Sabalenka, Osaka Clash in Blockbuster French Open Tie

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)
TT

Sabalenka, Osaka Clash in Blockbuster French Open Tie

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)

Four-time Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will go head-to-head in the first French Open women's night match in three years on Monday, as a host of men's players eye a maiden major quarter-final.

World number one Sabalenka will likely face a stern test in her bid to win a maiden Roland Garros crown after suffering an agonizing loss to Coco Gauff in last year's final.

A resurgent Osaka has powered into the French Open last 16 for the first time in her career, looking more at home than ever before on the Parisian clay.

It will be only the fourth meeting, all at the last-16 stage of tournaments, between two of the biggest stars in the sport.

Osaka edged their first encounter en route to the 2018 US Open title and then they never met again until this year.

Sabalenka saw off her Japanese opponent in straight sets in Indian Wells, before fighting back from a set down to win at the Madrid Open.

They renew their rivalry with a quarter-final against either former Australian Open champion Madison Keys or Russia's Diana Shnaider up for grabs.

"It's great, great to see her back on her level. Maybe not at her best level, but she's back, she's fighting, she's building her level," said Sabalenka of Osaka, who took a break from tennis in 2023 to give birth to her daughter.

"It's nice to see her. She's a great player, great person. I feel like I really enjoy our battles. It's high-level matches, and I really enjoy when somebody pushes me to the limit."

Osaka struggled initially for form after rejoining the tour, but reached the US Open semi-finals last year, the first time she had made the second week of a Grand Slam event since winning her second Australian Open title in 2021.

"I really wanted to make it a goal to do really well on clay and grass," said Osaka, who has never got past the third round at Wimbledon.

"I don't want this to be my last round. I want to keep going. I just want to keep focusing on every match."

Osaka has been wearing a sequined, gold dress in Paris, which she likened to the Eiffel Tower at night, but has said she may switch things up for the night session.

The last remaining French player Diane Parry will be hoping to emulate last year's surprise semi-finalist Lois Boisson and continue her dream run, going up against Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

Austrian 28th seed Anastasia Potapova looks to back up her win over defending champion Coco Gauff when she faces Anna Kalinskaya.

- Wide-open men's draw -

World number six Felix Auger-Aliassime is the highest-ranked player left in the top half of the men's draw after the shock exit of Jannik Sinner and an early defeat for Ben Shelton.

The Canadian will bid to reach his first French Open quarter-final when he plays Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, in the last 16 of a Slam event for the first time.

World number 85 Zachary Svajda had only won two Grand Slam matches before this tournament, but even he took notice of Sinner's loss.

"When I saw Sinner was out, I try to stay present and stay positive and just take it day by day, match by match," said the American, who takes on Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.

"I knew the draw was open, but I just tried to keep doing my routines, keep doing what I've been doing, and just see what happens."

Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini targets his first Slam quarter-final since 2022 when he goes up against Sinner's conqueror Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Frances Tiafoe, who lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the last eight 12 months ago, plays another Italian in Matteo Arnaldi.



Iran Coach Criticizes US Travel Restrictions after Egypt Match

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen
TT

Iran Coach Criticizes US Travel Restrictions after Egypt Match

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen

Iran coach Amir ‌Ghalenoei criticized travel restrictions imposed on the team by the United States after their 1-1 draw with Egypt at the World Cup in Seattle on Friday.

Despite having to commute from Mexico to the US for their three group-stage fixtures, Iran came into the match with an outside chance of topping the group.

The US eased travel restrictions on the squad slightly for Friday's match, allowing them to arrive in the Seattle area two days early, Reuters reported.

"The host country treated us very unfairly," Ghalenoei ‌told reporters after ‌the match. "Had the host nation allowed us ‌to ⁠arrive two weeks ⁠earlier, to be more prepared ... we would have been in better shape, physically, mentally. However, they deprived us of that justice."

The restrictions come amid high tensions between Washington and Tehran following a nearly four-month war.

