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Potapova Switches Allegiance to Austria from Russia

Tennis - Davis Cup - Final 8 - Spain v Czech Republic - SuperTennis Arena, Bologna, Italy - November 20, 2025 General view inside the court during the match between Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka and Spain's Jaume Munar REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Tennis - Davis Cup - Final 8 - Spain v Czech Republic - SuperTennis Arena, Bologna, Italy - November 20, 2025 General view inside the court during the match between Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka and Spain's Jaume Munar REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
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Potapova Switches Allegiance to Austria from Russia

Tennis - Davis Cup - Final 8 - Spain v Czech Republic - SuperTennis Arena, Bologna, Italy - November 20, 2025 General view inside the court during the match between Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka and Spain's Jaume Munar REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Tennis - Davis Cup - Final 8 - Spain v Czech Republic - SuperTennis Arena, Bologna, Italy - November 20, 2025 General view inside the court during the match between Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka and Spain's Jaume Munar REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Anastasia Potapova has become the latest Russian-born tennis player to switch international allegiance after the world number 51 said her application for Austrian citizenship was approved.

Potapova, 24, has been playing on the WTA Tour as a neutral athlete after Russian and Belarusian players were banned from competing under their own flags following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Reuters reported.

Daria Kasatkina (Australia), Varvara Gracheva (France), Elina Avanesyan (Armenia), Maria Timofeeva (Uzbekistan) and Natela Dzalamidze (Georgia) have all switched allegiance since the Russian invasion.

"I am delighted to let you all know that my application for citizenship has been accepted by the Austrian government," Potapova posted on social media on Thursday.

"As part of this I am proud to announce that starting from 2026 I will be representing my new homeland Austria in my professional tennis career from this point onwards."

Potapova had been issued a formal warning by the WTA in 2023 for wearing a T-shirt of Russian soccer team Spartak Moscow before her match against Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells.

Her actions had been viewed as a public show of support for Russia and drew criticism from Iga Swiatek but she later said she had supported Spartak since she was 13 and saw no provocation in it.

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Real Madrid Say No Contact with Bayern's Olise

France's forward #11 Michael Olise prepares to take a corner during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 16, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
France's forward #11 Michael Olise prepares to take a corner during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 16, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
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Real Madrid Say No Contact with Bayern's Olise

France's forward #11 Michael Olise prepares to take a corner during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 16, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
France's forward #11 Michael Olise prepares to take a corner during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 16, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Spanish giants Real Madrid said Saturday they have not made any contact with Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise over a potential transfer.

The France international, currently at the World Cup, has been linked with Madrid by Spanish media, reporting Los Blancos were considering making a bid of more than 200 million euros ($230m).

"In light of the information published in various media outlets regarding an alleged interest of our club in Bayern Munich player Michael Olise, Real Madrid wishes to clarify that they have not had any direct or indirect contact with the aforementioned footballer, his representatives, or people in his circle," AFP quoted Madrid as saying in a statement.

Madrid said they have an "excellent institutional relationship" with Bayern and said the reports "do not correspond to reality.”

Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024 for around 60 million euros and shone as Vincent Kompany's team won the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Real Madrid, who appointed Portuguese veteran Jose Mourinho as coach earlier in June, have made a spate of signings already this summer.

Madrid brought in Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers, and spent 55 million euros on Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.

After going two consecutive seasons without lifting a major trophy, record 15-time Champions League winners Madrid are remodeling their squad.

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Bagnaia Dominates Czech Grand Prix Sprint as Bezzecchi Crashes Out

Italian MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team in action during the Qualifying Nr.2 session for the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, 20 June 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
Italian MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team in action during the Qualifying Nr.2 session for the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, 20 June 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
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Bagnaia Dominates Czech Grand Prix Sprint as Bezzecchi Crashes Out

Italian MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team in action during the Qualifying Nr.2 session for the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, 20 June 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
Italian MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team in action during the Qualifying Nr.2 session for the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, 20 June 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia delivered a commanding performance to win Saturday’s sprint at the Czech Grand Prix, leading from the start to secure his first victory of the 2026 season.

Pole-sitter Ai Ogura, who had set a lap record in qualifying, finished 0.241 seconds behind the Italian in Brno. The win was Bagnaia’s first since Sepang last season.

"It was incredible. I am very happy. The first two laps made everything," Bagnaia told reporters, according to Reuters.

"I ⁠started when I ⁠tried to push open the gap and when I tried to control a bit because the rear degree was not that bad but vibration was huge. So I need to slow down a bit and try to control in ⁠the last two gaps."

Starting from third on the grid, Bagnaia was flawless and took the lead straightaway and never relinquished it, despite pressure from Ogura in the closing stages.

The Japanese rider never managed to close the gap enough to pose a real threat to Bagnaia.

"The performance of the rear tire was really good, but the limitation for me was at the front," Ogura said.

"But ⁠we ⁠will have another chance tomorrow, so we will try again."

Bagnaia's Ducati teammate Marc Marquez climbed from fifth on the grid to complete the podium in third, while VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio took fourth place.

Aprilia’s world championship leader Marco Bezzecchi crashed out of a late fifth place, his fourth sprint retirement of the season, as reducing his points advantage, with Jorge Martin, who finished in fifth, now just 15 points behind.

Sports

Fritz Rallies Past Zverev to Seal Halle Final Spot

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns the ball to Taylor Fritz of the US during their men's singles semi-final match of the Halle Open ATP tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by CARMEN JASPERSEN / AFP)
Germany's Alexander Zverev returns the ball to Taylor Fritz of the US during their men's singles semi-final match of the Halle Open ATP tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by CARMEN JASPERSEN / AFP)
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Fritz Rallies Past Zverev to Seal Halle Final Spot

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns the ball to Taylor Fritz of the US during their men's singles semi-final match of the Halle Open ATP tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by CARMEN JASPERSEN / AFP)
Germany's Alexander Zverev returns the ball to Taylor Fritz of the US during their men's singles semi-final match of the Halle Open ATP tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by CARMEN JASPERSEN / AFP)

Top seed Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the Halle Open after a battling three-set defeat by American Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals on Saturday.

World number three Zverev, fresh off his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open, lost 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 in a match lasting ⁠two hours and ⁠39 minutes.

The German, a finalist at Halle in 2016 and 2017, entered the match with a poor recent record against Fritz, having lost his ⁠previous six meetings with the American.

He made a strong start, securing an early break, but Fritz responded to force a tiebreak, which Zverev won.

Fritz hit back in the second set, turning the momentum decisively in his favor by winning 12 consecutive points and ⁠levelling ⁠the match.

In the decider, both players were locked in a tense battle before Fritz produced a late break to seal victory and book his place in the final.

He will face Germany’s Daniel Altmaier or fellow American Frances Tiafoe in Sunday’s title clash.