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Novak Djokovic wins historic US Open – ARN News Centre

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Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 to win the US Open, equalling Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 Grand Slams. The 36-year-old Serb becomes the first to win three Grand Slam events in a season for the fourth time.

Novak Djokovic would not let Daniil Medvedev spoil his date with history a second time battling past the Russian 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 to win the US Open and equal Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 Grand Slams.

The victory, his fourth in 10 Flushing Meadows finals, capped another remarkable Grand Slam campaign for Djokovic with wins at the Australian, French and US Opens and a return to the top of the world rankings.

The 36-year-old Serb becomes the oldest US Open men’s winner in the Open Era and the first to win three Grand Slam events in a season for the fourth time.

“It obviously means the world to me,” said Djokovic about his 24th Slam. “I’m really living my childhood dream.”

“To make the history of this sport is something truly remarkable, it’s hard to describe the words.”

“I had the childhood dream when I was seven, eight, I wanted to become the best player in the world.”

And it is a dream that continues to come true. Djokovic has already won more Grand Slams than any man and now shares the overall record with Court.

After clinching his historic title Djokovic threw his racquet in the air and dropped to his knees as the capacity crowd roared.

He would pick himself up and find his young daughter courtside for an emotional hug before going back to the bench where he pulled out a T-shirt with “Mamba Forever” on the front and the number 24 on the back.

The shirt was a tribute to both his achievement and late friend Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who wore the number throughout much of his all-star career before dying in a helicopter crash.

“I thought of doing this T-shirt, eventually, if I get the chance to win the tournament,” said Djokovic. “Kobe was a close friend, we chatted a lot about the winner’s mentality.”

“When I was struggling with injury he was one of the people I relied on the most. He was always there for any kind of counsel, advice.”

“I thought 24 is the jersey that he wore when he became a legend of Lakers and world basketball.”

While Djokovic and Medvedev are intriguing figures, neither has been fully embraced by the New York crowds.

Until the end there was little of the electricity that crackled through Arthur Ashe during the women’s final on Saturday, with no clear support for either player from an attentive but subdued audience.

As the match started Djokovic walked out on to court and stared across the net at Medvedev the man once again standing between him and history just as he had two years ago.

The last time the two clashed at the U.S. Open was in the 2021 final, when the Russian captured his only major and denied the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam.

While Djokovic did not speak of revenge on the road to the final the Serb is known to hold a grudge and only referenced that loss as a learning experience.

As expected, in a contest featuring the sport’s two premier hardcourt players, almost every point was contested with long rallies as both men pounded away at each other from the baseline.

Djokovic came out playing with purpose and applied pressure right away breaking the third seed at the first opportunity on way to a 3-0 lead.

That would be the only break Djokovic would need against a surprisingly flat Medvedev who could not manufacture a single break chance in the first set.

During a marathon one hour and 44 minute, lung-bursting second set Medvedev would find life forcing a tiring Djokovic into long grinding point, after grinding point.

But the tireless Russian’s hard work would pay no dividends unable to convert any of his few break chances including one at 6-5 that would have given him the set.

Medvedev charged in front 3-1 of the tie-break but again could not land the knockout blow as Djokovic came off the ropes to take it 7-5 and a 2-0 lead.

If there is one thing Djokovic possesses it is a killer instinct and the Serb wasted no time striking breaking Medvedev to go up 3-1 in the third.

A defiant Medvedev answered with his first and only break of the match but it was not enough with Djokovic hitting right back with another break then holding serve the rest of way to clinch the title.



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DP World ILT20 is opening doors for local cricket talent, says UAE Fast Bowler Muhammad Rohid 

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July 22, 2026

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For UAE fast bowler Muhammad Rohid, being among the highest-valued local players at the DP World ILT20’s first-ever player auction was more than a career milestone, it was proof that homegrown cricketers now have a genuine pathway to the professional game.

The left-arm pacer was signed by MI Emirates for $140,000 ahead of Season 4, making him the fifth-highest-priced UAE player in the historic auction. Rohid believes the league is changing the future of cricket in the Emirates by giving young players a platform to showcase their talent alongside some of the biggest names in the sport.

“The biggest thing the DP World ILT20 has done is create a clear pathway for UAE players,” Rohid said. “Young cricketers can now see that if they perform well, opportunities will come, whether that’s with a franchise or the national team.”

The 24-year-old credits the tournament with helping him develop both on and off the field. He recalled one of his standout moments from

Season 4, when he was told he would be playing in Qualifier 2 just 10 minutes before the toss. Despite the late call-up, Rohid delivered figures of 2 for 19, dismissing Brandon McMullen and Liam Livingstone during a match-winning spell.

“The biggest lesson I learned was to always stay ready because opportunities can come at any moment,” he said. “The environment taught me to trust my preparation, stay calm under pressure and back my abilities.”

Rohid also highlighted the value of sharing a dressing room with international stars such as Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Shakib Al Hasan.

“Watching how they prepare, train and handle pressure has been a huge learning experience. They were always willing to share advice, and those conversations helped me become a better player.”

The pacer has since become a regular member of the UAE national team, featuring in ODIs and T20 Internationals, while also earning selection for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he represented the UAE against New Zealand.

