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
World Football Summit in Riyadh aims to shape future of game regionally
- Summit comes ahead of FIFA’s official announcement of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, expected on Dec. 11
- Jan Alessie: WFS Asia 2024 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of football business in the GCC region
RIYADH: The World Football Summit kicked off on Monday in Riyadh, promising to be a key gathering for shaping the future of football in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond.
Running from Dec. 2-3 with the participation of leading figures from the football world, the summit comes ahead of FIFA’s official announcement of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, expected on Dec. 11.
The WFS Asia 2024 in Riyadh follows on from the first WFS held last year in Jeddah, which saw two days of discussions, strategic networking, and the acceleration of business and sports opportunities.
This year’s summit is expected to welcome more than 2,000 attendees, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Participants will discuss various topics related to football development, including the integration of football technology and innovation in fan engagement, the development of sports tourism and sustainability in football, the growth of women’s football, and youth development programs.
The lineup of industry leaders taking part includes Hammad Albalawi, the Saudi FIFA World Cup 2034 bid head; Omar Mugharbel, Saudi Pro League CEO; Mauricio Macri, former Argentine president and FIFA executive chairman; Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al-Hilal; Monika Staab, SAFF women’s football technical director; James Bisgrove, CEO of Al-Qadsia Club; La Liga President Javier Tebas; and Juventus CMO Mike Armstrong.
Other representatives from premier football organizations include UEFA, the Saudi Pro League, Serie A, and clubs such as Manchester United and Al-Nassr, who will also contribute to discussions that will take place over the two-days.
“WFS Asia 2024 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of football business in the GCC region,” said Jan Alessie, co-founder and director at World Football Summit.
“By bringing together the industry’s most influential voices in Riyadh, we are not just hosting an event — we are creating a platform that will accelerate the next chapter of football’s growth. The caliber of participants and the depth of discussions planned reflect our commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and partnerships that will impact the entire football world.”
SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal welcomed the guests to the conference, highlighting the significant progress the Kingdom is experiencing in hosting global sports events, supported by the Saudi leadership’s backing of the sports sector along with the Ministry of Sports.
He said that the WFS reflects the SAFF’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the advancement of football-related businesses that serve the global standing of Saudi football.
The summit’s agenda features panels such as “Saudi Arabia’s growing importance in World Football” and “One nation, one dream: The FIFA World Cup 2034 bid journey to success.”
Notably, the Saudi bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 has received a rating of 419.8 out of 500, the highest technical rating ever given to a file submitted to host the event, the federation said.
FIFA’s announcement came ahead of the federation’s general assembly on Dec. 11 to decide which countries would host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Saturday.
On July 29, a Saudi delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Al-Misehal officially submitted the Kingdom’s bid book to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a ceremony hosted in Paris, France.
Last October, a FIFA delegation arrived in the Kingdom to review the details of the bid. As proposed, 48 teams will be participating at venues in one country for the first time in history.
Australia women, Fiji men crowned champions at Dubai 7s
- Fiji beat Spain 19-5 to lift the men’s trophy and claim their first SVNS tournament victory since 2022
- Australia secured a fifth successive women’s tournament victory in Dubai but they had to work hard for it in an epic final against Olympic champions New Zealand
DUBAI: The Emirates Dubai 7s concluded on Sunday with wins from the Fiji men’s team and Australia’s women’s side in the first leg of the HSBC SVNS 2025 Series.
Fiji beat Spain 19-5 to lift the men’s trophy and claim their first SVNS tournament victory since 2022, and their first in Dubai since 2016. Argentina claimed the men’s bronze medal with a convincing 14-0 win over New Zealand.
Australia secured a fifth successive women’s tournament victory in Dubai but they had to work hard for it in an epic final against Olympic champions New Zealand which finished 28-24. France overcame Great Britain 15-12 to take home the women’s bronze medals.
The weekend also featured a three-day lineup of artists and DJs performing across the event’s three stages.
Alongside the HSBC SVNS action, the festival attracted teams from around the world to compete in invitational rugby, netball, cricket, padel tennis and fitness tournaments. This year saw the event’s biggest number of teams yet competing for the sought-after Dubai 7s trophies.
