Sport

Cameron Norrie extended the upset chaos at the ATP Montreal Masters on Thursday, saving a match point in defeating Alex de Minaur 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.The battling British winner trailed a set and a double break against the Australian third seed, who folded in the final set of an epic lasting for almost three hours.De Minaur, who had been the highest remaining seed in a depleted draw, could have closed it out in straight sets with a match point chance in the eighth game of the second set.The tournament had already seen an early exit from top seed Alexander Zverev, an injury pullout from Canadian second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and a loss by fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.The US Open tuneup hardcourt event had already been hit by the absences of world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic.The result leaves fifth-seeded holder Ben Shelton as the new man to beat going into the fourth round.Norrie said he had to win a struggle."It was a great match to win and test my level," said the 2021 Masters champion at Indian Wells. "I can take so much confidence from this one."The level was so high in the first set. He came out firing and I had to match it. Alex stayed tough and stole the first set but took his foot off the gas just slightly in the second."I just battled point for point and managed to come out 6-1 in the third set. I was fortunate and I'll take (the win)."De Minaur, losing finalist in Canada three years ago to Sinner, seized a 4-1 first-set lead to take the opener, winning six of seven games.Norrie began turning the tide in the second set, levelling with a winning tiebreaker before running away in the third, taking match point 62 minutes after de Minaur blew his match point."I was in a good position," de Minaur said. "It's tennis. As we've seen, anything can happen. It's not the easiest of conditions out here."I gave myself chances early in the third set, and then I just played some bad points in a row and then got behind."It all just went very quickly."Norrie will next play Arthur Fils after the Frenchman defeated Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-2, staking his claim for a comeback effort after missing months of play from a year ago and extending to February.The 44th-ranked Argentine Navone lost his 22nd career match against a top-30 opponent. Fils advanced on his second match point, winning as he overcame 30 unforced errors with a solid serving performance that included four aces and four breaks of the Navone serve."I couldn't put in a serve during warm-up," the 24th-ranked winner said. "But I found my rhythm during the match and hit some good spots."'I enjoy being back'With no top five players left in the depleted draw, the path is opening for the survivors in French-speaking Canada."It has been a tough time for me, I was injured a lot," Fils said. "But I enjoy being back on the big stage - it means a lot."Jiri Lehecka, at eighth the highest seed remaining after Shelton, stayed alive with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgian Alexander Blockx.He will next face Spanish teen Rafael Jodar, the Washington runner-up who beat 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-3."I did a great job on returns and generally played very solid," Jodar said. "I'm super happy with the performance."

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the fourth round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Thursday by defeating China's Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.The 28-year-old reigning US Open champion from Belarus, a four-time Grand Slam winner, dropped only seven points on her first serve to advance in 76 minutes.Sabalenka, with a 38-6 record and three titles this year, struggled to find a rhythm in her return games early."I was trying to step in and then I would step back and nothing really clicked," she said. "In the end I finally started moving a little bit better and finding my rhythm so I'm really happy at the end it really clicked."Sabalenka said she enjoys being atop the rankings, a spot she has held for more than 100 weeks in her career."I love it. It just means I'm ahead and they have to come up with something crazy to play such tennis and I'm only getting better from that," Sabalenka said."I enjoy being the one being chased. It's really fun. It's tough challenges but I love to go through it and it makes me stronger."Sabalenka next plays against Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who eliminated Australian Talia Gibson 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.Sabalenka leads their personal rivalry 5-4 thanks to a victory this year on Berlin grass, but Alexandrova won their most recent hardcourt match in a third-set tie-breaker last year at Doha."Great player. Super aggressive. Fast game. Always have to stay low," Sabalenka said. "It's always great battles and a lot of things to work on."American third seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 in 68 minutes.Pegula will play for a quarter-final berth against Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider, who eliminated compatriot Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-3, in 77 minutes.Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 romp over Swiss Viktorija Golubic in 66 minutes, landing 18 winners and losing only 14 points on her serve."For sure it was a good day and I'm really happy with the way I played," Swiatek said.Swiatek countered Golubic's versatile shots by forcing the match tempo."I played back her slice pretty well so the change of rhythm didn't bother me that much," Swiatek said. "I tried to pick the right balls to attack because I was controlling the pace. It was just about the decision making."She next faces 10th seed Marta Kostyuk, who dispatched US 19th seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-1 in 72 minutes.

Real Madrid have secured the future of Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr, extending his contract until June 2032, the Spanish giants announced on Thursday and bringing an end to months of speculation over his future.The 26-year-old Brazil international has been a central ⁠figure in Real's attack in recent seasons and had been linked with a move to English champions ⁠Arsenal.His previous contract was due to expire in June 2027."Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr have agreed to extend our player's contract, which now keeps him with the club through June 30, 2032...," Real said in a statement."Vinicius has become one of the most important players during one of the most successful periods in our history."Since joining from Brazilian club Flamengo in 2018, Vinicius has scored 128 goals and registered 100 assists ⁠for Real.Spanish and British media had reported prolonged contract negotiations between the player and the club, while Arsenal were said to be monitoring the situation and exploring a potential move.The extension removes the prospect of Real losing one of their most valuable players on a free transfer.Vinicius also had a demanding summer with Brazil at the World Cup, where they were eliminated by Norway in the last 16.The forward has built an impressive trophy collection during his time in Madrid, ⁠winning two Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns ⁠among numerous other honours.He ⁠is set to work under Jose Mourinho for the first time after the Portuguese coach returned for a second spell in charge at Real in June.The appointment followed a disappointing campaign for the record 15-time European champions, who finished runners-up to arch-rivals Barcelona in LaLiga, exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals and ended the season without a major trophy.Tying down Vinicius represents another significant step in an active summer for Real.The club have also strengthened their squad with the arrivals of winger Yan Diomande, midfielder Bernardo Silva, centre back Ibrahima Konate, left back Marc Cucurella and wing back Denzel Dumfries ahead of the new season.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced on Thursday the signing of France international Maghnes Akliouche from fellow Ligue 1 outfit Monaco.The 24-year-old creative midfielder has signed with the European champions until 2031 for a reported fee of 50mn euros ($58mn), according to French media outlets."Signing for Paris Saint-Germain is an immense source of pride. Having grown up in the Paris region, joining such a prestigious club means so much to me and my family," Akliouche said in a statement on PSG's website.After joining Monaco as a 15-year-old in 2017, Akliouche progressed through the ranks before making his first team bow in 2021.In 139 matches in all competitions for the principality side, he netted 23 times and laid on 28 assists.Akliouche was part of Thierry Henry's France side which collected a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.He has represented his country 10 times and was a part of the French squad at the 2026 World Cup.Akliouche's arrival bolsters Luis Enrique's attacking options, following the departures of Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan and Lee Kang-in to Atletico Madrid, while Bradley Barcola's future remains uncertain with Premier League side Liverpool interested in the winger.

Al Sailiya are continuing their preparations for the 2026-2027 season with an intensive training camp in Radkersburg, Austria (July 18-August 7) with the aim of putting up a stronger showing in the new season. Under the supervision of coach Mirghani Al Zain and technical staff, the players are sharpening their technical, tactical and physical prowess ahead of the start of the new season. During the Austrian camp, Al Sailiya played friendly matches against UAE clubs Al Nasr, Sharjah and Kalba, and Saudi Arabian side Abha. The games helped the coaching staff to assess a wide range of players, assess their readiness and integrate new faces into the squad. Al Sailiya finished 10th in 2025-2026 Doha Bank Stars League with 22 points (six wins, four draws and 12 losses), scoring 25 goals and conceding 38 goals. Al Sailiya have strengthened their squad for the new season with players such as goalkeepers Bautista Burke and Motasem Al Bustami, Andri Syahputra, Ahmed Moein, Ibrahim Majed and Abdulaziz Al Bakri. These additions will provide depth and experience to the existing squad also consisting of Matias Nani, Younes Belhanda, Kellian van der Kaap, Ali Olwan, Mohamed Al Taabouni and Anwar El Ghazi. Al Sailiya will kick off their 2026-2027 Doha Bank Stars League campaign against Al Duhail on August 22 at Al Bayt Stadium. With solid foundations from their first season back in the top flight and a refreshed squad, the club will aim to climb the table and make a deeper impression in domestic tournaments.

As part of its continued efforts towards enriching Qatar’s sustainability legacy, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Seashore Group – a Qatari business group with expertise in multiple fields including cutting-edge environmental solutions. Building on SC's sustainability framework, the partnership will see both organisations work together on several on-the-ground initiatives to promote enhanced understanding and application of sustainable practices at the workplace and mega-events. These include effective waste management and composting solutions, as well as environmental awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging greener workplace practices. The SC will also draw on Seashore Group’s expertise, including use of the Seashore Tadweer AI application, and dedicated site visits to explore smarter environmental practices at the workplace. The SC and Seashore Group collaboration will also extend to mega-events hosted in the future, with initiatives such as responsible waste disposal and raising environmental awareness amongst fans and the wider community.The MoU was signed by Eng. Thani Al-Zarraa, SC Sustainability & Legacy Executive Director, and Sager Saeed Al-Muhanadi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Seashore Group, at a ceremony held at the SC offices in Doha, Qatar.Speaking at the signing ceremony, Al-Zarraa said: "Sustainability has been at the heart of all major events we continue to host. This partnership with Seashore Group allows us to build on that legacy, in line with the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, as we continue to work towards a sustainable future for Qatar. As industry leaders, the Seashore Group is an ideal partner for the SC in ensuring we deliver sustainable events that create a long lasting legacy for the country and beyond.”On his part, Al-Muhanadi added: "We are delighted to partner with the SC on both the corporate and event level, and playing a role in supporting the SC’s exemplary record in delivering world-class events. Sustainability is a core part of how we operate as an organisation, and we look forward to contributing our expertise to help Qatar continue setting the standard for environmentally responsible events in the future."The SC’s robust sustainability strategy ensures that the highest environmental protection standards are met through Qatar’s hosting of world-class tournaments and other events. This includes everything from infrastructure design through to operational execution. Additionally, the SC is committed to using these events as a platform to raise awareness around sustainability. Since delivering the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which set new standards for sustainability in sport, Qatar has continued to host a series of mega-sporting events built on a foundation of environmental stewardship. Qatar and the SC have been widely recognised for their sustainability efforts in the delivery of a number of major events, including the promotion of efficient energy use and responsible resource management.The Seashore Group is one of the fastest growing and the largest multifaceted business groups in Qatar. Since being established in 1989, the company has taken part in a number of corporate social responsibility initiatives reflecting their commitment to building a sustainable ecosystem in Qatar.

