Sports

Novak Djokovic claims 10th Australian Open title, 22nd Slam

Published

1 year ago

2023-01-29

MELBOURNE, Australia – Novak Djokovic climbed up into the stands at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday to celebrate winning his 10th Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam title. He then fell on his back and started crying.

Djokovic sat on his sideline bench, buried his face in a white towel, and sobbed when he returned to the playing surface.

This trip to Australia was far more successful than the one a year ago when he was deported because he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, though it was difficult in its way: a hamstring injury, some off-court quarrels with his father. Nonetheless, Djokovic accomplished everything he could have hoped for in his comeback: he resumed his winning ways at Melbourne Park and returned to the top of the tennis world, declaring: “This probably is the biggest victory of my life.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas gave Djokovic a short run for his money in the final, but Djokovic beat him 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-6. (5). As a bonus, Djokovic will rise from No. 5 to No. 1 in the ATP rankings, a position he has already held for more weeks than any other player.

“Considering the circumstances, this has been one of the most difficult tournaments I’ve ever played. “I didn’t play last year; I’m back this year,” Djokovic said, wearing a white zip-up jacket with a “22” on the chest. “I also want to thank everyone who made me feel welcome and comfortable in Melbourne and Australia.”

The 35-year-Old Serb Won His 28th Straight Match In Australian Open.

The 35-year-old Serb won his 28th straight match in Melbourne, making it the longest unbeaten streak in Australian Open history (since 1968). He now has ten trophies, including seven from Wimbledon, three from the US Open (where he was also absent last year due to a lack of coronavirus shots), and two from the French Open, matching rival Rafael Nadal for the most by a man.

Only two women are ahead of him: Margaret Court (24) and Serena Williams (23).

This was also Djokovic’s 93rd ATP tour-level title, breaking a tie with Nadal for fourth-most.

“I’d like to thank you for advancing our sport so far,” Tsitsipas said to Djokovic.

“He is the greatest that has ever held a tennis racket,” Tsitsipas said.

Djokovic was competing in his 33rd major final, while Tsitsipas was competing in his second — and the 24-year-old Greek also lost the other, at the 2021 French Open, to Djokovic.

Djokovic was superior throughout, especially in the two tiebreakers, on a cool evening under a cloudy sky, with a soundtrack of chants from both men’s supporters prompting repeated pleas for quiet from the chair umpire.

He took a 4-1 lead in the first quarter and scored the final three points. He led 5-0 in the final tiebreaker, and when it was over, he screamed and pointed to his temple, a precursor to all of the tears.

An Emotional Week For All In Attendance

“It was very emotional for us. “It was very emotional for him,” Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic, said. “It’s a fantastic accomplishment. He had a very difficult three weeks. He was able to triumph over all odds.”

Djokovic admitted that all of the issues were stressful for him.

“It took enormous mental and emotional energy to keep it tight, keep my focus,” Djokovic said.

Keep in mind that, aside from a rash of early miscues that resulted in more tension than anything else, Tsitsipas didn’t play all that poorly. It’s because Djokovic was too rigid. Because he was too careful with his shots, he only made 22 unintentional mistakes, which was 20 less than his opponent. On the run, you need to be more quick and adaptable (other than when, moving to his left, Djokovic took a tumble).

“I tried everything,” said Tsitsipas, who would have moved to No. 1 with a win, replacing Carlos Alcaraz, who missed the Australian Open due to a leg injury.

Perhaps. Djokovic, on the other hand, keeps pushing until his opponent misses or gives him a chance to take advantage.

The Come-Back Kid

That happened when Tsitsipas saved his first break point, also a set point, with Djokovic serving at 30-40 in the second set. Could this be a fulcrum? Could Djokovic give in? Could Tsitsipas make a comeback?

Djokovic finished a 15-stroke point with a cross-court forehand winner that felt like a statement. Tsitsipas then missed two shots: a backhand long and a forehand wide. Those felt like surrender. Even when Tsitsipas broke in the third, Djokovic broke right back.

Over the last two weeks, Djokovic has been thinking about more than just forehands and backhands.

There was also the not-insignificant 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 apprehension about the kind of reception he would receive if he were allowed to enter Australia because pandemic restrictions had been relaxed.

Constant Heckling At The Australian Open

He got a lot of loud support, but he also had to deal with constant heckling, like when people cheered after he made mistakes on Sunday.

There was the sore left hamstring, which had been heavily bandaged for every match — until the final, when only a piece of beige athletic tape could be seen.

After Djokovic’s quarterfinal, his father, Srdjan, was filmed with a group waving Russian flags, one with an image of Vladimir Putin on it. The tournament prohibited spectators from carrying Russian or Belarussian flags, claiming they would disrupt due to Ukraine’s ongoing invasion. According to Djokovic and his father, Srdjan thought he was with Serbian fans.

