powerful baseline hitting took out Casper Ruud and Pablo Carreno Busta before his 7-6(4), 6-2 championship match triumph against Sebastian Baez.

    “Since you are a child you imagine yourself playing in these events and finals,” said Cerundolo at the trophy ceremony. “When I lost in Buenos Aires, I was sad, because I was at home and I lost badly, but I learned a lot from that. I used it today, and I think I played a great match, a great week.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Francisco Cerundolo
    Cerundolo takes the trophy in Bastad. Photo Credit: Nordea Open/Johan Lilja.

    Lorenzo Musetti, Hamburg
    After letting slip five championship points against Carlos Alcaraz in the second set of the Hamburg European Open final, Musetti’s mental fortitude was put to the ultimate test at the ATP 500 event. The 20-year-old Italian passed with flying colours, eventually edging the top seed 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 after two hours, 47 minutes to prevail in one of the best ATP Tour matches of 2022.

    “It was a roller-coaster until the end,” Musetti, who later backed up his Hamburg triumph with a title run in Naples in October, reflected after the match. “I had so many match points… But I think the key to the match was to keep calm and [have] all the patience [with] myself because it was really not easy. Carlos was putting so much effort in the match points when he was down, so it was not easy to find the energy to come back.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Brandon Nakashima, San Diego
    The pressure of playing at home is not always easy to handle, but Nakashima made it look that way by surging to his first ATP Tour crown for the loss of just one set all week at the San Diego Open. Later describing the run as “Like a dream”, the American acknowledged the experience of winning his maiden Tour title was made even sweeter by the fact he had accomplished the feat in the city where he grew up.

    “Of course being in my hometown, I get to go home tonight, celebrate with the team,” said the 21-year-old after beating Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-4 in the final. “I don’t have to fly back [like] if we were somewhere else. I’m sure we’re going to celebrate with all my family down here, all my coaches… Just enjoy this moment as much as possible.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Brandon Nakashima

    Nakashima wins in San Diego. Photo Credit: Will LeFevre.

    Marc-Andrea Huesler, Sofia
    The only left-handed first-time winner of the 2022 season, Huesler’s big-serving and precise volleying took him past a host of top-quality opponents, including Pablo Carreno Busta, Lorenzo Musetti and Holger Rune, to a surprise maiden title at the Sofia Open. The 26-year-old, who saved two match points against Kamil Majchrzak in the quarter-finals, was the first Swiss player to win an ATP Tour title since Roger Federer in 2019.

    “This whole week has been a complete fairy tale for me,” said a delighted Huesler at the trophy ceremony after downing Rune 6-4, 7-6(8). “I would have been happy to pass a couple of rounds and I’m holding the trophy here.” Read First-Time Winner Spotlight.

    Marc-Andrea Huesler

    Huesler in action in Sofia. Photo Credit: Vladimir Stoyanov/LAP.bg.

    Read more from our Best Of 2022 Series

  • Gakpo Arsenal, Bellingham PSG, Felix exit, Endrick transfer date, and more – Fabrizio Romano

    Gakpo Arsenal, Bellingham PSG, Felix exit, Endrick transfer date, and more – Fabrizio Romano

    Good morning guys! Enjoy today’s Daily Briefing – click here to SUBSCRIBE and get this in your email inbox five mornings a week, including for FREE on Thursdays.

    Some fans have asked me about why Cody Gakpo didn’t get a big move in the summer, but it’s easy to make judgements with hindsight after his incredible start to this season and performances at the World Cup.

    I’m not surprised because it’s not easy to invest €50m on a player with that track record, but he’s a top talent and many clubs were monitoring him, even if they weren’t ready to pay up for him at that time.

    Arsenal were interested last March, Man United last August – and then many other Premier League clubs including Leeds.

    Joao Felix on his future: “I’m completely focused on the World Cup. My agent doesn’t tell me anything about what’s going to happen, nor does he want to. I need to be focused on the now to play a great tournament.”

