Sports
Novak Djokovic back on top Down Under, win Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic found this trip to Australia far less complicated, and far more successful, than that of a year ago.
Unable to enter his best event in 2022 after being deported from the country because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, Djokovic accomplished all he could have wanted in his return: He resumed his winning ways at Melbourne Park and made it back to the top of tennis.
Only briefly challenged in the final on Sunday night, Djokovic was simply better at the most crucial moments and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) for a record-extending 10th Australian Open championship and record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title overall. As a bonus, Djokovic will vault from No. 5 to No. 1 in the ATP rankings, a spot he already has held for more weeks than any other man.
“He’s the greatest that has ever held a tennis racket,” Tsitsipas said.
Djokovic stretched his unbeaten streak in Melbourne to 28 matches, the longest run at the tournament for a man in the Open era, which dates to 1968. He adds trophy No. 10 there to the seven from Wimbledon, three from the U.S. Open — where he also was absent last year because of no coronavirus shots — and two at the French Open, to match rival Rafael Nadal for the most by a man in tennis history.
Margaret Court, with 24, Serena Williams, with 23, and Steffi Graf, with 22, have the most among women.This was also the 93rd ATP tour-level title for Djokovic, allowing the 35-year-old from Serbia to break a tie with Nadal for the fourth-most. Jimmy Connors holds that mark, at 109.
Djokovic was participating in his 33rd major final, Tsitsipas in his second — and the 24-year-old from Greece’s other one also ended in a loss to Djokovic, at the 2021 French Open.
He was superior throughout against Tsitsipas, but especially so in the two tiebreakers. He took a 4-1 lead in the first and after it was 4-all, pulled off three points in a row. He led 5-0 in the closing tiebreaker and, when it finished, he pointed to his temple then climbed into the stands, pumped his fist and jumped with his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and other members of the entourage, and collapsed, crying.
Little doubt this is of no solace to Tsitsipas, but there is no shame in failing to defeat Djokovic in Melbourne. Challenging his dominion on those blue hard courts is every bit the monumental task that taking on Nadal on the red clay at Roland Garros is.
Perhaps surprisingly, Tsitsipas was willing to engage in the kind of leg-wearying, lung-searing back-and-forths upon which Djokovic has built his superlative career. How did that work out? Of points lasting at least five strokes, Djokovic won 43, Tsitsipas 30,
Then again, on those rare occasions that Tsitsipas did charge the net, he likely regretted the choice, because Djokovic often conjured up a passing shot that was too tough to handle.
One of Djokovic’s many other strengths is his return game, and he accumulated three break points within 17 minutes, converting the last for a quick 3-1 lead when Tsitsipas double-faulted.
The trophy for which they were playing was displayed on a pedestal near a corner of the court, and both men would get within reach of it whenever wandering over to towel off between points at that end.So close, yes, but for Tsitsipas, never truly close enough.
It’s not as though Tsitsipas played all that poorly, other than a rash of early miscues that seemed to be more a product of tension than anything.
It’s that Djokovic was, put simply, too good. Too accurate with his strokes — making merely 22 unforced errors, 20 fewer than his foe — and anticipation. Too speedy and flexible chasing shots (other than on one second-set point, when, running to his left, Djokovic took a tumble). Too dangerous with his returns and damaging enough with his serves.
Djokovic pushes and pushes and pushes some more, until it’s the opponent who is something less than perfect on one shot, either missing or providing an opening to pounce.There has been more than forehands and backhands on Djokovic’s mind over the past two weeks.
There was the not-so-small matter of last year’s legal saga — he has alternately acknowledged the whole thing served as a form of motivation but also said the other day, “I’m over it” — and curiosity about the sort of reception he would get.He heard a ton of loud support, but also dealt with some persistent heckling while competing, including applause after the faults Sunday.
There was the sore left hamstring that has been heavily bandaged for every match — until the final, that is, when only a single piece of beige athletic tape was visible — and had worried him at the beginning of Week 1, prompting him to turn to what he said was “a lot” of pain-killing pills and other treatments he didn’t detail.
And then there was the more complicated matter of his father, Srdjan, being filmed with a group of people with Russian flags — one with an image of Vladimir Putin — after Djokovic’s quarterfinal victory. The tournament banned spectators from bringing in flags of Russia or Belarus, saying they would cause disruption because of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Both Djokovic and his father said it was a misunderstanding, based on Srdjan thinking he was with a group of Serbian fans.
Because of that episode, Srdjan Djokovic did not attend his son’s semifinal victory over Tommy Paul on Friday, and was not seen in the Djokovic guest box on Sunday.No matter any of it, Djokovic managed to excel as he so often does, winning 17 sets in a row after ceding one in the second round last week.
