Sports

Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday while Oscar Piastri's Formula One lead was trimmed to 31 points after he handed back second place to teammate and title rival Lando Norris on McLaren orders.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka retained her US Open crown with a battling 6-3 7-6(3) win over American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in the women's final on Saturday, underlining her claim as the modern queen of the hardcourt.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner battled past 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the US Open semi-finals on Friday to set up a blockbuster title clash with Carlos Alcaraz and renew one of the sport's most compelling rivalries.

France forward Kylian Mbappe said equalling Thierry Henry's tally of 51 international goals was an honour, but added that surpassing Olivier Giroud's all-time record was not something he dwells on, as his focus stays on winning titles with Les Bleus.

Novak Djokovic said it was too soon to say whether he will play a full Grand Slam season next year, as he feels the strain of his 38 years against the newfound dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo said his racing days were over after announcing on Friday he was taking on a new motorsports ambassador role with Ford.

The showcase Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar until at least 2035 after the Liberty Media-owned sport extended on Friday a contract that already ran to 2031.

Amanda Anisimova rallied from a set down to defeat four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-7(4) 7-6(3) 6-3 on Thursday and reach the US Open final, where she will take on holder Aryna Sabalenka for another shot at a maiden major crown.

Lionel Messi signed off in style by scoring twice in his final World Cup qualifier on home soil as Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 on Thursday, while Paraguay and Colombia also secured berths at the 2026 tournament in North America.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka fought back to keep her US Open title defence rolling on Thursday by beating American Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4 in their semi-final.

Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor is coming out of retirement to represent Samoa, the country of his mother's birth, in a boost to the Pacific Island nation's hopes of qualifying for next year's Twenty20 World Cup.

Amanda Anisimova flipped the script on Wednesday by ousting second seed Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-3 to reach her first US Open semi-final, exacting revenge for one of the most brutal defeats in Grand Slam history.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his ruthless run at the US Open by beating 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6–1 6–4 6–2 on Wednesday in the first all-Italian men's Grand Slam quarter-final.

Lionel Messi is set to play his final World Cup qualifier in Argentina on Thursday, while four South American teams are still competing for the remaining automatic places at the 2026 tournament in what could be a dramatic climax.

Naomi Osaka returned to the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a 6-4 7-6(3) win over Karolina Muchova, as the four-times Grand Slam champion delivered a battling display to underline her resurgence on the sport's biggest stage.

A man was sentenced to one year in prison in a court settlement on Wednesday for racially abusing Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams during a match at Espanyol's Cornella-El Prat stadium in 2020, a local court in Barcelona said.

The Gulf region’s premier cricket spectacle makes its return on Tuesday, December 2, as defending champions Dubai Capitals face the Desert Vipers in the opening clash of the DP World International League T20 Season 4.

Novak Djokovic reasserted his dominance over American Taylor Fritz with a 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4 victory on Tuesday to set up a US Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz, celebrating the win with a dance dedicated to his daughter on her birthday.

Venus Williams bowed out of the US Open after she and Canadian partner Leylah Fernandez were outclassed by top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6-1 6-2 in the women’s doubles quarter-finals on Tuesday.

American Jessica Pegula reached her second straight US Open semi-final with a clinical 6-3 6-3 win over twice Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday, in the first match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Keshav Maharaj took 4-22 as South Africa thrashed a woeful England side by seven wickets after dismissing the hosts for just 131 runs in the first one-day international at Headingley on Tuesday.

Alexander Isak's British record £125 million ($169 million) move from Newcastle United to Liverpool on Monday completed an eye-watering summer of English Premier League spending.

Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson has completed a permanent transfer to Turkish side Fenerbahce after eight trophy-laden years at Manchester City, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

Amanda Anisimova found her best tennis under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium and cruised past Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-0 6-3 on Monday to set up a US Open quarter-final against Iga Swiatek.

Australia's white-ball pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has retired from Twenty20 internationals to focus on extending his career in test and one-day cricket.

Serena Williams may not be playing the US Open anymore, but her presence still loomed large on Monday, with Venus Williams revealing her younger sister has been coaching from afar as she and Leylah Fernandez surged into the doubles quarter-finals.

Daniil Medvedev and his coach Gilles Cervara have announced the end of their eight-year collaboration, days after the former world number one's stunning first-round exit at the US Open.

Anders Dreyer scored a goal with an assist as visiting San Diego FC solidified their lead atop the Western Conference with a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.

Dreams died by fractions of an inch and were reborn through sheer determination on a pulsating Sunday at the US Open, with Taylor Townsend's heartbreaking exit contrasting sharply with Taylor Fritz's steady march onward.

