MIAMI: A traumatic week for world number two Aryna Sabalenka came to an end with a third round, three set loss in the Miami Open to Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina on Saturday.
The 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 win for the 36th ranked Kalinina prompted Sabalenka, who had kept her emotions in check through both of her games at Hard Rock Stadium, to smash her racket violently into the court.
On Monday, Belarusian Sabalenka’s former boyfriend, ex-NHL player Konstantin Koltsov, died in Miami after what police called an “apparent suicide.”
The pair had been in a relationship until recently and Sabalenka only announced they were no longer together following the death.
On Friday, she looked in control as she defeated her close friend Paula Badosa of Spain in straight sets.
But given the late slot on the main stadium court, Sabalenka looked to be feeling the strain more as she struggled for any kind of consistency.
After losing the opening set, she utterly dominated Kalinina in the second, with her serve and powerful backhand too much for the Ukrainian.
But once Kalinina broke in the third, Sabalenka’s focus and composure deserted her and her opponent took full advantage.
“It’s really tough with nerves. But I managed in the tough moments to deal with it,” said Kalinina. “So I’m a little bit proud of myself today.”
World number one Iga Swiatek had no trouble in beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-1 as the rain impacted tournament packed in the big names including postponed matches from Friday.
“I was feeling really pretty confident and I just wanted to see how I’m going to feel the surface. It was all really comfortable, so I’m happy,” said Swiatek.
Japan’s Noami Osaka continued her increasingly impressive form with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win over 17th ranked Elina Svitolina, in a battle of two women who have returned to the tour after giving birth.
Sixth-seed Ons Jabeur suffered an upset with 21-year-old Russian Elina Avanesyan, ranked 65th in the world, running out a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 winner.
Elena Rybakina moved into the fourth round after a tight tussle with American Taylor Townsend.
Townsend, ranked 11th, won a second set tie-break to set up a fiercely contested deciding set before she succumbed with the Kazakh winning 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4.
In the ATP event, top seed Carlos Alcaraz was simply too much for his compatriot Roberto Carballes Baena as he powered to a 6-2, 6-1 win in 85 minutes.
Like Swiatek, Alcaraz is looking to complete the “Sunshine Double” after his victory in Indian Wells last week and the two-time Grand Slam winner looked in formidable form.
The 20-year-old was on top from the start, powerful from the baseline but willing to approach the net as he hit 10 winners to one in the opening set.
He saved all three break points that he faced against his 64th ranked opponent, who asked some tough questions at times but usually received an emphatic response.
Alcaraz will next face French veteran Gael Monfils, a 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-2 winner over Australian Jordan Thompson.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the Australian Open champion ranked third in the world, made a confident start to his bid in Miami with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over compatriot and qualifier Andrea Vavassori.
Progress was also straightforward for defending champion Daniil Medvedev who advanced into the third round with a 6-4 6-2 win over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.
But it was a tough day for the American men.
Taylor Fritz was upset by Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets as three of the four top ranked US men tumbled out of the tournament.
Fritz’s early departure came shortly after Francis Tiafoe went out to another lower-ranked player in Australian Christopher O’Connell.
O’Connell, battled to a 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) win over the 21st-seeded Tiafoe after play began following a three-hour rain delay.
Tommy Paul had to retire with an ankle injury in his match against fellow American, wild card Martin Damm. Paul had won the first set 6-4 and was 2-1 down in the second when he abandoned.
Greek 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas also headed for the exit door at the Hard Rock Stadium after he was upset by 126th ranked Denis Shapovalov of Canada.
Britain’s Andy Murray, a two-time winner in Miami, advanced to the third round with a 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Sabalenka exits Miami, Alcaraz starts in style
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Sabalenka exits Miami, Alcaraz starts in style
- World number one Iga Swiatek had no trouble in beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-1
Alcaraz caps ‘difficult week’ with first Monte Carlo Masters title
- It marks a sixth Masters title for Alcaraz and is his most prestigious title since winning Wimbledon last year
- Alcaraz: Coming here and seeing how the whole hard work has paid off, I’m really happy
MONTE CARLO, Principality of Monaco: Carlos Alcaraz made the best possible start to his preparations for the defense of his French Open title, burning past the Italian Lorenzo Musetti in three sets on Sunday to win his first Monte Carlo Masters.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, already a four-time Grand Slam winner, dropped the opening set but came back hard to take the next two at the cost of a single game as he cleaned up 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, albeit helped by a limping Musetti.
