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Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Merlier out-sprints Milan to win stage nine of Tour de France
PA Media/DPA London Tim Merlier out-sprinted Jonathan Milan to victory on stage nine of the Tour de France after Mathieu van der Poel almost pulled off an audacious win in Chateauroux. Van der Poel had rolled off the front of the peloton alongside team-mate Jonas Rickaert at the start of the 174km stage from Chinon in what looked a certain suicide mission, but the Dutchman held off the chasing pack until the final few hundred metres. The Alpecin-Deceuninck adventure had forced rival teams to burn their lead-out men in a furious chase through crosswinds in the final 30km of the stage, and with the sprint trains thoroughly depleted the quick men had to fend for themselves at the finale. Saturday's stage winner Milan had good position on the barriers but Merlier went long and the European champion pipped the Italian to the line. 'It was really hard,' said Merlier, who also won stage three into Dunkirk. 'Five minutes (to Van der Poel) is a lot but we tried to chase and also the other teams start to help, the pacing was quite high at the front, but it was hard for all the guys. The bunch was nervous. 'In the end we just went all in and I'm happy I can win my second stage here.' There has been debate in recent days about the long-term value of flat sprint stages in the Tour, with the fight for UCI points meaning fewer teams can be tempted into breakaways, but this one certainly delivered some drama. Chateauroux, this week dubbed 'Cavendish City' in honour of Sir Mark, who took the first of his Tour-record 35 career stage victories in 2008, has only ever known sprints in its history in the race, but Van der Poel did his best to break that streak. When he and Rickaert went early, it looked like a play purely for the intermediate sprint points, but they rolled through that line early in the day and just kept going, building a lead of more than five minutes. Even as teams furiously fought for position in the wind behind, the lead still held at 50 seconds with 10 kilometres to go as splits appeared in the peloton. Rickaert fell back with six kilometres left and it became a straight fight between the powerful but shattered Van der Poel and some disorganised lead-out trains behind. It would go the peloton's way, but Van der Poel got at least one wish with Rickaert being named the most combative rider of the day. 'We wanted to go for it today because it's his dream to be on the podium of a Tour de France,' Van der Poel said. 'It's hard not to be able to finish it off but we put up a good show today.' There was no change at the top of the general classification, with triple champion Tadej Pogacar remaining 54 seconds clear of Remco Evenepoel. Twice winner Jonas Vingegaard is behind Kevin Vauquelin in fourth, one minute 17 seconds off yellow. However, there was a blow for Pogacar as key lieutenant Joao Almeida abandoned the race as a result of injuries suffered on stage seven.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sizzling Sinner dethrones Alcaraz as Wimbledon champ
PA Media/DPA London Revenge proved a dish best served on grass for Jannik Sinner as he put his Paris heartbreak behind him to claim a first Wimbledon title on Sunday. Only five weeks have passed since Carlos Alcaraz stunningly saved three match points in a French Open final fightback for the ages but his hopes of a third straight victory at the All England Club were dashed by his great rival. This time it was world number one Sinner, who becomes the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title, that came from behind, claiming a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in three hours and four minutes - nearly two-and-a-half hours quicker than their Roland Garros epic. The victory, which Sinner celebrated by thrusting both arms aloft, puts their rivalry back on a knife edge, with the 23-year-old now trailing Alcaraz only by five slam titles to four and putting an end to a five-match losing streak against the Spaniard. It is also Sinner's first slam title away from his favoured hard courts, while Alcaraz suffered a first major final defeat, unable to find the same magic that had brought him back from the brink on the clay. A penny for the thoughts, meanwhile, of Grigor Dimitrov, who led Sinner by two sets to love in the fourth round only for his body to fail him. Perhaps the Italian was due a stroke of luck, and he has made the most of it in superb fashion. Sinner said in his on-court presentation: 'I had a very tough loss in Paris. But it doesn't really matter how you win or lose the important tournaments, you just have to understand what you did wrong, try to work on that. 'This is for sure one of the reasons why I'm holding this trophy. I'm very happy that I held my nerves. It's an amazing feeling.' Alcaraz said: 'It's difficult to lose. First of all I have to congratulate Jannik once again. It's a really well-deserved trophy. Unbelievable two weeks here in London playing great tennis. 'Really proud of everything I'm doing. At the beginning of the season I struggled a little bit, on the court, off the court, but then suddenly I started to bring joy on the court again. I just want to keep going, to keep bringing joy on the court.' The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte were joined in the Royal Box by A-list stars Keira Knightley, Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman as well as seven former Wimbledon champions for the big occasion. Alcaraz was certainly not holding back, slamming down a 136mph ace to start the match and hitting 139 in his second service game - a new record for the Spaniard, until he twice clocked 140 later in the contest. Sinner struck the first blow, a wild Alcaraz forehand handing over the first break in the fifth game, but back came the second seed with three games in a row. Soon that was four, with Alcaraz winning surely one of the best set-winning rallies seen on Centre Court: Sinner's 118mph second serve was returned with interest, Alcaraz angled a forehand out wide, his rival thumped a forehand into the corner only for the Spaniard to somehow conjure a backhand winner. He stood with his finger pointed to his head as the crowd rose to acclaim another piece of tennis wizardry. In four of the 22-year-old's run of victories against Sinner, he had lost the first set, so this was a big statement, but Alcaraz then threw in a poor game to start the second. Sinner, who normally disguises his emotions as well as an Alcaraz drop shot, let out a loud shout of 'Let's go' when he saved a break point in the next game, the Italian determined to hold on to his advantage this time. He was forced to delay his serve at a crucial moment two games later when a champagne cork nearly hit him, prompting boos from the crowd and a rebuke from British umpire Alison Hughes. If Sinner did have Paris in his mind then serving for the set at 5-4 would have been a moment to tighten up but instead he produced a series of greatest hits, chasing down an Alcaraz drop shot, drilling a forehand winner down the line to bring up set point and then crunching another winner cross court. Sinner missed two chances for an immediate break at the start of the third set following a pair of Alcaraz double faults but the match was starting to feel marginally on his racket. He showed his improvisational skills with a tweener drop volley, and at 4-4 it was the world number one who made the breakthrough, a forehand powered into the corner leaving Alcaraz on the floor and helpless as a volley landed mid court. And this time the serve was all Sinner needed to open up a potentially decisive advantage, with the Italian then moving a step closer by breaking again to lead 2-1 in the fourth set. Alcaraz survived a couple of close service games and the crowd willed him to turn it around, roaring as Sinner coughed up two break points at 4-3. Not this time, though, said the Italian as he responded with four points in a row. Moments later he was serving for the title - as he had in Paris - and creating three match points. He netted a backhand on the first but a 137mph serve on the second gave him his moment.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Liverpool pay emotional tribute to Diogo Jota at Preston friendly