    I can reveal that Joao Felix has chances to leave Atletico in 2023, for sure. His asking price will be more than €100m, around €120m – then it will depend on the proposals. As I recently reported, there have been several approaches, but no official offers.

    Joao Felix in action for Atletico Madrid

    Now it’s early to say where he could go, his agent is exploring the market and is speaking to many clubs. Felix dreams of the Premier League one day. I think he’d be perfect in any club in the world, but he desperately needs to play – he has to be a starter.

    He’s had a good relationship with Atletico fans, but it’s true that his relationship with Diego Simeone has been tense.

    Barcelona director Jordi Cruyff: “Frenkie de Jong is not for sale. He’s key player for us, so that time has passed. He’s here and he’s important for us. At the end last summer after Fair Play discussions he stayed here and Frenkie is really loved at Barca”.

    Cruyff on Memphis Depay: “Why should we sell Depay in January if it’s difficult to sign new players because of Financial Fair Play? He’s always been a great professional. He can be really helpful. Free agent in June? We will see in the next months.”

    Bayern Munich want to offer Jamal Musiala a new deal, according to director Hasan Salihamidzic: “We told Jamal’s mother and his management that we’re very happy with Jamal. We want to sit down with them after the World Cup to talk about Jamal’s further future at Bayern.”

    Official. Eden Hazard has retired from international football after Belgium’s World Cup exit.

    The Real Madrid forward bows out after 126 appearances and 33 goals for his country. He’s fourth on their all-time appearances list, and their second highest goal-scorer.

    More Stories / Latest News

    Josko Gvardiol continues to be the subject of much speculation, but he wants to focus on the World Cup and right after will be time for talks with top clubs. Chelsea remain keen on signing him, then many other clubs around the world are following Josko. It’s an open race, nothing is agreed.

    Sofyan Amrabat’s agent Mohammed Sinouh tells me on Premier League links: “Of course, I get a lot of phone calls for Sofyan. The whole world has seen he’s the best holding midfielder of the World Cup. Sofyan is top professional, he’s focused on World Cup with Morocco.”

    It’s officially confirmed – Hansi Flick will stay on as Germany manager despite a disappointing 2022 World Cup.

    Jurgen Klopp was never keen on being appointed as new Germany manager. He’s 100% focused on Liverpool now, though former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was open to talking about the job.

    Adrien Rabiot on his future ahead of his contract expiring in June: “Premier League attracts me. I’ve always said I’d like to play there — will it be at the end of my contract at Juve? I don’t know. I don’t have favourite team in England, no team where I’d necessarily like to play.”

    Jurgen Klopp was never keen on the Germany job. He’s 100% focused on Liverpool now, already discussing new signings with the board and insisting for Jude Bellingham. Klopp and Liverpool board will also decide together on player contract situations.

    Manchester United wanted Cody Gakpo in the summer and they are still in talks with people close to the player. It’s not just them, though, with other clubs also showing an interest. PSV’s plan had been to keep Gakpo this January and then sell in the summer, but if a €50m bid comes in in January there is a chance for him to leave. I’m told there is a very serious chance of a move, so keep an eye on him in the next few weeks.

    Erik ten Hag is really happy with Alejandro Garnacho’s development. He’s doing very well also in training, he’s part of present and future plans. The idea of the club is to extend his contract as soon as possible, negotiations are ongoing.

    Josko Gvardiol has been linked with Man Utd by some reports, but I’m not aware of any change on his future. His focus is on the World Cup and nothing is agreed with any other club. I expect several top teams from England and Spain will be in for him in 2023.

    Not just Nuno Mendes, now the World Cup is also over for Danilo Pereira after his injury, with the midfielder expected to return to Paris soon.

    One more blow for Portugal after the PSG left back’s injury last week.

    PSG appreciate Jude Bellingham, as hinted by their president Nasser Al Khelaifi, but they know it’s going to be difficult to enter the race now. Liverpool are really pushing for Bellingham, and Man City, Chelsea and Real Madrid remain in the race.

    Marco Verratti has accepted all details of Paris Saint-Germain’s new contract proposal. His lawyers have approved it and the new deal will be signed soon.

