Sports

Elina Svitolina set up a blockbuster rematch of the 2023 final at Melbourne Park by battling past American Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-6(7), as the Russian-born Kazakh ramped up her own quest for a second major title following her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.

Aryna Sabalenka swept to her fourth successive Australian Open final with a 6-2 6-3 win over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Thursday.

All-rounder Sophie Molineux will take over as Australia captain when Alyssa Healy retires at the end of the upcoming home series against India, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.

New Zealand has thumped India by 50 runs in the fourth Twenty20 International to earn their first win of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Real Madrid has missed out on automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds as they crumbled to a 4-2 defeat at Benfica on a frenetic final night of group-stage action across Europe on Wednesday.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner scorched American eighth seed Ben Shelton 6-3 6-4 6-4 and moved into the Australian Open semi-finals, setting up a blockbuster showdown with 10-times winner Novak Djokovic.

Jessica Pegula moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career on Wednesday, with a 6-2 7-6(1) win over fellow American and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova at Melbourne Park.

Novak Djokovic's quest for a record Grand Slam title continued in dramatic circumstances after fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti quit their Australian Open quarter-final match with an injury after taking a two-set lead at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

Jessica Pegula has moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career on Wednesday, with a 6-3 7-6(1) win over fellow American and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova at Melbourne Park.

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina has booked her place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a dominant second set display to hand six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek a 7-5 6-1 defeat at Melbourne Park.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has scored an unbeaten 86 to help his side to a nine-wicket win over the West Indies in the first Twenty20 of their three-match series at Boland Park on Tuesday.

Contrasting centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook powered England to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday to secure a 2-1 victory in their one-day international series.

Carlos Alcaraz charged into the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time in his career with a dominant 7-5 6-2 6-1 victory over local favourite Alex de Minaur on Tuesday, keeping his bid for a career Grand Slam alive at Melbourne Park.

Coco Gauff's bid for a third Grand Slam title went up in smoke at the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-2 defeat by Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Tuesday, after the third seed endured a nightmare on serve.

Dubai Basketball maintained full control of their ABA League campaign with a home win over FMP, taking the Round 16 game at the Coca-Cola Arena by a score of 98:82.

Germany's Alexander Zverev remained on track for a return to the Australian Open final after beating American Learner Tien 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 7-6(3) in the Melbourne Park quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Aryna Sabalenka has handed 18-year-old American Iva Jovic a comprehensive 6-3 6-0 defeat at a sweltering Melbourne Park on Tuesday to remain on course for a third Australian Open title in four years.

Brazil formally has told Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) it wants to host the 2029 Club World Cup, according to a report by ESPN.

Jannik Sinner swept aside concerns about his heat tolerance as he breezed to a 6-1 6-3 7-6(2) win over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi on Monday to reach his fourth Australian Open quarter-finals.

Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti produced an inspired display to ease past American Taylor Fritz 6-2 7-5 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time, setting up a meeting with 10-times champion Novak Djokovic.

Fourth seed Amanda Anisimova maintained her Grand Slam momentum by beating China's Wang Xinyu 7-6(4) 6-4 on Monday to reach her first Australian Open quarter-final, where she will face fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Jessica Pegula has knocked out defending champion Madison Keys at the Australian Open on Monday as the American sixth seed secured a dominant 6-3 6-4 victory to reach the quarter‑finals at Melbourne Park for the fourth time.

Arsenal will not be hitting the panic button but the Premier League title jitters are beginning to surface in north London as a 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United on Sunday left the door ajar to the chasers.

India has secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand after opener Abhishek Sharma's explosive unbeaten 68 off 20 balls set up a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in the third match in Guwahati on Sunday.

American golfer Patrick Reed has claimed victory at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the opening Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour, finishing 14 under par to win by four strokes.

American Learner Tien overcame a nosebleed in the opening set to school Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-0 6-3 at the Australian Open on Sunday and moved into the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his young career.

American third seed Coco Gauff weathered a three-set thriller to beat Karolina Muchova 6-1 3-6 6-3 and advance to the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday, extending her perfect record against the Czech player to five straight wins.

Carlos Alcaraz eased into his third successive Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday, doling out another Grand Slam beatdown for American Tommy Paul in a match disrupted by a medical emergency in the crowd.

