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Harden has
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Rockets over
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NEWYORK (AFP) - USOpen organisers said they
are con ident in safety plans a month ahead of
the Grand Slam tennis event in New York even
as US COVID19 outbreaks increase.
The US Tennis Association (USTA) said on Fri-
day it “continues its plans to stage theUSOpen”
as well as an ATP and WTA tuneup event the
week before the Flushing Meadows fortnight.
The US Open is scheduled to begin August
31 in a bubble quarantine settingwithout spec-
tators at the National Tennis Center.
“We remain con ident that our top priority,
the health and safety of all involved in both
tournaments, remains on track,” the USTA said
in a statement.
Just what those health and safety details are,
however, remains unknown.
The USTA said it will release details of its
health and safety plans “at a later date closer to
the tournaments” but noted it has worked with
both tours in all aspects of health and safety.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have
entered the Western and Southern Open, the
tuneup event normally staged inCincinnati, but
said nothing certain about the US Open.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have
committed to playing in the USOpen but world
number one Ashleigh Barty said she will skip
the tournament.
The New York area was the irst ma-
jor US hotspot for COVID19, conditions
so tough that a temporary hospital was
established on the grounds of the US
Tennis Center.
But cases have been kept down in recent
months, although there has been concern
people visiting fromother outbreak areas could
raise New York COVID19 levels.
“Working with our Medical Advisory Group
and security team and the State of New
York, we have developed a strong health and
safety plan to mitigate the risk of infection
within the contained environment comprised
of the tournament site and player hotels,” the
USTA said.
PARIS (AFP) - Pablo Sarabia scored the winning
penalty in a shoot-out as Paris Saint-Germain
(PSG) warmed up for their assault on the
Champions League in Lisbon by defeating
Lyon in early yesterday’s French League Cup
inal to claim another domestic treble.
The Spaniard’s successful kick came after
Keylor Navas saved from Bertrand Traore and
allowed PSG to win 65 on penalties after the
game at the Stade de France inished 00 at
the end of extra time.
The victory comes a week after they beat
Saint-Etienne 10 in the French Cup inal, the
irst competitive match on French soil since
the coronavirus shutdown.
They had previously been awarded the
Ligue 1 title by virtue of being top when
the season was ended in April with 10
rounds of matches unplayed because of
the health crisis.
Before penalties, Thomas Tuchel’s team
had the better of a terse inal on a sweaty
night, but they badly missed the injured
Kylian Mbappe.
Themasked France superstar watched from
the stands as Lyon kept PSG at bay for two
hours before having Brazilian defender Rafael
sent off for chopping down Angel Di Maria on
the edge of the box late in extra time.
Mbappe was injured in last week’s French
Cup inal, suffering a sprained ankle that looks
likely to rule himout of the Champions League
quarter- inal against Atalanta in Lisbon on
August 12.
PSG are desperate for tangible success in
Europe but on this evidence they still have
some rust to shake off before being ready for
that test.
“We suffered but it’s beautiful to win at
the end. We will celebrate this and then to-
morrow we will start to think about another
big match,” the excellent Marco Verratti told
France 2
television.
This is the Qatar-owned club’s fourth
treble in the last six years, but the League
Cup, an unloved competition, will be dis-
continued next season. COVID19 concerns
did not prevent a crowd from attending
PSG edge Lyon in French League Cup final
this match - postponed back in April - but
only 3,500 fans were allowed inside the
80,000-capacity venue.
It was the Parisian contingent who were
celebrating at the end, as their team lifted the
trophy for the ninth time in total, denying Lyon
a irst trophy since 2012.
Both of these teams must fear being at
a disadvantage in the latter stages of the
Champions League though after France opted
against restarting its league season, unlike the
other major European leagues.
As a consequence, the two cup inals are
the only competitive match practice PSG
will have managed in ive months before
facing Atalanta.
Meanwhile, this was Lyon’s one and only
competitive game since early March before
they make a daunting trip to Turin to play
Juventus in their Champions League last 16
second leg next Friday.
At least they have a 10 lead to defend, but
they will still need to do better than they fared
in France.
PSG created almost all the notable chances,
despite Mauro Icardi looking sluggish up front.
Neymar looked sharper, fresh from scoring the
winner in the French Cup inal.
He had the irst chance of the game when
he drilled a irst-time shot just wide from a
Thiago Silva lay-off in the eighth minute, and
he also saw a header tipped over by Lyon
goalkeeper Anthony Lopes late in normal
time before going on to coolly net in the
shoot-out.
In between, Lopes also made a spectacular
save to turn an Idrissa Gueye piledriver over
late in the irst half.
Verratti’s performance in mid ield was
a major positive for Tuchel who along with
Mbappe’s injury also has major problems at
full-back.
Here, left-back Layvin Kurzawa was needed
on the right but hobbled off hurt midway
through the second half.
Lyon, meanwhile, will now not be in Europe
next season for the irst time in 24 years, unless
they win the Champions League.
PSG, Marseille and Rennes will be France’s
representatives in the 2020/21 Champions
League, with Reims now joining Lille and Nice
in the Europa League.
Paris Saint-Germain’s players celebrate their victory at the end of the French League Cup inal match. PHOTO: AFP
US Open confident in health and safety plans
Naomi Osaka have committed to playing in
the US Open. PHOTO: AP