عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Svitolina on Mission to Unite Tennis World to Stand with Ukraine

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina reacts after her win over Russian Anastasia Potapova on March 1, 2022 at the Monterrey Open. (AP)
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina reacts after her win over Russian Anastasia Potapova on March 1, 2022 at the Monterrey Open. (AP)
TT
TT

Svitolina on Mission to Unite Tennis World to Stand with Ukraine

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina reacts after her win over Russian Anastasia Potapova on March 1, 2022 at the Monterrey Open. (AP)
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina reacts after her win over Russian Anastasia Potapova on March 1, 2022 at the Monterrey Open. (AP)

Dressed in Ukraine's blue and gold colors, a fired-up Elina Svitolina thrashed Russian Anastasia Potapova in Mexico on Tuesday and said it was her mission to unite the tennis world behind her country following Russia's invasion.

Svitolina had initially refused to play her opening match against Potapova at the Monterrey Open but went ahead after tennis authorities decided to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing under the name and flag of their countries.

That decision followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, which Russia calls a "special operation". Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion.

"I think it's my mission to unite our tennis community to stand with Ukraine, to help Ukraine because what we're going through is a horrible thing for all Ukrainians," former world number three Svitolina told reporters after her victory.

"That's why I'm here. That's why I'm playing for my country and doing my best using my platform and using my resources to introduce that and try to invite people to support Ukraine."

Svitolina, who has said she would donate her prize money from the tournament to the Ukrainian army, defeated Potapova 6-2 6-1, thumping her chest repeatedly on court.

The players exchanged a few words at the net after the match before Svitolina showed her appreciation for the support from the crowd.

Television graphics had a blank space next to where Potapova's flag and country would normally have been.

"For me, playing the match here, I'm not playing only for myself," said Svitolina. "I'm playing for my country, I'm playing for the help of the Ukrainian army and people in need.

"Every victory that I'm going to get is going to be very special."

In Lyon on Tuesday, fellow Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska collapsed in a heap on court after her victory over Romanian Ana Bogdan at the WTA 250 tournament.

The 21-year-old and her younger sister had spent two nights in an underground car park last week before their parents sent them out of Ukraine by boat to Romania and then safely to France.

"I'm happy that I won for my country, but at the same time I'm very sad," said Yastremska, who wrapped herself in an Ukrainian flag after her 3-6 7-6(7) 7-6(7) victory.

"My heart stays at home, and my mind is fighting here, so it's very difficult to find the concentration, to find the balance.

"This win, compared to what's going on in my country, is nothing. But I'm happy, at least, I'm also fighting for my country. I'm really proud of the Ukrainians and they're really heroes. I hope everything is going to finish soon."

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Mahrez Leads Algeria to AFCON Cruise Against Sudan

Algeria's Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)
Algeria's Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)
TT
TT

Mahrez Leads Algeria to AFCON Cruise Against Sudan

Algeria's Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)
Algeria's Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)

Captain Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

The former Manchester City winger, now with Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, got his and his team's second goal just after the hour mark and Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the win late on as Algeria started in the best possible fashion in Group E.

Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents came from Algeria and whose son Luca was starting in goal for the Desert Foxes.

His appearance on big screens in the ground drew huge cheers from Algerian supporters who will have been delighted to see their team produce a convincing performance.

Algeria were eliminated in the first round without a win at each of the last two AFCON tournaments but wasted no time in breaking the deadlock against the group outsiders.

The match was little over a minute old when Mohamed Amoura's ball across the penalty box was met by a back-heel from Hicham Boudaoui to tee up Mahrez. He took a touch before firing in.

Zidane then did well to save at the feet of Sudan's Yaser Awad Boshara but Algeria were by far the better side.

Sudan's chances of getting back into the game were then severely dented when Salaheldin Adil was sent off six minutes before the interval for a second booking for chopping down Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Ramy Bensebaini had a goal disallowed for offside moments later but Mahrez made it 2-0 on 61 minutes as he connected with a lovely outside-of-the-boot assist from Amoura.

Mahrez, appearing at his sixth AFCON, now has eight goals at the tournament. He came off to an ovation from the Algerian fans late on.

