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)
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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.



Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
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Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated teenage star Lamine Yamal is finding his way back to his "top level" ahead of Monday's LaLiga clash against Rayo Vallecano.

The 19-year-old struggled in Barca's first match of the season at Elche but improved against Athletic Bilbao in the second, albeit without finding the net.

Flick said the Spanish World Cup winner is returning to his best, which Yamal has not hit since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

The winger returned at the World Cup but, despite Spain's success, had limited individual impact at the tournament.

"I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how is he doing. And of course, look at his situation, he played a World Cup after a huge injury," Flick told reporters Sunday.

"Now he's coming back after three weeks' holiday... and also the first game maybe was not his best game.

"But I said this, I was very happy that he starts the game and he worked for the team."

Yamal disappointed in the first half against Athletic on Thursday, but stepped up a gear after the break.

"He played 90 minutes against Bilbao. And for him at the moment, it's also good to (have) 90 minutes on the pitch," continued Flick.

"We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn't see this in the training (session) today, but I saw it and it was excellent.

"Everyone loves Lamine and he's in a good way. And we have to support him and we do that."

Yamal seemed in a bad mood after the game against Elche, but happier in training ahead of the Rayo clash.

"Of course, it's always good when the players are smiling, but it's not every day the same day," added Flick.

"I'm also not smiling every day -- it's like that."

Barca won both of their opening fixtures with Raphinha playing as a makeshift number nine, with the champions unable to land top target Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

"Of course I'm happy with my team, (sporting director) Deco is working on that to strengthen the team. We don't have pressure," said Flick, reiterating he is content with the players available to him if Barca don't sign a new striker.


Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
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Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)

Tottenham Hotspur's initially improved ‌performance against Newcastle United gave way once again to familiar failings in Saturday's limp 2-0 loss, leaving coach Roberto De Zerbi's attempt to establish a connection with their fans in tatters.

After a dreadful display at Brentford last weekend, in which the scoreline of 3-0 arguably flattered the visitors, Spurs looked sharper for much of the first hour against Newcastle before any optimism was dashed by two cheap goals.

Spurs showed glimpses of the crisp attacking play De Zerbi was hired to bring. Then the fragility that led to the Italian becoming their third ‌coach of ‌last season came to the fore as they ‌unraveled ⁠in the second ⁠half.

De Zerbi wrote in his program notes that he wanted the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to become "a fortress". Instead, there were thousands of empty seats by the end of Spurs' 21st defeat in their last 39 home league games.

A summer splurge of more than £300 million ($406 million) was an attempt to overhaul a squad which had finished 17th in consecutive ⁠seasons. But, as De Zerbi frankly admitted, "you can't buy ‌mentality in the transfer market".

DE ZERBI ‌INSISTS SPURS IMPROVING

"I'm sorry for the fans, for the environment, because after two ‌defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same history, the same ‌as the last two seasons," De Zerbi told reporters.

"I have no doubt it's not like this. I can't change my opinion for two defeats. I have big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Though even as ‌De Zerbi talked up the "great project" of rebuilding Spurs, he hinted at a future without him, saying ⁠the squad ⁠would show its quality "with me or with another coach".

Newcastle, meanwhile, are almost a mirror image of Spurs, with an unbeaten start dispelling doubts which had grown over the summer after key players Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes left the club, as did coach Eddie Howe.

Wissa, who suffered from injuries after he joined last summer, has already matched his haul of league goals last season and said Newcastle's remaining players "have to step up" after a summer of significant departures.

Newcastle's new recruits have started well, with midfielder Nico Gonzalez particularly impressive on his debut, though Wissa reserved special praise for new coach Matthias Jaissle: "I think he's the best signing of Newcastle so far."


Djokovic Says Early Exit in Cincinnati Helped Him Prepare for US Open

Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during Fan Week as part of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during Fan Week as part of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Djokovic Says Early Exit in Cincinnati Helped Him Prepare for US Open

Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during Fan Week as part of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during Fan Week as part of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

Novak Djokovic said he ‌is never satisfied with early losses but that his second-round exit at the Cincinnati Open gave him extra time to prepare for the US Open, where he will chase a record 25th Grand Slam singles crown.

The world number five fell to Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante in Cincinnati after struggling in the heat and requiring a medical timeout.

"I don't like early ‌losses anywhere, to ‌be honest, but it gave ‌me ⁠time to be ⁠preparing for the US Open in a most adequate way," the 39-year-old Serbian told reporters in Flushing Meadows on Saturday.

He said he had a couple weeks to train and get his body and mind "into the right state" heading ⁠into New York.

"If you ask me ‌if I'm prepared, ‌I feel like I am, as best as I ‌can be, but it's different training and ‌then getting out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing best-of-five (sets)," Djokovic said.

"The opening matches are always for me, particularly in the last few years, ‌quite challenging," he added. "So hopefully I can overcome the first hurdle and ⁠build from ⁠there."

Djokovic also said he was proud to be appearing at his 20th US Open, which he has won four times.

"Obviously longevity was always one of the goals when I was younger, trying to have long career, trying to have more shots at Grand Slams, and stay healthy long enough so that I can perform for as many years as possible," he said.