Football: Man United homecoming is no vacation, says Ronaldo

LONDON (REUTERS) - Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo says his return to Old Trafford is not a vacation and he hopes to prove himself again with consistent performances over the next three to four years. The 36-year-old Portuguese spent six seasons at United between 2003-09, winning eight major trophies, and rejoined them from Juventus last month on a two-year contract. Having been handed the Premier League club's famous number seven jersey once again, Ronaldo is hoping to reach the heights he did in his first spell at the club. "This is why I'm here," Ronaldo said in an interview posted on United's website on Thursday (Sept 9). "I'm not here for a vacation... Before was good, winning important things and I wore the shirt before many years ago. "But I'm here to win again. I'm capable, me and my team mates. I'm ready to go. It's a good chance for me, for the supporters, for the club, to get one step ahead. "I think I will be a huge thing in the next three or four years." Ronaldo, who has scored 118 goals for United, could make his second debut for the club when they take on Newcastle United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday. More on this topic   Related Story On The Ball: Ronaldo may lift United's fortunes but he also raises pressure on Solskjaer   Related Story Football: Ronaldo to wear Man United's No. 7 shirt

Tennis: History-maker Zhang falls at Wimbledon first hurdle in five-set thriller

LONDON (AFP) - Zhang Zhizhen, the first Chinese man in the Open era to qualify for Wimbledon, exited in the first round on Tuesday (June 29) losing to Frenchman Antoine Hoang in a thrilling five-set match 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2. Zhang, 24, twice led in the match but each time his fellow qualifier - ranked 156 and 19 places higher than his opponent - fought back to level. Zhang did not have the best of starts with Hoang breaking his first service game but he broke back midway through the first set and drew level at 4-4. Zhang had built up a head of steam as he settled into the unfamiliar surroundings of a main draw match at Wimbledon and broke Hoang again before sealing the set on his service. A very tight second set went to a tie-break which Hoang took (7/5) to level the match. Hoang broke Zhang in the first game of the third set but once again the Chinese player hung in there and broke back for 3-3. That set also went to a tie-break with Zhang going two sets to one up after winning it 7/5. Hoang showed little sign of being disheartened and raced into a 3-0 lead in the fourth set before rain forced them off the court. Hoang's focus was not affected by several hours off court and he returned to take the match into the deciding set winning the fourth 6-3. The momentum seemed to have swung inexorably to the Frenchman as he broke early in the fifth to lead 3-1 and then broke Zhang again for 4-1 before sealing a second round clash with Sebastian Korda. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Federer survives big scare as Mannarino retires injured   Related Story Tennis: Fourth seed Zverev eases past qualifier Griekspoor

Football: Griezmann strikes again as France labour to 1-0 World Cup qualifier win in Bosnia

SARAJEVO (REUTERS) - Antoine Griezmann struck again as France extended their World Cup qualifying Group D lead to four points with an unconvincing 1-0 away win against Bosnia on Wednesday (March 31). Griezmann, who scored in last Wednesday's opening game against Ukraine, put the world champions on seven points from three games. Ukraine, who were held to a 1-1 home draw by Kazakhstan, have three points with Finland on two points from two matches. Bosnia, who have not won in their last 11 outings, lie fourth with one point. Captain Hugo Lloris played his 123rd game for France, joining Thierry Henry in second place of the list of Les Bleus' most-capped players behind Lilian Thuram (142). The keeper shone in the 24th minute with a superb save to deny Darko Todorovic as Bosnia came close to opening the scoring, hitting back after Kingsley Coman had tested Ibrahim Sehic. Lloris was at it again with an impressive point-blank save from Anel Ahmedhodzic's header two minutes later. France struggled against a team happy to sit back but they broke the deadlock on the hour when Griezmann headed home from Adrien Rabiot's perfect cross. Griezmann is now alone in fourth in the list of France's all-time top scorers, moving ahead of David Trezeguet (34) and trailing third-placed Michel Platini by six goals. Bosnia were forced to switch to a more offensive strategy but Les Bleus calmly controlled the game, hoping that Kylian Mbappe's speed would hurt their opponents on the break. Mbappe, however, had another disappointing night, failing to threaten throughout. Thomas Lemar, instead, put on an inspired display, making the most of his playing time after being named in the starting 11, less than two months before Didier Deschamps names his squad for the European Championship, as Ousmane Dembele stayed on the bench. France will resume their World Cup qualifying campaign at home against Bosnia on Sept. 1, after the Euros.

Football: Athletic Bilbao’s Raul Garcia sends Real Madrid out of Super Cup

MALAGA, SPAIN (REUTERS) - Athletic Bilbao forward Raul Garcia scored twice in a 2-1 win over Real Madrid on Thursday (Jan 14) to knock the holders out of the Spanish Super Cup and set up a final against Barcelona. Garcia pounced on indecision in the Real defence to latch on to a through ball and slot into the bottom corner in the 18th minute, and converted a penalty in the 38th after Lucas Vazquez had hauled down Inigo Martinez. Karim Benzema pulled a goal back for Real in the 73rd minute which was initially ruled offside and awarded after a VAR review. The Frenchman put the ball in the net again soon after and was again given offside but this time the VAR ruled against him. Athletic meet Barca on Sunday in the final in Seville after the Catalans overcame Real Sociedad 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Wednesday's first semi.