Hosted by the UAE, the T20I Tri-Series officially began on Friday, with Pakistan leading the first two matches against the UAE and Afghanistan at the Sharjah cricket stadium.

Oscar Piastri won the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday in a race that could impact the finishes of the season-ending Formula One championships.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-1 6-4 on Sunday to seal her return to the US Open quarter-finals, ramping up her bid for a first Grand Slam title this year after defeats in two major finals.

Novak Djokovic made history at the age of 38 on Sunday after his 6-3 6-3 6-2 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff in the last 16 of the US Open, becoming the oldest man to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams in a single season.

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United on a long-term contract for a British record fee of around 130 million pounds ($175 million), Sky Sports News and The Athletic reported on Sunday.

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka's fourth-round US Open showdown will serve as a welcome trip down memory lane for the two fan favourites, as they face off in a match made for prime time on Monday.

Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek proved they are only human at the US Open on Saturday, showing that even the world's best players sometimes have to work things out on the fly when pure talent is not enough.

Rahul Dravid has stepped down as head coach of Rajasthan Royals, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise said on Saturday.

Portugal have paid tribute to Diogo Jota by passing his number 21 jersey to his close friend and former teammate Ruben Neves, following the forward's death in a car crash last month, national team coach Roberto Martinez said.

Sixth seed Ben Shelton retired from his US Open third-round clash with Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Friday before 17th seed Frances Tiafoe was knocked out in a big blow to American hopes of ending their 22-year wait for a men's Grand Slam champion.

Aryna Sabalenka got the revenge she craved on Friday by defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-3 7-6(2) to erase the sting of her 2021 US Open semi-final upset and keep her dream alive of winning back-to-back Flushing Meadows titles.

Novak Djokovic stayed in the hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam trophy on Friday by quickly recovering from a lower back problem to beat unseeded Briton Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-7(4) 6-2 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the US Open.

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Netherlands attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.

Aston Villa will host Coppa Italia winners Bologna and visit Feyenoord in the Europa League opening stage, while Scottish sides Celtic and Rangers will both welcome AS Roma.

Tickets for the DP World Asia Cup 2025 will be go on sale today, from 5pm (local time), organisers said, adding that prices will start from AED 40 for matches in Abu Dhabi, and AED 50 for those in Dubai.

A frustrated Stefanos Tsitsipas took exception to his opponent's tactics after blowing a match point and exiting the US Open in the second round courtesy of a five-set loss to Daniel Altmaier on Thursday.

Iga Swiatek weathered an unexpected storm to reach the US Open third round on Thursday, while defending men's champion Jannik Sinner delivered a masterclass and Naomi Osaka rediscovered her groove at Flushing Meadows.

Former US Open champion Coco Gauff wiped away a flood of mid-match tears after a series of service errors to defeat unseeded Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6(5) 6-2 and labour into the third round of the Grand Slam on Thursday.

Champions League holders Paris St Germain will play Bayern Munich and Barcelona in this season's league phase while record 15-times winners Real Madrid will face Manchester City and Liverpool.

Four-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome was airlifted to hospital in Toulon after suffering a training crash which left him with broken ribs and a back fracture, his team Israel-Premier Tech said on Thursday.

Ruben Amorim apologised to Manchester United supporters after his reign reached a new low with a humiliating elimination from the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby Town on Wednesday.

Former champion Daniil Medvedev was fined a total of $42,500 by the US Open on Wednesday for his spectacular meltdown during a loss to Benjamin Bonzi at the start of the week.

Lionel Messi erupted for two goals and an assist inside the final 15 minutes, leading Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Orlando City in a Leagues Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a rocky start to roar into the third round of the U.S. Open with a 7-6(4) 6-2 win over unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova on Wednesday.

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday with a dominant 6-1 6-0 6-3 win over Italy's Mattia Bellucci, admitting afterwards that memories of last year's shock second-round exit were weighing on his mind.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ended his Indian Premier League (IPL) career on Wednesday but hinted he may be available to play other competitions of franchise cricket.

Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner showed their championship pedigree at the US Open on Tuesday with commanding displays at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, walloping their first-round opponents on the third day of first-round action at the newly expanded major.

Former champion Coco Gauff launched her US Open campaign with a 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 win over unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round on Tuesday, as the American navigated a big test following a late coaching shake-up ahead of the year's final Grand Slam.

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be back on the Formula One starting grid next season after Cadillac announced the signing of the experienced race winners as the team's debut driver pairing.

Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets mauling of big-serving American Reilly Opelka on Monday, while veteran Venus Williams made an emotional exit at the hands of 11th seed Karolina Muchova.

Neymar will miss Brazil's final two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia next week, extending his absence from international duty to nearly two years.

