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No sanctions against Vinicius Junior: At Real, “everyone is in the same boat”

Lesley Summerville
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No sanctions against Vinicius Junior: At Real, “everyone is in the same boat”

Vinicius Junior’s outburst after being substituted against Barcelona was also the focus of media attention ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Valencia. Xabi Alonso handled the situation with aplomb.

“I’ve already answered three or four questions about Vini. I think I’ve said enough,” Real’s coach summed up during Friday’s press conference. However, he had not yet addressed all the concerns of the media representatives present at that point.

Xabi Alonso was ultimately asked a total of six times about the situation involving the Brazilian striker, who, after being substituted in the 72nd minute of the Clasico (2-1), stormed off to the dressing room in a rage, ranting and gesticulating wildly, without even glancing at his coach.

Xabi Alonso “satisfied” with Vinicius Junior’s statement

Vinicius Junior had already addressed the public on Wednesday: “Today I would like to apologize to all Madridistas for my reaction to being substituted in the Clasico. As I already did personally during today’s training session, I would like to apologize again to my teammates, the club, and the president.“ And to the head coach, whose name was missing from the list?

”It was very positive and valuable, I’m satisfied. We’re all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction,“ replied Xabi Alonso, who assured that ”everything has been cleared up“ since Wednesday’s discussion. ”We’re focusing on what lies ahead, everyone wants to be on the pitch, and that’s good. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. We want to take it step by step, but everyone is working towards the same goal,“ said the Real coach.

Will Valencia surprise again at the Bernabeu?

There will be no ”retaliatory measures,” however, so Xabi Alonso will likely rely on Vinicius Junior’s qualities again in the upcoming home game against Valencia CF: “I see him as very focused and eager. He played a great game the other day.”

From the perspective of Los Blancos, a similarly strong performance from the Brazilian would be desirable on Saturday, as the Bats already proved in their last meeting in April (2-1) that they are a force to be reckoned with at the Bernabeu.

“They have quality and good players. We will be highly focused in this game because after a big win, you tend to become a little careless, and I definitely want to prevent that,” explained the focused Xabi Alonso, whose team will continue their Champions League campaign on Tuesday at Liverpool FC (9 p.m.).

Betting scandal in Turkey: 149 referees suspended

Jeffrey Gooding
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Betting scandal in Turkey: 149 referees suspended

Turkish soccer has been rocked by a betting scandal. Numerous referees have come under scrutiny for illegal sports betting. Now the TFF association is taking rigorous action and suspending 149 referees.

“Being a referee is an honorable profession,” said association president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu on Friday, announcing that even more drastic measures are being considered. The TFF president said that people who have “tarnished this honor” will “never again be part of Turkish soccer.” On Friday, 149 referees were suspended for eight to twelve months by the disciplinary committee. Three other referees are still under investigation. The association announced the suspensions but did not mention whether those punished had also placed bets on games they themselves had officiated. It therefore remains unclear whether any matches were possibly fixed. When the scandal came to light, Haciosmanoglu announced that he would take rigorous action. “We are determined to rid soccer of any trace of corruption. We will make no exceptions,” said the 59-year-old—and he has the law on his side, as referees in the Turkish leagues are generally prohibited from betting.

Prosecutors investigate

And yet, a comprehensive investigation of a total of 571 referees revealed that 371 of them had betting accounts—152 of whom had actively used them. The fact that 22 of the officials were employed in Turkey’s top division, the SüperLig—seven main referees and 15 assistants—showed that this was not purely a problem in the lower leagues. Ten of the accused referees had placed more than 10,000 bets, one of them 18,227 times, and 42 referees had each placed bets on more than 1,000 soccer matches. Most of the matches on which bets were placed were therefore games in foreign leagues. The outrage in Turkey is enormous, with top clubs Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahce demanding a full investigation.

This is likely to extend beyond the association, as the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office is already investigating the case.

