Venezuela advances to Copa America quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Mexico on Rondón goal

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Arriving at Copa America seeking redemption after disappointing performances in the World Cup and in the CONCACAF Nations League, Mexico is on the verge of an early exit.

Salomón Rondón scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute, and Venezuela advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals with 1-0 victory over Mexico on Wednesday night.

.Venezuela, which opened with a 2-1 win over Ecuador, is assured finishing among the top two in Group B. Venezuela faces already eliminated Jamaica on Sunday at Austin, Texas.

“I’m happy that we were able to give some joy to the people in Venezuela, we played for that, but we need to remain calm and with our feet on the ground,” Venezuela coach Fernando Batista said. “We are going to enjoy this tonight, but tomorrow we are going to be focused on Jamaica.”

Mexico began with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica and has three points along with Ecuador, which defeated the winless Reggae Boyz 3-1 earlier Wednesday. Mexico plays Ecuador at Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, and needs a victory to advance.

“It’s a learning experience, but I’m proud of the team because they never stopped fighting. Now it’s up to us and we just talked about it in the locker room,” Mexico coach Jaime Lozano said. “The next game will put us in the next round, we are hurt now, but playing like this, it’s going to be hard for us to lose another game.”

In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mexico was eliminated in the first round for the first time since 1978. They lost to the U.S. in the CONCACAF Nations League final in March and have not beaten the Americans since 2019.

Venezuela ended a 13-game winless streak against El Tri.

“Things did not go as expected tonight, but we still got 90 minutes, and no one is getting off this boat. We are going to do it,” Lozano said. "We have to take good out of this and move on. There's just a few days ahead and we want to get back to play again, when things are hard it's when we play our best.”

Before a crowd of 72,773 at SoFi Stadium, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus awarded the penalty kick when Julián Quiñones shoved Jon Aramburu in the penalty area.

Rondón sent his kick to the right of goalkeeper Julio González, who jumped left, and Rondón got his 42nd goal in 107 international appearances. His scoring total is almost double that of Juan Arango, second among Venezuelans with 23.

Mexico was awarded a penalty kick for a handball by Miguel Navarro on Jorge Sánchez’s shot but Rafael Romo leapt to his right to push Orbelín Pineda’s penalty kick wide in the 87th minute.

While the Vinotinto reached the quarterfinals for the third time in four tournaments, Mexico is on the verge of first-round elimination for the third time in its last four Copa America trips.

Under Batista, the Venezuelans have just two losses in their last 15 matches, to Italy and Colombia.

Mexico’s midfield was without Edson Álvarez, who injured a hamstring against Jamaica and will miss the rest of the tournament. Defender César Montes got hurt against Venezuela and was replaced at the start of the second half.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Mexico players walk off the field after a Copa America Group B soccer match against Venezuela, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Venezuela players react after a missed penalty kick by Mexico's Orbelin Pineda during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Venezuela players celebrate after a Copa America Group B soccer match against Mexico, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Venezuela's Eduard Bello, right, is defended by Mexico's Gerardo Arteaga during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Venezuela's Salomon Rondon, top, heads the ball over Mexico's Luis Romo during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mexico's Johan Vasquez, right, challenges Venezuela's Salomon Rondon during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Mexico's Julian Quinonez, left, heads the ball against Venezuela's Yangel Herrera during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A Mexico fan waits for the start of a Copa America Group B soccer match against Venezuela, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Mexico's Santiago Gimenez eyes the ball during a Copa America Group B soccer match against Venezuela, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Venezuela's Salomon Rondon, center, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal from the penalty spot during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Mexico's Johan Vasquez, lett, vies for possession against Venezuela's Eduard Bello during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Venezuela's Miguel Navarro, left, and Yefferson Soteldo celebrate after beating 1-0 Mexico during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Venezuela's Salomon Rondon, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty during a Copa America Group B soccer match Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic's right knee has responded so well after surgery to repair a torn meniscus less than a month ago that he said Saturday he considers himself ready to contend at Wimbledon, where he has won seven of his 24 Grand Slam trophies.

And, no, he will not adjust how he plays to protect the knee.

“I don’t see myself holding back. I don’t see myself calculating or being a bit more cautious in the movement. I don’t see that happening,” Djokovic said at a pre-tournament news conference Saturday. "Really, I go all in. I go full out. I mean, that’s the way I’ve been playing my entire career."

When a reporter asked Djokovic why he would risk getting back on court at all so soon after the surgery, the player said his wife posed the very same question.

Djokovic, who has yet to reach a final at any event in 2024, described what he called an “incredible desire to play, just to compete” and added that Wimbledon, in particular, has held a special place in his heart since he was a kid.

So, Djokovic continued, merely “the thought of me missing Wimbledon was just not correct; I didn’t want to deal with that.”

He explained that while he was “very much in doubt of making” it to the All England Club after getting hurt at the French Open on June 3, he is far more optimistic after a week of practices at the site of the grass-court major that begins Monday.

“All the days that I’ve spent here,” he said, “give me only positive signs and encourage me to really think — not just think, but feel — that I can do it.”

His first-round match against qualifier Vit Kopriva is scheduled for Tuesday.

“I didn’t come here to play a few rounds and prove to myself and others that I can actually compete in one or two matches. I really want to go for the title,” said Djokovic, who is seeded No. 2 behind Jannik Sinner and was the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz a year ago at Wimbledon. “The last three days have given me enough optimism and good signs that I can actually be in a state to compete on the highest level for the next few weeks, hopefully.”

The 37-year-old from Serbia was hurt during a five-set victory over Francisco Cerundulo in the fourth round at Roland Garros, withdrew before he was supposed to play in the quarterfinals and underwent an operation in Paris on June 5.

After wearing a gray sleeve on his right leg while playing practice sets at the All England Club with players including Australian Open champion Sinner, 2021 U.S. Open winner Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe, Djokovic said there haven't been any setbacks and he is “confident about the health of my knee.”

Djokovic said he had “extensive conversations” with other athletes who have recovered from similar knee procedures, among them tennis players Taylor Fritz and Stan Wawrinka, and retired Olympic champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn.

In 2021, Fritz injured his knee at the French Open and returned to competition at Wimbledon three weeks later.

Alcaraz said he considered Djokovic superhuman for being able to come back so quickly.

When that comment was relayed to Djokovic, he grinned.

“Well, not really. I think Taylor Fritz is a superhuman. He recovered in 21 days; I (had) a bit more (time)," Djokovic said.

“It’s not ideal, maybe, in the eyes of the doctors and specialists that would normally tell you it’s normally between three and six weeks. The closer to six weeks the better, probably, because you want to not risk too much and give your knee and your body time," he said. "But it’s also individual. It’s very subjective. Everyone has a different response to the recovery, to the injury, to rehab, to exercises.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return during a training session on Court 2 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Friday, June 28, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia sits in his chair during a training session on Court 2 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Friday, June 28, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia wipes his face during a training session on Court 2 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Friday, June 28, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)