logo
Djokovic eases into last 16 with 99th French Open win

Djokovic eases into last 16 with 99th French Open win

Serbia's Novak Djokovic won his 100th title in Geneva during the build-up to Roland Garros. (AP pic)
PARIS : Novak Djokovic notched his 99th career French Open win with a clinical 6-3 6-4 6-2 defeat of Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic to reach the fourth round on a memorable Saturday night in Paris.
As 40,000 fans watched Paris St Germain's Champions League final on video screens across the road at the Parc des Princes, the 38-year-old Serbian turned on the style on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Three-time champion Djokovic, bidding for an historic 25th Grand Slam title, was given a thorough workout at times by his 23-year-old opponent but more than matched Misolic's power and always looked in complete control.
Djokovic failed to convert nine break points early on but made the breakthrough for a 4-2 lead after showing incredible defensive skills to retrieve a barrage of smashes.
The Serb saved a break point at 1-2 in the second set and earned applause from the fans as he sportingly dusted his opponent down after Misolic tumbled over and got his sweat-soaked shirt coated in clay.
He soon showed his ruthless side, however, to break serve with a backhand winner as he raced into a two-set lead.
The sixth seed was in no mood for a late night as exploding fireworks and roars rang out from across the road and the third set followed the same pattern as he cruised through to a last-16 clash against Britain's Cameron Norrie.
Having won his 100th title in Geneva in the build-up to Roland Garros, Djokovic is yet to drop a set in three rounds and is looking in the mood for a deep run.
'I'm just hoping to carry on. Every time I step onto this court I'm playing for history,' Djokovic, who showed no sign of the blisters that troubled him in the previous round, said.
Should Djokovic beat Norrie he will surpass his number of career wins at the Australian Open which he has won 10 times and will also maintain his record of reaching the quarter-finals or better at the French Open every year since 2010.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

War pig, iron man, madman: Ozzy Osbourne's metal legacy in five tracks
War pig, iron man, madman: Ozzy Osbourne's metal legacy in five tracks

Malay Mail

timean hour ago

  • Malay Mail

War pig, iron man, madman: Ozzy Osbourne's metal legacy in five tracks

PARIS, July 24 — Britain's Ozzy Osbourne, who died Tuesday at the age of 76, was an pioneer of heavy metal music as lead singer of Black Sabbath, producing songs with a powerful and often sinister mix of distortion and dark lyrics. Here are five of his most memorable songs, three of which are from Black Sabbath's most successful album Paranoid (1970). 'Paranoid' (1970) Often listed as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time, Paranoid came about largely by accident, being written at the last minute because the album of the same name was too short. Describing a man's depressed state, the 'rapid-fire chugging' of the song was 'a two-minute blast of protopunk', Rolling Stone has said. After leaving Black Sabbath in 1979 and going solo, Osbourne continued to perform the classic at the end of his concerts. 'War Pigs' (1970) Another icon from Paranoid, this is a classic anti-war protest song often associated with the Vietnam War of the period. It was originally entitled Walpurgis — a reference to a satanist festival — but this was changed on the recommendation of Black Sabbath's record company. Described as 'dense' by Rolling Stone magazine, it compares military commanders to 'witches at black masses' and criticises politicians for starting war and 'treating people like pawns'. 'Iron Man' (1970) Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler said he wrote the lyrics to this piece, also from Paranoid, when Osbourne described a dark riff by guitarist Tony Iommi as sounding 'like a great iron bloke walking about'. It tells of a man who is unable to communicate and feels rejected, and so wreaks revenge on the world. Osbourne 'gave metal a sense of menace during his first 10-year tour of duty with Black Sabbath, approximating the sound of a nervous breakdown on songs like Paranoid and Iron Man,' Rolling Stone wrote in 2018. 'Crazy Train' (1980) After being sacked by Black Sabbath in 1979 because of his abuse of drugs and alcohol, Osbourne reinvented heavy metal during an epic solo career, 'picking up the pace of his songs and injecting them with baroque noir,' Rolling Stone said. Crazy Train, the first single from his debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz in 1980, deals with the Cold War pitting the West against the Soviet Union, and fears of mutually assured destruction. In 2019, Osbourne was reported by US media, as having complained to US President Donald Trump after the Republican used the song unauthorised in a social media video which mocked the 2020 Democratic Party candidates at a debate. 'I Don't Want to Change the World' (1991) Continuing his successful solo run into the 1990s, I Don't Want to Change the World appeared on the multi-platinum winning No More Tears album — his last before retiring for the first time. Osbourne won a Grammy award for his live performance of the piece in 1993. It deals with the attitude of religious-minded people towards him, and his own views of them. The lyrics say, 'Tell me I'm a sinner / I've got news for you / I spoke to God this morning and he doesn't like you'. — AFP

Tennis-Venus Williams granted Cincinnati wild card after age-defying return to court
Tennis-Venus Williams granted Cincinnati wild card after age-defying return to court

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Tennis-Venus Williams granted Cincinnati wild card after age-defying return to court

FILE PHOTO: Jul 22, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Venus Williams (USA) hits a backhand against Peyton Stearns (USA)(not pictured) in a women's singles match on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Venus Williams has received a wild card main draw entry into the Cincinnati Open, the tournament said on Wednesday, as the 45-year-old American enjoys an age-defying return to the spotlight. The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat world number 35 Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday, after a 16-month absence from the game. Williams, who will play Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the next round in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, previously declined a wild card entry invite for Indian Wells earlier this year. The Cincinnati Open also offered a wild card invite to hometown talent Caty McNally, who recently returned to action after undergoing elbow surgery last year. The main draw of the Cincinnati Open begins on August 7. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New YorkEditing by Toby Davis)

Sinner reunites with fitness coach Ferrara after doping scandal
Sinner reunites with fitness coach Ferrara after doping scandal

Malay Mail

time13 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

Sinner reunites with fitness coach Ferrara after doping scandal

PARIS, July 23 — World No.1 Jannik Sinner is teaming up once again with Umberto Ferrara, the fitness coach he sacked in the summer of 2024 after it was revealed that the Italian had tested positive for doping, his management team announced on Wednesday. Since the revelation of Sinner's positive tests for the anabolic steroid clostebol, Sinner has constantly maintained his innocence, laying the blame squarely on his team. Although he quickly dismissed Ferrara and his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, after the revelation of his positive tests, Sinner still described the former as an 'excellent coach' on the sidelines of the ATP Finals in Turin in November 2024. 'Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect,' his new management team Avima announced in a brief statement. 'The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.' Doping authorities accepted that it was accidental and imposed a three-month ban which Sinner served following his victory in the Australian Open in January. He returned in time for the French Open where he lost an epic final to Carlos Alcaraz before beating the Spaniard in four sets to win his first Wimbledon title earlier this month. — AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store