<p>Former representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina and former footballer of Željezničar, Ermin Zec, together with current representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina and member of Salzburg Kerim Alajbegović, received a plaque from the Municipality of Bugojno.</p><h2>Return to hometown after career</h2><p>Zec finished his professional career in 2022, after which he returned to his hometown of Bugojno with the desire to help Iskra, the club where he took his first football steps.</p><p>During a rich career, he left a deep mark abroad. In the top tier of Turkish football, he recorded more than 140 appearances, scored 32 goals and registered 20 assists. He also gave notable performances in Croatia, where he scored 34 goals with 11 assists. The crown of that period was 2009 when he was named the best player of the HNL, ahead of names like Vida, Mandžukić, Ibričić and Badel.</p><h2>I proudly represented Bugojno</h2><p>After receiving recognition from his hometown, Zec spoke to "Avaz".</p><p>– During the previous 15 years of professional career, I proudly and with all my heart represented Bugojno, both by playing for clubs and wearing the national team jersey. I never hid where I come from, on the contrary, I proudly emphasized my city wherever the football path took me.</p><p>Although I could have chosen any place to live after the end of my career, I decided to come back home. I chose my Bugojno, my Iskra and local sports, because I sincerely believe that our city needs people who will work for it with all their hearts.</p><p>Also, I believe that in Bugojno there are still many individuals who promoted our city in the same way and who equally deserve such recognition. We must not forget those who, through their work, effort and name, built Bugojno's reputation - said Zec.</p>

The award of the city of Bugojno was also received by Kerim Alajbegović, current player of the National Team

Ermin Zec for "Avaz" after receiving recognition: "I am proud that I represented Bugojno"

<p>The President of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vico Zeljković previously announced the construction of a national stadium, and now a video of the conceptual design for the future appearance of Bilino polje has emerged in the public. The new stadium in Zenica should be built according to the highest FIFA and UEFA standards and would have an elite category.</p><p>According to earlier announcements, the existing stands of the stadium in Zenica would be demolished, after which the construction of a completely new facility with a capacity of around 18,000 seats would follow. The project has attracted significant attention from the sports public, especially following the historic qualification of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team to the World Cup.</p><p>Behind the conceptual solution is a team of experts from the design bureau "Aksa" from Zenica, headed by architect Zvjezdan Turkić, according to Arena Sport.</p>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYUUQmCML5C/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYUUQmCML5C/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYUUQmCML5C/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Arena Sport BH (@arenasportbh)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Stadium will be built according to UEFA and FIFA standards

Conceptual design for new national stadium of Bosnia and Herzegovina unveiled

<p>Mostar Zrinjski coach Igor Štimac continued celebrating his win of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup, which he secured with a triumph against Velež in the final.</p><p>Štimac took the opportunity after his triumph in the final to provoke the city rival's supporters once again.</p><p>He posted several photos from the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup celebration on Facebook with the message:</p><p>"How many times must the five-pointed star be defeated for it to disappear from these lands?", asks Zrinjski's coach.</p>

<p>It should be noted that Croatian media reported this morning that Štimac will leave Mostar despite winning the trophy.</p><p>According to their information, he will be replaced by former Sarajevo coach Simon Rožman.</p>

Štimac took the opportunity after his triumph in the final to provoke the city rival's supporters once again

Štimac after victory against Velež: How many times must the five-pointed star be defeated?

<p>Savo Milošević submitted his resignation as head of the coaching staff at FK Željezničar, and on this occasion, together with director Haris Slato, he addressed the public.</p><p>- After, I must say, a longer period of deliberation that has been going on for weeks, I have made the decision to submit my resignation as head of the coaching staff of FK Željezničar. I will briefly explain this decision. It did not, as I said, come overnight. In accordance with what I discussed with the management at the beginning, before I came to FK Željezničar, we had an agreement on long-term cooperation and a project that was supposed to elevate this club to a higher level in the coming period. That was the biggest reason why I accepted to enter a very delicate and difficult moment for the club and try to rehabilitate the situation until June, and then from June start working on a new project - said Milošević.</p><h2>Certain stability</h2><p>He added that they reached a situation where, at the end of the season and the beginning of a new one, neither the people from the club nor he can plan anything concrete from June onward, so it becomes pointless to continue cooperation.</p><p>- I must above all think about my future, and the club must also find solutions, which, I presume, will be very difficult in the period that is coming. The director will say something about that later. I must say that I am extremely sorry about all of this, because it was truly my intention, and the director can confirm this, to work here long-term. That was the plan and the project. I sincerely believed that it could be achieved, regardless of the obstacles we all face in these parts, and that it is possible to create a quality system and return FK Željezničar to the place that belongs to it in Bosnian-Herzegovinian football, and in the region as well. Unfortunately, this time too, some things have gotten in the way and we will not be able to implement that plan, or at least I will not. It remains for me to sincerely thank everyone for the cooperation, starting with Mr. Mirvić. Haris was with us for three months and can testify to what kind of period we went through to bring the club to at least a certain stability. I think we succeeded in that - he said.</p><p>He stressed that it is a satisfaction for him personally as well as for all the people in the club.</p><p>- Given the difficulties we encountered in the previous period, we managed to overcome all of that and bring the club to the safe zone. This represents great satisfaction for me, because everything would have been much harder if we were still in a difficult situation. This way I can say that I managed to do what I promised when I came to the position of coach of FK Željezničar. At the end, I want to thank the management, the people in the club and the small number of staff members who were with us, but primarily the players, who bore the greatest burden in an exceptionally difficult period. Believe me, the situation in which we found the team, psychologically, mentally and physically, was extremely difficult. The guys managed to bear it with character and enormous will, beyond their real capabilities. We owe them great gratitude, because if we had not set out on the right path then, everything would have been much more complicated and difficult. I also thank the coaching staff, the medical team and all the people around the team. Everyone gave their maximum to get everything moving in the right direction. I am grateful to every person who in the previous three months gave everything of themselves so that we could come to the light of day. I particularly want to highlight the fans of this club. It is difficult to explain, but these are truly special fans. I played in many clubs and all fans say about themselves that they are the best and the greatest, but these are special. Regardless of the situation, the state of the table and the state of the team, they were with us sincerely and unconditionally. That pressure could have been much greater and harder given the results. We were lucky that the fans recognized the situation and gave us support both at home and away. That helped us a lot to overcome all the problems. Željezničar truly has special fans. At the end, I want to thank all the people of Sarajevo who welcomed me here in a truly special way. In part, I expected that, but in some situations I was also surprised. Because of that, I am even more sorry. It would have been an honor and pleasure for me to stay and live in Sarajevo and work at this club. But, well, perhaps some other time. Unfortunately, the reason for this address is not pleasant - Milošević emphasized.</p><h2>Everything is now in question</h2><p>Haris Slato said he is very disappointed with Savo Milošević's decision, but that he fully understands it, as does Mirvić.</p><p>- Simply, we were not in a position to provide the coach with conditions to continue working in our club, because we could not guarantee that we would fulfill what we agreed upon. The problem that burdens our club is the statute, which has still not been resolved. Because of that, I express great regret that our coach is leaving, although we had serious plans for him to stay here, work and help us in the development of the club. The coach came at, as he himself said, the most delicate moment for our club. I think this was one of the most difficult periods in the history of Željezničar. That is why great thanks to the coach, you, Nenad and Branko for coming and managing to elevate us to a higher level, achieving victories, scoring goals and ultimately securing survival so that our club would not be in the threatened zone. In the previous three months we did everything that was in our power, both administratively and organizationally, to unblock the processes that had been set in motion. I am additionally disappointed because I know how much effort we invested, both economically and in sports terms, to make progress. You saw that last week we were together in Hrasnica, where we discussed potential opportunities for relocating our sports development segment and developing a sports academy.</p><p>However, now all of that is called into question. I am especially sad because I know how much effort we have invested in all these segments in the last two months, and now I must say that the entire strategic partnership project is on the brink of collapse. Because of that, from today I am placing my mandate at the disposal, together with coach Savo Milošević. We will decide about my future in the next day or two, together with the other members and management bodies of the club, after which we will provide more information - Slato concluded.</p>

