Sports
Novak Djokovic unable to travel to New York for US Open
Novak Djokovic says he will be unable to travel to New York for the US Open, which begins on Monday.Djokovic did not defend his Australian Open title in January because his Covid-19 vaccination status led to him being deported from the country.Since October 2021, the United States has banned non-vaccinated visitors.
Djokovic had hoped to compete, but wrote on Twitter on Thursday: “Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open.”
The 35-year-old won his 21st major title with victory at Wimbledon in July, leaving him one behind Rafael Nadal’s all-time men’s record, but will miss out on another chance to add to his tally.
“I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again,” Djokovic added.
“See you soon tennis world!”
Djokovic was on the US Open entry list as recently as Monday and, in a social media post on 30 July, wrote “I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete”.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – the nation’s health protection agency – had reviewed some of its rules for unvaccinated citizens in recent weeks, but Djokovic’s apparent withdrawal suggests travel restrictions will continue to apply.His absence at Flushing Meadows may benefit Spain’s Nadal, who seeks a 23rd Grand Slam title, with world number one Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, looking to defend the title he won for the first time in 2021.
(BBC Sports)
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U19 World Cup: Japan defeat Tanzania by nine wickets
Tanzania 131 in 38.3 overs (Acrey Pascal 55; Nihar Parmar 4-30, Nikhil Pol 3-23) lost to Japan 136/1 in 28.2 overs (Nihar Parmar 53*, Taylor Waugh 47) by nine wickets
[Cricbuzz]
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U19 World Cup: Ambrish’s four-fer powers India to third straight win
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Josh Hoey breaks world 800m short track record with 1:42.50 in Boston
Josh Hoey had said he was excited to take a shot at the world 800m short track record in Boston and he was right on target as he clocked 1:42.50* to improve the 28-year-old mark at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix – the first World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting of the season – on Saturday (24).
Seven weeks on from setting a world 600m short track best, also in Boston, the US world indoor champion made more history as he took 0.17 off the world record of 1:42.67 set by Wilson Kipketer at the World Indoor Championships in Paris in 1997.
Hoey went into the race as the second-fastest indoor 800m runner of all time thanks to the North American record of 1:43.24 he ran at the US Indoor Championships in New York last year. But paced by his brother Jaxson, he leapt to the top of that all-time list, winning the race by more than two seconds.
Jaxson led his brother through the first 200m in 24.81 before 400m was reached in 50.21. Jaxson then stepped aside and Josh passed 600m in 1:16.19, holding on to cross the finish line in 1:42.50.
“We did a lot of pacing work,” said Josh, reflecting on his preparations for the race. “Just kind of kept steadily improving, taking it week by week, block by block, and we were able to make
this work.”
A world best had been set earlier in the programme, USA’s 2024 world indoor 1500m bronze medallist Hobbs Kessler clocking 4:48.79 to break the 2000m short track world best of 4:49.99 set by Kenenisa Bekele almost 19 years ago.
World short track 3000m record-holder Grant Fisher also dipped under the old world best, finishing second in 4:49.48.
[World Athletics]
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