Sports
Djokovic aims to ‘mess up’ Sinner-Alcaraz plans at US Open | The Express Tribune
NEW YORK:
Novak Djokovic is in the unfamiliar role of spoiler as he tries to get in the way of a third straight Grand Slam final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is the underdog going into Friday’s semi-final against Alcaraz but Djokovic is in no mood to concede to his much younger rival despite fears over his ageing body.
World number one and reigning US Open champion Sinner meanwhile is heavily fancied to beat Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and reach his fifth successive Grand Slam final.
AFP Sport takes a look at the men’s two semi-finals (x denotes seeding):
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x2) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x7)
Alcaraz has won 35 of his last 36 matches, storming into the semi-finals without dropping a set at Flushing Meadows.
Djokovic though beat him in four sets in the Australian Open quarter-finals this year and denied him gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 38-year-old Djokovic has reached the last four at all four majors this year but has found his hopes compromised by his health, retiring with injury in Melbourne and struggling physically in his Wimbledon loss.
While his strict nutritional regime and holistic approach, core to which is yoga and meditation, is well documented and key to his longevity, he is crossing his fingers he can still withstand the strain of a demanding two-week event.
“You know, nowadays (I am) more concerned than I have ever been,” Djokovic said of his physical state earlier in the tournament.
However, his mindset is as resolute as ever.
“I definitely am not going with a white flag on the court,” he said.
“Everybody is probably expecting and anticipating the finals between the two of them (Sinner and Alcaraz). I’m going to try to, you know, mess up the plans of most of the people.”
Alcaraz is eager to avenge his last two losses to Djokovic, who is 5-3 lifetime against the 23-year-old Spaniard.
“Novak, we all know Novak’s game… It doesn’t matter that he has been out of the Tour since Wimbledon,” said Alcaraz.
“I know I played a lot of times against him. I really want revenge. That’s obvious.”
Jannik Sinner (ITA x1) v Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x25)
Sinner is aiming to become the first man to successfully defend the US Open crown since Roger Federer won the last of five consecutive titles in 2008.
He has captured the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this season but lost to Alcaraz in an epic five-set battle in the French Open final.
Sinner has won his last 26 Grand Slam matches on hard courts and it will take a Herculean effort from Auger-Aliassime to upset the Italian top seed.
Auger-Aliassime has triumphed in two of three previous meetings but Sinner thrashed him for the loss of just two games in Cincinnati last month.
“It’s going to be completely different, because, you know, conditions here are different. He had some big wins, so big confidence boost for him,” said Sinner.
“Because (it’s a) Grand Slam, the energy and everything is going to be different.”
Auger-Aliassime has had to put his wedding plans to one side after making it to his second US Open semi-final.
The 25-year-old is in the last four of a Grand Slam for time since 2021 after matching that run at Flushing Meadows this fortnight.
“The biggest challenges are yet to come, but that’s what I live for, that’s what I train for,” said Auger-Aliassime.
He will likely have to postpone a wedding suit fitting scheduled for Monday and top of the to-do list is devising a gameplan to unseat Sinner.
“I mean, strengths and weaknesses… Jannik, not many strengths, huh? A lot of weaknesses in his game,” joked Auger-Aliassime.
“What to say about Jannik’s game? He’s been obviously untouchable at times.
“Honestly, the next match I’m not really going to focus on my opponent more than myself.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to host the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Muzaffarabad cricket stadium.
The announcement was made by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the PSL roadshow held at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Naqvi said that PCB has initiated steps to hold PSL fixtures at the Muzaffarabad stadium. He said the board is committed to preparing the venue to the highest standards.
“We are going to develop the Muzaffarabad cricket stadium in the best possible way,” he stated.
Naqvi added that Muzaffarabad already offers necessary facilities for international players, including high-quality five-star hotels.
He further noted that the initiative is not limited to PSL matches alone. “Along with PSL fixtures, other international matches will also be hosted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
However, the PCB chairman did not specify how many PSL matches will be staged in Muzaffarabad.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five franchises, is set for further expansion with the addition of two new teams from its upcoming 11th edition, set to be played next year.
With the upcoming additions, the PSL will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, bringing the total number of franchises to eight.
Sports
NFL fans clamor for Colin Kaepernick to get another chance as Colts’ quarterback situation spirals
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Colin Kaepernick has not played a down of football since the 2016 season with the San Francisco 49ers, but it didn’t stop some NFL fans from clamoring for his return to the gridiron.