Simply, we were not in a position to provide the coach with conditions to continue working in our club, because we could not guarantee that we would fulfill what we agreed upon, said Slato

Milošević after resignation: We cannot plan anything concrete from June onward, it becomes pointless to continue cooperation

<p>U.N.-backed human rights experts focusing on racial discrimination urged Italy's government to do more to eliminate violence, hate speech, stigmatization and harassment against Africans and people of African descent, and expressed concern that no legal cases have been brought to punish fans and others for racist acts at sports events.</p><p>The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a panel of independent experts that works with the U.N.'s human rights office, also said it regrets that Italy's government hasn't provided it with an updated number of complaints and cases of racial discrimination that have been investigated and prosecuted, among other concerns.</p><h2>A longstanding issue with Black players</h2><p>The findings released Thursday were part of the committee's periodic look at efforts by governments of U.N. member states to crack down on racial hatred and discrimination. Other countries under the panel's scrutiny in this round were Croatia, Namibia, Senegal, Turkmenistan and Uruguay.</p><p>Italian soccer has a longstanding issue with Black players being racially abused by fans, and incidents in which players including Kevin-Prince Boateng in 2013 and Romelu Lukaku this year felt they were not adequately supported by match officials and soccer bodies.</p><p>The committee noted Italy had adopted laws and other measures to fight racial discrimination, including hate speech in sports. But it said it was “concerned that cases of racist acts during sport events, including physical and verbal attacks against athletes of African descent, continue” in Italy and “legal proceedings to punish those responsible are not initiated.”</p><h2>Protecting the human rights of migrants</h2><p>Italy also has been a major thoroughfare and destination for Africans and other migrants who make dangerous crossings of the Mediterranean to reach Europe, where peace and economic opportunity may be greater than in their home countries.</p><p>The panel urged Italian authorities to do more to protect the human rights of migrants and asylum-seekers, as well as ethnic minorities. It expressed concern about “persistent and increasing use and normalization of racist hate speech” against ethnic groups in the media and on the internet.</p><p>Italy's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the report.</p>

Italian soccer has a longstanding issue with Black players being racially abused by fans

Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku walks on the pitch in front of a 'no to racism' banner

UN-backed panel says Italy can do more to fight racism, discrimination in sports and society

<p>Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez was called back Thursday to the France squad ahead of a European Championship qualifying match, nine months after a serious knee injury.</p><p>Hernandez, who joined PSG from Bayern Munich, was included in a 23-man list by France coach Didier Deschamps.</p><p>France will resume its Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against Ireland at Parc des Princes on Sept. 7. The 2018 World Cup champions then play a friendly at Germany on Sept. 12.</p><p>With four wins in as many matches, France is in first place in Group B with a six-point lead over Greece.</p><p>Hernandez, who has 33 international appearances under his belt, has not played with France since he ruptured the ACL in his right knee eight minutes into the national team's opening game against Australia at last year's World Cup.</p>

Hernandez, who joined PSG from Bayern Munich, was included in a 23-man list by France coach Didier Deschamps

