Djokovic hot favorite for Australian Open ‘revenge’ mission

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic at a press conference with the winner's trophy after the final of the ATP Adelaide International tournament against Sebastian Korda of the US. (AFP)
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Updated 11 January 2023
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Djokovic hot favorite for Australian Open ‘revenge’ mission

  • Along with his ominous form, the cards look to have fallen Djokovic’s way this time

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times but a 10th title in Melbourne this month will be the most satisfying of all after his humiliating ban a year ago.

Twelve months ago the Serbian superstar, one of the finest men’s tennis players of all time, was at the center of a global firestorm as he fought deportation from Australia.

The 35-year-old’s refusal to get vaccinated against COVID sparked a high-profile legal battle which eventually saw him turfed out of the country on the eve of the Grand Slam.

In his absence his great rival Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open for a record 21st major crown.

Some people, including former world No. 1 Jim Courier, felt Djokovic was the victim of politics in what was an election year in Australia.

Djokovic, who was held for a while in an immigration detention center as the saga played out, now goes into next week’s showpiece as the red-hot favorite to win it.

If he does, it will be his 22nd Grand Slam title, tying him with Nadal at the top of the all-time men’s list.

Many in Australia were glad to see the back of Djokovic  in January 2022, but there are indications that public sentiment has softened since.

He enjoyed strong support from the crowd as he blew away the rest of the field last week to win in Adelaide for the 92nd ATP title of his career — level with the Spaniard Nadal.

“The support I have been getting in the last 10 days was something that I don’t think I’ve experienced too many times in my life,” Djokovic said after saving a match point in the final against Sebastian Korda on Sunday.

Last month, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a survey showed 30 percent of Australians now supported him being allowed into the country, up from 14 percent in January last year.

Along with his ominous form, the cards look to have fallen Djokovic’s way this time.

There are indications that age and injury are catching up with Nadal. The 36-year-old has lost six of his past seven matches stretching back to the US Open, where he went out in the last 16 to Frances Tiafoe.

Roger Federer is no longer in the picture, having retired last year, and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz — the new kid on the block — is out of Melbourne with injury.

Daniil Medvedev, the losing finalist in 2021 and 2022, is the most obvious threat aside from Nadal, having beaten Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final to win his lone major.

Djokovic though outclassed the Russian 6-3, 6-4 last week in the Adelaide semifinals and Medvedev has dropped to eighth in the world.

Mats Wilander, a former world No. 1 who won seven Grand Slam titles, believes Djokovic is “pretty heavy favorite” in Melbourne and will be doubly motivated by what happened last year.

“I don’t think that we have ever seen a more hungry tennis player in terms of wanting to get revenge or wanting to win matches,” the 58-year-old Swede told Eurosport.

“I don’t think anyone has ever been hungrier than Novak is going to be.”

But Patrick Mouratoglou, who was the long-time coach of the now-retired Serena Williams, warned that the emotions of his controversial deportation could catch up with Djokovic.

“It’s going to be tough for Novak in Australia, that’s for sure,” he said.

“He (is) going to carry a big emotional baggage. He’s been through so much, emotionally speaking. Nobody is immune.”

Speaking for the first time since setting foot back in Australia, Djokovic earlier this month admitted that the events of last year “stays with you for, I guess, the rest of your life.”

But after beating Korda for the Adelaide crown, he said he held no grudges.

“I couldn’t ask for a better preparation and lead-up to the Australian Open,” he said.

“I love playing in Australia. My results are a testament to that.”


Saudi-based Ivan Toney recalled to England squad by Tuchel

Updated 9 sec ago
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Saudi-based Ivan Toney recalled to England squad by Tuchel