(ESPN)
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IPL 2025: Kohli and Hazlewood break Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home duck as Rajahstan Royals botch another chase
At some point, you’d think the toss gods would show Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a little mercy at home. But once again, the coin turned its back on Rajat Patidar. This time, though, the bad luck ended right there as they posted 205 for 5, their highest total at home this season. For all that, another heartbreak loomed, but RCB turned it around sensationally to clinch their first home win – and perhaps their most dramatic win at any venue – of IPL 2025.
The losing side were Rajasthan Royals (RR), who came into this contest having let back-to-back games slip out of their control in the final over. Their tension seemed to have defused when Dhruv Jurel , having scratched his way to 18 off 23, found his hitting range, and when he and Shubnam Dubey ransacked 22 off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 18th over, the equation came down to 18 off 12.
Then came Josh Hazelwood. He was ice-cold in the moment, producing a masterful 19th over of unhittably steep bounce – conceding just one run and taking two wickets, of Jurel and Jofra Archer in successive balls.
It was left to Yash Dayal, the same man who had held his nerve in a now-legendary last over to deliver their previous home win, against Chennai Super Kings last season. And he delivered as RR lost by 11 runs after having the chase in their grasp for so long.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted. RCB had finally found their voice at home and, with it, a long-overdue win that put them in the top three. For RR, this was a fifth straight loss that left them on the brink.
With 17 needed off ten, Hazlewood conjured a moment of magic – a pinpoint wide yorker that Dhruv Jurel shaped to scythe but appeared to miss. With little conviction, Patidar opted for a caught-behind review. Technology confirmed what only Jurel might have known – a faint under edge that carried low to Jitesh Sharma. A seemingly innocuous dot turned into a game-changing strike.
Jurel, who had weathered a slow start and was just beginning to ignite, walked back, and with him went RR’s best hope. But Hazlewood wasn’t done. He cranked up a hard-length ball next that cramped Archer for room. It was as if Archer had been served a dish of his own, cold. The ball ballooned to cover, where Patidar pouched it gleefully.
If Hazlewood’s final over, the 19th, was theatre, his penultimate over was no less telling. Having seen balls angled across the left-handers disappear, he went around the wicket to Shimron Hetmyer and pounded the surface with venom. Hetmyer tried to nudge him away but only managed a feather of an inside edge through to Jitesh. Only six runs came off that over, the 17th, and RCB’s grip got firm.
Long before the chaos of the death overs, RR were cruising. Yzshaswi Jaiswal had lit the Chinnaswamy up with a power-packed 49 off 19, and Nitish Rana was stroking it with finesse. At 110 for 2 in nine overs, the chase seemed to be on autopilot.
It’s here that Krunal Pandya was summoned and he delivered a breakthrough first ball when Riyan Parag, looking to muscle a slog sweep, only managed a top edge that settled into Jitesh’s gloves.
At the other end, Suryash Sharma was equally impressive. Mixing up quick, skiddy legbreaks with the odd wrong’un, he kept the pressure on. RR managed just one boundary from the tenth to the 13th overs. Under rising pressure, Rana went for a release shot in the 14th, only for Bhuvneshwar to pluck a catch on the second attempt at short fine leg. Krunal now had figures of 3-0-19-2. The strangle was on.
Half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal laid a strong foundation after Phil Salt’s scratchy 26 off 23, while a late dash from Tim David and Jitesh lifted RCB to 205 for 5. Kohli overcame a streaky start to get to a composed fifty in 32 balls. His early duel with a fiery Archer was, in particular, thrilling. Meanwhile, Padikkal made the most of two dropped chances to notch up a second straight half-century.
Just as the platform was set for a lift-off, RR struck back, removing Kohli, Padikkal, and Patidar in quick succession. But David and Jitesh picked up 42 runs in just 19 balls to cap the innings with a flourish. In a match that swung wildly from one side to the other, those closing overs turned out to be the difference between a defendable total and yet another heartbreak.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 205 for 5 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 26, Virat Kohli 70, Devudutt Padikkal 50, Tim David 23, Jitesh Sharma 20*; Jofra Archer 1-33, Sandeep Sharma 2-45, Wanidu Hasaranga 1-30) beat Rajasthan Royals 194 for 9 in 20 overs (Yashaswi Jaiswal 49, Vaibhav Suriyavanshi 16, Nitish Rana 28, Riyan Parag 22, Dhruv Jurel 47, Shimron Hetmyer 11, Shubham Dubey 12; Josh Hazlewood 4-33, Bhuveneshwar Kumar 1-50, Yash Dayal 1-33, Krunal Pandya 2-31) by 11 runs
[Cricinfo]
Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading connectivity provider and long-standing patron of school sports, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development by once again partnering with the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) to power the 2025 Under-19 School Rugby Season.
