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Anastasija Sevastova stunned two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to book a fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka at the WTA Canadian Open.Sevastova, a former world No 11 now ranked 386th, snapped fourth-ranked Pegula’s 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014.She will try to extend her Montreal run in a round of 16 meeting with Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan who ousted another Latvian, 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2, 6-4.“Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better,” Sevastova said. “Third set I played really good.“Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible,” added Sevastova, who has dealt with injury since returning from maternity leave in February 2024.In the night session, second-seeded Iga Swiatek - playing her first tournament since winning Wimbledon - raced into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys.Swiatek next faces Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0.Pegula, last year’s US Open runner-up in her best Slam showing, was the first woman to win back to back Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000.But she has struggled in recent months, dropping her openers at Wimbledon and at Washington last week.The American broke to open the match and again at love to claim the first set.But she couldn’t maintain an early break in the second, with Sevastova breaking for a 5-4 lead and denying Pegula on three break chances before holding in the final game to force a third set in which she seized a 4-1 lead on the way to victory.‘Weird match’It was a weird match for me,” Pegula said. “I felt like I had total control and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like, three games.“That totally flipped the momentum of the match, and I went from being up a set and 2-0 to being down very quickly.“I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis,” Pegula admitted. “At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. I’ve got to figure it out.”Osaka, twice a winner at both the US and Australian Opens, is one match away from her first quarter-final run at either a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024.Now ranked 49th, Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes and raced to a 3-1 lead in the second. They exchanged breaks before Osaka served for the match with a 5-3 lead, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline.The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game.“I went in there knowing she’s a great player and if I give her a chance she’s going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could,” Osaka said.Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded sixth, beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will next meet Karolina Muchova, a 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-3 winner over Belinda Bencic.Fifth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova, regrouping this week after a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, swept past Britain’s Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1.She lined up a meeting with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1.

The United States set a new world record in sealing a dominant victory in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay at the world championships Saturday. The US team took gold in Singapore in 3min 18.48sec, beating Australia's previous leading time of 3:18.83 set in 2023.The "neutral athletes" team from Russia finished second in 3:19.68, with France third in 3:21.35. The American team of Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske took control from the start and from then on their battle was against the clock."We all came out tonight wanting to get that win for Team USA and with the world record, we all knew in the back of our mind we had that ability," said Douglass. "I'm really happy with how it turned out."The US topped the medal table at the start of the day and their latest success consolidated their lead heading into the final day of the championships. "It's great to be racing with my team-mates," said Alexy. "The world record was in the back of our minds."Walsh blocks out criticism of US team's performanceGretchen Walsh admits she struggles to understand the flak being directed at the US team over their performance at the world championships in Singapore and said the swimmers have been competing under extremely difficult circumstances.The US team were hit by an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis during a training camp in Thailand just before the championships, with several swimmers travelling late to Singapore and other having to pull out of events. On Friday, six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte shared an image on social media of a tombstone with the inscription: "In loving memory of United States Swimming. They set the bar high -- until they stopped reaching for it."He also added a caption referencing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, saying: "Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We've got 3 years."US swimming great Michael Phelps then shared Lochte's post and added: "Is this the wake-up call USA swimming needed?"Asked about the criticism Walsh, who won the 50 metres butterfly title to add to her 100 crown in Singapore, said she was trying to ignore it. "I was made aware, and it's frustrating, but I think that personally, I am just trying to block it out and take on the meet with everything I can and just show up and race like I know how... I think we've been dealing with a lot so it's hard to get the criticism in the first place because I don't think people quite understand the magnitude of everything going on behind the scenes. But showing up, giving my best, and coming out a world champion twice now has been everything, and I'm just happy to keep doing it and happy that I'm feeling like myself again in the water."The US top the medal standings with eight golds, one ahead of rivals Australia with one final day of competition to come. The US have won only one individual gold in the men's events, Luca Urlando claiming the 200 butterfly title.Jack Alexy, who was part of the team that won the mixed 4x100 mixed freestyle gold in a world record time, said US athletes were always held to the highest of standards. "It's definitely fuel to the fire for the next couple years," added Alexy, who also has a silver and two bronze medals from his events in Singapore."And the theme going into this meet was setting off the tone right for LA 2028. So I think we're continuing to do a better job at that, especially after tonight, and I'm really excited for the future."

Katie Ledecky showed she is still the gold standard in the 800 metres freestyle after ending Summer McIntosh's bid for five individual titles while fending off Australian surprise package Lani Pallister at the world championships Saturday.American Ledecky had to fight all the way in a thrilling three-way battle to secure her seventh world title in the event and 23rd overall in a time of 8:05.62 at the Singapore pool. With three gold medals in the bag and grinding through a huge programme, McIntosh mounted a brave challenge and took the lead with 100 metres to go as fans roared in the stands.But Ledecky found another gear to snatch back the lead then rode home with the gallant Pallister (8:05.98) pushing her to the finish. "I kind of figured it was going to be more than just Summer," said Ledecky. "Definitely the fastest field in the 800 ever ... I'm happy I could come out on top."McIntosh, who finished 1.67 seconds behind Ledecky, had hoped to match Michael Phelps's feat of winning five individual gold medals at a single world championships. But the 18-year-old Canadian can finish off a brilliant campaign with gold in the 400 individual medley (IM) on the final day today.While McIntosh may one day be held in the same esteem as nine-times Olympic gold medallist Ledecky, Australia's Kaylee McKeown has already cemented her place as the greatest backstroker in women's swimming.The only woman to win back-to-back Olympic 100 and 200 backstroke golds, McKeown completed another double in Singapore with an emphatic win in the 200. Once again it was American Regan Smith looking to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian dominator clocked 2:03.33, the third fastest swim of all time.It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100 and 200 at the Paris Olympics and again in the 100 in Singapore. Just like in Paris, McKeown's win came straight after compatriot Cameron McEvoy stormed to his second 50 freestyle title in 21.14 seconds, becoming the oldest Australian world champion at the age of 31.Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago. Leon Marchand and his 200 IM world record was one of the biggest headlines from the Singapore meet but another Frenchman grabbed the spotlight.Maxime Grousset rocketed to his second 100 butterfly world title in 49.62, beating Swiss Noe Ponti and recording the third quickest swim of all-time in the event. Only American world record holder Caeleb Dressel (49.45) has gone faster.It was Grousset's second butterfly title in Singapore, having also beaten Ponti for the 50 on day two. Gretchen Walsh kept the U.S. team medal haul ticking upwards with a dominant victory in the 50 butterfly, adding to her 100 title in Singapore.Touching the wall in 24.83 seconds, Walsh was nearly half a second better than runner-up Alex Perkins, who set an Australian record of 25.31. There was more cheer for the United States as Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske combined to win the non-Olympic mixed 4x100 freestyle gold in a world record time of 3:18.83, shaving nearly half a second off Australia's mark from the event two years ago in Fukuoka (3:18.83).Apart from McIntosh's 400 IM title bid, there are seven other gold medals on offer in a packed programme on the final day. Marchand, the "French Phelps", will look to add the 400 IM title to his 200 IM gold, while German iron man Florian Wellbrock will gun for the 1,500 freestyle title to boost his bumper haul after sweeping the open water events.