LONDON: England manager Thomas Tuchel insists Ivan Toney “deserves” his surprise recall for the forthcoming internationals against Andorra and Senegal.
It is a first call-up for the 29-year-old since he left Brentford to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli last August.
Toney, who has scored 22 goals in 29 Pro League games for the Saudi champions, made the last of his six England appearances in the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.
“Ivan deserves to be with us, I think, and I’m convinced because he scored over 20 goals this season,” Tuchel said.
“He won a major title with the Asian Champions League, in goals and assists made a huge contribution.
“I thought, why not bring him over and let him travel to us? It’s a good occasion now to also test new players, see new players, meet Ivan first and see him in the environment.”
Tuchel has also given a first senior call-up to Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.
The Sierra Leone-born Chalobah has played 32 times for Chelsea this season as they chase Champions League qualification and target victory over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday.
“He played a fantastic second half of the season with Chelsea. He is very, very consistent on a very high level,” Tuchel said.
Manchester City star Phil Foden was left out just days after opening up about his mental health struggles.
Foden, who is struggling with an ankle injury, revealed his mental state has suffered throughout a difficult season for the forward.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was selected despite reports that he needs surgery on a shoulder problem after the Club World Cup.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher are among eight players in the squad who will also be involved in the Club World Cup in the United States.
England face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier in Barcelona on June 7 before a friendly with Senegal in Nottingham three days later.
The Club World Cup starts just five days after England’s second game of the international break.
“I could see the reasons for the players who go to the Club World Cup to maybe leave a bit earlier, to maybe change the squad,” Tuchel said.
“We had a good discussion over if we nominate the squad without Club World Cup players.
“Very quickly we understood that it’s also important for us. It’s only one year to go until the World Cup.
“So why send players away? We want to cherish and worship every day that we have together, and what signal will be sent to the group to send players away?“
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka are back in the international fold after injuries ruled them out of England’s wins over Albania and Latvia in World Cup qualifiers in March.
There was no place again for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, with Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke and West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen also left out.


Brighton leave out joint top-scorer Pedro from Spurs trip over training incident

Updated 8 min 6 sec ago
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Brighton leave out joint top-scorer Pedro from Spurs trip over training incident

  • Pedro did not play in Monday’s 3-2 win over champions Liverpool
  • “With Joao we had a small issue in training,” Huerzeler told reporters

LONDON: Brighton & Hove Albion will be without their joint top-scorer Joao Pedro when they visit Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with manager Fabian Huerzeler saying the Brazil striker has been left out due to a “small issue in training.”

Pedro, who equals Danny Welbeck with 10 league goals this season, did not play in Monday’s 3-2 win over champions Liverpool, with a report by The Athletic later attributing the 23-year-old’s absence to an altercation he had with a teammate during training.

“With Joao we had a small issue in training, a type which isn’t uncommon from time to time in all football clubs. We dealt with it internally and the matter is closed,” Huerzeler told reporters on Friday.

“Joao is an incredible football player. He is a match winner for us. That’s why we invested in him. But there are principles, there are values... they are non-negotiable.

“Joao is still a young player, and (there’s) still a lot of potential that he will grow. I’m sure he’ll learn from this and come back stronger next season.”

Pedro last played for Brighton on April 19, when he was sent off for flicking his hand into Brentford defender Nathan Collins’ face during a 4-2 loss, an act which got him a three-match suspension for violent conduct.

With ninth-placed Brentford three points below Brighton, a draw at Spurs will ensure Huerzeler’s men finish eighth, which could earn them a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League provided some other results go their way.


Alexander-Arnold ‘deserves’ his part in Liverpool title party: Slot

Updated 23 May 2025
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Alexander-Arnold ‘deserves’ his part in Liverpool title party: Slot

  • Arne Slot said Trent Alexander-Arnold “deserves” to be part of Liverpool’s title celebrations despite revealing he was unhappy with the defender’s performances in training at the start of the season

LIVERPOOL: Arne Slot said Trent Alexander-Arnold “deserves” to be part of Liverpool’s title celebrations despite revealing he was unhappy with the defender’s performances in training at the start of the season.
The England international announced his decision to quit his boyhood club earlier this month and is widely expected to join Real Madrid.
He was booed by Liverpool fans when he came on as a second-half substitute in last week’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield and did not play in the 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Monday.
Liverpool, who wrapped up the Premier League title last month with four games to spare, will be presented with the trophy after Sunday’s game against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
Slot was asked by reporters on Friday whether he had concerns that the celebrations would be overshadowed by an negative reaction to Alexander-Arnold.
He said he had yet to make a decision on the extent of the right-back’s involvement.
“I haven’t decided on that one yet but I think this should be a day that everybody is going to enjoy,” Slot said.
“It’s been 35 years everybody is waiting for this moment.”
Liverpool lifted the 2020 Premier League trophy behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions.
Slot, in his first season at Anfield, said celebrations after Liverpool sealed the title against Tottenham were special.
“I’m hoping that we can add a moment like this to it and I think everybody that’s in this stadium deserves to be there, the fans, the staff, but also the players,” he said.
“One of my players is Trent so he definitely deserves to be there as well because he’s been part of an incredibly successful season and an incredibly successful (few) years at this club.”


