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sports Diaranson 19 Mei 2021

Federer loses comeback match to Andujar at Geneva Open

(AP) — Roger Federer lost Before going on court, Fe-
his comeback match after derer was a spectator for part
two months away from of the ATP Tour debut of
tour on Tuesday, falling to perhaps the best prospect in
Pablo Andujar 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Swiss men's tennis since his
in the second round of the own rise in the 1990s.
Geneva Open. With Federer watching some
of the match, 18-year-old
His first match on clay in al- Dominic Stephan Strick-
most two years kept him on er beat former U.S. Open
court for almost two hours in champion Marin Cilic 7-6
only his second tournament (5), 6-1 in the first round.
since the 2020 Australian Stricker, last year's French
Open. The past 15 months Open junior champion, is
have included two surgeries ranked 419th. Cilic, who
on his right knee. won his only Grand Slam
singles title in 2014, is ranked
"It (losing) never feels great," 46th.
Federer said. "Looking at the
long road that I have been The Swiss left-hander had
on from the comeback, sure nine aces and no double-
it's rewarding to be back on a faults. He broke Cilic's serve
tennis court but you know I four times and was broken
expect better from myself." only twice.

In the decisive set, the top- not enough happening in my before Tuesday's defeat. facing each other on tour for "I was getting nervous,"
seeded Federer forced a ser- game." the first time, and the Span- Stricker said. "It was actually
vice break before Andujar "Roland Garros is not the iard said Monday he wanted OK until 5-1, 30-love. I was
rallied. Federer saved two "I was a bit limited today, I goal," said Federer, an eight- to be able to tell his grand- happy to finish it at 6-1 and
match points on his own felt, on the court. It is what time Wimbledon champion children he had played the not serve again."
serve, but the third ended it is. You just have to accept it who lost an epic final there Swiss great.
with a wayward forehand un- and move on," he said. in 2019 to Novak Djokovic. Stricker has practiced previ-
der pressure on the baseline. "The goal is the grass so I still Andujar put his hands to his ously with Federer. His next
Next is the French Open, have time." head after clinching victory opponent will be 40th-ranked
Acknowledging he had not site of Federer's most-recent and exchanged an almost Marton Fucsovics, who beat
deserved victory at the end, match on clay — a 2019 semi- The 39-year-old Federer and apologetic smile with Federer Swiss qualifier Henri Laak-
Federer said "there was just finals loss to Rafael Nadal — 35-year-old Andujar were at the net. sonen 7-5, 7-5.

Saudis put World Cup every 2 years back on FIFA's agenda

(AP) — Playing the World previous pandemic-delayed about the financial backers. be staged every two years was tar next year.
Cup every two years in- season pushed back the start raised in March by coaching
stead of four is back on to September. The inaugural tournament great Arsene Wenger, who is Infantino has consistently
soccer's agenda. was shelved last year when now FIFA's head of global said a Women's World Cup
Still, the proposal is attrac- the coronavirus pandemic development. could be held every two
Saudi Arabia's soccer fed- tive to FIFA whose president forced the European Cham- years. The next edition in
eration has formally asked Gianni Infantino has built a pionship and Copa America Both Wenger and Domin- 2023 will be hosted by Aus-
FIFA to look at staging bien- close relationship with Saudi to be postponed to 2021. guez used the argument that tralia and New Zealand.
nial World Cups for men and Arabia since his election in players deserve more chances
women, soccer's world body 2016. The biennial World Cup idea to play in World Cups. A separate proposal to Fri-
said Tuesday. was revived in 2018 by South day's FIFA meeting from
Creating new and bigger American soccer leader Ale- Lionel Messi and Cristiano Jamaica calls for "a global
The proposal "requesting a competitions is a key theme jandro Dominguez, a FIFA Ronaldo both aim to play in women's football competi-
feasibility study to be carried of Infantino's presidency, vice president who was then their fifth World Cup in Qa- tion concept to be prepared."
out on the impact" of playing though the global players' a close ally of Infantino.
both tournaments every two union FIFPRO warns of
years will be put to the FIFA players facing burnout and Dominguez and the South
annual meeting of 211 mem- injuries from bigger work- American soccer body CON-
ber federations. The congress loads. MEBOL have since moved
is being held as a remote closer to officials at UEFA,
meeting on Friday. The first year of Infantino's whose quadrennial European
presidency saw FIFA add Championship would like-
A biennial men's World Cup 16 more teams and 16 more ly be threatened by playing
was floated by FIFA's then- games to the World Cup for twice as many World Cups.
president Sepp Blatter more the 2026 edition. The 48-
than 20 years ago. team, 80-game tournament Currently, each World Cup
will be hosted in the United earns FIFA up to $6 billion
The idea now returns near States, Canada and Mexico in broadcasting and com-
the end of the busiest and and should set attendance mercial deals. The Euro 2016
most congested season in and revenue records. tournament — which had 51
modern soccer. games compared to 64 in the
FIFA was to launch a 24-team 32-team World Cup format
In Europe, the same number Club World Cup tournament — earned UEFA around $2.3
of competitions and games in China this year. European billion.
for club and national teams soccer officials at first op-
were played despite several posed the project, citing In- The idea that both the men's
weeks being lost because the fantino's lack of transparency World Cup and Euros could