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An Unplayed Australian Open Is a Turning Point for Novak Djokovic ( Opinion)

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An Unplayed Australian Open Is a Turning Point for Novak Djokovic ( Opinion)

Even after being ejected from Australia, Novak Djokovic will remain No. 1 in the men’s tennis rankings at the end of the Australian Open, which began on Monday without him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He still holds the titles at the French Open and Wimbledon; still has supple limbs, formidable tennis skills and a deep history of resilience in the face of hostile crowds and long odds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Unplayed Australian Open Is a Turning Point for Novak Djokovic ( Opinion)

 

 

But in a what-have-you-won-for-me-lately sport that is often categorised by eras and the champions who define them, it would come as no surprise if Sunday marked a turning point, symbolised by his long, grim walk to the airport gate in Melbourne under the escort of immigration officials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Djokovic is 34, and as he left Australia against his will after his Visa was cancelled, a new generation of taller, talented stars in men’s tennis was preparing to pursue the title at the Grand Slam tournament he has dominated like no other and may never play again, if his three-year ban from the country is not rescinded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This certainly could knock him back,” John Isner, a friend of Djokovic’s and one of the top-ranked American players, said on Sunday. “I honestly don’t know which way it will go. It could take him a long time to recover, or light a fire under him.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Djokovic has rebounded from demoralising periods in the past and resumed winning. In 2017, after perhaps the most dominant phase of his career, he struggled with his motivation and lost his edge for more than a year amid personal problems and a persistent right elbow injury. He had a commitment to natural healing that foreshadowed his decision not to be vaccinated for the coronavirus. But after playing and struggling at the Australian Open in 2018 with his elbow supported by a compression sleeve, he decided, tearfully he has said, to undergo surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five months later, he was a Grand Slam champion again, winning the 2018 Wimbledon title and soon re-establishing himself as No. 1, at the expense of his career-long rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In early 2020, Djokovic was still on a roll, starting the year with 18 straight victories before the pandemic shut down the sport for five months in 2020. He organized an ill-advised exhibition tour in Serbia and Croatia in June during the enforced break that turned into a superspreader event and public-relations bonfire as he and other players and team members, including Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic, danced and partied unmasked in a Balkan nightclub, thoroughly out of sync with the global mood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tour was cancelled. Djokovic; his wife, Jelena; Ivanisevic; and others tested positive for the coronavirus, and when Djokovic did return to Grand Slam action, at the 2020 U.S. Open, he proceeded to eliminate himself from the tournament in the fourth round by hitting a ball in frustration after losing his serve and inadvertently hitting a lineswoman in the throat. He was defaulted by the tournament referee and returned to Europe to regroup. A young Austrian, Dominic Thiem, eventually won the title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all the dubious decisions and dents to his image, another Djokovic tailspin was hardly out of the question, but in a reflection of his tenacity and talent, he roared back in 2021 with one of his finest seasons: winning the first three Grand Slam tournaments and coming within one match of achieving the first men’s Grand Slam in singles in 52 years before losing to Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That display of resilience in 2021 should give pause to all those who might expect Djokovic to curl himself into a ball on the floor of his Monte Carlo apartment in the aftermath of the Australian affair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are talking about a player who became a champion despite growing up in Belgrade during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, when NATO bombing forced him to interrupt tennis practices. He left home at 12 for a tennis academy in Germany as his parents and family borrowed and improvised to fund his training in the hope that the sport would be his route, and theirs, to better days. Djokovic told me that his father, Srdjan, once gathered the family and slammed a 10 Deutsche mark on the kitchen table and explained that this was all the money they had left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“He said that more than ever we have to stick together and go through this together and figure out the way,” Djokovic said in that interview. “That was a very powerful and very impactful moment in my growth, my life, all of our lives.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is one deportation in comparison with all of that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The answer seems self-evident, but the body blows can add up. Djokovic is accustomed to being the outsider, to hearing the roars of support for Federer and other opponents and winning anyway. He has even gone so far as to imagine that the crowds are chanting his name instead, but he has never been a global target to this degree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though he insists he does not want to be an anti-vaccine champion, the fallout from his iconoclastic stance in Australia — he is one of only three top-100 men’s players to be unvaccinated — means that he will be indelibly associated with the issue. And as long as he remains unvaccinated, he will face challenges entering some other countries and tournaments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy is one of Djokovic’s hallmarks. Spend time with him one on one and his life force and restless curiosity come through, but he has expended a great deal of effort in recent years on causes beyond winning tennis matches: taking on the status quo on the men’s tour and creating a new player group to promote — so far unsuccessfully — change and more decision-making power for players at all levels of the rankings. He has helped start a new tournament in Belgrade, done charitable work in Serbia and the Balkan region and has cooperated with a behind-the-scenes documentary that is expected to be released in 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It should have no dearth of content: no shortage of major triumphs and brutal setbacks. At what point does it all dull his edge? The answer could be right about now.

