24/05/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 24, 2025

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Ferrari running out of time, says Hamilton

Pitstop change could make Monaco a crazy race: Max MONACO could be a crazy race this year due to drivers having to make a mandatory two stops, Red Bull’s reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen said yesterday. fine then you drive to the end and just stay focused and not hit the barrier. “But maybe with a two-stop, it can create something different – people gambling, guessing when the right time is to box (pit). So hopefully, it will spice it up a bit more.” spanner in the works for everyone,” he said. “It makes it potentially more difficult for teams at the top, such as ourselves, but it makes it more difficult for everybody, not just one team.”

LEWIS HAMILTON admitted yesterday that time is no longer on Ferrari’s side this season but hopes he can push on at the Monaco Grand Prix after a spirited fourth-place finish last weekend. After switching from Mercedes, where he won six of his seven drivers’ world titles, to Ferrari, Hamilton has faced unprecedented scrutiny and pressure and is still seeking his first podium finish after seven races. He knows too that the team may soon abandon developing this year’s car and switch their attention to preparations for 2026 when new power unit regulations are to be introduced. After a promising display at last Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where he beat teammate Charles Leclerc for the first time, Hamilton hopes that the upgrades on his car will bring it back to life in qualifying this weekend. “It’s getting late and we’re running out of time,” he said of his car development for 2025.“But for me it is a

foundation year, getting to grips with the team and helping make changes that are needed to navigate to long term success. “We need a faster car and I have all the faith and belief we can do it.” A downbeat Leclerc said that has he has little prospect of repeating his emotional triumph for Ferrari last year in Monaco. He became the first home winner in the modern era last season with a copybook triumph in front of family and friends. “If you want an honest answer (about my chances), then low,” he said. “Because unfortunately our car hasn’t been particularly strong in low-speed corners and there’s only low-speed corners here in Monaco. “On paper, it doesn’t look like the most promising track for us, but Monaco is so unique and so different that we can have a good surprise once we put the car down tomorrow, which I hope will happen!” – AFP

The rule change has been introduced to liven up the show at a tight and twisty circuit that some see as an anachronism, with overtaking extremely difficult, leading to processional racing. “I guess it can go both ways; it can be quite straightforward, or it can go completely crazy because of safety cars coming into play or not making the right calls,” said Verstappen, a two times winner of the showcase race. “I think it will spice it up probably a bit more. “Normally, with one stop, once you have a good pitstop and everything is

“My head’s still kind of untwisting itself from some of the (strategy) meetings we’ve had today.” Williams’ Alex Albon said one fear was that, rather than shaking things up, the change would see drivers pitting at the end of the first lap or teammates working together to hold up the field and create a gap for a free stop. “The biggest thing if you speak to the team, and I think every strategist, is that we don’t really know how it’s going to play out,” he said. – Reuters

McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri, runner-up to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc last year and now seeking to go one better, said the change would be welcomed more by those not on pole. “I still think 90 something per cent about Monaco is qualifying,” the Australian told reporters. “But I think it’s very complicated now with these two stops. Also just using the three sets of tyres. “It’s not quite as simple as what it was. So it’s definitely going to throw a

Birthday joy for Djoker … as Serb avenges Arnaldi loss in Geneva to reach last four N OVAK DJOKOVIC overcame soggy conditions on his 38th birthday to beat Matteo Arnaldi on Thursday and reach the Geneva Open semifinals in a tune-up event for Roland Garros. A single break early in the first set enabled Djokovic to take control, but the sixth-ranked Serbian had to rally from 4-1 down in the second. He drew audible gasps from the crowd when he grabbed meniscus suffered at the French Open, quickly rebounded and let out a mighty roar as he broke to go 5-4 ahead before putting away Arnaldi. He said an angry outburst after dropping serve helped him reset as he won the final five games.

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his right knee after stretching for a shot in the fifth game. But Djokovic, who had surgery last year to repair a torn

The former world No. 1 retrieved a break in the second set to claim a 6 4, 6-4 win over the 39th-ranked Italian who dumped him out at the first hurdle in Madrid last month. Djokovic is hunting the 100th title of his career on the eve of the French Open having not won a tournament since capturing Olympic gold in Paris last August. “It’s great to be in the semifinals again. Last year I played the semifinals. Hopefully this year I can go at least a step further. That’s the goal,” said Djokovic. Djokovic, who received a

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“I think I’m playing really, really good tennis,” said Djokovic, who was presented on court with a chocolate cake topped with sparklers after his victory. “Today it was a lot of tension on the court. A straight-sets win but it was much closer than maybe the score indicates. “I was 4-1 down in the second. Somehow after that racquet breaking I didn’t lose a game and kind of found my optimal state and balance, mentally and emotionally.” Norrie ousted Australian fifth seed Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (8-6), 6 4 in the day’s last quarterfinal. Hubert Hurkacz put out top seed Taylor 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) earlier and will play Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner in the other semifinal. The 128th Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia in the opening round. “This season has had ups and down, but I know my game is there,“ Swiatek said after the draw, which was made by Paris St Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele. A first-round match to watch will feature Japan’s Naomi Osaka, a four times Grand Slam champion, and Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa. On the other side of the draw, second seed Coco Gauff will start her campaign against Australian Olivia Gadecki with a possible all-American semifinal looming against Jessica Pegula, the third seed. Another American, Madison Keys, could stand in the way of Gauff in the quarterfinals. – Reuters ranked Ofner came from behind to beat fourth seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. – AFP

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wild card to play in Geneva after skipping Rome, will meet British qualifier Cameron Norrie for a place in the final. The 24-time Grand

Slam champion had not won a match on clay this season after also losing his Monte Carlo opener at the start of April to Alejandro Tabilo.

Novak Djokovic in action during his quarterfinal match against Matteo Arnaldi. – REUTERSPIC

Sinner in packed top half at French Open WORLD NO. 1 Jannik Sinner, making his return to Grand Slam action following a doping suspension, was placed in a loaded top half of the French Open draw on Thursday alongside Novak Djokovic and last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev. Sinner, beaten by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the Italian Open final on Sunday in his comeback tournament, could face 24-times Grand Slam champion Djokovic in the semi-finals. The top half of the draw also includes several French hopefuls, including a possible second round against the darling of the Paris crowd, Richard Gasquet, in the Frenchman’s farewell tournament. between them, face potentially tricky first rounds with the Italian meeting France’s Arthur Rinderknech and the defending champion playing Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori. Jack Draper of Britain, seeded fifth, could play Sinner in the last eight while Djokovic may face German Zverev for a place in the semis. In the women’s draw, defending champion Iga Swiatek, who is struggling for form, will open her campaign against Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova and faces a potential semifinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, after a quarterfinal clash with last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini of Italy. Belarusian Sabalenka takes on Alcaraz and Sinner, who have claimed the last five Grand Slam titles

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