It marks a sixth Masters title for Alcaraz and is his most prestigious title since winning Wimbledon last year.
It was also his first win on clay since winning the French Open last season, although in mitigation he only had one tournament after that when he missed out on gold at the Paris Olympics.
“I’m just really happy to have won Monte Carlo for the first time,” said Alcaraz who lost in his first match on his only previous appearance at the tournament in 2022.
“It’s been a really difficult week with a lot of difficult situations.
“I’m really proud of myself, how I’ve dealt with everything. It’s been a really difficult month for me on the court and outside.
“Coming here and seeing how the whole hard work has paid off, I’m really happy.”
Alcaraz chose not to expand on his difficulties but they may be eased partly by this win which will lift him up to No 2 in the world rankings, ahead of Alexander Zverev but still behind the suspended Jannik Sinner.
However, this was no easy win in chilly conditions against a man playing in his first Masters 1000 final after taking down two top 10 players, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur, to get there.
Musetti dropped his opening service but broke back straight away and took the fight to Alcaraz who, in spite of the odd blissful winner, appeared at odds with his game, making six unforced errors.
The Spaniard bounced back, however, lifting his game as he galloped through the second set 6-1.
That trend continued as Musetti began to have problems with his right leg, receiving treatment when he was 0-3 in the decider.
He battled on but could not live with the intensity or physicality of Alcaraz’s game.
“It is not the way I would have wanted to win a match,” said Alcaraz.
“Lorenzo’s been through a really tough week, long and intense matches.
“I feel sorry for him, one of the best results he has done. To end like this is not easy. Hopefully it’s not serious and he’s 100 percent soon.”
Some consolation for Musetti is a rise to No 11 in the rankings and the promise of more to come on the clay as the season gets underway.
“It was probably one of my best tournaments so far,” said Musetti who took bronze at last year’s Olympics behind Alcaraz and gold medallist Novak Djokovic.
“I’m disappointed I couldn’t finish the match in the best way, for the crowd. You deserve it so I will keep going and try and come back for revenge.”
Both Alcaraz and Musetti will continue their clay court preparations at the Barcelona Open next week in the buildup to the French Open at the end of May.
Rory McIlroy wins Masters in dramatic fashion, completes career Slam
- It marked the fifth major championship for McIlroy, and his first since capturing the PGA Championship for the second time in 2014
It was finally Rory McIlroy’s time, even if it took a little longer than perhaps was necessary.
McIlroy birdied the first playoff hole with a short putt after missing a chance to win in regulation, capturing the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam on Sunday in Augusta, Georgia
“This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” the Northern Irishman said. “I think the last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that — yeah, I’m sort of wondering what we’re all going to talk about going into next year’s Masters.”
McIlroy’s 1-over-par 73 left him tied with England’s Justin Rose, who posted 66 and waited for McIlroy to finish. They both shot 11-under 277 for the week.
Re-playing the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club, McIlroy’s approach shot rolled back toward the hole and inside Rose’s ball. After Rose missed a birdie attempt and notched a par, McIlroy didn’t flub another chance for a victory.
He dropped his putter, put his hands on his head and fell prostrate on the green, sobbing.
“There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green,” McIlroy said. “A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it.”
It marked the fifth major championship for McIlroy, and his first since capturing the PGA Championship for the second time in 2014.
McIlroy needed par at No. 18 to win in regulation, but after blasting from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole he rolled a 5-foot par putt too far to the left.
It was a starkly different reaction from when he departed the 18th green following Thursday’s first round, which included a pair of backside double bogeys and dodging the media on the way to the practice area.
Rose spoke briefly to McIlroy after the playoff and later added perspective to what just happened.
“This is a historic moment in golf, isn’t it — someone who achieves the career Grand Slam,” Rose said. “I just said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him. Obviously, I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it’s a momentous occasion for the game of golf.”
The new champion — who gave away his two-shot lead through 54 holes with a double bogey at No. 1 — also recovered from a disastrous stretch on the back nine to birdie the 17th hole for a brief one-stroke lead. McIlroy’s bogey on No. 11, double bogey on No. 13 and bogey on No. 14 appeared to send him on track for another final-round collapse at a major.
McIlroy said sending his ball into the creek on a wedge shot on the par-5 13th could have doomed his chances.
“I did a really good job of bouncing back from that,” he said.
