Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz headline ATP Finals with defending champion Novak Djokovic out

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz headline ATP Finals with defending champion Novak Djokovic out
Defending champion Novak Djokovic withdrew on Tuesday due to an unspecified injury. (Reuters)
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Updated 07 November 2024
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Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz headline ATP Finals with defending champion Novak Djokovic out

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz headline ATP Finals with defending champion Novak Djokovic out
  • ATP Finals open Sunday without any members of the Big Three for the first time in nearly a quarter century
  • Big name missing is that of defending champion Novak Djokovic, who withdrew on Tuesday due to an unspecified injury

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are poised to add another entry into their rapidly developing rivalry when the ATP Finals open Sunday without any members of the Big Three for the first time in nearly a quarter century.
The top-ranked Sinner and No. 3 Alcaraz evenly split the year’s Grand Slam titles between them with two apiece and it would be fitting if the pair meet again in Turin.
And since Alcaraz was overtaken by Alexander Zverev in the rankings this week, the Spaniard could be placed in the same round-robin group as Sinner.
The draw for the eight-man event is scheduled for later Thursday.
After the round-robin stage, the top two finishers in each group advance to the semifinals.
The other qualifiers are: Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev.
The big name missing is that of defending champion Novak Djokovic, who withdrew on Tuesday due to an unspecified injury.
23 years since Djokovic, Federer and Nadal missed the finals
Not since 2001 has the finals been held without at least one of Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. This season also was the first since 2002 without at least one Grand Slam title for a member of that trio.
Djokovic has won the ATP Finals a record seven times. He beat Sinner for the title last year.
Federer, who announced his retirement in 2022, won the event six times after making his debut in 2002; Nadal, who is retiring after playing in the Davis Cup the week after finals, was the runner-up twice at the finals but never won it.
Sinner withdrew from last week’s Paris Masters due to a virus and showed up early in Turin for training.
“This is for me the main event of the end of the year,” Sinner said.
A final decision in Sinner’s doping case is still pending
As an Italian, Sinner will be the main focus of attention in Turin.
It’s the first time that Sinner will be playing at home since it was announced before his US Open title that he had tested positive in two separate drug tests earlier in the year.
A decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September and the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year.
Alcaraz has won all 3 of his official meetings with Sinner this year
Sinner opened this year by winning the Australian Open to become the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly a half-century — since Adriano Panatta raised the French Open trophy in 1976.
Alcaraz then claimed the French Open and Wimbledon titles to raise his career total to four Grand Slams.
Sinner responded by winning the US Open.
Alcaraz won all three official meetings with Sinner this year and holds a 6-4 advantage in their career head-to-head rivalry. Last month, Sinner beat Alcaraz in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
Zverev won in Paris last week and looks for a 3rd title at finals
The only two players in the field to have won the finals are Zverev and Medvedev.
Zverev won in London in 2018 and in Turin in 2021; while Medvedev triumphed in 2020 – the final year the event was held in London.
Zverev enters in solid form coming off a title at the Paris Masters.
Fritz is looking to add another big result after his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open; Ruud was a finalist in 2022; De Minaur is making his tournament debut; and Rublev is making his fifth straight appearance.
Biggest prize money on the men’s tour: $4.8 million
If a player wins all five of his matches en route to the trophy, he will earn $4.8 million – the largest winner’s prize on the men’s tour.
That’s significantly more than what Sinner and Alcaraz earned for their victories at the US Open ($3.6 million) and Wimbledon (2.7 million pounds or $3.45 million) this year.


Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla

Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla
Updated 22 sec ago
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Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla

Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla
  • Muhannad Alsalmi completed the race in 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds
  • Emirati riders Abdullah Al-Amri and Saif Al Mazrouei won 2nd and 3rd places, respectiv

ALULA: Saudi equestrian Muhannad Alsalmi topped the 120-kilometer Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla on Saturday, beating 200 riders from 64 countries around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Alsalmi completed the race in 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds, for an average speed of 23.6 kilometers per hour, according to the report.

Taking the second spot was Emirati rider Abdullah Al-Amri, who clocked 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 43 seconds. Another Emirati rider, Saif Al Mazrouei, claimed third place with a time of 13 hours, 9 minutes, and 29 seconds.

