Saudi Minister of Sport Crowns Cassidy First in 2024 Diriyah E-Prix

 Envision Racing driver Nick Cassidy (37) addresses the media after winning the New York City E-Prix racing event at Brooklyn Circuit. - File Photo/Reuters
Envision Racing driver Nick Cassidy (37) addresses the media after winning the New York City E-Prix racing event at Brooklyn Circuit. - File Photo/Reuters
TT

Saudi Minister of Sport Crowns Cassidy First in 2024 Diriyah E-Prix

 Envision Racing driver Nick Cassidy (37) addresses the media after winning the New York City E-Prix racing event at Brooklyn Circuit. - File Photo/Reuters
Envision Racing driver Nick Cassidy (37) addresses the media after winning the New York City E-Prix racing event at Brooklyn Circuit. - File Photo/Reuters

Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal crowned Saturday the New Zealander Nick Cassidy, the racing driver of Jaguar Formula E racing team after came first in the third round of the ABB FIA Formula E 2024 World Championship in its 10th season and the 2024 Diriyah E-Prix Round 2.
The Dutch racer Robin Frijns, driver of the Envision Racing team, secured second place, while the British Oliver Rowland, driver of the Nissan team, snatched third place.
More than 300 media professionals from various local, regional and international platforms attended the event, and it was broadcast via 45 channels in 16 countries.
Following the end of the second and third rounds hosted by the Kingdom, the drivers will head to Sao Paulo in Brazil, which will host the fourth round of the global event, while Japan will host the fifth one, Italy in the sixth and seventh rounds, then France will host the eighth round, as Germany will host the ninth and tenth rounds.
The eleventh and twelfth rounds will be held in China, and then the tournament will move to the US, which will organize the thirteenth and fourteenth rounds. Finally, it will conclude with the fifteenth and sixteenth rounds in London, UK.

In Saudi Arabia, the ceremony was attended by Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and President of the Saudi Motorsports Company.



Habib Becomes 1st Lebanese Player in Open Era to Play in Grand Slam Men's Singles Draw

FILE - Hady Habib of Lebanon, right, walks by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men's singles tennis competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong,File)
FILE - Hady Habib of Lebanon, right, walks by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men's singles tennis competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong,File)
TT

Habib Becomes 1st Lebanese Player in Open Era to Play in Grand Slam Men's Singles Draw

FILE - Hady Habib of Lebanon, right, walks by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men's singles tennis competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong,File)
FILE - Hady Habib of Lebanon, right, walks by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men's singles tennis competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong,File)

Hady Habib isn't likely to find anything too daunting at the Australian Open now that he's become the first Lebanese player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam men's singles draw.
He advanced through three rounds of the qualifying at Melbourne Park, winning his third match in a tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) over Clement Chidekh of France on Thursday to secure a place in the main draw of the tournament that starts Sunday, The Associated Press reported.
It continued a rapid rise for Habib, who made his Olympic debut last year in Paris, running into eventual silver medalist Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major winner, in the first round. It was two sets he'll long remember.
Late last year, he made history at Temuco, Chile by becoming the first ATP Challenger Tour champion from Lebanon.
The 26-year-old Habib was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Lebanon as a young child, learning how to play there. He returned to the US to pursue a pro career and feels now like he's representing of the spirit of Lebanese people.
“I know it’s just a sport, but I feel like representing Lebanon and sacrificing all the things I had to do to get here, it kind of resembles how our nation has fought back,” Habib told Australia's SBS News this week.
His personal success has come at a difficult time during the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Every morning, I was waking up during that challenging time, I was contacting all my family members, my friends, making sure they’re okay,” Habib told SBS News. "My heart’s just shattered to see what’s happening to our country and people.
“It was a hard time mentally for me, knowing that you can’t do anything to help, but I’m glad things are calming down now. Hopefully we’ll find some peace.”
Habib's first-round opponent at Melbourne Park will be determined when all qualifiers are inserted into the main draw.