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Raducanu Pulls Out of Osaka Tie at United Cup as Fitness Concerns Resurface

Britain's Emma Raducanu attends a press conference during the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth on January 2, 2026. (Colin Murty / AFP)
Britain's Emma Raducanu attends a press conference during the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth on January 2, 2026. (Colin Murty / AFP)
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Raducanu Pulls Out of Osaka Tie at United Cup as Fitness Concerns Resurface

Britain's Emma Raducanu attends a press conference during the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth on January 2, 2026. (Colin Murty / AFP)
Britain's Emma Raducanu attends a press conference during the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth on January 2, 2026. (Colin Murty / AFP)

Emma Raducanu's return to tennis has been delayed after the Briton pulled out of her tie against Japan's Naomi Osaka at the United Cup mixed team event in Perth on Sunday.

Raducanu has struggled with form and fitness problems since her US Open triumph as a teenager in 2021 but she rediscovered her rhythm in ‌a run ‌to the Miami Open ‌quarter-finals ⁠last year ‌before ending her season prematurely due to physical issues.

The 23-year-old Briton was set to play her first match since October against Osaka as she builds up her preparations for the Australian Open Grand ⁠Slam, but team captain Tim Henman said the ‌tie had come too early.

"I ‍have to be ‍honest, she was very close," Henman ‍told Australian broadcaster Nine.

"It wasn't an easy decision. She had been building up and practicing really well. But we just felt this morning it was a little bit too early."

Local media reports said ⁠Raducanu withdrew due to injury.

"I don't think she's necessarily out of this tournament just yet. So we're keeping our fingers crossed," Henman said, without giving details.

Britain's next group stage match is against Greece. The team are already without world number 10 Jack Draper, who is nursing a left arm injury.

The Australian Open ‌runs from January 18 to February 1.

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Al-Ahli Beats Machida Zelvia in Extra Time to Retain AFC Champions League Elite Title

Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Final - Al Ahli v Machida Zelvia - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 25, 2026 Al Ahli players celebrate after winning the Asian Champions League REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Final - Al Ahli v Machida Zelvia - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 25, 2026 Al Ahli players celebrate after winning the Asian Champions League REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
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Al-Ahli Beats Machida Zelvia in Extra Time to Retain AFC Champions League Elite Title

Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Final - Al Ahli v Machida Zelvia - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 25, 2026 Al Ahli players celebrate after winning the Asian Champions League REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Final - Al Ahli v Machida Zelvia - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 25, 2026 Al Ahli players celebrate after winning the Asian Champions League REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia successfully defended the AFC Champions League Elite crown after beating first-time finalist Machida Zelvia of Japan 1-0 on Saturday.

It took an extra-time goal from Saudi international striker Firas Al-Burikan to settle a bad-tempered final in front of 60,000 mainly Al-Ahli fans in Jeddah.

Al-Ahli played with 10 men for almost an hour but Machida was unable to make the advantage count.

“It's amazing,” said Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez, who won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City in 2023. “It was difficult for us again. We like to make it difficult for ourselves. Ten against 11 is nearly impossible, I don’t know how we found the strength and the energy. ... After the red card we stuck together, we fought more, we ran more until we scored.”

There were few scoring opportunities in the first half although Al-Ahli should have taken the lead when Brazilian winger Galeno broke free of the Machida defense only to see his low shot saved by goalkeeper Kosei Tani. Just before the break, Merih Demiral's close-range effort was blocked on the line.

Al-Ahli was reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Zakaria Hawsawi was sent off for headbutting Tete Yangi as the two came together in front of the referee.

The dismissal shifted the momentum. Machida forced Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into several saves. Normal time ended with Al-Ahli substitute Mohammed Abdulrahman also shown a red card while on the sidelines.

The deadlock was broken in the sixth minute of extra time when former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie laid the ball off for Al-Burikan to fire high into the net from close range.

Al-Ahli became the first team to win back-to-back Asian titles since city rival Al-Ittihad in 2005.

“We are very happy to have reached the final,” Machida coach Go Kuroda said. “Al-Ahli is a team that possesses experience in the championship and we conceded a goal at a difficult time and couldn't get back into the game.”

Sports

Liverpool Close on Champions League but Salah Limps off

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)
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Liverpool Close on Champions League but Salah Limps off

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)

Liverpool moved ever closer to securing Champions League football next season with a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday but will be hoping Mohamed Salah has not played his final game for the club.

Salah limped off in the second half at Anfield holding his hamstring with less than a month of his glittering career with the Reds remaining.

"It's too early to say but we all know Mo and how hard it is for him to leave the pitch," said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. "We have to wait and see how bad it is."

Two goals in five minutes just before half-time tightened the grip of Slot's men on a top-five finish.

British transfer record signing Alexander Isak scored his first goal since returning from a leg break as he smartly controlled Alexis Mac Allister's wayward effort on goal and swiveled on the ball to volley it past Dean Henderson.

Andy Robertson then marked one of his final appearances at Anfield with a fine finish at the end of a lethal Liverpool counter-attack after third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman had denied Palace an equalizer.

Salah went to ground just before the hour mark holding the back of his left leg and was given a standing ovation as he made way for Jeremie Frimpong.

Daniel Munoz reduced the Eagles' arrears in controversial fashion as Liverpool wanted the game stopped with Woodman down injured.

"It was a lot more nervy because of the goal. I don't think we deserved to concede it in that fashion," added Slot.

"Is there a game we play where there isn't a talking point about the referee?"

But Florian Wirtz secured the three points deep into stoppage time with just his fifth Premier League goal since a £100 million ($135 million) move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Victory moves Liverpool up to fourth and opens up an eight-point lead on sixth-placed Brighton with just four games of the season remaining.

Sports

Report: Brazil’s Militao Risks Missing World Cup with Hamstring Injury

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)
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Report: Brazil’s Militao Risks Missing World Cup with Hamstring Injury

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (C) leaves the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026. (EPA)

Real Madrid's Brazil defender Eder Militao is at serious risk of missing the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury, sources close to the club and the national team told Reuters.

Real confirmed in midweek that Militao felt a twinge in a challenge shortly before halftime ‌in Tuesday's ‌win against Alaves and ‌signaled ⁠straight away to be ⁠replaced.

While Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa initially struck an optimistic tone after the game, an MRI scan later revealed a muscle injury to the hamstring in Militao's left ⁠leg.

Spanish radio COPE first reported ‌it was a ‌recurrence of the injury he sustained ‌in December, which could require surgery ‌and rule him out of the World Cup, which starts in less than 50 days. Reuters has confirmed that ‌report with several sources.

The 28-year-old now faces an anxious wait. ⁠Sources ⁠told Reuters a final decision will be made and announced on Monday, when Militao undergoes a new series of examinations with Real's doctors to determine the next steps.

The latest blow marks another setback for the Brazilian center back, who has endured a succession of injuries in recent seasons, including ACL tears in back-to-back years.