Arab No. 1 Malek Jaziri out to conquer Richard Gasquet at French Open

Malek Jaziri will be pumped when he meets Richard Gasquet in the second round of the French Open. (AFP)
Updated 31 May 2018
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Arab No. 1 Malek Jaziri out to conquer Richard Gasquet at French Open

PARIS: Malek Jaziri faces a tough assignment on Thursday when he lines up against home favorite Richard Gasquet in the Frenchman’s own backyard.
You would say the odds on him reaching the third round there for the first time are against him as Gasquet was schooled on clay, is ranked 31 places higher than Jaziri at 32 in the world and he will have the backing of the partisan Roland Garros crowd.
But then Jaziri has spent this year, which has been something of a breakthrough one for the Tunisian at the ripe old age of 34, exceeding expectations and ruffling a few feathers.
Fresh from becoming the first Arab since Moroccan Hicham Arazi in October 2004 to be ranked in the world’s top 50, Jaziri claimed the first top-10 victories of his career, ousting top seed Grigor Dimitrov en-route to the semis in Dubai in February and then dumping out Marin Cilic, a recent finalist at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, on his way to a maiden ATP final in Istanbul earlier this month.
That made Jaziri the first Arab ATP finalist since Moroccan Younes El-Aynaoui in 2003. He also knocked out Mikhail Youzhny, a one-time French Open quarterfinalist, in the first round of the second slam of the year on Monday.
“He had a difficult path reaching the top 100 and also finding his own way of success,” Cilic said. “So it’s nice to see him playing that well and still improving at this age.”
Jaziri’s path has been far from straightforward. He struggled with a knee injury for nearly two years in his 20s, and it took him a long time to figure out the right formula to get results. Indeed he only cracked the top 100 nine years into his professional career. It is fair to say he is a late bloomer.
“I always thought he is very talented, but working was not on his priority list every day,” Novak Djokovic once said.
Jaziri may have taken a while to get going, but he thinks he is getting better with age.
“I don’t feel like other people who are 34,” he said. “They’ve been working since they were 18. Me? I didn’t work at that time, but I’m working now. It’s not like I wasn’t disciplined, I was, but I was lost. I needed someone to guide me to the right way.”
After spending several years traveling without a coach, or forming short-term partnerships that did not always pay dividends, Jaziri joined forces with French former player Christophe Freyss at the start of last year.
Freyss defeated the likes of Ivan Lendl and Arthur Ashe during his playing days and having spent time living and coaching in Egypt, is familiar with the Arab culture. He has struck a bond with Jaziri over the past 18 months.
On the eve of Jaziri’s opening round at Roland Garros this week, Freyss was hospitalized due to a blood clot in his heart. Jaziri battled for three-and-a-half hours on court on Monday, and after he got the win over Youzhny dedicated his victory to his coach.
The North African credits a lot of the progress he has made to Freyss.
“It’s very hard to change at this age,” he said. “Last year, I changed a lot of things with my coach but I didn’t accept it all in my mind; still I kept on changing. This year I gave my full trust to my coach, I believe in the work we’re trying to do, it’s not easy at the age of 34. You’ve played a certain way most of your career and suddenly you have to change. I gave everything I have to tennis, I sacrificed a lot, my family, everything … so I hope God rewards me for my efforts.”
Jaziri, married and with a two-year-old son named after him, believes maturing and having a family has played a part in unlocking his potential. The added responsibility gave him more motivation to excel and stay focused.
“Maybe I was not with the right people, maybe I didn’t accept in the mind as well, I didn’t accept a few things, few changes, the atmosphere … I have finally managed to build the confidence to be here,” he said. “It’s really important to build this confidence, for your attitude on the court, in the locker room, how you manage your mind. You believe in your success, the success will come. And you have to be around people who make you believe as well.”
Jaziri admits that having the right mentality on the court remains a work in progress, and that controlling his emotions is a tough task.
“Where I’m from, we’re a bit temperamental,” he said. “I’m working on it. I’m improving my tennis, but my mentality has to keep up and progress at the same rate."
He spoke to a sports psychologist in the past and he feels he is yet to tap into his full potential, even though he considers himself more ambitious now than he’s ever been before. 

