For Roland Garros Youth, Quarter-Final Moment of Truth

Rafael Jodar of Spain during his Men's 4th round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2026. (EPA)
Rafael Jodar of Spain during his Men's 4th round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2026. (EPA)
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For Roland Garros Youth, Quarter-Final Moment of Truth

Rafael Jodar of Spain during his Men's 4th round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2026. (EPA)
Rafael Jodar of Spain during his Men's 4th round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2026. (EPA)

The young kings of tennis have been deposed and as the French Open reaches its quarter-finals on Tuesday, the sport's even younger princes will be strutting on the clay.

Between them 24-year-old Jannik Sinner, and 23-year-old Carlos Alcaraz have won the last nine majors. But the Spaniard is injured and Sinner could not stand the Paris heat and lost in the second round.

In their place are three striplings playing a first Grand Slam quarter-final.

The next in the line of Spanish clay monsters, 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, faces the top remaining man, Alexander Zverev.

The honor of ending the first day when all the main-draw matches can be fitted onto Court Philippe Chatrier, has been handed to 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik and the phenomenon of the tournament, 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca.

The third 19-year-old in quarter-final action on Tuesday is, by comparison, a grizzled veteran of Grand Slam late rounds.

Eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva will be playing her third straight Roland Garros quarter-final when she faces Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

Of all the majors, the French Open most favors young men. Of the five youngest men to have won majors in the Open era, Michael Chang, Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg all did it at Roland Garros.

Of 16 women who have won majors in their teens, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Steffi Graf, Iga Swiatek, Chris Evert and Evonne Goolagong all did so in Paris.

Chang and Wilander were at Roland Garros on Monday for an annual reunion of former champions.

The American, who won aged 17 in 1989 and now coaches rising American Learner Tien, said youth gave advantages.

"I think it can be easier on some aspects if you're not dwelling too much on it," he said before adding that for some the spotlight was already bright.

"I think there's also a lot of pressure for some of these young guys because there are expectations. That doesn't necessarily give them freedom to go out there and play.

"When I was 17, nobody expected me to win. So I had the freedom to be the underdog... in the second week."

Wilander, who won the first of his three French Open crowns at 17 in 1982, was clear the youngsters had a mental edge.

"You find me a 19-year-old that does have the fear. None of them do," the Swede said.

"No pressure, no nerves. I don't think, I know."

"They don't have any history of losing," the Swede said. "So you're losing the quarter-finals? It's not gonna hurt, and then they realize that it hurts to lose. And then suddenly things change."

Wilander is a fan of Fonseca who is "going to be a great player".

Fonseca came from two sets down to beat first Dino Prizmic and then tennis titan Novak Djokovic, before conquering Casper Ruud.

"It's great to have new generations," the Brazilian declared after beating Djokovic.

"The next generation is doing pretty well. Not only Jodar and Mensik and me, but also Learner, (Alex) Michelsen. There is (Martin) Landaluce... It's good to have them around, pushing me for sure, doing some great battles."

- 'Margin of development huge' -

Chang has been impressed by Jodar.

"On the clay, he just took off," said Chang.

"He's just he's just riding a wave of great tennis right now. I don't think he's thinking a whole lot. He's going out there and playing some great tennis."

Jodar is full of confidence.

"I am trying to develop that game," he said after reaching the last eight. "But, overall, I think I still have a margin of development huge, you know?"

The other match of the day changes the focus as 31-year-old Elina Svitolina takes on 23-year-old compatriot Marta Kostyuk.

Svitolina said that she believed two Ukrainians had never met so late in a Slam.

Kostyuk said the older player had a lot to do with that happening.

"She's a legend of Ukrainian tennis... she's paved the way."



Al-Hilal and Karim Benzema Agree to Mutually Terminate Contract

Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)
Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)
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Al-Hilal and Karim Benzema Agree to Mutually Terminate Contract

Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)
Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)

Former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is leaving Al-Hilal just six months after joining from rival Al-Ittihad.

The Saudi club said in a statement on Monday that they have agreed to mutually terminate their contract, The AP news reported.

It's unclear whether the 38-year-old Benzema will join another club or retire.

Benzema moved to Saudi Arabia in June 2023 when he left Real Madrid after 14 years and 648 games in which he scored 354 goals.

Benzema won a club record 25 titles with Madrid, including five Champions League trophies. He has 97 caps and 37 goals with France.


The US Open Is Getting Longer as Players Already Worry Tennis Tournaments Are Becoming Too Long

 Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)
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The US Open Is Getting Longer as Players Already Worry Tennis Tournaments Are Becoming Too Long

 Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)

The US Open was a week old by the time Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz opened their title defenses.

What once was a two-week quest for a Grand Slam championship now extends into a third week, and US Tennis Association CEO Craig Tiley was asked how he hoped to continue that growth.

“Four weeks,” he said with a smile.

Some players might fear he is serious.

They were already becoming wary of an overcrowded schedule that makes it hard to find many breaks, even before the US Open moved up the beginning of the singles main draw last year to make it a Sunday start.

