Sport

The comparison between Carlos Alcaraz’s 2023 Wimbledon win and Rafael Nadal’s in 2008 is strikingly similar

Following in his countryman's footstep — almost down to the tee.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 17th July 2023

Following Carloz Alcaraz’s incredible maiden victory at Wimbledon this year, people have been drawing comparisons between his match-winning point and Rafael Nadal’s back in 2008 and, it has to be said, the similarities are pretty striking.

15 years after his Spanish predecessor won his first Wimbledon title, Alcaraz became the only other person besides Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray or Nadal himself to win the premier tennis tournament since 2002. Massive.

Aged just 20 — yes, he was born in 2003, the same year Federer also won his first-ever Wimbledon Championship (god we feel old) — Alcaraz became the third-youngest player to ever win at the All England Lawn Tennis Club behind Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker, and just third Spaniard ever to win it.

However, as if these stats weren’t staggering enough, people have been replaying the final point that won the youngster the match and the tournament and have noticed it bears a pretty strong resemblance to how Nadal won his over a decade and a half ago. We can’t lie, it’s pretty cool.

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It’s almost eery, right? Obviously, it’s not the first time we’ve seen someone close out a match with a fault, but it’s the fact that the rally moves almost identically, Djokovic hits the net in almost the exact same place Federer did and Alcaraz drops to the floor in unison with Nadal that makes this so creepy.

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While Alcaraz made an easier go of it against his 36-year-old opponent on Sunday, both games were also won in five sets and lasted roughly the same amount of time, with just five minutes of total match between them.

You have to admit, that’s a lot of parallels to draw; even Djokovic and Federer’s supremacy during their respective eras make this feel so special.

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You can watch Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive Wimbledon 2023 win down below and Nadal’s victory over Federer in 2008 for comparison HERE.

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Featured Image — BBC Sport (via Twitter)

Sport

Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City star Ian Mellor dead at 74

Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.

Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.

With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.

Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.

Ian Mellor died on Wednesday morning.

Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.

A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.

Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.

Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.

Arguably his greatest game for the club.
His longest tenure was for Brighton but once a blue always a blue.
Our friends over at The Sheff will be more than familiar with ‘The Spider’ too.

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His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.

He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.

Rest in peace.

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Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)

Sport

Manchester MMA star Tom Aspinall slams ‘unfair’ start times for UFC 304 at Co-op Live

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tom Aspinall says UFC 304 Manchester start time is absolutely terrible and unfair on UK fans

Local MMA star Tom Aspinall has come out to criticise the start times for UFC 304 here in Manchester, calling it ‘unfair’ for fans here in the UK.

In case you missed that rather big announcement, the UFC is returning to Manchester after nearly a decade and will be the very first sporting event held at the brand-new Co-op Live Arena, which is finally set to open this week following multiple delays (touch wood).

However, in an effort to keep broadcasters and the UFC‘s massive audience back in the US, the fight card will be starting until around 3am – and that’s at the very earliest.

Responding to the decision the Atherton-born and Salford-based fighter posted a video on his socials saying, “As a fan who wants to watch it live, I think it is absolutely terrible”.

@tomaspinallofficial My thoughts on UFC Manchester fight times for you UK fans 🤛 #ufc #manchester #foryoupage #viralvideo #fans #tomaspinall ♬ No Loss – Instrumental Version – Canon

He goes on to say that “it’s just not fair on the fans – the UK fans obviously. It’s predominantly an American audience so I understand that, they want to sell to them, but why can’t they sell to them in the afternoon which is our evening time?

While he admitted it “doesn’t make that much difference” to him as a fighter, the 31-year-old went on to ask, “Why can’t the American watch it in the afternoon and Manchester, the UK and European fans can all fly to the event and sell out this new arena?”

“I mean, it’s going to sell out regardless, mate”, Aspinall reiterated, adding that “we’re very lucky to have a pay-per-view event in Manchester” but that forcing the British audience and Mancs to watch something just down the road at a US-convenient time just doesn’t seem right.

There’s been plenty of backlash amongst MMA fans online too, with many stating that it simply goes to show that the UFC as an organisation “don’t care” about overseas supporters as much as they claim to.

Tom Aspinall isn’t the only one complaining about the UFC 304 start time.
Others have been less negative about it.
Aspinall has been having digs ever since the announcement.

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As the current interim heavyweight champion, Aspinall will be right up at the top of the billing for UFC 304, which is the first time the event has been in the UK full stop since 2016.

The promotion’s last British fight was here in Manchester too, on a night when local legend and adopted Manc Michael Bisping retained his middleweight championship belt against Dan Henderson.

We can only hope for similarly victorious scenes for the North West this July.

As for the shiny new venue, Co-op Live, after a fair few teething problems it looks like they are now on course to open just a week or so after the initial launch date. Not so bad.

A guide to the brand-new Co-op Live Arena: drinks prices, how to get there, capacity and more

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Featured Images — Tom Aspinall (via TikTok/Instagram)

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