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Joker rolls into Flushing Meadows

schedule, he noted that top athletes often fail to engage fully in negotiations. “This is an ongoing story of the players expressing their feelings, but when you really need to put in the time and energy into conversations and meetings … it’s necessary because you’re doing something not only for yourself but future generations,” he added. On prize money, Djokovic called recent increases at the Grand Slams a “step in the right direction”, but said more work is needed for players worldwide to make a sustainable living. – Reuters Ruiz gives rusty PSG narrow win FABIAN RUIZ scored the only goal of the game while Ousmane Dembele missed a penalty as a rusty Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 1-0 yesterday to make it two wins out of two at the start of the Ligue 1 season. Spain midfielder Ruiz drilled home from inside the box five minutes into the second half at the Parc des Princes, handing European champions PSG the win in a game in which they dominated but lacked sharpness. Luis Enrique’s side, who showed off their trophy haul from last season at the end of this game, edged Nantes 1-0 away last weekend to begin the defence of their 11th French title in the last 13 years. That was off the back of a penalty shoot out victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Uefa Super Cup as PSG returned to action following just one week of pre-season training and without having played any warm-up friendly matches. The Super Cup was PSG’s fifth trophy of 2025 to go with their triumphs in the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and the French Champions Trophy. They displayed their collection of silverware on the pitch at full-time in front of a Parc des Princes packed despite August being a time Parisians escape the city on holiday. “We need to quickly forget about these five trophies because that is the past and we need to think about the future,” Luis Enrique said. “I thought we were really good physically and technically,” he said of his team’s performance in a game played on a poor surface. “It is difficult against a team that defends deep and it was even harder because of the state of the pitch.” The PSG coach made seven changes to his starting line-up, but this was arguably just about PSG’s strongest possible team with Lucas Chevalier making a home debut in goal following his recent arrival from Lille. Chevalier has taken over as No. 1 from Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the Italian – a hero of last season’s Champions League campaign – now expected to leave the club but still appearing on the pitch after the game to take the acclaim of the crowd. “It is always lovely to see the support of the fans. I understand that it was a special moment for ‘Gigio’,” Luis Enrique said of Donnarumma’s reception. – AFP Frank, though, is expecting more arrivals prior to the transfer deadline on Sept 1. “It’s unfortunate that you can’t go into Waitrose and buy two good players then walk away five minutes later. It is a little bit more complicated than that,” he added. “I see the club working hard, I see Daniel working extremely hard, I see (technical director) Johan (Lange), I see (CEO) Vinai (Venkatesham) and we are all on board in terms of doing what we can do to improve. I believe that something will happen.” – AFP

NOVAK DJOKOVIC will open the US Open without a competitive match since Wimbledon, a risk he’s willing to take after banking “a lot of training in last three, four weeks” and reshaping his priorities around the four majors. The Serbian world No. 7, chasing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, has eased off the gruelling schedule that once defined his career, skipping this month’s hard-court tune-ups in Toronto and Cincinnati. Djokovic, who claimed his fourth US Open

just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the slams.” Djokovic, co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association, also weighed in on the debate over the extended two-week Masters events, a change criticised by players and fans alike. He called the contracts “quite solid … 30 year contracts,” making a reversal unlikely. While he supports players opposing the

and last major title in 2023, said he has “earned the right” to pick his schedule. “I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family,” the 38 year-old Djokovic told reporters yesterday. “To be honest, I think I earned my right and have the luxury of kind of choosing where I want to go and what I want to play. “To be quite frank with you, I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore. It’s

Sabalenka hopes to break jinx

Belarusian seeks rare US Open repeat on defending title

IT has been more than a decade since the US Open had a repeat women’s champion – but world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka heads into her title defence at Flushing Meadows aiming to buck that trend. “My thought is to change that,” the Belarusian star said

hubbub of the US Open after finding her early forays in New York “really confusing.” “The first times I was coming here, it was, I felt, too big and I felt like the goal is so far, and a lot of work has to be done before I will be able to achieve my dream. “Maybe the last five or six years, I feel so comfortable and I enjoy a lot this tournament. “There is something special about (the) US Open. Like the atmosphere in the stadium is insane. The support, people who come watch you play – it’s just an incredible place.” Sabalenka said she’s hoping she can call on the “tough lessons” she learned this year to pull off the repeat – and retain the number one ranking that is under threat if she doesn’t. She fell in the Australian Open

to win back-to-back US Open titles was Serena Williams, who won three in a row from 2012 through 2014. Sabalenka said the pressure to repeat at a Slam is intense, but magni fied in the boisterous atmosphere of New York. “I think it’s a lot of pressure, defi nitely,” she said. “Just because this place is so big, and it feels bigger than the other Slams in some ways.

yesterday as she spoke to reporters at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the final Grand Slam of the season begins today. “But, wow, that’s insane, you know, how unpredictable women’s tennis is, right? Should we change it? Should we try at least to change it?” The last woman

“Maybe every time defend ing champions come and they put so much pressure on themselves. “But I feel like I’m experienced enough to just focus on myself and try to replicate that result.” Sabalenka, 27, says she has grown to love the

final in an agonizing end to a bid for a his toric three-peat in Melbourne. A French Open final loss and a semi final exit at Wimbledon followed. “Well, of course ide

ally I would love to fin ish the season with a Grand Slam and world number one,” she said. “But I think if this goal is not going to be achieved, I’ll still think that this season’s been really amazing for me. “All of those tough lessons that I learned this season are only going to make me stronger for the next one. “I’ll work even harder in the pre-season to make sure next year (is) going to be only (a) year of success, like truly suc cess.” – AFP

Aryna Sabalenka. – REUTERSPIC

Spurs boss only wants committed signings after Eze snub

the same. If they don’t want to put the fantastic shirt over their head, play for the badge, play for the club, really enjoy it, no problem – we don’t want them there. I think that’s a key message.” Tottenham have struggled to keep up with their domestic rivals in the transfer market. Mohammed Kudus is the only permanent arrival to have started in Frank’s opening two matches in charge, while Joao Palhinha has also joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.

before the England international signed a new contract at the City Ground. Eze also appeared set to bolster Frank’s attacking options until the boyhood Arsenal fan had his head turned by the Gunners’ move to match Spurs’ offer of £60 million (RM340m) plus £7.5 million (RM42.5m) in add-ons to Crystal Palace. “I don’t want any players that don’t want to come to the club,” said Frank yesterday. “I think that’s very clear. “I’m also pretty sure that the fans will feel

TOTTENHAM manager Thomas Frank said he does not want players who are not committed to the club after Eberechi Eze rejected Spurs to close in on a move to north London rivals Arsenal. For the second time during the transfer window, a major deal for the Europa League winners was scuppered in the final stages. A move for Morgan Gibbs-White collapsed last month after Nottingham Forest threatened legal action for Tottenham speaking to the player without permission