Tendulkar is Time magazine’s ‘Person of the Moment’
New York: Accolades continued to pour in for the retiring Sachin Tendulkar with the ‘Time’ magazine naming the legendary Indian batsman its “Person of the Moment” while as he plays his last Test in Mumbai. “The world’s greatest cricketer plays his last match…much to the disappointment of throngs of adoring fans,” The magazine said of the 40-year-old, who will bid adieu to cricket after playing his 200th test currently being played against the West Indies in Mumbai. “India’s top cricket player, Sachin Tendulkar, is regarded one of the greatest batsman of all time. The only player to score 100 international centuries, Tendulkar leaves the sport as the greatest player of his generation,” ‘Time’ said. ‘Time’ magazine also put out a special online feature highlighting Tendulkar’s 10 greatest moments, including his first 100 in 1990 against England, his 2001 game against Australia when he became the first player ever to score 10,000 runs in the one-day format, his unprecedented 200 runs in a single innings in a one-day international game against South Africa in 2010 and the 2011 World Cup win. Another Time article said as the little Master plays his last Test match there is “as much a celebration of a great batsman as a poignant meditation on the vacuum he will leave behind.” It said when Tendulkar’s last match is over, “a nation will have to be content with its memories.” (PTI)
Sachin will be missed: UN
United Nations: Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement has invited reaction from an unexpected quarter — the United Nations. “We will miss him,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters when asked if the UN Secretary-General has any thoughts on Tendulkar’s retirement. Haq said the 40-year-old’s retirement is “indeed” a big day for the sports icon. The batting superstar is playing his 200th Test in Mumbai against West Indies, after which he will bring the curtains down on a 24-year-old career during which he made innumerable records that will be hard to surpass for several years. Tendulkar, who has scored 15,000 Test runs and 18,000-plus one-day international runs, is being feted not only in India but by fans across the world, with leading US publications also saying he will be “irreplaceable.” Haq said that while he is not aware how much the UN chief is following Tendulkar’s retirement, “I certainly am aware”. (PTI)
Djokovic gives Serbia lead in Davis Cup final
BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic handed Serbia a 1-0 lead over defending champions the Czech Republic after sweeping Radek Stepanek in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup final in Belgrade on Friday. The world number two, and recently-crowned ATP World Tour Finals champion, beat 44th-ranked veteran Stepanek 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes. “The 1-0 lead is very important for us,” the 26-year-old Djokovic told a frantic crowd in the sold-out Belgrade Arena sitting 15,500 people. Relying on a solid first serve throughout the rubber, Djokovic broke Stepanek’s serve in game six of the first set. But then he found himself under heavy pressure, allowing the 34-year-old Czech to win seven straight points at one moment and take the serve back. Djokovic showed some frustration before breaking Stepanek again for a 7-5 first-set win. Stepanek earned three break points early in the second set, but Djokovic held on to his serve and embarked on a spree to take the set, 6-1. A single break in game nine was all Djokovic needed in the third set to finish off Stepanek. “I am happy with the way I played. Of course I was nervous at the beginning but it was very important for us to win the first set and then I relaxed,” he said. “I served well in the important moments.” (Agencies)