Magnus Carlsen has won the inaugural Chess tournament at the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC 25), defeating Alireza Firouzja in a thrilling final series. Representing Team Liquid, Magnus Carlsen was able to secure a straight 2-0 series victory against Team Falcons' French star Firouzja.The Norwegian grandmaster entered EWC 25 as the favourite, and it was clear to see why. As for his Team Falcons opponent, Firouzja, while he had moments of brilliance, the gulf in class between the two in this series showed.Carlsen took the first set 3-1, before dominating the second set 3-1 once again to secure a 2-0 series victory.Carlsen’s win sees Team Liquid claim their first tournament victory at the Esports World Cup . The victory continues a great year for Carlsen, who won Champions Chess Tour to qualify for the EWC 25, as well as his seventh Norway title and the Grenke Freestyle Open with a perfect 9/9 score.“I am very happy, a little bit relieved as well. There was a point in the second set where I felt I let him back in the match for no reason. Overall, I’m happy with the way I played and the way I pressured him on the clock.A couple of times I rushed a little bit, but that comes with everything,” said Carlsen following his victory.“I think it’s been incredible. Not only playing, but watching the others,” he said. “It’s been an amazing show, unlike anything I’ve seen so far. It’s just been a joy. I hope this is a big part of the future of chess.I’m really thankful to EWC for believing in Chess, for Team Liquid for believing in me as well, and for making Team Falcons have to fight at least a little bit for the Club Championship.”Carlsen won the $250,000 prize and earned Team Liquid 1,000 Club Championship points. The win takes them to first place in the standings with a narrow 50-point lead over second place Team Falcons.Team Vitality now locks down third place, with Gen.G falling to fourth place, having lost the third place decider in Chess earlier in the day.Week four at the Esports World Cup 2025 continues until tomorrow with finals across Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile and Overwatch 2.Esports World Cup 2025 concludes with the New Global Sport Conference, the leading B2B event for decision-makers across gaming, esports, sport and entertainment.Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh from August 23-24, the event aims to foster dialogue, drive collaboration, and shape the future of competitive entertainment.

A crestfallen Lewis Hamilton declared himself "useless" after qualifying in 12th position for the Hungarian Grand Prix Saturday as Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surged to pole position.Seven-time world champion Hamilton exited the session in Q2 with his head down and his helmet on as the 40-year-old retreated to the team's motor home. "I'm useless," said the British driver. "Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You've seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver."But he was backed to bounce back by four-time champion Max Verstappen who himself ranted about his Red Bull car and team after struggling to line up eighth on the grid. "Looking at the whole weekend, I think we're happy to be in Q3 because I've been more outside the top 10 than in it – so, yeah, it's been difficult this whole weekend," said the Dutch driver. "No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying so, for me, it was not really a shock. I just drove to what I already feel the whole weekend."The 27-year-old Dutchman added that Red Bull – who had left a towel in his cockpit during a pitstop on Friday which led him to throw it out of the car, 24 hours after he had declared he was staying for 2026 – did not yet understand the problems with the car. "No, clearly not," he said. "I mean, otherwise, of course, we would have changed it already, but somehow, this weekend, nothing seems to work."Last year, Verstappen said he had been quick enough to challenge for pole, but this season, "from lap one, it just felt off – and we threw the car around a lot and nothing really gave a direction. Now, it's just nothing works. You know, it's like just going around in circles and nothing gives you any kind of idea of what to do."Looking ahead to today's race, he said: "There may be a few cars in front of me that I can maybe battle with a little bit and, of course, Lewis is still a bit further down the road which, I think, he shouldn't be there right? So, he will come through a bit."The two multiple champions, who battled so intensely in 2021 when Verstappen claimed his first title after a controversial victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, appear to have found a rapprochement and mutual respect. But Hamilton's heart-on-sleeve vulnerability as he seeks his first Ferrari podium after 13 races this year may soon become a sad ending story if he cannot sort out his qualifying woes. As the record-holder of nine poles and a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, he has to produce a rousing reminder of his best racing days today, as Verstappen expects.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min said on Saturday that he will leave the club this summer after a decade in north London.The 33-year-old attacker joined the Premier League side from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and went on to play more than 450 times for Spurs.In May he lifted the Europa League trophy but he had a poor season overall by his high standards and struggled with a series of leg injuries."Before we start the press conference I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer," the South Korean told reporters in Seoul, where Tottenham are on a pre-season tour."Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision."Son, who has scored 173 goals for Spurs, did not say where he intends to go next and cut an emotional figure.He has been linked with a move to the MLS in the United States."It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision," Son said, flanked by new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank."I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change -- 10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age."I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man."Speaking in Korean, Son said that winning a European trophy -- Tottenham's first European crown in 41 years -- played "a big part" in his thinking."Winning a title in Europe felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could," he said."I spent a lot of time reflecting on whether I wanted to experience football in a different environment, and I had those conversations with myself over and over again."Frank, who joined Spurs from Brentford in June, paid tribute to the South Korean skipper."For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player," said the Dane, who took over from the sacked Ange Postecoglou."He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League."Spurs will face Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul, and Son is guaranteed a rapturous reception in front of his home fans.Spurs have had a fairly quiet summer in the transfer market so far, with attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus from West Ham their only major acquisition.Morgan Gibbs-White had looked set to follow from Nottingham Forest but a £60 million move broke down.

Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri accepted Thursday that the title race was now effectively between him and McLaren teammate Lando Norris.The Australian leads Norris by 16 points ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the sport’s August break. Red Bull’s four-times champion Max Verstappen is third overall, a hefty 81 points off the lead with 11 races remaining – a seemingly insurmountable margin given McLaren’s current dominance.“I suppose so,” Piastri told reporters when asked if it was now a two-horse race. Previously he and Norris, as well as McLaren bosses, have said it was too early to talk of such domination but the evidence is becoming hard to play down now. “Every weekend now, or the last few weekends anyway, it has been Lando and I. I expect our competition to still be strong and put up a good fight, especially at certain tracks through the rest of the year,” said Piastri.“Whether that comes from Max or Ferrari or Mercedes or someone else, we never really know. I’m not too concerned about what happens in that. I’m just trying to win each race and extend the lead.”Piastri took his first win in Formula One at the Hungaroring last year, while Norris was on pole.McLaren have had six one-two finishes in 13 races, with Piastri winning six times so far and Norris four. Verstappen has had two victories. The team have scored 516 points and are already a mighty 268 points clear of second-placed Ferrari.“Hungary has been historically a good track for us as a team, certainly the two years I’ve been with the team. I expect us to be strong again this weekend,” said Piastri.The 24-year-old said he had full confidence in himself to come out on top by the end of the year.“Not every weekend has been perfect, but there’s not many weekends in my whole life that have been perfect,” he said.“Just trying to put together a solid, consistent year is ultimately going to be important. The pace in the last few weekends, especially Spa, I’ve been very confident in and very proud of.“I’m more than capable of continuing that for the rest of the year. I’m confident that I can do it, but it’s not going to be easy.”

Daryl Mitchell hit 80 as New Zealand took a first innings lead of 158 runs before claiming two late wickets on the second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club Thursday.Zimbabwe were 31 for two at the close, still 127 runs short of making New Zealand bat again.It was a disappointing end to the day for the home side, who fought back strongly before Mitchell re-asserted New Zealand’s control.“It’s nice to get a lead on a challenging surface which is going up and down a bit. A couple of wickets tonight tops it off,” said Mitchell.Mitchell said the nature of the Queens club pitch had surprised the New Zealanders with its tennis ball-type bounce. He said Zimbabwe’s fast bowlers, Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga had “bowled really well”.Fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga extracted pace and bounce from the pitch as New Zealand slipped from their overnight 92 for no wicket to 233 for seven in reply to Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 149.Muzarabani had Will Young caught at short leg for 41 off the first ball of the day and followed up with two more wickets to finish with three for 73. Chivanga (two for 51) dismissed top-scorer Devon Conway (88) and Tom Blundell in successive overs as Zimbabwe entertained hopes of restricting New Zealand’s lead to around 100.But Nathan Smith provided dogged support for Mitchell as the pair batted through until tea and then saw off the second new ball.The pair added 61 runs before Smith was forced to retire hurt with an abdominal injury after scoring 22 off 79 balls. Smith did not field when Zimbabwe started their second innings, which suggested the injury could prevent him from bowling today.“We were just trying to take it ball by ball and over by over,” said Mitchell. “We recognised that runs on that surface are going to be pretty valuable at the back end of the game. I thought the way he (Smith) gutsed it out was awesome. The injury was niggly but the way he hung in there and stuck it out for a few overs, he should be very proud.”Mitchell was last man out after facing 119 balls and hitting five fours and a six.Faced with just under an hour to bat until the close, Zimbabwe made a promising start, with Brian Bennett and Ben Curran putting on 25 for the first wicket. But Matt Henry, who took six for 39 in the first innings, made the breakthrough with a bouncer to Curran (11) which the left-hander top-edged to fine leg.Five balls later Will O’Rourke had Bennett caught behind for 18, leaving Zimbabwe with a massive task if they are to take the match into a fourth day, let alone avoiding their seventh defeat in nine Test matches since last December.Brief scores: Zimbabwe 149 and 31-2.New Zealand 307 (W. Young 41, D. Conway 88, H. Nicholls 34, D. Mitchell 80; B. Muzarabani 3-73, T. Chivanga 2-51)Match situation: Zimbabwe trail by 127 runs with eight wickets remaining in the second innings.

