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Mikel Arteta
Football

“Something has changed in him” : Mikel Arteta confident about Kai Havertz reaching ‘another level’

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“Something has changed in him” : Mikel Arteta confident about Kai Havertz reaching ‘another level’ Kai Havertz has been one of the most polarizing figures ever since his debut in the Premier League, with good reason. Originally playing an attacking midfielder’s role, the German was appointed to the striker position in Chelsea and now with the Gunners, and has since been widely criticized for his unconvincing performances. Initially being termed as not clinical enough, Havertz has come a long way trying to adapt his new role. With 4 goals in 7 Premier League matches and a total of 6 in all competitions this season, the German is finally looking like the complete striker he was sought out to be. The 25-year-old was once again in the scoresheet in the North London club’s 3-1 victory over Southampton, making it the seventh consecutive time he has scored in the Emirates, matching the record set by Robin van Persie. Apart from the German, wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli also scored in the latter minutes of the second half to make the game out of reach for Russell Martin’s team. “He wants more and he’s not satisfied with what he’s doing” : Mikel Arteta impressed by the German’s recent form In the post-match press conference afterwards, the Spainard coach spoke keenly about his striker, suggesting that his qualities and consistency will be the key for him to become a 20-goal striker. “You can tell [his confidence has grown], he takes the ball and he runs with the ball. He’s on high press, he goes full gas, the way he holds the ball, the position he takes in the box. He’s an attacking midfielder, he plays as a nine, you don’t know where he is, that’s his football brain. His focus now is ‘I’m going to win the game, I’m going to do it’ and that’s a different thing.” said Arteta. Strikers usually rely on others to create chances and provide good balls inside the penalty area, but the ones who are good on the ball as well often go at the top. The names of Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane come to mind. In his early Dortmund days, the Polish was taught the art of ball control and playing by Jurgen Klopp before he was pushed to the target man spot. Havertz’s career trajectory has also gone a similar way till now, as in his time in Leverkusen, he was regarded as one of the best young attacking midfield prospects. “When he’s practising, he wants more and he’s not satisfied with what he’s doing because there is still, I think, another level from him, obviously, he’s surrounded by incredible players but something has changed in him and that confidence, you really sense it and now he’s putting it into games and he’s winning football matches which is great.” the Spainard reflected. Apart from the extraterrestrial goalscoring abilities displayed by Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer, Kai Havertz is just around the corner with the Premier League’s top attackers. But the catch is, the German does way more on the pitch whether on the ball or off, something which simple statistics cannot justify. Also Read: “This year Declan has to change that” : Yaya Toure provides key difference between Rodri and Declan Rice

Formula 1

“This is the next step in my journey” : George Russell ready to take the experienced role after Lewis Hamilton’s departure next season

