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."



McLaren to Sell Five F1 Cars, All Driven by Champions and One by Brad Pitt

 11 October 2026, Singapore, Marina Bay: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren drives during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. (dpa)
11 October 2026, Singapore, Marina Bay: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren drives during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. (dpa)
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McLaren to Sell Five F1 Cars, All Driven by Champions and One by Brad Pitt

 11 October 2026, Singapore, Marina Bay: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren drives during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. (dpa)
11 October 2026, Singapore, Marina Bay: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren drives during the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. (dpa)

McLaren are selling five fully-functioning Formula One cars driven by champions, including Lewis Hamilton and the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna, with one also tested by Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.

The cars, to be sold through high-end dealer Tom Hartley Jr. and expected to raise tens of millions of dollars, will be prepared by the reigning constructors' champions for their next owners.

Hartley Jr. also sold the collection of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and 20 road cars belonging to the late McLaren co-owner Mansour Ojjeh.

"We have decided to part with these iconic McLaren Formula One cars because we feel that having them simply sitting ‌in storage is ‌a disservice to what they represent," McLaren Racing CEO Zak ‌Brown ⁠said in a ⁠statement on Sunday.

"These cars were built to be driven and raced, and we want to see them being used and enjoyed. We believe that is the best way to keep our history alive and our heritage business active."

PITT DROVE ONE AFTER FILMING F1 MOVIE

The five span 32 years of McLaren history, starting with two MP4/6A cars (chassis numbers 04 and 07 with Honda V12 engines) raced by Austrian Gerhard Berger and tested by Senna during the 1991 title-winning campaign.

Chassis 04 finished ⁠second in a one-two at the San Marino Grand Prix with ‌the McLarens lapping the entire field. Chassis 07 came second ‌at McLaren's home British Grand Prix. Both have been in McLaren's possession ever since.

A 2012 McLaren ‌MP4/27A (chassis 01) raced by 2009 world champion Jenson Button and tested by seven-times world champion ‌Hamilton is also for sale.

Two cars raced exclusively by reigning champion Lando Norris in 2021 and 2023 complete the group.

The 2021 McLaren MCL35M took Norris to the podium in Imola, Monaco and Monza while the 2023 MCL37A-03 won successive races in Singapore and Japan and was tested post-season by a roster ‌of drivers including Norris's teammate Oscar Piastri and Mick Schumacher, son of F1 great Michael.

The 2023 McLaren was driven by Pitt in ⁠a private test ⁠at Austin's Circuit of the Americas in June last year in connection with his starring role in "F1 the Movie" and is the most modern F1 car offered for sale to a private owner. Pitt reportedly took it up to a speed of 197mph (317kph).

"It is incredibly rare for a collector to have the opportunity to acquire race-driven Grand Prix cars directly from the manufacturer and team that built and campaigned them, and that makes this a very special offering," said Hartley.

"These five cars will be offered individually and there is no time pressure whatsoever. Our priority, and McLaren’s, is to find the right homes for them."

Although no prices were given, they are expected to range from 5 million pounds ($6.7 million) to as much as 10 million.

A McLaren MP4-25A raced by Hamilton to victory in Türkiye in 2010 sold for 4.8 million pounds in 2021 while a winning 2001 Ferrari raced by Michael Schumacher fetched $7.5 million in New York in 2017.


Man United Show Fight but Familiar Flaws Remain in Leeds Draw

 18 October 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road. (dpa)
18 October 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road. (dpa)
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Man United Show Fight but Familiar Flaws Remain in Leeds Draw

 18 October 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road. (dpa)
18 October 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road. (dpa)

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick took heart from his team's resilience in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Leeds United, but his description of the result as a "step forward" underlined how far expectations have fallen during a difficult spell for the club.

One win from seven league games has left United languishing in 13th, a stark contrast to last season's third-place finish and evidence that their problems run deeper than a difficult week.

Carrick conceded ‌they had fallen ‌short of the quality they are capable of ‌producing, ⁠particularly on the ball, ⁠but he found encouragement in the discipline and togetherness his players showed in the pressure of a fierce rivalry at Elland Road.

"Maybe if you talk about top quality, maybe it wasn't top, top quality I think we are capable of playing," Carrick said. "With the results we've had we weren't quite flowing but there's enough in there to take from it."

The greater significance for Carrick appeared ⁠to lie in how United responded to adversity.

After being outplayed ‌in a 1-1 draw with bottom side ‌Tottenham Hotspur last weekend and losing 2-0 at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, ‌the build-up to Sunday's game was further complicated by Lisandro Martinez publicly ‌criticizing the club hierarchy before apologizing.

