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Iga Swiatek Rolls to Start Indian Wells Title Defense

Iga Swiatek of Poland waves to the crowd after her straight sets victory against Caroline Garcia of France in their second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 07, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland waves to the crowd after her straight sets victory against Caroline Garcia of France in their second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 07, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Iga Swiatek Rolls to Start Indian Wells Title Defense

Iga Swiatek of Poland waves to the crowd after her straight sets victory against Caroline Garcia of France in their second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 07, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland waves to the crowd after her straight sets victory against Caroline Garcia of France in their second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 07, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Second-seeded Iga Swiatek, who has yet to win a tournament this year, got off to a strong start in her title defense at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday in Indian Wells, Calif.

The Polish star cruised past France's Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0 in the second round. The tournament's 32 seeded players all received a first-round bye.

Swiatek, also the Indian Wells champion in 2022, dominated with her return game on Friday. She won 58 percent of the points on Garcia's first serve, 75 percent on Garcia's second serve.

"I (was) solid no matter what the score is, and I don't take (the) next games for granted," Swiatek said. "If I'm leading even 4-0, I know that I should keep playing the same way and keep the same attitude to just win the match."

Swiatek is looking to become the first three-time women's singles champion in Indian Wells. The others who won twice in the Southern California desert were Martina Navratilova, Mary Joe Fernandez, Steffi Graf, Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Daniela Hantuchova, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.

The other highly seeded players in action on Friday also posted straight-set wins.

No. 4 Jessica Pegula of the United States downed Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2. No. 7 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan beat the Netherlands' Suzan Lamens 6-3, 6-3. No. 9 Mirra Andreeva of Russia edged France's Varvara Gracheva 7-5, 6-4. No. 15 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic ousted Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4, 6-3, and No. 18 Marta Kostyuko of Ukraine trounced the United States' Robin Montgomery 6-1, 6-3.

The Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova blitzed No. 21 Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-2. China's Xinyu Wang eliminated No. 26 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-4, 6-4. New Zealand's Lulu Sun got past No. 31 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4, and Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska bested No. 32 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-3, 6-1.

Also advancing were No. 22 Clara Tauson of Denmark, No. 23 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, No. 25 Katie Boulter of Great Britain, Armenia's Elina Avanesyan and US players Caroline Dolehide, Alycia Parks and Iva Jovic.

In the last two matches of the night, Azarenka of Belarus opposed No. 8 Qinwen Zheng of China, and No. 14 Danielle Collins met Hailey Baptiste in an all-US contest.

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Guardiola: Man City Ready for Title Push with Injured Players Set to Return

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025. EPA/ALEX DODD
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025. EPA/ALEX DODD
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Guardiola: Man City Ready for Title Push with Injured Players Set to Return

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025. EPA/ALEX DODD
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after winning the English Premier League match between Manchester City FC and West Ham United, in Manchester, Britain, 20 December 2025. EPA/ALEX DODD

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is looking forward to the return of some key players from injury as he looks to push for multiple major titles, including the Premier League, he told the club's official website.

Reuters quoted Guardiola as saying that he would rather be on top of the table in the Premier League, but is happy with City being within touching distance of leaders Arsenal.

City, who visit Nottingham Forest for ⁠a Premier League clash on Saturday, are two points below Arsenal in the English top-flight. In the Champions League, fourth-placed City are five points below Arsenal, but remain on track for a direct entry in the round of 16 ⁠with a top-eight finish.

“I’d prefer to be 10 points clear of everyone, but it is what it is. Arsenal’s doing really well but we are there... we’re still in the end of December," Guardiola said in an interview published on Friday.

"The Champions League, we are up there, and Premier League we are there, semi-finals of the (League Cup), we start the FA ⁠Cup soon. Some important players are coming back, so let's (see) step by step, game by game what's going to happen."

Midfielder Rodri, who has not played since early November due to a hamstring injury, may be available for the Forest trip, Guardiola said.

“Rodri is much, much better. Available or not, we’ll decide today," the manager said.

“(Jeremy) Doku and John (Stones) still aren’t there but soon they’ll be back."

Sports

Liverpool's Slot Hails Ekitike Impact at Both Ends of the Pitch

Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
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Liverpool's Slot Hails Ekitike Impact at Both Ends of the Pitch

Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike strikes a pose as he celebrates scoring their second goal for 0-2 during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hailed the transformation of Hugo Ekitike from backup striker to goal machine as the France international spearheads the club's climb back up the Premier League table.

The reigning champions endured a nightmare slump, losing nine of 12 games across all competitions, but have clawed their way to fifth place with Ekitike leading the revival with eight league goals -- including five in his last three games.

The 23-year-old's summer arrival was overshadowed by the record signing of Alexander Isak. But with the Swedish striker sidelined for two months with a leg break and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ekitike has become indispensable.

"He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where ⁠he is at the moment," Slot said ahead of Saturday's home game against bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"It sometimes took us -- me -- a bit of convincing that this all is actually needed to become stronger but he always did it, not always with a smile on his face but he has worked really hard to get fitter on and off the pitch,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Slot revealed it took considerable persuasion ⁠to get his striker to embrace defensive duties, particularly at set-pieces.

"I've tried to convince him as well, the better you defend a set-piece the bigger chance you have to score at the other end, because if you are 0-0 it is easier to score a goal than if you are 1-0 down," Slot added.

"It may sound strange but it is what it does with the energy levels of the other team. For us and him to score goals, it is important we don't concede from set-pieces.

"He is ready to go into the program we are facing now but he is not the only number nine ⁠I have. Federico Chiesa can play in that position as well."

Liverpool's set-piece struggles are stark as they have shipped 11 goals while scoring just three at the other end, but Slot remains unfazed.

“Players are getting fitter and fitter, not only the ones we brought in but also the ones who missed out in pre-season. They are getting used to each other. I think the best is still to come for this team," he said.

“If you look at what has happened in the first half (of the season) then I am not so surprised where we are. If you look at our set-piece balance, there is not one team in the world that is minus eight in set pieces and is still joint-fourth in the league."

Sports

Jota’s Sons to Join Mascots When Liverpool Face Wolves at Anfield

Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)
Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)
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Jota’s Sons to Join Mascots When Liverpool Face Wolves at Anfield

Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)
Jota died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. (AFP)

Diogo Jota's two sons will join ​the mascots at Anfield when Liverpool face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday, the club confirmed on Friday.

Portuguese forward Jota, who played for both ‌Premier League ‌clubs, died ‌in ⁠a ​car ‌crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. He was 28.

Jota joined Wolves on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017 and made ⁠a permanent move to the club ‌the following year. ‍He then ‍signed a five-year deal in ‍2020 with Liverpool, where he won the league title earlier this year.

Saturday's match marks the ​first time Liverpool and Wolves have met since Jota's ⁠death.

Jota's wife Rute Cardoso and her two sons, Dinis and Duarte, were present for the Premier League home openers for both Liverpool and Wolves in August.

Liverpool also permanently retired his jersey number 20 following his death.