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Medvedev Reaches Last 16 in Miami, Osaka into Quarters

Daniil Medvedev beat Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4. (AP)
Daniil Medvedev beat Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4. (AP)
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Medvedev Reaches Last 16 in Miami, Osaka into Quarters

Daniil Medvedev beat Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4. (AP)
Daniil Medvedev beat Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4. (AP)

Top seed Daniil Medvedev moved a step closer to reclaiming the world number one ranking as he beat Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4 on Monday to reach the last 16 at the Miami Open, while Naomi Osaka cruised into the quarter-finals of the women's draw.

Medvedev, who can replace Novak Djokovic in the rankings if he reaches the Miami semi-finals, fired down 14 aces and broke Martinez three times to secure victory in 84 minutes.

"I just felt like I had to be more consistent, and the more consistent one today would win," Medvedev said.

"I managed to just make a few less errors at important moments, serve even better, and it was a small margin but I managed to win and I'm really happy."

Up next for the Russian, who lost the number one ranking after a surprise third-round loss at Indian Wells, will be American Jenson Brooksby, a 6-3 5-7 6-4 winner over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

Spanish 14th seed Carlos Alcaraz will meet Stefanos Tsitsipas after both enjoyed straight-set wins over Marin Cilic and Alex de Minaur respectively.

The 18-year-old Alcaraz beat Tsitsipas in their only previous meeting, a five-set thriller at last year's US Open.

"He is a great player," the Greek third seed said of Alcaraz.

"For me it will be a great challenge, the ones that I like."

Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz dispatched fellow American Tommy Paul 7-6(2) 6-4 and will meet Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, a 7-6(4) 6-3 winner over Sebastian Korda.

Fritz said it is all about managing expectations.

"I didn't really think about winning Indian Wells until I had match point in the final," he said.

"So I'm approaching this one the same way. I don't expect to win the tournament, but I take it one match at a time, and you never know."

Osaka serves up win

Japan's Osaka reached the quarter-finals for a second consecutive year with a 6-3 6-4 win over American Alison Riske, recovering after falling behind 2-0 in the second set.

After the match the unseeded Osaka said she was in a different state of mind than last year when arriving at the Miami Open after winning the Australian Open.

"It's really funny for me because last year I made it to the (Miami) quarters too but it was after I won Australia and I wasn't that grateful, I kind of expected to win," said Osaka.

"But I'm in the same position this year and I am so like, this is really like one of the funnest times of my life."

Standing between the four-times Grand Slam champion and a first Miami semi-final will be Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins, who beat Tunisian eighth seed Ons Jabeur 6-2 6-4.

Poland's new world number one Iga Swiatek eased past 14th seed Coco Gauff 6-3 6-1 and will next face Petra Kvitova after the Czech defeated Veronika Kudermatova 7-6(5) 6-4 to reach the quarters.

Spanish fifth seed Paula Badosa beat 16-year-old wildcard Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2 6-3 and will next meet Jessica Pegula, who reached the Miami quarter-finals for the first time after Anhelina Kalinina retired while trailing 6-0.

Badosa, who won the Sydney title this year and reached the semis at Indian Wells, told reporters it had been a tough day.

"I didn't wake up feeling well so I didn't know if I'd be able to finish the match," she said. "I always say I want to be a fighter no matter what so that's what I did. I kept fighting and I don't really know how I won."

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Sports

Russell Fends Off Verstappen to Win in Baku, Antonelli 5th

26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Russell Fends Off Verstappen to Win in Baku, Antonelli 5th

26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

George Russell closed the gap to championship-leading Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli at the top of the Formula One standings after fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to complete a lights-to-flag win in Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the Italian fifth.

Russell took the flag just 0.196 seconds ahead of the flying Dutchman, who had started eighth but crossed the line nearly side-by-side with his Mercedes rival, after two safety car phases turned a Saturday cruise into a fight for survival for the Briton.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar completed a double podium for Red Bull, repaying the team’s decision to give him a contract extension with third on his return to racing action.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step of the podium,” said Russell, after closing the gap to Antonelli from 81 to 66 points in the overall standings with 15 races completed.

“Every ⁠race since the (summer) ⁠break I have gone from strength to strength and I feel more like myself again.”

Antonelli had started 16th after a rare error saw him crash out of Friday’s qualifying.

His drive on Saturday was less like his Monza charge – where he went from 19th to first – and more a slow-burn recovery.

Saturday’s win was the eighth of Russell’s career, his third of the season and first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June, Reuters reported.

