18/01/2026

theSun on Sunday JAN 18, 2026

SPORTS 11

SUNDAY | JAN 18, 2026

SCAN ME

T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunconnects@thesundaily.com

Courage under fire

CONSIDER Novak Djokovic (pic) moments from 2025. January’s vintage quarter final over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open. June’s poignant touching of the clay after a battling defeat to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of Roland Garros, as the Paris crowd chanted his name. The deflating losses to Sinner at Wimbledon and Alcaraz at the US Open, as well as the admis sion that he “ran out of gas” against his young rival. But, still, reaching four grand slam semifinals in one season at the age of 38. Winning the 101st title of his career in a three-hour epic against Lorenzo Musetti in November, as all four sides of the arena in Athens stood and his children cheered on with them. What do they say about the source of his enduring motiva tion, as Djokovic enters the 22nd season of his career? Back in Paris in the summer, when Djokovic sounded closer to retirement than perhaps ever before, it was hard to imagine the 24-time grand slam cham pion settling for the position where he now finds himself. But that was before what Alcaraz and Sinner produced in their Roland Garros epic, and completed a second consecutive Djokovic’s career enters its final chapter amid unstoppable forces these

Jobs

302

year of splitting the grand slam titles between them. Following his defeat to Alcaraz in the US Open semifi nals, Djokovic made it perfectly clear that beating the Spaniard or Sinner over best of five sets was now “very, very difficult” – particularly if, as he continues be ranked inside the world’s top four, the earliest he can face them is the semifinals and he already has five matches in the tank. Perhaps Djokovic would have more of a chance if he caught Alcaraz or Sinner in the earlier rounds, when he is fresher. But that would require an alarming drop in his ranking. Maybe Djokovic could reach the semifinals of a grand slam and find that one of Alcaraz or Sinner had been upset, knocked out by a rogue wildcard? But given how Alcaraz and

Sinner have separated themselves from the field, as well as how the consistency they both produce is fuelled by a shared determination to face each other in the biggest finals, a surprise second-round defeat is just as unlikely. Even then, Djokovic would probably have to play the other in the final, anyway. Is Djokovic beating either Alcaraz or Sinner over best of five sets really now so unthinkable? A year ago, Djokovic capitalised on a distracted performance from Alcaraz to defeat the now six-time grand slam champion in the Australian Open quarterfinals. It was the biggest lesson Alcaraz learned in 2025, as he brought more maturity into his matches and became less prone to dips. By the US Open, a few months later, Alcaraz was unrelenting. As for Sinner, the Italian has had Djokovic’s number for a while and has won his last five matches against him, as well as two exhibi tions. “He kicked my a**,” Djokovic said after a 6-4, 6-2 defeat to Sinner in their last meeting in Saudi Arabia. A reason for Djokovic to stick around is the target of a 25th grand slam singles title, which would put him out on his own for the all-time record. He also wants a second Olympic singles title, to go alongside Andy Murray. Part of Djokovic’s emotional reac tion after departing Court Philippe Chatrier in June was his acceptance that, at this stage of his career, one bad injury is all it would take to make the dream farewell just that, a dream. Instead, he was shown his grati tude to still be at the point where he can beat Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz in grand slam quarterfi nals and raise the roof at the biggest stages in tennis while doing so, as well as the humility to accept the role of the third-man that he refused to play as he disrupted the domi nance of Federer and Rafael Nadal. Age can do that and, for the 38 year-old Djokovic, it seems to be more than enough to hang around a little longer. Djokovic’s confirmation that he had cut ties with the rebellious Professional Tennis Players Association he co-founded, amid its ongoing legal action against tennis’ governing bodies and the grand slams, was also reflective of the focus on his final goal. Australia, where Djokovic is a 10 time champion, is another opportu nity. He may be in the curious posi tion of tennis limbo, but Djokovic is still determined to have these moments. – The Independent