The Emirates Dubai 7s’ dedicated cricket zone was headed by a lineup of cricket ambassadors including former Indian international Dinesh Karthik and English players Tom Hartley and Georgia Elwiss, while global cricket supporter groups Bharat Army and Barmy Army flew to Dubai to compete in the event’s Open Competitive cricket tournament.
Mathew Tait, festival director of Emirates Dubai 7s, said: “This weekend has been our biggest Dubai 7s to date. The double-header music schedule, combined with our expansive F&B offering, thrilling international rugby and entertainment to suit all ages reinforces our reputation as the best weekend of the year for UAE residents of all ages.”
Uihlein deposes Catlin as International Series Rankings race heads to Saudi finale
- The American golfer claimed a comfortable 5-shot victory in the $2.5m International Series Qatar, the penultimate event of the season
DOHA: American Peter Uihlein climbed to the top of The International Series Rankings by securing a second win of the season, deposing John Catlin, ensuring the campaign is set for a thrilling climax in Riyadh this week.
Uihlein claimed a comfortable five-shot victory in the $2.5m International Series Qatar, the penultimate event of the season, and collected 450 rankings points. The players now head for the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
Combined with his win at International Series England earlier this season and his T2 at International Series Thailand, Uihlein leapt from fourth to top spot with 1071.10 points, edging ahead of Catlin (927.45,) who had led since his victory in Macau back in March.
With a bumper 1,000 points going to the winner in Saudi Arabia, there is still all to play for. Nearest challengers Ben Campbell of New Zealand (851.55), Canada’s Richard T Lee (682.68), Lee Chieh-po (633.97) from Chinese Taipei and American MJ Maguire (541.26) will all feel confident of pushing for a vital second victory of the season.
A win in Saudi would give one of them top spot at the end of the season and a place on the LIV Golf League roster, while the 525 points for second and 300 for third place could also be vital if the win goes to one of the big names from LIV Golf League, such as Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann or Tyrrell Hatton.
As a member of Range Goats GC, Uihlein would not claim the spot on the LIV Golf League roster but feels the title would strengthen his case for receiving invites to next season’s majors.
Following his win at Doha Golf Club, Uihlein said: “Now I have to try and win (the rankings). The worst thing they can do is say no, and if that is the case then I will try and qualify within the events. The Open and the PGA Championship, they would be the ones I could probably lobby for. And obviously Rankings champion is nice to have on your CV as well.”
It is little wonder Uihlein is confident going into the Saudi finale; he finished T3 in the Saudi Open presented by PIF at the same course earlier this season.
However he will not be the only one with a spring in his step as Catlin won the tournament, the second of back-to-back events following his play-off victory over David Puig — sparked by a wonderful 59 — in Macau.
Uihlein said: “They will have the course a little longer which is going to be good to see, but it should be great. I had a good weekend there; I made the cut on the number and then had a good weekend so I have good memories. Let’s see.”
With 32 places available on the LIV Golf Promotions event from Dec. 12-14, there is plenty of competition to get into the top 40 of the rankings. South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers (32) and Ian Snyman (34) were big movers, thanks to T10 finishes in Qatar. Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines (16) and Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand (20) both moved into the top 20 after finishing T3 and T5 respectively at the weekend.
The LIV Golf Promotions event champion will secure a place on the roster for the 2025 season, while the top 10 will receive exemptions for all tournaments on The International Series schedule for next season.
Dubai Basketball star says he feels at home as UAE celebrates National Day
- The Latvian player previously played for NBA teams San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball star Davis Bertans, has expressed his deep admiration for the UAE, saying that since he and his family moved to Dubai earlier this year it is a place that has truly captured their hearts.
As the UAE marks the 53rd Eid Al-Etihad (UAE National Day) on Dec. 2, the Latvian is experiencing the celebrations for the first time since moving to the country. This follows an eight-year stint in the NBA, where he played for San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Charlotte Hornets.
Eid Al-Etihad represents a historic moment for the UAE, founded through the unification of the seven emirates and now home to people from around the world.
