Djokovic praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘love affair’ with tennis

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Updated 17 October 2024
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Djokovic praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘love affair’ with tennis

  • 24-time Grand Slam winner sees bright future for sport in the region
  • Star speaks to Arab News at Six Kings Slam now underway in Riyadh

RIYADH: Novak Djokovic believes Saudi Arabia’s “love affair” with tennis has the potential to grow the game in the region and globally.

Speaking with Arab News during the Six Kings Slam event currently underway in Riyadh, the 24-time Grand Slam winner reflected on how this type of tournament could inspire the next generation of players.

“We hope to attract attention from the younger audience ... so kids get inspired to grab a tennis racket and start playing,” he said during the Riyadh Season event which started on Wednesday and ends on Oct. 19.

The event is a part of Saudi Arabia’s larger ambition, under its Vision 2030 initiative, to become a key player in the global sports world, having already hosted high-profile events in football, Formula 1, boxing and mixed martial arts.

Djokovic underscored the importance of live events in creating a lasting impact, especially in regions where tennis is still emerging.

The Six Kings Slam also features Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, but for Djokovic it is more than just playing matches.

Djokovic views this as a critical moment, where top athletes like himself play a role in building a foundation for tennis in the Middle East. “The Kingdom is hosting some of the greatest sporting events in recent years, and tennis is part of that rise,” he said.

With legends including Nadal nearing the end of their careers and Roger Federer already retired, tennis is in the midst of a generational transition. As one of the sport’s enduring stars, Djokovic sees this as a pivotal period for the next wave of talent.

“The younger players like (20-year-old) Alcaraz and Sinner are already forming exciting rivalries.”

However, Djokovic is not stepping aside just yet. “I’m still fighting to be in the mix,” he added, acknowledging the fierce competition from the likes of Medvedev, Rune, and others.

He said these younger players bring skill and dynamic personalities that keep fans engaged. “The sport needs characters off the court, too,” he emphasized.

The Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, offering record-breaking prize money of $6 million for the winner, represents Saudi Arabia’s bold attempt to further embed itself into the global sports conversation.

Yet for Djokovic, the real victory lies in the sport’s long-term growth. “Tennis is bigger than any one player or generation. It’s about inspiring the next,” he said.

He added: “We all are ambassadors of this sport and we all are in love with this sport that is bigger than anybody. So, you know, of course we want to see it grow. We want to see it develop.

“And, you know, the Kingdom is in love with tennis, having a little love affair. I mean, last year, I played with Alcaraz here in Riyadh for the Riyadh Season. And now we have the Six Kings Slam, which is very promising.”

 


Buttler and Dawson shine as England beat West Indies in T20 opener

Updated 07 June 2025
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Buttler and Dawson shine as England beat West Indies in T20 opener

  • West Indies finished on 167-9, with Romario Shepherd caught on the final ball of the match

DURHAM, England: Former captain Jos Buttler scored a superb 96 off 59 balls, and Liam Dawson took four wickets on his international return, as England beat West Indies by 21 runs in the T20 series opener at Durham’s Riverside ground on Friday.
After making a 3-0 winning start to Harry Brook’s captaincy in the one-dayers, England kept the momentum in the shorter format with an innings of 188-6 after winning the toss and batting first.
West Indies finished on 167-9, with Romario Shepherd caught on the final ball of the match.
Buttler, in at number three with England 16-1 after Ben Duckett was caught by West Indies captain Shai Hope off Shepherd, brought up his half century from 25 balls in the eighth over.
He had earlier smashed three sixes and scooped a four from the first four balls of a devastating sixth over with Alzarri Joseph bowling.
The 34-year-old, who stepped down as white-ball captain last February following England’s group-stage exit from the Champions Trophy, continued to look like a man relieved of a heavy burden as he hit six fours and four sixes.
Needing just four for the century, he was out lbw to Joseph in the penultimate over.
The tally was Buttler’s highest T20 international score on home soil.
West Indies were 33-2 off 5.2 overs after losing Johnson Charles for 18, stumped by Buttler off Dawson, and Hope caught by Duckett, who repaid his own dismissal in like-for-like fashion, for three off debutant Matthew Potts.
England restricted the visitors to 44-2 at the end of the powerplay, compared to 78-1 at the same stage of the home innings.
Evin Lewis hit West Indies top score of 39 off 23 balls, before being caught by Brydon Carse with Jacob Bethell bowling.
Dawson, back in the side at 35 and playing his first England match since 2022, claimed his second and third wickets when Duckett caught Sherfane Rutherford (2) and Roston Chase (24) in quick succession.
The left-arm spinner wrapped up with a fourth wicket, for 20 runs from his four overs, by bowling Rovman Powell as West Indies slipped to 115-6 on a tough night in the north-east.


Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises

Updated 07 June 2025
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Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises

  • Italy was missing some regulars for its first qualifying match, while others failed to impress, including Mateo Retegui, the best Serie A scorer

Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the first time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Friday.
Haaland collected a through ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the box for the third goal three minutes before halftime.
It was his 41st goal in his 42nd match for Norway to the delight of the spectators at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, including King Harald V of Norway.
Haaland also scored when Moldova was beaten 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Norway remained perfect in qualifying after three games in Europe Group I.
Striker Alexander Sorloth received a precise pass from Antonio Nusa then beat Donnarumma with a left foot shot. Nusa, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, was a constant threat to the Italian defense. He left behind two defenders and doubled the advantage with a rising shot from inside the area.
Italy was missing some regulars for its first qualifying match, while others failed to impress, including Mateo Retegui, the best Serie A scorer.
Defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Mattia Gabbia, defensive midfielder Manuel Locatelli and forward Moise Kean were all injured while key center back Francesco Acerbi, who was meant to mark Haaland, turned down his callup.
Diego Coppola played center back in the three-man defensive line used by coach Luciano Spalletti that was not able to stop Norway.
Norway dominates, Italy in trouble
In the other Group I game, Israel won in Estonia 3-1 for a second win and second place.
The Azzurri are under pressure from the start of their qualifying after failing to reach the last two World Cups.
Winning the group is the only way to ensure direct qualification to next year’s tournament in North America. The second-placed team goes into the playoffs — the stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia and ruled out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.
A four-time World Cup champion, the only other time Italy didn’t qualify was for the 1958 edition.
Italy hosts Moldova on Monday when Norway will be in action at Estonia.
Croatia cruises, Belgium held
Croatia opened its qualifying with a 7-0 rout of minnow Gibraltar.
Mario Pašalić and Ante Budimir struck twice for Croatia within two minutes to break the deadlock after half an hour. In the second half, substitutes Andrek Kramaric and Franjo Ivanovis scored a couple each and Ivan Perisic piled on.
Croatia was runner-up in the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022.
In the same Group L, Adam Hložek and Patrik Schick each scored as the unbeaten Czech Republic beat Montenegro 2-0 for a third straight win.
Belgium was 1-0 up on a goal by defender Maxim De Cuyper but Ezgjan Alioski salvaged a draw for North Macedonia in a surprise in Group J.
Wales tops the group with seven points from three games after a 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein. North Macedonia was two points behind.
Europe to contribute a third of all teams
Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for the World Cup.
They will come from the winners of the 12 qualifying groups plus four from a playoff of the 12 group runners-up together with four best-ranked group winners in the Nations League that don’t finish first or second in the qualifying.
The group stage of European qualifying runs through November.


Sinner sets up Alcaraz French Open final with victory over Djokovic

Updated 07 June 2025
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Sinner sets up Alcaraz French Open final with victory over Djokovic

  • Sinner wrapped up an ultimately comfortable opening set with a hold to love, finished off by a backhand winner

PARIS: Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final after ending Novak Djokovic’s latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in the last four on Friday.
The world number one held off a battling Djokovic with an impressive 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) win on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach his first Roland Garros final.
“It was such a special occasion for me playing against Novak in the semifinal,” said the three-time Grand Slam champion, who is now on a 20-match winning streak in majors.
“I had to step up and play the best tennis I could. I’m very happy.”
Djokovic battled hard in a dramatic contest that lasted three hours and 16 minutes, but three missed set points late in the third set ultimately put paid to his hopes of a comeback.
Sinner, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, will be hoping to gain revenge on Alcaraz after losing to the Spaniard in five sets in the semifinals last year.
The Italian will be playing in a maiden Slam final not on hard courts after edging 5-4 ahead in his head-to-head record with Djokovic with his fourth successive victory over the 38-year-old.
Djokovic’s exit ensures that a sixth successive major title will be lifted by either Sinner or world number two Alcaraz, in what appears increasingly likely to be a permanent changing of the guard.
It will be the first Grand Slam final to be played between two men born in the 2000s.
Alcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner, including in the Italian Open final in May when Sinner returned from a three-month doping ban.
“Sunday is going to be very difficult, I know my head-to-head lately doesn’t look great against Carlos but let’s see what I can do,” said the 23-year-old.
Djokovic was bidding to become the first man to win a Slam with victories over all of the world’s top three players after beating Alexander Zverev in the quarters.
Instead, he will turn his attentions to his seventh attempt to break out of a tie with Margaret Court on 24 major titles at Wimbledon next month.
The top seed broke in the fifth game as Djokovic followed a netted backhand with an air-shot as a Sinner return skipped off the clay.
Sinner wrapped up an ultimately comfortable opening set with a hold to love, finished off by a backhand winner.
Djokovic was the better player at the start of the second set, but could not find a way through against an opponent who had not dropped serve since his opening-round win over France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
The Djokovic errors started to rack up in crucial points, although the three-time champion dug deep and broke Sinner when he was serving for a two-set lead.
Djokovic could not back up his break, though, despite leading 40-15 in the next game, and then received treatment from the trainer on his right leg.
Sinner closed out the set at the second time of asking courtesy of another battling hold that featured two aces, one from a second serve.
Djokovic called for the physio for lengthier treatment ahead of the third set.
He missed a break point in the fourth game, but refused to give in and eventually edged 5-4 in front on serve to put some pressure on Sinner.
A cacophony of noise greeted a brilliant rally that saw Djokovic bring up two set points.
Sinner fended them both off, and then a third, before Djokovic became incensed by a line call that didn’t go his way as the set headed toward a tie-break.
The end appeared nigh when Djokovic dumped the simplest of overheads into the net to gift Sinner a 3-0 edge in the breaker.
Sinner, who like Alcaraz has never lost a Grand Slam final, completed the job on his second match point as Djokovic netted.