McIlroy recovered for a birdie on the par-5 15th hole by drawing a tremendous second shot around a tree, over a water hazard and to 6 feet of the pin, where he two-putted for birdie.
Then he stuck his approach on No. 17 and sank the putt to take the lead.
Rose, seeking his first Masters title, had six birdies and two bogeys across the last eight holes, finishing with a 20-foot birdie putt.
“To make the putt on 18, the one you dream about as a kid, to obviously give myself an opportunity and a chance was an unbelievable feeling,” Rose said.
Rose was the leader after the first and second rounds, and after a tough 75 on Saturday he made a major final-round push. He had only four pars on his card — countering four bogeys with 10 birdies.
Patrick Reed (69 on Sunday) was third at 9 under. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (69) placed fourth at 8 under, giving him four consecutive top-10 finishes at the Masters.
“I was just proud of the way we hung in there and put up a good fight,” Scheffler said.
Bryson DeChambeau, who figured to be McIlroy’s biggest threat and in the final pairing, took the lead after the second hole before stalling with back-to-back bogeys and a string of pars to skid off the path. By the time he double-bogeyed No. 11, he was tied for ninth and seventh strokes back.
DeChambeau’s 75 left him at 7 under, tied for fifth place with South Korea’s Sungjae Im (69).
DeChambeau said his troubles began with a putt on the third hole that scooted well beyond the cup.
“There’s no way that putt goes that far by,” he said. “I just didn’t realize how firm and fast it could get out here. It’s great experience. Won’t let that happen again.”
Saudi Arabia squeeze past Japan in U17 Asian Cup quarter final
- After 90 minutes of football ended 2-2 in Taif, penalty shootout needed to separate two teams
TAIF: Saudi Arabia beat Japan in a dramatic penalty shootout on Sunday to move into the semi-final of the U-17 Asian Cup for the first time since 1992. After 90 minutes of football ended 2-2 in the city of Taif, the young Green Falcons triumphed from the spot.
The shootout ended 3-2 to leave the teenagers celebrating with their home fans and looking forward to Thursday’s last four clash with either South Korea or Tajikistan.
It was a busy start to the game. In just the third minute, Abdulrahman Sufyani had his close-range shot saved and then, from the rebound, curled an attempt that bounced off the crossbar.
Soon after, however, Abubaker Saeed handled in the area and, after a check from VAR, Taiga Seguchi scored from the spot in the ninth minute.
It was a short-lived lead. In the 15th minute, Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz was bundled over in the area and Saeed stepped up to convert the penalty and send the goalkeeper the wrong way.
For Saudi Arabia it got even better eight minutes before the break. The lively Sufyani ran free down the right, cut inside the area and pulled the ball across goal for Sabri Dahal to fire home from close range.
It was all looking good for the West Asian team until Japan equalised with 18 minutes remaining. Daichi Tani’s through ball from the middle dissected the Saudi defence for Hiroto Asada to sprint through and roll the ball past Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi.
Then it all came down to a penalty shootout. Otaibi almost kept out Asada and then Nasser Al-Fihani made it 1-1. Yazeed Al-Dosari did the same with his kick and it was 2-2. Then Otaibi got down quickly to save a low strike from Yuito Kamo but then Thari Saeed saw his attempt kept out.
It was still two each but Shota Fujii hit the bar, giving Saudi Arabia another chance and this time it was taken, oh so coolly, by Maher Tawashi. It meant that Japan had to score their last kick but once again, they hit the woodwork to keep the hosts on course for a first continental title since 1988.
Harvey Barnes brace routs Manchester United as Newcastle rise to fourth place
- Sandro Tonali put Newcastle ahead before Alejandro Garnacho equalized late in the first half
- Barnes provided a welcome tonic for Howe as his second-half brace at St. James’ Park
NEWCASTLE: Harvey Barnes struck twice as Newcastle thrashed troubled Manchester United 4-1 to climb into fourth place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Newcastle were without manager Eddie Howe, who was admitted to hospital on Friday after feeling unwell for several days.
But Barnes provided a welcome tonic for Howe as his second-half brace at St. James’ Park boosted Newcastle’s bid to qualify for the Champions League.
With Howe’s assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones in charge of the League Cup winners, Sandro Tonali put Newcastle ahead before Alejandro Garnacho equalized late in the first half.
Barnes stole the spotlight after the interval, becoming the first Newcastle player to score twice in one league game against United since Alan Shearer in 2000.
