Saudi Pro League Prepares for Winter Transfer Window

 The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA
The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA
TT

Saudi Pro League Prepares for Winter Transfer Window

 The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA
The SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives - SPA

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has announced its preparations for the upcoming 2024-25 winter transfer window to run from January 1 to January 30, 2025, underscoring the league’s commitment to supporting clubs by facilitating player transfers, improving governance and planning, ensuring player welfare, and enhancing financial sustainability.
In a statement, the SPL emphasized that it had conducted several intensive workshops with ROSHN Saudi League clubs in recent months to identify their specific needs and objectives. The league plans to support clubs in ensuring continued success for their players, including facilitating transfers among local clubs, SPA reported.
The statement also noted that following the decision to allow ROSHN League clubs to sign non-Saudi players under the age of 21, clubs utilized 16 players during the last summer transfer window out of the 36 available slots for the league’s 18 clubs. Thirteen clubs signed at least one player in this age category, while five clubs made no signings. The opportunity remains for some clubs to enhance their squads with players in this age group.
Additionally, the SPL revealed that all ROSHN League clubs reached the maximum allowance of eight foreign players above 21 years old by the end of the summer transfer window. New signings during the upcoming winter window will only be permitted if clubs terminate or sell contracts of currently registered players. The SPL stressed its cooperation with clubs and the Financial Sustainability Committee to facilitate these adjustments while ensuring compliance with relevant policies and regulations.
Regarding notable outcomes of the 2024-2025 ROSHN League season following the summer transfer window, the SPL reported a decrease in the average player age from 27.6 years to 26.2 years. A total of 115 local players were registered, while 132 local players departed due to contract expirations, sales, or cancellations. Meanwhile, 101 foreign players joined through new contracts, compared to 32 foreign players who exited due to contract expirations, sales, or cancellations.



Sinner, Djokovic in Opposite Halves at Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st Round

09 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka (L) and Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner pose with Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup during the draw for the 2025 Australian Open tennis tournament, at Melbourne Park, Melbourne. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
09 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka (L) and Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner pose with Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup during the draw for the 2025 Australian Open tennis tournament, at Melbourne Park, Melbourne. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
TT

Sinner, Djokovic in Opposite Halves at Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st Round

09 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka (L) and Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner pose with Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup during the draw for the 2025 Australian Open tennis tournament, at Melbourne Park, Melbourne. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
09 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka (L) and Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner pose with Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup during the draw for the 2025 Australian Open tennis tournament, at Melbourne Park, Melbourne. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal match.
Sinner upset Djokovic in the semifinals at the Australian Open last year before coming back to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his first Grand Slam singles title.
Top-ranked Sinner has a first-round match against Nicolas Jarry and also has Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Medvedev in his quarter of the draw. Fritz will open against fellow American Jenson Brooksby.
Djokovic and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz could meet in the quarterfinals, with a possible semifinal against No. 2 Alexander Zverev.
At the draw Thursday to set the brackets for the singles fields, defending champions Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka walked into the official ceremony holding thei trophies.
Sabalenka won her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park in 2024 by defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Sabalenka will be attempting to win a third consecutive women’s singles title at Melbourne Park, something last accomplished by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Sabalenka drew a tough opening match against 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and has 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and Zheng in her section.
“I have a lot of great memories and to be back here ... as a two-time Australian Open champion, it’s definitely something special,” Sabalenka, who won the Brisbane International title last week, said at the draw ceremony. “I hope that I can keep doing what I’m doing here in Australia.”
Third-seeded Coco Gauff is a potential semifinal rival for Sabalenka. Gauff has a challenging first-round match against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and is in the same section of the draw as seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula.
The Australian Open starts Sunday morning in Melbourne (Saturday night EST) and will run for 15 days.
Djokovic will be playing in his first event alongside new coach Andy Murray, his former on-court rival and a three-time major champion. Nobody has won the men's title at Melbourne Park more often than Djokovic, although he said he still feels trauma from the one year he wasn’t allowed to play.
Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up who withdrew from an exhibition against Djokovic this week because of an abdominal strain, will face Jacob Fearnley in the first round if the mercurial Australian is fit enough to contest his first major since the 2022 US Open. Kyrgios is in the same section as Zverev.