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Nadal puts return on ice, admits ‘not ready to compete’

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Rafael Nadal on Wednesday was forced to shelve his plans to return to action at next week’s Qatar Open, admitting he is “not ready to compete”.

The 37-year-old missed most of last year with a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open before making his comeback at last month’s Brisbane International.

Nadal puts return on ice, admits ‘not ready to compete’

However, a small muscle tear then forced the 37-year-old to pull out of this season’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne.

The 22-time Grand Slam title winner now hopes to return to the tour at the Indian Wells Masters in California from March 6-17.

“I would have loved to play in Doha, where the tournament team, as well as the amazing Qatar fans have always supported me greatly,” Nadal said in a statement on X.

“Unfortunately I am not ready to compete and I won’t be able to come to Doha where I really wanted to be and play again.

“I will focus on keep working to be ready for the amazing Indian Wells tournament.”

Nadal was named on the entry list last month for the Qatar Open, to be held February 19-24, and where he was champion in 2014.

Earlier Wednesday, the former world number one, whose ranking has plummeted to 646, admitted he had been suffering “some discomfort these past few weeks and I’m a bit on the limit”.

“At this point every blow I take, every injury, is a setback not only in tennis and physically, but also mentally,” he told La Sexta television.

He added: “I am 100% confident of being in Indian Wells, it’s a very special tournament for me. I don’t know if it’s going to be the last time I play in it, so I would like to be in Indian Wells, for sure.”

RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
TENNIS – FRENCH OPEN – ROLAND GARROS – ATP – WTA – ITF – GRAND SLAM – CHAMPIONSHIPS – PARIS – FRANCE – 2022
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Nadal reiterated that his “main goal is to try to get to the clay season as healthy as possible, to at least give me the chance to enjoy this part of the season”, which the Spaniard has dominated in his career.

He has won a record 14 French Open titles and holds an astonishing 112-3 win-loss record at Roland Garros.

Nadal won two matches in Brisbane in January after a year on the sidelines but felt pain in his upper left thigh during a quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson.

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TENNIS

Who said I love you first: Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa reveal all in first valentine’s day as a public couple

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Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed in an interview with Marion Bartoli some interesting details about their relationship, including who initiated the first kiss and who said “I love you” first, among other things.

The couple started dating in May 2023 and is celebrating their first Valentine’s Day as a public couple. Both tennis players participated in a video where they answered questions with closed eyes, sharing intriguing details about their relationship.

Stefanos Tsitsipas: Tennis Power Couple, Stefanos Tsitsipas And Paula Badosa's 'AWW'dorable Instagram Stories Go VIRAL on Valentine's Day | Tennis News, Times Now

This week, Badosa took part in the Qatar Open and delivered a strong performance in the first round against Ashlyn Krueger (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) before falling in the second round to former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez (6-0, 2-6, 3-6).

Her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas, was seen supporting her from the stands, and together they took part in an interview with former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, revealing amusing details about their relationship:

Bartoli: “Who send the first message?”

Badosa “Him,” the Spaniard laughingly said.

Tsitsipas: “Rome – second round against Ons Jabeur. I remember the message clearly. I said, clinical, great tennis out there, what else…”

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa: How Much Is The Combined Net Worth Of High-Profile Tennis Couple? - The SportsRush

Badosa: “Like, [he said] amazing performance. And I just finished the match and I saw it, and I was like, ‘Paula, wait for an hour, play it tough.’ Five minutes and I replied,” she laughed. “Very weak.”

In another moment of the interview, Bartoli asked, “Who said I love you first?” and quickly, Badosa pointed her finger at Tsitsipas, saying, “Him.” The Greek former world No. 3 accepted that he made the first move and said, “I did.”

You can watch the complete video below:

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TENNIS

Swiatek eases into Qatar Open last eight as Osaka gets walkover

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World number one Iga Swiatek reached the Qatar Open quarter-finals for a third successive year on Wednesday as fellow four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka also made the last eight without hitting a ball.

Swiatek, the two-time defending champion at the Gulf event, defeated 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-4.

The Russian battled bravely, saving four match points in the 10th game of the second set before Swiatek came through.

Moving on: Iga Swiatek on her way to victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova

The 22-year-old Pole will face another two-time Doha champion, Victoria Azarenka, in Thursday’s quarter-finals.

Former world number one Azarenka beat eighth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-3 for her third win over the Latvian this year.

