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Azarenka beats ‘fears of failing’ for first Melbourne semi in 10 years

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10 months ago

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Melbourne: Victoria Azarenka reached her first Australian Open semi-final since successful the title in 2013, then opened up Tuesday about overcoming “nervousness” and “fears of failing” on courtroom.

The Belarusian, who received back-to-back Australian Opens in 2012 and 2013, knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday.

The twenty fourth seed outlasted her American opponent in a marathon 64-minute first set earlier than operating away with the second to arrange a last-four encounter towards Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at Melbourne Park.

Requested about her battles with nerves and nervousness, Azarenka detailed what she had been by means of lately and the way it had held her again from successful one other main.
“I don’t assume you recognise it instantly. I believe it builds up till you hit sort of a fairly dangerous spot the place nothing sort of is smart,” she advised reporters.

“You are feeling sort of misplaced. I used to be on the level the place I couldn’t discover something that I be ok with myself, not like even one sentence.”

Requested what her largest worries have been, Azarenka gave a blunt reply.

“Fears of failing is an enormous one. To not be capable of do what I need to do,” she mentioned. “I’ve had panic assaults earlier than.”

The Belarusian mentioned she now has a course of to manage when the nerves rear up, and she or he has lower a noticeably calmer determine at Melbourne Park this 12 months.

“I sort of tried to take it extra easy. Type of working by means of it,” mentioned the 33-year-old Azarenka.

“I’m fairly joyful that the method that I’m going by means of makes me really feel assured about myself, joyful about myself, and helps me to be extra open, be extra accepting, be compassionate.

“‘Compassionate’ was a really exhausting phrase for me to grasp.”

Pegula was in her third Australian Open quarter-final and had by no means reached the semi-finals of a Slam in 4 earlier makes an attempt, failing to win a set in any of them.
It was a sorry statistic that was to be prolonged beneath the roof at Rod Laver Enviornment.

“Effectively, it hurts to beat her as a result of I at all times need her to do properly,” mentioned Azarenka, who’s shut buddies with Pegula.

“At present I knew I’ve to play quick, I’ve to not give her alternative to step in, I’ve to combine it up as a result of in case you don’t there’s no person higher than Jess, she simply doesn’t miss.”

Pegula was instantly put beneath the pump by the relentless groundstrokes of her opponent.

“I believe she did precisely what she needed to do,” a downcast Pegula advised reporters.

“She was simply executing it I really feel fairly properly tonight. Hitting the ball deep, taking it early, altering the path on the ball, doing issues that I normally love to do to folks.”

Azarenka sped into an early 3-0 lead then pressured Pegula to save lots of six break factors in an attritional 10-minute fourth sport. She saved two set factors on her serve to get to 3-5, two extra within the subsequent sport, broke again to 4-5 however finally succumbed after 64 relentlessly bodily minutes.

Early breaks have been exchanged within the second set earlier than Azarenka made the decisive transfer.

She broke for 3-1 and held her personal service sport, with an more and more pissed off Pegula complaining to her participant’s field.

“I don’t know what to do. The ball’s not going wherever,” she mentioned.

Serving for the match, Azarenka introduced up two match factors however solely wanted one as she powered by means of in 1hr 33min.

She mentioned she was “excited” to face the “huge problem” of getting previous Wimbledon champion Rybakina to succeed in the ultimate.

“She’s an unbelievable participant,” mentioned Azarenka.

“Her rating clearly doesn’t inform the total story.

“She’s very highly effective. Large serve. She’s within the semi-final, so she’s clearly enjoying wonderful.

“It’s going to be an enormous problem. I’m enthusiastic about that.”

 

 

 

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India’s dream run ends in despair as Australia win sixth World Cup title

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1 week ago

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November 20, 2023

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  • The win is the acme of success this 12 months, says Pat Cummins

AHMEDABAD: Australia received the Cricket World Cup for a record-extending sixth time Sunday, ending India’s dominant run in its residence event with a six-wicket victory in a low-scoring last on the again of Travis Head’s 137.

A closely partisan crowd contained in the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium was silenced as Head mixed with Marnus Labuschagne (58 not out ) in a 192-run partnership to chase down the goal of 241.

Australia was wobbling on 47-3 after seven overs however Head and Labuschagne dug in to assist their nation regain its standing because the king of one-day worldwide cricket, including to its 50-over world titles in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.

Head was dismissed off what proved to be the next-to-last ball of the match, caught within the deep whereas trying to hit a title-clinching boundary. In got here Glenn Maxwell and he ran two off his first ball, securing a victory that prompted fireworks above the world’s largest cricket venue.

The Indians received all 10 of their matches earlier than the ultimate and had been searching for a 3rd trophy of their fourth look in a title match that introduced a rustic of 1.4 billion folks to a digital standstill. They had been outplayed in each division by Australia, although, restricted to 240 all out on a gradual pitch after dropping the toss with solely Virat Kohli (54) and Lokesh Rahul (66) making half-centuries.

Head grew to become solely the seventh participant to attain a century in a males’s World Cup last – and third Australian after Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist – and delivered a big second in India’s innings when taking a diving catch operating again from cowl to take away captain Rohit Sharma (47).

“What an incredible day, I’m simply thrilled to be part of it,” Head mentioned afterward. “It’s lots higher than sitting on the sofa at residence, I’m very fortunate that every thing went nicely and I used to be capable of get again right here.”

Head had began the event sidelined by a damaged left hand.

“I used to be slightly bit nervous, however Marnus performed distinctive and it was simply an incredible partnership. It’s good to be part of it, good to play a task, and it’s going to be an incredible couple of days now,” Head mentioned. “To have the ability to try this on the large stage, in entrance of a giant crowd, it’s fairly particular and one thing that I’ll be completely satisfied to look again on later in my life. It’s good to be right here and good to contribute.”

Head’s ton noticed him be a part of an illustrious checklist, which additionally contains West Indies’ Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, in addition to Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene.

Ponting’s 140 not out had additionally helped Australia beat India within the 2003 last. Jayawardene’s century is the one one in a dropping trigger with India successful the 2011 last.

Australia completed the 2023 event with a run of 9 straight wins, after beginning with back-to-back defeats to India and South Africa.

India received the World Cup in 1983 and 2011. Its final main success was successful the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.

Scoreboard

INDIA INNINGS: Rohit Sharma c Head b Maxwell 47 (31b, 4×4, 3×6), Shubman Gill c Zampa b Starc 4 (7b), Virat Kohli b Cummins 54 (63b, 4×4), Shreyas Iyer c Inglis b Cummins 4 (3b, 1×4), Okay.L. Rahul c Inglis b Starc 66 (107b, 1×4), Ravindra Jadeja c Inglis b Hazlewood 9 (22b), Suryakumar Yadav c Inglis b Hazlewood 18 (28b, 1×4), Mohammed Shami c Inglis b Starc 6 (10b, 1×4), Jasprit Bumrah lbw b Zampa 1 (3b), Kuldeep Yadav run out 10 (18b), Mohammed Siraj (not out) 9 (8b, 1×4); Extras (lb-3, w-9): 12.

Complete (in 50 overs): 240.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-30 (Gill, 4.2 overs), 2-76 (Rohit, 9.4), 3-81 (Shreyas, 10.2), 4-148 (Kohli, 28.3), 5-178 (Jadeja, 35.5), 6-203 (Rahul, 41.3), 7-211 (Shami, 43.4), 8-214 (Bumrah, 44.5), 9-226 (Suryakumar, 47.3).

AUSTRALIA BOWLING: Starc 10-0-55-3, Hazlewood 10-0-60-2, Maxwell 6-0-35-1, Cummins 10-0-34-2, Zampa 10-0-44-1, Marsh 2-0-5-0, Head 2-0-4-0.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS: David Warner c Kohli b Shami 7 (3b, 1×4), Travis Head c Gill b Siraj 137 (120b, 15×4, 4×6), Mitchell Marsh c Rahul b Bumrah 15 (15b, 1×4, 1×6), Steve Smith lbw b Bumrah 4 (9b, 1×4), Marnus Labuschagne (not out) 58 (110b, 4×4), Glenn Maxwell (not out) 2 (1b); Extras (b-5, lb-2, w-11): 18.

Complete (for 4 wkts. in 43 overs): 241.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-16 (Warner, 1.1), 2-41 (Marsh, 4.3), 3-47 (Smith, 6.6), 4-239 (Head, 42.5).

INDIA BOWLING: Bumrah 9-2-43-2, Shami 7-1-47-1, Jadeja 10-0-43-0, Kuldeep 10-0-56-0, Siraj 7-0-45-1.

 



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Djokovic eyes ATP finals file after last-four demolition of Alcaraz

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1 week ago

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November 19, 2023

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TURIN, ITALY: Novak Djokovic closed in on a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title after sweeping previous Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 in a dominating semi-final show he hailed as his better of the match.

World primary Djokovic will face residence favorite Jannik Sinner on Sunday within the last in Turin, because the 36-year-old makes an attempt to cap an age-defying yr with one more main triumph.

“The most effective match of the match for me, for sure. It got here at proper time actually, after spending a variety of hours on the court docket within the first three matches,” stated Djokovic.

“Tonight, from the very starting, I felt the ball properly. I approached the match with the precise angle, the precise mentality.”

The Serb got here into the Finals on the finish of a yr which has introduced three Grand Slams, taking his whole to an all-time better of 24, and a fortieth Masters 1000 title.

Now solely Sinner stands between Djokovic and victory, which might take him previous his outdated foe and retired nice Roger Federer for season-ending match titles.

Sunday’s last guarantees to be a tricky proposition for Djokovic as he misplaced to Sinner within the group stage and should take care of a partisan Italian crowd that, unusually for him, received’t be on his aspect.

“He’s been enjoying incredible tennis, arguably the very best tennis of his life. On this stage, towards high 10 gamers,” added Djokovic.

“We performed a really tight match the opposite evening, the ambiance was electrical. I don’t count on something lower than what we had within the group stage matchup.”

Djokovic now has the higher of his 5 matches with Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who at 20 is already a two-time Grand Slam winner and was bidding to grow to be the youngest finalist since Pete Sampras received the title again in 1991.

Saturday’s match didn’t dwell as much as the earlier 4 dramatic clashes nonetheless, as Djokovic placed on a present of pressure which put pretender Alcaraz firmly in his place.

 

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Patrons Aibak Polo Cup: Newage/Grasp Paints, DP rating contrasting victories

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1 week ago

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November 19, 2023

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LAHORE: Newage Cables/Grasp Paints recorded an in depth victory in opposition to DS Polo/Sheikhoo Metal, whereas Diamond Paints (DP) delivered a commanding efficiency to conquer Pebble Breaker within the Patrons Aibak Polo Cup 2023 matches at Lahore Polo Membership grounds on Sunday.

The opening match of the day witnessed Newage Cables/Grasp Paints clinching an 8-6½ win in opposition to DS Polo/Sheikhoo Metal. Hamza Mawaz Khan showcased distinctive expertise, contributing seven spectacular objectives, with Adnan Jalil Azam including the essential eighth purpose for Newage Cables/Grasp Paints. On the opposing aspect, Nicholas Roberts scored 4 objectives, whereas Daniyal Sheikh and Lt Col (R) Omer Minhas every struck one purpose for DS Polo/Sheikhoo Metal.

The second match unfolded as a one-sided affair, with Diamond Paints (DP) overpowering Pebble Breaker with a convincing 12-4½ victory. Bilal Hayat Midday and Raja Temur Nadeem performed stellar polo, every securing 4 improbable objectives, whereas Mir Shoaib Ahmed and Saqib Khan Khakwani contributed two objectives every to Diamond Paints’ dominant efficiency.

Ahmed Zubair Butt scored a brace for Pebble Breaker, with Abdul Rehman Monnoo and Agha Musa Ali Khan including one purpose every. The matches drew a big crowd of households and spectators who loved the thrilling encounters on the vacation (Sunday). The joy continues on Tuesday with two pivotal matches scheduled on the Lahore Polo Membership grounds.

 

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