FOCUSED JANNIK SINNER DEFEATS FIERY SHELTON, ADVANCES CONFIDENTLY TO PARIS SEMIFINALS.
Jannik Sinner dominates Ben Shelton at the Paris Masters, advancing to the semi-finals. With Alcaraz's shock exit, Sinner is now on the verge of capturing the World No. 1 ranking. The Italian's powerful performance puts him one win away from the top spot.
Sinner’s power play sends Shelton packing in Paris - Photo Credit: AFP Photo
At the Paris Masters, Jannik Sinner defeated Ben Shelton, bringing him one step closer to reclaiming his position as the world's number one.
The Italian may surpass the Spaniard by winning the ATP Masters 1,000 event in the French city after Carlos Alcaraz's unexpected loss to Cameron Norrie in the second round.
Sinner defeated Shelton 6-3, 6-3, his eighth consecutive victory over the American, to advance to the Paris semi-finals for the first time.
The 24-year-old said, "I am extremely thrilled," to Sky Sports. "The match was quite difficult.
His amazing serving sometimes leaves you with little control, but today I felt like I was returning really well. Additionally, I played extremely aggressively and solidly from the back of the court."
After dropping service in the midst of the second set, Sinner quickly recovered to defeat Shelton, 23, in just 70 minutes.
The Australian Open and Wimbledon champion continued, "At the moment, I am not concerned about the rating." It is a result of my playing style.
"It means a lot to make the semifinals here in Paris. I never take these successes for granted, and it has been a very lengthy season with some truly amazing outcomes."
In the final four, Sinner will play either Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Zverev.
After defeating Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-5, Kazakhstan's number one, Alexander Bublik, will make his first appearance in a Masters semi-final.
The ninth seed defeated Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot 6-2, 6-2, and the 13th seed will now take on Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
RAYMOND MURATALLA - ANDY CRUZ FIGHT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED FOR JANUARY 24 IN LAS VEGAS
Raymond Muratalla will defend his IBF lightweight title against unbeaten mandatory challenger Andy Cruz on January 24 at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. Matchroom Boxing won the promotional rights.
Fireworks ahead! Muratalla-Cruz showdown set for January 24 Vegas - Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
According to reports, Raymond Muratalla and Andy Cruz have a confirmed date and venue for their title fight.
The former two-time Olympic gold medallist Cruz will defend against IBF lightweight champion Muratalla on January 24 at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
The news was initially reported by BoxingScene.com.
Top Rank, Muratalla's handler, placed the sole other bid, but Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, Cruz's promoter, outbid them for the right to hold the fight. Top Rank bid $550,000, Matchroom bid $888,888.
Muratalla will get 65% of the winning price, or $577,777.20. Cruz is going to receive $311,110.80.
The 28-year-old Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) will be defending his 135-pound title for the first time. On May 10, he defeated Zaur Abdullaev to win the interim edition of that title. Since Vasiliy Lomachenko abruptly retired, he has been promoted to full champion.
Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) became the mandatory challenger for that title after thrashing Hironori Mishiro in Madison Square Garden in New York on June 14 and stopping him in the fifth round.
“I’M GOOD SOLO” KEVIN DURANT EXPLAINS WHY HE’LL NEVER MARRY
NBA star Kevin Durant admits he doesn't expect to ever get married, citing low odds and doubting he could be with one person forever. The Houston Rockets forward called off his own engagement back in 2014.
Durant’s plan, no wedding band—NBA star takes stand - Troy Taormina-Imagn Images/ File Photo
After questioning if he could spend the rest of his life with one spouse, NBA veteran Kevin Durant says he does not anticipate ever getting married.
When Durant, 37, proposed to his then-girlfriend in 2013, he called it quits a year later because he "did not know how to love her the right way." Durant was previously engaged to former WNBA player Monica Wright.
Despite being romantically involved with other high-profile women before his breakup with Wright, such as actress Apryl Jones and women's basketball player Liz Cambage, the Houston Rockets forward is still unmarried more than ten years later.
Additionally, Durant stated in an interview with influencer Bobbi Althoff that he "does not know" if he could stay married to just one person indefinitely.
"I believe divorce is more realistic because the divorce rate is greater," he remarked.
"That is not good odds to me," Durant said in response to Althoff's assertion that the likelihood of a divorce is always 50/50. But you are betting on that being 50/50, and that is betting on forever? I am not sure if I want to risk it.
After calling off an engagement, Kevin Durant acknowledges that he does not anticipate getting married in eleven years.
According to the NBA veteran, he does not believe he could spend the rest of his life with just one spouse.
He went on to say, "It is like the word marriage... like what the bond is." For example, do I want to hang out with the same person every day and be with this person every day?
"I had never actually imagined my wedding day." I think, "Oh, this is cool, oh, it is dope," whenever I attend a wedding. It is not as if I have to imagine it. Still, it is a cool occasion.
Durant emphasised that he is not currently looking for a committed relationship, even if he acknowledged that he once believed he was close to marriage.
That being said, he is not entirely ruling out future wedding bells.
According to the two-time NBA champion, "I am sure that it may happen." "All I am saying is that I am not anticipating it, but I am not closing the door on anything."
Durant responded, "Just somebody I can hang out with daily, somebody I can talk to that is cool, you know the basics, somebody I can genuinely be friends with," when asked what qualities he would look for in a partner. and not consider it to be a girlfriend-boyfriend situation.
Instead of us simply being friends by nature, there is a cloud associated with that label and expectation. I prefer to have no expectations because I might not always want to meet or speak with you.