Kimberley Le Court of Mauritius overcame earlier difficulties to emerge victorious in a reduced sprint and win stage six of the Tour de France Femmes on Thursday, as Swiss rider Marlen Reusser held on to the overall lead with three stages remaining.Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) joined a small breakaway group 10 km from the finish, launched her sprint with 300m to go and held off French rider Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) on the line, with Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands coming in third.The 30-year-old Le Court suffered a mechanical before the final climb and had to change bikes, but, thanks to her teammates, made it back in time to launch her telling move."They brought me back slowly but surely to the bunch, and I got back on top of the last climb, which was a really big effort," Le Court said."Then I just tried to stay patient, try to recover from this big effort. Riejanne Markus and I bridged to the breakaway, and we got to the front."There was no change at the top of the standings after the 153.4-km ride from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhone, with Reusser (Movistar Team) holding a 12-second lead over Dutch rider Demi Vollering. Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney is third, one minute and 17 seconds off the leader.A group of three riders built an early lead of over two minutes but were brought back with 54-km remaining.World champion Magdeleine Vallieres set a blistering pace at the front on the penultimate climb of Col de Lalouvesc, which split the peloton, leaving a reduced bunch of around 30 riders to go for the stage win.A group of six then got away, before they were joined by Le Court and Markus. The breakaway managed to hold off the chasing pack, and Markus made a move with one kilometre left.The Dutch rider was unable to make her attack count and it was left to Le Court to claim an almost carbon copy victory of her stage win last year when she outfought Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney in a seven-rider sprint to the line."When Riejanne made an attack from the back, I knew it was going to happen because that's the only way she can win a race like this," Le Court said."I had to close the gap myself, and I was really, really dead. I was on the limit. I can't believe I still had the legs to sprint.Friday's stage seven takes the riders 146.8 km from La Voulte-sur-Rhone to the summit finish at Mont Ventoux, when Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney will be expected to make their move to overtake Reusser.

Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on Thursday signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Trabzonspor after leaving the Premier League giants at the end of his contract.The 34-year-old Egyptian international reached "a two-year agreement" with the club on the Black Sea coast who will compete in the Europa League play-off round at the end of August.The second-highest-paid player in the Premier League last season, Salah will earn 17mn euros ($19.6mn) per season in addition to bonuses, a record for the Turkish league, his new club said.Salah will also receive a 20 percent share of revenue from sales of jerseys and merchandise bearing his name.The Egypt captain was welcomed as a hero by thousands of fans in the northeastern city of Trabzon and is set to take part in a signing ceremony with supporters at Trabzonspor's stadium later Thursday."I am really happy... and looking forward to training with the team. Everywhere I go I always win or try to win something. Hopefully we can do something in the league and in Europe as well," Salah, who will wear the number 10 shirt, said on Wednesday.Salah has previously played in Egypt, Switzerland, Italy, and England.Salah netted 257 goals for Liverpool in 442 appearances in all competitions during his nine-year spell, making him the third top goalscorer in the club's history, winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.He also scored 193 Premier League goals, 191 of them for the Reds, putting him fourth in the all-time list behind English trio Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.Salah was far from his best in a struggling Liverpool team last term, scoring only seven times in the league but that did not diminish his popularity.He last played at the World Cup, helping Egypt reach the last 16 for the first time since 1934 before they blew a two-goal lead to suffer an agonising loss to eventual runners-up Argentina.Salah had also been linked with Trabzonspor's Super Lig rivals Besiktas.Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish top flight last season, nine points clear of Besiktas, to qualify for the Europa League play-off round.Salah has scored 66 goals in 119 international appearances for Egypt and is one of the most successful African players in history.

