As-salamu alaykum - Jannik Sinner defeats Carlos Alcaraz to win Six Kings Slam in Riyadh
As-salamu alaykum. Alhamdulillah for a great match - Jannik Sinner outplayed world number one Carlos Alcaraz to lift the Six Kings Slam trophy in Riyadh on Saturday night.
Sinner, fresh from his Wimbledon triumph, was simply too strong and ran out a 6-2, 6-4 winner. In his on-court chat he said, “I wish I could play like this everywhere. This season we've met many times and I lost a lot to Carlos. It’s an honour to share the court with him.” He also spoke about how rivalries help you improve and how their friendship off court is special.
The world No.2 grabbed control early, breaking in the first game and consolidating to lead 4-1 in the opening set after forcing errors from Alcaraz. That set slipped away 6-2. Alcaraz fought back early in the second, but after some tight service games Sinner broke again to go 4-3 up and then closed it out, finishing confidently when given the chance.
Alcaraz praised him, saying when Sinner is at this level it’s tough and that it pushes him to practise harder. He also noted they keep in touch and have a good relationship off the court, showing competitors can still be friends.
Earlier, Novak Djokovic withdrew from the third-place match against Taylor Fritz after losing a long first set tiebreak - Fritz had taken the opener following a tough 75-minute set.
Moment of the day: In cricket, with all the recent troubles Sri Lanka have faced, it felt right that Dinesh Chandimal took the catch that turned the game. He’s one of seven captains Sri Lanka have had in the last two years, and he leads quietly by example. His century in the first innings helped set up that surprising win.
Stat of the day: Pakistan have now lost nine of their last 11 Tests, a run that began after they lost the final match of the three-Test series with the West Indies in Sharjah last year. They haven't had a draw in nearly two years - since the match against England at the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict: Mickey Arthur admitted his mistake in relying on three seamers and wanting grassy pitches in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. If a method has worked for a decade on those grounds, why change it? It’s doubtful Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same call.
Thoughts and reads: A few pieces worth noting - discussions on fair compensation for household labour, how Middle East companies can progress on gender equality, reflections on International Women’s Day, and a column challenging stereotypes about men and women.
Hope you enjoyed the summary. Wa-salaam.
https://www.thenationalnews.co