
Alexander Zverev defeated Rafael Jodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the French Open semifinals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player remaining in the men's draw, has only dropped one set in the tournament and will face the winner of the match between Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik. This marks Zverev's fifth semifinal appearance in Paris in six years. In the women's draw, Marta Kostyuk secured her spot in the semifinals by beating compatriot Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the first all-Ukrainian women's Grand Slam quarter-final in the Open era. Kostyuk, who extended her unbeaten clay court run to 17 matches, dedicated her victory to the people of Ukraine. She will face Mirra Andreeva, who advanced after a 6-0, 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea. Andreeva previously defeated Cirstea in Linz earlier this year and also beat Kostyuk in the Madrid Open final last month.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadThe World Cup final on Sunday will feature a match between reigning champions Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, aims to be the first team in 64 years to successfully defend their title. This match is expected to be the final World Cup appearance for the 39-year-old Messi, who has scored eight goals in the tournament and is on track for the Golden Boot. Messi has been instrumental in Argentina's journey, including a comeback victory against Egypt and a 2-1 win over England in the semi-finals. Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, attributes his team's success to their fearlessness and collective spirit. Spain, aiming for their second World Cup crown, reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the semi-finals. Their team, under coach Luis de la Fuente, is known for its possession-based football and strong defense, having conceded only one goal in seven matches. Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, 19, is expected to be a key player despite recovering from a hamstring injury. The final also sets up a personal duel between de la Fuente and Scaloni, as de la Fuente mentored Scaloni when he was studying for his professional license in 2018. The match will include a 25-30 minute half-time concert featuring Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. US President Donald Trump is expected to be among the over 80,000 spectators.
Must ReadGarry Sobers, the renowned West Indies all-rounder, has passed away at the age of 89. Widely considered one of cricket's greatest players, Sobers was celebrated for his exceptional batting, bowling, and fielding. In 93 Tests, he scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and took 235 wickets. He was also an agile fielder, with 109 Test catches. Australian batsman Donald Bradman, another cricketing icon, once described Sobers as "the greatest cricketer of all time." Born Garfield St Aubrun Sobers in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1936, he made his Test debut in 1954. In 1958, he set a world record for the highest individual score in Test cricket with 365 not out against Pakistan, a record that stood until 1994. Sobers captained the West Indies from 1964 to 1972, leading them to their first series win against Australia at home. He also achieved the historic feat of hitting six sixes in a single over in 1968 while playing for Nottinghamshire. Sobers retired from Test cricket in 1974 and was knighted a year later. The International Cricket Council established the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in his honor for the annual world player of the year.
Must ReadNamibia and South Africa have advanced efforts to resolve the Orange River boundary dispute with the submission of a joint committee of experts' report to the fourth session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission BNC. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, speaking at the BNC summit in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday, stated that the report is a significant step towards concluding a matter unresolved for over three decades. The issue originated from a decision by former presidents Sam Nujoma and Nelson Mandela to address the boundary question. A joint committee of experts, formed in 2016, completed its report in 2017. This report was later reviewed by ministers responsible for the political, diplomatic, and legal committee in October 2024 before being presented at the BNC summit. Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed optimism that the summit would finalize the matter, thereby closing "the chapter on colonialism" and benefiting present and future generations. She referenced Namibia's founding president, Sam Nujoma, who emphasized creating opportunities for future generations, and former president Hage Geingob's remarks on cooperation and resolving bilateral issues through dialogue and mutual respect.