S. ‘Americans’ suffer early exit

MOSCOW, July 7, (RTRS): South America will be absent from the World Cup semifinals for the fifth time in the tournament's history after the continent's top players either failed to excel or suffered injuries at key moments during the tournament in Russia.

Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Peru all contributed to making the 2018 World Cup one of the most dramatic in history and there was rarely a dull moment when they and their thousands or colourful, vociferous fans were around.

Four out of five of them got through the group stage -- a better percentage than Europe where 10 out of 14 teams progressed -- and at one point, they rolled off seven wins in a row.

But it all ended in tears as Argentina and Colombia went out in the round of 16, the latter on penalties, while Uruguay and Brazil both lost their quarter-finals on Friday, to France and Belgium respectively.

France proved to be the bogey team for South America as they eliminated Peru in the group stage, Argentina and then Uruguay to remain unbeaten at the World Cup against teams from the continent in 40 years. fourth round.

It’s the first time in the Open era that none of the top five women’s seeds have made the last 16 of a Slam.

It also further boosted Serena Williams’s chances of becoming an eighttime Wimbledon champion.

Hsieh, the world number 48, battled back from 2-5 down in the final Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns against Australia’s Alex De Minaur during their men’s singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7. (AFP)