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Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic, fired up by his emotional Olympic Games triumph, targets new grand slam records at the US Open from Monday, while title rival Jannik Sinner arrives in New York dogged by questions over two positive drugs tests.
Defending champion Djokovic can become the oldest Open era champion at the tournament if he secures a fifth title, a record he would share with Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
The 37-year-old would also move to 25 grand slam triumphs, taking him clear of the 24 he currently shares with Margaret Court.
The final major of the year comes at a critical time for Djokovic.
This year he was succeeded as Australian Open champion by Sinner who also relieved him of his world No 1 ranking.

Carlos Alcaraz took his French Open title with the Spanish crowd-pleaser then sweeping Djokovic off court in a one-sided Wimbledon final.
However, Djokovic, returned to the clay courts of Roland Garros to stun Alcaraz in the Olympic final.
His tearful victory in Paris allowed him to become only the fifth player to complete a career golden slam of all four majors and Olympic gold.
The victory also silenced the increasing number of doubters who had written off the Serb as a spent force in a new era where Sinner, 23, and 21-year-old Alcaraz are steadily moving centre stage.
Djokovic, who underwent surgery on his right knee in June, described his Olympic victory as his “biggest sporting success”. It was also the 99th title of his professional career.
“At the age of 37 and facing a 21-year-old who is probably the best player in the world right now, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, I can say that this is probably the biggest sporting success I have ever had,” Djokovic said.
Sinner arrives at the final slam of the season having captured the Cincinnati Masters title.
However, that triumph was quickly overshadowed when it emerged he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance earlier in the season.
Sinner tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic agent prohibited at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
But he escaped a lengthy ban after officials accepted his explanation that the substance had entered his system as a result of contamination from a support team member.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner said.
The decision to allow him to continue playing was blasted as “ridiculous” by Australian player Nick Kyrgios.
Alcaraz, who won his first major at the US Open in 2022, was badly bruised by his defeat to Djokovic in the Olympic final.
He broke down in tears on court before admitting he felt he had “let Spain down”.
His build-up to New York wasn’t helped by a second round exit in Cincinnati to Gael Monfils in a match which saw the usually composed Alcaraz smash his racquet on court. He described the defeat as the “worst match” of his career.
In the women’s singles at the US Open, Coco Gauff is the defending champion but the 20-year-old has endured a worrying dip in form in recent weeks.
A stormy exit from the Olympics in the third round was followed by early losses in Toronto and Cincinnati.
No woman has successfully defended her US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.
Five-time major winner and world No 1 Iga Swiatek, the 2022 champion in New York, made the Cincinnati semi-finals where she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, was runner-up to Gauff at the US Open last year, losing from a set up in the final.


Chinese Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen to tackle Australian Open without 2024 coach Pere Riba

Key to Zheng Qinwen beating Coco Gauff in WTA Finals lies in killer serve, cutting out mistakes

Players at Hong Kong Open looked tired, should manage their schedules better, says Li Na

China Open men’s final: Carlos Alcaraz fights back to beat Jannik Sinner in thriller

US Open (tennis)

Novak Djokovic targets grand slam record at US Open, Sinner under drug testing cloud

Novak Djokovic acknowledges the crowd before playing in an exhibition match at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on August 21. Photo: Getty Images

Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing for two anti-doping violations earlier in the season. Photo: AFP

Paris Olympics: Novak Djokovic hails Zheng Qinwen run, ‘huge for China and for our sport’

Zheng Qinwen is the first Asian-born player to reach an Olympic singles final. Photo: Xinhua

Djokovic was ‘relieved and emotional’ after overcoming Lorenzo Musetti to reach the Olympic final. Photo: EPA-EFE

Paris Olympics day 9: Lyles wins men’s 100m after Djokovic, Fan triumph – as it happened

US’ Noah Lyles raises an arm as he crosses the finish in the men’s 100m final in Paris. Photo: AFP

Sport

Tennis

Serb can become the oldest Open era champion if he wins the title for a fifth time, which would take him to 25 major triumphs


Novak Djokovic can become the oldest Open era champion if he wins the title for a fifth time, which would take him to 25 major triumphs.


ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Novak Djokovic