ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Spain broke a World Cup record with its sixth consecutive clean sheet and goalkeeper Unai Simón extended his record shutout streak to 609 minutes in Monday's 1-0 win over Portugal.
Spain broke a tie with Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006-10) for the most consecutive World Cup matches without allowing a goal. Spain’s streak began with a 0-0 draw in the round of 16 in 2022, when Morocco advanced after a penalty shootout.
There was also a surprising scoreless draw against Cape Verde to open group play in this tournament, followed by four consecutive shutout victories to advance to the quarterfinals.
Simón surpassed the previous record of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes during a 3-0 blanking of Austria to open the knockout round Thursday. Famed Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga set the standard in 1990 with five consecutive clean sheets in his home World Cup.
Simón's shutout streak started in 2022 in Qatar during a 2-1 loss to Japan to wrap up group play.
He came into the Portugal game having made only four saves in this World Cup — Austria had no shots on target — and on Monday in at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, Simón had to make two saves in the first half against Portugal, both on shots by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The second of those saves was an impressive diving stop, when he was still in midair after reaching back to grab the ball with both hands. Ronaldo took that shot after teammate João Félix's header went off the shoulder of the 29-year-old Athletic Bilbao keeper.
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Spain's Unai Simón, left, grabs the ball past Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Spain's Unai Simón (23) blocks a shot by Portugal as Aymeric Laporte (14) looks on during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon (23) saves the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer was back at Wimbledon on Monday on the 18th anniversary of his memorable five-set loss to rival Rafael Nadal in the 2008 final.
Wearing a brown double-breasted suit, Federer — the record eight-time men’s singles champion at the grass-court Grand Slam — was a guest in the Royal Box for fourth-round matches.
Federer sat in the front row for the Centre Court match featuring rising player Alexandra Eala of the Philippines against 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini. Up next, it was Grigor Dimitrov against fellow wild card Arthur Fery, who grew up just beyond the All England Club’s gates, and French Open champion Alexander Zverev against Jiri Lehecka.
When the Zverev-Lehecka match started near 9 p.m., Federer was briefly by himself in the Royal Box.
Nadal beat Federer 9-7 in the fifth set of the 2008 final, which is considered one of the most memorable matches in tennis. The defeat prevented Federer from becoming the first man since the 1880s to win a sixth consecutive championship at Wimbledon.
The 2008 final was played on July 6, which was also the date Federer won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 by beating Mark Philippoussis.
Federer, who won the last of his Wimbledon titles in 2017, retired in 2022.
Next month, he will be enshrined into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Fellow tennis great Billie Jean King and Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old Mercedes driver leading the Formula 1 standings, were also in the Royal Box on Monday.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Former tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland sits in the Royal Box on day eight at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Former tennis player Billie Jean King of the US stands in the Royal Box on day eight at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
F1 Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy sits beside former tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Royal Box on day eight at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Former tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland sits in the Royal Box on day eight at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Former tennis player Roger Federer sits in the Royal box to watch the men's singles fourth round match between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
