MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka will attempt on Thursday to set up an all-Belarusian final at the Australian Open, and in doing so give organizers a headache.
Two-time Melbourne champion Azarenka faces Elena Rybakina in the first women’s semifinal on Rod Laver Arena, with Sabalenka up against Poland’s unseeded Magda Linette after that.
Should Azarenka and Sabalenka progress to Saturday’s final, it will be the first time two Belarusian players have contested the championship match at a tennis major.
“I really want it to happen,” said Sabalenka, the fifth seed who is yet to drop a set in 2023 after winning the Adelaide International earlier this month.
“I know that Vika will do everything she can to make it happen. I will do everything I can to make it happen. That’s going to be history.”
It could pose a challenge, however, for organizers of the first Grand Slam of the year.
Players from Russia and Belarus are competing at the Australian Open as independents under a neutral white flag because of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The flags of Russia and Belarus — a key Moscow ally — are banned at Melbourne Park.
Surprise-package Linette and Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina will have no interest in Belarusian history lessons.
Sabalenka is the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw at fifth in the world and is favorite to win her first Grand Slam.
But she will be wary of 45th-ranked Linette, who has already accounted for four seeds on her surprise journey into the last four.
The 33-year-old Azarenka is chasing a hat-trick of titles at Melbourne Park, 10 years after she won her second, but knows she similarly has her work cut out against the dangerous Rybakina.
The 22nd-seeded Rybakina has a huge serve and won Wimbledon last year.
She was awarded no ranking points for it because of Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belarusian players last year, otherwise she would have been in the top 10 now.
The 23-year-old defeated top seed and world number one Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.
“She’s a very good, solid player. Her ranking obviously doesn’t tell the full story,” said Azarenka, seeded 24.
“Very powerful. Big serve. She’s in the semifinal, so she’s obviously playing amazing,” Azarenka added.
Sabalenka on cusp of Australian Open crown and all-Belarusian final
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Sabalenka on cusp of Australian Open crown and all-Belarusian final
- Players from Russia and Belarus are competing at the Australian Open as independents under a neutral white flag because of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine
Monday match against Al-Hilal is ‘difficult,’ says Al-Qadsiah’s coach Gonzalez
AL KHUBAR: Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hilal will face off on Monday in the 17th round of the Saudi Roshn League in what Al-Qadsiah’s Spanish coach Michel Gonzalez described as a “difficult” match on Saturday.
Addressing a news conference ahead of the match that takes place at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, Gonzalez said: “I’m old enough that there’s nothing I fear anymore. I’ve lived my whole life without fear, but I respect everyone.
“My lack of fear doesn’t mean I don’t respect the opponent. We are here to compete with the other teams. However, the only thing I fear is when my wife looks at me.”
From the Spaniard’s perspective, in sports, “fear has no impact.”
“We’ve played 19 matches in the league and the cup without fear, and we will continue in the same way. That’s our goal. However, we greatly respect the opponent, and we approach the match with significance but without any fear,” he told the conference.
The Spanish coach stressed that they will play a match against the champion, “Al-Hilal, a team known and distinguished by its players and coach.”
“Our opponent possesses both individual and collective abilities that enable them to play at the highest levels in any league in the world,” Gonzalez said.
Currently, Al-Qadsiah are in their best form, and they will deliver a great performance in Monday’s match that allows them to secure the three points, the coach said.
He emphasized that Al-Qadsiah play as a team and respects all opponents, emphasizing: “Al-Hilal are an offensive team with a high-scoring record. However, we have excellent defensive players. Statistically, we are also distinguished defensively, while Al-Hilal excel offensively.
“We are aware that our opponent will miss their Serbian striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scores even with half-chances. Personally, I wished all players on both teams were fully ready and without absences.”
The Brazilian substitute, Marcos Leonardo, according to Gonzalez, is a remarkable striker with great abilities, and his scoring record speaks for itself.
Frankfurt sign French striker Elye Wahi until 2030
- “I’m very happy to have signed for Eintracht Frankfurt,” Wahi said
- “I hope the supporters of the club have faith in me and that I will repay them”
FRANKFURT: Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt have signed French striker Elye Wahi on a long-term deal until 2030.
Frankfurt posted a photo on X of the 22-year-old Wahi putting pen to paper on Friday evening.
“I’m very happy to have signed for Eintracht Frankfurt,” Wahi said in French. “I hope the supporters of the club have faith in me and that I will repay them.”
No transfer fee was given but French website L’Equipe reported that Frankfurt paid 26 million euros ($27.3 million) for Wahi with an additional 3 million euros in bonuses and a 12 percent share of any future sell-on profit.
It is the third significant career move in two years for Wahi, who joined Lens from Montpellier in 2023 for a fee of 35 million euros ($38 million), turning down Premier League side Chelsea.
Despite a bright start at Lens he failed to settle and, after scoring 12 goals in 36 games, he joined Marseille this season for 25 million euros. But he scored only three league goals for the club and struggled for consistency.
Wahi made a strong impression with Montpellier in the 2022-23 season, scoring 19 league goals and impressing with his speed and skill.
Frankfurt have sold two forward for big profits, with Randal Kolo Muani joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 in a deal worth 95 million euros and Egypt forward Omar Marmoush joining Premier League champion Manchester City on Thursday for a reported 70 million euros ($73 million).
Flick demands Barca focus more after Liga slump
- “I think you can have a feeling that in La Liga we’re missing 5-10 percent,” Flick told a news conference
- “It’s like we’re not playing well, we’re not focussed and this is what we have to do”
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick called on his team to show more concentration in La Liga on Saturday after a dismal run of domestic form.
