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AFP

  • Chile stun Argentina to win first Copa America title

    Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez struck the winning spot-kick for Chile, as the hosts clinched a 4-1 shoot-out victory when the game ended goalless after extra time.

    Sanchez chipped the decisive penalty down the middle past Sergio Romero to spark wild celebrations in front of a 45,000 capacity crowd at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.

    Chile took control of the shoot-out when Gonzalo Higuain blazed his penalty over the bar before Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved Ever Banega’s spot-kick.

    Argentina captain Messi, aiming to inspire the South American giants to a first international title in 22 years, could only look on distraught as Chile celebrated.

    The four-time world footballer of the year had repeatedly spoken of his desperation to win a title with Argentina after winning everything at club level with Barcelona.

    But the 28-year-old superstar was to suffer more disappointment, only 12 months after enduring another agonising extra-time defeat in last year’s World Cup final against Germany in Brazil.

    Chile’s win was their first ever victory over Argentina in the Copa America.

  • Kvitova joins Wimbledon exodus, Federer, Murray into last 16

    Czech second seed Kvitova, who also won the 2011 title, lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to veteran campaigner Jelena Jankovic who goes on to play 2012 runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska for a spot in the quarter-finals.

    Kvitova’s earliest loss at the All England Club since 2009 leaves just Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki and Lucie Safarova as the last remaining top 10 seeds going into the second week.

    “I’m overwhelmed. I’m so excited. My heart is still pumping,” said the 30-year-old Jankovic on reaching the last 16 for the fifth time.

    Kvitova has now bowed out of the last four Grand Slams before the quarter-finals.

    “It’s not great to lose in the third round. Not to be in the second week of the favourite tournament for me is really sad,” she said.

    Seven-time champion Roger Federer defeated big-serving Australian Sam Groth 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

    The 33-year-old Swiss, chasing an 18th major title, will next face Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

    Groth had the consolation of hitting the second fastest serve ever at the tournament — 147.2-miles (236.9-kilometres) per hour.

    Murray faces golden oldie

    Murray survived a shoulder injury scare to make the last 16 with a 6-2, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi.

    Murray, the 2013 champion, required a medical time-out for treatment on his right shoulder after dropping the first game of the fourth set.

    But the world number three then reeled off six games in succession to set up a clash against Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.

    “The shoulder is fine. The trainer came out and manipulated my back. He gave it a few good cracks,” said Murray.

    “It’s a 90-kilo guy lying on top of me so it’s not that pleasant. He said the shoulder was like a machine gun going off when he laid on top of me.”

    Karlovic became the oldest man in 39 years to reach the last 16 when he beat French 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

    The 36-year-old giant fired 41 aces in a 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (11/9) win.

    The 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych, the Czech sixth seed, saw off Spain’s Pablo Andujar 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

    He next faces Gilles Simon who beat Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 2-6, 6-2.

    Their all-French clash started on Court One but was completed at 10:30pm (2130GMT) under the roof and lights of Centre Court after darkness fell.

    Dreadlocked German qualifier Dustin Brown was unable to follow his triumph over Rafael Nadal when he slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Serbian 22nd seed Viktor Troicki.

    Qualifier Brown joins Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and Nick Kyrgios who all lost their next match at Wimbledon after knocking out Nadal over the last four years.

    Troicki goes on to face Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, who beat British wildcard James Ward 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 8-6.

    It is the 29-year-old Serb’s first last-16 run at Wimbledon since 2012 and his best performance at a Grand Slam since returning from a 12-month drugs ban in July last year.

    First timers

    US Open champion Marin Cilic took just two games to see off John Isner on Saturday after returning to finish their third round match poised at 10-10 in the final set.

    Croatian Cilic, the ninth seed, beat the US 17th seed 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 12-10 in a match that lasted four hours and 31 minutes in total after it had been suspended late Friday due to bad light.

    Cilic next faces wildcard Denis Kudla, the last American man in the tournament.

    Danish fifth seed Wozniacki reached the last 16 for the fourth time with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Italy’s Camila Giorgi.

    The former world number one will face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza after the 20th seed shocked 2012 semi-finalist Angelique Kerber 7-6 (14/12), 1-6, 6-2.

    Muguruza saved nine set points in the first set on her way to a debut appearance in the second week at Wimbledon.

    Romania’s Monica Niculescu also made the last 16 for the first time, beating Czech world number 134 Kristyna Pliskova 6-3, 7-5.

    She will face Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky who put out 2013 runner-up Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-2 to book a spot in the last 16.

    Belarusian qualifier Olga Govortsova is another fourth round first timer thanks to a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 over Magdalana Rybarikova.

    She next tackles American 21st seed Madison Keys, a semi-finalist in Australia this year.

  • Crying Greek pensioner: the story behind the poignant photo

    When he was told at the fourth that he could not withdraw his 120 euros ($133), it was all too much and he collapsed in tears.

    The 77-year-old told AFP that he had broken down because he “cannot stand to see my country in this distress”.

    “That’s why I feel so beaten, more than for my own personal problems,” Chatzifotiadis said.

    The image of him sitting outside the bank, openly crying in despair with his savings book and identity card on the floor, was captured by an AFP photographer illustrating how ordinary Greeks are suffering during the country’s debt crisis.

    Athens had imposed capital controls and shut all banks since Monday to stem a haemorrhage of cash, but on Wednesday allowed some branches to reopen for three days so retirees who have no bank cards could withdraw their pensions — capped at 120 euros.

    Recounting how he had gone from bank to bank in a futile attempt to collect his wife’s pension, Chatzifotiadis said when he was told at the fourth “that I could not get the money, I just collapsed”.

    Both he and his wife, like many Greeks in the north of the country, had spent several years in Germany where he “worked very hard” in a coal mine and later a foundry.

    And it is to Berlin, which is being blamed by many in Greece for its hardline stance in demanding the government impose more austerity measures for fresh international aid, that Chatzifotiadis is sending his wife’s pension.

    “I see my fellow citizens begging for a few cents to buy bread. I see more and more suicides. I am a sensitive person. I can not stand to see my country in this situation,” he said.

    “Europe and Greece have made mistakes. We must find a solution,” he added.

    But Chatzifotiadis feels he can do little to change the situation, and he is not even sure if he would be able to vote at Sunday’s referendum on whether to accept international creditors’ bailout conditions.

    European leaders have warned that a ‘No’ vote would also mean no to the eurozone.

    Pointing out that the polling station is 80 kilometres (50 miles) away, Chatzifotiadis said: “I have no money to go there, unless perhaps if my children would take me in their car.” – AFP