Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 11, 2021 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic will head into next week’s tournament as the men’s top seed with Russian world number one Daniil Medvedev banned from taking part while Germany’s second-ranked Alexander Zverev is out injured.

Organisers of the grasscourt Grand Slam have banned players from Russia and Belarus from playing at this year’s Wimbledon following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a ‘special operation’.

Zverev had surgery on torn ligaments in his right ankle this month after he was forced to retire from his French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic, who was unable to defend his 2021 Australian Open title and the 2,000 ranking points he earned due to his non-vaccinated status against COVID-19, recently lost his world number one spot to Medvedev.

The Serbian, who has won the last three editions of the grasscourt major, will slip further down the rankings after Wimbledon as he will lose another 2,000 points with the ATP and WTA stripping the tournament of points.

The absence of Medvedev and Zverev means Nadal, who is halfway through a possible calendar year Slam after winning the Australian and French Open titles, to be seeded second.

It also results in Djokovic and Nadal finding themselves in different halves of the draw and they cannot face each other until the men’s final on July 10. The duo met in this year’s Roland Garros quarter-final where the Spaniard triumphed.

Britain has two players in the top 10 seeds at their home major with Cameron Norrie ninth while U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu is 10th in the absence of Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka.

Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek will be the women’s top seed with Estonian Annett Kontaveit the number two.

Wimbledon organisers had previously used a computer-based system favouring results on grasscourts in the previous two years to determine the seedings but from the 2021 edition seedings mirror the world rankings.

For the second time in less than one month, Nigeria underscored its stature in youth football on the African continent as five-time world champions Golden Eaglets reached the finals of the 2023 Africa U17 Cup of Nations in style.

Two goals by deadball expert Emmanuel Michael and a glancing header by Abubakar Idris Abdullahi condemned the U17 boys of Cote d’Ivoire to a 1-3 defeat in the first semi final of the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Yet, the Eaglets uncharacteristically conceded first when Yan Diomande scored from the penalty spot in the very first minute after a foul in the Nigerian box.

The Nigerian boys launched onslaught after onslaught and were rewarded on the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Michael, who scored a spectacular goal from a 22-yard free-kick in the opening match against hosts Ghana, found the range off another free-kick from the right wing.

Thirteen minutes later, Nigeria were ahead for the first time in the encounter when Michael, again from a free kick at the edge of the box, blindsided goalkeeper Mohamed Cisse with an intelligent attempt that swept past the static wall.

The Ivorians came into the second half determined to browbeat the Eaglets with their size and stoutness, but they were pegged further back on the hour mark when Abubakar Idris Abdullahi found the net with a glancing header.

Four minutes later, the Ivorians were down to 10 men after Makhete Moustapha N’diaye was shown the red card.

Another free-kick by Emmanuel Michael in the 77^th minute missed target narrowly, and Precious Tonye Williams came very close with four minutes left after a brilliant team move set him up with a clear chance.

In Friday’s final, the Eaglets will take on the winner of the second semi final between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso. However, victory over the Ivorians means they will be one of the eight participating teams at next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria.

Defender and dead ball prodigy Emmanuel Michael was presented with the Man-of-the-Match award, for the third consecutive match.

Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain – June 21, 2022 Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her round of 16 doubles match with Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo and Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova Action

Serena Williams made a winning return to action at the Eastbourne International on Tuesday as she and partner Ons Jabeur came from a set down to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova 2-6 6-3 (13-11) in the women’s doubles.

The former world number one had not played competitive tennis since limping out of last year’s first-round match at Wimbledon — where she has won seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles — in tears due to a leg injury.

Back on court and on the grass again, Williams stepped up preparations for Wimbledon, where the main draw starts next Monday, having been granted a wildcard to enter, alongside Tunisian Jabeur in the opening round at Eastbourne.

Looking rusty with some loose early shots, 40-year-old Williams, who has slipped to 1204th in the singles rankings, saw her serve broken in the fourth game and there was no way back as Spaniard Sorribes Tormo and her Czech partner took the opening set.

Williams, who was sporting black tape on her face to help with a sinus problem, had no answer as Sorribes and Bouzkova made three successive breaks at the start of the second to help put them in a commanding position.

However, a ferocious volley from Williams helped her and Jabeur hold serve to make it 4-3, before the American showed further signs she was starting to find her rhythm with a booming forehand down the line to break their opponents’ serve.

Williams served out the next game to take the match to a final set tiebreak, which swung this way and that, with both pairings having match points before Sorribes Tormo missed a volley at the net to gift her opponents victory.

“It was so fun to play with Ons,” Williams said. “We had fun.

“I caught some fire behind me! I needed that. It was good. We’re just taking it one day at a time.”

Earlier at Eastbourne, British number four Katie Boulter stormed to one of the biggest wins of her career with a 1-6 6-4 6-4 win over 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova, while Jodie Burrage completed a day to remember for Britain by beating world number four Paula Badosa 6-4 6-3.

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski still wants to leave Bayern Munich, despite the German club’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic travelling to meet the 33-year-old face-to-face to try to change his mind. 

Real Madrid have stepped up their interest in England forward Raheem Sterling in recent weeks, while Barcelona and Chelsea are monitoring developments over the 27-year-old’s uncertain future at Manchester City. 

