01292026 SPORTS

SPORTS

Pacers beat Timberwolves

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE RM Bailey Pacers made a statement on Tuesday night, handing the defending champions Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves a 58-46 loss in a tightly contested GSSSA regular-season senior boys' game at the DW Davis Gym.

“It's a good feeling, you know, they are the defending champs, and we had this marked on our calendar all year,” said RM Bailey head coach Lamont Armaly. “My boys played good but still could be better in execution.”

From the opening tip, it was clear the Pacers came in with a purpose as they jumped out to an early 8-0

RM Bailey senior boys make a statement with 58-46 victory over defending champions Anatol Rodgers

run, fuelled by energy on both ends of the floor and an immediate control of the tempo.

Anatol struggled to get clean looks early as the Pacers' length disrupted passing lanes and either challenged or blocked shots inside.

Multiple early blocks set the tone, sending a message that nothing would come easy inside which seemed to be the offensive game plan for Anatol.

Anatol eventually settled into the game and

responded by switching into a 2-3 zone, hoping to slow the Pacer’s penetration and force perimeter shots.

The adjustment, however, never fully worked as the Pacers adapted and moved the offence beyond the three-point line with timely made threes and continuing to generate second-chance opportunities by dominating the glass.

Even when shots didn’t fall, the Pacers’ rebounding kept possessions alive and put pressure on the defending champions.

Anatol Rodgers showed why they entered the season as the team to beat. Behind a long stretch of disciplined defence and timely scoring, Anatol clawed back into the game and took a slim 27-24 lead into halftime. The champions controlled stretches of the second quarter with patient offence and improved defensive rotations, briefly shifting momentum and quieting the Pacers’ run.

GSSS a - SEE Page E3

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter

VALDEZ “VJ” Edgecombe didn’t need a headline stat line to leave his mark against Milwaukee as the rookie guard played within the flow, helping steer the Philadelphia 76ers to a 139-122 win over the Bucks at home on Tuesday night.   Edgecombe finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and knocking down all three of his attempts from deep, just two rebounds and three assists away from what would've been his first recorded triple-double. It was the kind of night that truly highlights his value to this 76ers team.   Philadelphia’s stars did the heavy lifting on the scoreboard, with teammate Paul George leading all scorers with 32 points. Joel Embiid added 29 points and nine rebounds and backcourt partner Tyrese Maxey chipped in 22 points

and nine assists, pushing the tempo and capitalising on the space Edgecombe helped create. The balance he creates between the stars of Philly has become his calling card. Edgecombe, 20,  repeatedly initiates the offence without forcing shots like a veteran and staying aggressive defensively. His plus-minus reflected it. He didn’t dominate the ball, but the game bent in his favour when he was involved, a trait that has earned him trust early in his rookie season.

Edgecombe was selected for the Rising Stars Game and drafted onto Vince Carter’s team with Carter’s first pick in the draft that took place on the court before they played the Bucks. "I'm super excited that I'm with coach Vince. We're going to play hard, we locked in, man," said Edgecombe to Carter after the draft.

Earlier in the season, flashes of Edgecombe’s explosiveness sparked comparisons to Carter, particularly after a series of transition finishes and

high-point rebounds. Edgecombe has embraced the respect while staying grounded. “That’s elite… I’m VJ, man,” Edgecombe said. “Comparison is the

thief of joy,” he said earlier this season. “My main goal is to just go in there and win.” His teammates in Team Carter include Derik

Queen, Matas Buzelis and ROTY ladder contender Cedric Coward. “I want to be Rookie of the Year. I want to win a championship,” Edgecombe said on

draft night, setting a tone that has carried into his first season. That approach has shown up as the Rookie of the Year race has evolved. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel entered the season as the consensus frontrunners, but Edgecombe’s consistency on a winning team has changed the conversation.

Over the past stretch, he has climbed to third on the ROTY ladder, overtaking Cedric Coward and placing himself firmly behind only Flagg (second place)  and Knueppel (first place).

It was also announced that Edgecombe along with his backcourt running mate Tyrese Maxey are this month featured athletes to grace the cover of SLAM magazine.

Philadelphia’s victory pushed the 76ers to 25-21 on the season, good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Sixers look increasingly comfortable blending veteran star power with the rookie energy of Edgecombe.

