By Carlos Ramírez Zago
Andrey Rublev is the champion of the Masters 1000 of Monte Carlo
Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev was crowned champion of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career in his third attempt (second in Monte Carlo).
The 25-year-old Muscovite tennis player, currently ranked number six globally, was crowned after an intense and heart-stopping match against his opponent, 19-year-old Norwegian Holger Rune, currently ranked number nine.
The first set went to Rune by 7-5 after a spectacular start by the young Norwegian. But it was in the second set where the lack of experience and the difficult temperament were the main reasons for a total lack of concentration for the young Holger Rune, who would take advantage of Rublev to take the second set by 6-2 and tie the match. In the third set, the tension came, with Andrey Rublev playing like never before and Holger Rune fighting every point as if it were his last. The third set ended with a favorable result for world ranking number six Andrey Rublev by 7-5, giving him his first Masters 1000 trophy.
«I feel great. It has cost me a lot, so many times losing in the final, in the semifinals or even before, but finally I won a Masters 1000, and I did it in Monte Carlo, a really historic tournament,» declared Andrey Rublev after beating Rune.
The future of tennis is in good hands!
The Spanish League will be in Mexico
Spain’s La Liga announced a tour of North America this summer with four popular teams from Spain.
Club Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad de Fútbol, Sevilla Fútbol Club, and Real Betis Balompié will be the four Spanish teams playing in North America this summer.
La Liga also announced that the North American tour would kick off in Mexico. On Wednesday, August 2, for the first time in Mexico, there will be a soccer match between two Spanish teams.
Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad will face off at Monterrey Rayados’ Estadio BBVA Bancomer. Sevilla and Real Betis will play the «derbi sevillano» at Guadalajara Chivas’ Estadio Akron (both matches on August 2, times to be announced). The tour will conclude in San Francisco (California) on August 5 with a doubleheader, Atletico Madrid vs. Sevilla and Real Betis vs. Real Sociedad.
The 35th anniversary of Hugo Sánchez’s famous «Señor Gol» against Logroñés
On April 9, 1988, during a wonderful afternoon of soccer at the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, a La Liga match between Real Madrid and CD Logroñés took place, where Hugo scored the most famous goal of his career. «It has been an unforgettable day in my career as a footballer,» confessed Hugo.
After a perfect cross by Martin Vázquez, the «Pentapichichi» took flight, measured the ball, and finished in the air with his extraordinary left foot so that the ball crossed the goal line and Real Madrid went up on the scoreboard. A perfect bicycle kick, never seen before, made the mythical Santiago Bernabeu Stadium explode with emotion, ending with a standing ovation for the Mexican.
«Three minutes after scoring that goal, people were still shouting «bullfighter, bullfighter!» It was the most incredible three minutes on a soccer field and in this case at the Santiago Bernabeu and with the Real Madrid jersey,» said Hugo Sanchez on ESPN.
Undoubtedly, Hugo Sánchez has been the best Mexican soccer player of all time and one of the best strikers in the history of world soccer, with his first-touch goals, his good handling of both legs, his ability to outwit opponents and score goals in every possible way, but above all, with his unparalleled bicycle kicks.
The emblematic goal was named «Señor Gol,» about Logroñés (the team that conceded the goal). Curiously, when read in reverse, is «logroñes, s-e-ñ-o-r-g-o-l» which was precisely what Hugo accomplished that afternoon in Madrid.
Mr. Goal by Hugo Sánchez!
Outstanding Mexican soccer players in Europe
Some Mexican soccer players are having a good time, each standing out in their respective teams and leagues in Europe.
In Italy: Guillermo Ochoa with Salernitana showing a great level in goal, Johan Vásquez as a reference in defense of Cremonese, and Hirving Lozano a few days away from lifting the «Scudetto» with Napoli.
In Holland: Santiago Giménez is becoming Feyenoord’s idol, scoring goals everywhere and shaping up to win the Eredivisie, while Edson Álvarez and Jorge Sánchez at Ajax Amsterdam are proving to be key players, game by game. On the other hand, at PSV, Erick Gutiérrez owns the team’s midfield.
In Spain: Cesar Montes earned a starting role at Espanyol as an effective defender. Andres Guardado plans to renew his contract for another year with Real Betis, the team’s leader.
In Greece: Orbelin Pineda continues to score goals and is a key player for AEK Athens.
The Mexicans are tearing it up!