Public prosecutor’s office investigates

Nevertheless, a comprehensive investigation of a total of 571 referees revealed that 371 of them had betting accounts—152 of whom had actively used them. The fact that 22 of the officials were employed in Turkey’s top division, the SüperLig—seven main referees and 15 assistants—showed that this was not purely a problem in the lower leagues. Ten of the accused referees had placed more than 10,000 bets, one of them 18,227 times, and 42 referees had each placed bets on more than 1,000 soccer matches. Most of the matches on which bets were placed were therefore games in foreign leagues. The outrage in Turkey is enormous, with top clubs Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahce demanding a full investigation.

This is likely to extend beyond the association, as the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office is already investigating the case.

Six weeks after Gladbach exit: Seoane takes over at Young Boys

T0m@dmin1
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Six weeks after Gladbach exit: Seoane takes over at Young Boys

Those in charge in Bern felt that Young Boys’ performances so far this season had been too inconsistent. On Friday, they pulled the plug and sacked coach Giorgio Contini. A successor was quickly found in Gerardo Seoane.

Giorgio Contini is no longer coach of BSC Young Boys. The coach was relieved of his duties on Friday with immediate effect. His successor is Gerardo Seoane, who was still coaching Borussia Mönchengladbach until mid-September. The 47-year-old, who won three Swiss championships and one cup title with the Bernese between 2018 and 2021 and also reached the Champions League, has been given a contract until summer 2028. Seoane was the ideal solution, says former Bundesliga pro Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), YB’s chief sports officer. “It is of great significance for us that we have succeeded in signing Gerry Seoane. With him, a new cycle begins, even though we do not expect miracles and are aware that we are in a delicate situation.”

After eleven rounds, YB is currently only in fifth place in the Super League, clearly lagging behind its own expectations.
The team’s large fluctuations in performance in recent weeks and months, as well as its lack of sporting development, proved to be Contini’s undoing on Friday morning. The 51-year-old, previously part of the Swiss national team’s coaching staff, took over the Bernese team in December 2024, led them to the Championship Group, and secured qualification for the Europa League.
His dismissal had been in the air for some time during the current season, and the wild 3-3 draw at Letzigrund on Thursday evening finally proved to be the last straw.

“Overall, we lacked consistency in our sporting performances,” explained Spycher. “After what we thought was a step forward, we were repeatedly thrown back and had to endure some heavy setbacks. For this reason, after Thursday’s game in Zurich against GC, we came to the conclusion that, in this constellation, there is no longer any belief in sustainable improvements.”

Seoane is now expected to provide new impetus. “He has a clear vision, is a competitive type and will drive forward the changes in our team,” Spycher is certain. The 47-year-old also emphasizes: “With Gerry as head coach, we are striving for the continuity that we have lacked in this position recently.” YB is pursuing “a long-term project” with Seoane.

Return triggers positive emotions for Seoane

Seoane himself is delighted to be returning to Bern: “YB is a very special club for me. After the very successful period between 2018 and 2021, I never lost touch with many people at the club. And when the opportunity arose to return to YB, it triggered positive emotions in me. A whole new task now awaits us, which will involve a lot of work above all.”

On Sunday, the Swiss player will play his first game with his new team. It will be no easy task against FC Basel.

“The result of your passion”: Mbappé wins Golden Shoe for the first time

Lesley Summerville
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“The result of your passion”: Mbappé wins Golden Shoe for the first time

At an awards ceremony in Madrid, Kylian Mbappé was presented with the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer for the past season. The striker had to work hard to earn his first award.

It was a close race, but with a brilliant final spurt, Kylian Mbappé actually managed to overtake the leaders in the Golden Shoe rankings. The Real striker scored nine goals in the last five league games of the season, leaving long-time favorites Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting Lisbon, now Arsenal) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) trailing behind the Frenchman. Mbappé scored the decisive points with a brace on the last matchday in a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad at the end of May.
On Friday, European Sports Media (ESM) presented Mbappé with the trophy at Real Madrid’s training center in Valdebebas. “You deserve it,” said ESM Vice President Juan Ignacio Gallardo. “This unique and exclusive shoe fits only you. Today you are starting a collection.” Florentino Perez also sang the striker’s praises. “This is the result of your work, your commitment, and your passion for soccer. And I want to tell you that, as president of Real Madrid, I am very proud to have a player like you on our team,” said the 78-year-old.