Lucas Hernandez is back with France team nine months after a serious knee injury

<p>The world's top chess federation has ruled that transgender women cannot compete in its official events for females until an assessment of gender change is made by its officials.</p><p>The decision by Lausanne, Switzerland-based federation FIDE was published on Monday and has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and supporters of transgender rights.</p><p>FIDE said it and its member federations increasingly have received recognition requests from players who identify as transgender, and that the participation of transgender women would depend on an analysis of individual cases that could take up to two years.</p><h2>Significant impact</h2><p>- Change of gender is a change that has a significant impact on a player’s status and future eligibility to tournaments, therefore it can only be made if there is a relevant proof of the change provided - the federation said.</p><p>“In the event that the gender was changed from a male to a female the player has no right to participate in official FIDE events for women until further FIDE’s decision is made,” it said.</p><p>Holders of women's titles who change their genders to male would see those titles “abolished,” the federation said, while holding out the possibility of a reinstatement “if the person changes the gender back to a woman.”</p><h2>Transgender players</h2><p>- If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible - the federation said.</p><p>It acknowledged that such questions regarding transgender players were an “evolving issue for chess” and that “further policy may need to be evolved in the future in line with research evidence.”</p><p>In a written response to The Associated Press, seeking an explanation about the decision, the federation's press office said: “Allow us to clarify that the new regulations are aimed at clearly defining the procedure on how a person who has officially changed their gender may register the fact on FIDE Directory."</p><p>The lack of such regulations caused “ambiguity,” it said, “and therefore an established order was needed to provide the right of the transgender players being properly represented on the official register of FIDE.”</p><p>It said any transgender player was allowed to participate in the “open” section of its chess tournaments.</p><p>“Two years is a scope of sight that seemed reasonable for the thorough analyses of such developments,” the federation said. “It is to set a certain deadline for a new reiteration of these policies, without rushing it.”</p><p>Word of the decision comes as the federation is hosting a World Cup event in Azerbaijan where top players including No. 1-ranked Grand Master Magnus Carlsen of Norway are attending.</p><h2>Specialized categories</h2><p>The federation has open competitions that allow all players to take part, as well as specialized categories, such as for women, young players and even computers.</p><p>Many sports involving intense physical activity — which chess does not — have been grappling with how to formulate policies toward transgender athletes in recent years.</p><p>The International Cycling Union has joined the governing bodies of track and field and swimming as top-tier Olympic sports addressing the issue of transgender athletes and fairness in women’s events.</p><p>Last month, the cycling federation ruled that female transgender athletes who transitioned after male puberty will no longer be able to compete in women’s races.</p>

Many sports involving intense physical activity have been grappling with how to formulate policies toward transgender athletes

World chess federation bars transgender women from competing in women's events

<p>FIFA President Gianni Infantino could make no guarantee Wednesday that the member federations will distribute the $30,000 payments promised to every player at the Women's World Cup.</p><p>He said at a news conference ahead of the tournament opener that he's engaging with member federations on the issue. The payments are made the national federations, which are expected to pay the players.</p><p>Directly pay<br></p><p>But there is no mechanism to directly pay the players the money, which could be life-changing for some.</p><p>“We are moving of course in the right direction, we have been consulting with associations, with players, to try to go in the right path,” Infantino said. “We have issued these recommendations, but we have an association of associations. So whatever payments we do, we will go through the associations and then the associations will, of course, make the relevant payments to their own players. We are in touch with all the associations.”</p><h2>732 players participating</h2><p>FIFA had previously confirmed that the 732 players participating in the World Cup will be paid at least $30,000 each. The paycheck rises if teams do well, with each player for the winning team earning $270,000.</p><p>Infantino said there are complications including residency and taxation that are best handled by federations.</p><p>The payment is significant for many players: the average annual salary worldwide for women who play professionally is $14,000.</p><p>FIFA’s agreement means that half of the total World Cup prize money fund of $110 million will be paid to the players in the 32 teams. The prize pool is more than three times the $30 million prize fund FIFA paid out at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.</p><h2>Percentage of the prize money</h2><p>The global players’ union, known as FIFPRO, helped push FIFA to dedicate a percentage of the prize money to the players themselves. The union sent a letter to FIFA in October on behalf of players from 25 national teams calling for more equitable conditions and prize money.</p><p>However, the prize money fund is still far below the $440 million paid to the men who played in the World Cup last year in Qatar. Infantino said the goal is to equalize the prize money by the 2026 men's World Cup and the 2027 women's edition.</p><p>Infantino said the Women's World Cup is expected to generate a half-billion dollars in revenue and the organization will break even. For the first time, the commercial rights for the Women's World Cup were sold separately from the men's tournament.</p><p>The tournament opens Thursday with both co-hosts involved. New Zealand will play Norway in Auckland, and Australia will take on Ireland in Sydney.</p>

The global players’ union, known as FIFPRO, helped push FIFA to dedicate a percentage of the prize money to the players themselves

FIFA can't guarantee federations will pay promised $30,000 per player at Women's World Cup

<p>Novak Djokovic knows a thing or two about the talents and intangibles required to win big matches against the best players.</p><p>He’s been in 35 Grand Slam finals. He’s won 23 of them. He played Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer a total of 109 times, with head-to-head edges against both. He went 9-5 against them in title matches at majors.</p><p>So it seemed only natural to ask Djokovic to whom he’d compare the new star of men’s tennis — Carlos Alcaraz — after losing to him across five sets and more than 4 1/2 hours brimming with brilliant play and dramatic moments in the Wimbledon final on Sunday.</p><h2>&nbsp;Grand Slam trophies</h2><p>- People have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa and myself. I would agree with that - Djokovic began, the bitterness of the 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 defeat, and the end of his reign at the All England Club, still sharp.</p><p>- I think he’s got basically (the) best of all three worlds - Djokovic said.</p><p>Left there, that would stand out as a rather striking endorsement of the precocious Alcaraz, a Spaniard who won the U.S. Open last year and now is one of just five men to collect multiple Grand Slam trophies before turning 21.</p><p>Then Djokovic got into specifics.</p><p>"He’s got this mental resilience and, really, maturity for someone who is 20 years old. It’s quite impressive,” said Djokovic, who had won Wimbledon four years in a row and seven times in all. “He’s got this ‘Spanish bull’ mentality of competitiveness and fighting spirit and incredible defense that we’ve seen with Rafa over the years.”</p><h2>The No. 1</h2><p>With a smile, Djokovic tacked on what he sees of himself in the youngster.</p><p>"He’s got some nice sliding backhands that (have) some similarities with my backhands. Two-handed backhands. Defense. Being able to adapt. That has been my personal strength for many years,” Djokovic said. “He has it, too.”</p><p>When the gist of that assessment was relayed to the No. 1-ranked Alcaraz, his eyes widened and he exhaled under the white bucket hat that became his trademark news conference accessory.</p><p>Alcaraz was asked how he would describe himself.</p><p>“It’s crazy that Novak (would) say that, honestly. But I consider myself a really complete player. I think I have the shots, the strength physically, the strength mentally, enough to (handle) these situations,” he said. “Probably he’s right. But I don’t want to think about it. ... I’m ‘full Carlos Alcaraz,’ let’s say, but probably I have some great ability from every player.”</p><h2>All the hype</h2><p>Living up to expectations is never easy, and so much has been expected of Alcaraz. Somehow, he is living up to all the hype.</p><p>He brings abundant athleticism, quickness, strength and reflexes to the game. He is equipped with a booming forehand and the touch to implement the softest of drop shots.</p><p>He produced more than twice as many winners as Djokovic on a windy afternoon, 66 to 32. He broke five times across 23 return games Sunday — something that Djokovic’s prior six opponents managed to accomplish just three times across 103 games. He hit serves at up to 135 mph at Wimbledon. He showed an adroitness at the net. He performed in the clutch against Djokovic, coming back from a set point down in the tiebreaker, winning a 32-point epic of a game in the third set and saving a break point early in the fifth before converting his own chance to assume the lead for good.</p><p>“I haven’t played a player like him ever, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who at 36 would have been the oldest men’s champion at the All England Club. “Roger and Rafa have their own, obviously, strengths and weaknesses. Carlos is a very complete player. Amazing adapting capabilities that I think are a key for longevity and for a successful career on all surfaces.”</p><h2>Sign of greatness</h2><p>One sign of greatness is doing things no one else has — or that haven’t been done in a long while.</p><p>In August, Alcaraz will head to New York to defend a U.S. Open title that made him, all in one fell swoop, the first teenager ever to top the ATP rankings, the first teenager to win the men’s championship at Flushing Meadows since Pete Sampras in 1990, and the first teenager to win any Slam trophy since Nadal at the French Open in 2005.</p><p>Now he is the first man other than Djokovic, Federer, Nadal or Andy Murray to win Wimbledon since 2002.</p><p>When Sunday’s classic contest ended, Alcaraz went into the stands to share the moment with his father and other family members.</p><p>“Giving them a big hug, it’s something that I will never forget,” Alcaraz said. “I hope to have a photo from that moment, ’cause I’m going to keep forever.”</p><p>If he remains on this trajectory, there should be plenty of other trophies, hugs and photos to follow.</p>

