BERLIN: French striker Anthony Modeste thanked Dortmund manager Edin Terzic after his first-half goal gave his side a narrow 1-0 win away at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Modeste headed in a cross from Salish Ozan, who also arrived from Cologne this summer, in the 32dn minute to put Dortmund 1-0 up.
Modeste, who is known for his theatrical celebrations which often involve dancing and even props, ran emotionally to Dortmund manager Edin Terzic and embraced him after scoring.
Speaking to Sky after the match, Modeste credited his winner to Terzic.
“I’m so glad to score my first goal. It took its time, but it was really important.”
“I’ve copped so much (since arriving at Dortmund), but the manager was always there for me.”
Dortmund, who suffered heavy criticism after throwing away a 2-0 lead in the 88th minute to lose 3-2 to Weider Bremen last Saturday, endured a nervy end to the match but held on to record their third win of the season.
The goal was Modeste’s eighth against Hertha in 11 appearances.
Dortmund have scored 10 goals in competitive fixtures this season, each from a different scorer.
Elsewhere, Union Berlin moved alone on top of the table, at least until Saturday’s late game, after a 6-1 win away at Schalke.
Braces from Heraldship Becker and Sven Michel, along with strikes from Morten Thorsby and Janik Haberer gave Union a dominant victory.
The Berlin club, who will begin their first ever Europa League campaign in September, are unbeaten (four wins and a draw) after five competitive games in 2022-23.
Berlin coach Urs Fischer did not want his team to get carried away with the “lucky” win.
“Our 3-1 half-time lead was lucky. Sc halke were better, more aggressive and more agile than us,” the Swiss manager told Germany’s SID.
“What was good was that we were more efficient.”
RB Leipzig gained their first Bundestags win of the season with a 2-0 home victory over Wolfsburg.
Leipzig’s French forward Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty after five minutes to open the scoring.
Former Chelsea striker Timo Werner, who started from the bench after an infection, set up Nkunku’s second in the 90th minute to relieve some pressure from Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco.
Bayer Leverkusen picked up their first points of the season with a 3-0 win away at Mainz.
Leverkusen, who had scored just one goal in three Bundesliga games and had already been eliminated from the German Cup, scored three first-half goals, including a brace for Dutch wing back Jeremie Frimpong.
Hoffenheim won their third game of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over Augsburg, thanks to a first-half goal from Dennis Geiger.
In Saturday’s late game, Bayern Munich have the chance to reclaim top place if they beat the visiting Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Modeste header sees Dortmund win away at Hertha
https://arab.news/96z57
Modeste header sees Dortmund win away at Hertha
- Modeste headed in a cross from Salish Ozan in the 32dn minute to put Dortmund 1-0 up
- The goal was Modeste's eighth against Hertha in 11 appearances
From Jeddah to the world stage: Bader Idrees and Saudi Arabia’s tennis rise
RIYADH: As tennis continues to gain momentum throughout Saudi Arabia, several local players are beginning to emerge on the national and international scene. One of them is Saudi national team player Bader Idrees, whose journey mirrors the Kingdom’s evolving relationship with the sport.
Idrees’ first exposure to tennis came at a time when the local game was still developing. His interest began in early 2010 after watching his older sister train regularly.
“I was five years old when I used to watch my older sister playing tennis every day,” he told Arab News. “One of her coaches recommended that I try it out, and from the first hit, I fell in love with the sport.”
Now 20 years old, Idrees finds himself progressing alongside a country that is investing heavily in tennis. Over the past three months alone, Saudi Arabia has hosted the Six Kings Slam, the WTA Finals, and the Next Gen ATP Finals, an indication of its growing ambitions on the global tennis stage.
A defining moment in Idrees’ development came at the 2025 WTA Finals, where he reached a personal milestone in his role as a hitting partner for some of the world’s best players.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far,” he said. “To actually see the players and train with them was an eye-opening experience for me.”
The exposure offered by hosting elite tournaments has had a direct impact on aspiring Saudi athletes, providing valuable insight into the professional game.
“Seeing how players prepare for matches — from how they behave off the court to actually practicing on the court — was an amazing experience,” he said.
Beyond individual growth, Idrees believes the broader sporting ecosystem benefits from welcoming international events to the Kingdom.
“Hosting these events motivates every Saudi athlete,” Idrees said. “Foreign players get to know the country and the players who represent it, and it pushes us to perform better knowing that the world is watching.”
That motivation has translated into concrete goals. Idrees is planning a busy start to the year, with four international tournaments scheduled for January.
“I feel very positive about what I’ve accomplished so far, so hopefully I can kick off with a strong start in 2026.”
Despite recent progress, Idrees credits his early development at home as the foundation of his success.
“I don’t think I would be at this level if I weren’t in Saudi Arabia, and if I didn’t meet my coach Wajih there, who played a big role in my journey,” Idrees said.
To further advance his career, he later relocated to Cairo, where increased competition and exposure helped accelerate his development.
“That experience, combined with my coach’s motivation, made me believe I could truly go pro,” he said.
The journey was not without challenges. Idrees reflected on the limitations that once existed in the local tennis landscape.
“Tennis has grown massively in Saudi Arabia over the last few years,” he said. “But before that, we didn’t always have the best facilities or infrastructure. That’s why seeing the progress now makes me happy.”
Today, that transformation is happening at a rapid pace — something Idrees notices each time he returns home from international competition.
“Month by month,” as he puts it.
Whether in Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam, the changes are increasingly visible. Looking ahead, Idrees is optimistic about the next generation of Saudi players.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the kids playing at the under-10 and under-12 level find themselves in the top 500 or 300 within the next 10 years,” he said. “I see the discipline and motivation in them, and it truly is something special.”
He is also realistic about his own development compared with today’s young talents.
“I wasn’t at this level at 10, 12 years old,” he admitted. “Training with kids at that age now, I’m genuinely impressed. It’s why I’m feeling very positive about their future.”
With growing infrastructure, elite-level exposure, and rising ambition, Idrees’ story represents more than personal achievement. It highlights how Saudi Arabia’s expanding role as a host of global sporting events is reshaping its tennis landscape — and how a new generation of players may be poised to make an impact on the world stage in the years ahead.