Mbappé himself thanked his teammates and spoke of an “incredible team. The collective awards are the most important thing. Playing for Real Madrid is a dream.”

Turned it around after a false start

Mbappé moved from Paris St. Germain to Los Blancos in the summer of 2024, but his start was anything but a dream. He failed to score a single goal in his first three league games before striking six times in the following six games.

With 31 league goals, Mbappé ultimately became the top scorer in Spain, with no other player scoring more frequently in the major leagues. Gyökeres scored more goals (39), but these were only multiplied by a factor of 1.5 instead of 2 in the Golden Shoe ranking, as the Portuguese league is not considered one of the top 5.

The ESM will publish the first interim results for the 2025/26 ranking in the coming weeks. One thing is clear: Mbappé is likely to be among the frontrunners again. The 26-year-old once again leads the scoring charts in Spain with eleven goals, ahead of Atlético striker Julian Alvarez and Levante’s Etta Eyong (both 6).

AIDA Cruises is the official partner of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga

Sports Of The Day
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AIDA Cruises is the official partner of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga

Since the start of the 2025/26 season, the cruise company AIDA has been the official partner of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. Extensive branding and activation measures are planned as part of the long-term cooperation.

The agreement focuses on marketing rights relating to the league and the easyCredit BBL cup competition, including extensive TV presence through LED advertising boards and permanent visibility on the basketball courts. The new partnership was brokered by Infront Germany, the exclusive marketer of the easyCredit BBL.

Marvin Macherey, Commercial Director of the easyCredit BBL: “We are delighted to welcome AIDA Cruises, undoubtedly the best-known cruise brand and one of Germany’s most successful tourism companies, as a strong partner of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. AIDA Cruises’ strategic decision to become fully involved in basketball in the future is a strong signal and once again demonstrates the appeal and particularly attractive environment for brands that we can offer across Germany.”

This is the first time that AIDA has become a partner of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. “Basketball stands for team spirit, emotions, and diversity—values that AIDA Cruises also lives by with complete conviction. With our commitment to the easyCredit BBL, we want to inspire people, bring them together, and create unforgettable moments—both on the court and on board,” explains Alexander Ewig, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales at AIDA Cruises. “Basketball brings people together, just like AIDA does on its voyages around the world. We are particularly enthusiastic about the family-friendly nature of the sport, which fits perfectly with AIDA.” The company’s commitment to basketball in Germany is not new. The cruise line has been supporting the Bundesliga team ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES since 2022. The partnership goes far beyond traditional sponsorship. It thrives on joint activities that promote cohesion and strengthen the region. AIDA is particularly committed to working together to support young talent. AIDA Cruises is also involved in other sports that focus on community and family friendliness. Premium Rights at Infront Germany: “AIDA Cruises and the easyCredit BBL are a great fit at all levels. As the league’s exclusive marketing partner, our goal was to showcase this and shape AIDA’s entry in a way that fits both the brand and the dynamics of the league. The fact that this partnership is now being implemented speaks to the appeal of the format and the confidence in basketball as a stage.”

“Remarkable progress”: Dettwiler has left intensive care

admin3r
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“Remarkable progress”: Dettwiler has left intensive care

More positive news about Noah Dettwiler: The Swiss rider is no longer in intensive care, is awake and able to communicate with doctors and family

After the doctors treating him announced on Wednesday that the Swiss Moto3 rider was no longer in critical condition, his recovery continues to progress. Dettwiler is awake and communicating with his family and doctors.

He has also been discharged from intensive care and transferred to a private clinic in Kuala Lumpur. However, an X-ray examination revealed a new injury: a crack in a cervical vertebra. Dettwiler will therefore have to wear a neck brace for several weeks to stabilize it. In addition, the Swiss rider will have to undergo further surgery on his leg. It is currently unclear whether this procedure will be performed in Malaysia or after he is transported back to Switzerland. It is therefore not yet clear when Dettwiler will return to his home country. “On behalf of the family and the entire team, we would like to express our sincere thanks to the medical staff at the track and all the employees of the Sepang International Circuit and the hospital in Kuala Lumpur for their professionalism, excellent support, and care,” the statement said.

