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Parry Clinches First Title with WTA Monterrey Win

Diane Parry of France lifts the champion’s trophy after defeating Elise Mertens of Belgium during the women's singles final of the Monterrey Open tennis tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Diane Parry of France lifts the champion’s trophy after defeating Elise Mertens of Belgium during the women's singles final of the Monterrey Open tennis tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
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Parry Clinches First Title with WTA Monterrey Win

Diane Parry of France lifts the champion’s trophy after defeating Elise Mertens of Belgium during the women's singles final of the Monterrey Open tennis tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Diane Parry of France lifts the champion’s trophy after defeating Elise Mertens of Belgium during the women's singles final of the Monterrey Open tennis tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, 29 August 2026. (EPA)

France's Diane Parry bagged the first singles title of her career with an upset defeat of Belgian second seed Elise Mertens at the WTA Monterrey tournament in Mexico on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Parry, ranked 50th in the world, held her nerve to seal a 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 win over the vastly more experienced Mertens, the world number 24.

Parry started confidently, clinching the first set after breaking Mertens for the second time in the 10th game of the opening set.

But Mertens, chasing her 11th singles title, came roaring back to race through the second set to love to regain the initiative.

Parry responded with an early break to take a 2-0 lead in the decisive third set, her powerful forehand continuing to cause problems for Mertens.

A further break gave Parry a 5-1 lead, and although she was broken immediately, she closed out the set to complete her first tournament win.

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Bersant Celina to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Spaces We Leave Behind Cost Us Against Al-Diriyah

Celina leads an Al-Ettifaq attack toward Al-Diriyah's goal. (SPA)
Celina leads an Al-Ettifaq attack toward Al-Diriyah's goal. (SPA)
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Bersant Celina to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Spaces We Leave Behind Cost Us Against Al-Diriyah

Celina leads an Al-Ettifaq attack toward Al-Diriyah's goal. (SPA)
Celina leads an Al-Ettifaq attack toward Al-Diriyah's goal. (SPA)

Kosovar midfielder Bersant Celina of Al-Ettifaq acknowledged that the spaces the team leaves behind its defensive lines give opponents opportunities to exploit attacking transitions and catch them off guard. He also said Al-Ettifaq failed to capitalize on the chances it had during its match against Al Diriyah.

Al-Ettifaq suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Al Diriyah in the fourth round of the Saudi Pro League, in a match played at Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium.

Celina said it was easy for opponents to launch transitions against them and catch them off guard in the spaces they left behind, creating dangerous chances. He also said they had failed to capitalize on the opportunities they had.

The Al-Ettifaq player acknowledged the difficulty of the situation following the result, while saying he understood the frustration of the fans, who had been expecting a better performance and result from the team.

He added: “It is difficult, and we understand our fans' frustration. They deserve better, and we promise to improve in the coming matches.”

Sports

Al-Diriyah Defeats Al-Ettifaq 3-0 in Fourth Round of Roshn Saudi League

Al-Diriyah Club defeated host Al-Ettifaq 3-0 - SPA
Al-Diriyah Club defeated host Al-Ettifaq 3-0 - SPA
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Al-Diriyah Defeats Al-Ettifaq 3-0 in Fourth Round of Roshn Saudi League

Al-Diriyah Club defeated host Al-Ettifaq 3-0 - SPA
Al-Diriyah Club defeated host Al-Ettifaq 3-0 - SPA

Al-Diriyah Club defeated host Al-Ettifaq 3-0 in a match at EGO Stadium in Dammam as part of the fourth round of the 2026-2027 Saudi Pro League (Roshn Saudi League), SPA reported.

With the result, Al-Diriyah raised its tally to seven points, while Al-Ettifaq remained on six points.

Sports

Mourinho Says Mbappe Worthy of Ballon d'Or

Football – La Liga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - August 26, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football – La Liga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - August 26, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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Mourinho Says Mbappe Worthy of Ballon d'Or

Football – La Liga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - August 26, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football – La Liga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - August 26, 2026 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Kylian Mbappe deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or, arguing the award should go to "the best player in the world" rather than be decided by World Cup or Champions League success.

"The best players in the world, there are two, three or four of them, and we know who they are: they're here," Mourinho told reporters Saturday ahead of Madrid's game against Malaga in La Liga.

"And for me there is one who, individually, made history this summer," Mourinho said, in reference to Mbappe, who became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history during the tournament.

The France captain is among the contenders for the Ballon d'Or after finishing last season as the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup, despite failing to win a major trophy.

His rivals include England striker Harry Kane, Spain midfielder and World Cup winner Rodri, and Paris Saint-Germain's European champions Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, featured on the front page of Madrid-based sports daily AS on Saturday under the headline: "Mbappe targets the Ballon d'Or".

"You cannot give the Ballon d'Or to a player simply because he won the Champions League or the World Cup," said Mourinho.

"For me, the Ballon d'Or should go to one of those players who, when they retire, will be missed forever. Maradona, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane..." he said.

"If we want to reward the Champions League, then give it to Luis Enrique. For the Spanish national team, give it to (Luis) De la Fuente. The best player in the world is something else, and he is neither at PSG nor in the Spain team," Mourinho added.