    Reminder: Verratti joined PSG from Italian 2d division side Pescara in 2012… and new agreement will be valid until June 2026. A remarkable career for the Italian midfielder.

    PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi on Cristiano Ronaldo: “Signing Ronaldo? The three players that we have [Messi, Neymar and Mbappe] it’s very difficult to think about Ronaldo. I wish him all the best. He’s fantastic and he’s still an amazing player.”

    Cody Gakpo: “I haven’t heard from Manchester United yet. If they come, I will think about it with God’s help. I thought about Man Utd last summer, but when that didn’t happen, I didn’t know anymore. Then Leeds arrived, I had doubts… now I wait and see.”

    An important clarification: there’s no way for Real Madrid to bring Endrick to Europe in 2023. International rules only allow Endrick to arrive in July 2024, when he turns 18.

    Real are prepared to invest more than €60m now as they consider Endrick a special talent, but it will still be some time before we see him at the Bernabeu.

    Official, confirmed: Luis Enrique has left his position as manager of the Spanish national team.

    Sofyan Amrabat has had a great World Cup and we’re now seeing more and more transfer rumours about the Morocco midfielder.

    I spoke to his agent Mohammed Sinouh today and he told me that there are many calls but no advanced negotiations. Sofyan only wants to focus on the World Cup and Fiorentina will try to keep him until June.

    Tottenham were close to signing him last January then Fiorentina made the deal collapse, he’s always been in the list of Antonio Conte since he was Inter Milan manager.

    West Ham are making it a priority to sign a new striker in the January transfer window (Sun)

    Negotiations between Wolves and Atletico Madrid for Matheus Cunha are still ongoing, progressing to find full agreement on all details. Timing will be key, as there are other clubs interested too. Felipe’s also discussed between the two clubs, as I revealed a few days ago.

    The post Exclusive: Gakpo Arsenal, Bellingham PSG, Felix exit, Endrick transfer date, and more – Fabrizio Romano appeared first on CaughtOffside.

  • Fritz Reaches SFs In Turin, Downs Felix In Winner-Takes-All Clash

    Fritz Reaches SFs In Turin, Downs Felix In Winner-Takes-All Clash

    With a semi-final spot on the line at the Nitto ATP Finals Thursday, it was Taylor Fritz who rose to the occasion in Turin.

    In a winner-takes-all blockbuster at the Pala Alpitour, the American clawed past Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-2 to reach the semi-finals on debut at the prestigious year-end event.

    Both entered the match holding a 1-1 record in Green Group, aiming to join Casper Ruud in the last four. In front of an electric crowd, Fritz effectively executed his aggressive game as he handled the pressure in the crucial moments. He fired 32 winners and outlasted Auger-Aliassime during the heavy-hitting exchanges in the third set, gaining the crucial break at 3-2 in the decider to advance after two hours and 44 minutes.

    “I needed to serve well the whole time, I knew that,” Fritz said. “It was frustrating throughout the match when so many points I was one away from break point. So many times at 15/30, 0/30 when I was returning, I got myself in the points and kept losing the points. I just tried to stay patient and not get frustrated and then I capitalised when I got the chances.”

    The eighth seed was strong on serve throughout the clash, finding his spots to dominate behind his delivery in the fast indoor conditions. The World No. 9 gave Auger-Aliassime few chances on return. He won 88 per cent (50/57) of his first-service points and saved all three break points he faced, roaring in delight when he sealed victory on his first match point.

    “It is huge,” Fritz said when asked about reaching the semi-finals. “From possibly not even qualifying to now be in the semis feels great. I felt like I was going to play well here. I feel that I always play my best tennis against the best players.”

    In an impressive performance, Fritz was clinical when stepping inside the baseline, winning 80 per cent of the points when attacking.

    With his 45th tour-level win of the season, Fritz has improved to 2-0 in his ATP Head2Head series against Auger-Aliassime. Earlier this year, the 25-year-old captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, before he soared to crowns in Eastbourne and Tokyo.

