Both ATP and WTA announced that they will not award ranking points for this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
Both ATP and WTA announced on Friday that they will not award ranking points for this year’s Wimbledon Championships as the grass-court Grand Slam decided to ban players from Russia and Belarus.
One month ago, the All England Club (AELTC) revealed their decision of declining entries from Russian and Belarusian players to the Wimbledon Championships 2022, which has been condemned by the world governing bodies for both the men’s and women’s professional tennis.
The ATP insisted in a statement on Friday that the ability for players of any nationality to enter tournaments based on merit, and without discrimination, is fundamental to the tour. “The decision by Wimbledon to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing in the UK this summer undermines this principle and the integrity of the ATP Ranking system.”
The WTA also said that they decided not to award ranking points to this year’s Wimbledon “as a result of the AELTC’s position that it will not honour its obligation to use the WTA Rankings for entry into Wimbledon and proceed with a partial field not based on merit”.
The ITF, the International Tennis Federation will also withdraw ranking points for Wimbledon Juniors and Wheelchair events.
“Tournament organisers are not permitted to unilaterally impose entry criteria inconsistent with the ITF’s published open entry criteria. Therefore, in accordance with its protocols, the ITF has the right to withdraw ranking points,” read a statement released by the ITF on Friday.
The AELTC said they were disappointed at the decisions taken by the ATP, WTA and ITF in removing ranking points for The Championships, but they would stand by the decision they have made.
This year’s Wimbledon is scheduled to run from June 27 to July 10. Players such as the men’s singles world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev from Russia and the women’s singles world No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus couldn’t compete on the grass courts in London this time.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea believes that the Reds will improve next season and backs the club to start building something special.
The Spaniard started our final-day defeat away to Crystal Palace, meaning he played every minute of a disappointing Premier League campaign that ends with United in sixth-place.
Speaking to club media post-match, De Gea explained his sadness at how the season has gone, but was positive about the future.
“We all know it’s been a very bad season from everyone,” he began.
“Let’s have a good rest of the summer, repair ourselves in the mind and the body, and be ready to fight again this next season.
“I just want to be positive, just forget about this season. I saw already the new manager is in the stands so that’s a good signal and I trust that things are going to improve for Manchester United.”
New United manager Erik ten Hag was in the stands in South London, getting a first look at the players he will be working with from next season.
While De Gea believes the Dutchman has a big task ahead of him, he is eager to work with the three-time Eredivisie winner.
“If I’m honest it’s a big job for him,” said our no.1. “But he won some things in Ajax and been playing very good, attacking football so that’s what we need.
“Hopefully, with some new players and with the new manager and his staff, [there will be] some new energy.
He added: “[I hope the players] who stay in the club just fight together to improve the team and [get] the club as high as possible. Hopefully together and with the fans as well, we can build something good.”
De Gea was honoured to achieved the feat of playing every minute in a Premier League season.
“I’m proud that I played every single minute of the Premier League,” said the Spaniard. “I came here and showed my level and helped the team.
“I think I helped the team in some games, but [unfortunately] it wasn’t enough to be in the Champions League.”
Despite the underwhelming finish to the season, United’s supporters were full of voice all afternoon at Selhurst Park and De Gea thanked to the fans for their unwavering support.
He said: “It’s unbelievable they stay even when the game finished, they are still there to support the team. I’ve never seen that in football. The fans are unbelievable.
“So, thanks, big thanks to them, the ones who go to Old Trafford, the ones who go to away games, they’ve been amazing. Thanks very much to everyone.”
Pep Guardiola described his City squad as ‘legends’ after lifting a fourth Premier League title in five seasons.
City were crowned champions on Sunday after a spectacular second half comeback against Aston Villa.
Guardiola’s men were 2-0 down in the 76th minute at the Etihad Stadium before a five-minute triple blow through two Ilkay Gundogan goals and a Rodri strike turned it around.
City now have six titles in the last 11 campaigns, with the bulk of the current squad having stuck together since Pep’s arrival in Manchester in 2016.
After those dramatic scenes to create yet more history, Pep insisted his players and coaches will never be forgotten.
He said: “We are legends. When you win four in five then it’s because these guys are so special. We will be remembered.
“We won with 100 points, second one at Brighton, winning at home with our people is the best.
“Four Premier Leagues in five years is probably the best achievements we have done in our careers.”
In terms of the nerve shredding method of victory on Sunday, Pep praised his players and the raucous Etihad crowd for how they responded after falling two goals behind.
Pep Guardiola described his City squad as
He stated: “The last game is always special, a lot of emotions. The moment we scored the goal it changed everything.
“I told them it is normal, but you have to handle it. Oleks gave us a lot in the second half. We scored the goal and got the momentum and our fans did the rest.