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Nigerian Stars Shine as Aribo, Onuachu Fire Southampton to Vital Win Over Ipswich

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Nigerian Stars Shine as Aribo, Onuachu Fire Southampton to Vital Win Over Ipswich

Nigerian Stars Shine as Aribo, Onuachu Fire Southampton to Vital Win Over Ipswich

 

Southampton’s head coach, Ivan Juric, has heaped praise on Nigerian duo Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu after their crucial goals secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday, lifting the Saints’ spirits in a turbulent season.

Heading into the match at Portman Road, Southampton had endured a disastrous run of form, managing just one win in 23 league outings. The poor results had left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, struggling to find consistency. However, Aribo’s first-half opener and Onuachu’s late winner ensured the Saints claimed all three points, marking Juric’s first victory since taking charge of the club.

After the match, an elated Juric expressed his delight with the team’s resilience and singled out Aribo and Onuachu for their outstanding performances.

“It’s a great feeling,” Juric told Southampton’s official website. “I think we’ve played even better games, like against Manchester United, but didn’t get the points. Today, we suffered in some moments, but the guys showed great character, and we deserved the win.”

The head coach particularly praised Onuachu for his persistence and impact off the bench, highlighting his decisive goal as a testament to his hard work.

“It was a great moment. He [Onuachu] deserved it because he worked hard. It’s his second goal, and I believe he can score more. His work rate for the team has been fantastic,” Juric said.

Aribo, who has played in various positions this season, also earned special recognition for his versatility and commitment.

“Joe [Aribo] is a great guy. He always puts the team first—whether he’s playing in attack, midfield, or even defense. Today, he played left centre-back in the second half, and he did an amazing job. He worked really hard, and his performance was fantastic,” Juric added.

Southampton Still in Trouble Despite Crucial Win

While the victory was a morale booster for the struggling Saints, their position in the league remains precarious. With just nine points from 24 English Premier League games, Southampton still sit at the bottom of the table and are facing the real threat of relegation to the EFL Championship.

However, the performances of Aribo and Onuachu, along with Juric’s growing influence on the squad, offer a glimmer of hope for a potential turnaround in their campaign. The Saints will need more inspired performances from their key players if they are to climb out of the relegation zone and secure their Premier League status.

As Southampton prepares for their next crucial fixtures, all eyes will be on Aribo and Onuachu to continue delivering when it matters most. Can they help the Saints pull off an unlikely escape? Time will tell.

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South West Games 2025: Lagos to Host as NSC Endorses Regional Sports Revolution

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BAT-SWAG: Inaugural Bola Ahmed Tinubu South West Alliance Games Set to Spotlight Region’s Athletic Prowess

A Grand Sporting Vision to Discover, Unify Budding Talents

All roads lead to March 2025. In the third month of the new calendar year, a grand new spectacle is set to unfold as the National Sports Commission (NSC) partners with Practagali Limited to host the maiden edition of the South West Games 2025. A sub-tournament of this pioneering initiative, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games (BAT-SWAG), will serve as an illustrious platform to unearth and nurture the region’s next generation of sporting talents.

Like a well-struck gong resonating across the six Southwestern states—Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, and Oyo—this tournament heralds a new dawn of competitive sportsmanship, youth empowerment, and regional unity. More than a tournament, the South West Games 2025 is an epochal rallying call for athletes, policymakers, and sports enthusiasts to converge in celebration of skill, endurance, and the unifying spirit of the game.

The NSC, from its citadel of sports governance, has endorsed the historic event. In a declaration suffused with optimism, the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olawale Olopade, underscored the Commission’s commitment to ensuring the Games achieve their full potential. “The South West Games 2025 and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games are not mere contests of athletic prowess; they are platforms for youth engagement, talent discovery, and community unity. The NSC recognizes the immense potential of this initiative to elevate sports development and nation-building.”

He further emphasized that beyond the spectacle of competition, these Games will become conduits for leadership growth, skill development, and economic stimulation across the region. To this end, the NSC has pledged its unwavering support in providing technical expertise, logistical assistance, and strategic direction to ensure the tournament meets international standards.

“By uniting people through sports, the Games will not only elevate the competitive landscape of the region but will also serve as an engine for fostering resilience, discipline, and social cohesion,” Olopade remarked. He lauded Practagali Limited for its visionary leadership in conceiving such an initiative, stressing that the synergy between government and private stakeholders will be crucial in redefining the Southwest as a veritable hub of sporting excellence.

The decision to host the inaugural edition of the South West Games in Lagos stands as a testament to the state’s towering reputation as the heartbeat of Nigerian sports. From its world-class sporting infrastructure to its history of hosting elite competitions, Lagos offers a fertile ground upon which this grand sporting vision will blossom.