    Auger-Aliassime, who was making his debut in Turin, finishes the round-robin stage holding a 1-2 record. The 22-year-old lost to Ruud in his opening match before he defeated Nadal. In a standout season, the Canadian captured tour-level trophies in Rotterdam, Florence, Antwerp and Basel, holding a 57-27 record on the year.

  • Nadal, Felix Contest Roland Garros Rematch In Turin

    Nadal, Felix Contest Roland Garros Rematch In Turin

    After two days of world-class action at the Nitto ATP Finals, each of the eight singles players and eight doubles teams has played one match in Turin. While those who won their openers could seal a semi-final place on Tuesday, others are bidding to keep their hopes of progress alive by avoiding an 0-2 start.

    Opponents Rafael Nadal and Felix Auger-Aliassime fall into the latter category on Day 3, while Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz will look to stay perfect on the week in their evening matchup.

    In doubles action, Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer face Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos with both teams in search of their first victories. Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury meet Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara in a battle of 1-0 duos.

    View Schedule | View Group Standings | Semi-final Qualification Scenarios

    [1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. [5] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

    Nadal and Auger-Aliassime took very different paths to Turin in the past two months. While Nadal played just one singles match following the US Open — a Rolex Paris Masters defeat against Tommy Paul — Auger-Aliassime put together a career-best 16-match win streak as he claimed titles in Florence, Antwerp and Basel before reaching the Paris semi-finals.

    But the Canadian has now dropped two matches in a row, his Bercy defeat against Holger Rune followed by another loss to Ruud in the 22-year-old’s Nitto ATP Finals debut. But the unique format at the season finale means there is still time to make amends.

    “My back is against the wall,” Auger-Aliassime said after his 7-6(4), 6-4 defeat to Ruud . “It would have been better to start with a win here… I need to bounce back and play better, play a little bit better. I’m not far from playing well, but there are a few things I can do better.”

    The fifth seed will need to earn his first ATP Head2Head win in three tries against Nadal to have a realistic chance of advancing to the Turin semi-finals. 

    Nadal struggled to find his best form in a 7-6(3), 6-1 defeat to Fritz on Sunday and has now lost his past three matches, all against American opposition. Nadal said he found himself on defence in the majority of the points against the powerful American, and the 36-year-old will be expecting a similarly aggressive approach from Auger-Aliassime.

    “Serving like Fritz served, then you are under pressure all the time,” Nadal said, noting how the speed of the indoor court robbed him of the time he needed to play on his terms. “When somebody is serving that way, on the return he is going for every shot. [It was] just well played from him, not enough from me.”

    Auger-Aliassime nearly hit his way to a victory when he met Nadal at Roland Garros earlier this season, but the Spaniard did just enough to escape in five sets.

    Will the change of surface help the Canadian change the outcome in Turin, or will Nadal get back on track in his bid to win the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time? If the Spaniard can claim the elusive title, he would also snatch the year-end No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Ranking from the injured Carlos Alcaraz.

    [3] Casper Ruud (NOR) vs. [8] Taylor Fritz (USA)

    Even with their twin 1-0 records, Ruud and Fritz will remain on high alert, knowing there is little room for error at the Nitto ATP Finals.

    Ruud was very happy with his win against Auger-Aliassime after a difficult few months following his run to the US Open final, which lifted him to a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of World No. 2. 

    “I’m not going to try to relax, but I know that I don’t need to sort of stress or try to rush things to try to turn it around, so that’s hopefully a good thing,” he said post-match. “I’m not going to count on anything, I’m just going to focus on the next two matches and in a way pretend that this never happened. So, I need to bring my ‘A’ game in the next two matches as well.”

    While Ruud and Fritz will be contesting their first ATP Head2Head meeting, the Norwegian faced a similarly attack-minded opponent in Auger-Aliassime on Sunday. While Fritz and Auger-Aliassime are from from the same player, both base their games around big serves and big forehands — weapons which free them up to take chances on return.

    From Fritz’s perspective, he faces a second consecutive opponent whose favourite surface is clay, following his win against Nadal. Against the Spaniard, the American felt the quick conditions at the Pala Alpitour benefitted him both on serve and in the rallies.

