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Medvedev edges Khachanov in windy Qatar Open

DOHA: World No.6 Daniil Medvedev eliminated compatriot and defending champion Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the ATP Qatar Open on Tuesday. Medvedev, who won the tournament in 2023, scored his first victory over a top-30 player in 2025. Medvedev, the former world No.1, has not won a tournament since the Rome Masters in spring 2023. He was knocked out in the second round of this year’s Australian Open by teenage American Learner Tien. In match of long rallies, Medvedev did not carve out a break point until the 12th game of the second set, by which time he was a set down. He took his chance and then went on attack in the third set to win in two hours 30 minutes.

Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man United has not gone to plan

MANCHESTER: It’s been a year since one of Britain’s richest men bought into its most famous soccer team and vowed to bring the good times back. So far, it hasn’t gone to plan for Manchester United or Jim Ratcliffe. The record 20-time English champion are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, losing vast sums of money every year and facing fan unrest. Even head coach Ruben Amorim said recently that this might be the worst team in the club’s storied history. That’s not all on Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS, but it has been a rocky start since he paid $1.3 billion for an initial 25 percent stake in United and assumed control of their soccer operations. There have been high profile hirings and firings, brutal cost cutting, a hike in ticket prices and new lows on the field for a team that had been in decline for more than a decade before he became minority owner. While there was triumph in the FA Cup last year, that success has been overshadowed by supporter protests, job losses, unconvincing transfers and humbling defeats. Bold plans Ratcliffe said his investment was “just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football.” Those ambitions feel further away now than they have in decades, with United 15th in the standings and closer to the relegation zone than the top six after a woeful campaign.

Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest for back-to-back wins. Pressure mounts on Steve Cooper

NOTTINGHAM, England: Dejan Kulusevski set up a goal and scored another as Tottenham gained ground on the top four by beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the English Premier League on Friday.

Inter Miami adds Tokyo stop to Messi tour next February

MIAMI, USA: Lionel Messi’s world tour with Inter Miami next year added Tokyo as a stop on Friday, with the Major League Soccer club announcing plans to face Japan League champion Vissel Kobe. The Argentine superstar will lead Inter Miami into the match at 60,000-seat Japan National Stadium on February 7 as part of an MLS pre-season tour that also features matches in Hong Kong and Riyadh. “Tokyo is an inspiring destination with a fervent football community that we’re looking forward to getting acquainted with,” Inter Miami chief business officer Xavier Asensi said. “We’re thrilled to visit Japan as one of our stops as we continue to bring joy to our global fan base.” Vissel Kobe is the former club of iconic Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta, who will attend the match and reunite with long-time Barcelona teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba of Inter Miami. The players won a UEFA Champions League crown and four La Liga titles while together for the Spanish giants while Iniesta won the World Cup with Busquets, and the European Championship with both Busquets and Alba for Spain. “Vissel Kobe is a powerhouse club in Asia coming off of a historic season after winning the J1 League, so we’re thrilled about this opportunity to sharpen our team in a match like this one,” Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said. “We continue to look for the best ways to prepare for 2024 and feel confident this match and this tour will help us do that.” Inter Miami will launch its 2024 journey with a match at El Salvador on January 19, then travel to Saudi Arabia for matches on January 29 against Al-Hilal and February 1 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr before playing in Hong Kong on February 4.

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English premier league (epl) Sport News

Medvedev edges Khachanov in windy Qatar Open

Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man United has not gone to plan

Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest for back-to-back wins. Pressure mounts on Steve Cooper

Inter Miami adds Tokyo stop to Messi tour next February

Sports bodies ask IOC to allow Russians as neutrals for 2024 Olympics

Saudi rower Husein Alireza elected to Olympic Council of Asia Athletes’ Committee

FIFA Club World Cup is the next target for Man City, says Joleon Lescott