MANCHESTER: Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko will be available for their game at Everton on Saturday despite the Ukraine international’s concerns for his home country.
The 25-year-old Zinchenko attended a demonstration in Manchester on Thursday night after Russia invaded Ukraine.
“He is worried,” manager Pep Guardiola said Friday. “What would we feel if our country where we were born, where we have family and friends is attacked, killing innocent people, how would you feel? So I guess that’s what he feels.”
Guardiola said the club supports Zinchenko “unconditionally” as the English Premier League leader prepares to visit Merseyside.
“Oleks is an incredible, strong guy. Of course it’s not easy in the moment but playing in the training session like yesterday he was brilliant so he’s ready to play just in case he has to play.”
Meanwhile, West Ham has granted compassionate leave to 32-year-old winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who is Ukraine’s second all-time leading goalscorer.
“He’s not in a really good position at the moment,” manager David Moyes said Friday. “I spoke with him on Thursday at the training ground and he was upset, which you can imagine and rightly so. We just hope everything goes well and all his family members keep safe.”
West Ham hosts Wolverhampton on Sunday.
Zinchenko available for Man City despite worry for Ukraine
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Zinchenko available for Man City despite worry for Ukraine
- Zinchenko attended a demonstration in Manchester on Thursday night after Russia invaded Ukraine
- Guardiola said the club supports Zinchenko “unconditionally”
Djokovic wins record 400th Slam match to power on in Australia
- The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6
- Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are next best
MELBOURNE: Record-shattering Novak Djokovic became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) under a closed roof on center court to extend his own all-time record of match wins at the majors.
Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are next best.
Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, to equal Federer with most Australian Open singles wins.
Djokovic’s reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn whose match was delayed due to extreme heat.
The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money,” said Djokovic. “I’m still around. I’m hanging in there.
“Obviously Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing on a different level from all of us right now.
“But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance.”
The 75th-ranked van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic in three sets at Indian Wells last year, but never looked like pulling off another shock.
The fourth seed wound back the clock with some phenomenal tennis in set one, securing the critical break in the fourth game after a mammoth 26-point rally.
He broke the Dutchman again on his opening serve on the second set and moved to 4-2, but it was a struggle and he became noticeably more irritable.
At one point, he smacked a ball toward an advertising hoarding out of frustration and nearly hit a ball kid, quickly apologizing.
Djokovic got work on his foot during a medical time in set three, seemingly for a blister, as they exchanged breaks and the set went to a tiebreak where he proved the most resilient.
Djokovic has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023.
