DIRIYAH: Tennis champion Daniil Medvedev flies into Saudi Arabia next month to defend his Diriyah Tennis Cup title of 2019, which led to his most successful season ever.
The defending champion and 11 of the world’s best tennis players will compete Dec. 8-10 for the second tournament of the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco.
Having recently become a new father, Medvedev won the inaugural Diriyah Cup in 2019 in impressive fashion, winning every match in straight sets including the final where he defeated Fabio Fognini 6-2.
“It was a great tournament, had great players and I played very good there. I then went on to have the best season of my life at that point,” he said about his first trip to the Kingdom.
“It bought me a lot of confidence for the season ahead and that’s what I’m going to try to do this season,” he added
Since his 2019 win, Medvedev secured his first major victory at the 2021 US Open where he stunned the tennis world with a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. The current world No. 7 also enjoyed a stint as world No. 1 earlier this year.
Most recently, he has enjoyed a personal high after becoming a father for the first time following the birth of his daughter just last month.
“I’m a really happy person in life right now. It’s only good emotions,” he said.
“The experience is amazing. Many people told me that I can only understand this when I have a baby and now I can completely understand. It’s a lot of fun. I’m so happy about it and so grateful to my wife.”
Medvedev is part of a world-class field of 12 preparing for a new season’s first major in Australia with competitive tennis heading to Diriyah for three days across singles and doubles. The likes of Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Cameron Norrie have also been announced in the field.
The 2022 edition will be the biggest line-up to ever play in Saudi Arabia, and the defending champ is encouraging Saudi fans to come and experience the energy courtside in Diriyah.
“Like every other sport, on TV it is beautiful, you can see the energy, you can see everything,” added Medvedev, “but you can feel it sitting courtside, especially with the best players in the world like at the Diriyah Tennis Cup, you can feel the amazing energy.”
Tickets are now available for fans to experience the energy firsthand. For more information and to purchase your ticket, please visit www.diriyahtenniscup.com.
Daniil Medvedev inspired to defend Diriyah Tennis Cup title
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Daniil Medvedev inspired to defend Diriyah Tennis Cup title
- The world No. 7’s Diriyah Tennis Cup 2019 title led to his most successful season ever
- Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Cameron Norrie have also been announced in the field
Newcastle pounce on PSV errors to boost Champions League last-16 bid
- Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes
- PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle climbed into position to reach the Champions League last 16 by punishing PSV Eindhoven’s defensive blunders for a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
Yoane Wissa, on his first Champions League start, and Anthony Gordon struck inside the opening half an hour after the Dutch champions played themselves into trouble.
Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring for his fifth goal in as many games just after the hour mark.
“I thought it was one of our best individual performances from a lot of the players for a while,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes that forced the Brazilian off just before half-time.
Guimaraes could be a big miss for when Howe’s men make the daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final round of league phase fixtures, hoping to secure a top-eight finish.
Newcastle sit in the top eight only on goal difference and will likely need to beat the holders on home soil to avoid the play-off round.
Wissa rewarded Howe’s faith for starting him ahead of Nick Woltemade up front with a goal and an assist on what the DR Congo international described as a “special night.”
Signed from Brentford in September, Wissa spent the majority of his career in the lower tiers of French and English football.
“Honestly, unbelievable. That’s why I joined the club... I almost cried,” said Wissa on hearing the Champions League anthem for the first time on the pitch.
“Very emotional. 29 years old, I never believed to be here and so now I’m enjoying every single minute.”
Wissa swept in his first goal in European competition from Joelinton’s pass after a poor clearance by PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table.
Peter Bosz’s men won 4-1 away at Liverpool and hit Napoli for six earlier in the league phase, but are still at risk of missing out on a place in the top 24, which would secure progress to the play-off round.
The visitors were architects of their own downfall again for the second when Yarek Gasiorowski’s underhit backpass allowed Wissa to square for Gordon to roll into an empty net.
The England international now has six goals in the Champions League this season, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the battle to be the competition’s top goalscorer.
However, a fine half for the home side ended badly when Guimaraes needed lengthy treatment after colliding with Kovar at a corner and was eventually replaced.
Howe’s options in midfield and defense were already depleted by a lengthy injury list amid a gruelling schedule with Newcastle still alive in four competitions.
However, up front he is spoiled for choice with Barnes in fine form since the turn of the year.
The 28-year-old burst through the static PSV defense to fire in his 12th goal of the season 25 minutes from time.
Saudi-backed Newcastle are one of five Premier League teams among the top eight as it stands as the English sides flex their financial muscle in Europe’s elite competition.
But they will have to finish the job against another of the continent’s wealthiest clubs when they travel to Qatari-owned PSG, aiming to deny the holders direct qualification for the last 16.