UB Mingoes drop nail-biter to Ballers in NPVA

IT was a topsy-turvy match but the University of The Bahamas Mingoes women’s volleyball team fell in a nail-biting five sets to the Ballers in the New Providence Volleyball Association (NPVA) action at the D.W Davis Gymnasium on Monday. Mingoes fell 3-2 on sets (25-20, 24-26, 25-17, 24-26 and 15-13). Mingoes assistant head coach Shanyhah Bowe said it was a tough match but praised her team’s defence.

“What held us throughout the game tonight was our defence,” Bowe said. “We had a lot of hustle plays. We ran down balls that we and the other team thought was unreachable and that brought us back into the game. That momentum carried us through.”

Both teams traded sets to set up the fifth and decisive set. They then traded points to get the set started but the Ballers got a breather with a 6-4 lead. UB tied it up at 11-11 on a Garinique Hollingsworth soft touch. UB

then trailed 13-11 before they fell 15-13. The fourth set was a competitive one with UB taking a 7-9 lead. UB’s setter Zarria Rose’s service was key in that set as she helped UB take a 16-8 lead. UB got outplayed by the Ballers’ veterans as the scored was

tied up at 24 points each with the winner needing two points to win the set. After UB went up 25-25, Rose served an ace that let her team survive to the fifth set.

UB got dominated early in the third set as they went down 9-4. They were unable to get into a rhythm as they fell 25-17.

UB played a strong defensive second set and was able to hold their own.

UB led 22-16 but Ballers stormed back to tie it at 24-24. UB pulled away on a Ballers’ service error and Rose’s ace to give them the 26-24 win.

UB went down 19-14 midway in the first set but they were able to bounce back and trail 23-20 but that was the closest they got. They eventually fell 25-20. They now sport a 5-4 win/ loss record on the season and is on track for a playoff spot.

Next up for them is a tough meeting against the Lady Warhawks at 5pm on Sunday, February 1.

Local Sports Calendar

BAHAMAS

TRIATHLON

THE Bahamas Triathlon Association will hold an Olympic, sprint and relay triathlon on Sunday, February 1 at Jaws Beach starting at 7am.

The Olympic course will feature a 1.5 kilometre swim, a 40K bike run and a 10K run; the sprint will have a 750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run and the relay will comprise teams of two or three people competing together in both the Olympic and sprint courses. Interested persons can contact the BTA for more details.

EDRON

KNOWLES TOURNEY

THE National Sports Authority will pay special tribute to the late Edron ‘Ed’ Knowles with a Home Run Hitting Showcase at the Bankers Field on February 20.

The top 20 home run hitters in the country will compete for $500 cash plus five cases of beers for first place, $300 and three cases

of beers for second and $200 and two cases of beers for third. The event is being sponsored by GBall and A Sure Win.

6th RED-LINE

SONJA KNOWLES CLASSIC

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s sixth annual Sonja Knowles Track Classic will be held over the weekend of January 31 to February 1 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Classic.

The event will begin at 10am on Saturday, January 31 and continue on Sunday, February 1 at 1pm.

The categories for men and women will begin from under-7 to the masters. Interested persons can contact coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information.

BBSF FAMILY FUN RUN/ WALK

THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold its annual Family Fun Run/ Walk Race on Saturday, February 26, starting at 6am

from the

The run will leave Jean Street and head north to Bernard Road, turn left onto Bernard Road and head to Village Road, turn left onto Soldier Road, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Fox Hill Road and turn left onto Bernard Road, heading back to the church.

The registration fee is $10 per person in both the men and women 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and 60-and-over as well as the Ministers/Pastors.

Interested persons can call Brent Stubbs at 4267265 for more information.

BASEBALL

MARIO FORD CAMP THE annual Mario Ford Baseball Camp at Windsor Park, designed for boys and girls between the ages of 4-16 years, will be staged every Saturday between the hours of 9:30-11:30am until Saturday, April 18. Interested persons are urged to contact camp director Mario Bowleg at 556-0993.

PARTICIPANTS enjoy the Tour de Turquoise Ride for Exuma which marked its 10th anniversary.

Tour de Turquoise Ride for Exuma celebrates its 10th anniversary

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter Jburrows@tribunemedia.net

WHAT began as a small group of cyclists navigating Exuma’s roads has grown into one of the island’s most impactful charitable events.

The Tour de Turquoise Ride for Exuma marked its 10th anniversary last weekend, surpassing $700,000 raised over a decade and setting a new record for the largest single-day fundraising event in Exuma’s history.