The winners received their prizes from Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and head of the Sports Sector at the Royal Commission for AlUla, during the award ceremonies.

Held at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla, the event took place amid a fiercely competitive atmosphere. Recognized as one of the premier endurance races globally, the competition boasted a total prize pool of SAR15 million, the largest of its kind in this category.

The championship continues on Sunday, with 100 riders competing in the 160-kilometer Al-Mutadil Endurance race for a SAR5 million prize pool.

Last month, the picturesque ancient city located in Saudi Arabia's western region of Madinah hosted the AlUla Trail Race, with some 1,450 athletes from around the world competing.

 

 


Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton

Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton
Updated 09 February 2025
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Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton

Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton
  • Chelsea haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2018 and their wait will go on for another season after they blew the lead at the Amex Stadium
  • Newcastle came from behind to win 3-2 against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s

LONDON: Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma sent Chelsea crashing out of the FA Cup as the Japan star sealed a 2-1 win in the fourth round, while Kevin De Bruyne spared Manchester City’s blushes in their 2-1 victory at third-tier Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Chelsea haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2018 and their wait will go on for another season after they blew the lead at the Amex Stadium.

Enzo Maresca’s side were gifted the lead in the fifth minute when Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen fumbled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net.

It was a horrendous mistake but Chelsea failed to press home their advantage.

Thrashed 7-0 at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last weekend, Brighton bounced back impressively from the second worst defeat in the club’s 123-year history.

They equalized in the 12th minute as Joel Veltman’s cross reached Georginio Rutter, who found space between Chelsea defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo to flick a header into the far corner.

And Brighton completed their fightback in the 57th minute when Mitoma clipped a deft finish past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez despite the visitors’ claim for handball.

“I think the handball is quite clear. Without VAR it’s complicated,” Maresca said.

“The second half the only shots they had we conceded a goal from. We had a few chances at 2-1. But you have to take the consequence of the result.”

At Brisbane Road, Manchester City were rocked when Jamie Donley’s long-range effort came back off the bar and rebounded in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to give Orient an early lead.

The English champions finally drew level after 56 minutes when Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov deflected in Rico Lewis’s shot for his first goal since signing for City from Lens in the January transfer window.

City boss Pep Guardiola had to turn to his bench more than he would have liked just four days before a mammoth Champions League play-off round first leg against Real Madrid.

But the introduction of De Bruyne made the difference as the Belgian midfielder scored 11 minutes from time.

“It was a typical FA Cup game, that is why this competition is unbelievable. For the fans, how the crowd support and we knew they are strong,” said Guardiola, who saw deadline day signing Nico Gonzalez hobble off injured in the first half of his debut.

Newcastle came from behind to win 3-2 against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s.

Birmingham led after 42 seconds through Ethan Laird’s deflected strike.

A quickfire double from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson turned the tie in Newcastle’s favor, but Tomoki Iwata’s blistering strike levelled before half-time for the League One leaders.

Newcastle, though, rounded off a fine week after reaching the League Cup final on Wednesday as Willock restored their lead on 82 minutes.

Bottom of the Premier League and seemingly destined for relegation, Southampton got no respite in the FA Cup as Burnley won 1-0 at St. Mary’s.

Scott Parker’s team went in front after 77 minutes when Marcus Edwards scored from close range on his debut after signing on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

It is almost 600 minutes since Championship promotion chasers Burnley last conceded a goal, with 10 clean sheets in their last 11 games.

“We were unlucky to lose to a scrappy goal. We did lots of good things and created lots of opportunities,” Southampton boss Ivan Juric said.

In the last FA Cup tie at Goodison Park, Everton, who are moving to a new stadium next season, were beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Dan Jebbison.

Rodrigo Muniz scored twice as Fulham won 2-1 at League One Wigan.

Ipswich, second bottom of the Premier League, swept to a 4-1 win against Frank Lampard’s Coventry.

Millwall reached the fifth round for the first time since 2018-19 thanks to Femi Azeez’s double in a 2-0 win at Championship leaders Leeds.


Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur

Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur
Updated 09 February 2025
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Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur

Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur
  • Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world No. 3 overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win
  • De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win

ROTTERDAM: Carlos Alcaraz scraped his way into the final of the Rotterdam Open on Saturday with a hard-fought and entertaining three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz.

Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world No. 3 overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win to set up a clash with Australia’s Alex de Minaur in Sunday’s final.

“It was a very tight first set. I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight every ball, every point,” said Alcaraz.

“I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off,” he added.

Alcaraz got off to a slow start, broken to love in his very first service game and allowing Hurkacz to race into a 3-0 lead in the first set.

He faced another break point in his next service game but saved it with a glorious crosscourt forehand and managed to hold onto serve.

Alcaraz survived another three break points and then fought his way back into the match with a break of his own, seizing the game with a forehand smash after a lengthy rally.

The momentum shifted in the Spaniard’s favor and a double-fault from Hurkacz gave the top seed the opportunity to serve out the set.

Again Hurkacz had the opportunity to break, but Alcaraz held firm and sealed the set with a forehand drive volley winner.

After the topsy-turvy first set, the second proceeded more conventionally, on serve until the tie-break.

The tie-break was also nip and tuck, both players squandering chances to seize the advantage.

But a double-fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up gave Hurkacz an opportunity, and the Pole needed no second invitation, taking the set as the Spaniard netted a simple backhand groundstroke.

The decisive set started the same way as the first, with an early break of serve — this time to Alcaraz who brought the crowd to its feet.

That eventually proved enough to break the Polish resistance, as Hurkacz failed to make inroads into the Alcaraz serve.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Alcaraz booked his place in his 22nd ATP tour final with a trademark forehand winner up the line.

“I want to be the first Spanish player to be able to win this tournament. I’m going to go for it. I’m really happy to be able to play a final in Rotterdam,” said the 21-year-old.

In Saturday’s first semifinal, De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win.

De Minaur was too consistent for the error-prone Bellucci, who was unable to repeat his earlier heroics against Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, going down 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m very happy with the level today,” said De Minaur.

“He’s been playing with a lot of confidence this whole week, so I knew it was going to be a very tough battle,” added the third-seeded Australian.

Runner-up last year to world number one Jannik Sinner, De Minaur has enjoyed comfortable passage to the final, winning all his matches in straight sets.

“The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here. So hopefully I can get a title this time,” he said.


Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings

Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings
Updated 09 February 2025
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Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings

Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings
  • For Rob Gronkowski, the former Patriots tight end who won four Super Bowls, there is no question that the Chiefs still have some way to go to better New England’s legacy
  • What is beyond discussion is that a Chiefs victory will make them the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row

NEW ORLEANS: If Patrick Mahomes can lead the Kansas City Chiefs to an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory when they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, expect the debate over the NFL’s greatest-ever dynasty to heat up.

On the face of it, the Chiefs still have some way to go to catch what is widely recognized as the greatest dynasty — the New England Patriots in the era of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.

That pairing delivered six Super Bowl titles while the partnership of head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes will claim their fourth if they can overcome the Eagles and their powerful running game.

But a case can be made that the Patriots dynasty was in fact two separate periods, given there was a decade gap between their 2004 triumph over the Eagles in Jacksonville and their 2014 victory against Seattle in Arizona.

However, even in the 10 years without a Super Bowl win, the Patriots were a near-constant challenger — reaching the Super Bowl twice and never missing out on the playoffs.

For Rob Gronkowski, the former Patriots tight end who won four Super Bowls with Brady and Belichick, there is no question that the Chiefs still have some way to go to better New England’s legacy.

“I don’t think they’re closing in on everything we’ve accomplished in our dynasty because it was over two decades. You had that first dynasty decade, from like 2002-2010... then it trickled into the second decade,” he told the Rich Eisen Show.

Gronkowski, though, generously acknowledged that the Chiefs have done something unique.

“What they’ve done over the last 10 years, I believe, (is) the best decade of dominance from a dynasty, especially if they get the three-peat,” he said.

There is, however, a tendency for recency bias in such evaluations and it’s worth remembering that while the NFL may be set up to avoid long-lasting dynasties, via the NFL Draft and roster rules, there were several dynasties before Belichick and Reid came along.