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“This is the next step in my journey” : George Russell ready to take the experienced role after Lewis Hamilton’s departure next season Lewis Hamilton’s legendary run with the Silver Arrows is about to come to an end as he will be the main man for Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc. This makes George Russell an even more important figure in the Mercedes team dynamics, as he will essentially act as a mentor towards youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli. For Russell, it will be big shoes to fill in as being the no.1 in the AMG Petronas, as Hamilton will be leaving with a legacy which most probably cannot be replicated. The British icon has won six of his seven world championships with the German team, and although Russell has been able to best him in qualifying sessions this year, he is still below 39-year-old Hamilton in the drivers’ rankings. But Russell is not backing down from this challenge, and has revealed that he feels ‘ready in every way’ to lead Mercedes to a potential title year. “This is the next step in my journey, I’ll have been in the team for four years and part of the Mercedes family for eight or nine years. I feel ready in every way to fight for the World Championship in 2025.” said the Briton (via Auto Motor und Sport). “I also feel ready to be a little better together with the team every race and to help develop the car further. Next year we will build on what Lewis and I have sown over the last three years.” the 26-year-old added. “I learned more in my first year alongside Lewis than in my three years at Williams” : George Russell Before reaching global stardom with Mercedes, Russell was an up-and-coming driver with Williams, which were in a scuffle of their own that time. Replacing Valtteri Bottas in 2022, his first year with the German team did not go out as planned, with both him and Lewis Hamilton struggling due to the new ground-effect regulations set by Formula 1. But Russell does not mind that, as he reflected that his past mistakes helped him into doing better next time, and that those lessons are the reason why he has come a long way. He also mentioned that newcomer Antonelli will now grow and learn things faster due to being in a much bigger team. “When you’re thrown in at the deep end, you learn faster, from my experience I can say that I learned more in my first year alongside Lewis than in my three years at Williams. Every driver who has won championships in their career is fast. You can put him in a top team in his first year, like Lewis once did at McLaren.” the Silver Arrows driver revealed. “I’m sure that Charles [Leclerc] at Ferrari or Max [Verstappen] at Red Bull would have done a good job in a smaller team even without the pre-season preparation. Maybe at the expense of one or two mistakes, but that’s part of it. Kimi will learn from this. You either have the speed or you don’t. Kimi has it.” Russell added. F1 2025 is setting out to be one of the best in recent years, with new storylines and plots being made every day, and George Russell will definitely be one of the main protagonists of the season ahead of us. Also Read: “It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season” : Lewis Hamilton has high hopes for the remainder of the year

Featured

“We feel an obligation to make sure we get to the truth and the right outcome” : US Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO will continue fighting for Jordan Chiles to retain her bronze medal

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“We feel an obligation to make sure we get to the truth and the right outcome” : US Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO will continue fighting for Jordan Chiles to retain her bronze medal Elite American gymnast Jordan Chiles won bronze for her country in the women’s floor exercise, in this year’s Olympics held in Paris. But since then, the American has been part of a rather peculiar controversy which led to the International Olympic Committee requiring her bronze medal back. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the judging panel in women’s floor exercise made a grave mistake while issuing the inquiry of Chiles’ coaches, which ultimately moved Chiles to the podium finish. The IOC also put out a statement that the bronze medal will be given to fourth place Ana Barbosu, from Romania. Since then, apart from Jordan Chiles’ two appeals, USA Gymnastics has also come to the picture to file their separate appeal, in hopes that the Swiss Federal Tribunal reopens the case. The argument that the Americans are providing is that Jordan Chiles was not given a fair opportunity to defend her case. “She had earned the medal” : Sarah Hirshland will do everything in her power for Jordan Chiles to retain her medal Most recently, from the South Lawn of the White House where President Joe Biden welcomed and congratulated hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic medallists for their achievements, USOPC’s Chief Executive Officer Sarah Hirshland was also present and confirmed that the organisation will keep on fighting for the decision regarding Chiles to overturn. “We feel an obligation to make sure we get to the truth and the right outcome. So, we’re going to fight to get there, we’ve had really constructive conversations with Jordan – and, frankly, with the Romanians. We’ve had a lot of dialogue with them. And it’s a constructive conversation. Of course, everybody’s got a vested interest. And the reality is the integrity of the competition is critical to sport, and we want to protect the integrity of competition.” said Hirshland. “If we didn’t believe that she had earned the medal, we’d be in a different conversation. But we believe she earned that medal, so we’re going to ask the courts to look at the evidence again. Don’t know that they will or won’t, but that’s what we’re going to try.” the 49-year-old added. An outcome which might be the biggest possibility for now, is that Ana Barbosu, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and Jordan Chiles all share the bronze medal. But when quizzed about whether or not the USA will be supportive of this, Hirshland said that it is ‘complicated’. “There are a lot of details around how that might be done that I can’t give you a blanket answer, we support the integrity of the competition and getting to a result that reflects that. And we think, in every instance, that keeps a bronze medal in Jordan’s hands.” said the CEO. With the second appeal already sent to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the proceedings are expected to take several months, as this can be a long and draining fight for Chiles and co. with little to no confirmation of actually winning the case. But for now, only two things can happen. Either the Swiss Federal Tribunal will accept the original CAS ruling which will end the American gymnast’s fight on the spot, or it will send the case back to the CAS for further evaluation. Also Read: “He will probably be the number one candidate for MVP” : Gilbert Arenas makes bold prediction about Luka Doncic ahead of the new NBA season

