Javier Aguirre: retirement is approaching after leaving the National Team

Djokovic and Gauff advance at Wimbledon

LONDON — Novak Djokovic needed more than five hours to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The seven-time champion prevailed 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) on Tuesday, securing a spot in the semifinals against defending champion Jannik Sinner.

The match ended around 11pm, just before the All England Club curfew. In the final set tiebreaker, Djokovic celebrated by raising his arms and doing a little dance. “These are the kind of moments I still play tennis for,” he said.

Djokovic, who is seeking his 25th Grand Slam title, reached a record eight consecutive semifinals at Wimbledon, surpassing Roger Federer. During the match, he received medical attention for discomfort in his left leg, but continued playing.

Sinner, meanwhile, advanced earlier by beating Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in less than half time. Last year, Sinner eliminated Djokovic in the Wimbledon semifinals, while Djokovic bested him at the Australian Open.

Gauff comes back and reaches the semi-finals

Coco Gauff, 22, came back to beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time. She became the youngest player to reach the semifinals in all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova in 2007.

“In seven years, it’s the first time I’ve been able to walk on Center Court without feeling nervous,” Gauff said. In the semifinals, she will face Czech Karolina Muchova, who eliminated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Also on Tuesday, Alexander Zverev beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (6) to advance to the quarterfinals against Taylor Fritz.

French justice opened an investigation against Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla for alleged discriminatory comments directed at Kylian Mbappé. The case arose after Paraguay’s defeat against France in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Comments after the decisive penalty

Amarilla, from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, published messages on social networks after Mbappé converted the penalty that sealed the French victory. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office indicated on Tuesday that it began investigations for aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence.

The complaint was filed by the French Football Federation (FFF) before the national unit to combat hate on the internet. The organization took a firm stance, seeking to eradicate offensive expressions in sport.

Institutional response

The investigation focuses on the senator’s statements, which generated reactions in the sports and political spheres. The FFF called for exemplary sanctions against any discriminatory act.

This incident reignites the debate about racism in football. The authorities and the football community are closely observing the measures taken to prevent future similar episodes.

FIFA defends Raphael Claus

FIFA has issued an unusual statement to back referee Raphael Claus after Donald Trump questioned his integrity. The US president suggested the 46-year-old Brazilian is “a bit suspicious” without offering evidence.

Claus sent off Folarin Balogun in the United States’ match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week. Trump intervened with FIFA so that the forward could play against Belgium, a match that the United States lost 4-1.

FIFA called Claus “one of the world’s leading professional referees” and noted that “throughout his career he has demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.” The Brazilian is in his second World Cup.

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of refereeing, said: “He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we maintain full confidence in him.” Claus had previously refereed Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia and the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia. Balogun was the first man sent off in four World Cup matches.

Trump’s comments could relate to a 2024 Brazilian Senate investigation into alleged match-fixing. Lawmakers reviewed the assignment of referees but did not accuse Claus of any wrongdoing.

The Brazilian Football Confederation also supported the whistler: “There is nothing in his record that calls into question his integrity.” Curiously, FIFA did not issue a similar endorsement for Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the country by the United States before the tournament.