Tuchel wants relentless energy in attack from England against Andorra

Updated 06 June 2025
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Tuchel wants relentless energy in attack from England against Andorra

  • England are top of Group K after two games with a perfect record while Andorra are bottom
  • Tuchel said England are fully committed to the qualifier where he wants “a win that is never in danger”

BARCELONA: England go into their World Cup qualifier against Andorra as heavy favorites but the players will find it challenging to find the energy to attack relentlessly after a long and gruelling season, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday.

England are top of Group K after two games with a perfect record while Andorra are bottom with two losses ahead of Saturday’s game in Barcelona.

Tuchel said England are fully committed to the qualifier where he wants “a win that is never in danger” but also said fans should not “over-expect” them to go all guns blazing right from the start of the game.

“It will be on us to get going, it is on us to keep the tempo high, to bring the attacking energy to the pitch and to do this in a relentless way,” Tuchel told reporters.

“I can fully understand that this is not the easiest time of the season for an international break. The players come from a long and tiring season and then again accepting the role to be responsible for the majority of the game can be demanding.

“But at the same time, what I feel from the group is that they are happy to be here. We are quite new together, it is our second camp and I have trust and belief that we will do what is necessary to get the result that we want.”

Tuchel said England have embraced the tag as huge favorites, promising an attacking lineup that will dominate possession while he is not looking to experiment by using this match as an audition for new players.

“The focus will be on the attacking patterns, on our hunger for and the reaction after ball losses, for the counter-pressing,” he added.

“These will be the main topics for tomorrow and this will then guide and demand the tactics.

“My thoughts are not so much whom can we see and what do we try. It’s more about the game plan since two days and who trains well... After a long season, putting players together from which we feel they have a connection and then they can show.”

Tuchel has also done his homework on Andorra, describing the European minnows as a well-drilled and well-organized side in a 5-4-1 formation.

“They don’t allow a huge amount of big chances,” the German coach said.

“So we need a mix between being patient and at the same time speed the game up, bring the speed to the game and try to never lose the focus.”


Saudis resume preparation for their Australia clash of the World Cup Asian qualifiers

Updated 06 June 2025
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Saudis resume preparation for their Australia clash of the World Cup Asian qualifiers

  • Tuesday’s match is the final round of the third stage of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
  • Head coach Herve Renard limited the session to a recovery workout at the team’s health club

JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian national football team resumed training on Friday at their Jeddah camp as they gear up for their AFC World Cup qualifier against Australia.

Tuesday’s match is the final round of the third stage of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On the field, head coach Herve Renard limited the session to a recovery workout at the team’s health club, involving all players following previous intensive training days.

Players Muhannad Al-Saad and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti have started their individual rehabilitation programs under the supervision of the fitness coach working their way back to full strength.

Following the recovery session, Renard gave the squad a period of free time, with players scheduled to regroup at the team’s camp later on Friday evening.

The Green Falcons will continue their training on Saturday with a closed-door session set to take place at the reserve pitch of King Abdullah Sports City at 7:00 p.m.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain 2-0 in Riffa to tee up a showdown with Australia for the second automatic spot in AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C.

Thursday’s win keeps Saudi third, three points behind Australia, although with a far inferior goal difference. The Socceroos stand at second place with 16 points from nine matches, having scored 14 goals and conceded 6.

The Green Falcons have so far bagged six goals and conceded the same with 13 points in third spot. They have to win 8-0 against Australia to climb up to second place and qualify directly, otherwise they move on to the next group phase.