Formula 1

“When you are a driver, you have to behave properly” : Fernando Alonso disagrees with Lewis Hamilton as he gives his opinion regarding the ongoing dispute between Max Verstappen and the FIA

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“When you are a driver, you have to behave properly” : Fernando Alonso disagrees with Lewis Hamilton as he gives his opinion regarding the ongoing dispute between Max Verstappen and the FIA Just a few weeks ago during the Singapore Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was sanctioned by the FIA, who made an example out of him due to his unprofessional conduct in a press conference. The F1 stewards also ordered the Dutchman to take part in the work of public interest as a punishment, to which Verstappen decided to protest against. This decision was met with a lot of controversy inside the F1 world, as even before this incident, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s rather racist words regarding the use of explicit language triggered a lot of people. This led star drivers like Lewis Hamilton and even Verstappen’s current championship rival Lando Norris came in support of the Dutchman. This matter really started getting out of hand when the three-time world champion started ignoring questions in press conferences or even speaking his mind, as he ‘might get banned’ again. Although Verstappen was backed by his fellow competitors and other motorsport drivers in his quest for protesting his sanction, one veteran driver does not seem to entertain his behaviour. “This kind of thing reminds us that there are a lot of people watching us” : Fernando Alonso 43-year-old Fernando Alonso has been in the motorsport business long enough to understand the small intricacies of driver’s decisions and the consequences it provides later on. Speaking at a sponsor event, the Spaniard said he believes that drivers should encourage proper behaviour more, as they are the inspirations of millions of fans around the world. “I’ve met a lot of fans around the world who follow Formula 1 and they always tell you that you are their inspiration. This kind of thing reminds us that there are a lot of people watching us. When you are a driver, you have to behave properly.” said Alonso. “The fans can give you a lot of love, a lot of motivation, but also a lot of responsibility for what they expect from you. You have to be prepared to be a role model when you want to be, and when you don’t too. When you want to say something that is not correct, you have to control yourself and be politically correct. When you’re on that day when you don’t want to train or prepare for the next Grand Prix, you have to do it because it’s your responsibility to your fans and the people who believe in you.” the Aston Martin driver added. The two-time world champion did not directly talk about Verstappen, but looking at the landscape of the F1 in the past few weeks, it was pretty evident to whom he was referring to. This is not the first time a dig has been aimed at the Dutchman this season indirectly, as in July, Lewis Hamilton also suggested the three-time world champion to act more professionally. Also Read: “It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season” : Lewis Hamilton has high hopes for the remainder of the year

Louis Saha
Football

“I hope that Arsenal regret letting Emile Smith-Rowe leave” : Louis Saha believes young midfielder will be the key for Fulham to European qualification