    “The court’s definitely fast. For me, fast is good for my serve, it’s good for my backhand,” he explained in his on-court interview. “I feel like different speeds always have parts that help my game, and parts that hurt my game. On a slower court, I have so much more time to kind of load up on a forehand.

    “On a court like this, I can lean into my backhand and hit it deep cross to Rafa’s forehand, and it makes it a bit tougher for him to step in and crush it. On a slower surface, he gets time on the forehand when I go backhand cross, and it’s probably done for me. So I’d say that’s where it helps me the most on the ground against him.”

    While he was able to stay neutral in the rallies with his backhand, it was the Fritz forehand which did the heavy lifting off the ground against Nadal. This was quantified by his 8.9 INSIGHTS Shot Quality score, which factors in a range of metrics to determine the effectiveness of a given stroke. After hitting 30 per cent of his shots In Attack against Nadal, according to INSIGHTS, Fritz will again hope to keep Ruud pinned back on Monday.

    Fritz Forehand Quality

    Doubles Action

    Roland Garros champions Arevalo and Rojer meet Granollers and Zeballos for the first time on Tuesday in Turin, with both pairs looking to rebound from Day 1 defeats. While Arevalo and Rojer are seeking their first Nitto ATP Finals win in their tournament debut as a pair, Granollers and Zeballos are bidding for a third straight semi-final at the season finale. Spain’s Granollers also won the 2012 year-end title alongside countryman Marc Lopez.

    Returning finalists Ram and Salisbury won perhaps the most dramatic doubles match of the tournament against Granollers/Zeballos, earning a 6-3, 6-7(8), 10-8 victory after letting slip set points in the second set. Thy face group leaders Glasspool and Heliovaara, the only team yet to drop a set in Turin. The British-Finnish duo edged Arevalo/Rojer 7-5, 7-6(3) on Sunday.

  • Felix Fends Off Otte In Florence

    Felix Fends Off Otte In Florence

    Felix Auger-Aliassime hung tough and roused a strong finish to down Oscar Otte in his opening match Thursday at the UniCredit Firenze Open.

    The top seed was pushed all the way before completing a 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2 second-round win at the ATP 250 event in Florence. Otte rallied from 1-3 in the second set to level the match as Auger-Aliassime struggled to maintain his strong start, but the Canadian began to dictate play with his powerful forehand once again in the decider. He broke Otte’s serve twice in the third set to reach his 13th tour-level quarter-final of the season.

    “It was a great start,” said Auger-Aliassime after the match. “I played a great first set and until the middle of the second set, and then sometimes that’s how it is in tennis, you get nervous a little bit. Of course, I would have loved to close the match in two sets, but the most important [thing] is that I was able to bounce back, to come back playing some good tennis in the third set.”

    Auger-Aliassime struck 42 winners, including 13 aces, in his maiden ATP Head2Head clash against Otte. The 22-year-old was happy with how his attacking intent had seen him through to victory despite the second-set lapse.

    “That’s how I like to play, with my strength, with my serve, with my physical abilities,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I try to always go forward. That’s the way I commit to the game and how I play. Again today, I was trying to do that. I did well, sometimes missing a little bit, but that’s OK, it’s going to get better.”

    The win represents a solid start in an important week for Auger-Aliassime’s Nitto ATP Finals qualification chances. The Canadian is currently eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, but he would leapfrog Taylor Fritz into seventh by reaching the semi-finals in Florence. A seventh-placed finish is required to guarantee qualification for this year’s season finale.

    Auger-Aliassime’s next opponent in Italy will be Brandon Nakashima, after the American sealed a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Altug Celikbilek. The quarter-final clash will also be an important one for Nakashima, who is looking to boost his chances of reaching the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals for the second consecutive year. The 21-year-old is currently sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan.

    Lorenzo Musetti in action on Thursday. Photo Credit: Giampiero Sposito/FIT

    Earlier on Thursday, Lorenzo Musetti put on a show for his home fans as the #NextGenATP Italian dispatched Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 6-0 with a scintillating opening display in Florence.

