Veteran Serbian star Novak Djokovic achieved a marathon victory over his Chinese rival Bo Yunchaoketi in the China Open Tennis Championship, today, Friday.
Djokovic (39 years old) turned a set down to win in two sets to one after a dramatic scenario that almost eliminated the Serbian star early from the round of 16 of the tournament.
The results of the rounds were in favor of Djokovic, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), and 6-2, to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament in which he won the title 6 times before, but his last victory was 11 years ago, when he defeated the Spaniard, who is currently retired, Rafael Nadal in the final match.
Djokovic extended his winning streak in the Chinese Championship to 31 matches with this difficult victory.
Jordan Pickford, the England national team goalkeeper, said that he still has many good years ahead of him with the team, even though his starting position is under threat for the first time.
The British News Agency reported that the Everton goalkeeper did not participate in the English national team's first two matches in the European Nations League against Spain and the Czech Republic, as German coach Thomas Tuchel, the English national team's coach, decided to give the opportunity to goalkeeper James Trafford, the Leeds United player.
Pickford will return to the team's starting lineup for the matches against Croatia and the Czech Republic, but he faces strong and real competition for his position for the first time in eight years.
Pickford said: “I am 32 years old now, and you see how goalkeepers play until the age of 40, and they play at the best levels. It is about me focusing on myself and my goals.”
He added: “I want to exceed all limits and continue to develop until I reach my best level.”
Pickford continued: “I will never stop until it is time for me to retire. I think I am getting better.”
Italian Roberto Mancini, the former coach of Manchester City and current coach of the Italian national team, said that he is not concerned about his involvement in the scandal of violating the financial rules surrounding the English club, and he announced on Friday his intention to appeal the decision issued against him.
“It doesn’t concern me,” Mancini said, even though he seemed to have admitted it last week before Italy’s match against Turkey, that he had a dual contract while working as City coach between 2009 and 2013.
Among the list of accusations faced by Manchester City are allegations of not providing accurate details regarding payments to players and coaches during the seasons extending from 2009-2010 until the 2017-2018 season.
In 2018, the German magazine Der Spiegel published evidence showing that Mancini doubled his basic salary of 1.45 million pounds ($1.9 million) in exchange for providing consultations to an Abu Dhabi club.
The British newspaper "The Telegraph" reported this week that the club faces the possibility of being accused of evading payment of about 12 million pounds ($16 million) in income taxes and national insurance related to Mancini's salary.
Mancini was asked if he was concerned about that issue before the Italy-France match, which will be held later on Friday.
Mancini said late Thursday at the Stade de France: “No, I spoke about this matter last night. This does not concern me. It is a problem that concerns Manchester City, unfortunately.”
Mancini had said in Türkiye: “Manchester City is not guilty, and the issue of having a double contract is not my problem, but perhaps their problem.”