Founded by Exuma resident and avid cyclist Howard Chang, the Tour de Turquoise started as a grassroots effort aimed at giving back to the community. In its earliest days, the ride featured only a handful of cyclists. Ten years later, it has evolved into an international event drawing riders from abroad and generating critical funding for health, education and environmental initiatives across the island.

“It started with a little idea that we could use bicycles to do a bit of good for the people and communities of Exuma,” Chang said. “And it’s ended with over $700,000 raised over 10 years of the Tour de Turquoise that has made a tangible difference in the areas of health, education and the environment on this little island.”

This year’s edition proved to be the most successful yet. Sixty-five cyclists participated, helping the event raise $200,000 in a single day. That figure represents the highest one-day total since the ride’s inception and cements its status as Exuma’s largest annual fundraiser.

Co-organiser Jeff Todd, founder of the Run for Pompey and author of “Pigs of Paradise,” reflected on how far the event has come.

“We never expected when we started out with just two or three riders that it would have become what it is today,” Todd said. “The donors really stepped up to support us. They have turned our cycling event into something that is really changing the community for the better.”

Over the years, funds raised through the Tour de Turquoise have supported a wide range of projects, including the purchase of a bus for the local clinic, refurbishment of a

basketball court, the creation of a cycling club at the high school, and ongoing assistance to the Bahamas National Trust and the Exuma Humane Society.

The event is supported by key charitable partners, including the Exuma Foundation of Canada and Friends of Exuma. Both organisations have played a significant role in fundraising and donor engagement.

“We really have to thank supporters such as Peter Nicholson, founder of the Exuma Foundation of Canada and Bob Coughlin, president of Friends of Exuma, who have shown belief and personal support,” Todd added. “These supporters are making a real difference on the island.”

Friends of Exuma president Bob Coughlin emphasized the event’s alignment with the foundation’s mission.

“The Tour de Turquoise is the essence of what Friends of Exuma is all about, community focused, inclusive and charitable,” Coughlin said. “When we ride together, all of Exuma benefits. It truly highlights the power of community. And it is good, healthy fun, too.”

For Chang, a marketing specialist who purchased his home in Exuma in 2013, the ride represents more than just fundraising.

“There is something special about this event, it’s a real island effort,” he said. “It is a reminder that the true secret to happiness is not about what you get. It’s about what you give.”

Tax-deductible donations can still be made at www. rideforexuma.com using the code TDT2026 in the comment section.

RM Bailey Pacers senior boys make a statement with 58-46 win over defending champions Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves

GSSSA - from Page E1

The third quarter proved to be the turning point as the Pacers reasserted themselves with renewed intensity, winning nearly every contested rebound and forcing stops that turned into transition chances, and the pace swung back in the Pacers’ favour. By the end of the third, they had regained control, holding a 42-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“I just tell them keep they composure because the gym was loud and once they could hear me I told them to play the system that they know and make good

decisions,” said Armaly to his team coming out of halftime, heading into the third quarter.

“I told them to pack up the paint and force shots and keep there hands away from them and play good defence,” said Armaly.   In the fourth quarter, the Pacers never let Anatol Rodgers get close enough to seriously threaten. Continued dominance on the boards limited Anatol to single-shot possessions, while the Pacers capitalised on extra opportunities. The physicality inside seemed to wear on the defending champions. When the final buzzer sounded, the Pacers walked

away with a convincing 58-46 victory. Rebounding was the defining factor, consistently winning the battle inside and dictating the flow of the game. Their ability to withstand Anatol’s midgame surge and respond with a strong second half spoke to the execution of the game plan that worked. Moving forward, the Pacers head coach made it clear what the expectations for his team were this season, saying they want to “win it all.”

For Anatol Rodgers, the loss serves as an early-season reminder that defending a title comes with its challenges and challengers.

Harris and Cunningham score 22 each as Pistons hold off Nuggets 109-107

DENVER (AP) —

Tobias Harris scored 22 points, including two free throws with two seconds left, and Detroit held off a late Denver rally for the win.

Cade Cunningham had 22 points and 11 assists for Detroit, which has won nine of 11 and leads the Eastern Conference by 5 1/2 games over Boston.

Jamal Murray had 24 points and 10 assists but missed two free throws in the final seconds. With the Nuggets down 107-104, Murray was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 4 seconds left and missed the first foul shot. Harris was fouled and made both free throws. Murray went to the line again with 0.7 seconds remaining but missed the second foul shot.

