Japan Qualify for BJK Cup Finals with Win Over Canada

Japan's Moyuka Uchijima levelled the tie when she breezed through the second match against Canadian Marina Stakusic, winning 6-3, 6-3 - AFP
Japan's Moyuka Uchijima levelled the tie when she breezed through the second match against Canadian Marina Stakusic, winning 6-3, 6-3 - AFP
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Japan Qualify for BJK Cup Finals with Win Over Canada

Japan's Moyuka Uchijima levelled the tie when she breezed through the second match against Canadian Marina Stakusic, winning 6-3, 6-3 - AFP
Japan's Moyuka Uchijima levelled the tie when she breezed through the second match against Canadian Marina Stakusic, winning 6-3, 6-3 - AFP

Japan became the seventh team to book their place at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals when they came from behind to beat Canada 2-1 in Tokyo on Sunday.

Victory in the doubles put them top of Group A and means they will be heading to Shenzhen in September to join hosts China, defending champions Italy and fellow qualifying group winners Ukraine, Spain, Great Britain and Kazakhstan.

The one remaining place will go to either Slovakia or USA, who meet in Bratislava later on Sunday, AFP reported.

Canada and Japan had both blanked Romania 3-0 in their opening matches, setting up the head-to-head finale which was played out in front of a noisy Tokyo crowd.

The Canadians made the better start with Victoria Mboko edging Ena Shibahara over three sets, 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5.

Moyuka Uchijima then levelled the tie when she breezed through the second match against Marina Stakusic, winning 6-3, 6-3.

That left everything on the doubles where Japan could call on the experienced Shuko Aoyama, now 37, and Eri Hozumi against Rebecca Marino and Kayla Cross.

The Japanese took the first set 6-3 but the Canadians hit back strongly to lead 5-1 in the second, at which point they wobbled, losing four games in a row.

They held their nerve to break again and take the set 7-5 but were immediately in trouble in the decider when Marino was broken.

As pressure mounted and errors crept into the Canadians' game, the Japanese pair turned the screw to see out a 6-2 final set which qualified them for the China showpiece.

The BJK Cup qualifiers featured six groups of three nations with the winners booking a ticket to the eight-team final tournament.



Egypt National Team Director: Injured Salah to Miss Rest of Liverpool Season

Brennan Johnson of Crystal Palace (R) in action against Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (C) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace, in Liverpool, Britain, 25 April 2026.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Brennan Johnson of Crystal Palace (R) in action against Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (C) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace, in Liverpool, Britain, 25 April 2026. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
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Egypt National Team Director: Injured Salah to Miss Rest of Liverpool Season

Brennan Johnson of Crystal Palace (R) in action against Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (C) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace, in Liverpool, Britain, 25 April 2026.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Brennan Johnson of Crystal Palace (R) in action against Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (C) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace, in Liverpool, Britain, 25 April 2026. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in a 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace, Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan said on Saturday.

The 33-year-old Egyptian winger, who has announced he will leave the reigning Premier League champions at the end of the season, applauded the crowd as he walked off injured in the 60th minute.

Liverpool did not announce any update on Salah's condition. However, Hassan ⁠said the Egyptian talisman ⁠has played his last game for the reds.

"He has suffered a hamstring tear and will require four weeks of treatment," Hassan told Reuters. After nine trophy-filled seasons, Salah's journey with Liverpool reaches its conclusion.

His farewell will be marked by words ⁠rather than goals, addressing the fans following the season finale against Brentford.

Liverpool have two home fixtures remaining - against Chelsea on May 9 and Brentford on May 24 - and visit Manchester United on May 3, a side Salah has regularly tormented, and play Villa away on May 17.

Liverpool's third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season.

Hassan said Salah will be ⁠fit ⁠for the 2026 World Cup, where Egypt will face Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group G.

However, Salah is determined to recover in time for the tournament in North America, which starts on June 11 and avoid a repeat of the injury setback he suffered before the 2018 edition.

He injured his shoulder in a 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League final, and despite scoring twice in two matches, Egypt were eliminated at the group stage in Russia.


Tottenham’s De Zerbi Gives Injury Update on Solanke, Simons

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 25, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 25, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
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Tottenham’s De Zerbi Gives Injury Update on Solanke, Simons

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 25, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 25, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Tottenham Hotspur will assess the fitness of Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons after both were forced off in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a blow for manager Roberto De Zerbi as his side battle relegation.

Solanke was substituted in the 40th minute with a muscular problem, while Simons was replaced in the 63rd minute after suffering a ⁠knee issue. Despite ⁠the setbacks, the 82nd-minute winner from Joao Palhinha secured Tottenham’s first league victory in 16 matches at Molineux. Spurs remained 18th in the standings with 34 points from 34 ⁠games, two points from safety, Reuters reported.

"Solanke has a muscular injury. I don't know what level of injury, and for Xavi it's a problem of the knee, and we're going to see in the next days, Monday or Tuesday," De Zerbi told reporters.

"For Solanke, it's not a big problem. I don't ⁠know ⁠how many games we lose him, but I would like to know the real situation of Xavi, because the knee is always different than the muscular injury."

Tottenham, who are facing the prospect of their first relegation from top-flight football since 1977, have four games remaining and next travel to Aston Villa on Sunday.


Swiatek Retires from Madrid Open Due to Illness

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 25, 2026 Poland's Iga Swiatek looks dejected after losing in her round of 32 match against Ann Li of the US. REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 25, 2026 Poland's Iga Swiatek looks dejected after losing in her round of 32 match against Ann Li of the US. REUTERS/Ana Beltran
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Swiatek Retires from Madrid Open Due to Illness

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 25, 2026 Poland's Iga Swiatek looks dejected after losing in her round of 32 match against Ann Li of the US. REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 25, 2026 Poland's Iga Swiatek looks dejected after losing in her round of 32 match against Ann Li of the US. REUTERS/Ana Beltran

Six-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek retired from her Madrid Open round-of-32 match against American Ann Li on Saturday due to illness, trailing 6-7(4) 6-2 0-3.

The fourth seed at the WTA 1000 clay-court tournament left the court in tears, having called for medical assistance during the match, Reuters reported.

"The past two days were pretty terrible, I think I have some ⁠virus," said Swiatek, ⁠who won the Madrid title in 2024.

"It's been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad. I had zero energy, zero stability, and I just felt really bad physically.

"I knew that (it ⁠was) going to be hard but I still wanted to try because I already have been sick twice in my career and I could still win most of my matches. I guess it depends on how bad it is, and I guess this time it was worse than before."

Swiatek's withdrawal deals ⁠a ⁠blow to her preparations for the French Open, a tournament the Pole has dominated in recent years, winning the title four times, most recently in 2024.

Swiatek, 24, is expected to continue her build-up to Roland Garros at the Italian Open, which runs from May 5-17.

The French Open main draw gets underway on May 24.