Reports indicated Monday that Philip Rivers was going to work out for the Indianapolis Colts as the AFC South team’s season spirals out of control with all three of their quarterbacks hurt. Rivers played the 2020 season with the Colts and retired after that. He recently turned 44 and became a grandfather.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Eli Harold #58, Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest on the sideline, during the anthem, prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on Oct. 16, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
NFL fans suggested on social media that the Colts should give Kaepernick a look despite the quarterback being out of the league for nearly 10 years.
He has still held out hope that he would get another NFL shot, and his girlfriend made it clear as recently as August.
“All day, every day,” Nessa Diab told TMZ Sports over the weekend. “Nothing’s changed.”
She added that “of course” he still wants to play.
“It’s all up to the teams if they’ll let him,” she said.
Kaepernick, 38, last suited up for the during the 2016 season when he created a firestorm protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. He was 17-of-22 for 215 yards and a touchdown in his last NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Since then, teams have not been interested in Kaepernick enough to bring him onto their roster – even in training camp.
CHARGERS’ JUSTIN HERBERT HAS AWKWARD INTERACTION WITH SIDELINE REPORTER AFTER OT WIN
Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers drops back to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Kaepernick has also built up his social activist platform through Know Your Rights Camp and Kaepernick Publishing. He has compared the NFL Draft to a slave auction, called for the abolition of law enforcement and suggested the NFL has not taken meaningful steps to address social injustices.
Late last year, he admitted to NPR that he misses football and was still training in case a team called.
“I will forever miss it,” he told the outlet at the time while promoting his new children’s book “We Are Free You & Me.” “And I continue to train for it.
“At the end of the day, I don’t want to be in a position where I look back and have to question whether or not I gave it my all to try to pursue that. I will make sure that the reason I’m not playing is not because of my work ethic or commitment, but because I was held out of it.”
Kaepernick told Sky Sports he still believed he could lead a team to a Super Bowl.
“We’re still training, still pushing,” he said. “So hopefully. We’ve just got to get one of these team owners to open up.
Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. The offer ends on Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“It’s something I’ve trained my whole life for, so to be able to step back on the field, I think that would be a major moment, a major accomplishment for me. I think I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday said that investors expressed interest in acquiring ownership rights of two Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises during a roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
The roadshow helped the marquee league attract “unprecedented attention” at the iconic venue, widely regarded as the home of cricket, said PCB in a statement, adding a large number of investors attended and expressed interest in the two PSL franchises up for sale.
“PSL 11 has taken flight to new heights, capturing unprecedented attention in the home of cricket,” the PCB said in a statement.
“For the first time in history, a highly successful PSL roadshow was organised at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
“A large number of investors attended the London roadshow and expressed keen interest in purchasing two new teams.”
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi described the investors’ “strong” interest as a milestone that wasn’t only a positive development for the league but also an honour for the country.
“The strong interest in acquiring two PSL 11 teams is extremely positive and encouraging,” said Naqvi.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five franchises, is set for further expansion with the addition of two new teams in the upcoming 11th edition, set to be played next year.
With the upcoming additions, the PSL will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, bringing the total number of franchises to eight.
Florida designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood ‘terrorist groups’, sparking uproar
PCB decides to hold PSL matches at AJK’s Muzaffarabad stadium – SUCH TV
Middle East IPO boom fades amid competition from global markets
-
Entertainment1 week agoSadie Sink talks about the future of Max in ‘Stranger Things’
-
Sports1 week agoIndia Triumphs Over South Africa in First ODI Thanks to Kohli’s Heroics – SUCH TV
-
Fashion1 week agoResults are in: US Black Friday store visits down, e-visits up, apparel shines
-
Politics1 week agoElon Musk reveals partner’s half-Indian roots, son’s middle name ‘Sekhar’
-
Tech1 week agoPrague’s City Center Sparkles, Buzzes, and Burns at the Signal Festival
-
Sports1 week agoBroncos secure thrilling OT victory over Commanders behind clutch performances
-
Business7 days agoCredit Card Spends Ease In October As Point‑Of‑Sale Transactions Grow 22%
-
Entertainment1 week agoNatalia Dyer explains Nancy Wheeler’s key blunder in Stranger Things 5