Swiatek now has a 11-1 record in Doha, with her lone loss at the tournament coming to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the 2020 second round.

Osaka advanced earlier Wednesday after Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, who beat fourth seed Ons Jabeur in round two, pulled out with an elbow injury.

Osaka will meet another former world number one, Karolina Pliskova, for a place in the last four as the Japanese star continues her comeback following maternity leave.

Naomi Osaka beats Caroline Garcia at Qatar Open to avenge Australian Open loss | Flashscore.com

The 26-year-old is through to her first WTA quarter-final since reaching the Miami Open final almost two years ago.

Pliskova, who won her first title in four years in Romania last week, fought back from the brink of defeat to overcome Czech teenager Linda Noskova 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Noskova served for the match up 5-4 in the second set before the wheels came off against two-time Grand Slam finalist Pliskova.

Leylah Fernandez knocked out Australian Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen 7-5, 6-3.

Chinese fifth seed Zheng let slip a strong position in the opening set where she led 5-3, as Fernandez broke twice in a row and reeled off the final four games.

Fernandez then punished a loose service game from Zheng in the sixth game of the second set before closing out an impressive victory.

'So far, so good': Leylah Fernandez
‘So far, so good’: Leylah Fernandez

“I’m extremely pumped up, I’m super happy with my level. There’s still a lot of work to do, but so far so good, so we’re just going to keep going,” said Fernandez.

World number 38 Fernandez, a former US Open finalist, goes on to meet third seed Elena Rybakina for a spot in the semi-finals.

Rybakina withstood a spirited fightback from 16th-seeded American Emma Navarro, winning 6-1, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4.

The Kazakh had a match point in the second set tie-break but the in-form Navarro, this year’s Hobart champion, forced a deciding set.

Rybakina broke for a 3-2 lead and saved two break points in the final game to seal the win.

At Wimbledon, Everyone's Chasing Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina - The New York Times

“It was such a difficult match,” said Rybakina. “I had some opportunities in the second set but she played really well and for me physically it was a little bit more difficult. It was tough.”

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also progressed to the last eight with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.

Katerina Siniakova, who took out Coco Gauff in the second round, could not build on Tuesday’s success as the Czech lost in straight sets to Danielle Collins.

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‘My Boyfriend Came..’ – Coco Gauff Reveals How She Managed to Get Over Australian Open Heart-Break

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Over the past few months, Coco Gauff has seen massive ups and downs. From the highs of winning the US Open title to the lows of Australian Open heartbreak, the American sensation has gone through it all. Earlier this year, she bowed out of the Grand Slam Down Under in the semifinals, losing against Aryna Sabalenka in a nerve-wracking clash. Recently, Gauff revealed how she overcame the sorrow of the Australian Open defeat, and it was due to her boyfriend.

The 19-year-old is not very open when it comes to her personal life. She has kept mum on her relationship in a life that focuses the spotlight on her career. Here’s what she said about the post-Australian Open period.

Boyfriend’s presence helped Coco Gauff move away from constant thoughts of tennis
The recent weeks haven’t been easy for Gauff while recovering from the tough loss Down Under. She went home following her Australian Open exit and took a much-needed break. The American sensation received support from her boyfriend during this tough phase.

In an interview with Sky Sports, she said, “The first night, I was soaking all the things that went on in that match. I felt it was decided by a couple of points.”

Further, she went on to add, “And then, after that, I flew home, I took off four, five days. My boyfriend came in town and then I was really happy to get back on the practice court.”

This is not the first time Gauff has talked about her supportive boyfriend. Last year, she won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. A day before the final, nerves seemed to get the better of her. However, Gauff’s conversation with her boyfriend helped her overcome them and she went on to win the final against Sabalenka. Following the match, she narrated the events that took place on the eve of the final.

How did Gauff deal with nerves on the eve of the US Open final?
During the post-match press conference after winning the US Open title, the American sensation made a candid revelation about her boyfriend. It was a rare occasion to hear Gauff talking about her beau.

She said, “I just called my boyfriend, and I told him let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep so we spoke until 1:00 a.m. and then I went to sleep. I woke up this morning. Yeah, when I lost the first set I still felt I was into the match and I said, you know, I’m going to give it my all.”