So it seemed only natural to ask Djokovic to whom he’d compare the new star of men’s tennis

Analysis: Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon title shows he is exactly who everyone thought he was

<p>On the day of the Wimbledon singles draw, Billie Jean King and other founding members of the women’s professional tennis tour gathered 5 miles away at a London hotel to mark the 50th anniversary of a meeting that led to the formation of today’s WTA.</p><p>That long-ago moment was prompted by frustration at being paid far less in prize money than the sport’s male athletes. For all of the progress since in that area, there remains an aspect of tennis in which gender equity is nowhere near being achieved: coaching.</p><p>Of the 128 women in the singles bracket at Wimbledon, which ends this weekend, just six work with a female coach — roughly 5%. All of the coaches for men were men.</p><p>&nbsp;-Terrible. Extremely disappointing - King, the International Tennis Hall of Fame member and rights advocate, told The Associated Press when asked about the scarcity of female coaches. “It’s about society, absolutely. You have to see it to be it. So if you don’t see a woman up there as a coach, it doesn’t even cross your brain. How do we get the top players to hire them? We’ve got to solve the problem.”</p><h2>Entrenched bias</h2><p>King and others in the sport consider that a reflection of the same sort of entrenched bias that has prevented women from advancing in all manner of other fields — and the WTA is making efforts to change that through an initiative that pairs aspiring coaches with established ones.</p><p>Only 13 of the women ranked in the Top 200 have a female coach, according to the WTA; of those, four are the mother of the player.</p><p>- We’re all about equality, and I’d like to see an equal amount of male and female coaches out there - WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in an interview. “To say, ‘We should have all female coaches’ isn’t what we’re looking for, either. ... In a perfect world, we’d have balance."</p><h2>Coach Inclusion Program</h2><p>That is why the WTA created a Coach Inclusion Program, which is in its first full year after a smaller pilot run in 2022. Ten applicants were chosen to take classes and be paired with veteran coaches. Five shadowed coaches and players at a tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, in April; others will get that opportunity at events in Montreal and Cincinnati in August. The WTA plans to expand the program in 2024.</p><p>- A lot of these women taking part have the same level of qualifications as a lot of the coaches that are out on tour, but they have no idea how to actually put themselves out there and break into it - said Mike Anders, the program’s director. “A lot of what happens is that once you’re in, coaches more or less recycle themselves. So a big part is the exposure — getting the right contacts as much as the right experience.”</p><p>The idea is to add candidates to the WTA’s regularly updated database of certified, eligible coaches that is part of its Player Zone, an online resource for athletes.</p><p>At the moment, only 15 of the 186 active coaches are women. That’s 8%.</p><p>- There just isn’t enough options - Simon said. "We need more females on that list.”</p><h2>Explanation</h2><p>Why aren't there more? One possible explanation mentioned by Simon, coaches and players in conversations with the AP was this: In general, the most likely path to coaching is being a former player, and women leaving the tour in their late 20s or early 30s might find it tougher to balance having children with traveling the world as a coach when they stop competing.</p><p>- They have a family. They become mothers. It's easier for men to have a family when they're an ex-player. Look at me: I have one child who’s 6, one who’s 3, and another who’s 1 1/2. It’s unthinkable that I could take the time to coach someone - said Flavia Pennetta, who retired shortly after winning the 2015 U.S. Open. “Maybe, down the road, I could coach. But I couldn't completely dedicate myself to a player now.”</p><p>One of the half-dozen women who coached a woman at Wimbledon this year, Pam Shriver, is a mom. For years, she didn't necessarily want to coach — other than at her son's middle school.</p><p>But Shriver, who is also a TV commentator, is surprised no one even approached her about it before she connected last year on a part-time basis with Donna Vekic, who travels regularly with another coach, Nick Horvat.</p><p>- One of the things I reflect on - said Shriver, who won 21 Grand Slam titles in doubles and reached No. 3 in singles, “is I realized that if I had been a male player with my background, my success as a player in singles and doubles, and then been broadcasting and observed tennis as much as I’ve observed as a broadcaster for the last few decades, I would have already been asked. For sure, I would have been.”</p><h2>Dearth of women&nbsp;</h2><p>Chris Tontz, who coaches American Claire Liu and mentored a pair of coaches at Charleston, points to a dearth of women hired at the lower levels by clubs, academies and federations.</p><p>“It’s still a long road for women,” Tontz said. “All it would take is for someone to take a chance on them.”</p><p>One of the coaches shadowing him in April, Iris Harris, was a talented teen who reached the junior doubles semifinals at Wimbledon in 2003 but had her playing career derailed when she tore a knee ligament and groin muscle. She turned to coaching and now, at 38, is a teaching pro in Florida.</p><p>Harris thinks female coaches are limited by a perception that women “can get a little too emotional.” She also hears that they don't make as good hitting partners as men — even though female players don't hit against men in competition.</p><p>Some of us," Harris said, “have never been given a chance.”</p><p>At its root, King and others say, this is not merely about women’s tennis. Or tennis, even.</p><h2>7% of coaches worldwide were women</h2><p>A 2019 study by FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, found that more than 13 million girls and women played organized soccer, but only 7% of coaches worldwide were women. When the Women’s World Cup begins next week, 20 countries will be coached by men, 12 by women. In the NWSL women’s soccer league, eight clubs are coached by men, four by women. (The numbers tilt the other way in the WNBA basketball league: nine female coaches, three male coaches.)</p><p>- I don’t think no one wants to hire a woman. It’s more that you just don’t see as many of them, so you just kind of always gravitate towards hiring a male coach — and there’s really no reason for it,” Wimbledon quarterfinalist Jessica Pegula said.</p><p>And it’s not limited to sports, of course.</p><p>- I do wish there were more female coaches. I do wish there were more women involved in tennis. Running tournaments. Agents. Journalists - 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens said. “It’s about the business world, the regular world, the entire world.”</p><p>Caty McNally, who reached the past two U.S. Open women’s doubles finals, is one of the rare women with a female coach.</p><p>She has two coaches: Kevin O’Neill, who is on tour full-time, and her mother, Lynn Nabors McNally, who travels part-time.</p><p>- My mom knows just as much about tennis, in my opinion, as a lot of men - McNally said. "I would never label her as less qualified of a coach because she’s a lady.”</p><h2>Women have led women</h2><p>Women have led women to Grand Slam titles, including two in a span of 1 1/2 months in 2017, when Anabel Medina Garrigues coached Jelena Ostapenko to a trophy at the French Open and Conchita Martinez helped Garbiñe Muguruza at Wimbledon.</p><p>That didn't turn out to be a watershed moment for female coaches.</p><p>Nor was three-time major champion Andy Murray's hiring of Amelie Mauresmo as his coach in 2014.</p><p>“It’s strange. I’m probably surprised ... there’s not more female coaches across both tours,” Murray said. “I didn’t necessarily think at the time that it was for sure going to spark loads of new or more female coaches to come into the game. It wasn’t exactly received unbelievably well at the time. ... But it’s probably slightly more, sort of, deeper-rooted, I guess, than just the top of the game."</p>