"I think I’m a very good player, I’m working to become a great player. The only one who can help me is me. It’s inside me, I have to take it out. The day I let out everything you’re going to see a big Jaziri. I have a game that is a mix of old school and new school. I play from the back, I go to the net, I play slice, so that mix gives me good options. I have to use all that I have and show really what I can do. For me I haven’t shown the real Malek Jaziri yet. He’s still living inside and the day I’m able to break out that’s when I’ll succeed the way I want.”


Dembélé scores last-gasp winner as PSG wins Champions Trophy

Updated 05 January 2025
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Dembélé scores last-gasp winner as PSG wins Champions Trophy

  • The match was played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011

PARIS: Ousmane Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
The France winger was unmarked at the back post to meet a low cross from the left by Fabian Ruiz in the second minute of added time.
PSG won the trophy, also known as the super cup, for the third straight time and a record-extending 13th overall. PSG won the league and cup double last season, with Monaco finishing second in the league.
The match was played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011.
Désiré Doué hit the crossbar early on for PSG and Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made several saves.
Monaco improved after the break and hit the post through Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brazilian defender Vanderson.
Although Köhn made a fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi in the 74th minute, he failed to properly read Ruiz’s cross and Monaco missed out on winning the trophy for the first time since 2000.
Later Sunday, Marseille looked to strengthen its grip on second place in Ligue 1 with a home win against lowly Le Havre.
French league
Marseille looks to strengthen its grip on second place in Ligue 1 with a home win against lowly Le Havre later Sunday.
Toulouse climbed up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at seventh-place Lens, which leads Toulouse on goal difference.
Striker Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a penalty in the 73rd.
The goal came shortly after Lens midfielder David Pereira da Costa was shown a second yellow card following a video review and was sent off.
Angers beat Brest 2-0, and Strasbourg rallied to win 3-1 at home to Auxerre and move into 10th spot.
Esteban Lepaul scored early on for Angers and fellow striker Ibrahima Niane, who replaced Lepaul in the 75th, wrapped up the win in stoppage time.
Strasbourg’s goals came from captain Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal and forward Emanuel Emegha, after Hamed Traore gave Burgundy side Auxerre an early lead in Alsace.


Gauff inspires Team USA to United Cup triumph

Updated 05 January 2025
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Gauff inspires Team USA to United Cup triumph

  • Gauff opened with a statement 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiatek in 1hr 51min of hard-hitting tennis to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open

SYDNEY: Coco Gauff roared past Iga Swiatek to inspire Team USA on Sunday before Taylor Fritz sealed the United Cup title with victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in Sydney.

Gauff opened with a statement 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiatek in 1hr 51min of hard-hitting tennis to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open.

Big-serving Fritz then battled through against Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) to spark wild celebrations as the Americans won the mixed-teams cup for the second time in three years after winning the inaugural event in 2023.

For Poland it meant falling at the final hurdle again after losing to Germany 12 months ago.

Gauff set the ball rolling with a second victory in a row over Swiatek after beating the former world No. 1 at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on her way to the title.

Gauff had won all six of her previous singles and doubles matches this week and continued her streak when Swiatek double-faulted on match point at 4-5, 30-40 in the second set. “I have the belief that I am one of the best players in the world, and when I play good tennis, it’s hard for me to be beaten,” said Gauff, who won the award as player of the tournament.

The 20-year-old will go into the first Grand Slam of the year next Sunday unbeaten in singles since losing to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan semifinals in October, and brimming with confidence. “Today I think I played great tennis, and I’m happy to get a point,” she said. “It was tough today. I’m not gonna lie.”

Gauff’s victory left the US one win away from lifting the title for the second time, and Fritz delivered after edging a third-set tiebreak to seal a tense encounter.

