NADAL WAVERS OVER US OPEN, ROLAND GARROS

LONDON: As Rafael Nadal was described as wavering over defending his US Open title or preparing for an assault on a 13th Roland Garros, Britain’s Andy Murray said on Saturday he fears for the safety of top players as tennis emerges from its five-month coronavirus lockdown. The US Open will run from August 31 to September 13 on the hard courts of New York with the rescheduled French Open on clay taking place just a fortnight after. In between are Masters events in Madrid and Rome, both on clay and also rescheduled from the spring.

“I have spoken to Rafa and he is doubting which tournaments to play,” Nadal’s uncle -- and longtime former coach -- Toni told ESPN Deportes.”the schedule is unrealistic, especially for veteran players, who cannot compete for so many weeks in a row. I think it is a bit ugly what the ATP has done. This decision is totally against players like Rafa and Novak Djokovic.”

AASHI SELECTED FOR AMBITIOUS FIA PROJECT

MUMBAI: City’s rising racing star Aashi Hanspal has been shortlisted for FIA’S ambitious ‘Girls on Track—rising Stars Project’, the Federation of Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI) announced here. Aashi, 13, has been selected along with 19 others in the age group of 12-16 out of 70 entries from five continents. As the first step, she will take part in the ‘Shoot Out’ at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France on October 12 and 13, a release said on Sunday. If she does well, she could become first female driver to obtain a partnership agreement with Ferrari Driver Academy with a chance to take part in the Formula 4 season.

CARLOS WANTS PROTEST BAN SCRAPPED

NEWYORK: John Carlos, one of the two American Olympians who famously gave the Black Power salute on the podium at the 1968 Mexico Games, is leading a call for rules banning athlete protests at the Olympics to be scrapped.

The 75-year-old ex-sprinter on Saturday joined active American athletes to send a letter to the IOC calling for abolition of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which bans political protests. “Athletes will no longer be silenced,” read the letter signed by Carlos and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Advisory Council (USOPC AAC).