LONDON: New Al-Hilal coach Zoran Mamic cannot wait to face his old club Al-Ain when the two Arab giants face each other in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
The Croatian replaced Jorge Jesus as coach of Al-Hilal last month, poached from UAE champions Al-Ain. And just weeks into his time in the dugout of the Riyadh club Mamic is set to come face-to-face with his old side.
For some that would be daunting — the extra incentive in such a big clash adding spice to an already much-anticipated clash — but Mamic is embracing what is already a huge challenge.
“I am happy to play the first match of the AFC Champions League against my former team, Al-Ain,” the 47-year-old said.
“It won’t be an easy match (but) I hope to make history by beating Al-Ain in Al-Ain.”
The Group C opener pits the runaway leaders of the Saudi Pro League against the UAE champions who made it all the way to the FIFA Club World Cup final in December. Since then, however, they have fallen eight points behind table-topping Sharjah in the Arabian Gulf League and come into the clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Shabab Al-Ahli.
Added to that the AFC Champions League is the one trophy Al-Hilal want to win — the Riyadh giants having splashed the cash to bring quality players such as Bafetimbi Gomis and Sebastian Giovinco to the club.
But while Al-Hilal go into the continental clash as slight favorites Mamic is taking nothing for granted.
“Regardless of their current situation Al-Ain have the ability to overcome current setbacks, they have outstanding players,” the club’s former boss said.
“They are going through difficult circumstances but everything can change in one match.”
With another Saudi Pro League title expected Mamic will be judged on how Al-Hilal perform in the AFC Champions League. Last season they feel at the first hurdle, with a early exit in the group stage, a poor start in the competition contributed to Ramon Diaz’s sacking. Keen to avoid the same fate Mamic has called on his players to get off to a great start.
“It is important to start the competition with a victory,” the Croatian said.
“We are going to go all out for the three points.”
Al-Hilal coach Zoran Mamic cannot wait to face old club Al-Ain in AFC Champions League opener
Al-Hilal coach Zoran Mamic cannot wait to face old club Al-Ain in AFC Champions League opener
- Croatian returns to Al-Ain barely a month after leaving club for Riyadh giants.
- Happy he can return to club he led to much success.
Siniakova ends Andreeva Indian Wells defense in third round
- Siniakova, a former doubles number one, will face either Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina or American Ashlyn Krueger for a place in the quarter-finals
INDIAN WELLS, United States: Unseeded Katerina Siniakova ended a frustrated Mirra Andreeva’s Indian Wells title defense on Monday, rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the eighth-ranked Russian.
The 18-year-old Andreeva had opened her repeat bid with an imperious 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Solana Sierra.
But she was in trouble early and often against 44th-ranked Siniakova in a rollercoaster contest that featured seven service breaks for each player and 43 break chances between them.
When she sailed a swinging volley long to surrender the second set, Andreeva threw her racquet in disgust.
She regrouped to break Siniakova for a 3-2 lead in the third, but Siniakova won the next four games.
The Czech saved a pair of break points in the final game before sealing the match with a shot that struck the net cord and dribbled over as Andreeva could only watch, disappointment sparking another outburst from the Russian as she departed the court.
Siniakova, a former doubles number one, will face either Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina or American Ashlyn Krueger for a place in the quarter-finals.
In other early matches, fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula shook off a slow start to beat Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Pegula, coming off her fourth career WTA 1000 title at Dubai last month, fired 11 aces with just one double fault as she rallied for the win.
“I think today I had to kind of snap myself back and kind of lock in to not let that get away from me,” said Pegula, who said she was in danger of letting negativity and frustration get the better of her.
“I didn’t think I was playing bad. It was just letting a couple chances, couple breaks here and there (get away), maybe a couple shots that I could have been more aggressive on.”
Later on Stadium Court, world number two Iga Swiatek took on Greece’s Maria Sakkari — the woman she beat in the Indian Wells finals in 2022 and 2024.
Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, who lifted the Indian wells Trophy in 2023, played Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final match of the night.
