17/02/2026

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Malaysian Paper

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Alcaraz says he still has ‘weaknesses’

SHORTS Shelton wins all-American final

WORLD No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz said he is still ironing out weaknesses in his game even after capturing all four Grand Slam titles by the age of 22, as he returns to action at the Qatar Open this week. The Spaniard became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam when he beat 24-time major win ner Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the Australian Open final this month, the latest step in what is now one of the sport’s fastest-rising careers.

Alcaraz opens his campaign against Arthur Rinderknech, a player he has beaten in all four of their previ ous meetings, but the top seed said he is not taking anyone lightly. “I know how difficult every match is,” Alcaraz said. “Every match is differ ent, our play is totally different. I think this draw is a really tough one for an ATP 500 tournament. “So I’m thinking about one match at a time, and let’s see how far I can go.” – Reuters

catch up with me in terms of studying my game, how I play and trying to beat me, trying to challenge me. “I have to be ready for that and see where my level is, where my tennis is. I have to try to put myself in their minds and think what they could do when playing against me. “So that’s what I mean about saying I have to improve some things. Obviously, you cannot be lagging in the level, you just have to keep it going.”

Ahead of his campaign in Doha, where his great rival Jannik Sinner and a host of other challengers are in the field, Alcaraz said he was only focused on improvement as he seeks to hit the ground running after an extended break. “Obviously I can see that (I have had) a lot of success so far, winning the biggest tournaments in the world,” Alcaraz said yesterday. “But I see myself with weaknesses. A lot of players, I know they’re trying to

BEN SHELTON fought back from a set down to beat compatriot Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 yesterday, claiming his fourth career ATP title at the Dallas Open in a thrilling all American final. The 23-year-old left-hander saved three match points in a dramatic deciding set before breaking Fritz’s serve to seal victory over the more experienced 28-year-old in a contest that swung on fine margins. “I want to congratulate Taylor, crazy match to be a part of,” Shelton said after receiving the trophy. “It’s amazing what you’ve been doing this year, dealing with adversity, fighting through injury… you are an inspiration.” Shelton struggled early as Fritz dominated with an almost flawless service game in the opening set. Bidding for an 11th ATP Tour title, Fritz netted 11 winners and raced through the set in 26 minutes. But Shelton regrouped in the second set to turn the momentum in his favour and level the match. Fritz appeared to have the upper hand in the deciding set when he broke serve and held three match points at 5-4, but Shelton’s explosiveness shone through at the critical moment. Shelton saved those match points to level at 5-5, then broke Fritz’s serve in the following game, before serving out for the title. Third-time lucky for De Minaur AUSTRALIA’S Alex de Minaur won the Rotterdam Open at the third time of asking yesterday, producing typical counter punching tennis to overcome Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2. The top-seed had lost the previous two finals to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but he seized on the absence of the world’s top two to make it third time lucky. “It feels great to finally be able to lift the title,” said the world number eight. “Every day I got better and I’m super pleased with the performance today,” he added. Canada’s Auger-Aliassime threw everything at the 26-year old but the Australian soaked up the pressure and retrieved brilliantly to finally take the crown in Rotterdam. “Third time lucky. We finally managed to get the title,” said the Australian as he collected the trophy. “I’m glad I was finally able to get the title. It’s been one of my favourite spots on the calendar. “I love coming back here in Rotterdam. I’ve played some of my best tennis here and I finally get the reward.” Auger-Aliassime paid tribute to his opponent, saying, “he had no holes in his games and I couldn’t find a way.” “Sometimes I have to accept the loss and the fact that my opponent was better and today he definitely was,” added the Canadian.