That long-ago moment was prompted by frustration at being paid far less in prize money than the sport’s male athletes

Just 5% of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Just 5 percent of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

<p>Central defender Iñigo Martínez says he's prepared to “work as hard as the next guy” for Barcelona.</p><p>The 32-year-old Martínez was presented as Barcelona’s new player on Thursday, a week after he signed a two-year contract with the Spanish champions. He arrived on a free transfer after completing his former deal with Athletic Bilbao.</p><p>Martínez has been among the best central defenders in the Spanish league for several seasons, playing first at Real Sociedad from 2011 before he joined Basque Country rival Bilbao in 2018.</p><p>A left-footed player, he can pass from the back and provides a physical presence in the box. He can also shoot from distance. He will join a defense led by Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Koundé.</p><p>- I would underscore my competitive spirit - Martínez said when asked to describe his strengths. “I will work as hard as the next guy. I know what kind of club I have joined and what I need to do.”</p><p>Martínez has made 20 appearances for Spain but never at a major tournament.</p><p>Besides Martínez, Barcelona has incorporated midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer from Manchester City this summer. Barcelona has also sealed a deal to bring in young Brazil forward Vitor Roque next season. The club is expected to look for a holding midfielder to help replace Sergio Busquets after his departure.</p>

Martínez has made 20 appearances for Spain but never at a major tournament

Barcelona's new defender Íñigo Martínez pledges to 'work as hard as the next guy'

