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Tunisia's Jabeur into Maiden WTA 1000 Final in Madrid

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia gestures after a winning point against Simona Halep of Romania during their match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP)
Ons Jabeur of Tunisia gestures after a winning point against Simona Halep of Romania during their match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP)
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Tunisia's Jabeur into Maiden WTA 1000 Final in Madrid

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia gestures after a winning point against Simona Halep of Romania during their match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP)
Ons Jabeur of Tunisia gestures after a winning point against Simona Halep of Romania during their match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP)

Eighth seed Ons Jabeur advanced to the biggest final of her career with an impressive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in Madrid on Thursday.

The Tunisian followed up wins against Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and former world number one Simona Halep with just her second success in eight meetings with Alexandrova to move into a maiden WTA 1000 final.

"It was a very emotional match. For those who don't know, I have a 1-6 record against her. So it was a tough match mentally," said Jabeur.

"But I'm glad that I pulled the win today. I played really good, I was ready for the right moments and hopefully I can continue playing at this level for the final."

The first Arab player in history to crack the top 10, Jabeur awaits the winner of the semi-final between American 12th seed Jessica Pegula and Swiss lefty Jil Teichmann.

In the men's event, former world number one Murray was forced to pull out of his last-16 match against Djokovic, citing food poisoning.

It would have been the 37th meeting between Murray and current world number one Djokovic, but the first since they played each other in the Doha final in January 2017.

Djokovic, a three-time champion in Madrid, now moves directly into a quarter-final against Polish number 12 seed Hubert Hurkacz, who knocked out Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 7-5, 6-3.

Sixth seed Andrey Rublev reached the seventh Masters 1000 quarter-final of his career with a 7-6(9/7), 7-5 result against Dan Evans of Great Britain.

Rublev bounced back from 1-3 down in the opening set, and saved a set point in the tiebreak before securing a lead in one hour and 15 minutes.

In the second set, Rublev saw an early service break lead wiped by Evans before he made a late move in the 11th game to wrap up a hard-fought victory, his third in five meetings with the Brit.

The Russian finished the match with 46 winners, 34 of which came off the forehand wing.

Rublev, who was also tested in his opener against Jack Draper, admits it has been a "stressful" tournament for him so far, despite arriving to the Spanish capital fresh from a title run in Belgrade.

"I´m going on court thinking for sure today I´m going to do everything and I will be calm and then I´m doing really stupid and easy mistakes that make no sense," said Rublev

"Then I manage somehow to calm down and at the end starts these roller coasters."

Rublev will face either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Grigor Dimitrov in the next round.

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Pegula Downs Jovic to Reach WTA Charleston Final

Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Pegula Downs Jovic to Reach WTA Charleston Final

Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)

Defending champion Jessica Pegula advanced to the final of the WTA Charleston Open clay-court tournament on Saturday, defeating fourth seed Iva Jovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

American top seed Pegula, who has been taken to three sets in each of her four matches in Charleston this week, finally wrapped up victory in 2hr 35min when Jovic pulled a forehand return wide.

The 32-year-old from New York will face Yuliia Starodubtseva in Sunday's final after the unseeded Ukrainian upset fifth seed Madison Keys in the other semi-final.

World number 89 Starodubtseva, who was initially scheduled to go through qualifying in Charleston before being granted a place in the main draw after a withdrawal, defeated Keys 6-1, 6-4.

World number five Pegula will be chasing her second title of the season on Sunday after her victory in Dubai in February.

The American admitted after Saturday's latest three-setter that she has become used to taking the scenic route as she has advanced through the rounds in Charleston.

"When I won the first set today I thought 'Oh man, I have such a great chance to not go to three'. I was like 'Maybe I'll get it done in two today'," Pegula told the Tennis Channel.

"I'd love some straight sets victories -- that would be nice. But a win's a win. If I'm gonna win every match for the rest of my life, but it's three sets, I'll take the three sets."

While Pegula will be targeting her second title of the year on Sunday, Starodubtseva will be aiming for the first of her career.

The 26-year-old Ukrainian punished Keys's fragile service game to race through the first set in just 31 minutes, breaking the American four times to win 6-1, before clinching victory with another service break in the 10th game of the second set.

"I did not expect to break her that many times today," Starodubtseva said. "I feel like I did quite well at neutralizing her power and just hitting a heavy ball back.

"I can't really described my feelings right now. I may not have expected this outcome in this tournament but hard work pays off."