Jobs

302

Notices

322

MEDIA SALES - Specialist

FEDERAL TERRITORY (PLANNING ACT) 1982 (AKTA 267) FEDERAL TERRITORY (PLANNING) (APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION) (FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR) RULES 2025 RULE 3 NOTICE TO OBTAIN VIEWS Datuk Bandar has received an application for a proposed development of 23-storey mixed-use development with a plot ratio of 1:4 comprising 156 units serviced apartment with amenities, on Lot 150, 155 and 156, Lorong Damai 12, Section 88A, Kuala Lumpur City, Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 3, Federal Territory (Planning) (Application For Planning Permission) (Federal Territory Of Kuala Lumpur) Rules 2025, the Mayor grants the registered landowners in the surrounding area a chance to submit their views towards this application. If any registered land owners in the surrounding area decides to do so, they are required to submit in writing their views towards this application addressed to the Pengarah, Jabatan Perancangan Bandaraya, Tingkat 9, Menara DBKL 1, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur and through email: jprb@dbkl.gov.my . These views shall be submitted within two (2) weeks from the date of publication of this notification, clearly stating the name of the owner, lot number, local postal address, and DBKL reference number. Date: 16TH JANUARY 2026 DATUK BANDAR KUALA LUMPUR Lumpur) Rules 2025, the Mayor grants the registered landowners in the application. If any registered land owners in the surrounding area decides to do so, they are required to submit in writing their views towards this application addressed to the Bandaraya, Tingkat 9, Menara DBKL 1, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur and through email: jprb@dbkl.gov.my . These views shall be submitted within two (2) weeks from the date of publication of this notification, clearly stating the name of the owner, lot number, local postal address, and DBKL reference number. Date: 18TH JANUARY 2026 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. (Ref: DBKL.JPRB. 1255/58 JLD 1)

Job Description t # VJMEJOH BOE TVTUBJOJOH TUSPOH XPSLJOH SFMBUJPOTIJQ XJUI BEWFSUJTJOH BHFODJFT BOE DMJFOUT t / FX CVTJOFTT EFWFMPQNFOU BOE CVTJOFTT SFUFOUJPO t $ PODFQUVBMJTF QMBO BOE FYFDVUF DSFBUJWF BOE JOOPWBUJWF NBSLFUJOH DBNQBJHOT UP FOIBODF CSBOE WJTJCJMJUZ BOE FOHBHFNFOU t $ SFBUF EFWFMPQ BOE DPOUJOVPVTMZ JNQSPWF NBSLFUJOH NBUFSJBM QSFTFOUBUJPOT BOE QSPQPTBMT UIBU TIPXDBTF PVS QSPEVDUT TFSWJDFT FGGFDUJWFMZ Requirements t 4 1. MFWFM XJUI BU MFBTU UXP ZFBST PG FYQFSJFODF t % JQMPNB PS #BDIFMPS T EFHSFF JO CVTJOFTT NBSLFUJOH PS PUIFS SFMBUFE GJFMET t 'SFTI HSBEVBUFT BSF FODPVSBHFE UP BQQMZ USBJOJOH XJMM CF QSPWJEFE t (PPE DPNNVOJDBUJPO QSFTFOUBUJPO QSPCMFN TPMWJOH BOE PSHBOJTBUJPOBM TLJMMT t 1 BTTJPOBUF JO DMJFOU TFSWJDJOH t 1 PTTFTT PXO USBOTQPSU BOE XJMMJOH UP USBWFM t "CMF UP TUBSU XPSL JNNFEJBUFMZ Office based in

Petaling Jaya (Five-day week)

MEDIA SALES - Representative/Agent (Freelance)

Requirement t . JOJNVN POF ZFBS TBMFT FYQFSJFODF JO DMBTTJGJFE BE QSJOU BOE EJHJUBM BEWFSUJTJOH t 5IPTF XJUIPVU TBMFT FYQFSJFODF CVU XJUI NFEJB BEWFSUJTJOH LOPXMFEHF NBZ BMTP BQQMZ t "UUSBDUJWF DPNNJTTJPO QBDLBHF BOE JODFOUJWFT t "CMF UP TUBSU JNNFEJBUFMZ t $FOUSBM /PSUIFSO 4PVUIFSO &BTU $PBTU BOE 4BCBI 4BSBXBL

Send in your CV with your photo via email to : thesun.hr2@gmail.com