The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, expressed confidence in the state’s ability to deliver a spectacle worthy of its name. “Hosting the inaugural Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games is a reaffirmation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s unwavering commitment to sports development. Lagos has consistently championed the cause of athletic excellence, making it the perfect launchpad for this historic initiative.”

Echoing this sentiment, Victor Ganzallo, the Spokesman for the Games, described BAT-SWAG as a potent tool to channel the energies of youth into productive ventures, particularly in an era where social vices lurk as omnipresent threats. He said, “Sports possess an unparalleled power to transform lives, and BAT-SWAG is designed to harness this power to inspire, uplift, and empower young people.

“The legacy of BAT-SWAG will be measured not just in the moments of triumph on the field but in the opportunities it creates, the lives it transforms, and the communities it uplifts. This is more than a sporting event; it is a movement.”

On her part, Funmilola Adedipe, the Managing Director of Practagali Partners, the Games are designed to be more than just an exhibition of athletic prowess—they will be a blueprint for youth engagement, grassroots talent development, and the cultivation of a robust sporting culture within the region. “The South West Games will not only provide a podium for young athletes to shine but will also catalyze the creation of a sustainable ecosystem where sports serve as a gateway to economic empowerment, education, and career advancement.”

The South West Games 2025 is geared to transcend the traditional confines of competition, offering an eclectic mix of sporting disciplines tailored to both contemporary and indigenous traditions. Competitions will span athletics (track and field), basketball, boxing, football, table tennis, and traditional African games such as Ayo-Olopon and Abula. In a commendable move towards inclusivity, the event will also feature adaptive sports, ensuring that athletes with disabilities are afforded an equal platform to showcase their skills.

Beyond the fanfare of medals and trophies, the South West Games 2025 is designed to leave an enduring imprint on the socio-economic fabric of the region. The influx of athletes, spectators, and corporate sponsors is expected to invigorate local economies, drive infrastructural enhancements, and foster an enduring culture of sports patronage.

Moreover, as the Games become institutionalized, they will serve as a breeding ground for future Olympians, national team prospects, and international sports icons. The organizers envision a tournament where every participant—whether triumphant or not—leaves with valuable lessons in discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

As the countdown begins to the inaugural South West Games 2025, the stakes have never been higher. For the NSC, Practagali Limited, and the Lagos State Sports Commission, this is a defining moment—a chance to etch an indelible chapter in Nigeria’s sporting annals.

With Lagos as its grand stage, and with the NSC’s strategic oversight, BAT-SWAG is primed to become a hub of talent discovery, youth engagement, and regional unity. The Southwest is on the cusp of a sporting renaissance as the echoes of competition reverberate across its landscapes.

The stage is set, the anticipation palpable. The South West Games 2025 beckon, promising a spectacle not merely to be witnessed, but to be felt in the very heartbeat of the region.

South West Games 2025: Lagos to Host as NSC Endorses Regional Sports Revolution

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Lookman, Oshoala, Ajibade & Nnadozie Nominated for EA FC 25 Team of the Year

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Lookman, Oshoala, Ajibade & Nnadozie Nominated for EA FC 25 Team of the Year

Lookman, Oshoala, Ajibade & Nnadozie Nominated for EA FC 25 Team of the Year

In a testament to their exceptional performances over the past year, Nigerian stars Ademola Lookman, Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Chiamaka Nnadozie have been nominated for the prestigious EA FC 25 Team of the Year.

Lookman, Oshoala, Ajibade & Nnadozie Nominated for EA FC 25 Team of the Year

The nominees were revealed on January 6, and fans worldwide can now vote for their favorite players to earn a spot in the sought-after squad. The EA FC Team of the Year celebrates the best-performing footballers across men’s and women’s football, with this year marking the inclusion of a full women’s squad.

Nigerian Stars Shine Bright

Ademola Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, has been recognized for his standout performances in the Serie A, while Asisat Oshoala, the Bay FC striker, continues to dominate the women’s game with her scoring prowess. Atletico Madrid forward Rasheedat Ajibade and Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie have also earned their spots among the elite nominees for their consistent excellence.

A Historic Year for EA FC

This year’s Team of the Year nominations feature an expanded roster, with male and female players vying for places in their respective squads. The inclusion of women’s football in EA FC Ultimate Team underscores the growing recognition of the women’s game on a global stage.

Notable names alongside the Nigerian stars include Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Alexia Putellas, and Kadidiatou Diani. Fans can vote for their favorite players, with winners set to receive limited-edition cards in the EA FC Ultimate Team mode, celebrated for their heightened stats and rarity.

How to Vote

Fans can cast their votes through the EA Sports official website. The voting period will remain open for a limited time, with the final Team of the Year set to be revealed soon after.

The inclusion of Lookman, Oshoala, Ajibade, and Nnadozie in the nomination list highlights their impact on the global football stage and continues to shine a spotlight on Nigeria’s growing influence in the sport.

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