Jackson Koivun is not so different from any other 21-year-old in that in his free time he goes to movies - like the new Spider-Man blockbuster - and does some fishing, not always successfully."I did not, unfortunately," Koivun responded Wednesday when asked if he caught any fish. "Yeah, I tried, I definitely tried. I think I used all my luck on the golf course."It's a good thing Koivun is better at his day job, golfing, having won in his third PGA Tour event since turning professional at the 3M Open on July 26. He did it with flair, closing with a bogey-free 66 to reach a tournament-record 25-under 259, holding off world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three strokes at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn."Growing up, it's just a lifelong dream to become a PGA Tour winner," Koivun said Wednesday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., where play begins Thursday in the Wyndham Championship. "Just that feeling when the final putt drops and they hand you the trophy, it's quite special because you work so hard for that moment. Just indescribable feeling."Koivun, who celebrated that early victory in his young career by fishing - more like trying - the ponds at the Minnesota golf course, has vaulted into contention for a FedExCup playoff berth going into this week's regular-season finale.With the victory, he rose 124 spots to No. 70, the final qualifying berth for the first leg of the playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Koivun also is No. 70 in the Official World Golf Ranking, up from No. 206 before the triumph in Minnesota.That doesn't mean he has become instantly recognizable to the public."Here and there," Koivun said. "Sometimes at the airport when I'm carrying some golf clubs around, but nothing too crazy."His success might at first seem a bit crazy, but it's hardly overnight. Koivun entered the professional ranks with immediate PGA Tour status after completing a decorated career at Auburn and qualifying through PGA Tour University Accelerated.Koivun was a three-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, a three- time All-American and a two-time national champion at Auburn. He turned pro ahead of the John Deere Classic in early July.The former No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, Koivun tied for fifth at the Wyndham Championship at 14 under par.Now he's back, a year later, and "not quite sure" that he would have success this quickly as a pro."It's like there's no lack of faith in my mind that I can come out here and win, but doing it in three events, I wouldn't say it's surprising, it's just like it hasn't quite set in. It's like kind of shocking almost," said Koivun, a native of San Jose, Calif."I try to go into every tournament thinking I can win, but you know when you've got great players competing and playing well behind you, you're definitely testing yourself and pushing yourself to the limits and seeing how much work you put in and how that's paying off. So definitely a relief, but it's kind of a loaded question."-

Former striker Diego Forlan has been appointed head coach of the Uruguay national team following their disastrous World Cup campaign, the country's football association (AUF) announced Thursday.Forlan will take over, reportedly on an interim basis, from Marcelo Bielsa who stepped down following Uruguay's group-stage exit from the World Cup."Diego Forlan is coming home (to take charge of) the Under-20 national team and the senior national team," the AUF said in a short statement.The agreement with Forlan, who won the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament at the 2010 World Cup, was finalised after weeks of negotiations.The 47-year-old will take over as interim coach but his contract keeps the door open for an extension, AUF sources recently told AFP.He will be in charge of the team for friendlies in September, October and March.Two-time world champions Uruguay are reeling after failing to get out of their group for a second successive World Cup.Back-to-back draws with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde put them in unexpected danger of crashing out, before their elimination was confirmed by a loss to eventual champions Spain.The 71-year-old Bielsa was widely criticised for his tactics and for the decision to coax Fernando Muslera out of international retirement, with the veteran goalkeeper then making a string of errors.Forlan has little coaching experience despite enjoying a stellar playing career.He made his coaching debut during the 2020 season with former club Penarol but left the post after just 11 matches due to poor results.Forlan's only other managerial stint came in 2021, when he spent 12 games in charge of Atenas in the Uruguayan second division.He is highly regarded, though, in Uruguay after scoring 36 international goals, including five during their run to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals, in 112 appearances.Forlan, alongside strike partner Luis Suarez, was also a key member of Uruguay's 2011 Copa America-winning side.He enjoyed prolific spells at both Villarreal and Atletico Madrid in Spain, winning the European Golden Shoe award with both clubs.Forlan endured a difficult stint at Manchester United between 2001 and 2004, despite winning the Premier League in 2002/03.

Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff all advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on Wednesday.Australian Open champion Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, began her hardcourt run ahead of the US Open by outlasting Australian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in 2hr 33min.World number two Rybakina began the match by hitting six consecutive winners but also made 58 unforced errors."I want to see better serve, the percentage," Rybakina said after coughing up 16 double faults against 15 aces."Today in key moments it worked, but still the percentage is quite low."I'm still adapting a bit to the jet lag and everything, so maybe my energy level could be better."Rybakina hit back-to-back double faults to drop the second set and three double faults while serving for the match before advancing to face 28th-seeded American Ann Li, who eliminated Canadian wildcard Kayla Cross 7-6 (7/2), 6-3."For the first match it wasn't too bad, but of course I want to improve," Rybakina said.Pegula, who lost in a rain-delayed Washington final on Monday, was also extended in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Poland's Magdalena Frech."I was just happy with the way I was able to mentally stay in there," said Pegula, who also beat Frech in the second-round in Washington a week ago."It was more of a mental battle just for me figuring out what to do and not get too frustrated."Having to face an opponent like that back-to-back is never easy, especially with a quick turnaround this week."Pegula faces a third-round match against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova, whose opponent Katerina Siniakova retired when trailing 6-7 (1/7), 6-0, 5-2.Two-time Grand Slam winner Gauff cruised into the third round by dispatching fellow American Kayla Day 6-2, 7-5."The goal is to peak at the US Open, so I know maybe this first week I'm not going to be feeling 100 percent," said Gauff, who will face Greece's Maria Sakkari next."I feel like by tomorrow I'll be good. I think it was just a long couple of weeks for me training."World number five Russian Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion, cruised past Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2.Andreeva will play Canada's 30th seed Leylah Fernandez, who beat Mexico's Renata Zarazua 6-2, 6-2.Japan's Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, won 6-2, 6-4 against Hungary's Panna Udvardy and will play Belgian Elise Mertens next.Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova was knocked out by American Caty McNally 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.McNally will meet Alexandra Eala, fresh from the Filipina's maiden WTA title in Washington. Eala beat Alycia Parks 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

The ATP Montreal Masters lost its top two seeds in the space of a few hours on Wednesday as Germany's Alexander Zverev and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime both exited the field.Top seed and world number three Zverev, this year's French Open champion and Wimbledon runner-up, was toppled by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who rallied for a 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-4 second-round upset."I didn't expect to play well," Zverev said. "I also didn't expect to play this bad, to be honest."Montreal native Auger-Aliassime had to withdraw before his scheduled night match after injuring his back during training on Monday."It was quite sudden. I was training here for two weeks and I had zero problems," Auger-Aliassime said. "Just the timing is tough."I thought that day by day things would get better, but I tried to go on court today, I tried to warm up, and then I basically couldn't serve really, so it was impossible for me to think about even competing."Joining his fellow elites on the sidelines was fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, who went out 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to Botic Van de Zandschulp, another Dutch spoiler.Medvedev missed out on achieving his 100th career victory at the Masters level as he lost in his Canada opener, weighed down by 40 unforced errors.Tournament officials already were fuming at an event in which world number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic were both high-profile absentees even before the start."I'm not going to lie, we were hoping that Felix was going to win at least a few matches," tournament director Valerie Tetreault said."He's definitely the player everybody was talking about and people wanted to know when he was going to play."Zverev was competing for the first time since his Wimbledon final loss to Sinner and began to fade in the second set against world number 69 Griekspoor."This was probably the worst match of the season," Zverev said. "This one was up there as the worst."Tennis comes with ups and downs. I'm very happy with how the last couple of months were. Now it's about getting back to that form."The Dutch winner came within a point of a 5-2 lead in the third set, but found himself square at 4-all as he lost serve.But the underdog broke the seed straight back and served out the match in one of his biggest victories a game later."This is one of the most special wins I've ever had," he said. "I've had a tough season. I was close to throwing in the towel a few times. But I've been working harder in practice and reaching a good level."I felt it was about time for a big win."Fifth-seeded defending champion Ben Shelton rallied from 4-1 down in his second set to overhaul US compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 7-5, winning six of the last seven games for his 28th victory of the season. 'A huge positive'The son of a former ATP pro has won seven straight matches in Canada, taking 96 minutes to go through to the third round. He's 15-3 against countrymen since the start of 2025."Defending is tough. I had to get over pre-tournament nerves but I got my first straight-set win of the summer season," Shelton said."Jenson is a nightmare match-up for me. To win it is a huge positive."Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas fell 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 to 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca in the second round.Fonseca, who fired nine aces among his 31 winners, next plays ninth seed Casper Ruud.

England have recalled Dan Lawrence from two years of Test exile to face Pakistan, with the batsman pencilled in to fill the middle-order vacancy created by the retirement of captain Ben Stokes.National selector Marcus North, announcing a 16-man squad for the first two matches of the three-Test series on Thursday, confirmed Lawrence would bat at number six.Jordan Cox, who replaces the injured Jacob Bethell, will bat at number three.Joe Root leads the side after being appointed for a second stint, with the first Test starting at Headingley on August 19.Lawrence has been in the international wilderness since he made his 14th Test appearance in September 2024, playing out of position as an opener against Sri Lanka.The Surrey batsman, 29, has been in impressive form in the County Championship this season, averaging more than 65, with five centuries.Cox, 25, made his debut against New Zealand in the second Test at the Oval in June, when he replaced Stokes, who was omitted after he broke a team curfew.Fast bowler Brydon Carse is included after missing the 2-1 series loss to New Zealand because of an injury to his right hand.Marcus Trescothick will be the hosts' interim head coach before former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming replaces compatriot Brendon McCullum as England's red-ball supremo.Former England vice-captain Ollie Pope has also been recalled, having been discarded after a run of low scores during England's 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia.Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has been retained, although it remains to be seen if England will deploy a specialist slow bowler in Leeds.England have lost seven of their past nine Tests and are without a series win since December 2024."We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team," said former Australia batsman North."Dan Lawrence returns following an exceptional season so far with Surrey and we believe he has the right level of experience, maturity and skill to complement our middle order."Jordan Cox is well regarded as one of the most exciting talents in English cricket and will have the opportunity to bat at three in place of Jacob Bethell, who sadly misses this series through injury."Pakistan will arrive off the back of drawing a two Test series, 1-1, with the West Indies.England squad for the first two Tests: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (capt), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wkt), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir, Sam Cook, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson

Salah expected to sign with Black Sea side after nine years at LiverpoolMohamed Salah arrived smiling at an Istanbul airport on Wednesday ​wearing Trabzonspor's burgundy and ‌blue kit ahead of his expected move to the Turkish ‌top-tier side ⁠from Liverpool, as ‌hundreds of fans jostled to get ‌a glimpse of the Egyptian forward.Trabzonspor announced a day earlier they were ⁠in negotiations with Salah and club chairman Ertugrul Dogan said they expected to sign the 34-year-old on a free transfer at a ceremony in the Black Sea city on Thursday. "Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon," Salah said in a video posted by the club on X."Everywhere is Trabzon to us," ​he added while wearing a Trabzonspor kit, referring to the club's motto. Upon arriving at Ataturk Airport, Salah was met by hundreds of fans. He waved at ‌supporters and initiated a traditional ⁠chant with them, ​before departing for a medical check and a later planned ​flight east to Trabzon.Salah left Liverpool this summer after nine years, having scored 257 goals in 442 appearances and having won the Premier League twice and the Champions League once. In the 2024-25 season, Salah scored 29 Premier League goals and provided 18 assists, equalling the league record for most goal involvements in a single season and setting the record for a 38-game campaign.He was named Premier League Player of the Season and won the Golden Boot and ‌the Playmaker Award, becoming the ‌first player to take all ⁠three in one campaign.His output waned last season, with seven goals and ⁠seven assists in 27 ⁠league matches and he was left on the bench in Champions League games, leading to a public spat with Liverpool's then-manager Arne Slot.Salah started his career in Europe at Swiss side Basel in 2012 and later joined Chelsea. He also had brief stints at Fiorentina and AS Roma between ​2015 and 2017 before joining Liverpool.Trabzonspor - generally considered to be the fourth biggest team in Turkey after Istanbul sides Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas - finished third in the Super Lig last season and will enter the Europa League playoff round. The club's last league championship was in the 2021-22 season.

Newcastle have appointed Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach following Eddie Howe's departure, the English Premier League club announced.The 38-year-old Jaissle, a former Germany Under-21 international, was previously in charge of Saudi side Al-Ahli but has no prior experience of managing a top-flight club."It is an incredible honour to become head coach of Newcastle United," said Jaissle. "This is one of the biggest clubs in European football, with a unique history, identity and supporter base, and I am excited to experience that passion and connection first-hand. When Newcastle United comes your way, you take notice. The ambition of the club, the vision for the future and the opportunity ahead made this an incredibly compelling place to be. I have followed the club's journey closely in recent years and the progress that has been made is clear for everyone to see."Jaissle was forced to end his playing career due to injury at the age of 25. His first managerial job came with Austrian side Liefering, whom he led to a second-placed finish in the second tier, the club's joint best-ever position.Jaissle took charge at Red Bull Salzburg in 2021, winning successive Austrian titles as well as the Austrian Cup. Jaissle joined Al-Ahli in 2023 and led them to AFC Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026.Although not a high-profile manager, he is well-known to Newcastle's majority owner, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which bought a controlling share in four Pro League clubs, including Al Ahli, in 2023.Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said: "Matthias is one of the most exciting and highly regarded young coaches in football and I'm thrilled to welcome him to Newcastle United. We have conducted a thorough process, and he has emerged as the clear candidate for the role. He possesses all the qualities we were looking for."Jaissle has a tough task ahead of him given the way Howe, in his five years at Newcastle, revitalised a club that had struggled for decades.Howe replaced Steve Bruce in November 2021 and won the League Cup in March 2025 -- beating Liverpool in the final to clinch the northeast side's first major trophy since 1969.The former Bournemouth boss also led Newcastle to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025. But hampered by star striker Alexander Isak's protracted move to Liverpool, the Englishman came under pressure as the Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League last season, with 17 defeats in their 38 games.Newcastle reached the Champions League last 16 but were hammered 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona. The club have since been depleted by the close-season departures of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and England forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, with Howe reportedly frustrated at losing several of his best players in order that Newcastle could comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules.Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes is also set to leave St James' Park after reports earlier Wednesday that Premier League champions Arsenal had agreed a £75mn ($101mn) deal to sign the Brazil midfielder.The Magpies begin the 2026/27 Premier League season at home to Liverpool on August 23, with an upbeat Jaissle insisting: "I am incredibly excited about the future. I fully and unreservedly believe in this project, the ambition and the direction the club is taking. There is a clear vision, strong leadership and an exceptional platform to build on."

Mohammed Jarbi led Qatar's national junior chess team with a gold and a bronze medal at the Arab Junior and Youth Chess Championship in Egypt, which concluded yesterday with the participation of 350 players from 16 Arab countries.Jarbi claimed gold in the under-10 rapid event after scoring 7.5 points from nine rounds. He also added a bronze medal in the under-10 classical competition with seven points, highlighting the continued progress of Qatar's emerging chess talent. Khalid al-Jumaat added a silver medal in the under-12 rapid event after finishing with seven points from nine rounds, completing a successful campaign for Qatar.Organised by the Egyptian Chess Federation under the auspices of the Arab Chess Federation, the championship brought together young players from across the Arab world.Mohammed al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, saying the tournament gave players valuable experience against strong opposition while helping improve their international ratings.He noted that the record participation from across the region added further significance to the achievement and would motivate the association to continue developing young players ahead of future competitions. Al-Mudahka also praised the Egyptian Chess Federation and the organising committee for delivering a successful championship.Hamad al-Tamimi, Executive Director of the QCA, said the results reflected the association's long-term strategy of investing in youth development and expanding regional and international participation.On the sidelines of the championship, FIDE-accredited courses for referees and school teachers were held as part of efforts to strengthen the technical and educational development of chess.The tournament featured teams from Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Oman, Palestine, Syria and hosts Egypt.

American sprint legend Allyson Felix has chosen Aspire Academy in Doha as a key training base as she prepares for a return to competition with the goal of racing at the 2028 Olympic Games in her hometown of Los Angeles.Felix, 42, announced her return to competitive athletics in April after a four-year retirement and has set her sights on earning a place on the United States team for the Los Angeles Olympics.The seven-time Olympic gold medallist selected Aspire Academy as one of her training destinations, citing its world-class facilities and athlete development programs."I have been visiting Qatar for many years, and each time I have received a very warm welcome," Felix said in a statement. "I know very well the amazing sports facilities at Aspire Academy, and it is truly the best place in the world to train."She added: "It was important for Aspire Academy to be part of my journey as I work on regaining my full physical fitness in this new phase of my life, and I knew I could trust that I would find everything I needed here."The American sprinter, who has competed in the 100m, 200m and 400m events, said her return is driven by a desire to see what she can still achieve, with the 2028 Olympics providing added motivation."It's really about curiosity," she said. "I'm not trying to be the athlete I was in the past, but I'm curious to see what's still possible, especially since my city, Los Angeles, is hosting the Olympics. My goal is to be part of the national team, and I hope to be part of the relay team."By hosting Felix during her preparations, Aspire Academy further reinforces its reputation as a leading destination for elite athlete training while giving its student-athletes the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by one of the greatest sprinters in athletics history.

Pakistan beat the West Indies by eight wickets on the fourth day of the second and final Test at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Wednesday to level the series.Beaten by 90 runs in the first Test the previous week, the visitors were left with a target of only 75 runs after the home side - already in deep trouble overnight at 103 for six in the second innings - were dismissed for 117 half-an-hour into the start of the day's play.Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam guided their team to victory after openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais fell cheaply to pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph with Babar hoisting consecutive sixes off spinner Jomel Warrican to seal the result.It gave Pakistan a share of the series in the same manner as their last campaign in the Caribbean in 2021, when they rebounded similarly from losing the first Test to take the second, both matches played then at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.Their last meeting in Pakistan, for two Tests in Multan in January of 2025, also finished 1-1.This match was a personal triumph for Shafique.Not included in the original touring party and only flown in last week as replacement for the injured Shan Masood, his unbeaten 160 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's first innings total of 387.This was also Pakistan's first Test victory at Queen's Park Oval since 1977, when captain Mushtaq Mohammad's all-round performance took his team to a series-levelling win in the fourth Test of a five-match series. West Indies however won the decider in Kingston to take that rubber 2-1.Pushing aside the hotly-debated omission of senior seamer Mohammad Abbas on the first morning of this Test, Pakistan prevailed with their two frontline spinners starring in the victory.Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was not picked for the first Test, made the most of his recall with a match haul of eight for 117, although he was not required on the final morning as the other spinner, left-arm orthodox Ali Usman, took two of the last three wickets to fall to claim four for 39 in the innings and match figures of six for 119.West Indies were hampered by the absence of regular opening batsman Brandon King who was unable to bat because of back spasms suffered in effecting the run out of Pakistan captain Babar Azam for 88 the day before.Khan had taken four for 32 to engineer the West Indies second innings collapse late on day three, yet Babar opted for the combination of Usman and seamer Mohammad Ali to complete the job on the fourth morning.They were aided though by poor shot selection from the hosts' lower order.Kemar Roach, noted for his tailender's defiance as displayed in the first innings, swung hopefully at the second delivery he faced from Usman to be bowled for a "duck".Justin Greaves, the last real hope for any meaningful West Indian resistance, dragged an attempted pull at Mohammad Ali onto his middle stump, and the innings was wrapped up when Shamar Joseph, having already struck two boundaries, essayed another big swing at Usman only for a skied leading edge to be easily pouched by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.Pakistan's win also broke a streak of eight consecutive Test match defeats away from home, which started with a 360-run annihilation at the hands of Australia in Perth in December, 2023. BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 387 (Shafique 160*, Babar 88, Warrican 6-112) and 77 for 2 (Babar 24*, Shafique 24*) beat West Indies 344 (Greaves 73, Chase 70, Sajid 4-85) and 117 (Sajid 4-32, Usman 4-39) by eight wickets

