US OPEN 2020: Kim Clijsters’ return, Serena Williams, other things to know

The first time Kim Clijsters entered the US Open, all the way back in 1999, she faced a certain someone by the name of Serena Williams.

The first time Kim Clijsters entered the U.S. Open, all the way back in 1999, she faced a certain someone by the name of Serena Williams.

All these years later, with play at Flushing Meadows set to begin Monday, three-time U.S. Open champion Clijsters is back on the scene, out of retirement at age 37 and entered in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2012.

And Williams, less than a month from turning 39, is still at the top of tennis, the runner-up in New York each of the past two years and at four of the past seven major championships.

Asked to name a moment that sticks in her memory, Clijsters pointed to that first meeting against Williams, who won 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the third round and would go on to claim the first of her 23 Grand Slam trophies.

“It was an incredible match. The atmosphere was great. For me, that kind of, I think, started the energy that I feel here when I play here,” said Clijsters, who won the U.S. Open in 2005, 2009 (defeating Williams in the final) and 2010, along with the 2011 Australian Open.

“Any night match that you get to play here at the U.S. Open on Arthur Ashe is incredible,” she said.

“It’s nothing like anything else anywhere else.”

As for Clijsters’ thoughts on Williams and the possibility of equaling Margaret Court’s total of 24 Slam singles titles?

“The great results she had, not even a year after her daughter was born playing Grand Slam finals, competing for Grand Slam titles was, I think, incredible,” Clijsters said.

First training session was good, kept basics in place: AB de Villiers

RCB batsman AB de Villiers described his first training session as “really good” as he kept all his basics in place.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman AB de Villiers described his first training session as “really good” as he kept all his basics in place.
The IPL 2020 will be played in the UAE from September 19-November 10 across three venues — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.

Upon landing in the UAE, de Villiers quarantined himself for six days, and after returning three negative COVID tests, the player went to the middle to train along with the RCB squad.

“It was very good, enjoyable to be out there, the wicket was a bit sticky so it was a great challenge, actually if I could have it my way, I would have wanted my first net session to go like this only after a long time,” AB De Villiers said in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of RCB.

“I kept my basics in place, watched the ball carefully, I played some nice shots in the end and it was enjoyable,” he added.

On Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that 13 personnel including two players tested positive for COVID-19.

However, the board did not specify as to which team has how many confirmed cases. The identity of the players and staff was also not revealed.

“13 personnel have tested positive of which 2 are players. All the affected personnel as well as their close contacts are asymptomatic and have been isolated from other team members. They are being monitored by the IPL Medical Team,” the BCCI had said in an official release.

All players and team personnel are required to undergo a six-day quarantine period after landing in the UAE and everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19 thrice.

IPL 2020: Edu-tech firm Unacademy set to fight for title sponsorship rights

A BCCI official confirmed that Unacademy has picked up the bid papers but refrained from making any comments beyond that.

Education technology firm Unacademy, which is already one of IPL’s sponsors, is eyeing the league’s title sponsorship rights now and is set to submit its bid to replace Chinese mobile phone company Vivo this season.
A BCCI official confirmed that Unacademy has picked up the bid papers but refrained from making any comments beyond that. “I can confirm that Unacademy has shown interest and picked the bid papers. I have heard they will be submitting a bid and are pretty serious. So Patanjali if they bid, will have competition,” the senior official said on conditions of anonymity.

Vivo, which annually paid Rs 440 crore, dropped out as title sponsor this year due to the Sino-India border stand-off. The BCCI is now looking at a lower value, between Rs 300 crore and Rs 350 crore, for a period of four months and 13 days.

The official said Unacademy is a part of IPL’s central sponsorship pool with other companies like Dream11 and Paytm.

“Yes, Unacademy is already in IPL’s central sponsors’ pool from 2020 to 2023,” the BCCI official said. Asked what’s the difference between central sponsorship and title sponsorship, the official explained, “The central sponsorship doesn’t include jersey rights.” “In IPL, jersey logo can only be of title sponsor and apart from that various team’s sponsors. If they become title sponsors, it will give them rights on various branding properties,” he said.

 

‘I rather not travel’: Defending champion Rafael Nadal pulls out of US Open

Matches will be played behind closed doors and New York governor Andrew Cuomo had assured that robust testing will be conducted so that the tournament goes ahead smoothly.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal has announced that he won’t be playing the US Open, citing concerns over the coronavirus.
The world number two men’s tennis star also criticised the revised calendar for tennis and labelled it as “barbaric”.

“After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s US Open. The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it,” Nadal said in a tweet.

“We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement of Madrid not being played this year,” he added in another tweet.

The US Open in New York will be followed by the French Open a fortnight later, and maybe this is the reason, Nadal went on to criticise the revised tennis calendar.

“This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel,” Nadal added.

Roger Federer will also not be a part of this year’s Grand Slams as he continues to recover from an injury.

As a result, this US Open will be the first since 1999, that neither player has featured in the main draw of a Grand Slam event.

Earlier, it was announced that US Open will be played from August 31-September 13 this year.

BCCI sends acceptance letter to Emirates Cricket Board to host IPL 2020

The 2020 edition of IPL will start on September 19 in the UAE and continue till November 8.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel on Sunday confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sent the acceptance letter to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

“Yes, we have sent the acceptance letter to the ECB and both the boards will be working together from now on to stage the tournament,” Khaleej Times quoted Patel as saying.

According to the newspaper, ECB had sent the proposal to the BCCI in April to host the 13th edition of the IPL, which was originally scheduled to commence on March 29 in India. However, the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, Patel said that the eight IPL franchises — Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore — will hold their respective pre-tournament training camps in the UAE.

He said that the training camps will be held in the UAE in a bio-secure environment and “the teams need at least three to four weeks to prepare for the tournament”.

Earlier on Friday, Patel confirmed that the 2020 edition of IPL will commence on September 19 in the UAE and continue till November 8.

“The fans will enjoy the full tournament from September 19 to November 8 and further course of action will be discussed with the franchises in the Governing Council meeting,” he told ANI.

The postponement of this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup by the International Cricket Council (ICC) provided the much-needed window to stage this year’s IPL.