“We would also like to thank everyone for the numerous messages of support from the entire paddock and from around the world. They mean a great deal to his family and to all of us. Our thoughts are also with Jose Antonio Rueda, his entire team, and his family during this difficult time. We send them our full support,” the statement continued.

Dettwiler was involved in a serious rear-end collision during the inspection lap shortly before the race when Jose Antonio Rueda crashed into Dettwiler at high speed. The rescue services at the race track provided immediate medical assistance before both were flown to hospital.

Hamilton’s future uncertain: Oliver Bearman is already waiting in the wings

Lesley Summerville
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Hamilton’s future uncertain: Oliver Bearman is already waiting in the wings

Should Lewis Hamilton leave Ferrari in the coming years, Oliver Bearman could well be a suitable successor within the team’s own ranks.

For expert Martin Brundle, the question is not whether Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman will get a regular cockpit at Scuderia in the coming years. The long-time Formula 1 driver believes it’s just a matter of when that will happen.
In Sky’s latest Formula 1 podcast, Brundle explains: “As soon as a seat becomes available at Ferrari for whatever reason, I think Bearman should take that seat. I think he’s excellent, he learns quickly and makes the most of his opportunities.“

Bearman’s fourth place in Mexico on Sunday was ”absolutely outstanding,“ according to the expert, who explains: ”If you give this young man a chance, he’ll take it, just like he did in Saudi Arabia [2024] in the Ferrari.” Bearman made his surprise Formula 1 debut in Jeddah last year when Ferrari regular driver Carlos Sainz had to miss the race due to appendicitis surgery. He finished a respectable seventh and completed two more races for Haas during the year as a replacement for Kevin Magnussen.

He has been a regular driver for Ferrari customer team Haas since this season, but Brundle believes the 20-year-old will not be driving for the US team forever—especially since Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur also praised Bearman after the Mexican Grand Prix.

Rumors: No new Ferrari contract for Hamilton?

“He did a great job. This weekend, he brought everything together, zero mistakes – that’s paying off now,” said Vasseur. The fact is, however, that Bearman will continue to drive for Haas at least until 2026. The Brit has already been confirmed there for the coming year.

This is also due to the fact that no cockpit will be available at the Ferrari factory team in the new year. However, that could change in 2027, as rumors have recently surfaced that 2026 could be Lewis Hamilton’s last season in Maranello.

ESPN recently reported that “several high-ranking figures from the paddock” had indicated that Scuderia would not offer Hamilton a new contract in view of his current performance.

However, Hamilton himself has always stated that his clear focus is on 2026, and the record world champion has recently shown an upward trend, which is why the claim that he will not get another Ferrari contract seems somewhat premature.

It is also unclear exactly how long Hamilton’s current contract runs. Ferrari merely confirmed in 2024 that the Brit had signed a multi-year contract. The Italian Gazzetta dello Sport reports that it is a contract until the end of 2026, but with an “option” for 2027.

Villeneuve: Bearman copes well with pressure

Should Hamilton and Ferrari part ways at some point, which is bound to happen sooner or later given the Briton’s age—he will be 41 at the start of next season—Bearman could well be a suitable successor.

Jacques Villeneuve also praised him in the Sky podcast: “It’s very promising. He was impressive this weekend [in Mexico] because he brought the whole package. He was fast and didn’t let the pressure get to him.”

“He’s a very aggressive driver, but he always has everything under control,” said the 1997 world champion, who explains that Bearman is one of those drivers who grows with his tasks. “He’s better now than he was when he was driving in the smaller categories,” said the Canadian.

In fact, Bearman won two Formula 4 titles in one year in 2021, but no further championships followed. He finished “only” third overall in Formula 3 in 2022 and 12th in Formula 2 a year later, although he missed two weekends there due to his Formula 1 commitments.

In his first full Formula 1 season, he is 13th in the world championship standings with 32 points with four races to go – and since Mexico, he has been just ahead of his much more experienced Haas teammate Esteban Ocon (30 points).