<p>A hamburger and drink combination called the Lionel Messi. A huge sketch of the soccer star’s smiling face on a restaurant wall beside a viral meme from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A beer with a pink label matching the color of the Inter Miami jersey he will wear.</p><p>Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the arrival of the Argentine soccer legend.</p><p>There is no hiding the euphoria generated by Messi in Miami as he begins the new Major League Soccer phase of his career in one of the most Latino cities in the United States. But his arrival is also bringing a note of sadness as fans know that at age 36 he is nearing the end of his career.</p><h2>Inter Miami</h2><p>Messi announced on June 7 that he will play for Inter Miami in a move that is expected to revitalize soccer in the United States and South Florida with one of the sporting world’s best-known figures. More than 100,000 Argentines live in Miami, which will host World Cup matches in 2026.</p><p>The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, the soccer world's most prestigious individual award, is coming off two years with Paris Saint-Germain and is expected to make his Inter Miami debut against Mexican team Cruz Azul on July 21.</p><p>In a career spanning more than 17 years with his country’s national team, Messi has scored more than 100 goals, including two against France at the 2022 World Cup, a match Argentina won on penalties.</p><p>- I love that he’s in Miami because my children will be able to experience him like I experienced (fellow Argentina soccer star Diego) Maradona - said Maximiliano Alvarez, one of the owners of the Fiorito restaurant, where a wall has a giant mural of Messi. “It also makes me sad, nostalgic, because it looks like it is the beginning of his retirement."</p><p>“Coming to this league is not the same as playing in the European league,” said the Argentine businessman.</p><h2>Mural</h2><p>Álvarez and his brother Cristian had the original mural with Messi’s face painted in the restaurant in 2018, when many people criticized the soccer star for his role in the Argentine national team’s poor performance. His idea was to honor him and the resilience he brings, never giving up.</p><p>In 2021, they renovated the restaurant in Little Haiti in northeast Miami with another mural of Messi on the same wall, this one by Chilean-American artist Claudio Picasso.</p><p>On the walls of another restaurant called Kao Bar &amp; Grill, in the Hallandale Beach area north of Miami Beach, Messi’s meme ”¡Andá pa’ alla bobo!” “Go over there, fool!” is immortalized along with a giant drawing of the soccer star.</p><p>Angry after Argentina’s heated victory over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup, Messi said those words to a Dutch player who was passing by while he was being interviewed.</p><p>Messi, who is known for his calm and cautious way of speaking, repented the comment, which immediately went viral.</p><p>- He regretted it, obviously ... but it was left as a joke - said Augusto Falopapas, the artist who drew the meme on the restaurant’s wall.</p><p>To the south, in Wynwood district, an area near downtown Miami known for its warehouse-turned-art galleries, other artists have painted murals of Messi. There are two giant images of the player, one with a smiling face, the other with him running as if in a game. And there are plans for more, including a 10-meter-high (32-foot-high) mural of Messi kissing the World Cup in an open parking lot.</p><p>Messi’s arrival has also impacted breweries like Prison Pals Brewing Co., which sells a beer bearing Messi’s number 10. The can is painted pink with black lettering, a replica of Inter Miami’s colors.</p><h2>Messi t-shirts</h2><p>The Argentine grill The Knife offers a Messi mojito and the Hard Rock Cafe is launching a new “Messi Chicken Sandwich” made from the soccer star’s favorite “milanesas.” Messi t-shirts, pants, sweatshirts with a hood and water bottles will also be for sale.</p><p>- When we found out that he decided to choose Miami as his South Florida home, it was incredible for us - said Elena Alvarez, vice president of global sales for Hard Rock International. “We are very, very grateful and we have him as a brand ambassador and we are launching (the new sandwich) at the same time that he is moving here.”</p><p>Near Miami Beach, at the Café Ragazzi of Argentine-Venezuelan singer-songwriter Ricardo Montaner, they are welcoming his return.</p><p>Messi was there on vacation after he won the America’s Cup with Argentina in 2021. The star caused an uproar in the restaurant as fans came to greet him, forcing staff, including waiters and kitchen workers, to form a wall around him to protect him and allow him to exit to his car.</p><p>Now they want to offer the soccer legend more privacy and are thinking of putting up curtains.</p><p>Emiliano Valdés, the café’s general manager, said “He is revolutionizing the entire city," and that Miami is welcoming Messi “with open arms.”</p>

Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the arrival of the Argentine soccer legend

Artist Maximiliano Bagnasco paints a mural of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

<p>For the second straight World Cup, Manchester City topped the list of FIFA payments to clubs whose players were selected for the 32 national teams in Qatar.</p><p>From the $209 million fund allocated by FIFA, the Premier League and Champions League winner received almost $4.6 million — eclipsing the total sent to the entire continent of Africa, which had five national teams at the World Cup. The list published Thursday showed a total of 18 African clubs combined to earn $4.57 million.</p><p>FIFA said 440 clubs in 51 countries were rewarded with payments funded by the governing body’s $7.5 billion income for the four-year commercial cycle mostly tied to the 2022 men’s tournament.</p><h2>Clubs in UEFA</h2><p>The project that was launched for the 2010 World Cup again starkly showed how clubs in soccer’s wealthiest and dominant continent have nurtured, lured and retained much of the best talent.</p><p>Clubs in UEFA member countries got $159 million, 76% of the total fund, and clubs in England accounted for $37.7 million, FIFA said.</p><p>A fifth-tier club in England, Boreham Wood, got double the FIFA payment — $31,026 vs $15,513 — given to Santos, the storied Brazilian team that was Pelé’s home and where Neymar started his career.</p><p>FIFA calculated the payments at a daily rate of $10,950 for each of 837 players doing duty in Qatar until the day after their team’s last game. Each player’s allocation was divided among clubs who held their registration since the 2020-21 season.</p><p>Man City was due payments for players ranging from Julián Álvarez and its former defender Nicolás Otamendi in Argentina’s title-winning team, six members of England’s quarterfinalist team and Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who exited in the group stage. City had received a list-leading $5 million from FIFA’s $209 million at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.</p><p>Barcelona was the next highest earner on the 2022 list with $4.54 million, including $131,405 for Lionel Messi’s time with the club in 2020-21 until leaving for Paris Saint-Germain.</p><p>Bayern Munich’s share was more than $4.3 million, including payments for four players from runner-up France’s squad.</p><p>Though Italy did not qualify for the World Cup, 27 Italian clubs earned a total of $18.7 million from their foreign players. Juventus got more than $3 million, including $394,215 for France’s Adrien Rabiot and allocations from Argentina trio Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes and Paulo Dybala.</p><p>A player with finalists Argentina and France who had been with the same club since the start of the 2020-21 season earned $394,215 for that club.</p><p>However, storied Argentinian club Boca Juniors is due just $32,851 for defender Nahuel Molina's brief stay with the club in the 2020-21 season before moving to Europe. River Plate, Boca’s rival in Buenos Aires, was due $1.2 million.</p><p>Spanish clubs collectively earned $24.2 million, German clubs shared a little over $21 million and French clubs’ payout was $16.5 million.</p><p>Saudi Arabian clubs led the Asian list with $6.6 million and host nation Qatar’s clubs got $6.3 million. Clubs in the United States got $5.4 million, topped by $827,000 for the Seattle Sounders.</p><p>Morocco’s historic run as the first African team to reach the semifinals was achieved with many Europe-based players. Just two Moroccan clubs in Casablanca earned money from FIFA: $1.4 million to Wydad and $31,938 to Raja.</p><p>Just $20,075 went to a single club in Senegal, Génération Foot, for the 27 players in the national team squad that reached the round of 16 in Qatar. It included Sadio Mané, who withdrew injured before the first game.</p><h2>FIFA-ECA working agreements</h2><p>FIFA payments from its World Cup revenues were agreed to as part of a settlement with an elite group of clubs that formed the European Club Association in 2008 to represent teams that play in UEFA competitions.</p><p>The ECA said in a statement Thursday it was “championing the interests” of clubs from all countries and “amplifying their contributions to the success” of national team soccer.</p><p>The fund total is negotiated when FIFA-ECA working agreements are renewed and will be $355 million for each men’s World Cup in 2026 and 2030.</p><p>The 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the first with 48 teams and an expected 1,104 players selected.</p><p>The comparable FIFA fund for the 2023 Women's World Cup that kicks off next week is $11.5 million for clubs providing at least 736 players to the 32 national squads in Australia and New Zealand.</p>

