‘Unbeatable’ Pogacar aiming for Tour-Giro double in spite of Covid blow

MARSEILLE: Former world number one Daniil Medvedev reached his first quarter-final of 2025 in Marseille on Thursday as China’s Zhang Zhizhen stunned fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Eighth-ranked Medvedev defeated French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-4 in a repeat of the 2021 final, which Medvedev also won.
Medvedev, playing in Marseille on a wild card after second round exits at the Australian Open and in Rotterdam, is seeking his first title since Rome in 2023.
“Funny enough we have played five times on tour and three times in Marseille,” Medvedev said.
“It is where we meet all the time and I am happy that I played at a good level. Did not lose my serve and happy to win.”
He will next play Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who saw off French player Hugo Grenier 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, for a place in the semifinals.
Zhang belied his ranking of 52 to stun Hurkacz 6-4, 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in a big-hitting battle in which he cracked 37 winners to the Pole’s 30 during their two-hour, eight-minute clash.
“I felt great on court today, it was the same goal as the first match, I tried to put the match to the tie-break, and that’s how I wanted to play,” said Zhang, who reached the quarter-finals in Marseille in 2024.
“I guess I like it here, two years in the quarters.”
Zhang next faces Belgium’s Zizou Bergs who defeated Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

Al-Nassr won 3-2 at Al-Ahli on Thursday to keep their the Saudi Pro League title hopes alive. Two goals from new signing Jhon Duran made the difference in Jeddah as the Riyadh side came away with an impressive victory despite playing with 10 men for almost the entire second half.

It means Al-Nassr remain in third place, just three points behind Al-Hilal and five behind league leaders Al-Ittihad, who play tomorrow and Saturday respectively.

The home fans were on their feet in the sixth minute when Riyad Mahrez fired home after running on to a long ball out of defense, but the former Manchester City star was offside.

Duran made no such mistake just after the half-hour mark. Ayman Yahya slipped a pass to the Colombian, who controlled the ball on the edge of the area and spun around in one swift movement before unleashing a shot that ended up in the bottom corner.

Just after the restart, Al-Ahli had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee, but a red card handed to Al-Nassr defender Mohammed Simakan, for an elbow on Ivan Toney, stood.

Toney got his revenge in the 78th minute, when he climbed majestically at the far post to head home a Gabri Veiga cross from the left, finally defeating an impressive Bento in goal.

The home fans might have expected Al-Ahli to continue to push forward in search of a win but it was to be the visitors who would score next, twice.

Yahya was up first, hitting the net on the second attempt after his first-time shot from the corner of the six-yard box was parried by Edouard Mendy.

Then, just before the end of the regulation 90 minutes, Duran produced a goal to remember. Running from the halfway line, he beat two defenders as if they were not there and then stroked a low shot home from just inside the area, sending the away fans wild with delight. It was a goal worthy of winning any game.

Sumaihan Al-Nabit pulled one back in the eighth minute of added time but it was too little too late for fifth-place Al-Ahli, who have otherwise been in great form in the league.

Earlier, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw red but his Al-Qadsiah teammates showed their mettle by coming from a goal behind and a man down to win 3-2 at Al-Shabab.

The Gabonese goal-getter was sent off with 11 minutes remaining, and his team 2-1 behind, but late goals from Ali Hazazi and Julian Quinones delivered a famous victory. Al-Qadsiah remain in fourth place in the league, trailing Al-Nassr only on goal difference.