Sports

Novak Djokovic seals year-end top spot with ATP Finals win over Rune

Published

4 weeks ago

13/11/2023

Nancy

Novak Djokovic eventually tamed Danish debutant Holger Rune with a 7-6(4) 6-7(1) 6-3 victory in his opening round robin match at the ATP Finals to seal the year-end number one ranking for a record-extending eighth time on Sunday. The 36-year-old Serb was stretched to the limit at times with Rune producing some fireworks for the large evening crowd in Turin’s cavernous Pala Alpitour.

But after an uncharacteristically poor second-set tiebreak, Djokovic made his experience count as he began his quest for a record seventh title at the year-ender.

Earlier on day one, Jannik Sinner made a dream start in front of his home crowd with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Stefanos Tsitsipas in their opening Green Group clash. Djokovic will next face Sinner on Tuesday.

The Serbian’s 19th successive win ended any chance of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz overtaking him in the rankings this week. A sensational first set had the crowd on the edge of their seats with Djokovic edging it on the tiebreak.

But the 20-year-old Rune, who had won in two of their first four meetings, was undeterred and cranked up the power to take the set to another tiebreak which he raced away with.

Djokovic broke early in the deciding set but then handed back the advantage with a poor service game, smashing two rackets during the changeover. Rune wavered again though at 2-3 as he lost his focus and began to rant towards coach Boris Becker.

This time there was no coming back as Djokovic eased home. It took everything. The first game he was firing shots and I knew it would be a tough night,” Djokovic, who now boasts an 18-1 record in his opening match at the tournament, said.

“He played great and I played great in moments. It was an emotional win knowing that I would clinch the world number one. World number four Sinner, who has qualified for the ATP Finals first time having played as an alternate last year, delighted the Italian fans with a superb display.

He served superbly throughout and struck his ground strokes with venom, needing just one service break in each set to wrap up a routine victory.

“It was a long week before coming here and I was excited to finally step on court,” the 22-year-old Sinner said. “I knew it would be tough, but I think I answered the questions really well. It’s a special week, such an incredible feeling playing here with the roof closed and the crowd.

Source: eNCA

In other news – The Marvels disappoints MCU with the poorest opening in 15 years

The all-female ensemble Marvel movie The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, has had the poorest opening of any Marvel Cinematic Universe production. Deadline reported that on its first day of release, the Nia DaCosta’s superhero film only brought in $21.5 million in revenue to the North American box office.

The $200 million budget movie could only earn $47 million on its opening weekend, which turns out to be the lowest of any MCU film in its fifteen years of production. Read more

Sports

ZESCO United seek five in a row in MTN Super League

Published

2 days ago

08/12/2023

Nancy

ZESCO United will hope to make it five wins in a row when they welcome Forest Rangers in an Ndola Derby in the MTN Super League, having already opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table. But counting against them is an odd piece of history in this fixture – their having only been five home wins in matches between these two sides in their last 29 meetings.

That is an exceptionally low count, but perhaps it is the fact that neither side has far to go for games and they have in the past shared the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, but that does not really explain why the team listed away should enjoy three times more success (15 wins) in clashes between the teams.

Rangers have had a middling type of season, with four wins, four defeats and six draws, they sit 10th in the 18-team league. They have also both scored and conceded 15 goals.

Second-placed Nkwazi have lost only two of their 14 games so far as they welcome a NAPSA Stars side hovering just above the relegation zone. Stars are also still seeking a first away win (D2 L5) while Nkwazi are unbeaten on their own patch (W4 D3).

There has not been much to choose between the sides in their last nine meetings at Nkwazi, with three wins each and three draws.

Red Arrows have risen to third but remain inconsistent as they go away to ZANACO this weekend. Five of the last six meetings between the sides have been drawn, including the previous three.

FC MUZA are winless in four (D2 L2) after an excellent start to the season and have a tricky away day at Green Buffaloes, who have yet to lose on their own patch (W4 D3).

MUZA are the second highest scorers in the division with 19 goals, behind only ZESCO (23), so they know the way to goal and will hope for success.

Nkana FC got a win last time out to move to within two points of safety, but need to back it up with more as they go to Kansanshi Dynamos. Two of their three wins this season have come on the road, so they can take some confidence from that statistic.

Defending champions Power Dynamos just have not managed to get into second gear this campaign as they welcome bottom side Trident. Perhaps this is the time to change that, with the visitors still yet to register a win (D9 L5).

In other matches, Kabwe Warriors host Mutondo Stars, Green Eagles welcome Prison leopards and Mufulira Wanderers travel to Konkola Blades

Source: Supersport

Sports

Williams confirm Sargeant to stay with F1 team in 2024

Published

1 week ago

03/12/2023

Nancy

Williams have confirmed American driver Logan Sargeant will stay with the Formula One team next season. The British outfit have opted to retain Sargeant for a second campaign despite his troubled 2023 season. The 22-year-old, who scored just one point throughout the season, will race alongside Alex Albon, with the London-born Thai’s place already announced.

“I am thrilled to be continuing with Williams Racing for the 2024 season,” Sargeant said on Friday. It has been an incredible journey with the team so far and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue developing as a driver within such a talented and dedicated group.

“We have exciting plans for the future and I can’t wait to contribute to the team’s success in the coming year.”Sargeant claimed his maiden point in Formula One, the first American to score in the sport since Michael Andretti 30 years ago for McLaren, after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from the United States Grand Prix in Austin in October.

Albon finished the year with an impressive 27 points to help Williams land seventh in the constructors’ championship, the team’s best result for six seasons.

“I am pleased to continue our journey with Logan into 2024,” said team principal James Vowles.

“Logan has demonstrated immense skill while under the pressure of the world stage, making him a perfect fit for our team. We have great confidence in his abilities and believe that together we can achieve even greater success in the upcoming season. The Formula One season will start in Bahrain on 2 March.

Source: Supersport

In other news – Zingah announces taking a break from his podcast

Zingah announces taking a break from his podcast, Choppin It With Bhuda T. The South African rapper announced quitting music two years ago, and shortly after that, he began the podcast which ran for two seasons.