Manchester City topped the list of FIFA payments to clubs whose players were selected for the 32 national teams in Qatar

Manchster City players celebrate their 1-0 win at the end of the Champions League final soccer match

Man City gets $4.6 million from FIFA to top list of club payments from World Cup player fund

<p>A sponsor is giving away 20,000 tickets to Women’s World Cup matches in New Zealand as ticket sales remain sluggish in a country in which rugby dominates as the national sport.</p><p>According to FIFA, 1.25 million tickets have been sold for matches across co-hosts Australia and New Zealand. Of those 320,000 have been sold to matches in New Zealand, but only six of those matches are close to a sell out.</p><p>On Thursday, the accounting firm Xero, a tournament partner, said it would offer 5,000 free tickets to a match at each of New Zealand’s four venues.</p><h2>Tournament had increased</h2><p>Women’s World Cup chief executive Dave Beeche told the New Zealand Herald that FIFA is “comfortable” with the current rate of ticket sales in New Zealand. He said sales had picked up in recent weeks as coverage of the tournament had increased.</p><p>- Naturally, there are some games that are experiencing higher demand with the Kiwis and some of the top-ranked teams - Beeche said, "but we’re happy with how the progress is overall.”</p><p>Last month FIFA's head of women’s football Sarai Bareman indicated she had some concerns about the pace of ticket sales in New Zealand, despite overall sales being ahead of the 2019 World Cup in France.</p><p>Bareman said sales in Australia have been bolstered by support for the Australian women’s team which is a genuine title contender, while New Zealand’s Football Ferns have never won a World Cup group match.</p><h2>Soccer is not generally a widely supported sport</h2><p>A larger problem is that soccer is not generally a widely supported sport in New Zealand and attracting fans to stadiums in the coldest months of the year was always going to be a hard sell.</p><p>New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, will play South Africa in Auckland on Saturday in a match which could have been sold out several times over.</p>

Women’s World Cup chief executive Dave Beeche told the New Zealand Herald that FIFA is “comfortable” with the current rate of ticket sales in New Zeal

Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women's World Cup as New Zealand sales lag

<p>Novak Djokovic looked as if he were a bit surprised by the question.</p><p>And maybe he should have been.</p><p>The query, essentially, was this: Are you the favorite to win the championship at Wimbledon? Now, sure, there is some work to be done to collect that trophy.</p><p>First Djokovic, 36, needs to beat No. 8 seed Jannik Sinner, 21, on Friday in what represents the largest age gap between two men's semifinalists at the All England Club in the professional era, which began in 1968.</p><p>And after that, Djokovic would need to beat the winner of that day’s other match — No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or No. 3 Daniil Medvedev — in the final on Sunday.</p><h2>I would consider myself the favorite</h2><p>This, then, was Djokovic’s reply: “I mean, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite.”</p><p>What Djokovic might have been forgiven for saying, but was too polite to, was: “Come on, my friend. Is that really what you want to ask? Of course I expect to win the title. And you should expect me to win the title. And everybody should expect me to win the title.”</p><p>Start by looking at his accomplishments relative to the other three men still around at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament:</p><p>—Djokovic has won seven Wimbledon titles. The other three guys have won a total of zero.</p><p>—Djokovic has reached his 12th Wimbledon semifinal. The other three guys have never played in one.</p><p>—Djokovic has won a men's-record 23 Grand Slam titles, including both so far this year. The other three guys have won a total of two: Medvedev at the 2021 U.S. Open, Alcaraz at the 2022 U.S. Open.</p><h2>Major semifinal on Friday</h2><p>—Djokovic will be participating in his 46th major semifinal on Friday, equaling Roger Federer's record for men. The other three guys have raised their combined total to 10: Medvedev is into his sixth, Alcaraz his third, Sinner his first.</p><p>And then there's also this: Djokovic is a combined 12-5 against the other three guys head-to-head. He leads Sinner 2-0, including a win in last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals. Sinner took the first two sets in that one but blew the huge lead and lost in five.</p><p>After eliminating No. 7 Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals Tuesday, Djokovic was asked during his on-court interview what it feels like to constantly be the player every else is focused on trying to beat.</p><p>“I know they want ... to win,” he said. “But it ain’t happening. Still.”</p><p>One thing working in Djokovic's favor these days, unlike during most of his time on tour, is he no longer needs to deal with Federer, who announced his retirement last year, and currently does not need to worry about Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since January with a bad hip and indicated that, if he is able to return to competition, 2024 will be his final season.</p><p>Will be Sinner<br></p><p>Next to try to solve Djokovic, who has won 26 consecutive Grand Slam matches overall and 33 in a row at Wimbledon, will be Sinner, considered one of the leading members of the sport's next generation.</p><p>Djokovic's scouting report on Sinner: “He’s so young, so of course it’s expected that he’s going to improve. He is improving, no doubt, I think, with the serve. He’s been serving better. On grass, obviously, (that) makes a difference. He’s a very complete player."</p><p>Sinner's description of facing Djokovic: “It is also a little bit mental, no? If you play against Novak, it’s always tough to play ... especially (at) Grand Slams.”</p><p>At 20, Alcaraz is even younger than Sinner, against whom he is already developing a rivalry thanks to some stirring matches between them. And Alcaraz has accomplished more so far. But he wants to do much more in the sport.</p><p>He and Medvedev, 27, offer contrasting styles that could produce a scintillating matchup. Still, all eyes on Friday — and, most assume, Sunday, too — will be on Djokovic.</p>

Djokovic’s reply: “I mean, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite"

Is Novak Djokovic the favorite at Wimbledon? 

<p>Before Gaetano Manfredi was elected mayor of Naples in 2021, he was a university professor specializing in seismic engineering — preparing and designing buildings to withstand earthquakes.<br></p><p>As Manfredi rose up to become chancellor of the University of Naples Federico II, a study was commissioned to measure the impact of fans celebrating goals scored by the Napoli soccer club inside what is now known as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.</p><p>“The engineering department building is near the stadium and there’s a seismograph there that whenever Napoli scored would record enough shaking that it nearly registered as an earthquake,” Manfredi told The Associated Press in a recent interview.</p><p>So what magnitude might the university seismograph record when Napoli wins its first Italian league title in more than three decades? With a 17-point lead and seven games remaining, the first chance to clinch comes this weekend — a long holiday weekend for May Day (Europe’s Labor Day).</p><p>“We can’t predict what the number will be but there will definitely be a lot of vibrations,” Manfredi said, flapping his hand up and down to simulate the trembling. “An earthquake. A big earthquake of joy.”</p><p>The mayor isn’t exaggerating.</p><p>Support for Napoli is akin to religion in the southern city and the team hasn’t won Serie A since Diego Maradona led the club to its only two Italian championships in 1987 and 1990.</p><p>“The passion for soccer in Naples is one of the biggest passions in the world,” Manfredi said.</p><p>It’s so great that Neapolitans have cast aside their superstitions about celebrating — or even mentioning — the word “scudetto,” or title, before it happens and have been decorating the city with streamers, banners, flags and life-size cardboard replicas of Napoli players — all in Napoli blue.</p><p>The title could also be a lift socially for Naples, a city that has had problems with trash removal and crime and is seen as a poor southern cousin to the traditional northern soccer capitals of Milan and Turin.</p><p>“If we do this thing, we’ll remain on the walls of Naples forever,” Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti said — avoiding the word “scudetto.”</p><p>Every neighborhood in the city, from the steep and narrow alleyways of the characteristic Quartieri Spagnoli to the more modern Fuorigrotta area where the stadium lies, has its own style of celebrating.</p><p>One banner stretching over the street in the Forcella neighborhood of the historic center, which is known for its mural of San Gennaro, the city’s patron saint, reads “Scusate per il ritardo” or “Sorry for taking so long” — a reference to the title of a 1983 film directed by and starring local actor Massimo Troisi, as well as the 33 years since Napoli’s last title.</p><p>“We’re unique. There’s no other place in the world like Naples. Naples is an open theater,” local taxi driver Giovanni Murri said, in a reference to a poem by Neapolitan playwright Eduardo De Filippo.</p><p>A saying heard often these days in the city goes, “Celebrations in Naples are unlike anywhere else.”</p><p>As the mayor explained: “It’s because Neapolitans are cheerful. The cheerfulness of Naples is famous around the world.”</p><p>GOMORRAH’S FOOTSTEPS</p><p>Naples has waited so long for this that the city is preparing for multiple celebrations.</p><p>There will be the spontaneous eruption when the team clinches the title — which could go on for days, weeks, or even months.</p><p>“Obviously we don’t know when that will happen or what will really happen,” the mayor said.</p><p>Then an organized celebration will be held downtown in Piazza Plebiscito on June 4 after the club is awarded the Serie A trophy following the final game of the season.</p><p>“It’s going to be like celebrating New Year’s Eve twice — actually (bigger) than New Year’s,” said Vincenzo Masiello, who runs the ’O Vesuvio trattoria and pizzeria in the Quartieri Spagnoli.</p><p>In order to avoid congestion downtown and a scene like the chaos when Argentina’s squad returned home with the World Cup trophy, simultaneous celebrations will be organized by the city on June 4 in different neighborhoods, including one in Scampia, the gritty northern suburb exposed as a crime-infested underworld in the “Gomorrah” book, film and TV series.</p><p>MARADONA’S LEGACY</p><p>Even 2½ years after his death, Maradona’s legacy remains a strong attraction in Naples.</p><p>In the Quartieri Spagnoli, a huge mural of Maradona acts as an unofficial museum to the former Argentina great.</p><p>“It’s a problem in terms of overcrowding,” Manfredi said. “It’s a sort of secular cult, which is really appreciated.”</p><p>The mayor said that on days of big Napoli games or in holiday periods, up to 30,000 people visit “Piazza Maradona” daily, which makes it one of Italy’s most visited attractions.</p><p>“Even after his death, he still brings people to Naples,” said Antonio Tortora, another local taxi driver. “He’s a saint.”</p>

Ermin Zec for "Avaz" after receiving recognition: "I am proud that I represented Bugojno"

Conceptual design for new national stadium of Bosnia and Herzegovina unveiled

Štimac after victory against Velež: How many times must the five-pointed star be defeated?

Milošević after resignation: We cannot plan anything concrete from June onward, it becomes pointless to continue cooperation

UN-backed panel says Italy can do more to fight racism, discrimination in sports and society

Lucas Hernandez is back with France team nine months after a serious knee injury

World chess federation bars transgender women from competing in women's events

FIFA can't guarantee federations will pay promised $30,000 per player at Women's World Cup

Analysis: Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon title shows he is exactly who everyone thought he was

Just 5 percent of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Barcelona's new defender Íñigo Martínez pledges to 'work as hard as the next guy'

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

Man City gets $4.6 million from FIFA to top list of club payments from World Cup player fund

Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women's World Cup as New Zealand sales lag

Is Novak Djokovic the favorite at Wimbledon?

Mayor: Napoli title will set off 'big earthquake of joy'

Sports

Ermin Zec for "Avaz" after receiving recognition: "I am proud that I represented Bugojno"

Conceptual design for new national stadium of Bosnia and Herzegovina unveiled

Štimac after victory against Velež: How many times must the five-pointed star be defeated?

Milošević after resignation: We cannot plan anything concrete from June onward, it becomes pointless to continue cooperation

UN-backed panel says Italy can do more to fight racism, discrimination in sports and society

Lucas Hernandez is back with France team nine months after a serious knee injury

World chess federation bars transgender women from competing in women's events

FIFA can't guarantee federations will pay promised $30,000 per player at Women's World Cup

Analysis: Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon title shows he is exactly who everyone thought he was

Just 5 percent of women's players at Wimbledon have a female coach

Barcelona's new defender Íñigo Martínez pledges to 'work as hard as the next guy'

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

Man City gets $4.6 million from FIFA to top list of club payments from World Cup player fund

Sponsor offers 20,000 free tickets to Women's World Cup as New Zealand sales lag

Is Novak Djokovic the favorite at Wimbledon?

Mayor: Napoli title will set off 'big earthquake of joy'