Gauff is suffering from loss of form as she bowed out of the Qatar Open in the round of 32. Can she come back strongly in the upcoming tournaments? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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TENNIS

‘Novak Is a Well-Oiled Machine’ – Djokovic Earns a Peculiar Tag From Tennis Author For His ‘Unbelievable’ Multi-Generation Dominance

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Novak Djokovic is currently not in the form of his life. Several questions were raised on the 36YO, after his recent loss at the semifinals of the Australian Open to Jannik Sinner. It also ended his 33-match unbeaten run in Melbourne. But the veteran tennis author Joel Drucker heaped praise on Djokovic’s ability to maintain his fitness and be a consistent performer even at this age.

A few days ago, Tim Henman praised the Serb stating he’s ‘still the player to beat.’ Now, the renowned author and legendary tennis historian joins the list with the Englishman during his recent appearance at the ‘Rock n Roll Tennis’ Podcast. He spoke about how Novak Djokovic has taken himself to another level by maintaining his body.

Joel Drucker says Novak Djokovic is like ‘he’s got freaking pit crew’
Although Novak Djokovic didn’t have a great start to his 2024 season, what he did in 2023 was truly exceptional. He won 7 titles last year including 3 Grand Slam titles. Despite his loss at the 2024 AO, he still remains the world number one in men’s singles tennis ranking, and Joel Drucker recognizes the same.

“Novak now is like he’s got freaking pit crew. I mean Novak is about as well-oiled machine if there’s ever been in tennis right. And, you John you were there at the at the start when this happened with people like Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl, they were the beginning of the of the scientific management of the game,” says Drucker.

He further added, “I associate Connors, McEnroe, even Borg a little bit with kind of the entrepreneur phase. You know, the startup. His body (Borg) was always, the swimmer’s body is amazing. But later, people like Lendl, Martina they created the template of how a plan you take it 40 years later. Novak’s Unbelievable.“

Despite several comments and analyses on his recent performance, what does the Serbian think about his chances for the rest of the season? Let’s have a look at it.

Djokovic feels there is still a lot of road to cover
Loss at the first Grand Slam of the season is perhaps a bit of warning to the rest of the Tour. Djokovic said, “Doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the beginning of the end, as some people like to call it. Yeah, let’s see what happens in the rest of the season.“

Novak Djokovic will now be traveling to the US in the coming weeks to participate in the ‘Sunshine Double’. Novak Djokovic had last appeared at the Indian Wells almost 5 years ago. Can he bring some fortune to his 2024 campaign by winning a title in California?

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‘Discomfort’ Puts Rafael Nadal at Cross-Roads in Doha as He Declares Indian Wells Verdict

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The tennis community was all excited about Rafael Nadal’s comeback at this season’s Australian Open. However, the Spanish tennis player, who was on the sidelines for almost the entire 2023 season, picked up another injury in Brisbane, as he later missed the first Grand Slam event. As fans are now once again eagerly waiting to see him on a track again, the 22-time singles Grand Slam champion recently provided a verdict on his participation at the Indian Wells.

September 19, 2019, Geneva, Switzerland: RAFAEL NADAL of Team Europe chats with the media prior to the Laver Cup tennis event in Geneva Switzerland. (Credit Image: © Christopher Levy/ZUMA Wire)

Will Rafael Nadal participate in the upcoming Indian Wells?
In an interview that will be broadcast this Wednesday night on The sixth, the ‘King of the Clay’ said, “I have had some discomfort in recent weeks and I am a little bit on the limit. At this point every blow I take, every injury, is a setback not only in tennis and physically, but also mentally. I trust the 100% to be in Indian Wells, it is a very special tournament for me . I don’t know if it will be the last time I am going to play it, but there are options that yes, so I would like to be in Indian Wells yes or yes.”

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CELEB NEWS

Fans delighted by the Swiss Roger Federer hitting the slopes with Lindsey Vonn

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Roger Federer and former Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn hitting the slopes together in Switzerland has drawn cheers from tennis fans.

Federer retired from professional tennis in September 2022, concluding his illustrious career with an emotional farewell at the Laver Cup. He has since embraced an exciting lifestyle, frequently indulging in family vacations, making tournament visits, and gracing prestigious events like the MET Gala and Formula 1 Grand Prix with his presence.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion recently added another chapter to his post-retirement adventures, enjoying a skiing session with Lindsey Vonn. Vonn reflected on their time together on social media and deemed the former World No. 1 to be the “forever GOAT,” emphasizing his immeasurable impact on the sport over statistics.