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“I hope that Arsenal regret letting Emile Smith-Rowe leave” : Louis Saha believes young midfielder will be the key for Fulham to European qualification Being part of the Gunners since his early days, Emile Smith-Rowe’s shock transfer to Fulham was first seen as just a developmental move. Now, just a month into the new season, the Englishman has showcased numerous impressive performances already and has been receiving world class shouts by fans and analysts. The Cottagers have had a strong start to the season, as they are currently sixth in the Premier League table with three wins and two draws. The midfield of Smith-Rowe and Andreas Pereira have been the glue for them both in acceleration and defence. Emile Smith-Rowe has already become an indispensable starter for Marco Silva, as things could not have started any better for Fulham, who finished 13th last season. This has led to many speculations about them being the dark horses this season, potentially earning a European berth on the way. Most recently, former Fulham player Louis Saha had some admirable words on the Englishman, while also addressing if the Gunners would eventually regret letting the 24-year-old leave. “You can tell when you watch Smith Rowe that he was educated at Arsenal” : Louis Saha Louis Saha, who spent the prime years of his career with the Red Devils, still holds a special place for Fulham in his heart, and is delighted to see ‘top talents’ like Emile Smith-Rowe joining Craven Cottage and not looking at it as a downgrade. The Frenchman also went on and praised the insane start Smith-Rowe has had in his Fulham career. “I absolutely love Fulham Football Club. They will always have a special place in my heart, and it makes me happy to see that the club are able to sign top, top talents, players that don’t see moving to Fulham as a step down, but more like a trampoline and an opportunity for them to boost their careers.” said Saha (via cryptocasiosuk.net). “I hope that Arsenal regret letting Emile Smith-Rowe leave because that would mean that he has been a great signing for Fulham. You can tell when you watch Smith-Rowe that he was educated at Arsenal in terms of his speed of thought, the way he does things. He’s incisive and he makes Fulham play with more purpose and speed.” the 46-year-old added. Even if the North London club are not regretting the departure of the Englishman right now, they would definitely not mind his presence, especially with the heavy ankle injury sustained by their captain Martin Odegaard. Alas, Smith-Rowe would have been the perfect back up for the Norwegian. The Frenchman also gave credits to the Portuguese coach, and how effectively he has made use of the duo of Andreas Periera and Emile Smith-Rowe in the midfield. He believes that the Cottagers will be fighting candidates for European football next season. Fulham have never played in the Champions League throughout their history, while only qualifying for the Europa League twice. “Having Smith-Rowe and Pereira in your midfield adds a lot of creativity and gives Marco Silva some great options. Fulham have wingers that want to attack, and Smith Rowe will complement the way that they can hurt opponents. These days, Fulham are playing a type of football where they will give anyone a game. They can cause problems to anybody in the Premier League. It’s amazing to see them use this approach.” said the Frenchman, who scored 63 goals in 142 appearances for Fulham. Emile Smith-Rowe now has the chance to show his worth to the Gunners, all while propelling Fulham to greater heights, and potentially a historic feat of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Also Read: “This year Declan has to change that” : Yaya Toure provides key difference between Rodri and Declan Rice

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

“Two hours later we are in the same plane, having some laughs, making jokes” : Carlos Alcaraz talks about the plane ride he shared with Jannik Sinner hours after China Open win