Substitute Maza, of Bayer Leverkusen, finished from Baghdad Bounedjah's knockdown with five minutes left to score Algeria's 100th AFCON goal and make it 3-0.

Sudan have now won just once in 17 Cup of Nations matches since lifting the trophy in 1970.

Earlier in the same group, Burkina Faso came from behind to beat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 2-1 thanks to two goals deep in injury time in Casablanca.

Basilio Ndong was sent off just after half-time for Equatorial Guinea but they looked set to win the game when substitute Marvin Anieboh headed in on 85 minutes.

However, Georgi Minoungou equalized in the fifth added minute before Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba grabbed a dramatic 98th-minute winner.

Sports

Boulevard City Hosts Open Training Sessions for 'Ring V: Night of the Samurai' Stars

The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA
The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA
TT
TT

Boulevard City Hosts Open Training Sessions for 'Ring V: Night of the Samurai' Stars

The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA
The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program - SPA

The Global Theater at Boulevard City hosted on Wednesday the open training sessions for the stars of “Ring V: Night of the Samurai,” as part of the second day of Fight Week during Riyadh Season 2025.

The event drew strong public and media attendance, giving boxing fans a close look at the fighters’ preparations ahead of the much-anticipated fight night.

The world’s top boxing talents, led by Japanese world champion Naoya Inoue, alongside Alan Picasso, Junto Nakatani, Kenshiro Teraji, Taiga Imanaga, Rito Tsutsumi, and other fighters, featured on the Night of the Samurai fight card. The interactive atmosphere reflected the global interest surrounding the upcoming event, according to SPA.

The sessions showcased the fighters’ skills, physical strength, and sharp focus, as the stars delivered technical highlights for fans and media alike, marking the final stages of preparation ahead of the official bouts to be hosted in Riyadh as part of one of the biggest boxing nights of Riyadh Season.

The open training sessions are part of the Fight Week program, designed to enhance fan engagement with the participating fighters and offer a closer look at the competitive build-up, reflecting Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering exceptional sports and entertainment experiences.

The press conference will be held on December 25, 2025, with all fighters in attendance, as final preparations are discussed and statements exchanged ahead of the main fight night.

Sports

Frank Warns Squad to Be ‘Grown-Up’ as Spurs Players Get Christmas Day Off

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)
TT
TT

Frank Warns Squad to Be ‘Grown-Up’ as Spurs Players Get Christmas Day Off

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank gestures during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC, in London, Britain, 20 December 2025. (EPA)

Thomas Frank will give his Tottenham squad Christmas Day off but only because it fits in with their schedule ahead of Sunday's match away to London rivals Crystal Palace.

Spurs have struggled since Frank replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou and are 14th in the Premier League table following a run of five defeats in eight matches in all competitions.

The club's form has led to a rising tide of anger among Tottenham fans, many of whom are already losing faith in Frank and the 52-year-old's decision to give his side Christmas Day off may not go down well with supporters.

But Frank, explaining the reason behind his decision, said: "This week we actually handle in the same way I would have done with any other week. If it was not Christmas, it was still done the same.

"So, we have two days leading to the game, day off, two days. So Tuesday and Wednesday, then off on 25th and then two days. Then it's perfectly fit the Christmas family schedule, which is very good.

"I'm a big believer of being a top professional and that's something I believe the players are and should be. Some need to be guided more than others, but also they are grown-up individuals.

"If I need to hold their hand the whole time, we have a bigger problem in my opinion."
Frank will be without captain Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons at Selhurst Park due to suspension in a fresh setback for the Danish coach.

But the former Brentford boss pointed to his spell at Brondby in 2013, where he recovered from a poor start to enjoy success over a three-year period, as an indication of how things could turn around at Spurs.

"I think I see a lot of similarities to my first head coach job," he said. "Of course, completely different scale.

"This is, of course, a massive club. One of the biggest clubs in the world and so much focus on it, so that makes it of course bigger and a different challenge.

"But I see a lot of similarities when I had my first head coach job in Brondby and here where you try to build something over time.

"You inherit something that you need to try to get right with a lot of good people around me and then where this makes it extra challenging is that we play Champions League and Premier League at the same time.

"And we try to improve while we are driving 100 miles an hour, but that's part of it. That's a good challenge."