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Korea loses to South Africa to finish 3rd in World Cup group; knockout status in limbo
GUADALUPE, Mexico — Korea finished third in their group at the FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 loss to South Africa in northeastern Mexico on Wednesday, sending their status for the knockout round into limbo. Thapelo Maseko scored for South Africa in the 63rd minute and South Korea failed to respond at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, as they suffered their second defeat in Group A. South Korea, world No. 25, finished third with three points from a win and two losses. The Taegeuk Warriors earlier defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 but fell to Mexico 1-0. Mexico clinched the top spot in Group A with that victory, and South Korea needed a win or a draw against 60th-ranked South Africa to join Mexico in the round of 32 as the Group A runner-up. However, South Africa leapfrogged South Korea to second place, while Mexico beat Czechia 3-0 to finish a perfect run through the group stage. With this year's tournament featuring 48 nations, up from the previous 32, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups earn automatic spots in the knockouts, along with the eight best third-place teams. With Groups
2 MIN READBy Yonhap

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Big leaguer Tommy Edman 'excited' to represent Korean heritage at WBC

Tommy Edman #19 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates after scoring on a RBI single in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in this Oct. 5, 2022 file photo. AFP-YonhapWhen the World Baseball Classic (WBC) rolls around in March, Korea will have the luxury of deploying two superb, Gold Glove-caliber defenders up the middle.At shortstop will be Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres, a Gold Glove finalist at the position in the National League (NL) last year. To his left will be the 2021 NL Gold Glove winner at second base, Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals.For the first time in its WBC history, Korea has taken advantage of the tournament's loose regulations on eligibility. Players can represent the country of birth for either of their parents, even if the players themselves aren't citizens of that country. Edman, born in the United States to an American father and a Korean mother, is the first half-Korean to represent Korea at an international baseball tournament.In a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednes

Big leaguer Tommy Edman 'excited' to represent Korean heritage at WBC

Naomi Osaka says she's pregnant, plans tennis return in 2024

In this file photo taken on Sept. 20, 2022, Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a return against Daria Saville of Australia during their women's singles match on day two of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo. AFP-YonhapNaomi Osaka is pregnant and plans to return to competition in 2024, the tennis star announced Wednesday.The former world No. 1 posted what she called ``a little life update for 2023'' on social media, including a picture of an ultrasound.The 25-year-old Osaka has been dating Cordae, a rapper, for years.``I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, 'that's my mom,'`` Osaka wrote.Osaka hasn't played a competitive match since September and withdrew from the Australian Open, which begins Sunday. She has won that tournament twice, along with two U.S. Open championships.She has taken mental health breaks in recent years and didn't play again after the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, shortly after falling in the first round of the U.S. Open. Osaka said the few months awa

Naomi Osaka says she's pregnant, plans tennis return in 2024

2023 another big one for Koreans in Europe

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates after the FA Cup third-round match against Portsmouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Jan. 7. / Reuters-YonhapBy John DuerdenWith no K League or Asian Champions League action in the early weeks of 2023, it is understandable that the attention of most soccer fans is on Europe. It is also understandable that there is concern about the form of Son Heung-min. Last year was one of two halves for the player. In May, the Tottenham Hotspur forward was the toast of the English Premier League by finishing the season as joint top scorer and winning the golden boot.Since then, for whatever reason, he has not hit the same heights. He scored just three goals before the league paused in November for the 2022 World Cup and those all came in the same game, the second half against a struggling Leicester City team. Then there was the facial fracture suffered in the UEFA Champions League, which meant he had to wear a mask at the World Cup and, in truth, he had little impact on the tournament, though Korea did make it to the second round before losing

2023 another big one for Koreans in Europe

LPGA rookie working on driving, short game ahead of debut

Ryu Hae-ran of Korea walks between holes during the sixth round of the 2022 LPGA Q-Series - Dothan at Highland Oaks Golf Course in Dothan, Alabama in this Dec. 9, 2022 file photo. AFP-YonhapLooking ahead to a much-anticipated LPGA debut this year, Korean golfer Ryu Hae-ran said Wednesday she will look to increase her distance off the tee and polish up her short game.Ryu earned her LPGA Tour card by winning the grueling, eight-round qualifying tournament, called the Q-Series, in December. Ryu, 21, won the Rookie of the Year award on the Korea LPGA Tour in 2020 and has five career titles on her home circuit. As she is set to take her talent to the top women's tour in the world, Ryu said she will begin her offseason training in earnest next week in Thailand."I've been trying to improve my conditioning, since I'll be playing in a lot of tournaments and traveling all across the United States," Ryu said at a press conference following a corporate appearance in Seoul. "I think it'll be a perfect season if I can pick up a victory, but I don't think I've ever publicly said my goal is to win a

LPGA rookie working on driving, short game ahead of debut

Training in Miami, Korean pitcher hopes to pitch WBC games there in March

In this Sept. 20, 2022 file photo, Won Tae-in of the Samsung Lions pitches against the Kiwoom Heroes during the bottom of the seventh inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. YonhapWith a little help from his friends, Samsung Lions pitcher Won Tae-in has been working out in Miami since December, gearing up for both the new Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season and also the World Baseball Classic (WBC).Won and two KT Wiz pitchers who also made the national team, So Hyeong-jun and Ko Young-pyo, have been training with former Wiz pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne at the Cuban pitcher's home in the Florida city. Despite not being re-signed by the Wiz after three seasons in the KBO, Despaigne generously invited Ko and So to work out with him this winter. So then reached out to Won to join them."This has been a really fun experience," Won said Tuesday, when reached in Florida. "Unlike in previous years, I've had to ramp up quickly. And I've been training in an optimal environment."Miami also happens to be the site of the semifinals and the cham