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“Two hours later we are in the same plane, having some laughs, making jokes” : Carlos Alcaraz talks about the plane ride he shared with Jannik Sinner hours after China Open win Thanks to the ATP’s tight scheduling, the final two contestants of the China Open had to travel to the next event situated in Shanghai in the same plane. If it were anyone else, things may well have gone weird, but apart from being the two best players in the world, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have grown to become great friends along the way as well. The Spainard and Italian have been in top form throughout the year, which was showcased in the ATP 500 final played in Beijing. The match lasted for a draining 3 hours and 21 minutes, and Alcaraz was able to dethrone the reigning champion in the last tiebreak 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3). This win also maintained the Spainard’s unbeaten streak over the world no.1 this year, while extending the overall lead between them to 6-4. But just a few hours later and essentially no rest, the duo and their team travelled together in the same flight, a moment which has gone viral due to obvious reasons. In no other sport other than tennis does it happen that two opponents, after facing against each other in a major final are seen travelling together to the next event, where they could possibly face each other yet again. Carlos Alcaraz admits having a good relationship off the court with Jannik Sinner is helpful After the dominance portrayed by the Big 3 in the last two decades, it was speculated as to who in the next generation would finally be their successors. But the way Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have leaped far ahead of their competitors in such a short amount of time, is almost uncanny like. The Spainard after his impressive win in the China Open final, addressed the media about his experience with Sinner while travelling together, and revealed that it felt like ‘nothing happened before’. “It is weird; it’s a weird thing but I think tennis is different than the other sports because of it.” said Alcaraz (via Tennis TV). “We’re fighting against each other – three hours match; he could win, but in the end I got the win. And then two hours later we are in the same plane, having some laughs, making jokes, talking about life. And it’s like, we’re acting like nothing happened before,” he said about the time spent with two-time Grand Slam champion.” the reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion added. The Spaniard also talked about his relationship off-court with the Italian, stating that this level of respect and friendship is unattainable in other sports. “Probably in other sports, it could be impossible to do it, but I think in tennis we have a really good relationship off the court as well, obviously, when we step on the court, we always want to win with the opponent, but after that we have a really good relationship with everyone, so we can do it,” the 21-year-old explained. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, in his post-final conference praised the Spainard’s abilities and admitted their rivalry pushes both of them to their absolute limits, in turn making each other into better players coming off the court. “Yeah, I feel like it’s always great when we meet, no? We try to push ourself and each other to the limits,” Jannik Sinner said. “He for me is a point of where I work. Also today I saw couple things where I need to get better. It’s not only him, there are also other players.” the US Open winner reflected. “It’s always nice to share the court with him. I feel like also the fans, they like it. Usually the matches are quite long, they’re physical, there are many turning points.” the 23-year-old added praise on Alcaraz. The duo’s time together in China did not stop at the airport, as they were together for a Nike event after as well. To say Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the two main faces of the tennis world right now, is an understatement, and their camaraderie may well be the key for both to reach the Big 3 levels. Also Read: “He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

Football

“It had to do with Garnacho and nothing against Rashy” : Erik ten Hag reveals the reason Marcus Rashford was dropped in the second half against Porto

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“It had to do with Garnacho and nothing against Rashy” : Erik ten Hag reveals the reason Marcus Rashford was dropped in the second half against Porto Another week, another shambolic Manchester United performance, this time in Europe. Facing Liga Portugal heavyweights Porto, the Red Devils went into halftime with a 2-2 draw, although with solid showcases in attack by Rasmus Hojlund and especially Marcus Rashford. The Englishman has undoubtedly been ten Hag’s best player this season, and that is why his absence in the second half left fans confused. The third dagger came quickly at the start of the second half courtesy of Samu Omorodion, as United conceded three goals in the span of around 20 minutes. Add captain Bruno Fernandes’ second straight red card in back-to-back games along with substitute Harry Maguire’s injury time header, and you could say this was just a regular Manchester United game in Europe at this point. But the real surprise already came at the start of the second half when Alejandro Garnacho replaced the English winger at the left side, who was having a fantastic game to himself. Fans and analysts, who initially thought this was due to injury concerns, have been left puzzled with this decision by Erik ten Hag, who revealed what made him switch the 26-year-old so early. “We have to rotate” : Erik ten Hag provides a simple explanation for his peculiar decision In the Dutchman’s post-match press conference, the only reasoning he provided was that the Argentinian winger also had a great game on Sunday and that rotation is necessary. “We have to rotate, Garnacho, we didn’t start him, but he had a great game not only Sunday but the whole season. I think in the season, as I assess it so far, he is bringing us so far the offensive threat by creating chances, assists, also scoring,” said ten Hag. “Garnacho we also have to play as well and we have two very good players over that side.” the Dutchman added. Erik ten Hag also confirmed that Rashford did not pick up any injury, and when asked if his substitution was because of his role leading up to Porto’s first goal, the Dutch manager denied to directly speak anything ill of the Englishman. “As I say, I have to watch it back and I think over the left side definitely we didn’t defend well tonight. Marcus also played a part in this but, as I say, it had to do with Garnacho and nothing against Rashy.” said the 54-year-old. Erik ten Hag has been heavily criticised on his tactics throughout the season, and with many claiming his job is hanging in the balance, the decision to drop Marcus Rashford after two goal contributions in the first half has just added more fuel to the fire. The Red Devils will now travel away to Villa Park to face the in-form Aston Villa in the Premier League, who are coming fresh off a victory against German heavyweights Bayern Munich in the Champions League. In any case, being winless in four straight matches does not really help Erik ten Hag and co. with the added pressure. Also Read: “If someone wants to damage that relationship I cannot control it” : Mikel Arteta issues clarification to Pep Guardiola ‘insider’ statement