Recalled fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue did the damage as India struggled to 204-6 at stumps on Thursday’s opening day of their series decider against England at the Oval.Atkinson took 2-31 in 19 overs on his Surrey home ground and also ran out India captain Shubman Gill. The repeatedly wayward Tongue produced two superb deliveries on his way to 2-47 in 13 overs in a match India must win to tie the five-Test series 2-2.The returning Karun Nair, dropped after India’s defeat in the third Test at Lord’s, top-scored with 52 not out.Washington Sundar, fresh from a maiden Test hundred in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, was unbeaten on 19.“It was a good day,” Atkinson told the BBC. “There was pressure on the bowling side with the (helpful) conditions that were overhead. We didn’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.”It was no surprise when Ollie Pope, leading England in place of injured skipper Ben Stokes, elected to bowl in overcast conditions on a green-tinged pitch after winning the toss.Atkinson, one of four changes to the England team, soon had left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for two on review. Veteran seamer Chris Woakes then had Jaiswal’s opening partner KL Rahul, who has scored more than 500 runs the series, playing on for 14, trying to cut a ball that was too close to him.Rahul’s exit brought Gill, who has already scored four hundreds in a prolific debut campaign as captain, to the crease, with India struggling on 38-2.The skipper needed just 53 more runs to overhaul Sunil Gavaskar’s mark for the most runs scored by an India batsman in a Test series of 774 – set by the “Little Master” against the West Indies in 1971.But on 21 he set off for a single that was never on with Atkinson, following through, throwing down the stumps. Gill, halfway down the pitch, slipped as he tried to turn back to safety.India were 85-3 when rain stopped play for a second time.Not long after play resumed, Sai Sudharsan, who worked hard for his 38 off 108 balls, was undone by a late-moving Tongue delivery from around the wicket as he edged to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, one of four Surrey players in the team. Ravindra Jadeja had proved a thorn in England’s side with a defiant hundred in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.But one ball after upper-cutting Tongue for a boundary, he fell for just nine, in similar fashion to Sudharsan, as he edged an excellent ball to Smith. Dhruv Jurel, in for injured wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, was caught at second slip by Harry Brook off the bowling of local hero Atkinson for 19 as India slumped to 153-6.There was a worrying moment for England late on when Woakes left the field after suffering a shoulder injury while diving in a desperate attempt to save a boundary – an injury that threatens to rule him out of the rest of the match.“It doesn’t look great. I will be surprised if he takes any further part in the game,” said Atkinson.An England spokesman said Woakes would be assessed overnight, with a further update on his fitness due today.A schedule of five Tests in less than seven weeks has taken its toll, with India also making four changes to their team as paceman Jasprit Bumrah, who hurt his back earlier this year, was left out.Team bosses had previously announced Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, would only feature in three games during the current series – a figure he reached in Manchester.ScoreboardIndia 1st InningsY. Jaiswal lbw b Atkinson 2KL Rahul b Woakes 14S. Sudharsan c Smith b Tongue 38S. Gill run out (Atkinson) 21K. Nair not out 52R. Jadeja c Smith b Tongue 9D. Jurel c Brook b Atkinson 19W. Sundar not out 19Extras (b4, lb6, nb4, w16) 30Total (6 wkts, 64 overs, 301 mins) 204Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Jaiswal), 2-38 (Rahul), 3-83 (Gill), 4-101 (Sudharsan), 5-123 (Jadeja), 6-153 (Jurel)Bowling: Woakes 14-1-46-1; Atkinson 19-7-31-2 (4nb, 1w); Tongue 13-3-47-2 (4w); Overton 16-0-66-0 (2w); Bethell 2-1-4-0.

Second-seeded Taylor Fritz struggled with three rain delays and a stubborn Spanish opponent on Wednesday, pulling out a tight 7-5, 7-6 (7/1) win over Roberto Carballes Baena at the ATP Toronto Masters.The second-round match was halted repeatedly by light rain, with the final 18-minute pause coming just as the second-set tiebreaker was about to start.But Fritz, winner of Stuttgart and Eastbourne titles this season, quickly sprinted to victory before heavier rains were expected to set in.The American was far from pleased with a win which was marred by 45 unforced errors and confessed that he has not yet felt on his game in Canada."Even in practice I'm having a hard time putting the ball into the court," he said. "But I'm happy to get through this one."Everything is not feeling great, it's tough to control the ball."Since I've been here it's been absolutely brutal. But I have another match to figure it out and hopefully I can play myself into the tournament."Fritz's fourth-seeded compatriot Ben Shelton had no complaints after earning his first career win over gritty Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3.Shelton had dropped two prior meetings with 37-year-old qualifier Mannarino but said he was able to vary his serve to get over the line this time."This win was huge for me. He's a shotmaker, he can take the racquet out of your hands," Shelton said. "I've played well against him in the past and come up short, he can make things really difficult."- Tiafoe hangs on -American Frances Tiafoe squeezed out a win after more than two and a quarter hours against Japan's Yosuke Watanuki, hailing his opponent's fighting spirit after a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) triumph."He can hit a winner on any shot," Tiafoe said. "I needed some luck in those last two sets to win."Tiafoe managed just 19 winners to the 45 of his 158th-ranked foe, but now lines up against Australian Alexsandar Vukic, who defeated Briton Cam Norrie 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.Andrey Rublev, runner-up in Canada a year ago to Alexei Popyrin, won his 250th career match on hardcourt as he beat France's Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-3.The sixth seed needed four match points to advance after 86 minutes and now plays Italian Lorenzo Sonego, a 6-1, 6-4 winner over China's Bu Yunchaokete.Wimbledon quarter-finalist Flavio Cobolli of Italy delivered four aces in the final game of a rain-interrupted match to clinch a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Canadian Alexis Galarneau.But Canadian Gabriel Diallo came out on top against his Italian opponent, beating Matteo Gigante 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to next face Fritz.Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime suffered another early disappointment, losing his opening match in his home Masters for a third straight year as he fell to Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-4.Former top 10 ranking regular Stefanos Tsitsipas, now 30th in the world, continued a downward slide with a 6-4. 4-6, 6-2 loss to Australian Christopher O'Connell.Alex de Minaur, winner in Washington on Sunday, defeated Francisco Comesana 6-4, 6-2."It was not pretty by any means," Australia's de Minaur said. "The wind and rain made it quite tough. I'm happy I was engaged and focused from the first point to the last."Backing up a good week is the toughest ask in tennis. You don't have a lot of time to enjoy the moment after a week of emotional highs."You have to find a way to re-set and do it all over again."

