US Open Preview: Osaka gunning for hat trick of wins as Arab stars Ons Jabeur and Mayar Sherif make history

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia. (File/AFP)
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Updated 29 August 2021
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US Open Preview: Osaka gunning for hat trick of wins as Arab stars Ons Jabeur and Mayar Sherif make history

  • For first time since 2003, New York will not see Serena or Venus Williams in season’s final Grand Slam

With full crowds returning to the US Open and its majestic Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 2021 Grand Slam season is set to go out with a bang in New York this upcoming fortnight.

For the first time since 2003, both Serena and Venus Williams will miss the tournament, but there is still plenty to look forward to in the women’s draw amid the absence of the iconic sisters.

Here is a look at the main talking points as we enter the final major of the year.

Osaka going for a New York hat trick

Defending champion Naomi Osaka has not played much since she withdrew from Roland Garros for mental health reasons after her opening round match.

The Japanese superstar’s most recent appearances were third-round exits at the Tokyo Olympics and Cincinnati. But despite her lack of momentum, Osaka says that she is “feeling good” about where her game is as she prepares for her campaign for a third US Open crown.

“I feel pretty confident with where I am right now,” the No. 3 seed said on Friday.

Osaka is 17-2 in Grand Slam first rounds and opens her campaign against Czech world No. 87 Marie Bouzkova. She is gunning for a fifth Grand Slam title, which would see her take sole possession of third place on the list of active major champions on the women’s tour — trailing only Serena and Venus, and steering clear of Kim Clijsters.

Last year, Osaka felt like she was competing in New York with “a higher purpose,” as she wore seven different masks for each of her seven matches, emblazoned with names of Black victims of police brutality. Her urge to spread the message ultimately helped her claim the title.

“Definitely for me, I’m the type of player that plays better if I have a reason, or if I have a goal or if I’m driven about something,” she said.

“In New York last year the biggest goal for me was just to push that message across. I feel like I did well there. Right now, I don’t really have that big of a message to push across at all. So it’s going to be really interesting to see what drives me.

“Of course, I’m a competitor and I want to win. There’s that feeling of wanting to do better than last year.”

Barty seems unstoppable

With five titles to her name this season, including Wimbledon last month and most recently Cincinnati, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty is the clear favorite for the US Open crown.

The Australian owns a tour-leading 40 match wins this year and is halfway to a career Grand Slam, following triumphs at the 2019 French Open and Wimbledon 2021.

Barty is the top seed at the US Open for the first time and the sixth time overall in her career at the majors.

“I think that she’s had an amazing year. It’s really cool to see someone play so consistently,” Osaka said of Barty.

“I would say she seems really determined and really focused. I know that she hasn’t gone home since Australia, so that’s a lot of traveling for her. I don’t think I’m the type of person that could do that. It’s so good for the sport, I would say.”

Jabeur and Sherif make Arab tennis history

For the first time ever, two Arab women will feature in the US Open main draw, with Tunisian No. 20 seed Ons Jabeur kicking off her campaign against French veteran Alize Cornet, and Egyptian Mayar Sherif earning a lucky loser spot after falling in the final round of qualifying. She will take on Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina.

Earlier this month, Sherif became the first Egyptian player since 1978 — and the first Egyptian woman ever — to crack the top 100 in the world rankings.

“It’s important for me to always break barriers as an Egyptian tennis player and to pave the way for the next generations,” she said.

“Of course if I want to move forward I have the burden to break barriers and I like that kind of pressure, because I want to go for more — I always want more. I have very high ambitions, and I believe in myself and I know this is just the start.”

Fearless Sabalenka hungry for more

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka got the monkey off her back at Wimbledon last month when she finally made it past the fourth round for the first time at a major, going on to reach the semifinals.

Ranked a career-high No. 2 in the world, Sabalenka says that her five-year journey with her sports psychologist helped her conquer fears, and that she is now keen to go even further this fortnight at the US Open.

