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Kenin Beats Venus Williams in Late-Night US Open Encounter

Sofia Kenin of the United States returns a shot against Venus Williams of the United States during her Women's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Sofia Kenin of the United States returns a shot against Venus Williams of the United States during her Women's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Kenin Beats Venus Williams in Late-Night US Open Encounter

Sofia Kenin of the United States returns a shot against Venus Williams of the United States during her Women's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Sofia Kenin of the United States returns a shot against Venus Williams of the United States during her Women's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

American Sofia Kenin beat 46-year-old compatriot Venus Williams 6-2 7-6(6) in a US Open first-round match that began at 12:13 a.m. on Monday, the latest start in women's tournament history.

The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium got underway after Novak Djokovic's five-set defeat by Mariano Navone, with a sizable contingent of fans staying on well past midnight for one more look at Williams, who ‌was playing ‌as a wild card in her ‌96th ⁠career Grand Slam ⁠main draw appearance.

Kenin broke serve in the opening game and never trailed in the first set, racing to a 3-0 lead as both players struggled to find their rhythm, combining for nine double faults.

Williams, cheered on by chants of "Let's go ⁠Venus", broke back to love to ‌trim the deficit to ‌3-1 but dropped serve again as Kenin pulled away ‌to close out the set.

Kenin reeled off three ‌straight games to lead 3-1 in the second set and while Williams showed flashes of the form that earned her seven Grand Slam titles she struggled ‌to string points together, with her second serve proving especially costly.

Kenin saved four ⁠break ⁠points to level at 5-5, leaving Williams screaming in frustration at handing her opponent another game with unforced errors. However, Williams still found a way to hold for 6-5 before Kenin forced a tiebreak.

Williams appeared to have the upper hand in the tiebreak but could not convert any of her seven set points, as Kenin dug in to close out the win.

Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, will next face top-ranked American Jessica Pegula.

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FIFA Postpones FIFAe Finals in Saudi Arabia

The FIFA logo is seen before the FIFA Council meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, 15 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA
The FIFA logo is seen before the FIFA Council meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, 15 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA
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FIFA Postpones FIFAe Finals in Saudi Arabia

The FIFA logo is seen before the FIFA Council meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, 15 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA
The FIFA logo is seen before the FIFA Council meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, 15 October 2026. EPA/CLAUDIO THOMA

FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 scheduled to take place in Jeddah from October 16 to 25, organizers said on Thursday.

"The decision follows an assessment ⁠of recent developments ⁠in the region and their impact on the logistical arrangements required to stage the tournament," organizers of the global video game tournament said.

"Further announcements on the FIFAe Finals will be communicated in due course."

FIFA expressed its appreciation to the Kingdom and the Saudi Esports Federation for their support and cooperation in preparations for the FIFAe Finals 2026, building on Saudi Arabia’s successful hosting of previous editions of the tournament.

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Malaysia Says Considering Bringing F1 Race Back

A man wearing a face mask takes a photo with his phone, with Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in the background shrouded in haze from regional wildfires, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 15, 2026. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain
A man wearing a face mask takes a photo with his phone, with Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in the background shrouded in haze from regional wildfires, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 15, 2026. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain
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Malaysia Says Considering Bringing F1 Race Back

A man wearing a face mask takes a photo with his phone, with Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in the background shrouded in haze from regional wildfires, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 15, 2026. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain
A man wearing a face mask takes a photo with his phone, with Kuala Lumpur’s skyline in the background shrouded in haze from regional wildfires, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 15, 2026. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

Malaysia is considering returning as a regular host of a Formula One race, either annually or once every few years, with the government assessing the costs and economic benefits, its sports minister said on Thursday.

Malaysia's Sepang circuit had hosted a leg of the Formula One championship annually between 1999 and 2017 before being dropped from the calendar amid declining ticket sales and ⁠concerns over rising ⁠hosting costs

It returned earlier this month as a one-off host for a rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix, after the race was cancelled at its original venue due to ongoing tensions in the Middle ⁠East.

Discussions on bringing the race regularly back to Malaysia were still at an early stage, including a proposal to host it once every few years in partnership with another country, Youth and Sports Minister Mohammed Taufiq Johari told parliament.

An assessment report was expected to be submitted to cabinet by November, Reuters quoted him as saying.

"Staging F1 is ⁠not ⁠cheap. It involves quite substantial costs, and there are several important aspects that we need to assess," he said.

While this month's event was estimated to have generated around 950 million ringgit ($233 million) in economic returns, the government would need to consider if "we would obtain the same returns (every year), and whether we are ready in terms of the various infrastructure requirements," he said.

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Franco Colapinto Calls Out his Fans for Social Media Attacks on F1 Rivals

Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto (R) drives in front of Williams' Thai driver Alexander Albon during the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto (R) drives in front of Williams' Thai driver Alexander Albon during the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
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Franco Colapinto Calls Out his Fans for Social Media Attacks on F1 Rivals

Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto (R) drives in front of Williams' Thai driver Alexander Albon during the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto (R) drives in front of Williams' Thai driver Alexander Albon during the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Formula 1 driver Franco Colapinto has called on his fans to stop social media campaigns attacking other drivers and his Alpine team staff, saying they're holding back his career.

Since the Argentine driver's F1 debut in 2024, fans have sent negative and sometimes abusive comments on social media targeting drivers who clashed with him on the track. Among them were champion Lando Norris and FIA race stewards who penalized Colapinto.

Alpine also stepped in this year to condemn online abuse and deny claims it was trying to “sabotage” Colapinto to favor teammate Pierre Gasly.

“I know it makes you feel very proud when things go well for me, when I score points, for me and for the whole team, and I’ll always be very grateful for that," Colapinto said in a video on Instagram late Wednesday.

"But there are times when we go over the line, when instead of supporting me we end up criticizing, we end up attacking other drivers, other colleagues, my teammates, my mechanics, my engineers, people I work with day in and day out.

“I know you’re thinking that you’re defending me, but you’re actually doing the opposite. You don’t help me or my future, and I really want you to understand that this is what we have to change, all of us together.”

The Associated Press said that Colapinto became racing-mad Argentina’s first F1 driver in 23 years when he made his debut in 2024 with Williams.

He moved to Alpine the following year, initially as a reserve, then was promoted when the team fired Jack Doohan, who later complained he'd received death threats around that time.

Colapinto is having his most successful season this year and is 12th in the standings, as well as picking up a best career race finish of sixth. Alpine confirmed in August his contract was being extended for next season.