In a break from tradition, this year’s tournament will begin with the prestigious President’s Trophy Knock-Out Tournament, which kicks off on 25th April, featuring sixteen top rugby-playing schools. The League Tournament will follow, drawing over 2,500 players from 90 schools, making it one of the largest school sporting events in the country.
The 2025 season promises a festival of school rugby, spread across premier venues in Colombo. The Knock-Out Tournament will spotlight the best young talent Sri Lanka has to offer, culminating in a grand finale on 18th May at Sugathadasa Stadium.
Opening day fixtures on 25th April will see Wesley College take on St. Joseph’s College at Royal Grounds, while Dharmaraja College meets D.S. Senanayake College at CR&FC Grounds. Both matches begin at 4:15 PM.
A blockbuster Saturday awaits on 26th April, with four matches lined up. At CR&FC Grounds, S. Thomas’ College face Science College at 3:30 PM, followed by Trinity College vs. St. Anthony’s College at 6:30 PM. Simultaneously, two more games kick off at 4:15 PM — Zahira College vs. Vidyartha College at Havelock Grounds and Sri Sumangala versus defending champions Isipathana College at Royal Grounds.
The opening weekend concludes on 27th April, with St. Peter’s College versus Thurstan College at Royal Grounds and Royal College versus Kingswood College at CR&FC Grounds, both kicking off at 4:15 PM.
The quarter-finals will be held on 3rd and 4th May, followed by semi-finals on 9th and 11th May, with the season climaxing in the final at Sugathadasa Stadium.
As the principal sponsor, Dialog Axiata has ensured comprehensive coverage of the tournament. All matches will be broadcast live on Dialog Television via ThePapare TV (Channels 62 & 63) and ThePapare TV HD (Channels 126 & 127). Fans can also tune in via Dialog ViU and ThePapare.com, enabling students, alumni, parents, and supporters to follow the action from anywhere.
At the official sponsorship handover Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC, presented the sponsorship cheque to Kamal Ariyasinghe, President of the SLSRFA and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education. Also in attendance were Harsha Samaranayake (Vice President – Brand & Media, Dialog Axiata) and SLSRFA officials Chanaka Dhananjaya (Treasurer), Manuja Nimmana (Secretary) and Nirodha Wijerama (Tournament Secretary).
Sports
Harsha requests for Sports Ministry and Sri Lanka Athletics mediation to take part in Indian Grand Prix
Reigning national champion in the men’s 800 metres, Harsha Karunaratne has requested Sri Lanka Athletics and the Ministry of Sports to provide him with the opportunity to compete in the upcoming Indian Grand Prix 2 utilizing his own funds in a bid to produce a top performance.
Sri Lanka Athletics did not pick Karunaratne for the South Asian Athletics Championship which has now been postponed after being placed second at the selection trial. He had competed within a week after recovering from an illness. His non selection sparked controversy prompting his coach Susantha Fernando to vehemently criticize the track and field governing body.
G.K. Chathuranga who won the event at the selection trial held early last month and second placed Karunaratne were separated only by milliseconds. While Chathuranga returned a time of 1:49.89 seconds, Karunaratne clocked 1:49.98 seconds.
In his letter addressed to the Sports Minister, the Director of Sports and Sri Lanka Athletics Karunaratne requests the authorities to mediate on his behalf to take part in the Indian Grand Prix 2 taking place in Thrivendram, India on May 17.Karunaratne has stated that he has no opportunity in Sri Lanka now to prove that he has the ability to produce a better timing. “
“I am confident that I have the ability to run below 1:48.00. But there is no opportunity for me to produce such a feat here in SriLanka,” states Karunaratne in his letter. “I am greatfull to you if you could provide me with the opportunity. I am ready to bear the full cost.”
Athletes need the approval of the governing body of the sport of their country to take part in such events
. The country’s top athletes receive Sri Lanka Athletics mediation to take part in overseas competitions. . Taking part in such competetive events has stood in good stead for a number of athletes to improve their rankings.
The former Ratnayake Central Walala athlete is the elder brother of Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne. Like his sister, Harsha too excelled at international competitions when he was a youth athlete.He won a silver medal in the 800 metres at the Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok in 2017 before emerging as a top national athlete.
by Reemus Fernando
The opposition is frightened by the thought of becoming irrelevant. – Prime Minister
IPL 2025: Kohli and Hazlewood break Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home duck as Rajahstan Royals botch another chase
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