The Dallas Cowboys with quarterback Troy Aikman won three Super Bowls in four years in the early 1990s and the 1980s belonged to the San Francisco 49ers, who won four titles over nine years.

Before that, from the mid-1970s, the Pittsburgh Steelers led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw twice won back-to-back Super Bowls.

The Green Bay Packers under legendary coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s won the NFL crown five times, but because only the last two of those wins are counted as Super Bowls, the achievements of the Wisconsin club appear to be forgotten or undervalued by some.

The Packers actually achieved a ‘three-peat’ winning three straight, pre-Super Bowl NFL championships from 1965 to 1967.

What is beyond discussion is that a Chiefs victory will make them the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row.

But all the talk of dynasties and ‘three-peats’ will simply be fuel to fire up an Eagles team who are in no mood to just become a statistic.

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has sensed a determination among the Philadelphia players.

“The Chiefs are going for the three-peat but I will say this: There’s definitely a chip on the shoulder of the Eagles. They lost this game two years ago. I don’t think that sits very well with them right now.

“And I think they’re a better team this year than they were two years ago.”


Mbappe secures Real Madrid derby draw against Atletico

Mbappe secures Real Madrid derby draw against Atletico
Updated 09 February 2025
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Mbappe secures Real Madrid derby draw against Atletico

Mbappe secures Real Madrid derby draw against Atletico
  • Real Madrid lead second-place Atletico by a single point, with Barcelona, third, given the chance to cut the gap on the top two when they face Sevilla on Sunday

MADRID: Kylian Mbappe secured Real Madrid a 1-1 draw against rivals Atletico Madrid which kept Los Blancos top of La Liga on Saturday.
Julian Alvarez dinked home a controversial first half penalty for Atletico but Mbappe was in the right place at the right time to bundle home early in the second half on his first appearance in the tense derby clash.
Real Madrid lead second-place Atletico by a single point, with Barcelona, third, given the chance to cut the gap on the top two when they face Sevilla on Sunday.
“We have to continue on this path, we’re there in the fight and we will continue there until the end,” Alvarez told Movistar.
“I can’t say I wasn’t a bit nervous (with the penalty), but I was sure, I knew what I would do, and it was a great goal for the team.”
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to deploy his four key attacking players in Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes, in lieu of a more conservative approach.
The star names got stuck in, not always a given in a defensive sense, and the first half was a hard-fought, intense battle with few clear openings for either side.
Vinicius dragged a shot wide midway through the first half when he found a rare sight of goal for the hosts.
Atletico were upset when Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos was only booked for an ugly challenge on Pablo Barrios, but it was the hosts who were left raging when referee Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot.
Aurelien Tchouameni, covering at center-back for Madrid with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao out among others, clumsily trod on Samuel Lino’s foot in the box.
After a VAR review Soto Grado awarded a controversial penalty to Madrid’s frustration, with the incident happening after the ball had run past the duo.
Los Blancos attacked Spanish refereeing earlier in the week after they were upset by a decision in a shock defeat last weekend, bringing heavy scrutiny on the officials ahead of the derby.
Alvarez took the penalty, the first given against Madrid in La Liga this season, and cheekily executed a Panenka down the middle.
“Corruption in the federation,” chanted Real Madrid fans in response, buying into their club’s stance.
Madrid pulled level early in the second half when Rodrygo broke loose on the right of the box and crossed for Bellingham.
The England international’s shot was blocked but Mbappe was on hand to turn home the rebound and score on his first Madrid derby appearance.
Bellingham twice came close to putting Madrid ahead, nodding against the crossbar from Vinicius’ cross and then heading straight at Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak from a similar position, kicking the post in frustration.
Madrid played with far more fluidity in the second half and pegged Atletico back, forcing coach Diego Simeone into some defensive-minded changes, including withdrawing his son Giuliano who had a quiet game on the right wing.
Oblak made a smart save to deny Vinicius after the Brazilian winger burst through the gap between two Atletico defenders and pulled the trigger from a tight angle.
The Slovenian goalkeeper also managed to keep out a dangerous free-kick from Rodrygo which was intended as a cross but almost flew in at the far post.
Oblak made a brave low stop from Mbappe in the 90th minute after Fede Valverde sent the French forward in behind the defense, and the two sides were left with a point apiece.