PARIS: Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber announced Thursday that she will retire after the Paris Olympics.
The 36-year-old German player won majors at every tournament except for the French Open at Roland Garros — on the same clay courts where she will bid farewell to tennis after the Paris Games. She faces four-time major winner Naomi Osaka of Japan in the first round.
“Before the Olympics begin, l can already say that I will never forget Paris 2024, because it will be my last professional tournament as a tennis player,” Kerber posted on Instagram. “And whereas this might actually be the right decision, it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart and l’m thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me.”
Kerber later confirmed her retirement when speaking briefly on stage after the Olympic tennis draw. Men’s and women’s first-round play begins Saturday.
Kerber won the Australian Open and the US Open in 2016 — the year she reached No. 1 in the rankings — and won Wimbledon two years later.
“Paris 2024 will mark the finish line of the most incredible journey I could have ever dreamed of growing up with a racket in my hand,” Kerber added. “There are many more things I want to say and people to thank, which I will do once I completed my last match. But for now, I will take the time and soak up every second of this final episode on court.”
Three-time major winner Angelique Kerber will retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics
https://arab.news/cgmaw
Three-time major winner Angelique Kerber will retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics
- The 36-year-old German player has won majors at every tournament except for the French Open at Roland Garros
Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad’s club record
- 25-year-old smashed a career best 317 that, coupled with Joe Root’s 262, helped visitors pile 823-7
- With a big 267-run lead over Pakistan in first innings, England then caught the home team napping at 152-6
MULTAN, Pakistan: England’s rising batting star Harry Brook said he was delighted he had finally eclipsed his father’s highest club score, when he hit a triple hundred against Pakistan in Multan on Thursday.
The 25-year-old smashed a career best 317 that, coupled with Joe Root’s 262, helped visitors pile 823-7 declared — fourth highest total in all Test cricket — England’s third best.
With a big 267-run lead over Pakistan in the first innings, England then caught the home team napping at 152-6. At close, Pakistan still needed 115 to avoid an innings defeat on the final day Friday.
Brook said his father’s highest score was the target.
“I just wanted to get past my dad’s high score 210,” said Brook of his father David’s score in a club match for Burnley in 2001.
Brook had missed a chance of surpassing dad’s best when he scored 186 against New Zealand at Wellington last year.
“I said that to you guys before, I was pretty happy when I got past his score, to be honest.”
Brook said he was satisfied to contribute in team’s strong position.
“I am lost for words, to be honest, I’m just happy that the team’s in a in a strong position to win the game tomorrow morning. It’s an incredible thing.”
Brook and Root enjoyed a run feast on a flat Multan stadium pitch, adding a big 454 for the fourth wicket, England’s highest partnership in Tests.
It eclipsed the 411-run fourth-wicket partnership by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.
“It was wonderful batting with Rooty,” said Brook. “We spoke about the game moving forward and going out there after lunch to try and put the foot down and get a decent lead.”
“It makes you feel so comfortable when you’re watching him at the other end, he makes the game look so easy, and he’s playing the ball so late and making the balls look slow.”
Brook completed his triple century with a boundary off part-timer Saim Ayub, reaching the mark off 310 balls before he top-edged a sweep off the same bowler and was caught by Shan Masood.
Brook cracked 29 fours and three sixes in his 439-minute stay at the crease.
It was Brook’s sixth Test century and his fourth against Pakistan following his three in as many Tests when England routed Pakistan 3-0 in 2022.
Saudi Logistics Services partners with Jeddah GT Race 2024
- SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 will take place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Nov. 29 and 30
- SMC’s acting CEO, Mansour Almokbel said: ‘This partnership represents a significant step toward fulfilling our common goals’
JEDDAH: Saudi Motorsport Co. and Saudi Logistics Services have signed a partnership agreement, making SAL the title partner of the inaugural 2024 Jeddah GT Race, it was announced on Thursday.
According to the partnership, SAL will become the main partner for the race that will be renamed SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 scheduled to take place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Nov. 29 and 30.
The six-hour race will be the longest circuit motor race to be staged in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement reaffirms SAL’s commitment to social responsibility and its dedication to supporting the community and the national economy through various initiatives, programs, and collaborations with different entities, such as the SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024.