“I feel like all those conversations with my psychologist definitely helped me to put my focus on the right spot, on myself instead of everything around,” said Sabalenka, who opens against Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic on Monday.

“I’m working for five years. Only right now I’ve started to be honest with her about the Grand Slams, and I’ve started to maybe be more open with her, saying that actually I was afraid of something.

“It's a long process. It’s a long way — a long journey actually.”

Svitolina coming in with momentum

Former US Open semifinalist Elina Svitolina enters New York fresh off a title run in Chicago and a heroic bronze-medal showing in Tokyo.

The No. 5 seed is relieved that she was able to turn her season around, admitting that she had to endure many “low moments” throughout the year before making the podium at the Olympics.

“What was difficult is definitely mental exhaustion, because this year I had some really low moments,” Svitolina told reporters in Chicago on Saturday.

“Maybe from the side it didn’t look like that, but I really felt things were tough mentally for me because I had some really tough moments, especially in the Grand Slams. And at some point it gets tougher and tougher to carry, it’s kind of like a rucksack you have on your back and you’re collecting tough moments.

“Lots of things happening were happening — private life, then tennis, then COVID-19 as well.”

Svitolina chose to play in Chicago in an effort to regain her confidence and the decision has clearly paid off. She faces Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino in the US Open first round.


UEFA investigates English ref Coote over footage of alleged drug use at Euro 2024

Updated 17 sec ago
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UEFA investigates English ref Coote over footage of alleged drug use at Euro 2024

“A UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by the referee, Mr. David Coote,” UEFA said
The report said the incident was filmed one day after Coote’s last match duty, the quarterfinal between France and Portugal

NYON: UEFA started another investigation into English match official David Coote on Thursday after a video allegedly showed him using cocaine during the European Championship.
“A UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by the referee, Mr. David Coote,” UEFA said in a statement.
Coote worked as a video review specialist at Euro 2024, where match officials stayed at a hotel near Frankfurt. He was an assistant supporting the lead VAR official at eight games.
British daily The Sun published a video late Wednesday appearing to show Coote snorting the drug using an American banknote.
The report said the incident was filmed one day after Coote’s last match duty, the quarterfinal between France and Portugal. France won a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Coote was suspended on Monday by the English match referees body after a different cellphone video circulated of him making offensive comments with friends about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. That body and the English FA started investigations.
UEFA already withdrew Coote from match duty for national team games this week after the first video was published.
The games he worked at Euro 2024 included host Germany’s 2-0 win over Denmark in the round of 16 that included a controversial penalty award for handball. The lead VAR official at that game, Stuart Attwell, was involved in some of the tournament’s most debated decisions.

Sinner doping case could have been communicated more efficiently, ATP chair says

Updated 35 min 44 sec ago
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Sinner doping case could have been communicated more efficiently, ATP chair says

  • A decision by an independent tribunal to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September
  • The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year

TURIN: There “could have been better communication” in explaining the rules involved in Jannik Sinner’s doping case, ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged Thursday.
However, Gaudenzi said at the ATP Finals that anyone hinting that a “double standard” was applied because of top-ranked Sinner’s status is “unfair because the rules have been the same.”
Sinner is playing at home this week for the first time since it was announced before his US Open title that he tested positive for an anabolic steroid in two separate drug tests in March.
The case wasn’t made public until August.
“I learned the day before we all learned,” Gaudenzi said in his first public comments on the case. He spoke in a round-table discussion with international reporters.
“And to be honest, I’m happy about that. I really thank the ITA (International Testing Agency) and our representatives there for intentionally keeping me and our entire team in the dark because that’s how it should be.
“It should be completely independent and that was agreed by the (parties). It was a shock, but obviously comforted by the evidence afterward.”
A decision by an independent tribunal to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in September and the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year.
Sinner’s explanation was that the banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own cut finger.
WADA is seeking a ban of one to two years for Sinner.
“We are completely external and it’s (an) independent process,” Gaudenzi said. “I generally think has been a fair process. It was really done by the book and by the rules. Maybe there could have been better communication in explaining those rules, and that is something that I would urge every party involved to work better in the next time.”
ATP Finals future will be revealed
Gaudenzi said he plans to announce on Sunday the future host of the ATP Finals. The contract with Turin expires next year and there is an option to move the event to nearby Milan at a bigger arena being built for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.