“It’s been a great week,” said Fritz. “They’re an incredibly tough team and the margins are very small,” he added after a serve-dominated match that featured 30 aces and just three break points.

“I feel like it could have always gone either way. Just want to say thanks to my whole team.”

Earlier, Swiatek took a medical timeout at 5-4 down in the second set to have strapping put on her niggling left thigh which has bothered her all week in Sydney.

After losing to Gauff, Swiatek left the court in tears, walking gingerly, but returned laughing and joking during the trophy presentations.

Red-hot Gauff, who did not drop a set in five singles matches, goes into the Australian Open as world number three.

She enjoyed United Cup singles wins over Leylah Fernandez, Donna Vekic, Zhang Shuai, Karolina Muchova and Swiatek.

Fritz, who is at career-best number four in the rankings, dropped his opening United Cup match to Felix Auger-Aliassime but then won four straight.


Dakar Rally defending champion Sainz flips in dunes, is an hour off lead

Updated 05 January 2025
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Dakar Rally defending champion Sainz flips in dunes, is an hour off lead

  • Sainz was within five minutes of the leaders after more than 200 kilometers, but his Ford Raptor turned upside down in the dunes at 327 kilometers

BISHA, Saudi Arabia: Defending champion Carlos Sainz was nearly an hour off the pace in the Dakar Rally after his car flipped in the Saudi Arabia dunes on Sunday.
Local driver Yazeed Al Rajhi led the race at the mandatory evening rest stop north of Bisha on the nearly 1,000-kilometer second stage, which started early Sunday and finishes late Monday.
But his lead was only 79 seconds over five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Sainz was within five minutes of the leaders after more than 200 kilometers, but his Ford Raptor turned upside down in the dunes at 327 kilometers. Teammate Mitch Guthrie helped Sainz right the car after 20 minutes but broken rear parts were left behind and Sainz limped to the rest area at 620 kilometers, more than 59 minutes behind.
Another title contender who suffered was Sebastien Loeb, who won this stage last year. The Frenchman broke down with fan issues at 409 kilometers and arrived more than 32 minutes back.
Al-Attiyah led Al Rajhi by four minutes in the early going but Al Rajhi turned the tables about 350 kilometers in and held on.
Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom was running third, nine minutes back. He was the only driver within 10 minutes of Al Rajhi.
First stage winner Seth Quintero was 48 minutes back.
Australian rider Daniel Sanders continued to set the pace in the motorbike class, even after starting at the back from winning the first stage.
Racing a different course to the cars, Sanders was only 40 seconds ahead of American titleholder Ricky Brabec.
Ross Branch, second last year, lost some time but was still third.
The 48-hour chrono stage was introduced last year, sending racers into the desert overnight with minimal team help. What organizers call “the quintessential rally-raid experience” was the stage in which Al Rajhi’s car somersaulted and he was forced to abandon the 2024 race.
The stage resumes at dawn on Monday.


Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak

Updated 05 January 2025
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Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak

  • United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez
  • Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested

LIVERPOOL: Manchester United rallied to snap a four-game losing streak and halt Liverpool’s romp toward the Premier League title in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool move six points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand to come, over second-placed Arsenal.
But this was an opportunity lost for Arne Slot’s men after they came from behind to lead 2-1 through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s penalty.
United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez and got the point a much-improved performance deserved when Amad Diallo levelled on 80 minutes.
A point edges the Red Devils up to 13th in the table and seven clear of the relegation zone.
Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested ahead of the game and so it proved.
United had been carved open at will by Newcastle in a dismal 2-0 defeat on Monday that left manager Ruben Amorim declaring they were in a relegation battle.
Amorim’s hand was strengthened by the return of captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte from suspension, while Kobbie Mainoo also returned to the starting line-up.
The Portuguese’s plan to frustrate Liverpool worked but the home side did have the chances early on to make the breakthrough.
Gakpo prodded past the far post from Ryan Gravenberch’s through ball.
Moments later Salah picked out Alexis Mac Allister with a sumptuous pass that the Argentine caught flush and forced Andre Onana into a fine save with his feet.
United took time to begin to impose themselves as an attacking threat but should have been in front before the break.
Diallo miscued his header with the goal gaping from Diogo Dalot’s cross.
Rasmus Hojlund then had the best chance of the first half when he raced in behind the Liverpool defense but could not beat Alisson Becker.
However, confidence was suddenly coursing back into United players who have looked bereft in recent weeks.
The visitors’ breakthrough came from an unlikely source as Martinez showed his strikers how to finish with a blistering hit in off the underside of the bar for just his second goal for the club.
The Anfield crowd were beginning to get restless as the league leaders were briefly at sixes and sevens.
However, Liverpool’s position at the top of the table owes much to the depth of firepower they possess.
Even on a quiet day for Salah, they had an in-form forward to come up with the moment of magic required to turn the game.
Gakpo turned inside his Dutch international colleague Matthijs de Ligt and blasted high past Onana for his 10th goal in 15 games on the hour mark.
Despite the equalizer Slot immediately made two offensive changes, as Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were introduced, and got his reward.
MacAllister’s header flicked off De Ligt’s outstretched arm inside the penalty area and a VAR review resulted in the awarding of a spot-kick.
Salah smashed low and hard beyond Onana for his 18th Premier League goal in 19 games.
However, United’s spirited display got the point it merited to halt an alarming losing streak for Amorim so early in his reign.
Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude has been questioned by his new boss but the Argentine came off the bench to make the equalizer as his low cross was turned in by Diallo.
And it should have been even better for United when Harry Maguire spooned Joshua Zirkzee’s pass over the bar with the goal gaping deep into stoppage time.


Inter Milan eye historic Italian Super Cup triumph in Riyadh showdown with rivals AC Milan

Updated 05 January 2025
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Inter Milan eye historic Italian Super Cup triumph in Riyadh showdown with rivals AC Milan

  • Both sides aiming to secure early-season silverware

RIYADH: Inter Milan and AC Milan meet on Monday in the Italian Super Cup final at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, with both sides aiming to secure early-season silverware in what promises to be a competitive Milan derby.

Inter head into the match looking to extend their recent dominance in the competition, having won the past three Super Cups, including two in Riyadh.

Victory would see them claim a record fourth consecutive title. AC Milan, however, are seeking to end their own trophy drought and derail Inter’s impressive run.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez highlighted the significance of playing in Saudi Arabia, where he scored in both of his team’s previous Super Cup finals in Riyadh.

He said: “For us, playing here has been important in the past finals because we won the trophy and because I scored.

“This is a derby and a final, and we all know how important it is. The goal is to win and bring the trophy home.”

Inter secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta on Thursday, thanks to two goals from Denzel Dumfries.

Manager Simone Inzaghi, who has overseen all of Inter’s recent Super Cup wins, acknowledged the challenge of competing in a derby final.

He said: “It would be very special to win the Super Cup for the fourth time with Inter.

“We face a strong opponent with the same hunger to win. We need to stay focused and deliver a strong performance.”

AC Milan earned their spot in the final by defeating Juventus 2-1 in their semifinal. New manager Sergio Conceicao, who took charge only last week, faces a significant test in his second match with the club.

He said: “The match will be difficult, but we have to focus on ourselves.

“My goal is to prepare the team as best as possible and ensure we approach the game with ambition and hunger to win.”

Conceicao’s plans could hinge on the fitness of key forward Rafael Leao, who is being assessed after missing the semifinal.

Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who joined the club in the summer, is eager to seize the opportunity to win his first trophy.

He said: “It’s a great chance for us as a group to win something. We have to play with confidence and take this opportunity.”

Monday’s match marks the fifth time the Italian Super Cup has been staged in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh hosting for the fourth time.

Inter’s previous successes in Riyadh have given them an edge in the tournament, but AC will be determined to change the narrative and claim their first Super Cup since 2016.