Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday, but his progression was bittersweet, marked by the unfortunate retirement of his opponent, Jack Draper, due to injury. The match concluded abruptly after Alcaraz secured a commanding 7-5, 6-1 lead, with Draper unable to continue before the start of the third set.
The encounter began with a high intensity, both players showcasing strong serves and holding their ground in the early stages. The score remained locked at 2-2 for the opening twenty minutes before Alcaraz shifted gears, breaking Draper’s serve and consolidating his own to establish a 5-2 advantage in the first set. Draper, however, demonstrated resilience, breaking back to reduce the deficit to 5-4 and subsequently levelling the score. Alcaraz, though momentarily frustrated, maintained his composure and secured another break to clinch the first set.
It was during this pivotal moment that signs of injury became apparent in Draper’s game. He requested a medical timeout, leaving the court for treatment. Upon his return, the British player appeared visibly hampered, and the second set unfolded much differently, with Alcaraz facing minimal resistance. The Spaniard swiftly secured the set in just 38 minutes.
Following further consultation with his physiotherapist, Draper made the difficult decision to withdraw from the match.
In his post-match interview, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment with the circumstances of his victory. “This is not the way that I want to get through to the next round,” Alcaraz stated. “I’m just happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia, but really sorry for Jack. He doesn’t deserve to get injured. He couldn’t prepare the start of the season well.”
Alcaraz will now face the winner of the upcoming match between Novak Djokovic and Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals. The young Spaniard’s path to potential victory remains, but the shadow of Draper’s injury serves as a sobering reminder of the physical demands of professional tennis.
Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2: Full schedule, squads, venues & streaming details
The Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2 is set to begin from March 5, featuring 8 teams and top influencers in a T10 format. Check the full schedule, squads, and streaming details here.
The much-anticipated Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) 2025 Season 2 is set to bring an electrifying mix of cricket and entertainment, featuring popular YouTubers and influencers. With an expanded lineup of eight teams and a T10 format, the tournament promises high-energy clashes. Defending champions Haryanvi Hunters, led by Elvish Yadav, will compete against seven rival teams for the coveted title.
Teams Participating in ECL 2025 Season 2
The second season of Entertainers Cricket League will feature eight teams, increasing from the six teams in the previous edition:
Haryanvi Hunters (Elvish Yadav)
Bangalore Bashers (Abhishek Malhan)
Dynamic Delhi (Gaurav Taneja)
Rajasthan Rangers (Zayn Saifi)
Lucknow Lions (Anurag Dwivedi)
Kolkata Superstars (Pushkar Raj Thakur)
Mumbai Disruptors (Munawar Faruqui)
Chennai Smashers (Mahesh Nain)
Where and When Will ECL 2025 Season 2 Be Played?
The Indira Gandhi Indoor Cricket Stadium in Delhi will host ECL 2025 Season 2 from March 5 to March 16, 2025.
Where to Watch Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2?
Champions Trophy 2025 Final: Rachin Ravindra calls Dubai pitch an unknown factor
Rachin Ravindra has termed the Dubai pitch an unknown factor ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 final against India, emphasizing adaptability as the key to success.
As the cricketing world gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025 final, New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has acknowledged that the Dubai International Stadium pitch remains an unknown element ahead of the crucial match against India. The highly anticipated final is set to take place on Sunday, March 10, where both teams will battle for ICC supremacy.
India has played all four of its matches at Dubai International Stadium, while New Zealand has played mostly in Pakistan, with just one group-stage game in Dubai. This has led to speculation that India might have an edge due to their familiarity with the venue.
However, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has dismissed such claims, stating,
“There’s no undue advantage in India playing in Dubai. This venue is as neutral for us as it is for the others. We haven’t even practised once at this ground as of now. We practised at the ICC Academy.”
New Zealand’s star performer, Rachin Ravindra, has reinforced the uncertainty surrounding the pitch conditions at Dubai. Speaking after New Zealand’s semi-final victory against South Africa, Ravindra said:
“We don’t quite know what the Dubai pitch is. We saw in our (group) game against India the ball turning, but the other day, it didn’t turn so much. We found ourselves adapting and playing according to situations, which we will need to do on Sunday again.”
The left-handed batter, who scored a sensational 108-run knock in the semi-final against South Africa, emphasized that adaptability will be key.
“We will see in the next couple of days and hopefully it’s a good cricket wicket,” he added.
Rachin Ravindra has been a standout player for New Zealand, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. In the semi-final against South Africa, he not only set the platform for a 362-run total with his century but also delivered an economical bowling spell, conceding just 20 runs in 5 overs while picking up one wicket.
With the final set to be a battle of adaptability, both teams will have to assess the pitch conditions quickly and adjust their strategies accordingly. New Zealand will be eager to lift the Champions Trophy, while India will be determined to capitalize on their consistent run in Dubai.
The Champions Trophy 2025 final promises to be an exciting showdown, with all eyes on how the teams handle the ‘unknown’ pitch in Dubai.
David Miller criticizes unfair travel schedule after Champions Trophy Semifinal loss
South Africa’s David Miller voiced his frustration over the team’s rushed travel schedule ahead of their Champions Trophy semifinal defeat to New Zealand.
South African cricketer David Miller has raised concerns about the travel arrangements ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal, labeling them as “not ideal.” His comments came after South Africa’s 50-run loss to New Zealand in Lahore, where their preparation was hampered by a last-minute trip to Dubai and back.
Miller and his teammates had to fly to Dubai from Pakistan before their crucial knockout match, spending less than 24 hours there before returning. This unusual scheduling was due to India’s decision to play all their matches in Dubai, avoiding travel to Pakistan for political reasons.
“It’s only an hour and 40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal,” Miller said, emphasizing the disruptive nature of the travel.
The team had just secured a win against England in Karachi before they were required to travel. Miller described the experience:
“It’s early morning, it’s after a game, and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4:00 pm. And at 7:30 am, we had to come back. It doesn’t make it nice.”
Despite the short flight, Miller noted that the lack of rest and recovery time affected their performance.
In the semifinal, New Zealand posted a Champions Trophy record total of 362-6, courtesy of centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. South Africa’s chase was led by Temba Bavuma (56) and Rassie van der Dussen (69), who put on a solid 105-run stand. However, New Zealand’s spinners, led by Mitchell Santner (3-43), applied pressure and restricted South Africa to 312-9 in 50 overs.
Miller, who scored a 67-ball unbeaten 100, admitted that chasing 360+ was always going to be difficult.
“It’s not easy chasing 360 even if it’s a good wicket,” Miller said. “I think the wicket just deteriorated as the game went on, and they spun the ball a lot more than us. They got a little more purchase out of the wicket.”
With their victory, New Zealand advanced to the Champions Trophy final, where they will face India in Dubai. Miller, when asked about the final, gave a candid response:
“I’ll be honest with you, I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand.”
The tournament’s scheduling and travel challenges have sparked debate, with Miller’s comments reigniting discussions over fairness in global cricket events.
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