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Iga Swiatek Wins Cincinnati Open Title, Defeats Jasmine Paolini 

Jasmine Paolini of Italy and Iga Swiatek of Poland pose with their Rookwood Cup after their match during the women's final of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jasmine Paolini of Italy and Iga Swiatek of Poland pose with their Rookwood Cup after their match during the women's final of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Iga Swiatek Wins Cincinnati Open Title, Defeats Jasmine Paolini 

Jasmine Paolini of Italy and Iga Swiatek of Poland pose with their Rookwood Cup after their match during the women's final of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jasmine Paolini of Italy and Iga Swiatek of Poland pose with their Rookwood Cup after their match during the women's final of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 18, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)

Third-ranked Iga Swiatek captured the Cincinnati Open title for the first time by defeating No. 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 on Monday night.

Swiatek had failed to advance past the semifinals in her six previous appearances at the Cincinnati Open. She reached the semifinals in Cincinnati each of the past two years, but lost to eventual champions Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024.

“It means a lot to me,” Swiatek said. “This year I really wanted it. I’m just very happy. It’s nice to check off the list another tournament that I haven’t won. I have friends here. It's a nice, relaxed tournament before New York."

Swiatek has won all six meetings against the Italian, dropping only one set in those matches.

Paolini jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but Swiatek roared back to go ahead 5-3. Paolini broke serve to get even at 5-5, but Swiatek closed out a first-set victory in 56 minutes.

Swiatek's eighth ace of the match gave her a 5-3 lead in the second set. Paolini broke serve twice in the second set and was within 5-4, but Swiatek was able to serve out the match for her 24th career singles title.

“This season hasn't been easy,” Swiatek said. “I've had areas to improve. It's not easy to win tournaments when everyone is expecting you to.”

Swiatek had seven double faults to two for Paolini. But she also had nine aces, while Paolini had none.

“When the rallies were going, I felt good on the court,” Paolini said. “The serves were the difference. When she needed an ace, she hit an ace.”

Paolini is the first Italian woman to reach the finals in Cincinnati. Since she was a qualifier at the Cincinnati Open in 2023, Paolini has reached two Grand Slam singles finals, won a Grand Slam doubles title and an Olympic gold medal.

“It was definitely a positive tournament for me,” Paolini said. “It wasn't enough, of course. I just need to improve.”

The Cincinnati Open is considered a tuneup for the US Open, which begins Sunday in New York. The last two years, both the men’s and women’s Cincinnati Open champions went on to win the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Carlos Alcaraz won the men's final earlier Monday when Jannik Sinner retired due to illness during the first set.

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Slot Calls for 'Magic' as Liverpool Seek to Bridge Gap to Title Contenders

Arne Slot manager of Liverpooll reacts after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United, in Liverpool, Britain, 01 January 2026. EPA/PETER POWELL
Arne Slot manager of Liverpooll reacts after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United, in Liverpool, Britain, 01 January 2026. EPA/PETER POWELL
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Slot Calls for 'Magic' as Liverpool Seek to Bridge Gap to Title Contenders

Arne Slot manager of Liverpooll reacts after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United, in Liverpool, Britain, 01 January 2026. EPA/PETER POWELL
Arne Slot manager of Liverpooll reacts after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United, in Liverpool, Britain, 01 January 2026. EPA/PETER POWELL

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted his side needs "a bit of magic" to unlock tight games as the reigning Premier League champions sit fourth at the season's halfway point, 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Despite a seven-game unbeaten run in the league which steadied the ship after six losses in seven games prior, Slot painted a picture of grinding results rather than free-flowing football ahead of Sunday's trip to Fulham.

"Every single game we play, it is hard work. It is two teams quite close to each other," Slot told reporters.

"We are mainly the team that are probably better than the other team but not enough. We are constantly within this 20% difference and if you are inside this 20% difference then going to the floor or not means a lot for ⁠the result.

"I will keep pushing and the players will keep pushing to get to a situation where we are more than that 20%, we can make the difference bigger and then hopefully we are finding a moment when we can fly through the season."

Slot also said Liverpool cannot be considered title contenders at the moment with Arsenal and Manchester City -- separated by four points -- too far ahead ⁠while Aston Villa have also fallen by the wayside after their defeat against the league leaders.