Chelsea have moved towards a deal for Sterling after getting tired in their pursuit of Barcelona’sOusmane Dembele, 25, with Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich also interested in the France winger as he is set to become a free agent. 

Arsenal have made an opening bid for Raphinha that is so far below Leeds’ £50m valuation of the Brazil winger, 25, that it will likely be rejected.

Arsenal will continue discussions to sign Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, with Tottenhamand Paris St-Germain also monitoring developments with the Brazil forward, 25. 

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG are set to rival Newcastle United for the signing of French striker Hugo Ekitike, 20, from Reims. 

Ekitike, however, is poised to fly back from holiday early to complete a £26.5m move to Newcastle. 

Barcelona want to sign France defender Jules Kounde, but do not want to pay Sevilla’s 60m euros (£51.5m) asking price for the 23-year-old. 

Brentford have not given up hope of signing Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen, who joined them on loan in January before leaving at the end of last season. Manchester United are also interested in the 30-year-old. 

Manchester United will have to choose between Argentina centre-back Lisandro Martinez, 24, and Brazil winger Antony, 22, who both play for new boss Erik ten Hag’s former club Ajax. 

Which big-name free agents are still available?

Arsenal and Newcastle are keen on 26-year-old Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, whose contract with Napoliruns out in 2023. 

Chelsea are interested in Lens’ 29-year-old France international full-back Jonathan Clauss. 

Tottenham are set to hold further talks to sign England Under-21 right-back Djed Spence from Middlesbrough. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and helped them get promoted to the Premier League. 

Borussia Dortmund, who sold 21-year-old Norway striker Erling Haaland to Manchester City, are set to sign Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller from Ajax for 36m euros (£31m). 

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel will join Atletico Madrid when the 33-year-old’s contract expires at Dortmund this summer. 

Wolves are to hold talks about signing 25-year-old Brazil striker Gabriel Barbosa from Flamengoand Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 21, from River Plate. 

Rangers could sell Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos if they cannot agree a new contract with the 26-year-old, whose current deal runs out in summer 2023. 

Manchester United expect France forward Anthony Martial to be at the club next season because of the lack of interest in the 26-year-old. 

Manchester United are ready to accept around £20m for Martial, whose wages are putting off potential buyers, and £8.5m for Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, 28, who has been offered to Newcastle. 

Manchester United are considering 27-year-old Watford and Austria goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann as back-up to 31-year-old Spain international David de Gea, with England’s Dean Henderson, 25, expected to leave the Old Trafford club to join Nottingham Forest on loan.

Anthony Joshua has branded himself the “comeback king” before his heavyweight rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on 20 August. 

Joshua came face-to-face with Usyk for the first time since losing his WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO titles in London in September. 

At a media conference, Joshua was full of confidence as he aims to become a three-time world champion.

“If you know my story, you know I’m the comeback king,” Joshua, 31, said. 

“You can put me down, but it’s difficult to keep me down.”

The press event in Saudi Arabia was heavily saturated with praise for the host country, which has 

faced accusations of human rights violations and is currently launching a military operation in Yemen that has caused a humanitarian crisis.

Joshua, who praised members of the Saudi royal family in his first answer, had his new head coach by his side, Robert Garcia.

The switch of trainer is one of many changes the Watford-born fighter says he has made for the rematch.

“In the fight in September, I was wrong and he [Usyk] was right,” said Joshua who added that he had to “take that defeat like a man as well, I have to be accountable”.

He added: “Definitely the hunger is still there. Blips happen, things happen in life, but resilience, mental toughness and consistency will always prevail.”

Usyk has spent time in Ukraine helping the war against Russia and earlier in the summer it appeared the rematch would have to be postponed.

But the 35-year-old Ukrainian was given permission to leave the country in March to train for his second right  with Joshua. 

Unbeaten in 19 professional fights, Usyk did not say much, only that he was fighting for Ukraine.

“We are not in the best conditions at the moment back home [in Ukraine],” he said.

“I never made some very loud and bright speeches, all I did was just work hard in my training camp, my gym, that’s what I’m going do until the date of the fight. Joshua on fighting in Saudi Arabia

No tough questions this time around – analysis

Coral Barry, senior combat sports reporter

Unlike at press conferences for the recently-launched Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, there were no hard-hitting questions here from journalists around the country’s reputation.

Greg Norman, LIV Golf’s chief executive, was grilled last month about accusations of so called ‘sports washing’, and the murder in 2018 of dissident Saudi Arabian journalist Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

On Tuesday, the Saudi Arabian flag was beamed out to viewers for the opening of the broadcast and the first 20 minutes spent promoting the country’s work in boxing.

Saudi Arabia has now spent billions to bring elite sport to its country. 

Boxing has never denied it was lured to Saudi Arabia in 2019 by the money on offer, with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn saying at the time: “Let’s not kid ourselves, don’t you think any promoter wants to go wherever the most money is for their fighters, and that’s what we’re doing.”

This time Joshua is repp reported to be earning £100m.

Usyk wore a ‘colour of freedom’ T-shirt for his media duties beforehand, but was not wearing the pro-peace top for the live broadcast. Saudi Arabia’s military activities in Yemen have been criticised globally. 

It is among the countries that carries out the most executions, women’s rights activists have been jailed and political parties trade unions and independent human rights groups are banned.  

And as boxing heads to Saudi Arabia once more there are sure to be tougher questions in store for the fighters and promoters.