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Saudi Al-Nassr Draws with Iraq's Al-Shorta in First Game in Rebranded AFC Champions League Elite 

Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia player Salem Abdullah, right, battles for the ball during the AFC Champions League Elite West Region football match between Iraq's Al-Shorta and Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr at the Al-Madina Stadium in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Sept 16, 2024. (AP)
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia player Salem Abdullah, right, battles for the ball during the AFC Champions League Elite West Region football match between Iraq's Al-Shorta and Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr at the Al-Madina Stadium in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Sept 16, 2024. (AP)
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Saudi Al-Nassr Draws with Iraq's Al-Shorta in First Game in Rebranded AFC Champions League Elite 

Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia player Salem Abdullah, right, battles for the ball during the AFC Champions League Elite West Region football match between Iraq's Al-Shorta and Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr at the Al-Madina Stadium in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Sept 16, 2024. (AP)
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia player Salem Abdullah, right, battles for the ball during the AFC Champions League Elite West Region football match between Iraq's Al-Shorta and Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr at the Al-Madina Stadium in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Sept 16, 2024. (AP)

Without an ill Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia drew with Al-Shorta of Iraq 1-1 in the first ever game in the revamped and rebranded AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

Ronaldo was left behind in Riyadh because Al-Nassr said the Portugal superstar, who has won five UEFA Champions Leagues but has yet to win a major trophy with his current club, had a viral infection and could not travel to Baghdad.

Sultan Al-Ghannam put Al-Nassr ahead after 14 minutes though Mohammed Dawood leveled 10 minutes later.

There was another blow for Al-Nassr as Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic left the field injured early in the second half.

Al-Ahli, another of Saudi Arabia’s three star-studded teams in the tournament, beat Persepolis of Iran 1-0 in Jeddah.

Former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie scored in the first minute. Ivan Toney, signed from English Premier League club Brentford in August, made his Asian debut for Al-Ahli but the England striker was unable to get on the scoresheet.

Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez missed a second half penalty, but Al-Ahli held on.

Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates, which in May was the last winner of the Asian Champions League which has been replaced by the more streamlined Elite, started with a 1-1 draw against Al-Sadd of Qatar. Elsewhere, Esteghlal of Iran defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0.

The 24 teams have been divided into two groups of 12, divided into east and west geographic zones, and each plays eight games. The top eight from each group progresses to the round of 16.

Saudi Arabia’s third team, Al-Hilal, is in action on Tuesday and travels to Qatar to face Al-Rayyan.

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Sinner Adds Former Djokovic Trainer, Physio to Coaching Team 

Italy's Jannick Sinner waves to the crowd during a men's singles tennis Davis Cup tennis match between Italy's Matteo Berrettini and Botic Van Zandschulp of the Netherlands, at the Unipol arena, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)
Italy's Jannick Sinner waves to the crowd during a men's singles tennis Davis Cup tennis match between Italy's Matteo Berrettini and Botic Van Zandschulp of the Netherlands, at the Unipol arena, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)
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Sinner Adds Former Djokovic Trainer, Physio to Coaching Team 

Italy's Jannick Sinner waves to the crowd during a men's singles tennis Davis Cup tennis match between Italy's Matteo Berrettini and Botic Van Zandschulp of the Netherlands, at the Unipol arena, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)
Italy's Jannick Sinner waves to the crowd during a men's singles tennis Davis Cup tennis match between Italy's Matteo Berrettini and Botic Van Zandschulp of the Netherlands, at the Unipol arena, in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Michele Nucci/LaPresse via AP)

World number one Jannik Sinner has added fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio to his staff following the dismissal of two members after he escaped a doping ban despite failing two drug tests in March.

The Italian confirmed the appointment in a social media post on Monday, with Panichi and Badio bringing vast experience after having worked with 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Sinner had tested positive for the steroid clostebol, which can be used to build muscle mass, after his physio Giacomo Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray to a cut on his own hand before carrying out treatments on him.

The spray was given to Naldi by trainer Umberto Ferrara.

Sinner fired both team members last month, before winning the US Open title to make it two Grand Slam trophies in 2024 following his breakthrough Australian Open triumph.

The 23-year-old was cleared of fault or negligence last month by an independent tribunal which accepted the explanation that he had inadvertently been contaminated with the drug by Naldi, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said.

The World Anti-Doping Agency had said it would review the decision and reserved the right to appeal.

Panichi and Badio had their first session with Sinner on Monday at his training base in Monte Carlo and will travel with him to tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai.