Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1062629
31 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 DECEMBER 2018 SPORTS TENNIS MANCHESTER has joined London as a leading candi- date to host the ATP Finals from 2021 to 2025, accord- ing to a PA report. The end-of-season tour- nament is to be held at the O2 Arena in London through 2020. That deal could be ex- tended, while the ATP an- nounced on Friday that Manchester, Singapore, Tokyo and Turin are the other shortlisted cities. The tournament's stint in London has been hugely successful, with an average of more than 250,000 fans attending every year, al- though last month's edition was the least successful in terms of ticket sales. Players have been split on whether the tournament should leave the O2, with Novak Djokovic leading the calls for it to continue its traditionally nomadic ex- istence while Roger Federer argued there was no need to change a winning formula. With Europe the current powerhouse of men's ten- nis and the regular sea- son ending with the Paris Masters, another European candidate may be favoured, although the tournament is currently sponsored by Jap- anese brand Nitto, lending weight to Tokyo's bid. Singapore hosted the WTA Finals for the last time this year before it heads to China, with Man- chester missing out to Shenzhen in the final bid- ding for that event. More than 40 cities ex- pressed an interest, and ATP executive chairman and president Chris Ker- mode, who brought the event to London, said: "The level of interest we have received worldwide throughout the bid appli- cation process reflects the rich heritage of this unique tournament, as well as the success of the event at The O2 since 2009. The winning candidate will not be announced be- fore March 2019. ATP Finals could move from London to Manchester in 2021 THE first player born in the 21st century to play in La Liga for Real Madrid, Brazilian star- let Vinicius Junior has arrived impressively to the top level in recent months, with the still just 18-year-old dealing admirably with all the pressure and atten- tion which comes with coming so far so fast. Born in Rio de Janeiro in July 2000, Vinicius Jose Paixao de Oliveira Junior joined his city's Club de Regatas do Flamengo as a 10-year-old and was soon being well known locally for his dazzling skills and ball control. The youngster then first came on the radar of many interna- tional observers when finish- ing as top scorer as Brazil won the 2015 South American U-15 championship in December 2015, and then completing the same double as his national team won the continental Under-17 championship in March 2017. A senior club debut with Fla- mengo in Brazil's Serie A soon arrived, and within a few months a deal was agreed to take him to Madrid as soon as FIFA rules for the transfer of young players al- lowed. That move was completed when he turned 18 in July 2018, and he joined up with the Ber- nabeu outfit for pre-season training last summer along with galacticos like Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos. "This is the best opportunity a football player can have," Vin- icius said at July's presentation event at the Bernabeu. "I will sacrifice a lot to show I deserve this opportunity. But sacrifice is not something new for me, I come from a very sim- ple family, and am very proud of all they did for me, and the val- ues they have taught me. Now I am the peak of world football, at Real Madrid." A first game in a Los Blancos shirt followed in a pre-season International Champions Cup game against Manchester Unit- ed in Miami, when he imme- diately filled the left-sided at- tacking role previously held by Madrid's all-time record goals- corer Cristiano Ronaldo. Vinicius then began the regular season training daily with Ma- drid's seniors but playing with their Castilla youth side. He settled in impressively quickly to football in Spain's third tier, with four goals and one assist in his first five games. A perfectly flighted free kick at Celta Vigo B especially stood out, as Castilla coach Santi Solari was repaid for the confidence shown. Then Madrid first team coach Julen Lopetegui saw enough to give Vinicius his senior LaLiga debut as substitute in Septem- ber's huge 'derbi' against neigh- bours Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu. A first start for Madrid's first team came in Solari's first game after replacing Lopetegui as Blancos first team boss in Oc- tober, a 4-0 Copa del Rey last 32 first leg victory at third-tier Me- lilla. The display included the ex- pected skills and pace, but also impressive maturity and game intelligence. He played vital roles in two Madrid goals, and almost got on the scoresheet himself with 16 yard drive which rattled the crossbar. The following weekend Vin- icius was in action again back at the Bernabeu, entering from the bench with a LaLiga game against Valladolid locked at 0-0. Within minutes he had showed impressive confidence and posi- tivity with a run and shot which was deflected to the net to break the deadlock. Another assist soon followed during a dazzling substitute cameo in a 5-0 Champions League victory against Viktoria Plzen. Such displays have lead to Vin- icius' nomination for the 2018 Golden Boy Award, a prestig- ious prize previously won by his clubmate Isco in 2012, and Bar- celona's Lionel Messi in 2005. This is unlikely to be the last individual recognition for one of LaLiga's most impressive rising stars. Brazilian starlet Vinicius Junior makes impressive start at Real Madrid LA LIGA