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DOHA — Jordan set up a semifinal against South Korea or Australia after ending Tajikistan's fairytale Asian Cup run with a nervy 1-0 win on Friday.

In a cagey quarter-final, a deflected second-half own goal was just about enough to see Jordan reach the last four for the first time.

It was tough on charismatic Croatian coach Petar Segrt and his Tajikistan team, who were the lowest-ranked side left in Qatar and won plenty of new friends in its first Asian Cup.

But it was a piece of history for Jordan under their Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, the kingdom having been defeated in their previous quarter-finals in 2004 and 2011.

Jordan, ranked 87 to the 106 of Tajikistan, scored twice in stoppage time to stun Iraq 3-2 in the previous round and it made the better start in front of 36,000 spectators at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, a 2022 World Cup venue.

But Tajikistan carved out the first big chance, midfielder Ehson Panjshanbe haring into the box and clipping his first-time effort onto the top of Jordan's bar on 15 minutes.

VAR was called into action when Tajikistan's Zoir Dzhuraboev sliced down Yazan Al Naimatin the box but VAR agreed with the referee and said no penalty.

Segrt was forced into a change midway through the half when Shahrom Samiev was forced off with a hamstring injury, the strikerdeparting in floods of tears.

Jordan fans dominated in the crowd and thought their team had scored on the half-hour mark, but danger man Naimat poked wide from a tight angle.

In front of Jordan's watching Crown Prince Hussein, they had a double chance just afterwards, but Ali Olwan was denied by Rustam Yatimov and then the goalkeeper saved Rajaei Ayed's weak follow-up.

Tajikistan looked fatigued from their exertions in defeating the United Arab Emirates on penalties in the last 16 and was restricted to playing on the break.

Segrt's men stepped it up to start the second half.

Shervoni Mabatshoev was crowded out in the box with only Jordan goalkeeper YazeedAbulaila to beat but with an hour gone and the semifinals on the line the game needed a spark.

On 66 minutes it got it when Jordan defender Abdallah Nasib rose at a corner and his header deflected off Tajikistan's VahdatHanonov and into his own goal.

Both sides had chances after that but Jordan held on to book its place in the last four.

Son Heung-min's South Korea faces Australia later Friday.

In Saturday's remaining quarter-finals, holders Qatar faces Uzbekistan while pre-tournament favourites Japan plays Iran.

PARIS — The French government announced on Wednesday that it had slashed the crowd size for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this July amid security and other organisational worries.

The traditional opening parade for the Games is set to take place in boats on the river Seine on July 26, the first time a summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium.

After months of speculation about the number of people permitted to watch the flotilla, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the France 2 channel on Tuesday “around 300,000” ticketed fans would attend.

That is half the 600,000 that Darmanin had suggested in 2022 and is even smaller than the most recent estimates of 400-500,000, underlining the complexity of securing an event over six kilometres of river.

“I know that we have the best security forces in the world and that we will succeed in showing not only that we can win medals [at the Olympics] but that we can play host to the world without any problems,” Darmanin told the channel.

The idea of a spectacular open-air parade with hundreds of boats gave cold sweats to many in the French security establishment because of the difficulty of controling the crowds and the risk of terror attacks.

Organisers and the Paris mayor’s office had initially imagined up to 2 million people in attendance, a source close to the negotiations told AFP.

Authorities have also had difficulties in persuading historic Parisian booksellers who line the river from temporarily removing their kiosks in order to make space for spectators.

The artistic director in charge of the ceremony, theatre director Thomas Jolly, told AFP last week that contingency plans were in place in the event of a direct terror threat or severe weather.

“We have lots of different plans, but the location for the ceremony will remain the Seine,” he said.

Darmanin said that 100,000 tickets had been sold for the best vantage points on the lower banks of the river, while another 200,000 would be given free access to the upper banks.

The figure of 300,000 people did not include others “who live and who will be able to rent to have parties along the Seine”, Darmanin added, referring to the hundreds of buildings that overlook the famed waterway.

The open-air boat parade is in keeping with promises to make the Paris Olympics “iconic”, with the local organising committee keen to break from past traditions in the way it stages the world’s biggest sporting event.

The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics ceremony is generally considered to be the most spectacular in history while the 2012 London ceremony, overseen by “Trainspotting” director Danny Boyle, won rave reviews for showcasing Britain’s quirky side.