PA Media/dpa London For seven minutes after the final whistle, Liverpool players and staff stood in front of their supporters at Preston as they chanted Diogo Jota's name. Sunday's pre-season friendly at Deepdale was originally envisaged as a day to kick-start preparations for Liverpool's Premier League title defence, but it played out as a memorial service for Jota and his brother Andre Silva, 10 days after they died in a car accident in Spain. On the pitch Liverpool eased to a 3-1 win through goals from Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo but thoughts of Jota and Silva remained at the forefront throughout the day. It began with a beautiful performance of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' by Claudia Rose Maguire, wife of former Preston player Sean, before kick-off. As Maguire sang Liverpool's anthem, Preston captain Ben Whiteman walked the length of the pitch to lay a wreath in front of the visiting fans, with the Bill Shankly Kop dominated by banners and scarves bearing Jota's name. Liverpool supporters sung the first of many renditions of their Jota chant 20 minutes before kick-off. When they rose to sing it again 20 minutes into the match, marking the squad number that Liverpool retired this week, supporters in all four stands at Deepdale rose to their feet to join the applause. Mohamed Salah, captain of a young Liverpool side that started the game, looked visibly moved by the moment as an image of the brothers - together at Porto in their youth - was shown on the big screen inside the stadium. And when Nunez scored Liverpool's second early in the second half, he delivered two of Jota's celebrations - first the shark gesture Jota gave when he scored against Everton at Goodison Park, then another imitating playing video games. Liverpool have been in mourning since the news of Jota's death came early on the morning of July 3, only 11 days after the 28-year-old father of three had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. Several Liverpool players attended his funeral in Portugal last Saturday, with others at a memorial that took place in midweek. Players were allowed extra time to report back for pre-season as a result. There had been question marks over whether this fixture would go ahead, but in an interview published on Liverpool's website on Sunday morning, Arne Slot said: 'We are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not.' The grieving process will continue, but this felt an important step as a match that might otherwise have been about their new signings - Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong came off the bench after Giorgi Mamardashvili started in goal - became a moment to play in honour of the memory of Jota and Silva. Bradley opened the scoring in the 34th minute, prodding in at the back post after neat work from Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa, and half-time substitute Nunez pounced on a mistake from Jordan Storey to score the second eight minutes into the second half. Eight minutes from time Preston substitute Liam Lindsay headed past his former team-mate Freddie Woodman, who joined Liverpool from North End at the start of the month, but it felt right for Liverpool to have the final say through Gakpo.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Italy celebrates first Wimbledon singles winner in Jannik
PA Media/DPA London New Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner was congratulated by the Italian prime minister after his Centre Court win over Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner, the world number one, dethroned two-time defending champion Alcaraz with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory to become the first winner, male or female, from Italy. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X: 'Another page of history for Italian sport: 'Jannik Sinner triumphs at Wimbledon and makes an entire nation dream. Proud of you, champion!' A first Wimbledon title was sweet revenge for the 23-year-old, who lost an epic five-setter to Alcaraz in the French Open final lust last month. Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, commentating on BBC 5 Live, said: 'It's so rightly deserved. 'To be able to come back from that, play another grand slam final against the same opponent and be in the same situation, serving for the match and pull out the game he has put together - I can't imagine what they've been going through until this final.' Australian Pat Cash, the 1987 champion, felt Sinner's gameplan worked to perfection. 'A great performance. Just great serving, nullifying the drop shots of Alcaraz,' said the BBC pundit. 'Alcaraz was below par on his serve and that made a big difference.' Alcaraz's stunning shot to take the first set, a flicked backhand cross-court winner on the stretch, had former British number one Tim Henman purring. 'That was a moment of magic,' he said. 'Such a great rally at set point, the control of the racket face from Alcaraz to direct a winner from that position. There is no one else who has that athletic ability.'
Al Etihad
11 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Plane involved in collision at London Southend Airport
13 July 2025 21:27 London (PA Media/dpa)A plane has been involved in a collision at London Southend Airport in a "serious incident," police said. In a statement, local police in the county of Essex, where Southend Airport is located, said they remain on the scene of a "serious incident" and were alerted shortly before 4 pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday to "reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane." Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke coming up from the crash site at the Essex a precaution because of their proximity to the incident, police said they are evacuating a local golf club and a rugby club. In a statement, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3:58 pm.""We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners," the service East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance have been sent to the to the airport's website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon have been a post on X, David Burton-Sampson, Labour member of parliament for Southend West and Leigh, said: "I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport.""Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work." "My thoughts are with everyone involved," he said. Matt Dent, Southend city council's Cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, said on X: "I am aware of the live serious incident ongoing at London Southend Airport." "At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport. My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident."
