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Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Sabalenka powers into Roland Garros quarter-finals - Omni sports
World number one Aryna Sabalenka reached her 10th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final on Sunday with a straight-sets win over Amanda Anisimova in the French Open fourth round. The Belarusian battled through a tight opening set against the American 16th seed and then needed eight match points to clinch a 7-5, 6-3 victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Sabalenka, who was the pre-tournament favourite, will face Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the last eight after the Chinese star edged past Liudmila Samsonova. Zheng beat Sabalenka for the first time in their seven meetings in the Italian Open quarter-finals in the build-up to Roland Garros. Anisimova holds a 5-3 winning record over Sabalenka but has now lost their last two matches. The 23-year-old, a French Open semi-finalist in 2019, won her maiden WTA 1000 title in Doha earlier this season. She pushed Sabalenka in the first set, breaking the top seed when she was serving to clinch the opener. But two missed break points in the 11th game proved costly as Sabalenka went on to secure a one-set lead. The three-time Grand Slam champion quickly built a 3-0 advantage in the second set. Anisimova showed real grit to save six match points in a marathon hold of serve to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Sabalenka finally finished it off on her own serve at the eighth time of asking with a thumping backhand winner. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Djokovic takes a medical timeout for a toe blister in a victory over Moutet - Omni sports
Novak Djokovic dealt with a blister on his big left toe that required a medical timeout in the third set, then was one point from being forced to a fourth, before closing out a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory over Corentin Moutet at the French Open on Thursday. 'With him, anything's possible,' Djokovic said. 'But I managed to find the right shots to stay in the match.' The result put Djokovic in the third round at Roland-Garros for the record 20th time — not even Rafael Nadal managed that. Two more wins, and Djokovic will get to the tournament's quarterfinals for the 16th consecutive year. In 2024, though, he withdrew before playing in that round after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during the fourth round and needing surgery. Djokovic has won three of his men's-record 24 Grand Slam titles in Paris. Against the left-handed Moutet, a Frenchman, Djokovic got broken in the opening game at Court Suzanne-Lenglen, and the crowd roared. But soon enough, Djokovic was in control. It wasn't until 2-all in the third set that some trouble arose. Djokovic, who went on a nighttime bicycle ride in the center of Paris on Wednesday, slid into a forehand and held up, then hopped with all of his weight on his right foot. He stepped gingerly to the sideline and requested a visit from a trainer, who treated and taped the problematic big toe. Soon, Moutet was mean-mugging toward his entourage in the stands after breaking to lead 4-2 in the third. Djokovic would break right back, but again faced a difficult spot while down 6-5 and facing a set point as the locals sang Moutet's last name. But Moutet netted a backhand passing shot, and once they got to a tiebreaker, Djokovic was simply too good. That hasn't been the case as often as usual this season, which has included a pair of three-match losing streaks for the 38-year-old from Serbia. But Djokovic ended his latest rut by winning his 100th career title at the Geneva Open before arriving at Roland-Garros. 'Before last week's tournament in Geneva, I didn't feel confident in my game. But it's normal to feel that way, because I hadn't won enough matches,' Djokovic said. 'I'm like any other player in that respect. I've had to work hard to win.' (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Chess great Carlsen held to draw by 143,000 players - Omni sports
Chess legend Magnus Carlsen, considered one of the best players in history, has been held to a draw by a team of 143,000 opponents in an online match. Organised by the match site the duel -- dubbed "Magnus Carlsen vs. The World" -- pitted the 34-year-old Norwegian against amateurs from around the planet who decided their moves by popular vote. The match with Carlsen, who was world champion from 2013 to 2023, opened on April 4, with each side allowed 24 hours to decide its next move. After more than six weeks, it ended in a draw Monday. "I felt that I was a little bit better, early in the opening," Carlsen said in a video. "Honestly, since then, they haven't given me a single chance." Carlsen is not the first grandmaster to take on a team of thousands. Russian chess giant Garry Kasparov played more than 50,000 opponents in a 1999 match, while India's Viswanathan Anand played around 70,000 last year, according to news agency NTB. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Alcaraz downs Sinner to win Italian Open in Roland Garros warning - Omni sports
Carlos Alcaraz won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating rival Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final and firing a warning shot for Roland Garros. Alcaraz, who will climb to world number two behind Sinner on Monday, won his third title of the season ahead of the French Open which starts next weekend. The Spaniard claimed victory in his fourth final of the season and sent a message to the rest of the men's tour for Roland Garros where he will defend the title. Sinner tops the world rankings but his 26-match winning streak was ended by Alcaraz, also the man who had last beat him in last year's China Open final. Alcaraz is the only man to beat Sinner in a tour final since the start of 2024, when his Italian rival began his rise to the top of men's tennis and three Grand Slam titles. The 22-year-old has had a hugely impressive clay court swing this season even with the thigh injury which cost him the chance to compete at the Madrid Open. Alcaraz won in Rome a second Masters 1000 title of the year to go alongside his victory at Monte Carlo last month. He also reached the final in Barcelona. Finishing runner-up is still a hugely positive result for Sinner in his first tournament since his three-month ban for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of clostebol, a contamination doping authorities accepted was accidental. His progress in Rome also sets up the possibility of another final clash with Alcaraz at Roland Garros, with the two young stars of men's tennis set to be the two top seeds in Paris. Sinner was gunning to become the first Italian man to win at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta back in 1976, but he failed to make it a hat-trick of triumphs for home players in the Italian capital. Earlier Jasmine Paolini became the first woman since Monica Seles in 1990 to win the Rome singles and doubles titles when she and Sara Errani beat Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-5. Paolini secured that brace of victories a day after overcoming former US Open champion Coco Gauff in straight sets, and becoming the first Italian woman to win the Rome singles title since Raffaella Reggi in 1985. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Squash: Egypt's El-Sherbini equals record, Asal claims maiden PSA World Championship title - Omni sports
Nour El-Sherbini captured her record-equalling eighth PSA World Championship crown, and Mostafa Asal secured his first, with the duo clinching straight-set victories in all-Egyptian finals at the 2024/2025 edition in Chicago on Sunday. El-Sherbini, 29, overcame Hania El-Hammamy 11-5, 11-9, 11-4, and 11-7 in a 61-minute contest to draw level with Malaysian icon Nicol David's all-time record of eight world titles. It was her 10th consecutive appearance in the final and her fourth championship triumph in the Windy City. 'I never imagined I'd get to eight,' El-Sherbini said. 'I've had a tough season, but I really wanted this one. It means everything.' she added. On the men's side, Asal produced a clinical 11-7, 11-8, and 11-3 win over four-time champion Ali Farag, completing a flawless tournament without dropping a single game. The 23-year-old holds the PSA World title and the British Open crown, retaining the World No.1 spot. 'To win this title, and stay No.1, is incredible,' Asal said. 'There were a lot of mental challenges this week. I'm grateful to my team, especially to James Willstrop, who helped me stay focused,' he said. Both finals showcased Egypt's continued supremacy in the sport. Egyptian players account for all finalists at squash's most prestigious tournament, which carries a total prize fund of $1.31 million. Asal, who had lost to Peru's Diego Elias in last year's final, exacted redemption against Farag — his sixth final meeting with the experienced World No.2 — extending his head-to-head advantage to 5-1. Meanwhile, El-Hammamy was appearing in her first World Championship final. 'She's young and talented, but today I had the edge of experience,' El-Sherbini said. The PSA World Tour will now shift to Egypt for the Palm Hills Open from 22 to 27 May. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
