Ethiopia’s Tola Wins Men’s Marathon Gold at Olympics

 Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
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Ethiopia’s Tola Wins Men’s Marathon Gold at Olympics

 Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)

Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola won gold in the men's marathon at the Paris Games on Saturday as Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge failed in his bid to win a historic third consecutive Olympic crown.

Belgium's Bashir Abdi took silver, improving on his bronze from Tokyo, and Kenya's Benson Kipruto claimed bronze.

Tola built a strong lead early on and crossed the finish line in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds.

Emerging from a pack of frontrunners from the first steep ascent of an exceptionally hilly course, the former cross country specialist seemed only to strengthen on the second hill as others faded behind him.

Tola had an 18-second lead by the 35km mark, which he extended as the Eiffel Tower came into sight and crowds lining the streets roared him on. He became the first Ethiopian winner of the Olympic men's marathon in 24 years.



Liverpool Announce 5-year Sponsorship Deal with Turkish Airlines

FILE - A general view of the Anfield stadium ahead of the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
FILE - A general view of the Anfield stadium ahead of the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
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Liverpool Announce 5-year Sponsorship Deal with Turkish Airlines

FILE - A general view of the Anfield stadium ahead of the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
FILE - A general view of the Anfield stadium ahead of the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Liverpool have agreed a five-year deal for Turkish Airlines to become their main club partner from June 1, 2027, which means the first change in the Anfield side's leading shirt sponsor since 2010, ending a 17-year run for Standard Chartered.

The deal announced on Tuesday will be worth in excess of £300 million ($405.78 million) according to media reports, which would place it among the most lucrative in ⁠the Premier League.

While ⁠the precise figures have not been confirmed, it is likely to match the income from Manchester United's shirt sponsorship deal with Qualcomm, which was signed in August 2024.

Standard Chartered will remain affiliated with ⁠Liverpool as a Global Partner, said a club statement, but Turkish Airlines will take the primary position in Liverpool's branding.

“The front of the Liverpool shirt holds a special place in the history of our club," Reuters quoted Liverpool's chief commercial officer Ben Latty as saying.

"Turkish Airlines is a globally recognized organization with an extensive international network and we look ⁠forward ⁠to beginning our partnership and building a strong relationship together, with already strong foundations built from those special memories back in 2005," he added, referring to Liverpool's Champions League final comeback win in Istanbul.

The deal adds to a growing sponsorship portfolio within football for Turkish Airlines, who are an official partner of the Champions League and main sponsor of Türkiye's national team.


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.


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.