“I just hope they will not start on Saturday at some point, you know? And then on Friday and on Thursday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” said Marta Kostyuk, the No. 11 seed from Ukraine. “So I hope this is it.”

Kostyuk was one of the winners Sunday, and those players get the benefit of two days off before their next matches. Sabalenka and Alcaraz started Monday, the former opening day, and top-seeded Alexander Zverev and 2023 champion Coco Gauff are scheduled Tuesday on the final day of a first round that until last year was completed over two days.

“So they’re finding ways to extend the tournaments, which I think is tough for the players,” said Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 runner-up in Flushing Meadows, said she would enjoy the extra day off after her victory Sunday to spend time with her sister, who is in New York with her.

But Shapovalov, a 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist, argued that an extra day between matches doesn’t mean more time off.

“Being off is when you’re at home, able to sleep in your bed and not focus on tennis, right?” he said. “We’re still going to have to come back tomorrow, practice the next two days. You’re still in that match environment, tournament environment where I’m locked in and I’m not doing things that I would be doing when I’m off. You know, having a brownie.”

The expansion to a three-week event set in last year, when along with starting singles play on Sunday, the USTA shifted the mixed doubles tournament to a two-day event on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding it. That was in hopes that top singles players would compete, which most of them wouldn’t when it was contested once their priority event began.

Another day was added to that this year with a qualifying tournament that was held Monday for the final two spots in the 16-team field. With more real matches beyond the singles qualifying tournaments that take place the week before, and admission to the grounds free, there were huge crowds for what the USTA calls “fan week,” and organizers clearly want more.

“This will become the tennis Disneyland,” Tiley said.

He stressed that doesn’t necessarily mean extending the length of the tournament, but by finding more types of events to do during it.

But extending events is exactly what tennis seems to be doing these days.

It's perhaps felt more at the Masters 1000 level, just below Grand Slams. Those have swelled to 10 days, so long that players have trouble keeping track of time. Tommy Paul was noting how well his fellow Americans performed at the recent ones in Montreal and Cincinnati, reaching the final weekend, when he caught himself.

“I say weekend. I think the finals in Montreal was, like, Wednesday or something,” Paul said.

Close. Ben Shelton won the title on a Thursday.

Some players point to the obvious, that longer tournaments mean shorter time to recover before the next event for those who do well. Frances Tiafoe got to the final in Cincinnati, then had to pull out of the mixed doubles, where he was supposed to partner with Fernandez, for more rest.

“To be honest, speaking in the locker rooms, I don’t think anybody’s a fan of how long the seasons in general are right now, fans of these three-day starts, fans of the 10-day Masters,” Shapovalov said. “You know, I think everything’s just gotten too long.”


African Players in Europe: Wissa Flick Seals Newcastle Victory

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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African Players in Europe: Wissa Flick Seals Newcastle Victory

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Democratic Republic of Congo striker Yoane Wissa scored with a clever over-the-shoulder flick to seal a 2-0 Premier League win for Newcastle United over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

YOANE WISSA (Newcastle Utd)

Wissa endured a difficult first season with the Magpies, but has made a better start to the new campaign. He impressed in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Liverpool in their season opener, then bagged the decisive goal in north London.

BRYAN MBEUMO (Manchester Utd)

The Cameroon forward rounded off a resounding 5-2 victory for Michael Carrick's side over promoted Ipswich Town. Mbeumo struck in the 82nd minute at Old Trafford, taking a pass from hat-trick hero Bruno Fernandes and lobbed into the net via the underside of the crossbar. The 27-year-old's first goal this season was the finishing touch on United's maiden win this term after a humiliating loss at Hull.

SPAIN

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atletico Madrid)

Nigeria winger Lookman scored his first goal of the season to help beat Sevilla 3-1. Lookman, who impressed in his first few months at Atletico after joining in the winter transfer window, drilled home at the near post for his side's second goal midway through the first half.

ITALY

HASSANE KAMARA (Udinese)

Kamara struck a long-range shot into the net off the hands of Senegalese goalkeeper Demba Thiam for the second Udinese goal in a 3-2 Serie A victory at Monza. The France-born Ivory Coast midfielder also scored in the opening round last weekend.

GERMANY

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy got his and Dortmund's season off to an excellent start, opening the scoring nine minutes into his side's 2-0 home win over Hamburg. The Guinea international played a clever one-two with new arrival Konstantinos Karetsas before scoring with a low shot across the face of the goal.

CHRISTIAN KOFANE (Bayer Leverkusen)

Kofane scored late as Leverkusen were stunned 3-2 by Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg. With the debutants leading 3-1 in added time, the Cameroon striker knocked in a rebound off the woodwork.

FRANCE

GESSIME YASSINE (Strasbourg)

The 20-year-old Moroccan international scored his first two goals for Strasbourg as they came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 in Ligue 1. Yassine levelled early in the second half through a deflected shot and won the match with a 85th-minute volley.