"Realistically, I think there are two teams... with Villa being really close to them but because Arsenal won against Villa they created a bit of a gap (six points) towards Villa as well," Reuters quoted Slot as saying.

"Realistically, those two teams are quite far away from us and we should not look at those two at this moment in time."

While Liverpool have tightened up defensively, Slot highlighted ongoing struggles in attack despite dominating possession.

"It is clear and obvious we find it quite hard to generate enough chances for all the ball possession we have and that's not new for us this ⁠season," he said.

"Sometimes you need a bit of magic to unlock a game or a set-piece. If that happens, then all of a sudden everything looks much nicer, but that is not our season until now."

Slot expects a more open encounter against Marco Silva's Fulham, who drew with Crystal Palace on Thursday and sit 11th in the table.

"I expect a different game against Fulham... When we've played them and what I've seen from them, and they play a home game, so I think they will try to attack a lot and want to have the ball a lot," he said.

"At least that is how I know their manager, so it probably will be a much more open game. So we have to show in games like that we don't concede a lot as well."

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Bournemouth's Semenyo to Play against Arsenal amid Transfer Interest from Man City

Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth in action during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth, in London, Britain, 30 December 2025. EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth in action during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth, in London, Britain, 30 December 2025. EPA/DAVID CLIFF
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Bournemouth's Semenyo to Play against Arsenal amid Transfer Interest from Man City

Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth in action during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth, in London, Britain, 30 December 2025. EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth in action during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth, in London, Britain, 30 December 2025. EPA/DAVID CLIFF

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is expected to play against Arsenal on Saturday despite reports linking him to an imminent transfer to Manchester City.

“Antoine is going to play, yes,” Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said Friday at a press conference.

The Ghana international is third on the Premier League's scoring chart this season — his nine goals trailing only Erling Haaland (19) and Brentford's Igor Thiago (11).

The Cherries host Arsenal and then Tottenham in midweek.

“The idea at least (is) that he is going to be available in these two home games,” The Associated Press quoted Iraola as saying. “I hope he can be here more time but I don't know what's going to happen.”

Iraola didn't dispute the reports that a move is close.

“There is nothing signed," he said. "For sure there are conversations. I understand a lot of the noise around, but there is nothing signed. Antoine is our player.”

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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Break New Year Premier League Curse

30 December 2025, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
30 December 2025, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Break New Year Premier League Curse

30 December 2025, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
30 December 2025, United Kingdom, London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to break their New Year jinx as the Gunners battle for their first Premier League title in more than two decades.

Arsenal are four points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the halfway point of the season and remain favorites to claim a 14th English league crown.

However, on the previous five occasions across the past 23 years when they have ended the calendar year on top of the table, they have failed to win the title.

The most recent occasion was three seasons ago when Arteta's men finished the campaign five points behind Pep Guardiola's City.

The Arsenal boss, speaking Friday, on the eve of the Gunners' trip to Bournemouth, said he was not aware of the dispiriting statistic but added: "Let's break it."

Arteta said his players were desperate to be crowned English champions for the first time since 2004 after finishing as runners-up three times in a row.

"That's what they transmit every single day when they're with us, training or in every match," AFP quoted him as saying.

"You can see the desire, you can see the energy they put in, how much they want it, and that's what we need.

"It's still five months to go, take it day by day, enjoy that process of being where we are and go for it."

Arteta said his players were in buoyant mood after thumping third-placed Villa 4-1 at the Emirates on Tuesday, with City held to a goalless draw by Sunderland two days later.

"It was very good obviously after the game against a really top opposition, again to perform and to win in the manner that we did, great," added the Arsenal boss.

"(Now) focus on Bournemouth. We know how tough it's going to be, tomorrow's game, and everybody is going to be at it."

The Spaniard said he was happy with his team's position at the half-way point of the campaign but insisted: "It can always be better.

"There are things to improve obviously and the only thing we know is that it's always the next game and we know how tough it is for every opponent to beat them."

Arsenal have battled a lengthy injury list this season.

Defender Gabriel Magalhaes and forward Gabriel Jesus are back in action but Arteta could again be without Declan Rice for Saturday's trip to Bournemouth.

The England midfielder missed the win against Villa with a knee problem.

"We have another session today," said Arteta. "Let's see how he comes today and how that's feeling, but that game was too early for him."