Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters
Carlos Alcaraz has already proven himself one of the brightest stars of his generation, capturing Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces. Now, the 21-year-old Spaniard is set to face the final challenge of his young career at the Australian Open. If he lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in Melbourne, Alcaraz will become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, joining legends like Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, solidifying his place among tennis’ all-time greats. Alcaraz has not advanced past the quarterfinals in his three…
Carlos Alcaraz has already proven himself one of the brightest stars of his generation, capturing Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces. Now, the 21-year-old Spaniard is set to face the final challenge of his young career at the Australian Open. If he lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in Melbourne, Alcaraz will become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, joining legends like Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, solidifying his place among tennis’ all-time greats. Alcaraz has not advanced past the quarterfinals in his three…
Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday he had secured Slovakia’s gas supply during a visit to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, just before Ukraine halted the transit of gas from Russia at the start of 2025. “I needed to secure at a minimum gas for Slovakia’s domestic consumption – which we have secure,” Fico said in a video on Facebook. Fico did not provide more details and the government office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fico has accused Kyiv of damaging Slovakia by not extending a transit deal for Russian gas…
Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian cities of Saratov and Engels, where Russia has an air base for its fleet of strategic bomber planes, the regional governor said on Wednesday. Governor Roman Busargin said the two cities had been subject to a mass drone attack and there was damage to an industrial enterprise. He did not say if the air base at Engels had been hit.
Aryna Sabalenka is the clear favorite to win a third consecutive Australian Open title later this month, but the Belarusian’s rise to world No. 1 came through never underestimating her competition. Undefeated at Melbourne Park since a fourth-round loss to Kaia Kanepi in 2022, the 26-year-old began her season by claiming her 18th career WTA title in Brisbane on Sunday. Sabalenka knows, however, that her winning streak and ranking will mean little to the other 127 women in the draw. To claim a fourth major title on Jan. 25, she’ll need another monumental effort. “Every time you’re out there, you…
Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has made a surprise return to Australia’s Davis Cup squad for their upcoming showdown against Sweden at the end of the month. At 29, Kyrgios has been called up by captain Lleyton Hewitt to join world No. 8 Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson, and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Australian team for the match in Stockholm on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Kyrgios was selected despite struggling with fitness issues since 2022 due to knee, foot, and wrist injuries. His participation in the Australian Open, which begins Sunday, remains uncertain. He cast doubt on his ability…
Former Asian champions Guangzhou FC will miss the 2025 season after the Chinese Football Association denied the eight-time Chinese Super League (CSL) winners permission to compete due to ongoing financial troubles. Once a powerhouse of Chinese football and a symbol of a decade of extravagant spending, Guangzhou is one of three clubs – including CSL side Cangzhou Mighty Lions and third-tier Hunan Xiangtao – ruled ineligible for the upcoming campaign. “The club has made substantial efforts to secure a place in the professional league for the new season, but despite raising funds, historical debts have left us falling short,” Guangzhou…
The situation of three French citizens held in Iran is worsening with some being detained in conditions similar to torture, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, adding that future ties and sanctions lifting would depend on their fate. “The situation of our compatriots held hostage in Iran is simply unacceptable; they have been unjustly detained for several years, in undignified conditions that, for some, fall within the definition of torture under international law,” Jean-Noel Barrot told a conference of French ambassadors. “I say to the Iranian authorities: our hostages must be released. Our bilateral relations and the future of sanctions…
President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday he hopes to have good things to report about hostages in Gaza by the time Trump is sworn in as U.S. president on Jan. 20. “Well, I think we’re making a lot of progress, and I don’t want to say too much because I think they’re doing a really good job back in Doha,” Witkoff said at a Trump press conference in Palm Beach, Florida. Witkoff said that if he did not travel back to Doha on Tuesday night, he would head there on Wednesday night. “I think that…
President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday he hopes to have good things to report about hostages in Gaza by the time Trump is sworn in as U.S. president on Jan. 20. “Well, I think we’re making a lot of progress, and I don’t want to say too much because I think they’re doing a really good job back in Doha,” Witkoff said at a Trump press conference in Palm Beach, Florida. Witkoff said that if he did not travel back to Doha on Tuesday night, he would head there on Wednesday night. “I think that…