Normally, people you look up to always let you down in one way or another, but not Roger [Federer]. Rog is the epitome of a true sportsman and champion in every sense of the word. We’ve been talking about skiing together for such a long time I wasn’t sure if it would happen…. But here we are; retired, skiing and enjoying life! Thanks for this memory Rog,” she wrote in a now deleted post on X (formerly Twitter).

You and your family are truly one of a kind and no matter what the statistics say (or Leo lol) you’re the forever GOAT because it takes a lot more than numbers to make the kind of impact you have, I’m just one of millions. Cheers my friend,” she added.

Fans were delighted by Roger Federer’s skiing session, with several of them humorously speculating about his potential return to tennis as his knee appeared to be in good shape.

Ok Roger, your knee is ok now. Time to go back to tennis,” a fan posted.

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Those knees looking good 👀 ready for exhibition with Carlos in the future!” another fan wrote.

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Meanwhile, other fans joked about the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s comeback being prophesized in ATP’s hilarious spoof sketch for the 2024 season.

Roger’s return was in the script for the 2024 season, wasn’t it?,” one fan commented.

Yeah, CGI. Somehow, Roger has returned,” another fan chimed in.

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Here are a few more reactions from fans:

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“Roger Federer can be my GOAT no matter what other people think” – Lindsey Vonn defends her comments amid backlash

Roger Federer

Lindsey Vonn declaring Roger Federer to be her “forever GOAT” sparked a heated debate within the tennis community, with Novak Djokovic fans in particular taking offense to her dismissing statistics in favor of granting the Swiss legend that title.

This backlash prompted the American to delete her tribute to Federer on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that she didn’t want the negative comments to tarnish her pleasant memory of skiing with the 20-time Grand Slam champion. She also emphasized her right to consider the former World No. 1 her GOAT regardless of other people’s opinions on the matter.

I wasn’t forced, I just didn’t want the negative comments ruining my memory. And the post wasn’t a comparison, it was a tribute to my friend who has made a big impact in my life. Everyone just freaks out when the term goat is used. He can be my goat no matter what other people think,” she posted on X.

With Djokovic also recently hitting the slopes, Vonn put an end to the raging debate by simply expressing her delight that both tennis legends enjoyed skiing.

I’m just happy they both enjoy skiing. Makes me happy!”

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Just Like Coco Gauff, Justin Bieber Fangirl Bianca Andreescu Reveals Euphoric Moment in Montreal

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Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu is planning to make a comeback to the port in August after she was away due to her back injury since August. However, before she made her comeback, she decided to enjoy her time off by attending the NHL All-Star Game in Toronto over the weekend. And her primary reason to attend the concert was due to Justin Bieber.

Coco Gauff: Call Her Champion, Role Model And Fashion Icon

Bianca Andreescu just like her other fellow US Open champion Coco Gauff is a huge fan of the singer and of course could not miss a chance to watch him live. While walking the red carpet at the event, Andreescu announced her love for the star.

Bianca Andreescu shares love for Justin Bieber just like Coco Gauff did previously
In an interview post her win at the US Open, Coco Gauff shared how she was very motivated that Justin Bieber came to see her match and once he saw that she did not lose the game even once. And now other former US Open champion and Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu has also declared her love for the artist.

 

Bianca Andreescu: 'I literally wanted to quit this sport. But my soul knew differently' | US Open Tennis 2022 | The Guardian

She stated, “My inner child was screaming to the core. I was obsessed with him for, like, five years when I was 9. 10, 11, 12. He was one of the first concerts I ever went to, so seeing him after 10 years was insane.” Andreescu’s statement reveals that she is over and above excited to be able to watch Bieber live once again.

Besides expressing her love for the artist, she also talked about when she plans to make a comeback and how she is preparing herself for the same. Here is what she had to say about it.

Coco Gauff: US Open champion beats Varvara Gracheva to reach Auckland Classic semis | Tennis News | Sky Sports

In the conversation, Bianca Andreescu also talked about how she is hoping to make a comeback soon but she is still considering it one step at a time. She added, “It’s getting there. It’s not 100%, but I’m really hoping that I can play Indian Wells. It’s not guaranteed, but I’m taking it day by day, and I’m really hoping I can get back on court soon.”

Further, she also stated that her plan of action for now has been to do a lot of meditation and visualization work. This has helped her speed up her recovery time. Well, here is hoping he makes it back to the court sooner than her fans expect.