Srdjan Djokovic, however, did not attend his son’s semifinal or final.

“We both agreed,” said the younger Djokovic, who did meet up with his father for a hug after the match on Sunday, “that it would probably be better if he weren’t there.”

Regardless, Djokovic performed admirably, as he frequently does.

“It’s been a long journey, but it’s been a very special one,” he said.

SOURCE – (AP)

Sports

Scottie Scheffler Wins the RBC Heritage Taking Home $3.6M Prize

Published

20 hours ago

2024-04-22

Geoff Thomas

Scottie Sheffler Wins the RBC Heritage: Getty Image

PGA Golfer Scottie Scheffler has won the 2024 RBC Heritage on Monday in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with a 19-under 265 score. The world number one has won four of his past five contests.

Scheffler shot a 3-under 68 in his final 18 holes at Harbor Town Golf Links. The final round was postponed due to rain on Sunday afternoon and ultimately halted due to darkness.

“I got off to a slow start on Thursday, but played some really nice golf in the middle of the tournament,” Scheffler said on the Golf Channel. “Yeah, it’s nice to be done.”

Scheffler entered Monday’s round at 20-under par, with three holes to play. He made pars on 16 and 17 before finishing with a bogey on 18 to win the event and $3.6 million.

Scheffler has won $16.25 million in the last 44 days, including $3.6 million from winning the 2024 Masters Tournament last week.

He began his rich run by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational — and the $4 million first-place prize — on March 10 in Orlando, Florida. A week later, on March 17, he won the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, earning $4.5 million.

RBC Heritage his 10th career PGA Tour victory

He won his green jacket and second Masters title two weeks later at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Scheffler recorded 20 birdies and an eagle during his 36-hole victory at the RBC Heritage. A double bogey on Thursday, along with a bogey on Monday, resulted in his lowest scores of the event.

On March 31, Scheffler tied for second at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The world number one won $553,735 from the five-way tie.

Sahith Theegala shot a 16-under 268 to finish second at the RBC Heritage, three strokes behind Scheffler. Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay tied for third place after shooting 15-under 269s.

Scheffler, who made his professional debut in 2018, currently has ten career PGA Tour victories. He won his first tournament in 2022.

Zurich Classic in New Orleans

The PGA Tour’s next tournament is the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans. The competition will take place from Thursday to Sunday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. Scheffler is not included in the team event field.

Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, is expecting their first child later this month. The second major of the season, the PGA Championship, will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16 to 19.

The RBC Heritage is an annual PGA Tour event that takes place at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It’s one of the tour’s must-see events, taking place in April immediately following the Masters.

Pete Dye developed the course, which is known for its tight fairways, overhanging trees, and short greens, giving it a true challenge for professional golfers.

The tournament has drawn elite players since 1969, because to its gorgeous setting and tough layout. Harbour Town’s renowned 18th hole is a beast, with a shot over Calibogue Sound to a tiny green.

Every year, fans gather there to witness the drama unfold. The winner receives the renowned plaid jacket, making the RBC Heritage one of golf’s most prestigious non-major tournaments.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Sports

New York Jets to Trade Quarterback Zach Wilson to Broncos

Published

20 hours ago

2024-04-22

Geoff Thomas

Zach Wilson is reportedly getting a fresh start with the Broncos: Getty Image

NFL Network has reported the New York Jets will trading quarterback Zach Wilson and a seventh-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos. According to the report, the Jets will receive a sixth-round pick in return and will cover a portion of Wilson’s $5.5 million salary next season.

Wilson joins the Broncos following three unsuccessful seasons in New York. The Jets selected Wilson as the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, hoping he would blossom into their long-awaited franchise quarterback. Instead, he was benched regularly for bad play in his first two seasons before the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season.

Wilson received another chance to start when Rodgers tore his Achilles on his first drive as New York’s quarterback. He continued to struggle through 11 starts in 2023, as the Jets finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs. He now has a new home.

Wilson joins a Broncos club in the midst of its own quarterback crisis. After two unsuccessful seasons, Denver decided to abandon the Russell Wilson experiment this off-season.

The Broncos terminated Wilson in March, incurring a $85 million dead salary cap penalty over the next two seasons. It also left the Broncos without a reliable starting quarterback on their roster.

News York Jets 12-21

Zack Wilson’s departure sent Jarrett Stidham to the top of Denver’s depth chart. The four-year NFL veteran has made four career starts. Throughout his career, which includes 16 game appearances for three clubs, he has completed 59.6% of his throws for 7.2 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Wilson has significantly more starting experience. That experience does not give the Broncos optimism that they are any closer to resolving their quarterback issues.

Wilson completed 57% of his throws in 34 career games, including 33 starts, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt and 185.1 yards per game while scoring 23 touchdowns and intercepting 25 others.

The New York Jets were 12-21 in games he started. He was the weak link on a 2023 team with a top-3 defense and playmakers on an offense that had the potential to challenge in the AFC East with respectable quarterback play.

Rather of making an in-season deal to upgrade the position, the Jets stuck with Wilson for the majority of the season, finishing third in the AFC East and missing the playoffs.

For now, Zach Wilson expects to fight for the starting job in Denver next season. Prior to Wilson’s arrival, practice squad quarterback Ben DiNucci was the only Broncos quarterback under contract aside from Stidham.

2024 NFL Draft

Wilson is a low-risk acquisition for the Broncos in the form of a late-round draft selection swap. If he does not develop, the Broncos will not have suffered significantly. However, Broncos supporters who expect for a competitive squad in 2024 are still waiting for the franchise to make a substantial move at quarterback.

The NFL Draft on Thursday will provide Denver with the finest opportunity to address the position further. The Broncos have the No. 12 choice but will most likely have to move up to get one of the draft’s top quarterback prospects.

The 2024 NFL Draft promises to be an entertaining event for both fans and clubs. Top college prospects will have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and realize their ambition of playing in the NFL.

Teams will thoroughly assess each player’s potential in order to make the best decisions to bolster their lineups.

The NFL draft order will be determined by the previous season’s results, allowing struggling teams to acquire top players. Experts predict a strong group of quarterbacks, defensive linemen, and offensive tackles.

Teams with glaring needs at those areas will keep a close eye on the best prospects. The draft is a critical opportunity for organizations to redefine their destiny with strategic picks that could catapult them to success in the coming seasons.

Source: Yahoo Sports

Sports

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

Published

1 day ago

2024-04-22

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

Vancouver, British Columbia – Pius Suter and Dakota Joshua scored 12 seconds apart in the third period, and the Vancouver Canucks rallied to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-2 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday night.

Joshua had two goals and an assist, Elias Lindholm scored, and Thatcher Demko stopped 20 shots for Vancouver, the Pacific Division champions who hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2015.

AP – VOR News Image

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

“We’ve been talking about being in one-goal games the whole season for these moments, and I love that there was zero panic today, hardly any at all,” J.T. Miller, the Vancouver Canucks forward, said. “We just stayed with it.”

Nashville’s Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly scored, with Juuse Saros making 17 saves.

Suter tied the game for the Canucks 8:59 into the third period after they trailed 2-1. Quin Hughes received a pass from Brock Boeser and fired a shot that deflected off Suter and past Saros from just inside the blue line.

Lindholm checked Jeremy Lauzon behind the Predators’ net and shook him off the puck in 12 seconds. Conor Garland grabbed it up and sent it to Joshua, who scored from the top of the frame to put Vancouver ahead 3-2.

“I’ll never forget it,” Joshua said about his goal. “And it makes you want to keep doing it.”

AP – VOR News Image

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

Demko maintained the one-goal lead with a series of late saves, including one against Roman Josi with 1:49 remaining.

The Predators removed Saros, and Joshua capitalized, scoring his second goal of the night into an empty net with 1:28 left to secure the victory.

“I think we just stayed patient the entire game and didn’t really push too hard or give anything up when we were down going into the third,” Hughes, who had a pair of assists, said. “We got our looks and we knew we were going to get our looks.”

Nashville finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while Vancouver went 0-for-3.

“Every power play that you don’t score on is a missed opportunity,” Zucker went on to say. “I felt it was great to receive that one. (O’Reilly) and those guys made some terrific plays there, and I thought our penalty kill was excellent tonight.”

Nashville opened the score at 15:15 when Zucker collected a pass from Josi and blasted through traffic from the top of the faceoff circle, beating Demko stick side.

Lindholm knotted the game 47 seconds into the second period with a long wrist shot past Saros.

The Canucks got into penalty trouble early through the second period, taking three calls in just over six minutes. Nashville used their first man advantage as Teddy Blueger was sent to the box for interference.

Gustav Nyquist slid a pass to O’Reilly, who blasted into the top corner of Vancouver’s net. This was O’Reilly’s 26th career playoff goal.

AP – VOR News Image

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

“I thought we were starting to take over the game and we fall asleep on a shift in the offensive zone, lose assignments, don’t block a shot and it’s 2-2,” Andrew Brunette, the coach of the Predators, said. “I thought we had a lot of momentum there, so that’s hockey.

“We’ve got to learn from it and move on — Etch A Sketch memory, short term — and move straight ahead.”

NOTES: The Canucks recorded 39 hits, while the Predators had 32. Cole Smith, a Predators forward, led the game with six points. Josi has 32 career postseason assists, which is a Predators record. He also holds the franchise record for postseason points by a defenseman, with 43.

SOURCE – (AP)