World number one Aryna Sabalenka returned to her hard court comfort zone with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima in the WTA 1000 in Toronto on Tuesday.It was a solid start for Sabalenka in her bid to bounce back after falling in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros and in the round of 16 at Wimbledon.The Belarusian star has dominated on hard courts this year and on Tuesday notched her 24th win in 25 matches on the surface. The lone defeat was her loss to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.Now she's eyeing a North American hard court run that could include a three-peat at the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year that starts on August 30 in New York."I'm happy with the performance, I'm happy with the fight," Sabalenka said after her second-round opener. "I knew going into this match I might struggle a little bit after a little break, but I was ready for that."I'm happy that mentally and physically I was ready to go."Sabalenka didn't have it all her own way against the 111th-ranked Uchijima. But she emerged from an exchange of five breaks of serve that opened the second set with a 3-2 lead and made the advantage stand up.She held for 4-2, and when she had her first chance to serve it out she pounced, sealing the match on her second match point with an overhead winner.Uchijima had surprised the Belarusian in the opening game of the match, clawing back from 40-15 down to break on the way to a quick 2-0 lead.But Sabalenka won the next five games and polished off the opening set with a confident hold of serve.In the third round she'll face China's Zhang Shuai, who was leading Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 4-0 when the Latvian retired from their match.

Manager Xabi Alonso hailed Mykhailo Mudryk's "emotional" return from a doping ban as the winger played for Chelsea for the first time in nearly two years in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.The Ukrainian international came on as a substitute for Nicolas Jackson in the 82nd minute, drawing applause from his teammates and loud cheers from Chelsea fans in the 43,575 crowd at Kai Tak Stadium.Mudryk had not played since November 2024 because of a doping ban, but won permission to resume his football career on Friday after winning an appeal.Despite a lively cameo on the left side, he was unable to stop Juventus taking the spoils courtesy of a wonderful second-half strike from Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova."Really pleased for him. It was emotional for everyone from the club to see him back," Alonso told reporters."He was thrilled, for sure. After such a long period, to be back on the pitch, it was a great feeling for him."Neither side could find the breakthrough in a drab first half as two experimental line-ups struggled to create clear-cut chances.Danny Welbeck could have scored a goal on his Chelsea debut but the veteran England striker failed to direct a flicked header on target after 11 minutes.Zhegrova stunnerJuventus came closest a few minutes before half-time when midfielder Jeremie Boga took aim from just outside the penalty area and forced Blues keeper Robert Sanchez into a diving save.Early in the second period a long ball from Chelsea skipper Moises Caicedo put full-back Marco Palestra in on goal but his tame shot could not beat Mattia Perin.Juventus finally broke the deadlock with a moment of magic in the 68th minute, Kenan Yildiz squaring for Zhegrova who curled a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the box.Both sides rang the changes but Chelsea could not find a cutting edge."I think we started pretty well. The first 30, 35 minutes, we have played with good control, we have created a few chances," Alonso said."And the second half, there were many changes. The game was not that controlled and stable with all the substitutions."Unluckily, we didn't get to win, but for sure, it's the process, it's minutes for everyone."Chelsea left both Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill out of the matchday squad, with Alonso saying England playmaker Palmer had suffered some discomfort after getting a knock in Saturday's match against Tottenham in Sydney.The Spanish coach said it was not a recurrence of the groin injury that sidelined him for much of last season, adding that he should be available for the next friendly.Chelsea play Italian giants AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday, before rounding off pre-season with games against Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim and Spain's Real Sociedad.They face Fulham at Craven Cottage in their opening league game on August 24.Juventus travel to Australia for friendlies against fellow Italians Inter Milan and Palermo before kicking off the Serie A season with a trip to Frosinone on August 23.