Alex Marquez does not see the GP26 as a test for the Ducati factory team

Phil Laffertey
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Alex Marquez does not see the GP26 as a test for the Ducati factory team

Alex Marquez does not see his season with the Ducati GP26 as a test for the factory team, but has nevertheless set himself a high goal after finishing runner-up in the championship

Alex Marquez is optimistic about the future after a strong season in MotoGP. The Spaniard will ride the current Ducati, the Desmosecidi GP26, for the first time in 2026. However, he sees this less as an entrance exam for the factory team and more as a personal performance test.

Starting next season, Ducati will compete with four new prototypes. In addition to official factory riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, as well as VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez will also receive the latest GP26 at Gresini.

Since joining the team in 2023, the younger of the Marquez brothers has always ridden last year’s bikes. But his impressive performances on the GP24 this season convinced Ducati to entrust him with the latest equipment.

The move is seen as a logical step forward and allows Ducati to compare Marquez’s performance directly with the factory riders. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old emphasizes that he is not under any particular pressure to prove himself in 2026. “No, I don’t see it that way,” he said at a press conference in Madrid. “I see it more as a test for myself. It’s about getting the best out of your garage so that there are no doubts about what could have happened if you had had the latest bike. And to be honest, that doesn’t make me more nervous, it actually gives me peace of mind,” said Marquez.

From almost out to runner-up in the 2025 world championship

At the Malaysian Grand Prix, the 29-year-old secured second place in the riders’ standings ahead of schedule – a remarkable achievement for a rider who has had to fight long and hard for his future in the premier class in the past.

After difficult years at LCR Honda, where he was hardly competitive, Marquez found his old strength again at Gresini in 2023. With the GP24, he finally took the decisive step in 2024 and established himself at the top. The runner-up title has special significance for him, not only as a symbol of his comeback, but also because his brother Marc won the world championship.

“It’s similar to a title, but not a normal second place for me,” says the younger of the two brothers about finishing second in the world championship. “My path in MotoGP has not been easy. I started very well in 2020 with two podium finishes as a rookie at Repsol Honda, but then I moved to LCR and struggled there for two years.”

“I was almost at home in 2023. It was only through a stroke of luck that I got the chance at Gresini. That’s why this is so special. I’m second, the first of the losers. But the winner is my brother. That’s a different feeling.”

“It was just perfect. It’s special when you consider where we come from. That’s why it’s a really good second place,” Marquez emphasizes.

Looking ahead: Title fight against his brother?

With second place in the World Championship, the Spaniard has achieved the best result of his MotoGP career so far. In 2026, he wants to take the next step and fight for the title. But to do that, he will have to beat his brother Marc on the same bike. “I would never say that Marc is unbeatable, but it’s very difficult,” he admits. “The pressure he puts on, constantly riding at the limit from the first practice session, that’s tough. The difficult thing is to have the precision that he has.”

“No one is unbeatable, but beating him over 22 races is very difficult,” Marquez knows. Despite the competition on the track, he emphasizes that both can benefit from each other, also through their different riding styles: “I lack Marc’s explosiveness, and he lacks the calmness that I have.”

“We’ve both improved, but I envy Marc’s explosiveness more than his calmness. That’s what has earned him more titles. I’m going to stay the same. And if I do change, I hope someone gives me a little nudge.”

 

 

Mercedes admits: Should have acted more decisively in Mexico

Sotd Editor
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Mercedes admits: Should have acted more decisively in Mexico

Mercedes acknowledges that the team orders issued in Mexico came far too late – in hindsight, a decision should have been made much earlier.

George Russell finished the Mexican Grand Prix at the weekend in seventh place – but says he could have finished higher up if Mercedes had issued team orders in his favor earlier in the race.

Russell was stuck several laps behind his teammate Kimi Antonelli, and when Mercedes finally instructed the rookie to let Russell pass on lap 41, it was already too late, according to Russell. “There was no point in doing that anymore,” said the Brit.