The huge opening ceremony in Paris with hundreds of thousands of free tickets was also part of the organisers’ vision of a “people’s Olympics” that would be widely accessible to the public.

That ambition has been undermined by high ticket prices for the sport, particularly for the athletics, leading to criticism from many Parisians.

The head of the Paris capital region, Valerie Pecresse, welcomed Wednesday’s downgrade of the opening ceremony to 300,000 people — still several times the number who usually witness the Olympics parade in an athletics stadium.

“It seems to us to be a much more reasonable level that provides security and safety for spectators as well as for travellers on public transport,” she said of the figure.

One senior French security figure told AFP recently that organisers had had “eyes bigger than their stomachs” when planning the opening and that their initial crowd estimates were “too high”.

France was placed on its highest alert for terror attacks in October after a suspected terrorist burst into a school in northern France and stabbed a teacher to death.

The country has been consistently targeted by extremists over the last decade, particularly from the Daesh group, while Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza is seen as exacerbating domestic tensions.

“The terror risk is extremely strong,” Darmanin added on Wednesday.

The Olympics are set to take place from July 26-August 11 followed by the Paralympics from August 28-September 8.

MELBOURNE — A composed Jannik Sinner is ready for what comes next after winning a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, saying he likes to “dance in the pressure storm”.

Ever since bursting on the scene as a 17-year-old in 2019, the Italian has been touted as one of tennis’ future greats.

It has been a five-year grind to reach the pinnacle with his come-from-behind five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne on Sunday, and the prodigious young talent is taking it in his stride.

“I’m extremely happy that I am in this position now. I have a great team behind me who knows what I have to do,” he said of the extra spotlight that will now inevitably fall on him.

He pointed to having Darren Cahill in his corner as a coach, with the Australian having been there and done that.

Cahill guided Lleyton Hewitt to become the second youngest player ranked world number one before coaching Andre Agassi to become the oldest player to achieve the feat.

He has also worked with a host of other high-profile players including Andy Murray and Simona Halep, guiding the Romanian to the French Open title.

“With Darren, he has a lot of experience. He has been through this already a number of times,” said Sinner.

“So, you know, it’s all part of the process. Obviously having this trophy, it’s an amazing feeling. I feel grateful to have this here.

“But I know that I have to work even harder, because the opponents,... will find the way to beat me and I have to be prepared. Let’s see what’s coming in the future.”

A striking aspect of Sinner’s time in Melbourne was his calm and composed demeanour, even when he found himself in trouble.

Against an ultra-aggressive Medvedev, he did not panic when he fell two sets behind, instead looking for chinks in the Russian’s armour and when a chance arose, he took it.

A privilege 

“There is always pressure, but the pressure is something good. You have to take it in a good way. It’s a privilege, no?” he said.

“So yes, I like to dance in the pressure storm. Personally, I like it, because that’s where most of the time I bring out my best tennis. I’m also quite relaxed in this occasion, because I always try to enjoy being on the court.”

The 22-year-old is the first Italian man to win a Slam since Adriano Panatta in 1976 and the youngest man to win the Australian Open since Novak Djokovic in 2008.

It capped a highly successful six months for Sinner, who clinched his maiden ATP Masters crown in Toronto last August.

He backed that up with titles in Beijing and Vienna before reaching the championship match on home soil at November’s ATP Finals and guiding Italy to Davis Cup success.

For Sinner, it has been the result of long-term thinking by him and his team.

“I think what I did not last year, but two years ago, getting to know my body better, getting to know my team better. This was a very important step for me,” he said.

“Then last year we tried to have some more results. That made me believe that I can compete against the best players in the world.

“But [here] I still have to process it, because beating Novak in the semis and then Daniil in the final, they are tough players to beat.

“So it’s a great moment for me and my team, but we also know that we have to improve if we want to have another chance to hold a big trophy again.”

MELBOURNE — Jannik Sinner stormed back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in an energy-sapping five-set Australian Open final on Sunday, claiming his first Grand Slam title.

The Italian fourth seed had no answer to the Russian’s aggression in the first two sets but dug deep to win 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in three hours and 44 minutes.

He collapsed to the floor before returning to his feet to savour his moment on Rod Laver Arena, climbing into his box to hug coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill.

Sinner thundered 14 aces, hit 50 winners and broke Medvedev’s serve four times to become the first Italian champion in the tournament’s history.

