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Djokovic and Sabalenka Advance to Brisbane Quarter-Finals

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Djokovic and Sabalenka Advance to Brisbane Quarter-Finals

Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a historic 100th ATP title with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils in the Brisbane International round of 16. The 37-year-old Serbian star displayed clinical precision, securing his 20th career win against the 38-year-old Frenchman.

Djokovic capitalized on his sole break point in the opening set to build a 4-1 lead, wrapping it up in just 36 minutes. In the second set, Monfils faltered early with a missed forehand, allowing Djokovic to break serve and gain control. Holding serve consistently, Djokovic sealed the match with another break at 5-3.

Awaiting Djokovic in the quarter-finals is American Reilly Opelka, who edged past Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in a nail-biting encounter, winning 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-4). Opelka’s dominant serve was the highlight, delivering an impressive 25 aces.

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The upcoming clash will mark the first meeting between Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, and Opelka. Djokovic acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Opelka has been injured and struggled a lot for a couple of years. My gosh, I’m going to have to probably step back a few steps for that first serve.”

On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka also progressed to the quarter-finals, maintaining her strong form in the tournament.

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Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury

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Tottenham's Radu Dragusin Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.

Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.

The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.

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Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

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Aston Villa Secure Marcus Rashford Loan with Option to Buy

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Aston Villa Secure Marcus Rashford Loan with Option to Buy

Aston Villa have officially signed Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season, with an option to buy for £40 million.

The 27-year-old England forward, who had been linked with several clubs, said on Instagram that Villa was an “easy decision” due to their style of play and Unai Emery’s ambitions.

“I just want to play football and am excited to get started. I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season,” Rashford wrote.

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Rashford’s move follows his limited playing time this season, including being dropped for the Manchester derby in December, after which he hinted at being “ready for a new challenge.”

Villa are also in advanced talks to sign Marco Asensio on loan from Paris Saint-Germain as Emery looks to bolster his squad.

The club has been active in the January transfer window, adding Andres Garcia from Levante and Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund. However, they have also seen Jhon Duran move to Al-Nassr for £71 million and Diego Carlos join Fenerbahce for £8.45 million.

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With injuries piling up—Ollie Watkins limped off on Saturday, and Boubacar Kamara has been filling in at centre-back due to Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings’ absences—Villa have been forced into the market to strengthen their squad for a critical second half of the season.

Additionally, 19-year-old defender Kosta Nedeljkovic has joined RB Leipzig on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

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Everton Stun Leicester with Early Blitz to Secure Crucial Win

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Everton Stun Leicester with Early Blitz to Secure Crucial Win

Everton delivered a stunning first-half performance to overpower Leicester City 4-0 at Goodison Park, moving 10 points clear of the relegation zone and deepening the Foxes’ struggles near the bottom of the Premier League table.

The Toffees made a dream start with Abdoulaye Doucoure netting after just 10.18 seconds—Everton’s fastest-ever goal and the fourth quickest in Premier League history. The midfielder capitalized on a long punt from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, finishing coolly past Mads Hermansen.

Leicester’s defensive woes continued moments later when Beto ran onto James Tarkowski’s through ball and calmly slotted home, doubling Everton’s advantage within six minutes. The visitors were completely out of sorts, narrowly escaping a third goal when Jake O’Brien’s close-range finish was ruled offside after 20 minutes.

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The hosts effectively ended the contest before halftime as James Garner’s precise pass cut through Leicester’s defense, allowing Beto to finish clinically for his second goal of the game.

Everton maintained control after the break, comfortably seeing out the match before adding a fourth in the closing stages. Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout with a composed finish, securing a third consecutive victory for the Toffees and pushing Leicester closer to the danger zone.

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