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Djokovic flying the flag for the ‘older guys’ amid generational shift

Novak Djokovic acknowledges the generational shift in tennis that has brought a new crop of players into the limelight but the 24-time Grand Slam champion says he has no intention of quietly fading into the background. The 37-year-old won three out of the four major titles in 2023 but has not been able to reproduce that kind of form since, being shut out of the game’s biggest tournaments last year as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz took two apiece. With the retirements of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray, Djokovic is the last member of the “Big Four” still standing and the Serb said he wanted to continue giving to the sport. “The last 20 years were dominated mostly by the four of us and when three of my biggest rivals retired you can feel there’s a shift,” Djokovic said at the Madrid Open. “Not only in terms of the generations of players (who now have) the main focus and attention on them, but it takes a bit of time for people to accept the fact that Roger and Rafa are not playing, and Murray, and one day myself. “But I’m still trying to stay and represent the older guys, the older generation.

Iga Swiatek Survives Alexandra Eala Scare To Start Madrid Open Defence

Defending Madrid Open champion Iga Swiatek survived a scare to beat rising teenage star Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the third round in the Spanish capital. The 19-year-old Filipina, who beat Swiatek in straight sets on a shock run to the Miami Open semi-finals in March, claimed the first set as the world number two struggled. Swiatek, who has been below her best so far this season, found her rhythm in the second set and eventually downed Eala, ranked 72nd, with ease in the third. "It wasn't easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing and I'm happy that I was just patient," Swiatek told Spanish broadcaster TVE.

Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

BENGALURU, India: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood starred with 4-33 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 11 run IPL win at home against Rajasthan Royals, who won the toss and chose to field first Thursday. Chasing 206 to win after Bengaluru’s 205-5, Rajasthan looked comfortable before Dhruv Jurel was dismissed by Hazlewood in the 19th over of the chase. Jurel scored a 34-ball 47 and was removed with 17 needed off 9 balls for the win. Hazlewood removed England’s Jofra Archer on the next ball, leaving Royals reeling with 17 needed off the final over. Earlier, Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a 42-ball 70 to steer Bengaluru to a par score on a batting friendly Bengaluru wicket. Openers Kohli and Phil Salt raced to 59-0 in the powerplay before Salt was removed on 26 in the seventh over with the team on 61-1. Kohli then built an important 95 run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal before finally falling in the 16th over to Archer. Padikkal, who was batting very well, fell soon after a 27-ball 50, with Bengaluru on 161-3. Quick wickets toward the end took away the momentum before key cameos by Tim David (23) and Jitesh Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 20. Archer was Rajasthan’s standout bowler and finished with 33-1.

PSL X: Babar’s 50 helps Peshawar Zalmi cruise to 7-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars

ISLAMABAD: Spurred on by a stellar half-century by skipper Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi beat Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets to register their second victory of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X edition in Lahore on Thursday. Zalmi were set a modest total of 130 runs after Azam’s side bowled out the Qalandars for a modest 129 runs in 19.2 overs. Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the Zalmi bowlers with 3/15 figures while Luke Wood and Hussain Talat returned figures of 2/25 and 2/18, respectively. The “Yellow Storm” ran into difficult earlier on during their chase, losing opener Saim Ayub for just 2 runs while star batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell for a duck. Azam kept his cool, scoring 56 runs from 42 balls and building partnerships with Mohammad Haris (20 off 16) and Hussain Talat (51 off 37) to see his team to the end. “Not an ideal start for our home leg,” the Qalandars wrote on social media platform X. “Overwhelmed with the support of our home crowd, we will come back stronger!“

Dortmund’s Gross and Beier doubtful for Hoffenheim clash, says coach

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund will likely be without the injured Pascal Gross and Maximilian Beier when they travel to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, coach Niko Kovac said on Thursday. Dortmund, in seventh place with four games left to play, are desperate for a top-four finish to secure a Champions League spot for next season. They have won three of their last four league matches and drew against Bayern Munich, as they battle to make up for lost ground earlier in the season. “Gross has knee ligament problems,” Kovac told a press conference in Dortmund. “I still have some hope but honestly I don’t think he will make it. “Maxi is a similar case. He did not train.

Federer to serve as Le Mans starter

Roger Federer will serve as official starter for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans sportscar race in June, organisers said on Thursday.

Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defense

MADRID: Defending Madrid Open champion Iga Swiatek survived a debut scare to beat rising teenage star Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the third round in the Spanish capital. The 19-year-old Filipino, who beat Swiatek in straight sets on a shock run to the Miami Open semifinals in March, claimed the first set as the world number two struggled. Swiatek, who has been below her best so far this season, found her rhythm in the second set and eventually downed Eala, ranked 72nd, with ease in the third. “It wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing and I’m happy that I was just patient,” Swiatek told Spanish broadcaster TVE. “I always love playing here, for sure I’m proud of my performances in the last two years.” Eala broke Swiatek in the first game and produced two battling holds on her first two service games, saving two break points in each as the Pole hunted for a way back in. The exciting Filipino saved another break point in the sixth game before breaking Swiatek to love for a 5-2 lead in the Madrid sun. Clay court expert Swiatek recovered a break but Eala was able to serve out her advantage, capturing her third set point when the five-time Grand Slam champion sent a backhand long. Swiatek only converted one of six first-set break points against the resilient Eala, who won both of hers. The teenager again broke in the first game of the second set, but this time Swiatek, who has four French Open titles, was able to respond immediately. When Eala broke again for a 3-2 lead, Swiatek followed suit to get back on serve, with the Pole raising her level toward the end of the second set. She broke to love in the 10th game to force a deciding set and sped through it, securing breaks in the second

'Go Habs Go' has got to go: STM to support sports teams en français only

Montreal's transit agency will be removing the word "Go" from its electronic displays when supporting local sports teams to comply with a directive from Quebec's French-language watchdog. The move is raising eyebrows of even the most ardent defenders of the French language at the National Assembly.

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France Sport News

Djokovic flying the flag for the ‘older guys’ amid generational shift

Iga Swiatek Survives Alexandra Eala Scare To Start Madrid Open Defence

Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

PSL X: Babar’s 50 helps Peshawar Zalmi cruise to 7-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars

Dortmund’s Gross and Beier doubtful for Hoffenheim clash, says coach

Federer to serve as Le Mans starter

Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defense

'Go Habs Go' has got to go: STM to support sports teams en français only