England captain Harry Brook said the pitch used for Saturday's second one-day international against Sri Lanka was probably the worst he had ever played on despite their series-levelling victory in Colombo.

Aryna Sabalenka played tiebreak tyrant again as she fended off Canadian young gun Victoria Mboko 6-1 7-6(1) to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for a fourth time in succession.

Patrick Reed has stormed into a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic thanks to a brilliant 67 on Moving Day.

Viktor Hovland has admitted he was still unhappy with his swing despite a stunning 65 propelling himself into contention at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Bangladesh has been replaced by Scotland for next month's Twenty20 World Cup after the South Asian side refused to travel to co-hosts India, media reports said on Saturday citing sources within the sport's governing International Cricket Council.

Novak Djokovic has escaped the heat and doused Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) at the Australian Open on Saturday to reach the fourth round and add another line in the record book during his bid for a standalone 25th Grand Slam title.

Twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Grand Slam ahead of her scheduled third round match on Saturday due to an abdominal injury.

Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka has bowed out of his last Australian Open on Saturday, the three-times major winner losing 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 6-4 to American Taylor Fritz and soaking up warm applause as a much‑loved former champion.

Jannik Sinner has suffered a cramp in extreme heat and lost his first set since October, but the Australian Open defending champion battled through to the fourth round with a gutsy 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over American Eliot Spizzirri on Saturday.

Australian Open defending champion Madison Keys has raised her game in the Melbourne Park heat to beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the Grand Slam on Saturday.

Patrick Reed produced a flawless round of 66 to take a one-shot lead at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav regained form ahead of the team's title defence at next month's World Cup as he and Ishan Kishan smashed rapid fifties to secure their seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 International in Raipur on Friday.

American 18-year-old Iva Jovic pulled off the biggest upset of her young career when she stunned Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 7-6(3) at the Australian Open on Friday to earn her first Grand Slam last-16 appearance.

Carlos Alcaraz turned on the style as he raced into the Australian Open fourth round on Friday with a highlight-laden 6-2 6-4 6-1 clinic against France's own trick-shot maestro Corentin Moutet.

Daniil Medvedev clawed his way back from two sets down to beat Fabian Marozsan 6-7(5) 4-6 7-5 6-0 6-3 at the Australian Open on Friday to set up a last-16 tie against Learner Tien, the young American who knocked him out in the second round last year.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has passed her first major test of the Australian Open on Friday, fending off a serious challenge from Anastasia Potapova to reach the fourth round with a tense 7-6(4) 7-6(7) win.

Aston Villa has secured a spot in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday as Jadon Sancho's header earned a 1-0 win at Fenerbahce, with SC Freiburg and Olympique Lyonnais also booking their places in the knockout stage.

Francesco Molinari rolled back the years with a stunning 65 to lead by two shots after a windy first round at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Sri Lanka overcame Jamie Overton's late assault to beat England by 19 runs in the opening one-day international in Colombo on Thursday.

Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner outclassed home wildcard James Duckworth 6-1 6-4 6-2 to stroll into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic systematically dismantled Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3 6-2 6-2 to reach the Australian Open third round on Thursday, continuing his bid to make more history.

Defending champion Madison Keys has overcome struggles with her game to advance to the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-1 7-5 win over fellow American Ashlyn Krueger at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

Barcelona has come from behind to defeat Slavia Prague 4-2 on a freezing night in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Fermin Lopez scoring twice and Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski adding second-half goals to secure the victory.

Rory McIlroy revealed his focus for the 2026 DP World Tour campaign as he targets his fifth Rolex Series title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Carlos Alcaraz withstood a barrage of big hitting from a familiar foe in Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open second round on Wednesday, with fellow top seed Aryna Sabalenka also enduring some shaky moments before sealing progress.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has come through a rough patch in the opening set to defeat China's Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena and advance to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and former captain Steve Waugh are among the franchise owners in a new European Twenty20 league, which will begin in August after two false starts.

Kylian Mbappe has struck twice, with Vinicius Jr scoring a spectacular solo goal and providing two assists, as Real Madrid cruised to a 6-1 victory over Monaco at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Gabriel Jesus has said it was a dream to score at the San Siro as he marked his first start in this season's Champions League by netting twice in Arsenal's 3-1 win at Inter Milan on Tuesday.

The UAE national trap shooting team has won the bronze medal at the Asian Shotgun Championship, taking place at the Lusail Shooting Complex in Doha.

