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‘Lucky’ De Minaur Saves Three Match Points to Lift Washington Open Title 

(L-R) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and Alex De Minaur of Australia pose with the men's singles trophies after the men's singles finals match on the final day of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
(L-R) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and Alex De Minaur of Australia pose with the men's singles trophies after the men's singles finals match on the final day of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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‘Lucky’ De Minaur Saves Three Match Points to Lift Washington Open Title 

(L-R) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and Alex De Minaur of Australia pose with the men's singles trophies after the men's singles finals match on the final day of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
(L-R) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and Alex De Minaur of Australia pose with the men's singles trophies after the men's singles finals match on the final day of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Alex De Minaur rallied from a set down and saved three match points to claim the Washington Open title with a 5-7 6-1 7-6(3) win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final of the ATP 500 event on Sunday.

The Australian number one, who lost the 2018 final to Alexander Zverev, felt he rode his luck to secure his 10th career title and ensure he will enter the top 10 in the world rankings ahead of next month's US Open.

The two 26-year-olds exchanged breaks early in the opening set before Spain's Davidovich Fokina seized control by breaking again and closed out the set with the help of some crisp forehand winners.

De Minaur responded emphatically in the second set, converting two of four break-point opportunities while holding serve throughout, wrapping up the set in just over 30 minutes with an ace to level the contest.

The Spaniard looked on course for his first career title when he broke to grab the lead in the decider, but he failed to serve out the match at 5-3, sending a forehand long to hand the break back to seventh seed De Minaur.

Davidovich Fokina's frustration mounted as the 12th seed squandered three match points on De Minaur's serve, and the Australian then capitalized on a series of unforced errors in the tiebreak to edge the contest.

"I came here in 2018 and it gave me so much confidence, so I'm so happy that I was able to come back and end up winning the title," De Minaur said at the trophy presentation.

"Alejandro, you're way too good not to have one of these, it's coming for sure," he added, gesturing to the trophy.

"You deserved it today, I just got lucky. You are a hell of a competitor, hell of a player. No one on the tour wants to play you. And this is not the end, this is only going on for you."

Davidovich Fokina recalled that he had required a wild card to play in the US capital last year and was pleased to have at least guaranteed a rise to a career high world number 19 when the rankings are updated on Monday.

"He deserved the win, he was fighting every ... ball, he was always pushing through my limits," Davidovich Fokina said.

"We had a job to do before we started the year, to be at the middle of the year in the top 20. This week we did it, just not with the trophy. But for sure, we will keep going, pushing our limits, pushing harder."

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Sports

Gucci to Become Title Partner of Renault's Alpine F1 Team from 2027

FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 3, 2026 Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore in the paddock ahead of the grand prix REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 3, 2026 Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore in the paddock ahead of the grand prix REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
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Gucci to Become Title Partner of Renault's Alpine F1 Team from 2027

FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 3, 2026 Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore in the paddock ahead of the grand prix REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 3, 2026 Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore in the paddock ahead of the grand prix REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

Gucci will become title partner to Renault's Alpine Formula One team from the 2027 season, the Italian luxury brand said on Wednesday.

Alpine, whose current title partner is Austrian water treatment company BWT, will race as Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team.

The announcement is Gucci's latest in a string of high-profile moves to boost its visibility and revive sales after years of decline. Earlier this month, it staged a major runway show in New York's Times Square to grab global attention.

The collaboration will be part of Gucci Racing, which Gucci says will be "a new business and experiential platform built around the values of performance, precision, discipline, and excellence at the intersection of luxury and sport."

For luxury ⁠brands confronted with ⁠falling global demand for their prized handbags and dresses, exclusive events, such as Formula One racing, have emerged as a major new playing field.

In 2024, Liberty Media-owned Formula One clinched a multi-year deal with French luxury giant LVMH valued at over $100 million.

The Gucci deal, for which no financials were disclosed, will make the brand the first luxury fashion house to lend its name to a racing team, Reuters quoted the company as saying.

The tie-up also brings the brand ⁠closer to the world of Luca de Meo, the CEO of Gucci's French parent company Kering, who previously served as Renault's chief executive.

"Formula One has evolved far beyond sport to become one of the world's most powerful premium content platforms, reaching over 1.5 billion people each season and inspiring a rapidly expanding, younger and increasingly female audience," said de Meo.

"We see it as a unique platform for a luxury brand to push boundaries, spark meaningful connections and build long-term value and brand desirability, while delivering measurable and lasting impact."