Bruno Guimaraes punished a blunder from United keeper Altay Bayindir, who started in place of the dropped Andre Onana, to seal Newcastle’s first four-goal haul against United since 2001.
In the race to reach the Champions League via a top five finish, Newcastle are just one point behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.
They have a game in hand on Forest, as well as fifth-placed Manchester City and sixth-placed Chelsea, who are two points adrift of the Magpies.
United have now gone four games without a win in all competitions, leaving them languishing in 14th place with just six games left to avoid their lowest finish since 1973-74, when they came 21st and were relegated.
They are already certain to suffer their worst points total in the Premier League era, with the previous low 58 in 2021-22.
Ruben Amorim made five changes with an eye on Lyon’s visit to Old Trafford for the Europa League quarter-final, second leg next Thursday, but United were blown away with embarrassing ease.
Bayindir had replaced Onana after the Cameroon keeper’s latest error-strewn display in United’s 2-2 draw at Lyon last Thursday.
But the 26-year-old, signed from Fenerbahce in 2023, endured a woeful first Premier League start.
Newcastle’s opening goal arrived at the climax of a flowing move after United midfielder Manuel Ugarte gave the ball way in the 24th minute.
Kieran Trippier surged forward and found Alexander Isak, who astutely lifted his pass over the defense for Tonali to drive a clinical finish into the far corner from an acute angle 10 yards out.
It was the 19th time United had conceded the opening goal in a league game this season — their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition.
With United out of sync once again, Tonali almost doubled the lead as the Italy midfielder curled just wide from distance.
Bayindir looked nervous when he punched Tino Livramento’s cross straight to Isak, but he redeemed himself with a good save from the Swede’s volley.
United equalized completely against the run of play in the 37th minute.
Diogo Dalot was the catalyst with a buccaneering burst that carried him to the edge of the Newcastle area, where he slipped a precise pass to Garnacho and the Argentine winger fired past Nick Pope.
Having scored for just the second time in 2025, Garnacho went close to another when Pope palmed away his blast on the stroke of half-time.
But Newcastle regained the lead four minutes after half-time as United’s leaky defense was breached again.
Livramento’s low cross was alertly kept in by Murphy beyond the far post and his pass into the six-yard box found Barnes unmarked for a clinical finish.
Zirkzee limped off to add to United’s woes after crumpling to the turf with an apparent hamstring injury.
United were in disarray and Barnes delivered the knockout blow in the 64th minute, dispossessing Noussair Mazraoui and racing clear to drill a fierce strike past Bayindir.
In the 77th minute, Bayindir’s wayward pass went straight to Joelinton, who nodded the ball onto Guimaraes for a composed finish that rubbed salt into United’s gaping wounds.
Oscar Piastri celebrates 50th race with win from pole in Bahrain
- Piastri wins for McLaren with Norris third
- Australian now second overall and three points off lead
- Russell second for Mercedes
SAKHIR: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri celebrated his 50th Formula One race with a pole-to-flag win in Bahrain on Sunday that sent him second overall and three points behind championship leading teammate Lando Norris.
The Australian also became the season’s first repeat winner in four races and ended reigning champions McLaren’s long wait for victory at their Bahraini owners’ home Sakhir circuit.
Norris finished third, after lining up sixth on the grid and then having to fight back from a five-second penalty for a jumped start under the floodlights.
Mercedes’ George Russell held off his fellow Briton for second in a tense battle over the closing laps but faced a stewards’ enquiry for allegedly using the drag reduction system outside the defined zone.
“It’s been an incredible weekend starting with qualifying yesterday and finishing the job today in style is nice,” said Piastri, who won by 15.499 seconds despite a safety car period wiping out his initial lead.
“It’s very important given our owners. It’s never been a track that’s been kind to us, so it’s nice to have our first win here.”
Norris now has 77 points to Piastri’s 74, with McLaren on 151 in the constructors’ standings and Mercedes second on 93.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth, with the Italian team’s former boss Luca di Montezemolo the guest of honor waving the chequered flag.
Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen, who had been only a point behind Norris after winning in Japan last weekend, finished sixth with Pierre Gasly scoring Alpine’s first points of the campaign in seventh.
Esteban Ocon, who crashed heavily in qualifying, redeemed himself with eighth for Haas and Yuki Tsunoda delivered Red Bull’s first double points finish of the year in ninth.
The final point was secured for Haas by British rookie Oliver Bearman, who started last.
