Gauff, Rybakina Sail Into US Open Quarters, Another Great Escape for Zheng

Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Gauff, Rybakina Sail Into US Open Quarters, Another Great Escape for Zheng

Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

Home favorite Coco Gauff and world number two Elena Rybakina sailed into the US Open quarter-finals on Monday, while China's Zheng Qinwen mounted another extraordinary fightback to upset six-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

Fourth seed Gauff outclassed compatriot ⁠Iva Jovic 6-1 ⁠6-4 to set up a clash with fellow French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for a place in the semis.

"Mirra is someone that I always have tough matches with," Gauff told reporters. "She's obviously in a different mindset now at the top of the game coming off of a Grand Slam win ... it's going to be a really athletic, tough match."

Gauff is the sixth American player into the quarters, joining Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Frances Tiafoe, Alex Michelsen and Ben Shelton.

Rybakina continued her quest for a third major title with a 6-1 6-4 win over former US Open champion Naomi Osaka, ⁠who was hampered by an Achilles tendon injury that had flared up in the previous round.

The victory leaves second seed Rybakina one win away from becoming world number one for the first time, with Olympic champion Zheng awaiting her in the quarters.

The win was another encouraging sign for Rybakina, who had arrived in New York with questions over her fitness after retiring from the Cincinnati Open in the build-up to the tournament.

"Preparation wasn't that great," she told reporters, according to Reuters. It's an amazing progress. I'm really glad how everything worked out."

Zheng has become something of an escape artist at Flushing Meadows.

After coming back from a 0-5 deficit in the deciding set against third-round foe Madison Keys, she let the first five games slip through her fingers in 20 minutes against 2022 champion Swiatek.

However, she clawed her way back into the match and collapsed to the court with her face in her hands after sealing ⁠the win on the fourth ⁠match point.

Zheng is the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the quarter-finals of the women's draw, as she battles back from a chronic elbow injury.

Andreeva's entertaining match against Anastasia Potapova ended on a sour note as the Austrian went down injured in the final game.

Potapova valiantly retook the court but could not prevent the inevitable as Andreeva sealed the 5-7 6-4 6-3 win with a backhand strike before going across the net to hug her opponent.

The evening session in the men's draw was not short on drama.

At Louis Armstrong Stadium, Karen Khachanov fought back to claim a 7-5 4-6 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4 win over 20-year-old American Learner Tien, while on the Grandstand court Botic van de Zandschulp emerged victorious after a five-hour marathon against Arthur Gea.

The 21-year-old Gea had been one point away from becoming the first lucky loser in Grand Slam history to reach the quarter-finals, before his Dutch opponent engineered a 3-6 6-7(0) 7-6(7) 7-6(3) 6-4 comeback win.

Earlier on Monday, Belgium's Alexander Blockx dispatched Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 4-6 7-5 7-5 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.



Zverev Beats Darderi and the Clock to Reach US Open quarters

Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates winning his round of 16 match against Italy's Luciano Darderi REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates winning his round of 16 match against Italy's Luciano Darderi REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
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Zverev Beats Darderi and the Clock to Reach US Open quarters

Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates winning his round of 16 match against Italy's Luciano Darderi REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 7, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates winning his round of 16 match against Italy's Luciano Darderi REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Alexander Zverev put a slow start to his US Open campaign further behind him as the top-seeded German defeated Italian Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-2 7-6(3) on Monday and moved into the quarter-finals.

Playing his fourth straight night-session match and having endured two-five-setters along the way, the 29-year-old was in no mood to hang around and powered through the first set after absorbing some late pressure on his otherwise solid serve.

The 2020 finalist raced through the next set and staved of a spirited comeback attempt in ⁠the third to ⁠finish before midnight for the first time this year in New York.

"I don't know what to do with myself, because it's before midnight," said Zverev, who pointed to his watch when the match ended at around 11.48 p.m.

"I might go to a practice court, or a bar ... that ⁠was a joke, so relax. I'm feeling happy, compared to the first two matches the level has been going up."

After a misplaced drop shot from 21st seed Darderi gifted Zverev a second break in the next set, the French Open champion took full advantage to rack up a 4-0 lead that provided the perfect platform to double his advantage in the match.

Zverev suddenly lost momentum and was tested a lot more in the third set by Darderi's ⁠powerful first ⁠serve and drop shots, but he regrouped late on to prevail and become the only man to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams this year.

"I thought that my level was consistent, but he started incredibly well in third set," Zverev added, according to Reuters.

"I barely saw anyone hit so hard so consistently. He made it very difficult for me. I'm happy to be in the quarter-finals and playing this way."

Zverev, who reached his fifth quarter-final at the tournament, will face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp for a place in the final four.


Three Talking Points from the Italian Grand Prix

Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli holds his trophy as he celebrates with his team members after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Monza, northern Italy on September 6, 2026. (AFP)
Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli holds his trophy as he celebrates with his team members after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Monza, northern Italy on September 6, 2026. (AFP)
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Three Talking Points from the Italian Grand Prix

Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli holds his trophy as he celebrates with his team members after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Monza, northern Italy on September 6, 2026. (AFP)
Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli holds his trophy as he celebrates with his team members after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Monza, northern Italy on September 6, 2026. (AFP)

Rarely has a race, or a singular drive, stirred the emotions as did Kimi Antonelli's spectacular home triumph in Sunday's stunning and wildly-entertaining Italian Grand Prix.

