Alcaraz, Sabalenka post wins at Italian Open
Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his bid for a first Italian Open title by cruising past Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-3 in Rome on Friday on his return to action from a thigh injury.
World number three Alcaraz got past Lajovic in one hour and 23 minutes in his first match since suffering the injury in his Barcelona Open final defeat to Holger Rune last month.
The Spaniard showed some signs of ring rustiness with 22 unforced errors but still managed to win the first four games of the match to give Lajovic too much to do in the first set.
And Alcaraz closed out the match in professional style with another quick start in the second set which put him three games ahead, allowing him to serve out for the win.
"Today was a really good day in the office, hopefully tomorrow and Sunday is going to be better," said Alcaraz.
"Of course I tried to make the most of my time, when I'm not playing tournaments I always try to find the positive things... I could stay at home more with my friends, with my family, recovering and getting a little bit fresh mentally.
"It was a great performance, a great level, which was surprising for me a little bit but I'm just really happy for that."
Alcaraz will now face one of Alex Michelsen and Laslo Djere in the third round as he eyes a potential final with world number one Jannik Sinner in the Italian capital.
Sinner will make his comeback from a three-month doping ban on Saturday when he takes on Mariano Navone in front of what will be a partisan crowd at the Foro Italico.
Alcaraz later told reporters that he would take it easy on his day off, keep an eye on Sinner's match and go to watch his friend Patric play for Serie A football club Lazio against Juventus at the nearby Stadio Olimpico.
One of Alcaraz's potential opponents in the last 16, Grigor Dimitrov, fell at the first hurdle against wild card entrant Francesco Passaro.
Home hope Lorenzo Musetti opened his week, his first in the top 10 of the men's world rankings, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Otto Virtanen.
In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka cruised past Anastasia Potapova and into the third round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
She swept past Russian Potapova in just over an hour. AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Babar, Rizwan left out as PCB names squad for Asia Cup, tri-series
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are pictured together during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Photo: AFP/File Former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have once again been left out of Pakistan's T20I squad, as the Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday announced a 17-member team for the Asia Cup and a tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates. The squad will be led by Salman Agha for both the tri-series involving Afghanistan and the UAE from August 29 to September 7 in Sharjah, and the Asia Cup, which will be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 28. The exclusion of Babar and Rizwan, who last featured in a T20I in December 2024, has now extended across multiple series under head coach Mike Hesson. 🚨 Pakistan's 17-member squad announced for the tri-series and ACC Men's Asia Cup T20 2025 🚨 All set for the two assignments in the UAE 🗓️🏏#BackTheBoysInGreen | #AsiaCup2025 — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 17, 2025 Both players were also overlooked for the T20I leg of the West Indies tour earlier this month, where Pakistan lost the series 2-1. They were part of the ODI squad but failed to make an impact, with Pakistan suffering their first series defeat against the West Indies since 1991. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Chief Selector and Director High Performance Centre Aqib Javed clarified that the door remains open for the experienced duo. 'We are not saying Babar and Rizwan will never return to the T20 squad,' he said. 'Whoever performs will be considered for selection. Discussions have taken place with both players, and they've been given guidance on areas to improve.' He added that the squad was finalised after consultation with the team management, including the captain, and stressed that recent performance was the primary selection criterion. Mark your calendars 🗓️ Schedules for the tri-nation series and ACC Men's T20I Asia Cup 2025 🏏 Pakistan squad & details ➡️ | #AsiaCup2025 — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 17, 2025 The selected squad includes familiar names such as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman — the latter making a return after a hamstring injury. Emerging players Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, both of whom have shown notable improvement, have also retained their places. Head coach Mike Hesson expressed satisfaction with the team's recent trajectory. 'The team has been performing well in the T20 format, winning six of our last nine matches,' he said. 'One of the losses came on the final ball. Our focus is on winning — and doing it consistently.' Pakistan will kick off their Asia Cup Group A campaign against Oman on September 12 in Dubai, followed by a high-profile clash against India on September 14 at the same venue. Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Alcaraz to face Sinner in Cincinnati ATP final
World number one Jannik Sinner and hot rival Carlos Alcaraz will face off in a major final for the fourth time this season after both booked straight-set wins into the title match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. Defending champion Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 while Spanish second seed Alcaraz defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 Celsius heat and humidity, by 6-4, 6-3. Alcaraz and Sinner have played for trophies this season in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, with the Italian winning their most recent at the All England Club last month. Sinner, celebrating his 24th birthday, ended Frenchman Atmane's dream run and will now try to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014-15 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati. Sinner, tuning up for the US Open in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon, hasn't dropped a set en route to the final. "It's a very, very tough challenge every time you play a new opponent," Sinner said. "In the later stages of the tournament,the pressure is on, they deserve to be there." Alcaraz will also be playing in his second Cincy final after losing to