After four months in Dubai, Bertans has special praise for the country and the warm welcome he has received. He said: “The number one thing that I enjoy about the UAE is the safety. I feel so safe being here with my family and walking the streets. All the people are amazing and they’re really polite and they make sure that everyone around them is feeling great.
“The way they take care of you is special and it’s a country represented by different nationalities, so you get to find a wide selection of cuisine from anywhere in the world. It’s also sunny every day, which we all like. We haven’t tried Emirati cuisine yet but it’s one that is on my list for sure.”
He added: “The country also has great attractions. One of the first places that we visited since we arrived was the Green Planet and that was unbelievable because it was an indoor forest. The kids had a lot of fun and met the snakes and reptiles — it was new for them and they loved it.”
Bertans is part of a strong roster that is making history during Dubai Basketball’s inaugural season in Europe’s prestigious ABA League, with home games played at Coca-Cola Arena. The 32-year-old has been one of Dubai Basketball’s key players, scoring 64 points in six games. He said it was an honor to be among the first players to represent the club and he is eager to inspire the next generation.
He said: “We will always be remembered as the first players of Dubai Basketball and we’re definitely enjoying the experience. Although it’s a new team, we have had a strong attendance at Coca-Cola Arena and hopefully throughout the season we’ll get more people to enjoy the sport and become huge fans of Dubai Basketball.
“Basketball has become such a global sport and if you look at the NBA and EuroLeague, there are so many players from different countries. If one country has one player who has reached the highest level, it can inspire so many young kids to play and that would have a snowball effect where people would have dreams of being a professional. I think we can do that here at Dubai Basketball and show how much fun it is and make them fall in love with the game, just like we did when we were younger.”
As for the season ahead, Davis has set his sights on winning the ABA League Championship. His team is in a strong position, with a 7-2 record and sitting two points off the top spot.
He said: “Our number one goal is to win the ABA League. To bring the championship to Dubai would be something incredible and a historic moment for all.”
James Harden joins Stephen Curry as the only NBA players to reach 3,000 3-pointers
- Harden hit the milestone in the first half of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 126-122 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night
- Harden scored 43 points – his most as a Clipper – in a road win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday
INGLEWOOD, California: James Harden has joined Golden State’s Stephen Curry as the only NBA players to reach 3,000 career 3-pointers.
Harden hit the milestone in the first half of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 126-122 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. He hit three 3s in the first half and three more in the second half while leading the Clippers with 39 points.
“Another one of those accomplishments that you never take for granted,” Harden said. “The amount of work that I’ve put in — countless days and nights where I put the work in — a lot of people don’t see it but the results happen, so I’m just thankful.”
Harden just missed a triple-double, with nine rebounds and 11 assists.
The achievement finished off a standout week for the 35-year-old guard. Harden scored 43 points — his most as a Clipper — in a road win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, his 100th career game of 40 or more. He joined Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as the only players to do so.
“He had that first quarter against Washington where he reminded people, ‘Hey, I can still go out here and drop 40 on you real quick,’” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
The Clippers are 13-9 without superstar Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to play this season while managing ongoing inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.
Harden has been tasked with carrying a greater offensive load in Leonard’s absence as well as Paul George leaving as a free agent in the offseason. He has responded and at times, like against the Wizards, his efforts have recalled his prolific scoring years with the Houston Rockets.
Malone noted that Harden has matured and responded to what’s been asked of him as a point guard.
“He makes almost every key decision for their offense,” the coach said. ”He can beat you with his playmaking as well, and that shows you the talent, that shows you the quality of his game, where he’s not solely the scorer.”
Harden is also mentoring the team’s younger players, a role he describes as “very, very comfortable” for him.
“It’s easy for me just because I’ve been in this situation for a lot of my NBA career. Just helping guys as much as I can to where it makes the game a lot easier for them,” he said. “It’s really fun.”
Norman Powell said he and the other Clippers love to play with Harden because they know he’ll get them the ball.
“It’s difficult to see from afar,” Powell said, “but on the floor knowing when to attack, knowing when to get his shot off, when to get the guys open, the pass that he makes. He knows how to get guys open and to get the most out of the team.”
