PARIS: With five rookies in their Ryder Cup team this week, Europe will need the new boys to fire, and in the charismatic Jon Rahm they may have found a man up to the task.
At 23, the Spaniard will be the youngest player featuring in the 42nd edition of the event at Le Golf National, after an incredible rise since turning professional two years ago.
Rahm has won titles in both Europe and the US and is now ranked eighth in the world, and he isn’t intimidated by the prospect of taking on the star-studded Americans in front of thousands of fans.
“I can’t wait to get the Ryder Cup started, to be honest, and I can’t explain what that first tee is going to be like,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“The only time I’ve seen stands this big is in a football stadium.”
Rahm is not one to shirk away from the limelight and is known to be an emotional character on the golf course, which can often help a player take to the Ryder Cup.
He is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots and European stars Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia, and is already becoming a “vocal” figure in the team room, according to Rory McIlroy.
“He definitely has the fire of a Seve. He’s got that passion that the Spanish are known for,” said the four-time major champion.
“We’ve had this WhatsApp group going, all the Ryder Cup players and vice-captains and captains for the last few weeks, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at Jon’s input into it.
“I wasn’t quite as vocal in my first Ryder Cup as he’s been, but I wasn’t as good a player in my first Ryder Cup as he is.”
Rahm laughed off McIlroy’s comments, saying he had already fallen victim to the Northern Irishman’s sense of humor.
“We have funny moments. Yesterday, for example, after the round, after Rory drove it past me 50 yards on pretty much every hole, I was on the physio table after the round with needles in me,” Rahm said.
“Because of jet-lag, I was completely asleep. So Rory, he decided it was a perfect time to take a picture in my underwear and post it on the chat and say I couldn’t handle him hitting it past me every single drive.
The form of a bullish Rahm, who says that Eminem’s new album has been getting him in the mood this week, will be key to Europe’s chances of being the lucky ones this week.
Eminem, WhatsApp jokes keeping Jon Rahm calm ahead of Ryder Cup debut
Eminem, WhatsApp jokes keeping Jon Rahm calm ahead of Ryder Cup debut
Alcaraz and Sabalenka set sights on Australian Open fourth round
- Spanish world number one Alcaraz came through a tough three-set arm-wrestle in round two
- Top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova
MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka return to the Australian Open battlefield on Friday with fourth round berths at stake, joined in the fight by third seeds Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev.
Spanish world number one Alcaraz came through a tough three-set arm-wrestle in round two and faces another tricky encounter against French 32nd seed Corentin Moutet.
The 22-year-old has again been handed an afternoon match on Rod Laver Arena, once more following Sabalenka on to Melbourne Park’s center court.
The Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova to kick-off day six where temperatures are forecast to soar.
Alcaraz, who is bidding for a career Grand Slam of all four majors, said his testing 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Yannick Hanfmann in round two served him well.
“I’m still getting used to the conditions, getting used to playing better,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner.
“Just happy that I’m just improving every day after every match. So hopefully being better in the next round.”
Alcaraz has never gone past the quarter-finals in his four trips to Australia.
Should he beat Moutet, he will meet either American 19th seed Tommy Paul or Spanish 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to make the last eight once again.
Sabalenka, as the overwhelming favorite, was upset by Madison Keys in last year’s final but insists revenge is not her motivation.
“I look at each match as a new match, new opportunity. I have also been working really hard,” she said.
“For me, it doesn’t matter what was in the past. For me, it’s the new match.”
Like Sabalenka, Gauff has been impressive so far, saying she was “near perfect” in making the third round.
She faces fellow American Hailey Baptiste, ranked 70, on Margaret Court Arena.
World number three Gauff takes to the court after Russia’s three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev, who lines up against Hungary’s Fabian Marozan.
Last year’s beaten finalist Zverev has dropped a set in both his opening two matches and will have a tough encounter in an evening clash on John Cain Arena against British 26th seed Cameron Norrie.
Women’s seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and men’s 10th seed Alexander Bublik are also in action.
Home hope and sixth seed Alex De Minaur has again been awarded the night match on center court, this time against dangerous American Frances Tiafoe.
Eighth seed Mirra Andreeva rounds out the day’s action on Rod Laver Arena in a clash with Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
