South Africa Cricket Player Positive for Virus, England All Clear

In this file photo dated Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, England's wicketkeeper Jos Buttler dives to take the catch to dismiss Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi during the third cricket Test match between England and Pakistan, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England. England's cricketers are flying to South Africa it is announced Monday Nov. 16, 2020, on the back of reassurances from team management that the white-ball tour will take place as scheduled, although England star Jos Buttler said CSA's issues had led to him fearing the tour might be canceled. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, FILE)
In this file photo dated Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, England's wicketkeeper Jos Buttler dives to take the catch to dismiss Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi during the third cricket Test match between England and Pakistan, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England. England's cricketers are flying to South Africa it is announced Monday Nov. 16, 2020, on the back of reassurances from team management that the white-ball tour will take place as scheduled, although England star Jos Buttler said CSA's issues had led to him fearing the tour might be canceled. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, FILE)
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South Africa Cricket Player Positive for Virus, England All Clear

In this file photo dated Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, England's wicketkeeper Jos Buttler dives to take the catch to dismiss Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi during the third cricket Test match between England and Pakistan, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England. England's cricketers are flying to South Africa it is announced Monday Nov. 16, 2020, on the back of reassurances from team management that the white-ball tour will take place as scheduled, although England star Jos Buttler said CSA's issues had led to him fearing the tour might be canceled. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, FILE)
In this file photo dated Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, England's wicketkeeper Jos Buttler dives to take the catch to dismiss Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi during the third cricket Test match between England and Pakistan, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England. England's cricketers are flying to South Africa it is announced Monday Nov. 16, 2020, on the back of reassurances from team management that the white-ball tour will take place as scheduled, although England star Jos Buttler said CSA's issues had led to him fearing the tour might be canceled. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, FILE)

One player in the South Africa cricket squad has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of a six-game limited-over series against England and two others have also been isolated after being in close contact with him.

Cricket South Africa said the positive result came back among 50 tests conducted on Wednesday on players and support staff before the squad goes into a "biosafe environment" in Cape Town ahead of the games, which start at the end of next week.

The three players who have been isolated are showing no symptoms of COVID-19, CSA said. None of the players were named.

England's squad flew into Cape Town on Tuesday on a chartered flight and all the players were negative for COVID-19 after arriving, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.

The England and South Africa squads will stay in the same hotel in Cape Town in a controlled environment throughout the series. England players need to observe 10 days of quarantine before the games but are being allowed to train at the Newlands cricket ground during the quarantine period.

The tour, arranged on short notice after the virus-wreaked havoc affected international cricket fixtures, is England's first trip overseas during the pandemic. South Africa hasn't played any cricket since March.

All six matches will be in Cape Town and the nearby city of Paarl to limit travel for players and officials in a country which has the highest number of confirmed virus cases in Africa at more than 750,000. No spectators will be allowed to attend any of the games.

The series starts next Friday with the first of three Twenty20 games. The teams will also play three one-day internationals.



AFC Champions League Elite: Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad to Host UAE's Al-Ain

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
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AFC Champions League Elite: Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad to Host UAE's Al-Ain

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad is seeking its second consecutive victory in the AFC Champions League Elite as they prepare to host the UAE's Al-Ain on Monday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported.

Al-Ittihad enters the encounter in high spirits following their first tournament victory last week against Uzbekistan's Neftchi. The result provided a significant boost, helping the team regain its footing and remain competitive after a disappointing start in which it earned only one point from its first two matches.

Al-Ittihad, two-time winners of the continental title, aims to capitalize on their home advantage and the support of their fans to secure a positive result against the current group leaders.

The team will seek to increase its points tally, deliver a more effective attacking performance, and continue its upward trajectory in the competition.


Shnaider Beats Fernandez to Win Tokyo Title

Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026.  EPA/KIYOSHI OTA
Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA
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Shnaider Beats Fernandez to Win Tokyo Title

Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026.  EPA/KIYOSHI OTA
Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA

Russia's Diana Shnaider won her first title of the year with a hard-fought victory over Leylah Fernandez in Tokyo on Sunday and couldn't wait to tell her mum all about it.

The world number 13 beat Canada's Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the Pan Pacific Open and then went straight to her phone to call home.

"I was calling my mum -- I wanted to hear her voice after winning a title and share a first few moments with her," the 22-year-old Shnaider said.

"She said 'you've just finished and already you're calling me'."

It was Shnaider's first title since Monterrey in August last year and the sixth of her career.

She looked to be cruising to victory after winning the first set and taking a 4-0 lead in the second.

World number 23 Fernandez came back to win the second set, but Shnaider regained control to close out the match.

"It was definitely a tight, close match," AFP quoted Shnaider as saying.

"It makes me even more happy that I was able to fight for the title and in the end win it."

Fernandez went into the final with 16 wins in her previous 20 matches.

That run included victory at the Singapore Open in September and a runner-up finish at last week's Ningbo Open in China behind world number one Elena Rybakina.

Fernandez struggled with her serve, double-faulting five times throughout the match and landing only half of her first serves in the first set.

She got it together when it mattered though, stunning Shnaider in the second set with some tenacious tennis to even the score at one set each.

Shnaider regained her composure when she returned for the final set, breaking Fernandez's serve twice and clinching the title with her first match point.

She was appearing in her first final of the year after losing in the semi-finals four times before this week.

"Very happy that I was able to win the title," she said.

"It definitely means a lot to me, to my team, my family to finish on a high note."

Fernandez shed tears as she thanked her family in her on-court interview and said that she had received some "bad news".


Marquez Wins Malaysian MotoGP to Move to Brink of World Title

Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
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Marquez Wins Malaysian MotoGP to Move to Brink of World Title

Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Marc Marquez moved to the brink of an eighth world title with an imperious victory at the Malaysian MotoGP on Sunday.

The Ducati star and reigning champion romped home ahead of Pedro Acosta and brother Alex Marquez at a sweltering Sepang.

With chief title rival and Aprilia rider Jorge Martin missing the Sepang race with a broken wrist, his fellow Spaniard Marquez can now seal the championship next weekend in Qatar.

Marquez started alongside brother and polesitter Alex on the front row of the grid but grabbed the lead at the first corner and never looked back.

There are just three race weekends left.

Marquez, who was second in Saturday's sprint behind Acosta, sits top of the pile with 399 points.

Martin is second on 355, with Marco Bezzecchi third with 332.