Jonas Valanciunas returned from a one-game absence to finish with 16 points and 16 rebounds for Denver, which had been scheduled to play at the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The game was postponed because of the winter storm that hit most of the country, and the Nuggets were stranded in Memphis until Monday morning.

KNICKS 103, KINGS 87

NEW YORK (AP) —

Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and New York dominated the fourth quarter to beat Sacramento for its third straight victory.

Mikal Bridges added 18 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who outscored the Kings 31-15 in the final period after the game was tied at 72 after three.

DeMar DeRozan scored 34 points for the Kings, who lost their sixth straight. Russell Westbrook added 14 points, but he and DeRozan

combined to go 3 for 16 from 3-point range on a night when Sacramento finished 5 for 30 (16.7%).

Mike Brown earned his first victory as Knicks coach against the team that fired him last season, two years after he was NBA Coach of the Year after leading Sacramento to the 2023 playoffs.

THUNDER 104,

PELICANS 95

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and short-handed Oklahoma City beat New Orleans to avoid its first three-game skid of the season.

Chet Holmgren had 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks for NBA-best Oklahoma City (38-10), which had lost back-to-back home games for the first time this season. Isaiah Joe added 17 points.

The Thunder were missing starters Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace and key reserve Alex Caruso with injuries.

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 8 of 22 from the field but went 13 of 14 from the foul line. He scored at least 20 points for the 118th consecutive game, the second-longest streak in NBA history.

Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds. Saddiq Bey added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Pelicans, who had won two straight.

SUNS 106, NETS 102

PHOENIX (AP) — Mark Williams scored 27 points, Dillon Brooks had 26 and short-handed Phoenix beat Brooklyn in a game that featured a scuffle late in the fourth quarter. After Brooks put the Suns ahead

104-102 on two free throws with 1:23 remaining, a steal by the Suns’ Royce O’Neale led to a scramble for the ball in the paint. Brooks tried to wrestle the ball away from Ziaire Williams after the whistle, and the Nets’ Egor Demin pushed Brooks.

Several players started jawing at each other and assistant coaches from both sides gathered on the floor as officials tried to restore order. Demin, Mann and Michael Porter Jr. received technical fouls for the Nets, and the Suns’ Grayson Allen and O’Neale also got technicals. Brooks did not receive a technical

after getting one earlier in the game. Allen added 18 points for the short-handed Suns, who ended a twogame skid. Devin Booker missed his second straight game after rolling his right ankle in a loss at Atlanta on Friday night, and Jalen Green also sat with a nagging right hamstring injury. Porter finished with a season-high 36 points for the Nets, who have lost six straight and 14 of 16. Demin added 15 points, but Brooklyn struggled to find secondary scoring.

CLIPPERS 115, JAZZ 103

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored

21 points, James Harden had 16 points and 10 assists, and Los Angeles beat Utah for its ninth win in 10 games. Kris Dunn added 14 points and a season-best five steals for the Clippers (22-24), who have the best record in the NBA since Christmas. They have won 16 of their last 19 games — immediately after going 3-16 in their previous 19. The Clippers took control during a 10-2 run in the third quarter powered powered by Dunn’s two steals and layups, along with a 3-pointer that made it 73-61. Los Angeles led by double figures the rest of the way.

Utah’s Lauri Markkanen returned after missing seven games due to illness to score 19 points on 5-for15 shooting.

Ace Bailey scored 20 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 13 but the Jazz (15-32) have dropped seven of their last eight games. With Leonard on the court, the Clippers are 14-2 in their last 16 games and have won seven straight.

WIZARDS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 111

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Sarr had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots, and Washington snapped a nine-game losing streak with a victory over Portland.

It was Washington’s first home victory over Portland since January 16, 2017.

The Wizards led 112106 when Shaedon Sharpe cut the lead in half with a 3-pointer. After Bub Carrington tossed up an air ball for Washington, Sharpe’s dunk with 20.5 seconds left cut the lead to one.

Kyshawn George made one of two free throws with 15.5 seconds to play, putting the Wizards up 113-111. After a timeout, Sharpe’s contested jumper missed, and Khris Middleton’s free throws made it a four-point game.

Sharpe scored 31 points for Portland, which lost despite a 69-46 advantage in rebounds. The Trail Blazers shot just 13 of 23 on free throws.

The 7-foot-1 Sarr attempted a career-high 29 field goals, making 11. It was quite a battle of young big men between him and 7-foot-3 Donovan Clingan, who had 14 points and 20 rebounds for Portland.

