Top-Ranked Jannik Sinner Pulls Out of Paris Masters Citing a Virus

 Italy's Jannik Sinner looks on during the awards ceremony after his final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the "6 Kings Slam" exhibition tournament in Riyadh on October 19, 2024. (AFP)
Italy's Jannik Sinner looks on during the awards ceremony after his final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the "6 Kings Slam" exhibition tournament in Riyadh on October 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Top-Ranked Jannik Sinner Pulls Out of Paris Masters Citing a Virus

 Italy's Jannik Sinner looks on during the awards ceremony after his final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the "6 Kings Slam" exhibition tournament in Riyadh on October 19, 2024. (AFP)
Italy's Jannik Sinner looks on during the awards ceremony after his final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the "6 Kings Slam" exhibition tournament in Riyadh on October 19, 2024. (AFP)

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the Paris Masters, citing a virus.

The Italian player, who is guaranteed to finish the year as No. 1, said in a message relayed by organizers that he is not able to play this week.

“I came very early here to prepare then I fell sick, I'm having a virus at the moment, which is going to pass the next two-three days, so bodywise I'm not ready to compete,” Sinner said.

Sinner is the second high-profile player to pull out of the final Masters 1000 event of the year following seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Sinner earlier this month beat Djokovic in straight sets to win the Shanghai Masters, giving the Italian his tour-leading seventh title of the season. Sinner became the first man to win more than six titles in a season since Andy Murray won nine in 2016.

The victory for Sinner came after he lost the final of the China Open in Beijing to Carlos Alcaraz and amid an ongoing doping case.



Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Sign Executive Program for Youth and Sports

The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA
The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Sign Executive Program for Youth and Sports

The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA
The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Sport and Tunisia's Ministry of Youth and Sports have signed an executive program for cooperation in youth and sports for 2025-2026.

The program was signed on Wednesday in Tunis by Saudi Deputy Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Massad -- on behalf of Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal -- and Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports Chief of Staff Chokri Ben Hassen, in the presence of Tunisian Minister of Youth and Sports Sadok Mourali and the Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr.

The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports, promote exchange visits for leaders and youth and sports delegations across related fields, and share successful experiences between sports federations, sports and youth administrations, and sports committees. It will also support coordination for training programs, workshops in sports media, and participation in conferences and scientific symposiums.

The agreement reflects the deep historic relations between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia and aligns with the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Sport to strengthen international relations and cooperation with various sports entities, including the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports, fostering the exchange of expertise and knowledge in youth and sports between the two nations.