In March, US President Donald Trump said while Iran were welcome to participate in the tournament, he ⁠believed it was not appropriate that they ‌remain there between matches "for their own ‌life and safety."

Iran seemed to have secured an automatic spot in ‌the knockout stage when Shoja Khalilzadeh slammed a loose ball ‌into the net in stoppage time.

Iran fans in the stadium erupted in celebration but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.

"I used to think that we were really a totally ‌oppressed team, but after these three games, I have noticed that we also have bad ⁠luck as ⁠well," he said.

"I urge FIFA: don't let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future World Cups."

After the match, Iran had to fly back to Tijuana, which delayed recovery, said Ghalenoei.

In Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament with the US and Canada, the squad will wait to see if they advance to the knockout stage for the first time.

"The team came with a sacred objective, which was to train and play well," he said. "If God willing, we advance, I'll give them a day to have proper recovery, go to the beach maybe to mentally relax a bit."


Jordan Coach Sellami in Awe of Argentina Despite Possible Messi Absence

 Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
TT

Jordan Coach Sellami in Awe of Argentina Despite Possible Messi Absence

 Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami responds to a question during a news conference Friday, June 26, 2026, ahead of his team's World Cup Group J match against Argentina in Arlington, Texas. (AP)

Jordan coach Jamal Sellami is relishing the prospect of closing out his side's debut appearance at the World Cup against defending champions Argentina on Saturday, even if Lionel Messi is likely to start the game at Dallas Stadium on the bench.

The Jordanians lost both of their opening Group J games against Austria and Algeria and have no ‌chance of ‌advancing to the knockout rounds ‌despite ⁠having one match ⁠left to play.

"We have no idea what the Argentina coach will do with regards his initial line-up but, whoever the players are, the team is exceptional and every player deserves his place in this team," ⁠Sellami said.

"They all dream of winning ‌the World Cup, ‌so no matter who the player is he will ‌be carrying the dreams of the ‌Argentina team."

"Of course, if Messi is playing he's one of the best players in the world and if not, we will still be playing ‌against a very strong and solid team."

Captain Noor Al-Rawabdeh said ⁠he wanted ⁠to leave the world with a positive impression of Jordanian football and the nation as a whole.

"Being able to be here is a message that we would like to convey about the Jordanian people and about Jordanian culture, to show to the world who we are," he said.

"The Jordanians are people who have dreams and perseverance and we're happy that we have been able to reflect this image."


Senegal’s Quiet Man Sarr Becomes His Nation’s Leading World Cup Scorer

Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT

Senegal’s Quiet Man Sarr Becomes His Nation’s Leading World Cup Scorer

Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ismaila Sarr #18 of Senegal applauds fans after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Senegal and Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)

‌Ismaila Sarr's quiet dedication finally got its loudest moment on Friday, as the striker became Senegal's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup in a 5-0 pounding of Iraq and his teammates could not have been prouder.

Sarr's fourth World Cup goal, scored just before the hour mark, moved him past the late Papa Bouba ‌Diop as ‌his country's record marksman at ‌the ⁠tournament.

Those who share ⁠a dressing room with him say the milestone was richly deserved.

"He really, really deserves it," said midfielder Idrissa Gueye. "Yeah, he puts everything into what he does."

The 28-year-old Sarr had drawn level with Diop four ⁠days earlier with a brace ‌against Norway, which ‌made him the first Senegalese player to score ‌at two World Cups.

Defender Moussa Niakhate ‌offered a telling portrait of a man who lets his football do the talking.

"He's an inspiration," said Niakhate. "He's like someone who is really ‌shy, really quiet, but the most important thing is what you ⁠do ⁠on the pitch, and on the pitch he is not shy. He just shows what he can do, always gives his best for the country."

Goalkeeper Mory Diaw, deputizing for the injured Edouard Mendy, echoed the sentiment.

"He deserves it because he's a very good player," said Diaw. "Every day, he works a lot, so he deserves this goal, and I hope for more for him."