Alpine's team is run by Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, a friend and longtime ally of de Meo, who first entered Formula One with the Benetton team in 1990.

Briatore was ⁠described early in his ⁠F1 career as a "T-shirt salesman" but is now known for far more expensive tastes as an operator of high-end nightclubs and restaurants and owner of the "Billionaire" brand.

Briatore said he was incredibly proud of the deal.

"Not only that, but I am also excited about the possibilities the partnership with Gucci brings and the great things we can achieve together at a global level," he said.

"The Enstone Team has a history of doing things differently to others and has previously shown that fashion can finish first in Formula One," Briatore said, referring to Alpine's Oxfordshire base.

As Benetton, the team won titles with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995 and then as Renault with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006.

Alpine were last of all the teams in 2025 but have started 2026 strongly and are fifth of 11 after five rounds.

Sports

West Ham Stick with Espirito Santo Despite Relegation from Premier League

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Leeds United - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 24, 2026 West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo reacts after the match REUTERS/Tony O Brien
Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Leeds United - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 24, 2026 West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo reacts after the match REUTERS/Tony O Brien
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West Ham Stick with Espirito Santo Despite Relegation from Premier League

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Leeds United - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 24, 2026 West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo reacts after the match REUTERS/Tony O Brien
Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Leeds United - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 24, 2026 West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo reacts after the match REUTERS/Tony O Brien

West Ham United have decided to keep manager Nuno Espirito Santo in charge of the London side despite their relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season, the club said on Wednesday.

West Ham finished 18th in the standings to drop down to the second-tier Championship for the first time since 2011.

"While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, the Board of Directors believe that there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress," Reuters quoted the ⁠club as saying in ⁠a statement.

West Ham ended the campaign with 19 defeats and 10 wins, finishing two points behind London rivals Tottenham Hotspur despite winning their final fixture 3-0 against Leeds United on Sunday as Spurs beat Everton 1-0 to stay up.

The writing was on the wall for West Ham when they lost ⁠three straight games earlier this month against Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle United, leaving Spurs in control of their destiny on the final day.

The club said they held meetings with Espirito Santo earlier this week, with the Portuguese manager expressing his commitment to the club he joined in September on a three-year contract following the sacking of Graham Potter.

The board of directors added they had seen a "clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness" since January, making the 52-year-old the ideal candidate ⁠to lead ⁠their promotion charge next season.

"Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking. That must be the unquestionable goal for next season," the club added.

"Nuno has spent one previous year in the EFL Championship and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018."

West Ham also said they were reducing season ticket prices by up to 30% after their relegation.

Sports

Northern Ireland Boss O'Neill Extends Contract Until 2032

FILED - 26 March 2026, Italy, Bergamo: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill applauds the fans after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European semi final qualifying soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 26 March 2026, Italy, Bergamo: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill applauds the fans after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European semi final qualifying soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
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Northern Ireland Boss O'Neill Extends Contract Until 2032

FILED - 26 March 2026, Italy, Bergamo: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill applauds the fans after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European semi final qualifying soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 26 March 2026, Italy, Bergamo: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill applauds the fans after the 2026 FIFA World Cup European semi final qualifying soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has signed a four-year contract extension until 2032, the country's Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 56-year-old, who returned for a second spell in 2022 having left the team in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, has managed a record-breaking 104 games for his side.

"This is a role that means a great deal to me," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"I continue to believe strongly in the potential of this group of players and the direction we ⁠are moving in. ⁠There is a lot of work ahead, but I am excited by the future."

O'Neill first took charge of Northern Ireland in 2011 and oversaw their qualification for Euro 2016 - the nation's first major international tournament in 30 years - where they were ⁠knocked out in the last 16.

He had also been appointed interim Blackburn Rovers manager in February, balancing the role alongside his Northern Ireland duties, but it was confirmed earlier this month that he would not take that job on a permanent basis.

Northern Ireland also missed out on a place at the World Cup after a 2-0 defeat by Italy in a UEFA play-off semi-final in March, ending ⁠their hopes ⁠of qualifying for the tournament for the first time since 1986.

Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood praised O'Neill's impact and said his contribution has been significant to the team.

"I am delighted that he will continue that work into the future and I look forward to more memorable achievements for the team," he said.

Northern Ireland face Guinea in a friendly on June 4 before travelling to France as part of preparations for the UEFA Nations League, which begins in September.