SMC’s acting CEO, Mansour Almokbel said: “This partnership represents a significant step toward fulfilling our common goals, contributing to achieving the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and improving the quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Thunyan Al-Thunyan, president of logistics solutions at SAL, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Jeddah GT Race 2024 as the title sponsor, in which we collaborate to reflect SAL’s ongoing commitment toward supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, while also showcasing our dedication to excellence and innovation in logistics, by contributing to the success of the motorsports races and other international mega events happening in Saudi Arabia.”
The collaboration will contribute to the advancement of motorsports in Saudi Arabia and further strengthen SAL’s strategic partnership with SMC, which plays a pivotal role in the comprehensive development of motorsports in the region.
The SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 will feature two major global races the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS, and the exciting GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club, which will also include the longest racing event in Saudi Arabia’s history.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate says he won’t coach in the next year
- “I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I’m certain of that,” Southgate said
- “I need to give myself time to make good decisions”
ATHENS: Former England coach Gareth Southgate said Thursday he will be taking a year away from a club or national team job, after speculation he could be a target for Manchester United.
“I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I’m certain of that,” Southgate said during an on-stage interview to an audience of hundreds of soccer officials at a European Club Association meeting.
Southgate stepped down from the England job in July, two days after losing in the final of the European Championship for the second straight tournament. England lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin, three years after losing the title match to Italy in a penalty shootout at its home Wembley Stadium in London.
His eight years in the job transformed England’s record and reputation in international soccer, also reaching a semifinal and quarterfinal at back-to-back World Cups.
Criticized by some fans for being too cautious, Southgate won praise for restoring his players’ enjoyment of being with the national team, protecting them from criticism, and being a thoughtful commentator on social issues during a polarizing period in British society.
“I need to give myself time to make good decisions,” Southgate said. “I’m fortunate that there are lots of opportunities presenting themselves.”
Southgate distanced himself even before Euro 2024 from speculation he could be a target for Man United, which has made a poor start to the season under coach Erik ten Hag.
“Clubs can only be successful if everything is aligned right the way through the club,” said Southgate, whose previous experience of club management was with Middlesbrough, for three years after he finished playing there in 2006.
“And I also know that maybe the smarter people sit in the boardrooms and the coaches are a little bit more dispensable than you think when you’re there,” he said.
The 54-year-old former England defender said he was “at an age where I want to work with good people” and was interested by the business side of soccer.
“I am not just set on being a coach moving forward,” Southgate said, adding he had been asked to speak at Harvard.
England in sight of victory against Pakistan after Harry Brook’s triple hundred
- Brook smashed 317 and Joe Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared
- It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan, with a top order collapse before 50
MULTAN: England’s bowlers sparked a Pakistan batting collapse after a brilliant triple century by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s double hundred had them closing in on victory in the first Test in Multan on Thursday.
Brook smashed 317 and Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared, giving the visitors a 267-run lead.
Pakistan in reply were struggling on 152-6 at the close of the fourth day, with Agha Salman unbeaten on 41 and Aamer Jamal on 27 not out.
The pair added a fighting 70 for the seventh wicket, with the home team still needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Pakistan’s collapse marked a quick turnaround to the match after a flat Multan stadium pitch saw 1,379 runs scored for the loss of just 17 wickets.
Brook and Root earlier put on 454 for the fourth wicket as England piled up the fourth-highest total in Test cricket history.
It was England’s highest in Tests, eclipsing the 411-run fourth-wicket partnership by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.
England declared their innings 33 minutes before tea and Chris Woakes dismissed Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the innings.
It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan as skipper Shan Masood (11), Babar Azam (five) and Saim Ayub (25) were dismissed before the total passed 50.
Masood was dropped twice on five and seven but miscued a shot off pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who also had Azam caught behind with a sharp delivery.
It became 5-59 when Mohammad Rizwan fell for 10 to fast bowler Brydon Carse.
Saud Shakeel and Agha took Pakistan to 82 when spinner Jack Leach came into the act, getting Shakeel caught behind for 29.
Atkinson has figures of 2-28 and Carse 2-39.
Brook and Root enjoyed a run-feast with career-best knocks.
Brook completed his triple century with a boundary off part-timer Ayub, reaching the mark off 310 balls before he top-edged a sweep off the same bowler and was caught by Masood.
“It is amazing,” said the 25-year-old Brook.
“I am lost for words, to be honest, I’m just happy that the team is in a strong position to win the game... It’s been an incredible thing.”
He cracked 29 fours and three sixes in his 439-minute stay at the crease.
Root – who broke Alastair Cook’s England Test run record of 12,472 on Wednesday – fell short of a triple hundred when he was trapped leg-before by Agha after a marathon 10 hour-stay during which he hit 17 fours.
Ayub (2-101) and Naseem Shah (2-157) were the most successful Pakistan bowlers.
England resumed on 492-3 in the morning and looked for quick runs, which Root and Brook provided despite Pakistan’s defensive leg-side bowling, adding 166 runs in 29 overs in the session.
Root’s previous best of 254 was also against Pakistan at Manchester in 2016.
Brook’s previous best was 186, scored against New Zealand at Wellington last year.
Pakistan’s only chance came in the first hour when Root, on 186, failed to keep down a pull shot off Shah but Azam spilled the regulation chance at mid-wicket.
Root took full advantage and with a single off spinner Salman completed his sixth Test double-century, which came in 517 minutes off 305 balls.
Pakistan were without frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed, who suffered a fever and did not take the field on Thursday.
Andy Flower hopes to see more than two UAE players starting in future editions of the DP World ILT20
Andy Flower hopes to see more than two UAE players starting in future editions of the DP World ILT20
- Gulf Giants’ head coach believes the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2024 can transform Emirati cricket
DUBAI: Scouting the right talent at a suitable age is one of the most important aspects of a plan when the aim is to make progress in sport.
For those scouted, game time is important, and there is nothing better than high level cricket tournaments such as the DP World ILT20 for that, according to Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower.
The former international wicketkeeper-batter, now head coach of the Gulf Giants, believes that while the DP World ILT20 can help transform UAE cricket, the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2024 is as important.
Flower is keeping a keen eye on the action at the development tournament currently being played at the ICC Academy Oval 1. The tournament provides competing players an opportunity to seal one of the 12 remaining berths in the six DP World ILT20 Season 3 squads (two squad spots up for grabs in each team).
Flower, who has coached around the world, said: “The DP World ILT20 is brilliant for cricket in the UAE and some of the guys get some excellent exposure from playing with the best players in the world during the tournament. And I expect the coming tournament (DP World ILT20 Season 3) is going to be very similar in standard and in terms of great exposure for the UAE players.
“The extension of that is this tournament (DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2024), and I have come out for a bit of scouting for the Gulf Giants.”
He added: “Watching the players go at it in a highly competitive tournament is a great experience and a motivator for me as well. And a tournament like this is all part of the growth of cricket in the UAE.”
The 56-year-old called the DP World ILT20 crucial for the growth of cricket in the UAE.
He explained: “We have just seen a very apt example in the USA, and their growth as a team there is potential for something similar and more. At the DP World ILT20 there are currently two UAE players per playing XI, and I hope in the future that number grows and that allows for greater experience for the players and, crucially, confidence. That confidence and self-belief at international level is absolutely crucial. And it is at tournaments like the DP World ILT20 where you start to realise the international players are not invincible.”
Formerly the coach of the England cricket team, Flower, who has been watching the tournament from one of the best seats in the house, has been impressed by UAE players such as Aayan Khan, Zuhaib Zubair, Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Wasim, to name a few.
On a scouting trip for the Gulf Giants, who created history by becoming the inaugural champions of the DP World ILT20, the former Zimbabwe captain said: “We are aiming to bring home the trophy again after a sensational first season for the Gulf Giants. Working with the Adanis (team sponsor) was a fantastic experience for us and yes, we would like to do them proud. So, getting to the playoffs is the first step towards real success and strengthening our squad with the UAE players is just a small step in the same direction.
“We have a couple of UAE spinners in our squad, and I am very impressed with them, but we might look to cover a few different skills in terms of filling up the two spots we have for players from the UAE, just to cover all angles in terms of the balance of the squad.
“A specialist batter and quick bowler from the UAE, who know these conditions well, would probably give us more tactical flexibility,” Flower concluded.