The 22-year-old is the first Italian man to win a Slam since Adriano Panatta in 1976 and the youngest man to win the Australian Open since Novak Djokovic in 2008.

Sinner’s semifinal victory over 10-time winner Djokovic had guaranteed there would be a new name on the trophy.

But the result is a bitter blow for the third-ranked Russian, who also blew a two-set lead against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 final.

“I’m feeling great, I just have to process it all,” said Sinner. “It was a great match and a great opportunity and I took it in the right way.

“I’m happy. I think the best moment was when I went into the locker room to hug my people. They have made me feel so, so special and they also know the process behind it all. It’s a great, great moment for me.

“It’s been a hell of a journey till now, even if I am still only 22.”

Sinner admitted he had been forced to scramble for answers because Medvedev was “crushing” it in the first two sets.

“The match was going so fast and I had zero chances in the first two sets, but I was looking for any small chance and I managed to break him in the third set and that’s it,” he said.

Former US Open champion Medvedev, who has now lost five of his six finals in the majors, said Sinner deserved to win.

“You fought to the end and you managed to raise your level,” said the 27-year-old. “You and your team are doing an amazing job.

“I hope I can try to get the next one if we play in a final.”

Medvedev’s fast start 

The Russian, in his previous six matches, had spent nearly six hours longer on court than Sinner, who had only lost one set.

But, looking fresh, he was quickly into his stride, unsettling the usually calm Italian, who was unable to find any sort of rhythm.

Sinner, playing in his first Grand Slam final, had been broken just twice in the tournament before the final but Medvedev doubled that tally in the first set.

Sinner was again in deep trouble at the start of the second set, fending off multiple break points and pleading for backing from the crowd.

He survived that onslaught but was broken for a third time in the fourth game when a poor drop shot allowed the Russian to set up a winner.

Medvedev raced through his service game to love, giving Sinner no time to gather his thoughts.

He hit a fierce forehand to set up two more break points in the sixth game and Sinner went wide with a forehand to slip 5-1 down.

The Italian broke back immediately, but Medvedev snuffed out the mini-revival to surge into a two-set lead.

The third set was tighter until the decisive 10th game when Sinner, who did not face a break point in the set, pounced to break and close the gap.

The momentum was now all with the Italian and the tiring Medvedev, who required strapping for his foot, had to fight hard to hold early in the fourth set.

Sinner fired three aces to edge 4-3 ahead and broke in the 10th game when Medvedev fired long to take the match into a fifth set.

With the tension mounting, both players stayed solid on serve until the sixth game of the final set, when Medvedev dumped a backhand into the net to give Sinner three break points.

A forehand crosscourt winner gave the Italian the crucial break and he closed out on serve to earn the biggest win of his life.

AMMAN  —  The knockout stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, currently under way in Doha, Qatar, kicks off with Round of 16 matches of Sunday with teams now eyeing the quarterfinals of the 18th edition of the tournament.

For Jordan, the big day is Monday when the team plays 2007 champs Iraq at 2:30 pm Amman time hoping to win and advance to the quarters of the championship. The Kingdom finished 3rd in Group E following a 1-0 defeat to 86th ranked Bahrain, tying world’s 23rd ranked Korea 2-2, and scoring a 4-0 win over 130th ranked Malaysia 4-0.

By finishing 3rd in the group, 87th  ranked Jordan dodged playing tougher opponents like Japan as the top two teams from each group in addition to four best third placed teams moved to the Round of 16.

Twenty four teams contested the first round playing in 6 Groups with Qatar the defending champs. Qatar and Tajikistan moved from Group A; Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria from Group B; Iran, UAE and Palestine from Group C; Iraq, Japan and Indonesia from Group D; Bahrain, South Korea and Jordan from Group E; Saudi and Thailand from Group F. Palestine, Syria, and Tajikistan qualified to the Round of 16 for the first time as well as Indonesia who moved as best fourth. The champions will receive $5 million, the runners-up $3 million, and the losing semifinalists $1 million. All 24 participating teams will also receive $200,000.

Sunday’s matches include Australia vs Indonesia, Tajikistan vs UAE. On Monday Qatar plays Palestine, and Jordan faces Iraq. On Tuesday, Uzbekistan plays Thailand, and Saudi Arabia faces on Korea. On Wednesday, Bahrain takes on Japan, and Iran plays Syria.