“It was the best atmosphere I have lived since I came here. Tomorrow we can celebrate together in the Manchester streets with cigars and beers.”
Pep also recognised the outstanding pressure placed on his side by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
“I’ve never seen a team like Liverpool in my life,” he asserted.
“I know it’s tough, but they helped us become a better team season by season.
“We want to win. I have the feeling that the rivals are tough and they will be more tough next season.
“Today I have no energy to think about next season. We are champions again! We will defend our crown again and again.”
The match took place on the fifth anniversary of an attack on Manchester Arena that killed 23 people.
Earlier in the day, Mike Summerbee laid a wreath in our special remembrance garden at the Etihad Stadium while the players wore black armbands and Manchester bees on their shirts. City fans also engaged in a stadium-wide applause during the 23rd minute.
“On behalf of Man City, Sheikh Mansour, and everyone at the Club, we want to dedicate this to the families that suffered five years ago today at the Manchester Arena,” said Pep.
Mohamed Salah won the Premier League Golden Boot award for the 2021-22 campaign alongside Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min.
The Liverpool No.11 ended the season with 23 goals – level with Son – from 35 appearances, earning him the trophy for the third time in his Reds career.
Salah’s final league goal came as he featured as a substitute against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Sunday, helping the Reds to a 3-1 win.
The Egyptian has scored 31 times in all competitions with one game remaining and was recently voted the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
Salah also ended the campaign with 13 assists, which saw him secure the Premier League’s Playmaker award in a double for the forward.
In that ranking, he finished one ahead of teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp congratulates Manchester City after they pipped his side to the Premier League title.
Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 on Sunday (May 22), but it was not enough to earn them their second Premier League title, as they finished second, one point behind champions Manchester City who beat Aston Villa 3-2.
After going behind to an early Pedro Neto tap in, goals from Sadio Mane and late strikes from Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson gave the home fans some cheer even if their fate depended on the proceedings in Manchester.
They finished the season on 92 points, one behind City for the second time in three years but with a League Cup and FA Cup trophy in their cabinet.
Juergen Klopp’s men also have a Champions League final against Real Madrid to look forward to next weekend.
However, at Anfield on Sunday it was Wolves who took a shock lead three minutes in when defender Ibrahima Konate misjudged a bouncing ball from a goal kick allowing Raul Jimenez to run in behind on the right and pick out Neto to side-foot in his first goal of the season.
Liverpool equalised in the 24th minute when a cute Thiago Alcantara backheel set Mane free to charge at goal and strike an effort that was so fierce, goalkeeper Jose Sa could only get a hand to it before it went in.
Sa had to be replaced by John Ruddy at halftime due to an injury, and soon after Liverpool brought on Salah, rested from the beginning, in search of the winner and peppered shots at goal, only to see them continually blocked by Wolves defenders.
The atmosphere became frantic as news filtered through from the stands that City were losing 2-0 to Villa and the title would end up at Anfield if Liverpool could find a goal.
They found that breakthrough seven minutes from fulltime when Salah squeezed in a loose ball in the box. The goal was the Egyptian’s 23rd of the season and meant he finished the campaign level as top scorer with Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min.
Full back Andy Robertson then put the gloss on the scoreline late on by sliding in Roberto Firmino’s cutback.
However, by that time City had completed their own comeback 3-2 win over Villa, meaning they retained the title and Liverpool finished the season as runners-up.
Manchester City spent the better part of five years churning out wins and trophies like an unassailable machine, claiming cup after cup and three Premier League titles in four tries, and positioning itself for a fourth in five. All City had to do at its Etihad Stadium on Sunday was beat Aston Villa, lowly Aston Villa, for yet another Premier League crown.
It sounded simple, anti-climactic, almost automatic.
It was, over two dramatic hours on Sunday, anything but.
They concluded, almost unbelievably, with City triumphant, but only after the reigning champs came back from two down with 15 minutes remaining to win 3-2. Ilkay Gundogan’s second goal, and City’s third, sent tears rolling down Liverpool cheeks. It clinched a fourth title in five years for City, and a sixth in 11.
Liverpool, which entered the day hopeful but helpless, had needed a City loss or draw, and grew increasingly optimistic as the Cityzens wobbled, then wilted. Matty Cash scored for Villa before halftime. Philippe Coutinho, a former Liverpool star, put Villa ahead 2-0 with 21 minutes remaining.
But Gundogan, a second-half substitute, brought City back into the game. Rodri leveled the game. Gundogan won it, and incited wild celebrations.
Thai snooker legend James Wattana claimed his first Southeast Asian Games gold medal on Sunday.
The 52-year-old Thai overcame stiff resistance from young Malaysian Lim Kok Leong in the men’s final at Ha Dong Gymnasium in Hanoi.
Kok Leong, 27, drew first blood in the best-of-seven-frames showdown, winning the opener 75-24.
Wattana won the next 88-34 to level the match but the hot-potting Malaysian edged ahead by clinching the third frame 70-25.
However, 2-1 was as good as it got for Kok Leong as the Thai cue-master found another gear and began schooling the young upstart.
Wattana took the next three frames 65-48, 83-33 and 67-42 to grab the gold medal.
The victory was also sweet revenge after Kok Leong crushed Thailand’s Passakorn Suwanawat 4-0 in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Thai Billiard Sports Association celebrated its first SEA Games gold, having won five bronze medals at previous editions.
At press time, Thailand was in second place with 293 medals – 77 gold, 91 silver, 125 bronze. Host Vietnam tops the table with 401 medals – 185 gold, 108 silver, 108 bronze. Indonesia is in third with 211 medals – 61 gold, 80 silver, 70 bronze.
Thai world No 1 pairing Dechaphol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai face the No 4 duo from China in the Thailand Open mixed doubles semi-final on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Thai ace Ratchanok “May” Intanon must beat the women’s world No 2 to earn a shot at her home title.
Dechaphol and Sapsiree booked their berth in the last four with a 21-15, 21-18 victory over Japan’s Kyohei Yamashita and Naru Shinoya (No 33) at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on Friday.
The Thai super-duo will take on Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongpiang on Saturday, looking for revenge after the Chinese pairing eliminated Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh and Supissara Paewsampran with a 21-16, 21-15 win on Friday.
Meanwhile, Thai world No 8 Ratchanok faces a fearsome challenge to her title hopes after annihilating Denmark’s 22-ranked Line Christophersen 21-8, 21-8 in their women’s singles quarter-final.
The Thai ace must beat world No 2 Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan today for a place in Sunday’s final.
The Super 500 tournament offers total prize money of US$360,000 (12 million baht).
The finals will be held on Sunday.
Photographs by Wanchai Kraisornkhajit #NationPhoto
Ralf Rangnick conducted his final pre-match press conference of his spell as Manchester United’s interim manager earlier this afternoon.
The 63-year-old met with the media to preview our Premier League final-day trip to Crystal Palace, where a win would definitely be enough to secure a place in next season’s Europa League.
Ahead of that visit to Selhurst Park, Ralf was quizzed on the latest team news, if he had spoken to Erik ten Hag and about recent pitch invasions in England.
Ralf, good to see you, hope you’re well. First of all, what’s the team news ahead of Sunday? “We once again unfortunately have quite a few players missing and another couple of players with question marks. We have to wait for tomorrow’s last training session, but as it stands now, there will be quite a few players missing but I’m still positive that we will have a strong starting XI and finish the season on a higher note than we did at Brighton. I’m positive that the players want to get things right and show and prove to everybody that they are capable to play a lot better than we did at Brighton. I am also positive that they would much rather play in the Europa League than the Conference League. They will have to play Thursday evening instead of Tuesday or Wednesday, but it’s still a big difference if a club like Manchester United plays in Europa League rather than Conference League. You could see that the day before yesterday [Wednesday] when Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished in the lower half of the table in the Bundesliga, won the Europa League and by doing that qualified for the Champions League I think for the first time, maybe in club history, since the Champions League exists. This should also be an incentive for everybody to make sure that we qualify for Europa League at least on Sunday.”
Who are the players you have got question marks over? And, you mentioned the last day, the last outing, how important is it that you do finish on a high and you do have a good performance? “Yeah, there are a few players definitely missing, please understand that I don’t want to name all those names right now. A few are still question marks, Luke Shaw’s wife gave birth to their second baby today and he was supposed to be back for training tomorrow but apparently he isn’t, so we have to wait and see if he would be at least available for the bench on Sunday. In two days’ training, we had at least one or two players leaving the training session a little earlier because they couldn’t finish the session because they had problems. That was Jadon [Sancho] and Phil Jones, so we need to wait until after the session tomorrow.”
Ralf, have you had any further discussions or discussions at all with Erik ten Hag? We know he’s in the country, have you been involved in any dialogue with him, and will you meet up with him on Sunday? Is he going to be at the game? “We’ve been in contact via WhatsApp and hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to meet and speak in person, either over the weekend or on Monday morning at the latest. I’m looking forward to speaking with him in person and getting to know him in person.”
Just away from that, there’s been a real issue this week with fans invading the pitch. Do you see this as something particular to England, given your experience of working abroad? Is it something that happens there often? Is it something the authorities in this country need to get to grips with? “I think it’s new, it hasn’t happened in the last couple of years, as far as I know, at least not in Germany. But it also happened in Germany on a couple of occasions in the last weeks and months so there seems to be unfortunately some sort of trend that this happens. It depends what’s happening but what happened yesterday at Goodison Park, I didn’t see it in person, if coaches or players of the opposite team are being involved… as long as they celebrate with their own team, everything is okay. As long as everything stays peaceful it’s also okay but other people getting involved with the opposite team, I don’t think that should happen.”