While Slot hopes Alexander-Arnold gets a fond farewell from fans, the Dutchman was critical about the right-back’s efforts in training during his early weeks as Liverpool manager.
“He’s going to leave either way so maybe it’s already a first gift I can give Xabi (Alonso, expected to be the new Real Madrid manager),” he said.
“But I wasn’t completely happy with every single minute how he was on the training ground. So, in my opinion, in certain moments he could do a bit more, to say it mildly.
“I said to him ‘You are a much better defender than everybody tells you, but unfortunately you don’t show it all the time’.”
Slot said he told Alexander-Arnold, 26, that if he was focused there were not many players that could go past him because he is “fast, he’s agile, he has a great mentality.”
“It’s about showing it every single game, because in this world we are judged not only on the 34 games we do well, we are mainly judged on the four games that we don’t do so well,” he said.


Al-Ain set to host fourth UAE National MMA Championship

Updated 23 May 2025
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Al-Ain set to host fourth UAE National MMA Championship

  • The event will take place on May 24-25 at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain

ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation will host the fourth UAE National MMA Championship at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain on May 24 and 25.

The event is expected to draw around 300 male and female athletes from across the UAE, representing various age categories and clubs.

The federation’s decision to organize the event in Al-Ain Region is part of an initiative to popularize mixed martial arts across the UAE. It also seeks to expand the sport’s grassroots base and provide a professional setting for young athletes to improve their technical and physical talents.

The championship features multiple divisions, including Youth D (ages 10–11), Youth C (ages 12–13), Youth B (ages 14–15), Youth A (ages 16–17), and the adult category (ages 18 and above), offering athletes a platform to compete, improve, and progress toward elite-level representation.

Mohammed Jassim Al-Hosani, a member of the federation’s Mixed Martial Arts Committee, said: “The UAE National MMA Championship, which has five rounds throughout the year, is vital to our championship calendar. Its growth in participation and geographic variety highlights the success of our nationwide development initiatives.

“Hosting this round in Al-Ain shows our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity for athletes nationwide. With the inclusion of the adults division, the championship’s intensity is increased, and athletes are exposed to a variety of competitive methods and skill sets.”


France’s Caroline Garcia says will retire from tennis

Updated 23 May 2025
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France’s Caroline Garcia says will retire from tennis

  • Caroline Garcia is an 11-time title winner on the WTA tour and former French Open women’s doubles champion

PARIS: France’s former world number four Caroline Garcia said on Friday she will retire from tennis, with the French Open starting this weekend her last time at Roland Garros.

An 11-time title winner on the WTA tour and former French Open women’s doubles champion, Garcia wrote on social media that she has “a few tournaments left” and will then call it quits.

“Dear tennis, it’s time to say goodbye,” the 31-year-old said.

“After 15 years competing at the highest level, and more than 25 years putting pretty much every second of my life into it, I feel ready to start a new chapter.”

Garcia has earned nearly $19 million in prize money and won the season-ending 2022 World Tour Finals, seen as the next rung down from Grand Slams.

That same year she won the French Open doubles title for the second time with compatriot Kristina Mladenovic.

Her best run in singles at a major was the semifinals of the US Open, also in 2022.

She reached a career-high four in the world but is now ranked 145th.

“My tennis journey hasn’t always been easy. Since my early days, tennis has been much more than just winning or losing. It’s been love or hate. Happiness or anger,” she wrote.

“But now it’s time for something else. My body and my personal goals need it.

“Still, this is not over — not just yet. I have a few tournaments left,” she said.

The first will be at Roland Garros when the tournament starts on Sunday.