Djokovic eyes file in US Open protection, Sinner below cloud — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria Information – Nigeria and World Information

Novak Djokovic, fueled by an emotional Olympic triumph, has new Grand Slam information in his sights on the US Open, the place title rival Jannik Sinner hopes to shake off a doping controversy’

READ ALSO:Djokovic wins Olympic gold to finish profession Golden Slam

Defending champion Djokovic can turn into the oldest Open period champion on the event if he secures a fifth title, a file he would share with Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

The 37-year-old would additionally transfer to 25 Grand Slam triumphs, taking him away from the 24 he presently shares with Margaret Court docket.

The ultimate Grand Slam of the yr comes at a essential time for Djokovic.

This yr he was succeeded as Australian Open champion by Sinner who additionally relieved him of his world primary rating.

Carlos Alcaraz took his French Open title with the Spanish crowd-pleaser then sweeping Djokovic off court docket in a one-sided Wimbledon remaining.

Nevertheless, Djokovic, returned to the clay courts of Roland Garros to stun Alcaraz within the Olympic remaining in what he Saturday referred to as “the best achievement and biggest spotlight of my profession general, successful the gold for Serbia.”

Djokovic grew to become simply the fifth participant to finish a profession Golden Slam of all 4 majors and Olympic gold.

The victory additionally silenced the growing variety of doubters who had written off the Serb as a spent power in a brand new period the place Sinner, 23, and 21-year-old Alcaraz are steadily shifting middle stage.

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Djokovic, who underwent surgical procedure on his proper knee in June, mentioned he puzzled if his possibilities to win Olympic gold have been working out.

“At 37 I believed, you recognize, I don’t know, may this be the final likelihood? Possibly. So I needed to push greater than I’ve ever accomplished,” he mentioned.

“Turned out to be among the finest performances I had in years general all through your complete event.

“In fact within the finals towards Carlos, it was type of a dream situation actually, having my spouse and youngsters there, your complete nation watching.”

Once they hung the gold round his neck and the Serbian anthem performed, Djokovic mentioned, it was “most likely probably the most intense feelings I’ve ever had on a tennis court docket.”

Sinner, in the meantime, arrives after an emotionally draining doping investigation, during which he escaped a prolonged ban after officers accepted his clarification that the banned substance entered his system because of contamination from a assist workforce member.

The 23-year-old Italian had twice examined constructive for clostebol, a banned anabolic agent, again in March. The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company introduced this week he had been cleared of wrongdoing — a day after he gained the Cincinnati Masters.

“I’m simply joyful that it’s lastly out,” mentioned Sinner, who fired his physiotherapist and coach within the wake of the affair.

However his hopes for “clear air” on the US Open may very well be dashed as gamers

query why there was by no means any announcement of a provisional suspension because the investigation proceeded.

Sinner mentioned he wouldn’t get caught up in considerations over his repute.

“This, I can’t actually management,” he mentioned. “So let’s see.”

Alcaraz, who gained his first main on the US Open in 2022, was badly bruised by his defeat to Djokovic within the Olympic remaining.

He broke down in tears on court docket and mentioned he felt he had “let Spain down”.

He misplaced his cool in a second-round exit at Cincinnati and tweaked an ankle in apply at Flushing Meadows, however insisted he’d be “one hundred pc” for his first-round match on Tuesday.

Defending ladies’s champion Coco Gauff has endured a worrying dip in kind in current weeks, elevating doubts over whether or not she may turn into the primary girl since Serena Williams in 2014 to efficiently defend her US Open crown.

A stormy third-round exit from the Olympics was adopted by early defeats in Toronto and Cincinnati.

5-time main winner and world primary Iga Swiatek, the 2022 champion, made the Cincinnati semi-finals the place she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion  and runner-up to Gauff in New York final yr, is one other contender in a wide-open subject that additionally options Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova and Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen.