Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title by swatting aside third seed Alexander Zverev to reach the French Open semi-finals.

The 38-year-old sixth seed won 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a meeting with world number one Jannik Sinner on Friday.

Djokovic, who has three Roland Garros titles, lost the opening set to 2024 runner-up Zverev after being broken in the first game of the match.

But the Serb great did not drop serve again, although he had to survive a 41-shot exchange on break point at 3-2 in the fourth set on his way to sealing a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semi-final appearance.

“My way of playing is based on running, but at my age it’s not so easy to run so much,” said Djokovic, who is the second oldest man to reach the French Open semi-finals.

There he will face Sinner, who cruised into the last four with a ruthless straight-set victory over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik earlier on Thursday.

The Italian is still yet to drop a set at Roland Garros after winning 6-1 7-5 6-0 and bringing 62nd-ranked Bublik’s remarkable run to an end.

Sinner is hunting a first title on the Paris clay after previously only gone as far as the semis, losing a five-set thriller to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz last year.

Djokovic or Sinner will meet the winner of defending champion Alcaraz and Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who also play on Friday.

Tomi Falase, Chairman of Lagos State Squash Association ,LSSA, Tomi Falase yesterday said that all is set for the 4th edition of Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament in Lagos.

Falase said that the competition represents a defining moment for Nigerian squash development in Lagos.

He said that he was excited about the performance of the state`s athletes as they dominated the squash event at the just concluded National Sports Festival ,NSF, in Ogun.

“I’m excited to announce to the general public that the 4th edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament will hold from June 9 to 14.

“As we have done in the past, the event comes up at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos”, Falase said.

Falase also told NAN that the NSF served as a solid build-up to the Prime Atlantic Tournament, and Lagos is eager to sustain its momentum.

“This tournament is coming at the right time. Our athletes are still very much in competition shape from the National Sports Festival.

“We want to consolidate on our success, but more importantly, this is about raising the overall standard of squash in Nigeria and showcase and test our best players”, Falase said.

Falase, who is passionate about the sponsor’s commitment over the years, said that the event remains a vehicle for talent discovery and grassroots development.

Middlesbrough FC has sacked it’s head coach, Michael Carrick after two-and-a-half years in charge.

The former England midfielder, 43, took over at the Championship side in October 2022 for his first role in management.

He guided the team to a play-off finish in 2022-23 but they have missed out on the top six in the past two campaigns.

Carrick’s assistants, Jonathan Woodgate and his brother, Graeme Carrick have also left the club.

Boro spent much of the 2024-25 season challenging for a play-off spot but one win in their final six matches proved to be costly.

They stayed in the hunt for a top-six place until the final game of the season but defeat at Coventry saw them finish 10th.

His departure means that 17 of last season’s 24 Championship teams have changed manager since August last year.

Manchester City have agreed a 55m euros ,£46.3m, deal with AC Milan for Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.

The 26-year-old will sign a five-year contract at Etihad Stadium after agreeing personal terms with City.

The deal, which is subject to a medical, includes additional payments if certain clauses are met.

City hope to complete a deal for Reijnders in time for the Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14.

His arrival will strengthen an area of the pitch that has been weakened by injury to Mateo Kovacic, who has been ruled out of the 32-team tournament in the United States after undergoing Achilles surgery.

The Midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne is also expected not to be involved in the tournament, with a move to Serie A champions Napoli looking increasingly likely.

Capped 22 times for the Netherlands, Reijnders is the type of balanced midfielder that City lacked last season.

The Dutchman scored 15 goals in 54 matches across all competitions for Milan last term, helping him to be named Serie A’s midfielder of the season.

His performances came against the backdrop of Milan’s dismal campaign as the Rossoneri finished eighth and missed out on European qualification.

It was the best goalscoring season of Reijnders’ career, with the 26-year-old hitting double digits for the first time.

But the former AZ Alkmaar midfielder, who made his senior debut for PEC Zwolle in 2018, is far more than just goals.

Capable of playing deep or high in midfield, Reijnders’ appeal to a coach like Pep Guardiola is clear.

The midfielder is capable of taking the ball in tight areas and is adept at beating the press either through his passing or ball-carrying.

With Rodri returning from injury towards the end of last season, Reijnders could either play alongside the Spaniard or in a more advanced role.