Against that backdrop, Carrick placed greater emphasis on structure than style. United were harder to break down, and he praised his players for sticking to their roles and responsibilities in what he described as a tense game ‌that could have gone either way.

"It's a bit more than just effort," Carrick said. "It is the way you go ⁠about it. The ⁠plan. The responsibilities. The roles. I thought the boys took that responsibility on really well for the most part."

Yet familiar shortcomings remained. United surrendered their lead from a set piece and lacked enough quality in possession to take control of the match, leaving Carrick with another draw rather than the victory his side badly needed.

After a week dominated as much by events off the pitch as those on it, however, Carrick was keen to stress that the dressing room remained united.

"I suppose you're looking at the togetherness, the spirit, the unit. I don't doubt that within the group," he said. "The way that we went about it today gives me a lot of belief in us moving forward."

United head to Como for a Champions League game on Wednesday.


PSG Fight Back to Beat Strasbourg After Dembele Penalty Miss

 Paris Saint-Germain's Ukrainian defender #06 Illia Zabarnyi applauds at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 17, 2026. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Ukrainian defender #06 Illia Zabarnyi applauds at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 17, 2026. (AFP)
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PSG Fight Back to Beat Strasbourg After Dembele Penalty Miss

 Paris Saint-Germain's Ukrainian defender #06 Illia Zabarnyi applauds at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 17, 2026. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Ukrainian defender #06 Illia Zabarnyi applauds at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 17, 2026. (AFP)

Ousmane Dembele missed a penalty but later scored as Paris Saint-Germain produced a fightback to win 3-1 away at Strasbourg on Saturday and go to the top of the French Ligue 1 table.

PSG were trailing to an early goal by United States star Giovanni Reyna for Strasbourg at the Stade de la Meinau, and last year's Ballon d'Or winner Dembele came off the bench before he put a penalty wide in the 72nd minute.

But Dembele made amends in style, first by setting up Illia Zabarnyi to equalize in the 78th minute and then by putting the reigning French and European champions ahead with five minutes to go.

He then played a part in setting up Desire Doue for PSG's third in stoppage time, as Luis Enrique's men made it four straight Ligue 1 wins, and six on the bounce including the Champions League.

"I told him: 'If you play for 25 minutes and you give an assist and score a goal, you don't need to play any longer. That is enough'," Luis Enrique said of Dembele, one of a host of PSG players rested from the starting line-up in between key European games against Manchester City and Barcelona.

"Ousmane and the other players are not machines and they will not always be at their best. There are games over the course of a season where you are not at your best level because that is normal," added Luis Enrique.

After failing to win any of their first three domestic league matches this season, PSG are up to 14 points from seven games and are therefore top of the standings on goals scored from Lille as well as Monaco, before the principality club visit Lorient on Sunday.

Lille drew 1-1 with Brest, while Rennes, Paris FC and Lyon all have the opportunity to go back above PSG when they play on Sunday.

This game, one of PSG's toughest domestic tests of the season, fell awkwardly just three days after their 4-2 Champions League victory at City and three days before they host Barcelona.

- Spot-kick woe -

True to form, Luis Enrique therefore made sweeping changes with eight in total from the City game. Dembele was one of those relegated to the bench here with an eye on the meeting with Barcelona, his former side.

Strasbourg sought to take advantage and went in front on 17 minutes when Reyna received a Gessime Yassine pass just inside the area, turned and beat Matvey Safonov low at the goalkeeper's near post.

The visitors were grateful to Safonov for a superb save to deny Conrad Harder just after half-time, before Luis Enrique sent on some of the cavalry, including Dembele and Doue.

They won a penalty after a VAR check confirmed that a Doue shot had hit the arm of Pape Demba Diop, but Dembele -- who scored a penalty in May's Champions League final win over Arsenal -- put his spot-kick wide. Three different PSG players have now missed penalties in their last three games.

"We have lots of players who can take them but it is true that we don't have one specialist," said Luis Enrique.

However, Dembele crossed from the right for Ukraine defender Zabarnyi to equalize with a cushioned close-range finish, and then controlled on the edge of the box before firing in to make it 2-1.

That was his first Ligue 1 goal this season to go with three in the Champions League, and Dembele -- who is nominated again for this year's Ballon d'Or -- then brought down a long Safonov kick before finding Ferran Torres who set up Doue to seal the win.

Lille were looking to bounce back from a 3-0 Champions League loss at Arsenal when they entertained Brest, but they needed a penalty from 40-year-old Olivier Giroud to get a 1-1 draw.

Lens, France's other Champions League representative, won 3-1 away at Troyes.