Featured

“I can’t wait for them to make history” : Anthony Davis opens up about being on the same team as LeBron and Bronny James

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“I can’t wait for them to make history” : Anthony Davis opens up about being on the same team as LeBron and Bronny James News regarding the first ever father-son duo in Lebron and Bronny James have been the highlight of the NBA this summer. The Lakers superstar, who recently admitted that everything else he now does is just ‘extra credit’ in his legendary career, is also acting way different in team training sessions, as revealed by his teammates. Apart from being one of the best players in the league, LeBron James is obviously a proud father as well. Teaming up with his soon to be 20-year-old son is just another boost of motivation for the King, and he is most definitely going to show up, even more than he used to. Adding a gentle reminder that a 39-year-old James last season averaged 25.7 points with 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists. As far as the LA Lakers are concerned, the team are in high spirits ahead of a big season, courtesy of the father-son duo. Although the decision to hire JJ Reddick as head coach initially turned out to have a mixed reaction from fans, the American, who is just about the same age as LeBron, has been a pleasant surprise in the dressing room so far as well. With the Los Angeles based side being the talk of the town this summer, one of the veterans of the squad was asked about the changes he has felt this time around compared to previous years, during the much-awaited media day. “It just means the world to LeBron. It’s a different level of joy” : Anthony Davis reflects on what it means to LeBron having Bronny in the team Anthony Davis, who goes way back with LeBron, revealed how it feels seeing the duo practice and play together in training camps after all these years. Davis also mentioned the ‘pure joy’ he sees on the King’s face nowadays. “It’s still surreal that he’s on the same team as his dad. And I get to be part of it, witnessing every practice, every game, every moment they share, at least for his first year. I can’t wait for them to make history when they officially step on the floor together. It’s been amazing to watch so far,” said Davis during media day.  “It just means the world to LeBron. It’s a different level of joy,” added the 31-year-old. Drafted 55th out of the 58 picks, it is quite clear that the Lakers acquired Bronny majorly for increasing their revenue margin rather than wanting him for his actual ability. But even after averaging a measly 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his freshman college year, Bronny has been fully accumulated in the team dynamics. The 19-year-old was also seen training extra hard with his father throughout the summer. The road to the 24/25 season has been a perfect one so far for the father-son duo. Although the spotlight will be on young Bronny initially, fans worldwide are already speculating if season no.22 is finally going to be the last one for no.23. With an emotional season coming up nonetheless, LeBron James is definitely going to show his son how it is done in the big stages. Also Read: “He will probably be the number one candidate for MVP” : Gilbert Arenas makes bold prediction about Luka Doncic ahead of the new NBA season

Formula 1

“It is so exciting because I remember as a kid watching Michael” : Lewis Hamilton reveals the impact Michael Schumacher made in his childhood which led to his quest for joining Ferrari