While the Catalan giants are flying high in the Champions League, second in the group with direct qualification to the last 16 already secured, domestically they have dropped behind their title rivals.
Barcelona have won just one of their last eight league games and trail league leaders and reigning champions Real Madrid by seven points.
The Blaugrana, third, are also five points behind Atletico Madrid going into this weekend’s round of fixtures.
“I think you can have a feeling that in La Liga we’re missing 5-10 percent, it’s like that and this is what we have to change,” Flick told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Valencia.
Last weekend Barcelona could only muster a 1-1 draw against Getafe, 16th.
“I think in Getafe it was our fault we didn’t end this match with three points — it has nothing to do with Getafe,” continued Flick.
“It’s like we’re not playing well, we’re not focussed and this is what we have to do.
“We have to be focussed from the beginning to the end of the match and this is what I want from the team.”
Valencia, 19th, are playing well under new coach Carlos Corberan and are hoping to fight their way up the table.
“They stabilized their defense and they really know how to play football,” said Flick.
“Their defense is doing really well and we have to create chances and score goals — it’s not so easy.”
Atletico Madrid host Villarreal while Real Madrid visit Valladolid, both on Saturday.
‘Best honeymoon ever’: Keys hails reluctant husband-coach after Slam win
- “I feel like this is the best honeymoon ever. This is perfect,” a beaming Keys said
- “I have the most supportive, best husband in the entire world, who didn’t even want to coach me”
MELBOURNE: Madison Keys paid tribute to her coach and new husband Bjorn Fratangelo saying it “was the best honeymoon ever” after winning her first Grand Slam title on Saturday aged 29 — and then revealed he did not even want the job.
The American battled injury and self-doubts last year and curtailed her season early, in October, to get married.
“I feel like this is the best honeymoon ever. This is perfect,” a beaming Keys said.
The former teen prodigy, who first won a WTA match at 14, has now finally got her hands on a major after beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final.
“I have the most supportive, best husband in the entire world, who didn’t even want to coach me,” Keys said on Channel Nine TV straight after lifting the trophy.
“And I was like, please, please come with me.
“So it took some arm-twisting, and he has just been the most supportive, and he’s fully believed in me every step of the way.”
Keys is the fourth-oldest first-time winner of a major since the Open Era began in 1968.
She overcame fierce three-set challenges from both the two top seeds, Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, in the semifinal and final.
“I have absolutely the greatest team,” Keys said.
“They have really believed in me in the moments that I didn’t believe in myself.
“They helped me completely rebuild after some pretty gnarly injuries last year.
“And if it wasn’t for those three people who have been cheering me on all week through all of the three-set matches, I wouldn’t be here.”
Keys is on a tour-leading 12-match unbeaten streak after lifting the Adelaide International trophy two weeks ago and will move up to world number seven, equalling her career-best ranking from 2016.
“I think dealing with some of the injuries that I dealt with last year really kind of forced me into some changes.
“It made me kind of have to stop being stubborn and listen to my husband.
“It pushed me to get a little bit uncomfortable and be okay with that. And I feel like buying into that just set me up to start playing some really good tennis.”
Prince Sultan champions E1 Jeddah GP’s theme of ‘Race for Change’
- UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world’s only all-electric boat race, kicked off 2nd season with E1 Jeddah GP on Friday
JEDDAH: Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation, has championed the E1 Jeddah GP’s theme of “Race for Change” as a key part of Saudi Arabia’s sporting ambitions.
Qualifying for the E1 Jeddah GP, which begins a second season of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, took place on Friday with Team Brady, the 2024 Champions of the Water, first in the campaign’s opening race. Team AlUla, on their debut, set the fastest single lap time on water but had to settle for second qualifying spot overall. Racing Team Aoki rounded off the qualifying podium.
Presented in partnership between E1, the Saudi Ministry of Sport and SWSDF, the main E1 Jeddah GP race will take place on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the E1 Jeddah GP, Prince Sultan said of the “Race for Change” theme of this year’s race: “The first step of change is information; you have to tell people. You have to show people. If we don’t have more events like E1 where there is a high level of competition with the future of mobility in terms of electric, hydrogen and alternative methods of mobility, then I don’t think as many people would be as interested in it.
“The reason you have seen car racing develop as big as it is is because it is accessible; people can drive cars and the reason they want to do it is because they see the races. The thing with electric mobility is that more and more people are going to be interested in the racing and hopefully this is going to be the starting point for making it accessible for everyone.”
Prince Sultan added: “You inspire the next generation by showing them that it’s possible and by giving them access. Yesterday, we had an open day for 150 to 200 schoolchildren and when they’re here doing all of this, then it stays (in their minds).”
E1 features top teams owned by some of the best-known celebrities in the world such as Tom Brady, Will Smith, Didier Drogba, Rafael Nadal, Steve Aoki and more. Teams have two pilots — one male, one female — powering futuristic, all-electric RaceBirds. Following the Jeddah event, the E1 season continues at six different marine locations —including Doha, Lake Como, Monaco, and Miami — across the globe throughout the year.
Asked what he enjoyed most about E1, Prince Sultan said: “The competition. Honestly, I’ve never before seen such friendly competition here. When you speak to the pilots and team members, it feels like one big family — until they’re on the water. When they’re on the water, it’s fierce competition. The moment they leave the water, we joke and laugh about it, and congratulate each other on the results, but the competition is there properly. It’s positive competition; it’s not negative competition.”
The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world’s only all-electric raceboat championship, aligns with the vision of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation, which promotes sustainable practices and broad participation across all levels of society.