Swimming is a sport well used to talented teenagers, but Yu Zidi's participation aged 12 at the world championships has sparked debate about how young is too young. The prodigious Chinese schoolgirl is not just making up the numbers at the event in Singapore this week.Yu qualified for Monday's final of the 200m individual medley and came fourth, missing out on a remarkable medal by just 0.06sec in what is not considered her strongest event. The race was won by Canada's Summer McIntosh – she competed at the Tokyo Olympics as a 14-year-old and last summer in Paris won three golds at age 17.Yu was at it again on Wednesday in Singapore, racing alongside comparative veteran McIntosh to reach the finals of the 200m butterfly. Yu, who turns 13 in October, will also race in the 400m medley later this week. The Chinese prodigy, who discovered swimming aged six as a way to cool off in China's roasting summers, has drawn historical comparisons to Inge Sorensen.At 12, the Dane was the youngest-ever winner of an Olympic swimming medal after her bronze at the Berlin Games of 1936. More recently, there was Bahrain's Alzain Tareq, who was 10 when she competed at the swimming world championships in Kazan, Russia, in 2015. Unlike Yu, however, she never came close to a medal. Asked this week if she was a "genius", Yu replied: "No, not really. It's all the result of hard training."While Yu's performances have been impressive and could well yield a medal, not everyone thinks she should be competing in Singapore. Some in the sport have raised questions about the impact on Yu mentally and physically of high-level training and competing at an age when she is still developing as a person.Under current World Aquatics rules, the minimum age is 14 but younger swimmers can compete at the championships if – like Yu – they are fast enough. Christian Hansmann, sports director of German swimming, called her participation in Singapore "questionable"."Putting a girl of 12 in front of a world championship crowd of 5,000 spectators, with the high pressure from the media and the coaches, is far too early in my opinion," said Hansmann, who has children of a similar age.French swimmer Lilou Ressencourt admitted it "pisses me off to be beaten by a girl 10 years younger than me" and said she was surprised by how fast Yu is at such a young age. She too fears for Yu's physical and mental well-being. "I'm 22 and handling world championships, even French championships, can be difficult," Ressencourt said. "I tell myself that at 12, you have a heavy responsibility... it's not normal at 12 to have that kind of pressure."Yu's presence in Singapore could force a rethink of the rules at World Aquatics, the sport's governing body. Executive director Brent Nowicki admitted they had been surprised that someone as young as Yu had been fast enough to qualify. Nowicki said World Aquatics "feel quite good about where we are with our safeguarding approach in our sport", but admitted that Yu could force a re-evaluation of its rules."She's great. I mean, there's a big future there for her. Hopefully there could be good things that could happen out of this, and it could be great," he said. But he added: "Obviously we have to make sure that that's what it is, right? We don't want to tip that balance and go the other way, and we have to be careful about that."Many other sports have wrestled with the same age issue. In 2022, ice skating's governing body voted to raise the minimum age for senior competition from 15 to 17, months after an Olympics drug scandal involving Russian teenager Kamila Valieva.Katarina Witt, who was 18 when she won Olympic skating gold at the 1984 Sarajevo Games for East Germany, said the change was "primarily protecting the female athletes from their sometimes over-ambitious managers".

Manchester United made it two wins out of two with a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series pre-season tournament in Chicago on Wednesday.Goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo and teenager Ethan Williams sealed an encouraging result for Ruben Amorim's side at a rainy, windswept Soldier Field. United, who had opened their tour with a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday, were always in control against the Cherries, taking the lead after just eight minutes through Hojlund.Dorgu curled in an inviting cross from the left flank and Denmark international team-mate Hojlund timed his run and jump to perfection to glance a header past Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Dorgu then doubled United's lead in the 25th minute, latching on to a clever, lofted quick free-kick from Mason Mount, muscling his way into the area and sliding a cool finish beneath the advancing Petrovic.Diallo bundled in United's third in the 53rd minute before Amorim made nine changes with 20 minutes to go. Substitute Williams needed just two minutes to make an impact curling a low finish into the bottom corner to put United 4-0 up. The only blemish on United's performance came with an 88th-minute own goal from Matthijs de Ligt.In Wednesday's other Premier League friendly in Chicago, West Ham came from behind to beat former manager David Moyes's Everton 2-1. Idrissa Gueye put Everton 1-0 up after 17 minutes before West Ham recovered to equalise through Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta just before half-time. Germany international Niclas Fullkrug's 64th-minute strike sealed the Hammers' win.The result was another disappointing pre-season setback for Everton, who were soundly beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth on Saturday. "I'm not overly concerned because I don't have the players which I need and what I want," Everton boss Moyes said afterward. "We knew before we came (to the US) we were going to be really up against it. So, it was never going to be us coming here and winning. At the moment we're not ready to perform well enough in this tournament, and we're not ready to start the Premier League season."The four-team competition concludes in Atlanta on Sunday, with United facing Everton and West Ham taking on Bournemouth.

Summer McIntosh came within a whisker of breaking a long-standing world record and Leon Marchand failed to improve on a new mark he set just a night earlier, but both young guns won gold medals at the world championships in Singapore.Romania's David Popovici also flirted with a record on day five at the World Aquatics Championships Arena, the 20-year-old claiming a thrilling 100 metres freestyle gold to go with his 200 crown on day three. The 200 butterfly world record of 2:01.81 set by China's Liu Zige in 2009 is the last surviving mark from the supersuit era in women's swimming – and McIntosh all but took it down.She stormed to her third individual gold medal of the meet in 2:01.99, the second-fastest swim of all time and a yawning three seconds better than American silver medallist Regan Smith. Having made the last turn under world record pace the Canadian 18-year-old flagged slightly coming home and shouted an expletive when she spied the clock. "I know that I messed up the last 15 metres of my race," she said. "Overall, happy with the time and a PB, but I didn't reach my goal tonight."China's 12-year-old marvel Yu Zidi finished just off the podium again having also placed fourth in the 200 IM. McIntosh might console herself in the knowledge that her bid for five individual titles remains intact, with the 400 IM and a hugely anticipated showdown with American great Katie Ledecky in the 800 freestyle still to come.Only Michael Phelps has won five individual golds at a world championships. Marchand, dubbed the "French Phelps", celebrated a world record on Wednesday when he blitzed the long-standing 200 IM mark of Ryan Lochte with an incredible swim of 1:52.69 in the semi-finals.With victory seemingly assured in the final the only suspense was whether Marchand might reset his world record from the previous night but he ended up nearly a second short, with a time of 1:53.68. It was still the second fastest swim ever and led to a dominant win by 0.62 seconds ahead of American Shaine Casas and Hungarian Hubert Kos. Marchand said the record may have taken a bit out of him but he was hardly complaining. "I felt so excited Thursday that I couldn’t sleep," he said. "So I think I lost a lot of energy Thursday night, but it was my goal to break the record, so I was really happy with it."Popovici then emerged the winner of a sensational men's 100 freestyle final, clocking 46.51 to give Pan Zhanle's world record (46.40) a big scare. American runner-up Jack Alexy also broke the 47-second barrier (46.92), while Paris Games silver medallist Kyle Chalmers took the bronze for Australia.At 20, 200 Olympic champion Popovici has already completed the 100-200 sweep twice at world championships, having done the double at Budapest three years ago. The relaxed Romanian said he had reached a higher plain; no longer worried about winning or losing. "I just feel very relieved that this huge pressure of being afraid of winning or losing is off me," he said. "I don't mean it in an arrogant way, I mean it in a self-maturing way."The United States celebrated a fourth gold in the meet as Katharine Berkoff won the 50 backstroke in 27.08 seconds, edging compatriot Smith. In the finale of programme, Australia's women clinched a second relay gold as Mollie O'Callaghan held off Ledecky in a thrilling final leg to guide her 4x200 freestyle relay team over the finish line.Australia also won the men's and women's 4x100 freestyle golds on Sunday. O'Callaghan, whose 11th gold tied her with Ian Thorpe as the most successful Australian at the world championships, will now look to add the 100 freestyle title to her 200 crown on Friday. Medals will also be decided in the men's 200 breaststroke, 200 backstroke and 4x200 freestyle relay, as well as the women's 200 breaststroke.

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, the club announced. The Brazil international was charged with four alleged breaches of Football Association (FA) rules in relation to matches involving the Premier League side.It was alleged the 27-year-old directly sought to influence games by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the "improper purpose of affecting the betting market".The four charges against Paqueta related to a game against Leicester in November 2022 and matches against Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth in 2023. He was facing the prospect of a lifetime ban if found guilty. The Brazilian denied the charges and the independent regulatory commission found them not proven following a hearing.The FA said two charges against Paqueta, related to a failure to cooperate with its investigation, had been found proven. It said a commission would decide on an appropriate sanction for those proven breaches "at the earliest opportunity".The Brazilian, who joined West Ham in 2022, said in a club statement that he had always maintained his "innocence against these extremely serious accusations". "I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face," he said. "To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me."West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady said: "We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process."Alastair Campbell, a partner at the law firm Level and the head of Paqueta's legal team, said: "Few cases carry the gravity of this one – professionally, personally and emotionally for our client. Lucas has faced down immense pressure with remarkable strength and resilience."The FA said it was awaiting the written reasons from the independent commission in relation to its decision on the charges, and would not be commenting further until that time. Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali was given a suspended two-month ban in May last year over breaches of betting rules. It came as the Italian international was serving a 10-month ban handed down by the Italian authorities for betting offences.

Pape Matar Sarr scored from the halfway line as Tottenham punished a shaky performance by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to win the first north London derby staged outside the UK 1-0 Thursday.Raya, who had already been caught in no-man's land twice as inswinging corners hit the post, was at fault again in the 45th minute when Sarr robbed Myles Lewis-Skelly just inside the Arsenal half. The Spurs midfielder looked up, saw Raya stranded way outside his penalty area and let fly to score in outrageous fashion from 50 yards out."It was fantastic, fantastic. Well taken," said new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank of the goal. "And all the credit to Papa. He's impressed me, I must admit he's been really good in the last four weeks."Nominally a pre-season "friendly", there was no love lost on the pitch between the bitter rivals. Tackles flew in and tempers frayed in a fiercely contested clash in front of a 49,975 sellout crowd under the roof in the air-conditioned Kai Tak Stadium.Sarr's screamer gave Frank the north London bragging rights, at least until the pair clash again in the Premier League on November 22 at the Emirates stadium. "This was not a friendly," said Frank. "It felt like a competitive match. I think if you saw it, it was competitive and if you played it was very competitive."Arsenal started the stronger but it was Tottenham who hit the woodwork three times in a frantic first half and deserved their lead at the break. Arsenal laid siege to the Tottenham goal at the start of the second half, but Frank had his defence well-drilled and the Gunners found it hard to break through.Gabriel Martinelli did manage to find an opening on 58 minutes but shot wastefully over from 14 yards. Arsenal brought on new signing Martin Zubimendi, who almost scored with his first touch when his shot was deflected over the bar.A huge cheer went up when Son Heung-min was introduced by Tottenham in the 75th minute. It was followed by an even bigger ovation when new striker Viktor Gyokeres also came off the bench for his Arsenal debut with 13 minutes to go. The Swedish striker, sporting the number 14 shirt made famous by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, was signed for $67mn six days ago and has trained only twice with his new teammates.He made some darting runs as Arsenal pressed for a late equaliser, but only managed two touches. Defender Cristhian Mosquera also came on late for his first appearance and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with what he saw from his two newest recruits. "Really happy, obviously, to have them here," Arteta told reporters. "They're going to add a lot of energy and quality."Tottenham now fly on to South Korea to face Newcastle United on Sunday while Arsenal head home after three Asian tour matches. "Everything that I've seen in the last 10 days gives me a lot of encouragement," added Arteta, who took positives from the performance despite losing. "We are ahead of what I was expecting in many areas."

Leon Marchand smashed the 200m individual medley world record in Singapore Wednesday with another breathtaking swim while Australia and the United States celebrated more gold. Racing in the semi-finals at the world championships, the Frenchman clocked 1min 52.69sec to wipe more than a second off the previous record of 1:54.00 set by Ryan Lochte in 2011.Marchand beat Michael Phelps’s long-standing 400m medley record at the world championships in Japan two years ago. “Actually I can’t believe it right now,” said Marchand, who won four individual golds in front of his home fans at the Paris Olympics a year ago and was the face of the Games. “I knew I was going to be close to my PB (personal best) because I felt really good today and preparation has been pretty good. But 1:52 is unbelievable for me.”Marchand, 23, took an extended break from swimming after Paris and only returned to competition in May. He is focusing on the individual medley events in Singapore and had said he was gunning for Lochte’s record.Marchand got his world championships campaign under way on Wednesday morning, clocking a time of 1:57.63 in the heats. He said he would go all-out for the record in the semi-finals rather than conserve his energy for today’s final.In yesterday’s finals, Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi won the 800m freestyle thanks to a perfectly timed attack. Jaouadi made his move midway through the race and eased away to touch the wall in 7min 36.88sec, ahead of German pair Sven Schwarz (7:39.96) and 400m champion Lukas Maertens (7:40.19). Jaouadi, who finished fourth at last year’s Paris Olympics, clocked the third-fastest time ever. “At some point I saw that the rhythm wasn’t that fast so I decided to just go and make the move,” said the 20-year-old. Ireland’s Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen finished last.Australia’s Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan was just as emphatic in romping to victory in the women’s 200m freestyle in 1:53.48. Second was China’s Li Bingjie (1:54.52) and third Claire Weinstein of the United States (1:54.67).O’Callaghan said it had been a “whirlwind”. Since winning gold at the Paris Games, O’Callaghan has been injured and had some badly needed time to recharge. She has spoken about struggling to live up to the hype since Paris. “I know it’s been hard for a lot of people to come back after the Olympics but very grateful to have a good support team behind me to get me through this mentally and physically,” said the 21-year-old.Luca Urlando of the United States celebrated the biggest title of his career with gold in the 200m butterfly in 1:51.87. Italy’s Simone Cerasuolo pipped Russian Kirill Prigoda to 50m breaststroke gold, touching home in 26.54sec.A “neutral athletes” team made up of Russian swimmers won the mixed 4x100m medley relay, finishing ahead of China and Canada. After four days of the championships, Australia lead the medals table with four golds, with the United States on three and Germany and Canada two.Summer McIntosh of Canada will be looking to make it three golds for herself in as many races today when she goes in the 200m butterfly. Also in the final is China’s 12-year-old schoolgirl Yu Zidi, as she attempts to bag a historic medal on her debut competition on the world stage.

Bayern Munich Wednesday signed forward Luis Diaz from Premier League champions Liverpool for a fee that could reportedly rise to 75mn euros ($86.5mn). The Colombian winger, who won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield, has signed a contract with the Bundesliga champions until 2029.The fee paid for Diaz, which includes add-ons, is the third-highest in Bayern's history. Diaz, 28, said in a statement on the club's website that he was he was "very happy" to be joining the 34-time German champions. "It means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern," he said. "They're one of the biggest clubs in the world. I want to help my new team with my way of playing football and my character. "My goal is to win every possible title, and that's what we'll work for every day as a team."Writing on Instagram, Diaz said he would "treasure forever" his time at Liverpool, adding he was "proud of everything we achieved together". He mentioned his late teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain earlier this month. "I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo (Jota). I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything."Portugal forward Jota showed his support for Diaz when the Colombian's father was kidnapped in October 2023, holding up a shirt bearing his teammate's name after scoring a goal. Diaz's father was snatched by rebels in his hometown of Barrancas and held hostage for 12 days, before being released unharmed.The winger made 50 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists as Arne Slot's team clinched the English league title for a record-equalling 20th time. Diaz, who arrived at Anfield from Porto in January 2022, was the club's second-leading goalscorer in the Premier League behind Mohamed Salah, scoring 13 times.His arrival gives Bayern a quality replacement for Germany forward Jamal Musiala, who has been ruled out for a "long period" after he suffered a broken leg at the recent Club World Cup. Bayern needed extra firepower after veteran Thomas Mueller left the club and Leroy Sane moved to Galatasaray."Luis creates a real goal threat and is a scorer, who at the same time works incredibly hard for his team," said Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund. "He's quick, a versatile footballer and brings an intense style of play to the game. He's also gained a lot of experience at the top level with Liverpool and the Colombian national team. Luis Diaz represents a complete package that will thrill our fans."The only two bigger transfer fees paid by Bayern were 95mn euros for England captain Harry Kane in 2023 and 80mn for French international Lucas Hernandez in 2019. Diaz will train with his new teammates and coach Vincent Kompany for the first time in Munich on Wednesday and could face French side Lyon in a friendly this weekend.

The calendar for the 2026 MotoGP World Championship was officially unveiled last week, confirming a 22-round season that will span five continents with Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit hosting the fourth round of the championship from April 10-12.The campaign marks the 78th edition of the world’s premier motorcycle racing championship and will begin at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, before concluding at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain with a notable highlight of the new calendar being the return of the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Goiania hosting the second round in what promises to be a landmark event for the South American region.In the Middle East, Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is once again confirmed as a key venue, with the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar 2026 marking Lusail’s 22nd year hosting a round of the MotoGP World Championship since its debut on the calendar in 2004.Over two decades, the circuit has become a globally recognised fixture in the sport, known for staging the only full night race of the season and providing a unique backdrop for high-level competition under its iconic lights. In line with the championship’s current format, the Grand Prix of Qatar will include a Sprint Race on Saturday, adding a second layer of competitive action to the weekend and contributing critical points to the riders’ standings.Lusail International Circuit remains a cornerstone of MotoGP’s global footprint, consistently upholding Qatar’s position at the forefront of international motorsport with the previous edition (2025) of the Grand Prix Of Qatar delivering a memorable night of racing showcasing Marc Marquez’s victory for the Ducati Lenovo Team, followed by teammate Francesco Bagnaia and Franco Morbidelli securing third place for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.Further details regarding tickets, hospitality packages, and fan experiences for the Grand Prix of Qatar 2026 will be announced in due course. For official information and updates, visit lcsc.qa or follow Lusail Circuit on social media.

