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Djokovic cautious of semi-final underdog in quest for twenty second Slam title

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MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic has received all 9 of his Australian Open semi-finals and isn’t able to let Tommy Paul wreck his unblemished report on Friday as he closes in on a twenty second Grand Slam crown.

The Serb, who received his first Slam at Melbourne Park in 2008, struggled bodily within the early rounds this yr with a hamstring damage.

However straight-sets thrashings of Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev for the lack of simply 12 video games ominously signalled that the favorite is again to his finest for the semi-finals.

Ought to he beat the unseeded American Paul on Rod Laver Enviornment, he’ll face both third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov as a closing roadblock to a tenth Australian Open title on Sunday.

Djokovic has further motivation to go all the best way and equal Rafael Nadal’s twenty second Grand Slam crowns after lacking final yr’s occasion when he was deported over his Covid vaccination stance. In his absence, the Spanish nice received.

“I at all times attempt to give my finest, significantly in Grand Slams, as a result of at this stage of my profession, these are the tournaments that depend probably the most,” stated the 35-year-old.

“However you would say that there’s something further this yr. You can say as a result of, yeah, the damage, what occurred final yr, I simply wished to actually do effectively.

“Up to now I’ve an ideal rating in Australian exhausting courts, in Adelaide (which he received) and right here. I’ve been enjoying higher and higher. I couldn’t ask for a greater scenario to be in in the meanwhile.”

With Djokovic on a 26-match win streak on the Australian Open — equalling Andre Agassi’s Open-era report on the first Grand Slam of the yr — the Thirty fifth-ranked Paul is a heavy underdog.

The 25-year-old is a shock semi-finalist, making this far at a significant for the primary time on the 14th try.

“We by no means performed a match towards one another. Clearly, he’s fairly snug right here in Australia,” Paul stated.

“It’s going to be a difficult match, however I’m enjoying a few of my finest tennis, so it’s time.”

Djokovic stated he had been monitoring the American and wouldn’t underestimate the problem.

“He’s been enjoying in all probability the tennis of his life,” he stated. “Very explosive, very dynamic participant. I believe he can hit all of the spots with the serve. Very full participant.

“First semi-finals for him, so in fact he doesn’t have a lot to lose.”

‘Magical experiences’

Tsitsipas meets Khachanov within the different last-four showdown on Friday, aiming to snap a run of three semi-final losses in Melbourne, together with over the previous two years.

Now 24, he believes he has matured and that this might lastly be his yr as he bids to turn out to be the youngest champion since Djokovic received the title in 2011 aged 23.

“I’m feeling nice with my tennis. I don’t suppose I felt so good in a very long time,” the Greek stated.

“I’ve stated it — I’m a special participant (from the previous), enjoying completely different. My mentality is completely different.”

He has received all 5 earlier encounters with Khachanov, most lately on the Rome Masters final yr, and stated he was desirous to face the Russian once more.

“It’s a match that I’m trying ahead to,” he stated. “I’m trying forward for extra, for higher. Trying to create some magical experiences right here in Australia.”

The 26-year-old Russian additionally made the semi-finals at September’s US Open.

He has now made the quarters or higher in any respect 4 Grand Slams and can draw on the expertise when he performs the Greek star.

“I believe the primary semi-finals, which I did in US Open, that gave me an additional increase and additional confidence to point out the place I actually am, and what I can do once I’m at my finest,” he stated. “I believe all these issues collectively, they push me to the place I’m proper now.”

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

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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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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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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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