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Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title.

The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis.

The final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain and when the players emerged it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection. He used eye-drops during a changeover in the first set.

Mensik started strongly, breaking Djokovic’s first serve game to go 2-0 up and the tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2 Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net.

The set remained on serve from then on, but in the tie-break Mensik’s powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic fought back the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley.

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It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. Twice he lost his footing and ended up on his back, and he changed his footwear between sets.

Mensik had beaten Djokovic by the exact same margin in the first set of their only other meeting in Shanghai before losing in three sets.

This time, however, the momentum appeared to be with him.

The second set was a nip and tuck affair, though, with neither player able to break. Once again Mensik’s power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory he fell to his back in celebration.

“To be honest I don’t know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously”, Mensik said in his on-court interview.

“It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I’m really glad (about), to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match.

” I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later, “he said.

Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic as his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb.

” There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament, “he said.

” I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many, “Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results.

&nbsp, No excuses&nbsp,

After the match Djokovic admitted he had not felt at his best.

” It’s unfortunate for me. Two tiebreaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that (were) happening. Honestly, yeah, I didn’t feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory, “he said.

Asked specifically about his eye problem, the Serb said:” I really prefer not to talk about — there are quite a few things, but I prefer not to… just congratulate him. That’s it. I don’t want to sound like I’m giving excuses here for my loss. “

Djokovic said he had spotted Mensik’s talent a few years ago and invited him to train at his club.

” I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and, you know, to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing, “he said.

” Never really happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest. “

The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976.

Manchester City came from behind to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, but victory came at a cost as Erling Haaland hobbled off injured.

Haaland had seen a first-half penalty saved before Evanilson put the Cherries in front.

The Norwegian made amends by equalising four minutes into the second period before being forced off with an ankle injury.

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His replacement, Omar Marmoush, took just two minutes to score the winner from a second assist by the impressive Nico O’Reilly as City booked a semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest.

“Seven times in a row reaching semi-finals in the FA Cup…this is outstanding. This generation of players, they have done this”, said City boss Pep Guardiola.

City have been a shadow of the side that won four consecutive Premier League titles this season, and Guardiola said prior to the game that even FA Cup glory would not save a miserable season.

The English champions ‘ collapse in the Premier League began at Bournemouth back in November with a 2-1 defeat that kicked off a run of six defeats in eight games.

But Guardiola hailed the difference in attitude on his side between then and now.

“We came here (in November) with the flip flops on against a team that if you don’t compete, it is impossible”, added Guardiola.

“In football, you have to run. People say about my teams ‘ how good they play ‘ but no, it is how much we run, how much we fight and for many games this season it didn’t happen”.

– Haaland’s hat-trick of misses –

Haaland should have punished a makeshift Cherries defence, missing the suspended Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, with a hat-trick before half-time.

He headed wide his first chance from Matheus Nunes ‘ driven cross.

A Tyler Adams handball then gifted City the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

But for the third time in his last six spot-kicks, Haaland failed to find the net as Kepa Arrizabalaga made a fine save.

That miss seemed to be still in Haaland’s mind when he dinked over Kepa and over the bar with just the Spanish goalkeeper to beat moments later.

City were then hit with a sucker punch by Bournemouth on 21 minutes.

Nunes, deputising in an unfamiliar right-back role, gave the ball away to David Brooks, whose cross was turned across goal by Justin Kluivert and bundled in from point-blank range by Evanilson.

Guardiola responded by introducing 20-year-old midfielder O’Reilly as a makeshift left-back.

O’Reilly made an instant impact with a rampaging run down the left and an inch-perfect cross, as this time Haaland did not miss for his 30th goal of the season.

Moments later, he was forced off in concerning scenes for Guardiola with City still involved in a battle just to qualify for next season’s Champions League in their last nine Premier League games.

But City’s January transfer window move for Marmoush is already looking like a shrewd deal.

The Egyptian has now scored six times in 11 appearances since a £59 million ($76 million) transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt.

If Kepa was a Bournemouth hero in the first half, he was at fault for the winner as Marmoush’s effort slipped through his grasp from O’Reilly’s pass.

“First half we played very well, but the second half the game was definitely for them”, said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace as Barcelona eased to a 4-1 victory over Girona to move three points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday.

After second-placed Real Madrid pulled level on points with them on Saturday by beating Leganes, Hansi Flick’s side restored their advantage at the Olympic Stadium.

Lewandowski responded to Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe’s double with one of his own to stay three goals ahead in the race for Spain’s golden boot.

