World No 1 Jannik Sinner overcame a slow start to book his place in the US Open second round, before admitting he has received a mixed reaction from fellow players following his failed anti-doping tests controversy.
Sinner, 23, was playing his first match since he escaped a provisional suspension after two failed tests earlier this year. The Italian was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal and has defended himself stoutly amid criticism he was shown favouritism with the speed in which his case was resolved.
It initially looked like the drama had taken its toll as American Mackenzie McDonald won the first set and then had a break of serve in the second, but Sinner assumed control and earned a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 victory inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I was curious to see how the reaction of the fans has been, but it has been very positive,” he said. “I was very glad how the support was, also playing against an American, it’s a little bit different.
“So I’m happy [with] how I handled those situations, it was not easy. I think a lot of positive things from today, and so let’s keep seeing what’s coming in the next round.
“There are some reactions from other players. I cannot really control what they think. You know, that’s how everything went and how it was. I cannot control the players’ reaction, and if I have something to say to someone, I go there privately, because I’m this kind of person. Overall, it has been not bad. So I’m happy about that.”
Elsewhere in the men's draw, former champion Daniil Medvedev booked his place in the second round with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Dusan Lajovic.
Novak Djokovic, seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title, beat Radu Albot 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Stefanos Tsitsipas became the highest seed to be knocked out after losing to Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in four sets. Felix Auger-Aliassiame, seeded 19th, also lost.
Third seed and 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz began his campaign with a four-set win over Australian Li Tu, who returned to the sport after six years away.
The 21-year-old Spaniard did not have it all his way on Arthur Ashe, losing the second set in a 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 win.
“The second set I made 18 unforced errors. So that was the huge difference for me," he said. “He started to play better. That’s obviously serving better, playing more aggressive, and not making a lot of mistakes.
“I’m really happy to get through and get a chance to be better [in] the next round. Obviously, I felt well on court. I think I hit the ball well. I moved well.”
Emotional Osaka makes winning return
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka made a triumphant, tearful return to the US Open, beating 10th-seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 a year after wondering if she would be back.
Japan's Osaka missed last year's US Open after giving birth to her daughter Shai, and the former world No 1 is still trying to kick her return to the sport into top gear.
But she was dialed in against 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, firing 19 winners to wrap up the victory in just 63 minutes.
Osaka took the court in a bouncy tulle skirt and bow-bedecked jacket -- shedding both to play in a ruffly green dress, the outfit a nod to "Japanese and Harjuku culture," she said.
"I was trying not to cry when I was walking out," Osaka said, tearing up during her post-match on-court interview.
"Last year I was watching Coco [Gauff] play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again," she said. "I didn't know if I could ... just to win this match and just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me."
It was Osaka's first win over a top-10 player in four years. She has made two quarter-finals at tour events in 2024 but has yet to progress beyond the second round at the majors. None of the other three, she said, stirs her like the US Open.
"It's like a combination of a lot of different things," said Osaka, who next faces Czech Karolina Muchova. "I grew up here, so just seeing kids, and then remembering my daughter, but seeing kids coming and watching me play and just remembering that I was a kid ... made me very emotional.
"Just seeing the stadium really full, it meant a lot, because I was, like, 'Oh, I hope people come watch me play."
World No 1 and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek defeated 104th-ranked Kamilla Rakhimova after having to save three set points in the second set.
French Open champion Swiatek, chasing a second New York title to add to her four triumphs in Paris, saw off the Russian lucky loser 6-4, 7-6 to extend her season-leading record to 54 match wins.
However, it was an unconvincing display by the Pole who committed 41 unforced errors.
There was a defeat for another former champion, however, as 2021 winner Emma Raducanu went down 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to Sofia Kenin.
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- Flexible work arrangements
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- Financial well-being incentives
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Wales 20-19 France
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
The five pillars of Islam
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
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Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
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The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