Will you play any of the Youth Cup winning players? That’s obviously one of the few positive things that’s happened at this football club, and it happened since the Brighton game… will some of them play this weekend? “Unfortunately, Alejandro [Garnacho] was ill in the last couple of days. He was training with us until midweek last week but then he had to drop out because he was ill, and I think today was the first training session that he was back again. He might well be in the squad but I’m not sure if he’s physically, after this illness, capable and fit enough to play.”
How frustrated have you been that you’ve not been able to find the answers to the issues that you’ve been talking about? Defensive issues, structural issues, not scoring goals when you needed to or as regularly. How frustrating has this period been for you? “We spoke about that quite at length in the last couple of press conferences, you have to see it in different areas, periods of time. I think until we dropped out against Atletico, and I think this was a vital blow, I think since then we’ve lost confidence and energy in the team. But until then, I think we stabilised the team defensively compared to the team that shipped four goals against Watford away. Until that Atletico game, we were stable defensively, we also had a few games where we scored goals, when we played well. We spoke about that. But what didn’t happen was this development didn’t happen in a sustainable way. So, we couldn’t keep that on a regular level. Either we had problems to score goals, or we had problems to prevent goals from being scored against us. Since the Atletico game, we just didn’t find our form, our shape again and this has got to do with confidence, a little bit also maybe with mentality, team spirit, togetherness and we just fell short in those areas. This for me is the biggest disappointment, that we didn’t manage to develop, how should I say, a certain team spirit that helped us even in the difficult parts of the league. This happens also to other teams. This is for me, the biggest issue in hindsight.”
We spoke about the issues of the club over the last few months, what would you tell Erik ten Hag that are the positive things that he will be getting? “I still strongly believe that there are a core of players that are top, that are well worth and good enough to play for this club and hopefully most of those players will still be here next season. As I said earlier on, if the board, Erik, the scouting department will help them with all the issues that I can bring in to help them. If we bring in the right mentality players, the right quality players, I’m positive that we can not only bring this club back on track, but back to the top and this is what it’s all about in the next couple of weeks. Maybe, it will not happen and be possible in one transfer window, but I’m very positive that it can happen in the next two or three windows.”
With your role, having spoke briefly to Erik, do you have more clarity on what it will be, how much he wants you to be involved? “Yeah, we spoke about that in detail, about all the different areas where I could maybe be of help. It’s not that easy or not that difficult to know which areas this could be. I think we showed that in the last 15 years with Hoffenheim and Salzburg and Leipzig, that even for clubs that are not that prominent as Manchester United, it’s possible to identify, develop and even at one stage, sell, and I know that Manchester United should not be a selling club but rather a developing and buying club, [but] that this is possible. What is most important is that the club finds players for whom it is the next logical step in their career, to develop their sportive career and if that happens, I’m more than positive and I can hopefully be encouraging our fans and being positive towards our fans that we will bring Manchester United back to the top.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says winning the Premier League title is more satisfying than the Champions League.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said winning the Premier League title is more satisfying than the Champions League with the Spaniard out to dampen his disappointment at missing out in Europe by clinching a fourth English top flight crown.
City lead Liverpool by a point heading into the final round of the season on Sunday (May 22) and Guardiola has the opportunity to clinch the title on home turf for the first time when they welcome Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said he was not dismissing the Champions League, admitting they would “love to be in Paris” playing in next week’s final, but added that winning a title over 38 games was more satisfying as it was “more difficult”.
“A lot of weeks, a lot of games we struggle with injuries, good and bad moments, different situations. The success is being there (in the mix) in the last few years,” Guardiola said on Friday (May 20).
“Liverpool were unstoppable that year (2019-20) and we were not good enough. The rest we were there (in contention). When you fight for the Premier League it gives the sense you enjoy the locker room.
“We are happier in our lives when you win and win, it makes a good environment for training.”
Guardiola said his side would approach Sunday’s match just like a “normal Premier League game” as he looks to maintain his perfect winning record against Villa.
“Anxious, nervous? No way,” Guardiola said.
“If we concede or struggle, come on, try again, continue and do it. It’s the best way to approach this kind of situation. Not ‘what happens if we lose?’”
When it was suggested to him that neutral fans would rather see Liverpool win the title, Guardiola said that would always be the case when one team has a history of success.
“The teams with more history have more supporters. It happens in Spain, Germany, Italy. We are outsiders in the last decade,” he said.
“Liverpool fans want to win, I’m not saying all the country are Liverpool fans, but in general they are a team with more titles.
“Liverpool, (Manchester) United and Arsenal have a lot of history, we are new. It’s why we feel it’s a privilege and won’t waste this opportunity to enjoy the 95 minutes.”
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