Ex-Wizard Deni Avdija had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.

A powerful rivalry: Sabalenka and Svitolina set for semifinal showdown

By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer

MELBOURNE, Aus-

tralia (AP) — Naturally

there'll be attention on the backstory when Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina meet in the Australian Open women's semifinals.

Top-ranked Sabalenka, who is seeking a third title in four years in Australia, is a 27-year-old from Belarus. She’s popular on TikTok for her humorous posts and dance routines.

Svitolina is a 31-yearold Ukrainian who will be returning to the Top 10 next week for the first time since returning from a maternity break she took in 2022. She reached her first Australian Open semifinal with a lopsided win over No. 3 Coco Gauff, needing only 59 minutes to end her run of three quarterfinal losses at Melbourne Park.

They're both regularly asked questions relating to Russia's war on Ukraine. Both have regularly said they want the focus to be on tennis. Svitolina is trying to bring joy to the people of Ukraine, of course. Sabalenka said she supports peace.

“It's very close to my heart to see a lot of support from Ukrainians,” she said. “So I feel like (I) bring this light, a little light, you know, even just positive news to Ukrainian people, to my friends when they are watching.” Players from Ukraine don't shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus at the net after matches. It's accepted on both sides.

They're both on 10-match winning streaks so far in 2026 and entered the season's first major with titles

in warmup tournaments — Sabalenka in Brisbane, and Svitolina in Auckland, New Zealand, her 19th career title. That was Svitolina's first foray back after an early end to the 2025 season for a mental health break.

Sabalenka, who has 22 career titles including back-to-back Australian championships in 2023 and '24 and back-to-back U.S. Open triumphs in 2024 and last year, is 5-1 in career meetings with Svitolina. She is into the final 4 at a major for the 14th time, and has made the final seven times.

“It's no secret that she’s a very powerful player. I watched a little bit of her (quarterfinal) match. She

was playing great tennis, and I think, the power on all aspects of her game is her strengths,” Svitolina said of Sabalenka. “She’s very consistent. For me, I’ll have to ... try to find the ways and the little holes, little opportunities in her game.

“When you play the top players, you have to find these small opportunities and then be ready to take them.”

Svitolina is playing her fourth semifinal at a major — 2019 and 2023 at Wimbledon and the 2019 U.S. Open — and aiming for her first final.

Sabalenka played her quarterfinal against 18-yearold Iva Jovic before the

searing heat forced organisers to close the roof of the Rod Laver Arena stadium on Tuesday. She was long gone before Svitolina and Guaff played under the roof at night. At that stage, she didn't know who she'd next be playing, but was sure “it's going to be a battle.”

“Because whoever makes it there, it’s an incredible player,” she said. “I think my approach going to be the same. Doesn’t matter who I’m facing.

“I’ll just go, and I’ll be focused on myself and on my game.”

Rybakina-Pegula, 5 vs. 6

Sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula completed the final 4 when she held off fellow

American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) to move into a semifinal against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Pegula beat 2025 champion Madison Keys in the previous round before ending Anisimova's run of back-to-back Grand Slam finals. The sixth-seeded Pegula is hoping to emulate Keys’ run here last year and claim her maiden Grand Slam title in Australia.

“I’ve been waiting for the time when I can kind of break through,” Pegula said. “I feel like I really play some good tennis here and I like the conditions.”

With a 7-5, 6-1 victory in the centre court opener

Wednesday, Rybakina, the 2023 Australian Open runner-up, ended No. 2-ranked Iga Swiatek's bid to complete a career Grand Slam — at least for this year. Rybakina, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan, said she'd focus on the lessons she'd taken from previous trips to the deciding end of the majors.

“Now I’m more calm. In the beginning, when it’s the first final and you go so far in the tournament, of course you are more emotional,” she said. “Now I feel like I’m just doing my job, trying to improve each day. So it’s kind of another day, another match.”

‘I was lucky’ says Djokovic after setting up Australian Open semifinal against Sinner

By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer

MELBOURNE, Aus-

tralia (AP) — After a walkover and an in-match retirement, 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic will meet two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.

Djokovic dropped the first two sets of his quarterfinal 6-4, 6-3 yesterday to fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti but was up a break in the third when the 23-year-old Italian retired with an injured right leg.

The 38-year-old Djokovic admitted he was “lucky this time.”

It wasn’t really the way Djokovic wanted to cap yet another record – his 103rd win at Melbourne Park, one better than Roger Federer’s previous all-time mark –but he accepted any route through.