It was a season-defining performance, a display foreseen by his team boss as a "walk on water" demonstration of pure talent.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points from a weekend of the unexpected at Monza where Ferrari fervor turned to Italian joy in celebration of a first home winner for 60 years:

- Antonelli: 'Generational genius' -

It was less about the history and the statistics, impressive as they are, but much more a show of precocious speed and talent as the boy from Bologna, who turned 20 two weeks ago, won from 19th on the grid.

In becoming the first Italian driver to win at Monza since 1966 -- to move 66 points clear of nearest rival and teammate George Russell in the title race -- he proved Italy still produces winners and champions.

Only a series of catastrophes in the remaining 10 races can prevent Antonelli becoming the first Italian to win the world title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

This was Antonelli's seventh win this year, lifting him level with Russell, who was the pre-season favorite, in career victories, despite the Briton having made 128 more race starts.

As he said in the ecstatic aftermath of the race, as thousands of Ferrari fans, in a weekend record crowd of 403,666, thronged below the podium, this win "is great, but the best is yet to come".

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who recruited Antonelli to his junior team and developed him as a protege of extraordinary potential, said he felt sure one of his two protagonists would win.

"I felt it on Saturday," he said. "I chatted with his father Marco. He saw it coming, too. I knew one of the two would win -- George, because he was at the front, or Kimi, because he was going to walk on water."

Antonelli took advantage of a red flag and a virtual safety car to pit twice for new tires while Russell did so only once, for hards, leaving him vulnerable on the final laps.

But, Wolff pointed out, it was something more than tires or tactics that took his curly-mopped youngster through the field to glory.

"I've seen it with other great ones in the past," said Wolff, who oversaw six of Lewis Hamilton's seven championship-winning seasons with Mercedes.

"When a driver and a car are as one, then there's just nothing that can stop them."

- Ferrari season in peril -

Ferrari's home flop ended with Hamilton sixth, conceding his title dream is over and pointing a finger at his team.

Poor strategy, which saw him not take advantage of the VSC deployment to fit new tires, saw him struggling on worn mediums, while a lack of "rules of engagement" resulted in an opening lap clash with teammate Charles Leclerc, who later crashed out.

"At Mercedes, we had written rules," said Hamilton. "And we never had it too bad.

"Here (at Ferrari), there are no rules. It needs to change."

He added that the team had prevaricated too long over asking Leclerc to support Hamilton in the title race. "It's way too late for that now."

- Verstappen proves point -

Max Verstappen's battling drive to take third behind both Mercedes, but ahead of the two McLarens, went some way in justifying his decision to extend his Red Bull contract and erase the pain of a first-lap crash two weeks earlier at his home Dutch Grand Prix.

"For us to be on the podium is, I think, a very strong result," he said after his fifth top-three finish of a difficult season that is yet to produce a win.

"Mercedes were clearly too strong for us but to be behind them after a very difficult weekend in Zandvoort is very positive for us."


Belgium Withholds Support for Infantino Over Balogun Red Card Row

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino looks on during the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 13, 2024. (AFP)
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino looks on during the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 13, 2024. (AFP)
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Belgium Withholds Support for Infantino Over Balogun Red Card Row

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino looks on during the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 13, 2024. (AFP)
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino looks on during the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 13, 2024. (AFP)

Belgium will not support Gianni ‌Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president unless it receives satisfactory answers over the handling of the Folarin Balogun red-card case at the World Cup and other governance concerns, the country's football federation (RBFA) said on Monday.

Belgium has sought explanations over the disciplinary process involving Balogun, whose automatic red-card ban was suspended by FIFA, allowing the US striker to face Belgium in their World Cup last-16 clash after US President Donald Trump personally urged Infantino to review the case.

The RBFA said ‌football's world ‌governing body had yet to provide adequate ‌justification ⁠for its decision ⁠or explain how similar cases would be handled in the future.

"It is essential that such cases are handled in a transparent and rigorous manner, in the interests of FIFA, the good governance and the credibility of international football, with clear safeguards for the future," RBFA said in a statement.

The federation has ⁠asked FIFA to place the Balogun case ‌on the agenda for the ‌next FIFA Council meeting on October 15.

The other issue centers on FIFA ‌Forward Enterprise, where the RBFA said several decisions and ‌assessments had not been sufficiently justified, raising broader concerns about transparency and governance.

The RBFA had opposed FIFA's proposed sale of a stake in World Cup commercial rights, saying it remained committed to "a strong, ‌independent and sustainable model for international football."

"My team at the RBFA communicated with FIFA in ⁠a composed ⁠and constructive manner, both during and after the World Cup, in order to obtain clarity in the Balogun case. Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date," RBFA President Pascale Van Damme said.

"Given the importance of transparency and clarity for all parties involved, we request the necessary explanations and, at the same time, wish to explore where improvements to the current processes are possible."

The Belgian federation said it remained in close contact with European soccer's governing body UEFA over both issues and would continue pushing for greater transparency in FIFA decision-making.