    Musetti displayed confidence in all facets of his game in the second-round clash at the indoor ATP 250 event. The third seed delighted a vocal home crowd with an array of classy winners to close out victory against Zapata Miralles in just 69 minutes.

    Musetti hit 21 winners to the Spaniard’s eight in the pair’s first tour-level meeting. With the win, the Italian is into his sixth tour-level quarter-final of the season and his third on indoor hard courts (after Rotterdam and Sofia). The 20-year-old, whose excellent season has also included his maiden ATP Tour title in Hamburg, has already qualified to compete at November’s Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan for the second consecutive year.

    Musetti will meet Mackenzie McDonald in the quarter-finals in Florence after the American downed another #NextGenATP Italian, Francesco Passaro, 6-4, 7-5. The No. 79-ranked McDonald broke Passaro’s serve twice in each set to clinch a 95-minute win and reach his third tour-level quarter-final of the season.

    [NEWSLETTER FORM]

  • Felix Leads Florence Field, Rublev & Murray In Gijon

    Felix Leads Florence Field, Rublev & Murray In Gijon

    Florence and Gijon host indoor hard-court action this week as two strong fields compete in an ATP 250 double-header from 10-16 October.

    Felix Auger-Aliassime is the top seed at the UniCredit Firenze Open as the ATP Tour returns to Florence for the first time since 1994. Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti are among those hoping to secure a home victory in the Italian city.

    Andrey Rublev headlines the draw at the Gijon Open, where Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem will also compete. Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut lead the home hopes in north-west Spain.

    ATPTour.com looks ahead at five things to watch at each event.

    [ATP APP]

    View Draws: Florence | Gijon

    FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN FLORENCE

    1) Felix To Fire In Florence?: Auger-Aliassime will eye a strong response to his first-round exit in Astana last week as the top seed in Florence. The Canadian has performed well on indoor hard courts in 2022, lifting his maiden ATP Tour crown in Rotterdam in February before reaching the final in Marseille a week later. A straight-sets win against Novak Djokovic at the Laver Cup in London two weeks ago can also give the 22-year-old confidence as he opens against Marton Fucsovics or Oscar Otte in Italy.

    A good week in Florence could be key for Auger-Aliassime’s hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The Canadian is currently eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.

    2) Berrettini Seeks Turin Boost: Berrettini spearheads the Italian charge as the ATP Tour returns to Florence for the first time since 1994. Like Auger-Aliassime, the second-seeded Berrettini can give his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes a welcome boost with a deep run in his homeland. The Italian holds a 29-10 record for the season, a tally which includes grass-court titles in Stuttgart and at the Queen’s Club, and he is currently 15th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.

    [FOLLOW ACTION]

    3) Seeded Americans: A trio of Americans enjoying strong seasons on Tour will hope to bring their best level to the indoor hard courts in Florence. Fourth seed Maxime Cressy and eighth seed Brandon Nakashima both claimed their maiden ATP Tour titles this season, in Newport and San Diego, respectively, while sixth seed Jenson Brooksby was a finalist in Dallas and Atlanta.

    4) Young Italians Look To Impress: Musetti leads a squad of four #NextGenATP Italians looking to make their mark in front of their home fans. The Hamburg champion, who has already qualified for November’s Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, is the third seed in Florence. His in-form countryman Lorenzo Sonego, the champion in Metz two weeks ago, is a potential second-round opponent.

    Francesco Passaro, Giulio Zeppieri and Francesco Maestrelli are the other Italian youngsters in the Florence draw. The World No. 123 Passaro is the highest-ranked of the trio — the 21-year-old has reached five finals (winning one) on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2022 and is currently ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan.

    5) Koolhof/Skupski Lead Strong Doubles FIeld: Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski are chasing their seventh title of 2022 in Florence, where their rivals include Astana champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek, and Wimbledon champions Matthew Ebden/Max Purcell, who are 12th and 13th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, respectively, are also seeded in Italy.