Scheffler heroics not enough in tense Pebble Beach finish Morikawa ends trophy drought

C OLLIN MORIKAWA claimed a tense victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California yesterday, fending off a final day charge by top-ranked Scottie Scheffler that included three eagles. Double major-winner Morikawa had not triumphed on the PGA Tour since 2023, but started the day in joint second and birdied the final hole in blustery conditions to win by a stroke on 22-under par. “It’s special for a lot of reasons,” said Morikawa, who used his win to announce that he and his wife are expecting their first child. “We just started telling people this week, and we said, ‘what better way, to just come out and win,” he said. Back in the state where he was born and raised, Morikawa had pulled clear of a crowded leaderboard down the stretch with a superb 30-foot putt for birdie on the 15th, and another birdie on 16. With benign conditions turning gusty in the final hour, Morikawa hooked his tee shot on 17 and could only manage a bogey from the ocean side rough. He faced an agonising 20-minute wait on the 18th fairway as Jacob Bridgeman, in the preceding group, played a shot from the beach that cracked off a cliff and back into the ocean. But a birdie on 18 was enough to seal a single-stroke win over Australia’s Min Woo Lee and Austria’s Sepp Straka, with Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood a further shot back. announce it to the world,’ if I was able to

“I tried to look out in the ocean as many times as I can. I love being out here,” said Morikawa, of the delay. “Pebble Beach… not many places can beat this place in the world.” Lee – chasing his second PGA Tour win, after a debut victory last March in Houston – shot 65, finishing with bird ies on the final two holes. But the day’s best round came from world No. 1 Scheffler, who started the final round eight shots off the lead in joint 22nd, and made a remark a b l e charge up the leaderboard. He began in blistering form with two eagles and three birdies in his first seven holes. “Anytime you’ve got three eagles in one round, good things are happen ing… Proud of the way I played today,” said Scheffler. Defending champion Rory McIlroy also had a superb final round, carding 64, but was never in contention after three doubles and a triple bogey ear lier this week. “I wish I could have those four holes back this week. I played 68 really good ones,” said McIlroy. “But all in all, some really good stuff this week. Pretty encouraged going into next week for sure,” added the world No. 2. Overnight leader Akshay Bhatia was unable to continue his push as a level-par 72 left him on 19-under. Morikawa’s two major victories came at the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship. Wins have dried up in recent years, and he started this season’s tour with a missed cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, before exploding back into form at Pebble Beach. – AFP

Collin Morikawa tees off at the 18th hole during the final round of the 2026 Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California yesterday. – AFPPIC

Emotional Kim captures first title in 16 years AN “overwhelmed” Anthony Kim out played two-time major winner Jon Rahm to capture his maiden LIV Golf title on Sunday and first on any tour since 2010 to complete an amazing redemption story. with a faultless round. In front of bumper crowds and a carnival atmosphere, he finished at 23 under, three clear of Spain’s Rahm, who never really got going, mixing two birdies with a bogey in his 71.

World Tour. He paid tribute to his family for helping him through the hard times and to his first win since the Houston Open in 2010. “It’s been overwhelming,” he said. “But I’m never not going to fight for my family. “God gave me a talent. I was able to produce some good golf today. I knew it was coming. “Nobody else has to believe in me, but me. And for anybody that’s strug gling, you can get through anything.” – AFP

three-time PGA Tour winner and for mer world No. 6 who retired from golf in 2012. After battling drug and alcohol addiction and suicidal thoughts, he returned to the sport in 2024 as a wild card on the Saudi-backed LIV Tour. He was relegated last season but earned his way back at last month’s LIV Golf Promotions when he claimed one of three qualifying spots. Kim then got offered a full-time position with Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC for the 2026 season when Patrick Reed suddenly quit to play on the DP

American DeChambeau, also a two-time major winner, suffered a hor ror round with four bogeys in six holes on the front nine to slide down the leaderboard. He finished tied for third, six off the pace, with Tyrrell Hatton and Peter Uihlein. Victory capped an incredible come back by Kim – a Ryder Cup champion,

The 40-year-old American, a one time alcoholic, fired a 9-under 63, surg ing home with five birdies on the back nine to claim victory in Adelaide by three strokes. He began the day five behind for mer world No. 1 Rahm and fellow over night leader Bryson DeChambeau, but reeled them in at Grange Golf Club