Sports

Arsenal’s Arteta Rues Missed Opportunity After FA Cup Exit

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
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Arsenal’s Arteta Rues Missed Opportunity After FA Cup Exit

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ‌could not hide his disappointment after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton on Saturday, suggesting the team’s poor defending was the major contributing factor.

The 2-1 quarter-final defeat follows on from the League Cup final loss to Manchester City last time out as Arsenal’s "quadruple" hopes this season have suddenly been downgraded to a "double" as they now chase Premier League and Champions League honors.

"The result and especially the way we conceded the two goals (were disappointing)," Arteta told the BBC. "We had so much dominance in and ‌around the ‌box. We conceded the first goal in a ‌very ⁠unusual way for ⁠us, the second one from direct play as well.

"We had two massive chances and needed to capitalize on that. If you make the defending errors we made today, it's very difficult to be in the semi-final."

Arsenal were without several first team regulars for a match played in driving wind and rain, but Arteta refused to blame ⁠either of those factors and was not surprised ‌by the test Southampton gave them.

"They ‌are a very good side on a very good run and you have ‌to congratulate them," he said. "You have to adapt to the ‌wind, the injuries. You have to adapt to difficult situations in the season. Now we have to show what we are made of.

"That (Arsenal) team had very good moments. They should have capitalized and be going to Wembley, ‌and we haven't done it."

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert is now unbeaten in 15 matches in all ⁠competitions with ⁠the south coast club, but is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"We put on a good shift today. It was a challenge, we knew it was going to be a tough game. The second half always has the chance to shift and we reacted quite well," he said.

"You always need to find a balance, it's not going direct for the sake of going direct. You need spells with shorter solutions and we had a good mix today.

"Belief is always there, it's not been a problem. The reality is that the game is close. It's going to be nice to celebrate today but we open up Wrexham and Championship football tomorrow."

Sports

Inter Boss Chivu Defends Bastoni After Italy Red Card and Media Scrutiny

Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
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Inter Boss Chivu Defends Bastoni After Italy Red Card and Media Scrutiny

Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)

Inter Milan boss Cristian Chivu came to the defense of under-fire Alessandro Bastoni on Saturday, praising his center-back's courage and sense of responsibility after Italy's World Cup playoff loss and criticizing the media scrutiny around the club.

Bastoni had already been a target for Italian media and opposition fans since Inter's Valentine's Day win over Juventus, after being accused of diving to get Pierre Kalulu sent off and then celebrating the red card.

The international break did little to ease the pressure. His rash last-man foul in the first half left Italy with 10 men, and they went on to lose the World Cup playoff in ‌Bosnia on penalties.

"In ‌football, what matters is the respect of your teammates. What ‌matters ⁠is your work, ⁠and who you are as a person," Chivu told reporters ahead of Sunday's home game with AS Roma.

"I'm sure he's disappointed about what happened, but at the same time, grateful for the support he received from his national teammates and his teammates here at the club.

"Because he showed his face. Because in a moment of difficulty, he stepped forward with what he had, to represent his country and try to achieve the dream of ⁠all Italians."

Bastoni not only needed to put aside the negative ‌attention, but also missed Inter's most recent game through ‌injury before joining up with Italy.

"Despite the difficulties, despite his physical condition at that moment, ‌he made himself available, and that means a lot to me," Chivu said.

"I understand ‌what it means to spend 10 days on crutches and then step up and take responsibility in such an important match."

Chivu pushed back when asked about the media storm that followed the Juventus game, redirecting the question to the reporters over what he feels are double standards ‌when it comes to Inter.

"I haven't seen the same reaction since, but when it's Inter, when someone claims Inter are favored, ⁠then it becomes ⁠a public flogging," Chivu said.

"But when there are episodes that go against Inter, suddenly no one says anything. That's a question I should be asking you, because you are the ones who should answer it."

PRAISE, NOT BLAME

Inter had five players involved in Italy's loss, and 20-year-old forward Pio Esposito missed the first spot kick in the shootout.

"What mattered to me, and I asked him when I saw him, was whether he had requested to take the penalty," Chivu said.

"His answer was yes, and for me that's enough.

"Taking responsibility at such a young age, knowing full well the importance of the match, is enough for me. Penalties can be missed, and he will miss many in his career. What matters is that he had the courage to step up."

Inter are top of the standings, six points ahead of AC Milan, who are away to third-placed Napoli on Monday.