Viktor Gyokeres could make his Arsenal debut in the cauldron of a north London derby this week in front of 50,000 Hong Kong fans, manager Mikel Arteta said Wednesday.The $67mn Swedish striker came through an open training session at Kai Tak stadium, where Arsenal will take on Tottenham today in the bitter rivals' first clash outside of the UK.Gyokeres joined up with Arsenal on their Asia tour only three days ago, after signing from Sporting Lisbon, but will get some time on the pitch if the club medical team think he is ready, said Arteta. He is playing fitness catch-up with his new teammates, though, who came through pre-season friendlies in Singapore last week against AC Milan and Newcastle."Yes, I understand he's only done today's session and yesterday, very little," Arteta told reporters. "We're going to assess tonight how he is, if the medical staff are happy as well with his condition to participate tomorrow night, it's a possibility. With the rest of the squad, everybody is OK."The 27-year-old Gyokeres fired Sporting to the Portuguese championship last season with 39 goals and made global headlines when he netted a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City. The striker, who has chosen to wear the number 14 shirt made famous by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side.He has joined Arsenal on a five-year deal which could cost the north London club up to $89mn with performance-related add-ons. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said he was excited to play with his fellow Scandinavian, Gyokeres, calling him "a very complete" player. "I think you've all seen what he's done in his career so far, especially the last season at Sporting, and the numbers speak for themselves," Norwegian international Odegaard said."You know, he's physical, strong, fast, good finisher and intelligent as well. So I think he's a very complete striker," said Odegaard. "Really excited to have him with the team. And he's only trained a few times, but you can already see the quality and the energy and the willingness."Gyokeres' arrival took Arsenal's close-season spending to around $267mn. They have also signed defender Cristhian Mosquera, midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, midfielder Christian Norgaard and forward Noni Madueke. Arteta was clearly pleased at the business the club has carried out in the transfer window so far, as he seeks to be the first Arsenal manager to win the Premier League since Arsene Wenger in the 2003/04 season. "I am extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we've been," said Arteta, who has finished runner-up in the Premier League for the past three seasons.Wednesday, Jurrien Timber was fit to take part in the session, there were two notable defensive absentees – Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes. With the rest, everybody’s going to be okay apart from big Gabi (Gabriel) who is still out and Riccy (Calafiori) — it’s probably going to be a bit too early for him tomorrow,” Arteta said.Defender Gabriel, who is coming back from hamstring surgery, played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford, but picked up an injury in the run-up to Arsenal’s friendly against Milan on July 23. In the Brazilian’s absence, Calafiori started both friendlies in Singapore as the left-sided centre-back. In the second, against Newcastle, he was substituted and disappeared straight down the tunnel for treatment on an injury. With Gabriel and Calafiori out, Jakub Kiwior is likely to start against Spurs as William Saliba’s central defensive partner.Arsenal fans will be a little concerned that they’ve yet to catch a glimpse of Gabriel in pre-season. The 27-year-old, who signed a new long-term contract this summer, has become an integral part of the team. His partnership with Saliba has been the bedrock of Arsenal’s defensive structure. In Gabriel’s absence, it has been interesting to see Arteta starting Calafiori ahead of Kiwior on tour. The Italian was ostensibly bought to play as a left-back, but has extensive experience as a left-sided centre-back.Calafiori’s issue has been staying fit. While the extent of Gabriel and Calafiori’s injuries remains unknown, it could present another opportunity for Kiwior to have a run in the team. The Poland international stepped in ably when Gabriel was ruled out in April, and barely put a foot wrong in big games such as the two-legged ties against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Al Shaqab Racing’s legendary Al Ghadeer clinched a historic third consecutive victory in the Group 1 Purebred Arabian contest landing the prestigious race for the third year in a row Wednesday, day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.With this triumph Al Ghadeer confirmed his status as the standard-setter of Purebred Arabian racing with another brilliant performance. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and HE Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan al-Thani received the Qatar International Stakes trophy from Saad bin Ali bin Saad al-Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism.Now a ten-time Group 1 (PA) winner, the six-year-old followed the same path as last two seasons, winning the Group 1 (PA) HH The Amir Sword in February before heading straight to Goodwood for this target, and once again, he delivered in style for Al Shaqab Racing, trainer Francois Rohaut and jockey Christophe Soumillon.With another commanding performance and a tenth Group 1 (PA) victory under his belt, Al Ghadeer continues to cement his reputation as one of the greatest Purebred Arabians of his generation.Held up at the back of the field behind Ch’Ezza, Al Ghadeer travelled with ease while others came under pressure entering the final straight. When he moved up to challenge, Ch’Ezza kicked again and briefly looked away, drifting right in the process. Soumillon, however, stayed composed, allowing Al Ghadeer to rebalance before launching his run.Once asked, the favourite cruised past and asserted comfortably to win by a length. Ch’Ezza, owned by Abdullah bin Fahad al-Attiyah and ridden by Lukas Delozier, stayed on gamely to claim second place while Djafar, representing owner Abubaker Sideek Abdullah Kadoura and partnered by Silvestre De Sousa, took third, finishing further five lengths behind.Both the second and the third are trained by Rohaut as well, making it a remarkable one-two-three for winning trainer, who dominated the podium in this prestigious Group 1.Rohaut said: "Not as easy as usual. Al Ghadeer is six now, but he’s still the best and he showed it today. He’ll have a race, probably run the Dragon before the Arc. He was so happy going down to the post. It’s better to run him than to train him. He may have three weeks holidays, but no more. Then the Amir Sword. And after, we’ll see. Probably it’s time for him to retire, maybe. And all the breeders want to see him, and he’ll be happy to change, to have a new job."Bred by Mohammed Al Najafi, Al Ghadeer is out of Gharraa (Matador 12), a dual Group 2 (PA) winner over 1900m and 2100m at six, and third in a Group 1 (PA) over 2000m at the same age. He is a half-brother to Ghurat Al Zaman (Hilal Al Zaman), a Group 2 (PA) winner over 2000m at five and Group 3 (PA) winner over 1600m at five.