    [NEWSLETTER FORM]

    FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN GIJON

    1) Rublev Leads Field: The 11-time tour-level titlist Rublev is the top seed as the ATP Tour visits Gijon for the first time. The 24-year-old arrives in north-west Spain in good form, having backed up his run to the quarter-finals at the US Open in September with a semi-final appearance in Astana this week.

    Currently sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, Rublev will seek a strong showing in Gijon as he aims to qualify for November’s Nitto ATP Finals for the third consecutive year.

    2) PCB Leads Spanish Charge: Four of the eight seeds in the Gijon draw are home favourites. Second seed Carreno Busta will look to recapture the form that earned him his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Montreal in August, while third seed Bautista Agut is chasing his ninth tour-level hard-court crown — but his first indoors.

    Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Albert Ramos-Vinolas are the sixth and eighth seeds, respectively, while former World No. 12 Feliciano Lopez enters the draw as a wild card.

    3) Murray Chases First Title Of Year: Despite reaching finals in Sydney and Stuttgart this season, former World No. 1 Murray is still seeking his first ATP Tour title since his 2019 triumph in Antwerp. The British wild card faces a tough start in Gijon, however, where he meets Davidovich Fokina in the first round. It will be the pair’s maiden ATP Head2Head meeting.

    4) Thiem To Shine In Spain?: Thiem will look to build on recent signs that he is finding his best form after returning to the Tour in April following a wrist injury. A former champion on indoor hard courts in St. Petersburg and Vienna, Thiem has won his past six first-round matches at ATP Tour events. He will seek to extend that run in Gijon against the Portuguese World No. 62 Joao Sousa.

    5) Doubles Teams Chase Turin Spot: Top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos can consolidate their place in fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings with a strong week in Gijon. The Spanish-Argentine pair is chasing its third consecutive appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in November.

    Also seeking to boost their hopes of qualifying for the season finale with a successful trip to Spain are second seeds Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini (currently ninth in the Race), and Tokyo finalists Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez (currently 14th in the Race).

  • Draper Downs Felix At Flushing Meadows

    Draper Downs Felix At Flushing Meadows

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    Fast-rising Briton Jack Draper has stunned US Open sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in a result that has implications for their respective Milan and Turin qualification hopes.

    Draper’s 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over the Canadian Wednesday night further strengthens his commanding lead in fifth spot in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan as he closes in on a debut appearance at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals from 8-12 November.

    The result also deals a blow to 2021 US Open semi-finalist Auger-Aliassime’s quest to make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 22-year-old is sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and had the opportunity to put distance between himself and rivals, including Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz, with a deep run at Flushing Meadows. Now he is at risk of seeing last year’s Turin qualifiers pass him in the Race this fortnight.

    “Obviously Felix is an incredibly tough opponent, that’s why he’s at the top of the game,” Draper said. “I played a really good match today, a special occasion out here.”

    Making his US Open debut, Draper claimed his second win over a Top-10 player Wednesday, backing up his victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Montreal earlier this month.

    Despite making less than half of his first serves, the Briton’s heavy delivery troubled Felix when put in play; the Brit won 36/43 first-serve points. The 20-year-old displayed wide variety from the baseline, including two backhand passing shots to break Felix’s serve in the second and third sets. The Canadian No. 1 only saw three break points – all while Draper was serving for the opening set – but failed to convert. Felix also struggled to find consistency during extended rallies, finishing with 41 unforced errors.

    The left-handed Draper, 9-2 in his past 11 matches, rises to No. 46 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, a vast improvement from 12 months ago, when the youngster was No. 272.

    “I’ve put in a lot of hard work the last few years. I’ve been unfortunate with injuries at a young age, I grew very quickly. I always had the tennis abilities, it’s been about staying fit and staying on court.”

    Draper joins countrymen Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray in the third round at Flushing Meadows. Daniel Evans will attempt to become the fourth Briton in the third round when he meets Australian James Duckworth Thursday.

    The #NextGenATP star Draper will face 27th seed Karen Khachanov, who defeated Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro in four sets, in the third round Friday.

      

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