08/09/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | SEPT 8, 2025

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Roar of ‘the Tiger’ World No. 1 retains US Open crown, ends Grand Slam finals curse

FOR the second consecutive Grand Slam, Amanda Anisimova found herself tantalisingly close to etching her name into the tennis history books – only to watch it slip away in straight sets. The 24-year-old American’s 6-3 7-6(3) loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final yesterday marked another painful chapter in a story of near-misses on the sport’s biggest stages. After falling short at Wimbledon earlier this year, Anisimova again struggled to find her best in the pressure cooker of a major final. “I feel like with finals I have a lot of nerves, and it’s something I’m trying to work on,” Anisimova admitted in her post-match press conference. The aggressive baseline game that carried her past former champions Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka was on display as she struck 22 winners to Sabalenka’s 13. But a high-risk strategy produced costly errors, with the American committing 29 unforced errors to her opponent’s 15. Anisimova said her rhythm was thrown off by an unexpected factor: the lighting under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium for the day session. “Well, I haven’t played on the court during the day with the roof closed, and it was So close, yet so far

U S OPEN champion Aryna Sabalenka may be nicknamed “The Tiger”, but her New York triumph yesterday was less about raw aggression and more poise, as the world No. 1 steadied herself and regrouped in

key moments to claim a fourth Grand Slam title. Determined to become the first woman since American great Serena Williams (2012–14) to defend her crown at Flushing Meadows, the Belarusian car ried the weight of recent major setbacks to claim a 6-3 7-6(3) win over Amanda Anisimova in the final and retain her crown. After final defeats at Melbourne and Paris, and a Wimbledon semifinal set back against Anisimova, Sabalenka turned all that disappointment into fuel, earning the right to show up to her press conference in party mode, gog gles perched on her head and a bottle of champagne in hand. “After the Australian Open I thought that the right way would be just to forget it and move on, but then the same thing happened at the French Open. So I figured that, okay, maybe it’s time for me to sit back and

to look at those finals and to maybe learn something,” an ecstatic Sabalenka told reporters. “Going into this final I decided for myself that I’m going to control my emo tions. I’m not going to let them take con trol over me, and doesn’t matter what happens in the match. “My mindset was just going out there, fight for every point. Doesn’t matter of the situation. Just focus on myself and focus on things that I have to do to win the match.” The occasion seemed ripe for Sabalenka to crumble under the roar of a partisan Arthur Ashe crowd cheering her American opponent, but the 27-year-old showed that she was equipped to prevail in the toughest moments. Sabalenka was serving for the match when she gifted Anisimova a break with a flubbed smash in what seemed a pivotal momentum shift. Yet the top seed did not miss when it mattered the most, winning a record 19th straight tiebreak. “There were moments where I was really close to losing control, but I told myself, ‘No, it’s not going to happen. It’s absolutely okay,’” Sabalenka said. “I was really close to losing it, because you cannot make these kinds of mistakes on important points. Sometimes it can be crucial, from my experience. “But then I turn around and I took a deep breath in, and I was, like, okay, it happens. It’s in the past. Let’s focus on the next one.” Sabalenka added that her milestone 100th Grand Slam match win carried extra weight because of the road it took to get there. “You know, this one felt like I had to overcome a lot of things to get this one,” she said. “I knew that the hard work we put in, like, I deserved to have a Grand Slam title this season. “It means a lot to defend this title and to bring such great tennis on the court. To bring the fight and be able to handle my emotions the way I did in this final, it means a lot. I’m super proud right now of myself.” – Reuters

literally, like, white, and I couldn’t see the ball when I was serving,” she explained. The loss was a cruel blow for the former junior US Open champion, but her run to the final ensures she will break into the top five of the world rankings for the first time. “It has been a great summer. Losing in two finals is great, but it is also super hard!” Anisimova said on court, capturing the bittersweet nature of her breakthrough season. The result also means she now has a chance to play in the season ending WTA Finals for the first time. “It was actually a goal of mine at the start of the year,” she said. Sabalenka added: “Congrats Amanda on reaching back-to-back finals at the slams. I know how much it hurts to lose, but trust me you will win one, you play incredible tennis.” – Reuters ZIMBABWE levelled a Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in Harare with a five-wicket victory in a low scoring match on Saturday. Sri Lanka were all out for 80 – their second lowest T20 total – and Zimbabwe made 84-5 in reply at Harare Sports Club to win with 34 balls remaining. The tourists won the first match by five runs, and the series will be decided by the third and final match on Sunday. “We have been playing good cricket and were upset with recent losses because we got close in the previous three games,” said Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. “To our credit, we did not panic despite the disappointments. Hopefully this victory will give us belief.” Rival skipper Charith Asalanka said: “We lost too many wickets in the powerplay. When I went to bat I

Aryna Sabalenka (right) reacts after winning against Amanda Anisimova (left). – AFPPIC

First India-Pakistan match since conflict fires up Asia Cup A blockbuster between India and Pakistan headlines the Asia Cup starting tomorrow as they face off for the first time in cricket since the military conflict in May. same group and could potentially meet three times in the tournament, which concludes on Sept 28. cricket is a very small matter.” India and Pakistan last met in cricket, again in Dubai, in February in the 50-over Champions Trophy, with India winning by six wickets and going on to lift the title.

Zimbabwe dismiss Sri Lanka to level T20 series

thought it was a 130 to 140-run pitch.” Kamil Mishara top scored for Sri Lanka with a run-a-ball 20 before misjudging a yorker from Brad Evans, which uprooted his off stump. Asalanka (18) and Dasun Shanaka (15) were the only other Sri Lankan batters to reach double figures. Raza (3-11) and Evans (3-15) inflicted the most damage with the ball for the home side. Zimbabwe also struggled with the bat, slumping to 27-3 before Brian Bennett (19) and Ryan Burl (20 not out) put on 26 runs for the fourth wicket to bring the hosts within sight of victory. Tashinga Musekiwa (21 not out) won the match by striking fours off the first and second deliveries of the 14th over. Dushmantha Chameera (3-19) was the most successful of the tourists’ bowlers. – AFP

There have been tensions in the build-up after the two countries fought an intense four-day conflict, their worst since 1999. India team of retired players withdrew from their semifinal with Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends in July-August in England. Led by former international Yuvraj Singh, the Indians also refused to play Pakistan in the group stage of the tournament, as clamour grew among fans to boycott the games. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh was part of the veterans team and has strongly opposed the Asia Cup game. “Blood and sweat cannot co-exist,” Harbhajan told The Times of India . “It cannot be the case that there’s fighting on the border, tensions between the two nations, and we go to play cricket. “Until these big issues are resolved,

Along with regional bragging rights, the Twenty20 competition will serve as a build-up towards the T20 World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka. The eight-team event in the United Arab Emirates begins when Afghanistan play minnows Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan clash in Dubai on Sept 14, with Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram saying players and fans from both teams should “remain disciplined and not cross the line”. The neighbours have not met on either side’s soil in a bilateral series since 2012 and only play each other in international tournaments on neutral ground as part of a compromise deal. The two Asian cricketing giants have been clubbed together in the

They are also defending Asia Cup champions and led by Suryakumar Yadav are clear favourites against their old foes with a 10-3 win record against Pakistan in T20 internationals. The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council – Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – earned automatic qualification to the tournament. They are joined by Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE, teams that secured their spots by finishing in the top three of the ACC men’s Premier Cup. Group A is made up of India, Pakistan, hosts UAE and Oman. Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. The group stage will be followed by a Super Four round, followed by the final in Dubai. – AFP