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“Athletes should learn to appreciate achievements” – Iga Swiatek’s psychologist Daria Abramowicz encourages players to reduce focusing on earnings

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Iga Swiatek’s psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, recently encouraged athletes to savor victorious moments instead of focusing solely on financial gains.

Abramowicz has been a constant presence in Swiatek’s corner since 2019. During their partnership, the 22-year-old has secured three French Open titles and a US Open title.

On Monday, January 5, following the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the WTA took to Instagram to post a meme featuring American indie supergroup boygenius and Taylor Swift celebrating their Grammy Awards win. In the image, Jack Antonoff stands beside them with his own Grammy Award, seemingly indifferent to their euphoria.

Celebrating a WTA title,” said the text in front of Taylor Swift and boygenius bad members. “Realizing you have a flight to catch in 45 mins,” said the text in front of Jack Antonoff.

Abramowicz responded to the post in the comments section by acknowledging that performance psychology can shed light on the message conveyed by the meme. She emphasized that athletes should learn to appreciate moments of achievement and not solely concentrate on earnings.

Well and performance psychology can say one thing or two about it. Athletes should learn to appreciate achievement moment and not only focus on earning process,” Daria Abramowicz commented

Iga Swiatek's psychologist Daria Abramowicz's comment

“Communication is different than with a therapist: Daria and I know each other well,” – Iga Swiatek on her relationship with her psychologist

In an interview from November 2023, Iga Swiatek discussed her relationship with her psychologist Abramowicz and stated that her team had been a significant source of support over the years.

Speaking to WP SportoweFakty, the World No.1 said that her psychologist’s support extended beyond managing emotions on the court, and included various aspects of their everyday life as well.

2022 French Open - (Getty images)
2022 French Open

Our cooperation does not only concern controlling emotions on the court or implementing mental training, but also in everyday life, communication is different than with a therapist you see once every two weeks. Daria and I know each other well, but as a professional she wouldn’t let it affect our work,” Iga Swiatek said.

The Polish star added that she spent a lot of time with her team during the year and that it was inevitable that her work and life intersected.

We set session times and work through specific things. It doesn’t change the fact that we can eat dinner together or watch something. Sometimes elements of work appear between sessions. I’m on tour almost all year round, so I spend time with each of my [members] not only on the court or in the gym. My team is a huge source of support,” she said.

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Roger Federer-Influenced ‘Naïve’ Coaching Call Turns Into a Regret for Holger Rune’s Mother

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Hoping to get the best of both worlds, Holger Rune has hit a roadblock. After adding the former coach of Djokovic into his team, Rune went on to collaborate with the former coach of Roger Federer as well. However, in less than 2 months, both of them decided to part ways, and recently, the Danish tennis player’s mother, who is also her son’s manager, shared her regret over hiring Luthi as a coach for his son.

Severin Luthi was supposed to be in the courts with Rune throughout this year. But now, Aneke Rune has opened up about the wrong decision of having the Swiss coach on Rune’s coaching team.

Was Holer Rune’s collaboration with Roger Federer’s ex-coach a mistake?
For the past few days, the news of the 20-year-old tennis player splitting up with his coach has been grabbing a lot of headlines. Especially because the separation happened just 2 months after their partnership started. But now, the world’s 7th-ranked tennis player’s mother, in a podcast show, talked about the decision to hire the 42-year-old Swiss tennis legend’s ex-coach.

She said, “Maybe also we were a little naïve and also a little you know, starstruck, like saying, oh, Roger 20 grand slams, it’s not a problem to bring in a new coach. Clearly, this was naïve. But, you know, as I said, you can always be wise looking back.”

But now a lot of things are opening up in the same context. In the same conversation, she also dwelled in detail and talked about her son’s coaching collaboration with the Swiss coach. However, at the same time, she also shared her thoughts on how Severin Luthi wasn’t working out well for the 20-year-old tennis player.

Was working with Luthi not a good idea for Rune?
In this same podcast interview, Aneke Rune detailed how the past few months were not that easy for her son. She said, “If we look back, and you should revise backwards, if you could do that all the time, it would be easy, then, then it was not the right timing to implement new stuff, because the player is obviously more nervous at Grand Slams.”

Along with that, she also highlighted how she was not supposed to see Luthi even before going to Melbourne. While it was not easy to adjust to the changes that were brought by Federer’s former coach, they eventually split up.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Holger Rune splitting up with Roger Federer’s ex-coach? Share your views in the comment section below.

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