Joel Ajayi 

The 22nd National Sports Festival, also called Gateway Games 2024, will be remembered not only for the medals and milestones but for its atmosphere, excellence, and enduring legacy. More than just a competition, it became a celebration of unity, talent, and what’s possible when vision meets execution.

Held from May 16 to 31 across Ogun State, the festival was a vibrant blend of elite performance, grassroots inclusion, and cultural pride. Abeokuta transformed into a beating heart of national excitement, where athletes, fans, and communities came together under a shared banner of excellence and joy.

At the core of this triumph was the unquestionable commitment of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun. His determination to leave a lasting legacy translated into the full renovation of the historic MKO Abiola Stadium and significant upgrades to the state’s sporting infrastructure. His leadership ensured that every detail from logistics to athlete experience was thoughtfully addressed. This festival didn’t just meet expectations; it raised the bar for what a host state can deliver.

Much of the credit also goes to the National Sports Commission ,NSC, led by the chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee and Director General of the NSC, whose hands-on leadership and tireless dedication were instrumental to the festival’s success. The NSC executed a flawless event, the result of months of detailed planning, collaboration, and commitment.

The 2024 National Sports Festival left a lasting infrastructural legacy for Ogun State. The iconic MKO Abiola Stadium received a comprehensive facelift, restoring it to world-class standards, while the Alake Sports Centre and several other venues were upgraded to meet the demands of high-level competition. A standout innovation was the introduction of a centralized accommodation model an unprecedented move in the festival’s history. All athletes were housed at Babcock University, whose state-of-the-art facilities, including independent power and water systems, provided a seamless living and competition environment. Complemented by a fleet of no less than 80 buses and more than 20 standby vehicles, transportation was efficient and stress-free, marking a new era of planning and execution for multi-sport events in Nigeria.

In a bold and historic initiative, the 2024 edition introduced over 300 Invited Junior Athletes ,IJAs, many under the age of 18, to compete alongside seniors. Backed by the NSC, the IJA initiative aimed to bridge the generational gap and expose emerging talents to elite competition. These young athletes didn’t just participate they impressed, excelling in events like football, athletics, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling. It was a powerful statement about the future of Nigerian sport and the value of early investment in youth development.

Praise poured in from across the sports community. Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, called the festival a “generational victory for Nigerian sport”. He noted, “From the facilities to the sheer energy of the athletes, this festival brought new life to weightlifting and many other sports. The inclusion of junior athletes is a brilliant stroke that ensures continuity and growth. Ogun State delivered beyond expectations”.

Elder Paul Bassey, Commissioner for Sports in Akwa Ibom State, echoed those sentiments: “This was a sports festival in every sense of the word well-structured, beautifully organized, and emotionally stirring. The level of professionalism we witnessed, especially from the organizers and volunteers, was world-class. It’s a credit to Ogun State and a challenge to Enugu to raise the bar even higher next time”.

One of the most emotional moments came when wrestling icon Blessing Oborodudu took her final bow. In a poetic full-circle moment, she retired in the same city Abeokuta where her journey to stardom began during the 2006 Gateway Games. Nearly two decades later, she leaves the sport as an Olympic silver medalist, multiple-time Commonwealth champion, and a revered ambassador for Nigerian sports. Her farewell underscored how these Games were not only about beginnings, but also about meaningful endings.

While the official fixtures delivered stunning athletic feats, the real magic often happened after the final whistle. Each night, the corridors around the stadiums came alive with activity vendors, gamers, and revellers turning the evenings into a spontaneous carnival of food, laughter, and shared stories. The gaming zones, table tennis setups, and snooker boards became gathering points, creating an organic, unofficial tradition that captured the very soul of the festival. Though not on the formal schedule, this nightly rhythm became one of the defining features of the Games proof that sport’s true power lives in the connections it inspires.

Now, the baton passes to Enugu for the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival. With expectations soaring, the legacy of the Gateway Games serves as both a challenge and a roadmap. Ogun State has shown what’s possible when ambition, support, and community come together with purpose.

The 22nd National Sports Festival was a masterclass in how to blend competition with culture, legacy with logistics, and dreams with discipline. It reminded us all that sport is not just about winning it’s about belonging, progression, and storytelling. Thanks to the visionaries, athletes, and every cheering voice in Abeokuta, Nigerian sports now stands taller, prouder, and more inspired than ever.

Here’s to Ogun. Here’s to the Games. And here’s to the golden future of Nigerian sports.