Looking ahead, Rohid says his focus remains on improving his game and becoming a bowler his captain can rely on in every situation.

“I want to keep getting better every season and contribute more for both the UAE and MI Emirates. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve received and hope to make the most of them.”

Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 is scheduled to take place in November and December 2026.

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UAE wins three ICC Development Awards for women’s cricket and grassroots growth

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July 14, 2026

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The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) celebrated a landmark achievement after winning three honours at the ICC Development Awards 2025, recognising its outstanding contribution to grassroots cricket and the growth of the women’s game in the UAE.

The awards were presented during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, where cricket boards from around the world were recognised for programmes that have helped expand participation and develop the sport.

Initiative of the Year

The ECB’s first award came in the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year category for its pioneering Girls U15 Academy League. The programme, the first of its kind in the region, was recognised for creating new opportunities for young girls to participate in competitive cricket while promoting inclusion and wider access to the sport.

The board also shared the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award with Türkiye Cricket. The honour recognised the UAE’s efforts to expand girls’ cricket through the Get into Cricket – Girls Only programme and the Interschool Criiio Gulf Cup, initiatives launched following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 to introduce cricket to schools and communities across the country.

Victory for UAE women’s national team

Completing a memorable evening, the ECB received the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year award after the UAE women’s national team made history during its tour of Zimbabwe.

Competing in their first-ever 50-over series after gaining ODI status, the UAE secured a 2-2 draw in the One-Day International series before defeating Zimbabwe 2-0 in the subsequent T20 International series. The result marked the UAE’s maiden bilateral series victory over a higher-ranked Full Member nation on foreign soil.

ECB Board Member Zayed Abbas described the awards as a significant milestone for everyone involved in UAE cricket.

“These awards are a massive encouragement for the Emirates Cricket Board management, officials, players and support staff,” Abbas said.

He thanked the ICC for recognising the work of Associate Members and said the honours had strengthened the board’s determination to invest further in cricket development.

Abbas also praised the rapid rise of women’s cricket in the UAE, saying growing media attention and increased participation at grassroots level were creating a strong foundation for the future.

“Thousands of girls are now playing cricket, which means that we have a solid foundation to work on for the years ahead,” he said.

Bright future for women’s team

Looking ahead, Abbas said the Emirates Cricket Board remains committed to providing the national women’s team with greater exposure against leading international sides as preparations continue for the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and qualification campaigns for future ICC Women’s T20 and ODI World Cups.

The ICC Development Awards recognise outstanding programmes and achievements that contribute to the growth of cricket globally, with winners selected from regional nominees across multiple development categories.

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How DP World ILT20 helped UAE pacer Khuzaima Tanveer reach international cricket

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3 weeks ago

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July 2, 2026

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UAE fast bowler Khuzaima Tanveer has credited the DP World ILT20 with accelerating his rise to international cricket, saying the league gave him the confidence and experience needed to represent the UAE on the global stage.

The 26-year-old, who made his international debut earlier this year, believes competing alongside some of the world’s top cricketers helped prepare him for the demands of international cricket.

“Representing the UAE was a proud moment for me and it’s something every young cricketer dreams about. The DP World ILT20 helped prepare me because you’re constantly competing against high-quality players. It gives you confidence that you belong on the international stage,” he said.

Breakthrough performances

Khuzaima announced himself during DP World ILT20 Season 3 with impressive figures of 4/22 against Sharjah Warriorz.

Since joining the Desert Vipers, he has claimed 24 wickets in 18 matches across two seasons. During the Vipers’ title-winning campaign, he finished with 17 wickets, making him the second-highest UAE wicket-taker in the tournament and third overall. He was also shortlisted for the Blue Belt, awarded to the competition’s best UAE player.

Learning from the world’s best

Khuzaima said one of the league’s biggest advantages is the opportunity to learn from elite players and coaches.

“A lot of the learning happens during training sessions, team meetings and conversations. I was fortunate to share the dressing room with Sam Curran, Naseem Shah and Lockie Ferguson. Even small pieces of advice from players like them help you become a better cricketer.”

He also described interacting with legendary fast bowlers Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram as one of the highlights of his career.

Inspired, not compared

While fans have compared his bowling action to Pakistan legend Waqar Younis, Khuzaima insists he is focused on building his own identity.

“Waqar Younis is a legend of the game. If people see similarities, I take it as a compliment, but my focus is on becoming the best version of myself.”

Eyes on future

Now a UAE international, Khuzaima says wearing the national jersey comes with greater responsibility.

“Once you represent the UAE, people expect more from you and you expect more from yourself. My aim is to keep improving, perform consistently and contribute whenever I get the opportunity.”

He also praised UAE captain Muhammad Waseem for setting an example for local players, saying his performances in the DP World ILT20 have shown that Emirati cricketers can compete with the world’s best.

Looking ahead to DP World ILT20 Season 5, Khuzaima hopes to continue developing his game and make the most of every opportunity.

“Every season brings new challenges and new opportunities to learn. My goal is to keep improving, contribute to my team and continue making the most of the opportunities the DP World ILT20 provides.”

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