Novak Djokovic in 2023. The Spaniard increased his ATP season match win lead to 53 in a year of five titles. Alcaraz broke Zverev once in the opening set to claim it before the German, who is diabetic, began feeling poorly and took a medical timeout off court after the third game of the second set. Zverev, who has retired in only two matches since 2014, came back out to finish what was a patchy match from Alcaraz, who double-faulted for times in the second game of the second set but won the last 12 points with Zverev running on fumes. "We started well with good rallies, a good level," Alcaraz said. "All of a sudden he felt bad and I was thinking more about how he was feeling instead of playing good tennis. "It was tough and I just wish him all the best." Alcaraz said he is keen to try and take his Wimbledon revenge on Sinner in the unorthodox Monday final. "We always bring our best tennis. We raise each other's level. I'm ready to take the challenge," Alcaraz said. "I will try and adjust my game better and correct what I did wrong in our last match. I want to be ready with my 100%. Mentally I'll be ready -- I'm excited for Monday." Atmane gave birthday boy Sinner a Pokemon card shortly before they went on court, but he was in a less giving mood once they were underway. But Sinner surrendered just three points in his first six service games as they went to the tiebreaker with neither man facing a break point. Atmane double faulted on the first point of the decider and Sinner was away, powering to a 5-2 lead and pocketing the set at his second opportunity. "My experience helped in the first set," he said. "I'm very happy to go through to another final. "I tried to focus on myself, how I usually play, and then try to adapt a little bit to his game style," Sinner said. "And that's exactly what I did today. "The pressure was on me. That's normal in the position where I am in -- he was ready to fight." "My goal has always been the US Open, But we have put in the work here, in the gym and in practice. I just hope to be ready for New York." Sinner showed a first sign of vulnerability as he needed five game points to hold serve in the opening game of the second set. But that was the closest look Atmane got at his serve, and Sinner broke the Frenchman for a 3-1 lead and again to seal the match. Atmane, who is projected to crack the top 70 in the world rankings, became Sinner's 22nd straight French victim since May 2021, when he lost to Arthur Rinderknech in Lyon.
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Arsenal 'digging for gold'
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in action during the Premier League match against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on December 4. PHOTO: REUTERS Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to keep digging for gold as they prepare to start their latest bid for a first Premier League title since 2004 against revamped Manchester United on Sunday. Arteta's side have finished as Premier League runners-up for the last three seasons, sparking criticism of their failure to get over the line in the title race. Arsenal blew significant leads when Manchester City pipped them to the trophy in 2023 and 2024 before Liverpool left the injury-plagued north Londoners trailing in their wake last season. Arsenal's title frustrations are mounting, with fans questioning whether Arteta is the right man to end their drought after winning only the 2020 FA Cup since he took charge in December 2019. But the Gunners showed their potential last season with a run to the Champions League semi-finals that ended with a narrow defeat against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. And, buoyed by a host of new signings worth over £180 million ($244 million) in total, Arteta is convinced they can finally get their hands on the Premier League silverware this season "You keep digging, digging, digging, and you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there," he told reporters on Friday. "For three seasons we've had more points than (nearly) any other team in this league, which is incredible. "You have the consistency, but now we have to do it in a season, to end with more points than any other team. "That's the objective. When I've been taught, when I've been educated, that's it." Hampered by injuries to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz at various stages last season, Arsenal lacked a cutting edge and were held to 14 draws compared to Liverpool's nine. That was a crucial edge as Arsenal finished 10 points behind the champions. In an attempt to insulate Arsenal against another fitness-related collapse, Arteta has brought in Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard. After bemoaning Arsenal's failure to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as Liverpool pulled away during the January window, the Spaniard is a far more upbeat figure on the eve of the new season. "I think we have great versatility, very different qualities in relation to the opposition, so we are very happy with that," he said. Arteta said "too many" teams have a legitimate shot at winning the Premier League for his liking, some he even suspects will "surprise everybody". Whether that was a hint United, who suffered their worst season since 1973-74 last term, could emerge as contenders after their summer spending spree remains to be seen. Arsenal were linked with a move for United's new striker Benjamin Sesko before deciding to bet on Gyokeres for a fee that could rise to £66 million. Gyokeres netted 97 times in 102 games in two years at Sporting, much of which came under United's current manager Ruben Amorim. Instead of being reunited with the Swede, Amorim overhauled his attack with the signings of Leipzig's Sesko, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha at a combined cost of over £200 million. United, who haven't won the title since 2013, had to spend big to erase the stench of their putrid campaign. Amorim's team finished a dismal 15th in the top-flight and squandered a chance to qualify for the Champions League with a toothless 1-0 defeat against fellow underachievers Tottenham in the Europa League final. The pressure is on Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik Ten Hag in November, to deliver major improvements in his second season. Amorim knows Sesko will be key to that target and he believes the 22-year-old Slovenian is ready to rise to the challenge. "I don't need to tell Ben, 'Ben, this is Manchester United, a lot of pressure. Every game is like do or die'," Amorim said. "He is always thinking about football. He's really obsessed about that." AFP
