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Djokovic narrows focus in pursuit of 25th Grand Slam | The Express Tribune
NEW YORK,:
Former tennis world number one Novak Djokovic says the expansion of most ATP Masters 1000 events to 12 days makes them “just way too long for me” as he focuses on his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.
“To be quite frank with you, I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore,” Djokovic said Friday as he spoke to reporters before the Sunday start of the US Open — the last Grand Slam of 2025.
“It’s just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the Slams, and I have said that before.”
“But I also like other tournaments. I’d like to play more of the other tournaments, but I just, we have currently informally, unofficially, 12 Grand Slams a year when you think about it.”
“Grand Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well.”
At 38, the former world number one says his priorities have changed in the latter stages of his career.
“I’m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera,” Djokovic said. “I just don’t think about it anymore.”
“For me, it’s really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play?”
With family now at the forefront of his life, Djokovic said, he is less willing to miss out on major personal milestones.
He noted that his daughter’s birthday falls on September 2, when he could find himself playing in the US Open quarter-finals.
“But those are types of things that I really don’t want to be missing anymore,” he said.
Djokovic, long an advocate for player input in matters such as scheduling and player compensation, said he does not see how the Masters 1000s — which shifted this year from one-week to 12-days — could go back to the previous format.
Canada and Cincinnati in the run-up to the US Open became 12-day events this year.
“In the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren’t participating enough,” he said.
Djokovic himself has not played since a comprehensive semi-final loss to currently world number one Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July.
He acknowledged that he is coming in “cold” in terms of match play, but said he had been training hard as he eyes a return to the later stages of the US Open.
A four-time winner in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2017 when he lost to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the third round of last year’s tournament.
But this week Djokovic has taken some time to explore New York as well, notably throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Yankees baseball game.
“It was a great experience,” said Djokovic, adding that he met Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
He also thought he acquitted himself well with his pitch.
“I didn’t throw that accurate, but it still wasn’t as embarrassing I think as some of the other guys I saw in the past.”
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Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair talks fine for pro-Palestinian message on eye tape: ‘It’s bigger than me’
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Houston Texans pass rusher Azeez Al-Shaair spoke out about the fine he received for wearing a pro-Palestinian message across his eye tape during a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Al-Shaair talked to reporters outside his locker in the wake of the Texans’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He was hit with a fine of $11,593 for having “Stop the genocide” emblazoned across the tape, according to ESPN.
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Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans during the national anthem before the wild-card playoff game against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
He told the media he was aware what he did would garner a fine.
“I knew that that was a fine. I understood what I was doing … I was told that if I wore that in the game, I would be pulled out the game,” he said, via ESPN. “I think that was the part that I was confused about because I understood that was a fine but I never seen Stef (Stefon Diggs) get pulled out of a game for having eye tape with writing on it.
“At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me, the things that are going on. If it makes people uncomfortable, imagine how those people feel. I think that’s the biggest thing. I have no affiliation, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being and you see what’s going on in the world, you check yourself real quick. Even when I’m walking off this field, that’s the type of stuff that goes on in my head. I check myself when I’m sitting here crying about football when there’s people who are dying every single day.”
The NFL rulebook states in Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 what players are allowed and not allowed to wear on game days. The rule states, “Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.
Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans exits the field during the playoff game against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, mouthpieces, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and non-controversial; must not be worn for more than one football season.”
Al-Shaair has supported Palestinians in the past, including wearing “Free Palestine” cleats for the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign during the 2024 season.
Al-Shaair had “Free” written on one side of his shoes in the colors of the Palestinian flag. On one shoe, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return,” was written. On the side of his other shoe, he included the number of Palestinians reportedly killed and wounded in their war with Israel.
The shoes were for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which he also supported in 2023.
“I feel like it’s something that’s trying to be almost silenced,” Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “On either side, people losing their life is not right. In no way, shape, or form am I validating anything that happened, but to consistently say that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should now die, it’s crazy.
Azeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans shakes hands with Aaron Rodgers of the Steelers after their playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“[Other people] try to make a disconnect and dehumanize people over there. And it’s like, they’re human beings. Being a Muslim, we see everybody the same; Black, White, Spanish, whatever you are; you can be orange, like, we’re all human beings.”
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Al-Shaair was also part of the Athletes for Ceasefire organization.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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The 2024 class of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix have already led their teams to playoff success.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has halted team preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after Pakistan announced its support for Bangladesh’s decision to boycott T20 matches in India, sources told Geo News.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to take place from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka.
The team management will be briefed later on the future course of action, the official said.
They have also been asked to prepare a contingency plan in the event Pakistan decides not to participate in the tournament.
Pakistan has expressed full support for Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India for the World Cup, describing Bangladesh’s security concerns as reasonable and valid.
Officials have added that if the issue concerning Bangladesh’s participation remains unresolved, Pakistan will reconsider its own participation in the event.
The sources confirmed that Pakistan is fully backing its neighbours, describing Bangladesh’s security concerns as “reasonable and valid.”
Yesterday, reports emerged that Pakistan is reviewing its participation in the tournament if Bangladesh’s concerns are not resolved satisfactorily.
Insiders emphasised that no country should face pressure or threats regarding hosting responsibilities.
On January 11, the PCB expressed willingness to host Bangladesh’s fixtures in the T20 World Cup if venues in Sri Lanka are unavailable.
All Pakistani venues are reportedly ready to stage World Cup matches, with officials highlighting the successful hosting of major ICC events, including the Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Women’s Qualifier.
In a related development, Cricket Ireland (CI) clarified that the ICC will not move Ireland’s group-stage matches from Sri Lanka, dismissing reports that Bangladesh might swap groups due to travel concerns.
“We’ve received definitive assurances that we won’t move from the original schedule. We’re definitely playing the group stage in Sri Lanka,” a Cricket Ireland official confirmed.
A final decision on Bangladesh’s participation, particularly regarding travel to India, is expected by January 21, following recent discussions between the ICC and BCB in Dhaka.
During their second meeting in a week, the BCB reiterated its willingness to compete but expressed a preference for playing matches outside India, with Sri Lanka proposed as a possible alternative.
The ICC has maintained that the original schedule will remain unchanged, with Bangladesh placed in Group C.
Their opening match is set against West Indies in Kolkata, followed by two more group games at the same venue, before concluding in Mumbai.
The ICC told the BCB that there is no specific threat to the Bangladesh team.
The ICC is expected to nominate a replacement team, with Scotland currently next in line based on rankings.
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