Sports
Tsitsipas ‘hit by karma’ in Australian Open exit
Stefanos Tsitsipas believes his Australian Open first-round exit was “karma” after he withdrew from playing doubles alongside his brother to focus on singles.
The Greek, runner-up in Melbourne in 2023, lost 7-5 6-3 2-6 6-4 to American Alex Michelsen on the second day’s play.
The 11th seed had been due to play doubles with his brother, Petros, but withdrew before the tournament began to protect his singles chances.
“It’s quite ironic. My whole [idea] was to try to go deep. I knew the first thing I had to consider was not playing doubles,” Tsitsipas, 26, said.
“The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament.
“I guess karma hit me. I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year’s event.”
Tsitsipas has long been tipped as a future Grand Slam champion, having reached the Melbourne showpiece two years ago and the French Open final in 2021, losing both to Novak Djokovic.
However, he lost in the first round at last year’s US Open and in the second round at Wimbledon.
“The most frustrating part about losing in the first round of a Grand Slam is that you have way too much time to recover,” Tsitsipas added.
“It just sucks that I’ll be hanging around for quite a while now before my next tournament comes in.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday night with a 108-93 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Cavaliers have risen to top of the eastern conference thanks to a recent run including wins against rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.
But Andrew Nembhard, who top scored with 19 points, and Pascal Siakam, who hit 18 points, combined to help the Pacers to victory.
It was the Cavaliers’ first defeat since 8 December and just their fifth from 38 matches this season.
“There was nothing to lose, this is the best team in the league right now,” said Nembhard.
“We had to play hard, play together, and put some more physicality in the game on the defensive side of the ball, and play off of that.”
The Cavaliers, who are 40.3% from three pointers this season, made just 11 (26.8%) of 41 against the Pacers.
Reflecting on the loss, Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said: “What disappointed me was our first half was phenomenal, defensively, and then the second half, we fell off. We couldn’t sustain our defence.”
Nottingham Forest “deserve” to be treated as title contenders before Liverpool’s trip to the City Ground, says Arne Slot.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are the only team to have beaten Liverpool in the Premier League this season following their 1-0 win at Anfield in September.
Table-topping Liverpool travel to the City Ground on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) for the reverse fixture with Forest in third place, six points behind.
After surviving relegation last season, Forest have lost just four times in 20 league matches this season.
“I’ve always said you can judge the table best halfway through the season,” said Liverpool boss Slot.
“That moment is there now, so if Forest is then up there with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea and [Manchester] City and all the others, then they definitely are a team that is in competition with us and with the other teams.
“They deserve to be treated like this if you look at the way they play and if you look at their results.”
The wife of Arsenal striker Kai Havertz has shared screenshots of abuse she received on social media amid Sunday’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United, including threats to the couple’s unborn child.
The forward, 25, missed a glorious chance to win the game in normal time and then had his penalty saved by United keeper Altay Bayindir in the shootout as United won 5-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw.
The German’s wife Sophia posted to her Instagram story two direct messages she had received on the platform.
Arsenal have reported the abuse to the police and are working with a specialist data firm to try to identify the culprits.
“For anyone to think it’s okay to write something like this is so shocking to me. I hope you are so ashamed of yourself,” she wrote as she shared one of the direct messages.
On another she added: “I’m not sure what to even say but please guys, be more respectful. We are better than this.”
BBC Sport has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
The couple have been together since 2018 and got married last year with Sophia announcing in November that she was pregnant.
Nigeria military kills 16 civilians in air strike ‘mistake’
What happens to celebrities’ outfits after a red carpet event?
What relaxation looks like in one of the world’s hardest working countries
Earthquake scientists are learning warning signs of ‘The Big One.’ When should they tell the public?
Tarar accuses Imran Khan of conspiring with Faiz Hameed to destabilise Pakistan
PTI Announces Not to Boycott New Committees
-
Entertainment5 months agoEarthquake scientists are learning warning signs of ‘The Big One.’ When should they tell the public?
-
International5 months agoTarar accuses Imran Khan of conspiring with Faiz Hameed to destabilise Pakistan
-
International3 months agoPTI Announces Not to Boycott New Committees
-
Business4 months agoMajor Corruption Scandal Uncovered at WASA Multan: Rs1.5 Billion Embezzlement Exposed
-
Business5 months agoThe Impact of QR Codes on Traditional Advertising
-
Business5 months agoThe Benefits and Problems of International Trade in the Context of Global Crisis
-
Business3 months agoHigh Court Blocks MDCAT Merit List Amid Controversy Over Exam Error
-
Business4 months agoFraud by Pakistani Firm Sparks Outrage in Business Community; Concerns Rise Over International Investment