Sports
Jack Draper Withdraws from Training Week with Alcaraz Due to Hip Injury
British tennis star Jack Draper has been forced to cancel a highly anticipated training week with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in Spain due to a minor hip injury. The 22-year-old, who is currently focusing on gym work, cited concerns about being unable to train at full intensity as the reason for his decision.
The training session with Alcaraz had been part of Draper’s preparation for the upcoming season. “It was something we were really excited about,” Draper said, adding that it would have been an opportunity to test himself against one of the world’s best players.
However, Draper emphasized that the current injury is unrelated to the hip issue that affected him earlier in the year. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic about his progress, noting, “I’ve been working incredibly hard the last couple of weeks to hopefully improve for next year.”
Draper, ranked 15th in the world after a stellar year that included ATP titles in Stuttgart and Vienna, has displayed improved resilience to injuries throughout 2023. Nevertheless, his fitness remains a concern ahead of the United Cup, starting 27 December, and the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.
The young Brit shared these updates while participating in a Memory Walk for the Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to his heart. Draper, an ambassador for the charity, has spoken openly about the impact of Alzheimer’s on his grandmother and praised his grandfather, her primary caregiver, as an “absolute hero.”
Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a historic 100th ATP title with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils in the Brisbane International round of 16. The 37-year-old Serbian star displayed clinical precision, securing his 20th career win against the 38-year-old Frenchman.
Djokovic capitalized on his sole break point in the opening set to build a 4-1 lead, wrapping it up in just 36 minutes. In the second set, Monfils faltered early with a missed forehand, allowing Djokovic to break serve and gain control. Holding serve consistently, Djokovic sealed the match with another break at 5-3.
Awaiting Djokovic in the quarter-finals is American Reilly Opelka, who edged past Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in a nail-biting encounter, winning 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-4). Opelka’s dominant serve was the highlight, delivering an impressive 25 aces.
The upcoming clash will mark the first meeting between Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, and Opelka. Djokovic acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Opelka has been injured and struggled a lot for a couple of years. My gosh, I’m going to have to probably step back a few steps for that first serve.”
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka also progressed to the quarter-finals, maintaining her strong form in the tournament.
Netflix made history this Christmas, setting a new record for the most streamed NFL games in the U.S. Nearly 65 million viewers tuned in to watch two thrilling matchups, marking a monumental debut for Netflix’s exclusive Christmas Day NFL broadcasts.
The Baltimore Ravens’ win against the Houston Texans drew an average of 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers closely followed with 24.1 million viewers. The audience peaked during Beyoncé’s dazzling halftime performance during the Ravens-Texans game, attracting over 27 million viewers.
“Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria shared in a press release. She also credited their partnership with the NFL, exceptional on-air talent, and standout performances from Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.
These games marked the start of a three-year deal between Netflix and the NFL to stream exclusive Christmas matchups.
NBA Also Shines on Christmas Day
The NFL wasn’t the only sports league celebrating. The NBA had its most-watched Christmas Day in five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game across its five-game lineup.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ triumph over the Golden State Warriors led the way, drawing an average of 7.76 million viewers and peaking at 8.32 million. It became the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in half a decade.
The New York Knicks’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs also made waves as the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years, with an average of 4.91 million viewers.
Australia’s iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been marred by tragedy, with two participants losing their lives in separate incidents involving accidents with a boom, the horizontal pole attached to the bottom of a sail.
The incidents occurred aboard the Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, according to race organizers. New South Wales (NSW) police reported that the first incident was brought to their attention shortly before midnight on Thursday local time (12:50 GMT). The second incident was reported just over two hours later, at 2:15 a.m. on Friday, after attempts at CPR proved unsuccessful.
The Flying Fish Arctos was approximately 30 nautical miles east/southeast of Ulladulla when the first accident occurred. The second fatality aboard the Bowline happened around 30 nautical miles east/northeast of Batemans Bay, NSW.
Organizers expressed their condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with the crews, family, and friends of the deceased.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his sympathies, saying, “The Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition, and it is heart-breaking that two lives have been lost at what should be a time of joy.”
Despite the tragedies, the race, which began on Thursday, continues. The first yachts are expected to arrive in Hobart, Tasmania, by late Friday or early Saturday, though severe weather conditions have already forced several teams to retire.
The event, first held in 1945, has faced fatalities in the past, including the devastating 1998 race when raging storms claimed six lives, among them British Olympic yachtsman Glyn Charles.
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