Liverpool's 16-year-old debutant Rio Ngumoha struck a last-gasp winner to earn his side a rip-roaring 3-2 victory at Newcastle United after the 10-man hosts had battled back from two goals down at a boisterous St James' Park on Monday.

Daniil Medvedev's turbulent relationship with the US Open took another dramatic turn on Sunday as the former champion was shown the door by France's Benjamin Bonzi at the end of a chaotic first-round encounter.

Novak Djokovic delivered a lesson in Grand Slam tenacity to Learner Tien in the first round of the US Open on Sunday, battling past the American teenager 6-1 7-6(3) 6-2 to launch his latest quest for a record 25th major title.

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green smashed blistering hundreds as Australia steamrollered South Africa by 276 runs in the final one-day international in Mackay on Sunday.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres announced himself to Arsenal’s fans with two goals in a 5-0 Premier League win over Leeds in his first home league game, with his opener reminding many of them of their previous hero in the number 14 shirt he now wears, Thierry Henry.

Veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara dropped curtains on his illustrious India career on Sunday after playing 103 Tests but failing to win back his place in the last two years.

The US Open's first round begins on Sunday with defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka looking to recapture top form, while former men's champion Daniil Medvedev faces a familiar foe whom he has failed to beat in previous meetings.

Ecuadorian champion Jhonatan Narváez won stage 2 of the Lidl Deutschland Tour in thrilling fashion for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, coming out on top from a three-up sprint to take his first victory since the National Championships in February.

A goalkeeping blunder by Manchester City's James Trafford gifted Joao Palhinha a goal and Brennan Johnson also scored in Tottenham Hotspur's impressive 2-0 Premier League on Saturday.

South Africa have included Kagiso Rabada in their one-day international and Twenty20 squads to tour England next month, but the fast bowler will continue to be monitored for an ankle injury.

Heavy rain brought a stop-start evening session to a premature end at the Monterrey Open on Friday, with Russian second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova's semi-final against Czech Marie Bouzkova being moved to Saturday.

Chelsea's new signings and young talents hit their stride in the absence of injured talisman Cole Palmer on Friday as the Club World Cup winners ran wild in a 5-1 Premier League demolition of West Ham United.

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw on December 5.

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the club until 2029, City announced on Friday.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner, who has been recovering from illness, received a more favourable route to the US Open final than Carlos Alcaraz, while Aryna Sabalenka will be tested in her bid to retain her title after the draw was made on Thursday.

US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori hope they have earned respect for their event after overcoming a field packed with singles stars to successfully defend their title.

Two-times Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff has parted ways with coach Matthew Daly just days before the start of the US Open, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

South Africa spinner Prenelan Subrayen has been reported for a suspect bowling action in the first ODI against Australia, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

The UAE Falcons Federation has approved the launch of the Emirates Falcons International Cup, an international falconry championship set to be held annually from the 2025-2026 season. 

Veteran doubles experience overcame singles stardom as defending champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani reached the semi-finals at the US Open's reimagined mixed doubles on Tuesday, as the event kicked off with a new format and new fans.

Alexander Isak accused Newcastle United of breaking promises and misleading supporters in a social media statement on Tuesday that confirmed he wanted to leave the Premier League club.

Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty earned Real Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over Osasuna in their opening LaLiga game of the season on Tuesday, giving Xabi Alonso a winning start in his first league match in charge of the hosts.

Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open mixed doubles event, where he was going to partner Katerina Siniakova, a day after illness forced the world number one to retire five games into his Cincinnati Open final.

Emirati racer Alia Abdulsalam Fairooz, driver for Team Mubadala, achieved a new personal best time of 48.34 seconds during her participation in the opening round of the Scandinavian Formula 4 Powerboat Championship in Norway.

Iga Swiatek captured her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-4, with the Pole third seed sending a powerful message ahead of the US Open.

Kyle Edmund has been forced to retire at the age of 30 after going through a turbulent few years due to injuries, the former British number one said.

English golfer Marco Penge has claimed the title of Closing Swing champion on the DP World Tour after victory at the Made in Denmark Championship, which also sees him move to second in the Race to Dubai.

Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori headed home an early corner, aided by a weak challenge from goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, to earn a 1-0 victory at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, spoiling the hosts' season opener.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been told to improve his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, coach Mike Hesson said.

Al Wahda and Khorfakkan led the first round of the ADNOC Professional Football League, with Al Wahda defeating Ajman 2-0 and Khorfakkan beating Al Jazira 3-2 during their matches on Sunday.

UAE's Khamzat Chimaev has become the new UFC middleweight champion after a dominant display against title holder Dricus Du Plessis during the UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago.

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.