It capped a dominant weekend for the Briton and had seemed a mere formality, with the 28-year-old leading off the line and opening up a ⁠comfortable lead ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Verstappen and Hadjar.

But all that changed on the 31st of the race’s 51 laps when a crash for Williams racer Alex Albon brought out the safety car.

Russell’s 11-second lead evaporated as the safety car bunched up the field.

Verstappen snatched second from Piastri into the first corner as the action resumed, with Russell unchallenged.

But the race was neutralised almost instantly by another safety car when Argentine Franco Colapinto locked up and ploughed into Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, who in turn collected McLaren’s reigning champion Lando Norris.

Colapinto, who was given a 10-second time penalty, continued but the contact put both Gasly and Norris out of the race.

The fuming Briton called for the 23-year-old Colapinto to be banned.

Russell had Verstappen right on his tail at the second restart.

The Mercedes driver kept the lead but was unable to shake off the chasing Red Bull, with the pair trading fastest laps.

It ⁠looked like the Dutchman, brushing ⁠the barriers as he hunted down his first win of the season, might just snatch victory on the final dash to the line but the Briton doggedly clung on.

“We had a good race, a tricky first stint on the mediums (tires) but we got a good restart,” said Verstappen.

“Then the final lap George lost boost and I got close, but it was not enough.”

Behind them, Hadjar inherited third when Piastri locked up and took to the run-off area.

The Australian, who had started third, dropped to 14th compounding a miserable day for McLaren.

“It has been a very long six weeks since I injured myself,” said Hadjar, who missed the last three races with a wrist injury.

“It was the right time to come back, I felt strong, I took it step by step to gain the confidence,” added the 21-year-old who was also on the podium in Monaco.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari. His seven-times world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton was sixth.

Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad was seventh while Esteban Ocon took eighth ahead of teammate Oliver Bearman in a double points finish for Haas.

Carlos Sainz rounded out the top 10 for Williams.

Sports

Ireland Players Vote to Play Israel Tie despite Gaza Unease

Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo
Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo
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Ireland Players Vote to Play Israel Tie despite Gaza Unease

Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo
Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo

Players from Ireland's football team voted on Saturday to fulfil a UEFA Nations League tie with Israel despite player unease over the war in Gaza.

"We carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the (Israel) fixtures," Football Association of Ireland head David Courell told reporters in Debrecen, Hungary, where the game will take place on Sunday.

"It was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue," said Courell, AFP reported.

"Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures," he said.

Ireland are scheduled to play two Nations League fixtures against Israel, with the first -- officially Israel's home fixture - to be played at the neutral venue in Hungary.

Ireland's designated home match on October 4 was moved from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security.

Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country's own history of British rule.

Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticised Israel over the Gaza conflict.

Israel strongly rejects allegations its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.

Since Ireland were drawn in the same Nations League group as Israel prominent Irish figures including sportspeople, as well as fan groups and pro-Palestinian campaigners have protested against the ties going ahead.

Ireland's Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrimsson told the press conference that one unnamed player has decided to withdraw from the squad for the Israel game.

The player's decision triggered the delay of a scheduled press conference on Saturday, and a decision to hold the vote amongst the squad about whether to fulfil the fixture or not.

"Nobody is comfortable playing these games for many reasons," said Hallgrimsson.

"We are trying to tackle it in the best way we can at the moment," he said.

Ireland players will not fulfil any media duties tomorrow, or against Austria in Dublin on October 1st, or around the game against Israel in Serbia three days later, said Courell.

The players will wear black armbands "for all lives lost in the conflict" during Sunday's match with profits from the Austria game to be donated to charity, while the players will also donate their match fees, he said.

There will be no handshakes or a pennant exchange with Israeli players before kick-off, he added.

Sunday's match comes days after national broadcaster RTE confirmed Ireland would again boycott the Eurovision Song Contest next year because of Israel's participation.

In a rare move for a state broadcaster RTE said earlier it will show the game, but without Irish commentary or pundits.

 

 

 

 

Sports

Man City Confident they Can Prove 'Innocence' over Charges, Says Chairman

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
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Man City Confident they Can Prove 'Innocence' over Charges, Says Chairman

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Saturday that the club were confident they could prove their innocence after they were reportedly found guilty of more than 100 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules.

News of the decisions reached by an independent tribunal was reported on Friday but no official announcement has been made by the Premier League and there is no firm indication of any potential punishment, according to AFP.

"The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began," he said in an open letter to City fans on the club's website.

"There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position.

"But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment."

"While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed," he said.

"We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity."