Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to miss French Open due to wrist injury
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Two-time reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz announced on Friday that he will not participate in this year's tournament, or the Italian Open, as he recovers from a wrist injury. The decision was made after tests on his right wrist. Alcaraz stated on social media that it was a difficult time for him, but he is confident he will emerge stronger, and he and his team will monitor his recovery before deciding on his return. The injury occurred during the first round of the Barcelona Open last week, leading to his withdrawal from that tournament and subsequently the Madrid Masters on April 17. Alcaraz, ranked second in the world, became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam in January with his Australian Open triumph. He holds a 22-3 record this season and also won a title in Doha. He lost the top spot after his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final on April 12. The seven-time Grand Slam winner triumphed at Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025, saving three championship points against Sinner last year in the longest French Open final in history. Alcaraz previously admitted that he would prioritize his long-term career over playing in Paris if necessary, stating he would rather return later in great shape than risk worsening the injury. This will be only the second Grand Slam Alcaraz has missed since his main draw debut at the 2021 Australian Open; he withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open with a hamstring injury. This year's French Open runs from
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Must ReadFifty elders from Magamin Diddi village in Zamfara State were abducted by bandits during a peace meeting. The elders, from the Magami/Faru Ward of Maradun Local Government Area, were reportedly taken captive on Sunday after being delegated to meet with the bandits in the forest for dialogue. A local resident, Musa Sani, stated that the community sought reconciliation to allow residents to return to their farms, but the bandits instead kidnapped the elders. The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident on Monday, noting that the community did not inform authorities about the reconciliation effort. Dosara expressed concern, emphasizing that both local and state governments oppose reconciliation with bandits, citing Governor Dauda Lawal's stance. He also mentioned that bandits had recently blocked roads to the community market due to the killing of their members by security operatives. Dosara questioned the community's decision to meet with the bandits, who he suggested were seeking retaliation. He confirmed that 11 of the abducted elders have since been released, while 39 remain in captivity.
Neymar is "recovering well" from a calf injury, according to a statement from the Brazil team on Monday. An MRI scan showed he is "making good progress in his treatment." The Brazilian Football Confederation stated he will continue his recovery and fitness program as planned. Neymar, who sustained the injury late last month, is in a race to regain fitness for the World Cup, where Brazil will play Morocco in New Jersey on Saturday. The 34-year-old, now with Santos, has been a key player in Brazil's last three World Cup campaigns, though injuries have kept him from playing for his country since 2023. Coach Carlo Ancelotti previously indicated Neymar would be ready for either Brazil's first or second game and was "in no rush" for his return.
The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested seven suspected bandits as part of ongoing investigations into criminal activities in the Bagudo Local Government Area, including the recent killing of three Federal Road Safety Corps personnel. The arrests, made on June 5, resulted from intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks in the Soda Forest axis and surrounding border communities. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, stated that Mobile Police operatives intercepted three suspects, Muhammadu Bande, Aliyu Abubakar, and Muhammadu Aliyu, on a motorcycle from the Soda Forest area, allegedly on a mission to procure food supplies for criminal elements. In a separate operation, four other suspects, Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu, and Yahaya Shehu, were arrested along the Bakin Ruwa–Ka’oje axis. All suspects are in custody, and investigations are continuing to determine their full involvement in criminal activities, particularly the attack on FRSC personnel. The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar M. Hadejia, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in combating banditry and violent crime, commending the operatives and public for their support. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to intelligence-driven operations to restore peace and urged residents to remain vigilant.