Sinner was all business in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over eighth-seeded Ben Shelton in a night match to extend his streak to 19 at Melbourne Park.

Sinner conceded he was lucky to still be in the tournament, too, after struggling with cramps and staggering in his third-round match until the roof was closed and he went back on court reinvigorated.

The top four seeds have reached the final four in the men’s draw, with No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev set to meet in the other semifinal.

Sinner has a 6-4 lead in head-to-heads with Djokovic, but he’s won the last five. That sequence includes semifinals at the 2024 Australian Open and at Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year. It was the semifinal here two years ago that propelled Sinner toward his first major title.

“It improves you as a player and a person,” Sinner

said of his matches with the tennis great. “We’re still lucky to have Novak here playing incredible tennis at his age.

“As a 24-year-old, I’m lucky to have someone like him in front of my eyes and I can hopefully learn something. I feel like every day, every time he plays, I can learn something about him.”

Since capturing his 24th Grand Slam singles title in 2023, unprecedented among men and for anyone in the Open Era, Djokovic has been bidding for a 25th and to become the most decorated tennis player of all time.

Djokovic’s dramatic win Djokovic was two sets down, slowed by a serious blister on his foot and already thinking about his flight home when fifthseeded Musetti called it quits.

Musetti needed a medical timeout for treatment on his upper right leg after being broken in the third game of the third set. He played on for almost two games but couldn’t continue.

After serving a double-fault in the fifth game to give Djokovic a breakpoint chance, Musetti wiped a hand across his face, walked toward the net and removed his headband before exchanging a handshake and quick hug.

“I honestly have no words to describe how I’m feeling right now and how tough it is for me with this injury in this moment,” Musetti said. “I continued to play because I was playing really, really, really well, but I was feeling that the pain was increasing and the problem was not going away.”

Djokovic said he felt for Musetti.

“It happened to me a few times. But being in the quarters of a Grand Slam, two sets to love up and being in full control — I mean,

so unfortunate,” Djokovic said. “He should have been a winner today.” Musetti was also forced to retire from the French Open semifinals last year —- with a similar injury — against eventual champion Alcaraz. “I feel really sorry for him,” Djokovic said. “He was a far better player — I was on my way home tonight.”

Late in the second set, Djokovic conceded a point after telling the chair umpire his racket frame had touched — barely and inaudibly — the ball before it went out.

He soon lost that game and the set. The situation appeared to get more dire

for Djokovic when he needed a medical timeout after the second set for the blister on the ball of his right foot.

“I just wasn’t feeling the ball today due to his quality and his variety in the game,” he said. “I’m extremely lucky.”

Flip side No tennis player takes any victory for granted. Just a few days ago, Djokovic received a walkover into the quarterfinals.

Djokovic has seen it from the other side. None more dramatic than here last year when he had to quit the Australian Open semifinals with a torn leg muscle. He was booed off the court

when he retired after dropping the first set against Zverev. Asked in a news conference to compare eras from when he started chasing the Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry and to now chasing Alcaraz and Sinner,

Djokovic responded that it was disrespectful not to mention the “15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams.” “I don’t feel like I’m chasing, to be honest,” he said. “I’m creating my own history.”

Champions League: Who has qualified, who

is in the playoffs and who is out

Bruges, Belgium.

LONDON (AP) —

Here’s the state of play after the conclusion of the first stage of the Champions League: Teams qualified automatically to the round of 16 Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City. How the playoffs look for the remaining round-of-16 spots

Atletico Madrid (for the right to play Liverpool or Tottenham)

Monaco or Qarabag vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle (for the right to play Barcelona or Chelsea) Club Brugge or Galatasaray vs. Juventus or

Bodo/Glimt or Benfica vs. Real Madrid or Inter Milan (for the right to play Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City)

Qarabag or Monaco vs. Newcastle or Paris Saint-Germain (for the right to play Chelsea or Barcelona)

Galatasaray or Club

Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos vs. Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen (for the right to play Arsenal or Bayern Munich)

Benfica or Bodo/Glimt vs. Inter Milan or Real

Madrid (for the right to play Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon)

Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid or Juventus (for the right to play Tottenham or Liverpool)

THE WEATHER REPORT

Olympiakos or Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta (for the right to play Bayern Munich or Arsenal)

Teams eliminated from Champions League Marseille, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Bilbao, Napoli, FC Copenhagen, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, Kairat.