Barcelona, unbeaten this year in 20 matches, took the lead through a Ladislav Krejci own goal near the end of the first half.

Arnaut Danjuma pulled Girona level but Lewandowski netted twice and Ferran Torres finished off the rout.

Girona beat Barcelona twice last season but have struggled to hit those heights again and sit 13th.

“We played with patience, we had a plan and if we play with that plan we can always score a lot of goals and win the game”, veteran striker Lewandowski told DAZN.

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The 36-year-old said he had the legs to keep playing for seasons to come.

“I know a lot of people are talking abut my age but… I want to play more years at the top level”, said the Poland international.

“I feel very good physically, I think looking at the stats there’s no difference now to a few years ago”.

Flick rotated some of his usual suspects with the Copa del Rey semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid in mind.

Barca were below their free-flowing best in the first half despite dominating, occasionally threatening through the dynamic running of teenage star Lamine Yamal and frantic energy of Fermin Lopez.

Paulo Gazzaniga saved well from Lopez on the counter-attack after Viktor Tsygankov blazed over Girona’s first decent opportunity.

Gazzaniga saved well from Lewandowski and then Yamal, who also fired over.

Barcelona wanted a penalty when Fermin was brought down by Yaser Asprilla on the edge of the box and a free-kick was given.

A VAR review showed the contact was inside the area but the referee decided Lopez fouled Asprilla as they came together, much to Barcelona’s chagrin.

– Breakthrough –
Gazzaniga produced a sensational save with his fingertips to push out a Ronald Araujo header but Barca found a way through before half-time.

Yamal’s dangerous free-kick aimed at Eric Garcia was deflected into his own net by Krejci at the near post.

Girona had produced very little of note in the first half but were back level eight minutes into the second through Danjuma.

Daley Blind played the Dutch striker through and he beat Wojciech Szczesny with a clinical low finish.

However Barcelona were swiftly back in front as La Liga’s top goalscorer Lewandowski notched his 24th of the campaign.

Lopez nodded the ball across the six-yard box and Lewandowski contorted his body to reach it and flick it between Gazzaniga’s legs.

The forward secured Barcelona’s victory with his 25th, slotting home after substitute Frenkie de Jong pushed forward into space and fed him.

There was time for Torres to add a fourth after Gerard Martin found him and the brilliant Yamal to bend a strike against the crossbar.

This was remarkably the 20th time this season Flick’s side have scored four goals or more from 45 games, with a potential treble in their sights.

“In the first half we had the game under control but lacked the final ball, but in the second half we played more attacking, made more chances and scored some goals, that’s the most important thing”, added Lewandowski.

Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa inspired a 3-0 win against Preston that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years on Sunday.

Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four.

Revitalised since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that made him one of England’s brightest stars prior to his steep decline over the last two years.

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Amid concerns over his attitude and off-field behaviour, Rashford was deemed expendable by United manager Ruben Amorim, after also clashing with former Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag.

The 27-year-old hadn’t scored since netting for United against Everton on December 1.

Deployed in the central striker’s role that often seemed to dent his confidence at United, Rashford was too dynamic for second-tier Preston to handle in the latest sign that his career might not be destined to end in disappointment after all.

While struggling, United have been mired in turmoil, and Rashford has benefited from moving to an upwardly mobile Villa.

Emery’s side have enjoyed a memorable run to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they face Paris Saint-Germain in April.

They also have an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Rashford could be part of a memorable climax to the campaign for Villa, who haven’t won the FA Cup since 1957, with their last final ending in defeat against Arsenal in 2015.

Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace booked their places in the Wembley semi-finals on Saturday, with Manchester City travelling to Bournemouth for the last quarter-final later on Sunday.

Sitting 14th in the Championship, Preston were playing in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1966.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side were unbeaten in their previous 15 home games in all competitions, but the 1889 and 1938 FA Cup winners were no match for ruthless Villa.

Rashford’s free-kick forced Preston goalkeeper David Cornell into action before Ezri Konsa’s glancing header whistled just wide from Marco Asensio’s cross.

Stefan Thordarson wasted a golden opportunity to give Preston a shock lead when he poked wide.

Rashford was equally profligate after half-time, shooting straight at Cornell from inside the area.

But Villa broke the deadlock in the 58th minute as Rashford timed his run perfectly to meet Lucas Digne’s low cross with a clinical finish from 12 yards.

Morgan Rogers was denied by Cornell moments later as Villa went for the kill.

And it was Rogers who earned Villa’s penalty in the 63rd minute when the England midfielder was tripped by Andrew Hughes.

Rashford stepped up to send Cornell the wrong way with a nerveless spot-kick.