Training in Miami, Korean pitcher hopes to pitch WBC games there in March

Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during his official unveiling as a new member of Al Nassr soccer club in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 3. AP-YonhapCristiano Ronaldo's first game in Saudi Arabia is set to be against Paris Saint-Germain and a possible reunion with his career-long rival Lionel Messi.PSG said Monday it will play a Jan. 19 friendly in Riyadh against a composite team of players from Ronaldo's new club Al Nassr and Al Hilal, the current Asian Champions League title holder.Ronaldo should have to wait until Jan. 22 to make his formal debut for Al-Nassr in a league game against Al Ettifaq.World soccer rules require the 37-year-old star to finish serving a two-match suspension imposed by the English Football Association in November ahead of the World Cup. Ronaldo slapped a mobile phone out of a fan's hand following a game against Everton last April.Qatar-owned PSG is visiting Saudi Arabia during a two-day break in the region, including a visit to Doha for promotional work with the club's portfolio of Qatari sponsors. (AP)

Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia

Jon Rahm storms back to win Tournament of Champions

Rahm of Spain celebrates with the trophy after winning during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Lahaina, Hawaii, Jan. 8. AFP-YonhapJon Rahm overtook Collin Morikawa with a 10-under 63 in the final round to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Sunday in Kapalua, Hawaii.The Spanish star went 5 under over a four-hole stretch on the back nine and Morikawa fumbled his lead by bogeying Nos. 14, 15 and 16. He had played the entire tournament to that point without a bogey, explaining his six-stroke lead on the field entering Sunday.Rahm finished at 27-under 265 for the week, with Morikawa shooting a 72 and having to settle for second at 25-under 267. Tom Hoge (64 on Sunday) and Max Homa (66) tied for third at 23 under.Rahm, in fact, began his round with a bogey 5 at No. 1, falling seven behind Morikawa before completing the largest comeback in tournament history."You never want to see somebody have a bad day down the stretch," Rahm said. "But I feel like with that lead he had, I needed to play really good and he needed to

Jon Rahm storms back to win Tournament of Champions

Djokovic shrugs off injury scare, wins Adelaide title

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates victory in his match against Sebastian Korda of the United States during the Mens Singles Final 2023 Adelaide International Tennis Tournament at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre in Adelaide, Australia, Jan. 8. EPA-YonhapNovak Djokovic showed no signs of an injury that might derail his Australian Open campaign when he beat unseeded American Sebastian Korda 6-7 (8), 7-6 (3), 6-4 Sunday to win the Adelaide International.Djokovic worried Open organizers when he said after his semifinal in Adelaide against Daniil Medvedev that he had been troubled by a tight hamstring. He said the injury eased as the match progressed.If there had been any lingering issue, it likely would have been exposed in Sunday's marathon final that stretched over more than three hours and finished with Djokovic claiming his 92nd career singles title.He also took his second Adelaide title 16 years after his first; he won the tournament in 2007, aged 19.Djokovic had to save a match and chamionship point at 5-6 in the second set Sunday and was fully stretched by the 22-year-old Korda,

Djokovic shrugs off injury scare, wins Adelaide title

Pirates' 1B Choi Ji-man 'hungry' for opportunity to play for South Korea

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Choi Ji-man speaks with reporters at Incheon International Airport on Sunday. YonhapWith his status for an upcoming international tournament in limbo following elbow surgery, South Korean major league first baseman Choi Ji-man said Sunday he is "hungry" for a chance to represent the country.Choi, who was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Pittsburgh Pirates in November, traveled to the United States on Sunday to continue his preparation for the new season. Before the start of the 2023 campaign, however, Choi is also hoping he will get to play for South Korea at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March. He will need the final go-ahead sign from his new club."I didn't get to play at the Olympics or the WBC in the past, so I am really hungry for an opportunity like this. It's been 13 years since I last played with Korean players," Choi told reporters at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul. "The Pirates will send a trainer and a physician to check on my health. I've been telling the Pirates that I really want to play at the WBC. They said

Pirates' 1B Choi Ji-man 'hungry' for opportunity to play for South Korea

Djokovic advances to Adelaide final despite leg injury

Serbia's Novak Djokovic makes a forehand return to Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the semi final match at the Adelaide International Tennis tournament in Adelaide, Australia, Jan. 7. AP-YonhapNovak Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the Adelaide International final despite sustaining a leg injury during the match.In the seventh game of the first set, Djokovic caught his left foot when sliding for a ball and immediately began stretching out his hamstring. He took a medical timeout.``Thankfully, it was nothing too serious,'' Djokovic said later, adding he went off court to take some anti-inflammatories. ``Hopefully, tomorrow it will be all fine.''Djokovic will play Sebastian Korda in Sunday's final.The win was Djokovic's 33rd in a row in Australia since his shock 2018 loss to Hyeon Chung in the Australian Open quarterfinals that year. He did not play last year when he was deported from Australia for not being vaccinated for COVID-19.Russia's Daniil Medvedev makes a forehand return to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the semifinal match at the Adelaide International

Djokovic advances to Adelaide final despite leg injury

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