Jannik Sinner’s quest for a third successive Australian Open title began in ominous fashion on Tuesday as he dominated two sets before France’s Hugo Gaston abruptly retired in a letdown for the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

Morocco will pursue legal action over the outcome of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, where opponents Senegal walked off the field to protest a penalty awarded against them but later returned to win the match.

Madison Keys has launched her Australian Open title defence with a 7-6(6) 6-1 win over Ukrainian Grand Slam debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova to reach the second round at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

Morocco have achieved their highest FIFA men's world ranking, rising to eighth, despite losing the Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal, who climbed to 12th on Monday.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will feature a world-class ATP 500 line-up during men’s week from February 23 to 28, led by defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and former winners Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev.

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev has begun his Australian Open campaign with a 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) victory over Jesper de Jong to move into the second round on Monday.

Senegal has stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time and win the Africa Cup of Nations amid farcical scenes in Sunday’s final.

Coco Gauff kicked off her bid for a maiden Australian Open title with a thumping first-round win on Monday but men's contender Felix Auger-Aliassime exited abruptly with a bout of cramp on a hot afternoon at Melbourne Park.

Spain’s Nacho Elvira has secured the Dubai Invitational title on Sunday, earning his first European Tour win of 2026.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, has attended key stages of the Elite Race held under the 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship on Sunday, with winners claiming prizes worth AED 1 million.

Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his latest bid for a career Grand Slam by dismantling unseeded Australian Adam Walton 6-3 7-6(2) 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Sunday, as the world number one showcased the power and precision befitting a player chasing history.

Olga Danilovic beat Venus Williams 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 at the Australian Open on Sunday after the Serbian fought back from 4-0 down in the deciding set to knock the American veteran out of the Australian Open in the first round.

Aryna Sabalenka came under early pressure as she launched her bid for a third Australian Open title but the Belarusian clicked into gear and overpowered French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4 6-1 to reach the second round on Sunday.

Alexander Zverev launched his bid for a maiden Australian Open title with a shaky first-round win over Canadian Gabriel Diallo as disgruntled fans fumed over long queues and a surprise ticket sales halt on day one.

Nigeria secured third place at the Africa Cup of Nations, edging Egypt 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in Saturday’s bronze medal match.

World number eight Mirra Andreeva warmed up for the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-1 victory over fellow teenager Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final on Saturday to claim her fourth WTA Tour title.

A defiant Novak Djokovic is adamant he can still beat any player on his day but at 38 the Serb is no longer focusing on the Grand Slam record, saying he does not need the pressure it brings.

Washington Sundar has been ruled out of India's five-match Twenty20 international series against New Zealand, with the all-rounder facing a race against time to be fit for their World Cup title defence.

Second-half goals from Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal has given Barcelona a hard-fought 2-0 victory over second-tier leaders Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, sending them into the quarter-finals.

Stan Wawrinka will play his final Australian Open with a sense of nostalgia for the Grand Slam that made his career as well as a feeling of calm about the road ahead.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships returns for the women’s week from February 15-21, with one of the strongest WTA 1000 line-ups, featuring all of the world’s top 20 players.

FIFA has stated that it received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during a 33-day application window that closed this week, describing it as a new milestone in world sporting history.

Scott Robertson has stepped down as New Zealand coach following an internal review of the All Blacks' performance, New Zealand Rugby said on Thursday.

Yassine Bounou has saved two penalties and Youssef En-Nesyri netted the decisive spot kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shootout victory over Nigeria following their 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat on Wednesday.

Daryl Mitchell scored an unbeaten 131 from 117 balls to lead New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over India in the second One-Day International on Wednesday and level the three-match series at 1-1.

Dubai has been named the permanent opening destination for a new global beach volleyball championship, the 'Beach World Series'.

An amateur tennis player from Sydney, Jordan Smith, struck gold on Wednesday as he walked away with a cheque worth A$1 million ($661,000) after holding his nerve to win the 'One Point Slam' ahead of the Australian Open.

The UAE Olympic national team have marched into the AFC U23 Asian Cup quarter-finals following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Syria at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Sebastian Ofner may never forget the rules of the sport again after his premature victory celebration turned into a nightmare collapse against Nishesh Basavareddy in the Australian Open qualifiers on Wednesday.

Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo has made it two goals from two games for his new club and Rayan Cherki struck in stoppage time as Pep Guardiola's side beat holders Newcastle United 2-0 away in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

Dubai Marathon has partnered with Guinness World Records (GWR) to give runners a chance to set official global records during the upcoming race on February 1.

Alyssa Healy, a mainstay of Australia's dominant women's cricket team for 15 years and latterly its captain, has announced that she will retire from the game after the upcoming multi-format series against India.

Real Madrid has announced on Monday that Xabi Alonso has left his role as head coach "by mutual consent," with Alvaro Arbeloa promoted from the club's reserve team Castilla coach to replace him.

Dominik Szoboszlai has scored a stunner and gave away a howler as Liverpool beat third-tier Barnsley 4-1 on Monday to set up a home FA Cup fourth round clash with Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Violent confrontations at the conclusion of two of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the weekend are to be investigated with possible sanctions to be imposed, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said.

Virat Kohli has tweaked his approach to counter-attack early in his innings and put bowlers under pressure to flip the momentum for India, the batting stalwart said after his match-winning knock in Sunday's one-day international against New Zealand.

Raphinha has scored twice as Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup after an intense 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in Sunday’s final in Jeddah.

India has beaten New Zealand by four wickets in the first one-day international in Vadodara on Sunday where the in-form Virat Kohli fell agonisingly short of his 54th ODI hundred.

Canada's former world number three Milos Raonic has announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 35 on Sunday after winning eight ATP tour titles and more than $20 million in prize money over a decade and a half on the circuit.

Poland battled past Switzerland 2-1 in the United Cup final on Sunday to banish the pain of title-round defeats in the previous two editions and secure a long-awaited maiden triumph in the season-opening mixed-team competition.

Daniil Medvedev beat Brandon Nakashima 6-2 7-6(1) to lift the Brisbane Open title on Sunday, starting the 2026 season on a strong note in the buildup to the Australian Open.

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the three-match one-day international (ODI) series against New Zealand after suffering an abdominal injury during a training session, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Sunday ahead of the first game in Vadodara.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3 in the Brisbane International final on Sunday to retain the title without losing a set ahead of her bid to reclaim the Australian Open title this month.

Omar Marmoush netted the opener and Mohamed Salah scored the decisive goal as Egypt ended Ivory Coast’s reign with a narrow 3-2 triumph in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, while Nigeria overcame Algeria 2-0.

Manchester City's latest recruit Antoine Semenyo won praise from fellow teammates and support staff after the 26-year-old scored on his debut in Saturday's 10-1 FA Cup victory over Exeter City, matching the team's biggest win in the competition.

Morocco might finally have found their straps at the Africa Cup of Nations, advancing to the semi-finals for the first time in 22 years after a 2-0 win over Cameroon on Friday and beginning to look like real prospects for a first title in 50 years.

Liam Rosenior is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson by transforming Chelsea's young and inexperienced squad into winners.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka outclassed Karolina Muchova to seal a 6-3 6-4 win at the Brisbane International on Saturday and reach the final of the Australian Open tune-up tournament for the third straight year.

Second-tier Wrexham beat Nottingham Forest on penalties after a 3-3 draw to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday, eliminating a Premier League side for the first time in 26 years in another chapter of their Hollywood story.

Two Bundesliga matches have been scrapped due to large amounts of snow and ice blanketing pitches across Germany, while a third-round FA Cup match on Saturday has also been postponed due to freezing conditions in Britain.

Dubai Basketball has defeated Turkish giants and reigning EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce with a score of 92-81 at the Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday to secure their second victory over the title holders in their debut EuroLeague campaign.

Zizou Bergs has stunned world number 18 Jakub Mensik and Elise Mertens outplayed Barbora Krejcikova as Belgium beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in the United Cup quarter-finals on Thursday to set up a last-four clash with Switzerland.

Paris St Germain have clinched their fourth consecutive French Super Cup title, beating rivals Olympique de Marseille 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 2-2 draw in Kuwait on Thursday.

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has announced on Friday he will not play in the singles competition at this month's Australian Open as he is not ready to play five-set matches.

Abu Dhabi has created sporting history by attracting the sailing regatta Cowes Week to its shores in January 2023, consolidating its position as the Middle East's sports capital.

Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has outlined exactly why football is failing to properly address racism within the game in an exclusive interview with Off Script on Dubai Eye 103.8.