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Sinner vs Zverev: Top seeds set for thrilling Australian Open 2025 final showdown

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Jannik Sinner (Photo: Olympics.com) © Provided by Asian News International (ANI)

Melbourne [Australia], January 26 (ANI): The men’s singles final of the ongoing Australia Open 2025 is set to be a thriller of a contest as the top two seeds in the world at the moment, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev will lock horns against each other at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. The title clash will start at 2 PM IST.

Currently the top tennis player in the ATP rankings, Sinner will look to become just the third man in the last two decades – after legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic – to defend his Australian Open title.

Sinner, who clinched his first two Grand Slam titles in 2024 at the Australian Open and US Open, eased past USA’s 21st-seed Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals to book his spot in Sunday’s clash.

On the other side of the net, Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medallist Alexander Zverev will be chasing his maiden Grand Slam title. The 27-year-old German tennis player reached the French Open 2024 final but fell short against Carlos Alcaraz.

Zverev advanced to the Australian Open 2025 final after 10-time champion Novak Djokovic retired due to a muscle tear in the semi-final.

A victory on Sunday would make Zverev the first German men’s singles champion in Melbourne since Boris Becker’s triumph in 1996.

Alexander Zverev leads the head-to-head rivalry 4-2 but Jannik Sinner won the most recent encounter, a gripping semi-final at the Cincinnati Open last year. Zverev’s last victory over Sinner came in the round of 16 at the 2023 US Open. (ANI)

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Transfer: Take your decision – Jay Jay Okocha warns Osimhen about next club

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Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, has claimed that Victor Osimhen is the one that must “own” the decision on his next club.

Osimhen is almost guaranteed to leave Napoli on a permanent deal this summer.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at Galatasaray last season, winning the league title and League Cup, while also landing the Golden Boot award.

Osimhen has already turned down several offers to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and is keen on continuing his career in Europe.

Okocha has now advised Osimhen to do what is best for him and his family.

“The decision should be his. Whether it goes well or not, he must own it,” Okocha told Sport 247.

“I don’t believe in deciding someone’s future. He should choose what’s best for him and his family.”

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They think I’ve money – Mikel says Nigeria still owes him flight money to Rio Olympics

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Chelsea legend, John Obi Mikel, has revealed that those in charge of football in Nigeria have refused to refund him the money he spent on flight for the team for the Rio Olympics in Brazil 8 years ago.

In an interview on his podcast as shared by the Pickers, the former Nigeria international said he was not respected even after leading the Olympic football team to a Bronze medal.

It could be recalled that the Nigeria football contingent was on the verge of missing on the Olympic games in 2016 due to lack of adequate preparation from the government’s side but Mikel came to the rescue and fkew the to the games.

The former midfielder even had to lose his place in Antonio Conte’s squad at Chelsea because of his decision to lead Nigeria to the Olympics in Brazil.

Mikel said his efforts were not appreciated enough by those who were supposed to provide logistics for the games and attributed this to the massive corruption in the system.

“Again, talk about the corruption, where a budget has been signed by the government, and somebody sitting on top of that money didn’t release that money, and we are all sitting at the hotel, about to fly to, I think it was Rio, yeah,” Mikel said.

He continued, “And everyone’s thinking ‘how are we going to get there.’ There was no money to pay for the flight. There was nothing to do the players were worried, and for most of these players, it is their first time of going to a major tournament.

“So I thought why not. So I spoke to the coach, ‘how could we find a plane?’ We found a plane and I had to pay for it. I funded it. When we got there I thought I would reimbursed my money but up till haven’t been refunded… that’s the mentality.

“That’s the thinking. ‘It’s gonna be Mikel. He can afford it.’ But it’s not that. It’s the principle. It’s the respect. You know what I told them, ‘okay guys, I’ve done it but you need to reimburse me my money.’

“But they still didn’t do it. But the joy that I take out of that was that we got there and those young players were able to get a medal. Olympic medal.

“You know we finished third. But it was still a massive achievement and for me see that those young players went back to their families knowing that they got a medal was more than the money.”

Mikel never played for Chelsea again after the Olympics and had to move to China.

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Bundesliga: Tella debunks Bayer Leverkusen exit claims

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Nathan Tella has declared he is not thinking about leaving Bayer Leverkusen this summer, Ekwutosblog reports.

 

The versatile winger has been linked with a return to England following an impressive campaign for Die Werkself.

Tella started his career in England, and featured for the likes of Burnley and Southampton before switching over to Leverkusen two years ago.

The Nigeria international claimed he will be at the former Bundesliga champions next season.

“I’m still happy to be here (at Bayer Leverkusen). I want to stay here. This is the club that signed me, and it’s an honour for them to sign me.”

The 25-year-old racked up two goals and four assists in 27 matches for Leverkusen last season.

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