AL RAYYAN, Qatar: Christian Eriksen was back playing a major tournament less than a year and a half after his cardiac arrest at the European Championship.
Eriksen started in his customary playmaker position for Denmark’s opening game at the World Cup on Tuesday against Tunisia in Group D and played the full 90 minutes of a 0-0 draw.
Eriksen nearly won it for Denmark when he produced a dangerous long-distance shot on goal in the second half that Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen had to bat away.
After Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 group game against Finland in June of last year, medics used a defibrillator to restart his heart as a horrified nation — and much of the soccer world — watched on as he lay lifeless on the field at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Eriksen’s appearance at the World Cup is the latest step of a remarkable comeback that has already seen him return to elite soccer in the Premier League, first with London club Brentford and then Manchester United — showing he is still among the world’s best playmakers.
He made his national team comeback in March, scoring two minutes after coming on as a substitute in a 4-2 loss to the Netherlands. He also netted with a 25-yard shot against Croatia in the Nations League in September.
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Eriksen plays at World Cup after cardiac arrest at Euro 2020
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Eriksen plays at World Cup after cardiac arrest at Euro 2020
- Eriksen nearly won it for Denmark when he produced a dangerous long-distance shot on goal
- His appearance at the World Cup is the latest step of a remarkable comeback
As expected, Alcaraz and Sabalenka named top-seeded players at the Australian Open
- Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were officially made the top-seeded players for the Australian Open which begins Sunday at Melbourne Park
- Sabalenka, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are the top three seeds in the women’s draw for the second consecutive year
MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were officially made the top-seeded players for the Australian Open which begins Sunday at Melbourne Park.
The announcement on Wednesday comes a day ahead of the tournament draw.
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner was seeded second, with Alexander Zverev third and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic fourth. Sabalenka, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are the top three seeds in the women’s draw for the second consecutive year.
Madison Keys returns as the defending champion and the ninth-seeded player, one of four American women among the top 10 seeds.
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Men’s Singles Seedings
1. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
2. Jannik Sinner, Italy
3. Alexander Zverev, Germany
4. Novak Djokovic, Serbia
5. Lorenzo Musetti, Italy
6. Alex de Minaur, Australia
7. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada
8. Ben Shelton, United States
9. Taylor Fritz, United States
10. Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
11. Daniil Medvedev
12. Casper Ruud, Norway
13. Andrey Rublev
14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Spain
15. Karen Khachanov
16. Jakub Mensik, Czech Republic
17. Jiri Lehecka, Czech Republic
18. Francisco Cerundolo, Argentina
19. Tommy Paul, United States
20. Flavio Cobolli, Italy
21. Denis Shapovalov, Canada
22. Luciano Darderi, Italy
23. Tallon Griekspoor, Netherlands
24. Arthur Rinderknech, France
25. Learner Tien, United States
26. Cameron Norrie, Britain
27. Brandon Nakashima, United States
28. Joao Fonseca, Brazil
29. Frances Tiafoe, United States
30. Valentin Vacherot, Monaco
31. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece
32. Corentin Moutet, FranceWomen’s Singles Seedings
33. 1. Aryna Sabalenka
34. 2. Iga Świątek, Poland
35. 3. Coco Gauff, United States
36. 4. Amanda Anisimova, United States
37. 5. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan
38. 6. Jessica Pegula, United States
39. 7. Jasmine Paolini, Italy
40. 8. Mirra Andreeva
41. 9. Madison Keys, United States
42. 10. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland
43. 11. Ekaterina Alexandrova
44. 12. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine
45. 13. Linda Noskova, Czech Republic
46. 14. Clara Tauson, Denmark
47. 15. Emma Navarro, United States
48. 16. Naomi Osaka, Japan
49. 17. Victoria Mboko, Canada
50. 18. Liudmila Samsonova
51. 19. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic
52. 20. Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine
53. 21. Elize Mertens, Belgium
54. 22. Leylah Fernández, Canada
55. 23. Diana Shnaider
56. 24. Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia
57. 25. Paula Badosa, Spain
58. 26. Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine
59. 27. Sofia Kenin, United States
60. 28. Emma Raducanu, Britain
61. 29. Iva Jovic, United States
62. 30. Maya Joint, Australia
63. 31. Anna Kalinskaya
64. 32. Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic — AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
The announcement on Wednesday comes a day ahead of the tournament draw.
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner was seeded second, with Alexander Zverev third and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic fourth. Sabalenka, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are the top three seeds in the women’s draw for the second consecutive year.
Madison Keys returns as the defending champion and the ninth-seeded player, one of four American women among the top 10 seeds.
— -
Men’s Singles Seedings
1. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
2. Jannik Sinner, Italy
3. Alexander Zverev, Germany
4. Novak Djokovic, Serbia
5. Lorenzo Musetti, Italy
6. Alex de Minaur, Australia
7. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada
8. Ben Shelton, United States
9. Taylor Fritz, United States
10. Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
11. Daniil Medvedev
12. Casper Ruud, Norway
13. Andrey Rublev
14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Spain
15. Karen Khachanov
16. Jakub Mensik, Czech Republic
17. Jiri Lehecka, Czech Republic
18. Francisco Cerundolo, Argentina
19. Tommy Paul, United States
20. Flavio Cobolli, Italy
21. Denis Shapovalov, Canada
22. Luciano Darderi, Italy
23. Tallon Griekspoor, Netherlands
24. Arthur Rinderknech, France
25. Learner Tien, United States
26. Cameron Norrie, Britain
27. Brandon Nakashima, United States
28. Joao Fonseca, Brazil
29. Frances Tiafoe, United States
30. Valentin Vacherot, Monaco
31. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece
32. Corentin Moutet, FranceWomen’s Singles Seedings
33. 1. Aryna Sabalenka
34. 2. Iga Świątek, Poland
35. 3. Coco Gauff, United States
36. 4. Amanda Anisimova, United States
37. 5. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan
38. 6. Jessica Pegula, United States
39. 7. Jasmine Paolini, Italy
40. 8. Mirra Andreeva
41. 9. Madison Keys, United States
42. 10. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland
43. 11. Ekaterina Alexandrova
44. 12. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine
45. 13. Linda Noskova, Czech Republic
46. 14. Clara Tauson, Denmark
47. 15. Emma Navarro, United States
48. 16. Naomi Osaka, Japan
49. 17. Victoria Mboko, Canada
50. 18. Liudmila Samsonova
51. 19. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic
52. 20. Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine
53. 21. Elize Mertens, Belgium
54. 22. Leylah Fernández, Canada
55. 23. Diana Shnaider
56. 24. Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia
57. 25. Paula Badosa, Spain
58. 26. Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine
59. 27. Sofia Kenin, United States
60. 28. Emma Raducanu, Britain
61. 29. Iva Jovic, United States
62. 30. Maya Joint, Australia
63. 31. Anna Kalinskaya
64. 32. Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic — AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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