Saudi goal disallowed in scoreless draw with Australia

Updated 40 min 55 sec ago
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Saudi goal disallowed in scoreless draw with Australia

  • Green Falcons thought they had won in the 93rd minute when Sultan Al-Ghannam rifled home from just inside the box
  • Mitch Duke clashed heads with goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar who came out to clear the ball, but VAR showed the infringement was outside the box

MELBOURNE: Saudi Arabia had a goal disallowed in added time in a scoreless draw with Australia, a result that did neither side any favors in their bid to qualify for World Cup 2026.
Despite several chances in front of a sold out AAMI Park in Melbourne, the breakthrough both teams desperately needed never came.
The Saudis and their new French coach Herve Renard thought they had won in the 93rd minute when Sultan Al-Ghannam rifled home from just inside the box.
But the flag went up, with one of his teammates offside.
“We had some good opportunities but we have to go give our opponent credit. First half we didn’t play very well,” said Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.
“We were not very good with the ball while they were sharp and energetic.
“We improved significantly in the second half, which is good,” he added.
“Overall, it’s a point and we move forward but certainly we can improve.”
The stalemate played into the hands of Group C leaders Japan and opened the door for Bahrain to leapfrog them as Asian qualifying reached the halfway mark.
Australia and the Saudis both have six points, four behind table-toppers Japan who can stretch their lead further when they meet Indonesia in Jakarta on Friday.
Bahrain, on five points, host China later in Riffa and will move into second spot if they win.
Just the top two seal their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America, with third and fourth forced into another round of Asian qualifying.
Australia must now lift themselves for a difficult trip to Bahrain next week, while Saudi Arabia travel to Indonesia.
Popovic made just one change from the team that drew with Japan in Saitama last month with Standard Liege midfielder Aiden O’Neill in for Luke Brattan.
Renard, who was appointed a fortnight ago in place of Roberto Mancini, swung the axe with just four survivors from their last match, a goalless draw with Bahrain.
Both sides started at a frenetic pace and in a big moment on 12 minutes the referee awarded Australia a penalty after Mitch Duke clashed heads with goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar who came out to clear the ball.
But VAR showed the infringement was outside the box.
The first decent effort did not come until the 27th minute when Saudi midfielder Nasser Al-Dawsari whipped in a shot from a tight angle. Goalkeeper Joe Gauci saved at the near post.
Gauci made another crucial stop on the cusp of half-time, charging off his line to pluck the ball off the feet of Feras Albrikan in a one-on-one situation.
Australia had the brighter second half, creating far more chances with Riley McGree and Duke whipping in shots that were blocked.
They had a glorious opportunity with seven minutes left when substitute Brandon Borrello beat the offside trap.
But instead of shooting he opted to pass and the chance was wasted, before the last-minute drama with the disallowed goal.


Maxwell’s power-hitting and Australia pace flatten Pakistan in a rain-shortened T20

Updated 14 November 2024
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Maxwell’s power-hitting and Australia pace flatten Pakistan in a rain-shortened T20

  • Match started after a three-hour delay and was shortened to seven over per side
  • Pakistan made 64-9 in response to Australia’s 93-4, losing five wicket in first 15 balls

BRISBANE: Glenn Maxwell’s robust 43 off 19 balls helped Australia thump Pakistan by 29 runs in a rain-shortened first Twenty20 on Thursday.
After a nearly three-hour delay due to lightning and rain, the match was shortened to seven overs per side.
Maxwell powered Australia to 93-4 and Pakistan reached only 64-9 after slumping to 16-5 inside the first 15 balls.
Nathan Ellis (3-9) and Xavier Bartlett (3-13) ran through the top order before No. 8 batter Abbas Afridi’s unbeaten 20.
“Certainly had a lot of fun out there,” Maxwell said. “We thought we had enough on the board … the bowlers did a great job. There was a few of us who had packed our bags expecting the game to be called off, so it was a mad rush to get ready.”

Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Usman Khan (left), celebrate the dismissal of Australia’s Matt Short during the T20 cricket international between Pakistan and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, on November 14, 2024. (AP)

Maxwell followed scores of 0, 16, 0 in the preceding one-day international series won by Pakistan 2-1 by smacking three sixes and five boundaries. He played some extravagant lap shots to third man against the pace of Haris Rauf (1-21) and Naseem Shah (1-37).
Maxwell fell in the penultimate over when he hooked Abbas Afridi (2-9) to backward square leg but Marcus Stoinis provided a final flourish with an unbeaten 21 off seven balls. Stoinis smashed 20 runs in Shah’s last over with two fours and six.
None of the top six Pakistan batters reached double figures.
Sahibzada Farhan hit Spencer Johnson for two successive boundaries off the first two balls he faced before mistiming a pull shot off the fourth ball and holing out at midwicket.
Mohammad Rizwan, in his first match as the Pakistan skipper, fell to the first ball when he top-edged Bartlett to point. Usman Khan was caught at third man in the same over.
Ellis struck twice in his first over when Babar Azam was caught in the deep and Jake Fraser-McGurk snapped his third catch as Irfan Khan also offered a tame catch at deep midwicket.
Pakistan was 24-6 in the fourth over when Salman Ali Agha scored only 4 in his debut T20, guiding a sharp, short Bartlett delivery to Australia first-time captain Josh Inglis on the run.

Pakistan’s Abbas Afridi bats during the T20 cricket international between Pakistan and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, on November 14, 2024. (AP)

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa clean-bowled Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah off successive balls in the last over to complete the rout.
“It was difficult to keep things normal in a seven-over game,” Rizwan said. “Got to give credit to Maxy, his style worked really well.”

Australia’s Adam Zampa, right, celebrates with teammates after defeating Pakistan during the T20 cricket international between Pakistan and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, on November 14, 2024. (AP)

The second T20 is in Sydney on Saturday, and the last in Hobart on Monday.


ICC Champions Trophy promo confirms Pakistan as host

Updated 14 November 2024
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ICC Champions Trophy promo confirms Pakistan as host

  • The video comes days after the ICC informed Pakistan that India had declined to play in the country
  • Pakistan has said it is not interested in a hybrid hosting model adopted during last year’s Asia Cup

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council’s promotional video for the Champions Trophy 2025 has portrayed Pakistan as the tournament host, with the global governing body for cricket promising a “thrilling competition” in a statement released on Wednesday.
The video comes just days after the ICC informed Pakistan that India had declined to play tournament matches in the country, prompting Pakistani authorities to rule out the hybrid hosting model adopted last year for the Asia Cup, where India played all its matches in Sri Lanka.
Political tensions between the two countries have led the Indian team to avoid traveling to Pakistan since 2008, with both sides only competing in multination tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
The ICC has not directly commented on the situation, though the promotional video clearly showed visuals communicating that the tournament will be arranged in Pakistan.
It promo displayed an unconventional logo, which the ICC said was designed to be “bold, loud, confident, and fun,” saying the visual identity was digital-first while calling it a dynamic, typographic logo.
“The two weeks of thrilling competition the event is renowned for is reflected in the bold and loud edge to the brand,” ICC Chief Commercial Officer Anurag Dahiya said in a statement. “The new elements are accompanied by the distinctive white jackets which nod to the history of the Champions Trophy and its unique, global appeal.”
The men’s Champions Trophy is set to return in 2025 after about eight years, with Pakistan clinching the title in the 2017 final against India.
The tournament was last held in England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi that are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games scheduled to be held between February 19 and March 9.