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DUBAI: Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac is optimistic as the 2025-26 preseason begins, after a summer spent carefully building a 16-man roster that will compete in both the EuroLeague and ABA League.

“We’ve worked on this team since the beginning of the year, and we’re extremely happy with the players we brought,” Golemac said. “It was important to sign guys who can quickly become a team. It will be challenging, but we added hungry players with strong character, and I’m very optimistic about the season ahead.”

For the Slovenian coach, competing in two major competitions is both a privilege and a challenge. “You prepare, you compete, you analyze — that part doesn’t change,” he said. “But with this travel and schedule, nobody has done it before. We are pioneers. It won’t be easy, but we won’t complain about how tough it is. Instead, we’ll enjoy the work and stay focused.”

One of the most difficult aspects is starting the preseason without eight players who are currently away competing with their national teams for EuroBasket or the AmeriCup. Golemac acknowledged the challenge but also pointed to the quality it reflects.

“As staff, of course we’d prefer to have the full group from day one. But having so many internationals shows the level of our roster. We’ll welcome the first arrivals, make them feel at home, and integrate each national team player as soon as they return.”

The coach also addressed the demanding schedule ahead — from 40 games last season to potentially 80 this year if Dubai reaches the playoffs and finals. “The biggest challenge is how to manage traveling, practices, and recoveries. With 20 EuroLeague teams, finding time to practice and analyze will be key.”

Finally, Golemac turned to the supporters: “Our mission is to fight like there’s no tomorrow. Fans can expect us to be physical, to compete for the city, the club, and for them. Like last year, we want them to be our sixth player. With their energy, I know it will be even tougher for any team to beat us at home.”

NEW YORK: Iga Swiatek shrugged off lingering weariness to partner Casper Ruud to back-to-back victories in the revamped mixed doubles competition at the US Open on Tuesday.

Swiatek — who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open — looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday’s semifinals.

Swiatek and Ruud needed just 39 minutes to dispatch the US pairing of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in their opening game at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then reappeared roughly 20 minutes later to defeat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti 5-3, 4-2 in their quarterfinal clash.

The victories capped a gruelling 24 hours for Polish star Swiatek, who hot-footed it to the airport after Monday’s win in Cincinnati and only arrived at her hotel in New York in the early hours of Tuesday.

“Honestly the last two days have felt like one day, but I’m super happy to be here,” Swiatek said, adding that her tight turnaround had helped her unwind after her exertions in Cincinnati.

“Honestly I think actually it’s kind of nice for the recovery,” Swiatek said. “To have another task and to not let yourself be lazy but also focused on the next exciting thing.”

Ruud and Swiatek had just enough time to fit in a quick practice before taking to the court in their first match as a doubles pairing.

“I was happy to team up with Iga,” Ruud said afterwards. “She’s on the winning train these days so I’m just jumping on the train and let’s see if we can win some more before the mixed doubles is over.

“I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30am, and she’s here playing.”

Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the US and Britain’s Jack Draper in Wednesday’s semifinals.

Pegula and Draper clicked smoothly to eliminate the glamor pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2 in the first round before easing past Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

Medvedev and Andreeva had earlier romped past Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic in straight sets in the first round, winning 4-2, 5-3.

In other results on Tuesday, US tennis icon Venus Williams and partner Reilly Opelka exited against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, losing 4-2, 5-4.

Italy’s reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2.

Earlier Tuesday, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the mixed doubles was confirmed as expected. Sinner, who retired due to illness in the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz on Monday, was due to partner Katerina Siniakova in the doubles.

Sinner and Siniakova were replaced in the draw by the American duo of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.

This year’s US Open mixed doubles competition is being held over Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before the main singles draws get under way.

The tournament is using a modified scoring system, with short sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.

The final will be a best-of-three set match to six games, featuring no-advantage scoring, with tiebreakers at six-all and a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set, with the winning pairing pocketing $1 million.