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“It is so exciting because I remember as a kid watching Michael” : Lewis Hamilton reveals the impact Michael Schumacher made in his childhood which led to his quest for joining Ferrari Not long ago in F1, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were the symbol of complete dominance. The German is widely regarded as one of the best drivers in F1 history along with Lewis Hamilton, winning five consecutive F1 titles from 2000-2004, a record that stood unmatched until the Briton equaled it four years ago. Schumacher is one of the few names in F1 that has transcended their sport, becoming a household name outside the world of motorsport and into the territories of pop culture, music, and mainstream media. The German has inspired millions to start their careers in racing, including one that may well have exceeded his greatness as well. At the age of 40 years old, Lewis Hamilton will finally fulfil his childhood dream of racing in the Scuderia uniform. A dream which might not have become a reality if not for the impact created by the German icon. The Briton recently spoke about this to the media, as his days of being with the Silver Arrows are quickly flying away. Lewis Hamilton proudly admits having Michael Schumacher as his idol Speaking in a frank interview with the Times, the Briton reflected his excitement on joining the Italian giants, and how Schumacher was the role model for him to accelerate his dream further. “It is so exciting because I remember as a kid watching Michael. Every driver watches that car and you’re like: ‘What would it be like to sit in the red cockpit?’” said the 39-year-old. Apart from being tied at seven world championships, the careers of Hamilton and Schumacher have somewhat been crossed at different points of time. Coming out of retirement in 2010 to race for the new Mercedes F1 team, the German was asked to be the veteran alongside newcomer Nico Rosberg. The Briton had already won his first championship by that time. Schumacher did not have the greatest time with the Silver Arrows, and when he finally decided to hang his helmet for the second time in 2012, it was none other than Lewis Hamilton as his replacement at Mercedes. The rest as they say, is history. Lewis Hamilton’s almost perfect career in F1 could very well have a fairytale ending after all, if he ends up winning his record eighth world championship, cementing himself as the undisputed greatest driver in F1 history, that too in his favourite childhood team’s cockpit. The 39-year-old is not the driver he used to be, but one can only dream. Also Read: “It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season” : Lewis Hamilton has high hopes for the remainder of the year

Jannik Sinner- Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis

“Pathetic for tennis as an organization” : Journalist criticizes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s schedule after Beijing Open final

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“Pathetic for tennis as an organization” : Journalist criticizes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s schedule after Beijing Open final Over the course of the 2024 ATP season, highly regarded players, journalists, analysts and even fans have criticized the officials in control regarding the hectic and almost abnormal scheduling of events which fail to provide enough rest and recuperation to the players, who seem to be quite exhausted by this. Playing match after match and then travelling to different parts of the world have finally taken a toll on the players, more so this year due to the inclusion of the summer tennis Olympics in Paris as well. From Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz complaining about their physical and mental health being ignored to Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina completing their matches at three in the morning, it seems like a change finally needs to occur regarding event scheduling. The most recent burst regarding the scheduling highlights the two best players in the world right now. Just yesterday, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played out a classic in the China Open final, with the Spainard taking the win, making it three from three against Sinner this year. But now, just a day later, both him and the Italian are already in Shanghai to kick off their Masters campaign. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will have no time to rest as they restart at Shanghai in less than 48 hours Whether you are the best player in the world or a complete rookie, it is obvious that your quality of play will eventually decline when playing continuously without feeling completely rejuvenated. With the season almost at the curtain call, ATP has failed to view this as a major concern even after constant criticisms. Tennis journalist and commentator Jose Morgado spoke on the ATP’s ‘ugly’ side as an organisation on social media, which divided fans into two sides. While some agreed on the Venezuelan’s comments and hoped for a less hectic schedule, others pointed out that Beijing and Shanghai are just two hours apart with no time zone difference, and that they are professional athletes who are paid richly, so it is justified in itself. “Both Carlos Alcaraz (vs. Shang!) and Jannik Sinner (Daniel) will have to play their first matches in Shanghai… in less than 48 hours… That’s unhealthy and actually almost pathetic for tennis as an organization.” “Hearing that both Sinner and Alcaraz may get a Saturday start in Shanghai despite their half of the draw playing all on Friday. In that case they would play R2 on Saturday and R3 on Sunday.” The world no.1 is set to play against Japan’s Taro Daniel while the Spainard has to put up with China’s very own Juncheng Shang. Regardless, the current landscape concerns over the tight scheduling continues, as players’ wishes from the ATP continues to be in woe.  Also Read: “He managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive” : Casper Ruud defends Jannik Sinner as the tennis world divides on the Italian’s doping case

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