“Either you do it immediately or you don’t do it at all,” Russell explained after the race, because: “At that point, my tires and brakes were overheated and the engine was also starting to overheat.”

As a result, he was unable to gain any more positions after the swap and ultimately gave sixth place back to his teammate shortly before the end. Mercedes team representative Bradley Lord has since confirmed that the team order came far too late. “In Mexico, it was very difficult to overtake due to the low downforce, especially because of the dirty air phenomenon, which now seems to be more significant than ever since these rules were introduced in 2022,” he explains in a team video.

“So it was a tricky situation, and we probably didn’t handle it quite right,” he admits, explaining: “We let Kimi drive in such a way that he could conserve his tires so he could get through with one stop.”

“He did exactly what was asked of him,” Lord clarifies. Russell, on the other hand, had ‘pressure’ from Oscar Piastri in the McLaren behind his teammate and was also stuck in Antonelli’s “dirty air.” That’s why the Brit repeatedly asked for a position swap over the radio.

“We finally decided to swap, and looking back, I think that regardless of whether we had decided to keep the positions or swap, it was the delay that didn’t work for us,” Lord said.

“The lesson learned is that we should have acted more decisively by either asking to hold the positions or swapping positions instead of waiting as long as we did,” admits the Mercedes man.

In the World Championship, Mercedes slipped to third place behind Ferrari in Mexico after a mixed result with P6 and P7. Charles Leclerc’s second place means that, with four races to go, the Scuderia is now one point ahead of the Silver Arrows again.

“He’s been bullying me for more than 20 years.”

Jeffrey Gooding
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“He’s been bullying me for more than 20 years.”

The former world number one is being harshly criticized by an ex-player. Her response is more than clear. She accuses her critic of bullying.

These are words that make you sit up and take notice: tennis star Caroline Wozniacki has sharply criticized a TV commentator on Instagram. Peter Bastiansen, who once played professional tennis himself, recently criticized the 35-year-old in the Danish tabloid “B.T.”

“She will never play tennis at the top level again. That ship has sailed,“ said the former pro about Wozniacki, who has not yet commented on whether she will continue her career after the birth of her third child in the summer. ”Why doesn’t she just say she’s quitting?“ asked Bastiansen, who commentates on tennis for TV 2. ”There would be nothing wrong with that. All the big sports stars announce something like that, I don’t understand it.“

The 63-year-old also said that he would find it ”ridiculous” if Wozniacki competed in the Australian Open in January. He also couldn’t imagine the Dane receiving a wild card.

Wozniacki now had some strong words for her critic. In her Instagram story, she wrote about him: “For more than 20 years, Peter Bastiansen has been bullying me, attacking me in the media and talking about things he knows nothing about.”

Wozniacki attacks Bastiansen: “You should know the rules”

But Wozniacki’s reckoning went even further. Addressing Bastiansen directly, she said: “Peter, you’re a clown, and as a ‘tennis expert’ you should know the rules. It can be difficult to keep track of things when you’ve never played at a high level yourself.”

Bastiansen reached a career-high ranking of 224 in the world rankings, never climbing higher. Wozniacki, on the other hand, was even number one in the WTA world rankings at one point. She spent a total of 71 weeks at the top. In 2018, she won her only Grand Slam title, the Australian Open. She reached the final of the US Open twice (2009 and 2014).

The tennis player emphasized that she did not need a wild card to participate in the Australian Open. She has a secure ranking as number 71 in the world, which allows her to participate in major tournaments. Wozniacki has a protected ranking due to her pregnancy. This allows her to continue participating in tournaments as a seeded player despite her forced break.

Bastiansen does not want to “get involved in a war of words”

“After many years of hard training and tennis at the highest level, I have the right to do what is best for my family,” Wozniacki also wrote. She also took a shot at the media for giving Bastiansen a platform. “I don’t understand why TV 2, ‘B.T.’ and other media outlets continue to use his quotes when there are many, many better experts in Denmark,” Wozniacki said.
Bastiansen’s response to the attack was not long in coming. “I don’t want to get involved in a war of words,” he told B.T. “I said one thing and now she’s saying something else. She has every right to do so.”

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