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Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out

TOKYO:World number one Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the semifinals of the Japan Open on Sunday with a commanding 6-2 6-4 win over American Brandon Nakashima, while Danish third seed Holger Rune was sent packing by Jenson Brooksby. Alcaraz, who overcame an injury scare in his straight-sets win over Argentine Sebastian Baez in Thursday’s opener, showed scintillating form to dispatch Nakashima for his 65th win of the season, thumping 39 winners in the one-hour 20-minute contest. The 22-year-old Spaniard, fresh from reclaiming top spot in the world rankings after clinching his sixth Grand Slam title at the US Open earlier this month, next faces Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud. Earlier, Ruud blazed past Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic with a clinical 6-3 6-2 win. “These kind of matches help to keep my confidence really, really high. I played some great tennis,” Alcaraz said. “It’s great to go through, to play another semifinal.

Israel PT excluded from Giro dell’Emilia cycling race for ‘security reasons’: organizers

ROME: Israel-Premier Tech have been excluded from the Giro dell’Emilia cycling race on October 4 in Italy for safety reasons, the organizers told AFP on Saturday. Adriano Amici, president of GS Emilia which organizes the one-day race, said the team “will unfortunately not be present at our race. We had to make this decision for reasons of public security.” “There’s too much danger for both the Israel Tech riders and others.

Alcaraz dispels injury fears to reach Tokyo quarter-finals

TOKYO: Carlos Alcaraz admitted his ankle injury had worried him and was on his mind as he beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-3 at the Japan Open on Saturday. The world number one hurt himself two days earlier in his opening match in Tokyo, crumpling to the ground before playing on with his ankle heavily strapped. The Spaniard was left sweating on his fitness but he showed no evidence of discomfort as he returned to the court to beat world number 45 Bergs in front of an adoring Japanese crowd. Alcaraz got the job done in an hour and 20 minutes and will face American Brandon Nakashima in the quarter-finals on Sunday. “I was a bit worried before the match so I just wanted to warm up and let’s see how it’s going to feel,” Alcaraz said. “I didn’t feel anything in the ankle, so after the warm-up I decided I can go and I can play.” Alcaraz took to the court with white strapping visible underneath the sock on his left ankle. He did not appear to be restricted in his movement but he limped briefly after chasing a shot that won Bergs a break early in the first set. “In some movements I’m scared about going crazy so most of the time I take it a little easy,” he said. “Sometimes I feel a little bit the ankle, which I would say is normal.” Alcaraz is playing in Japan for the first time and delighted the crowd with a series of leaping forehand winners, claiming the first set despite having his service broken twice. His service was broken three times overall and he blamed his injury for his lack of accuracy. “I think because my thoughts were on the ankle, I forgot about doing a smooth movement, smooth serve,” he said. Alcaraz raced into an early lead in the second set but Bergs made him work hard for the victory with a gritty

Palestine Olympic chief writes open letter pleading for help to stop Gaza genocide

TOKYO: Lt. Gen.

Indonesian gymnast dies after training accident in Russia

JAKARTA: A 19-year-old Indonesian gymnast and Olympic hopeful died in Russia nearly two weeks after suffering an accident during training, the local federation said. Naufal Takdir Al Bari had been training in the western city of Penza since early September to prepare for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta next month. Naufal suffered a serious neck injury after falling awkwardly into a foam-filled pit while performing a bar exercise, Oleg Minkarsky, director of the sports hall in Penza, told Russian news agency TASS. The gymnast spent 12 days in intensive care but died this week. “Indonesian gymnastics has lost one of its finest sons. This is a deep blow and sorrow for us,” Ita Yuliati, chairperson of Indonesia’s gymnastics federation, said in a statement Friday. “We are currently communicating with his family...

Sinner survives to sink qualifier as Swiatek launches Beijing bid

BEIJING: Jannik Sinner survived a scare to sink French qualifier Terence Atmane 6-4, 7-5, 6-0 at the China Open on Saturday as Iga Swiatek launched her title bid. The world number two Italian Sinner will face 57th-ranked Fabian Marozsan of Hungary in the Beijing quarter-finals. “It was a very tough match today,” four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner said. “I felt like he was serving great.” Sinner said that he lost a bit of concentration during the second set but quickly recovered to steamroll past the 68th-ranked Atmane in the deciding set. “I started off very well in the third set then I saw (Atmane) struggling a bit physically. “It’s not how you want to win a match but very happy to be again in the next round.” Atmane declared it would be a fight with two aces in the first game and made Sinner work for the first set. Atmane sent down six more aces in the second and broke the 24-year-old Sinner to force a deciding set. With the Frenchman flagging, Sinner raced to victory. In the women’s draw, Swiatek breezed past home player Yuan Yue, cruising into round three with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. The world number two from Poland next faces Colombia’s Camila Osorio, ranked 83rd. Swiatek broke early to set the tone for an ultimately one-sided match against Yuan, winning the first set without dropping a game when the wildcard from China fired long. Cheered on by her home crowd, the world no.

Barca’s Flick backs ‘fantastic’ Szczesny, confirms Yamal return

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Saturday he has faith in veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny after first choice stopper Joan Garcia suffered a knee injury. Garcia will have surgery because of a meniscus injury and will miss between between four and six weeks, including Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Garcia was hurt at the end of Thursday’s win at Real Oviedo which left the champions two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid. “It’s not good to not have Joan because he did a fantastic job. It was the last situation in the match against Oviedo.

Sponsor urges Israel Premier Tech cycling team to change their name in face of protests

MADRID: Israel Premier Tech cycling team have been urged by their title sponsor to change their name in the face of pro-Palestinian protests. Riders were targeted at the recent Spanish Vuelta, causing disruption to the Grand Tour event. Spain’s government estimated that more than 100,000 people were on the streets in Madrid during the final stage when protesters criticized the presence of Israel Premier Tech. In a statement reported by Radio Canada, Premier Tech said “the current situation regarding the team’s name is no longer sustainable to achieve our goal.” Premier Tech is a multinational company based in Quebec, Canada. It is the title sponsor of the cycling team co-owned by Israeli Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams. The Spanish Vuelta, which concluded this month, turned into a diplomatic battleground.

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Tennis Sport News

Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out

Israel PT excluded from Giro dell’Emilia cycling race for ‘security reasons’: organizers

Alcaraz dispels injury fears to reach Tokyo quarter-finals

Palestine Olympic chief writes open letter pleading for help to stop Gaza genocide

Indonesian gymnast dies after training accident in Russia

Sinner survives to sink qualifier as Swiatek launches Beijing bid

Barca’s Flick backs ‘fantastic’ Szczesny, confirms Yamal return

Sponsor urges Israel Premier Tech cycling team to change their name in face of protests