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Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid Agree on Contract Extension to 2032

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior holds up the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Saint Denis near Paris, May 29, 2022. (AP)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior holds up the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Saint Denis near Paris, May 29, 2022. (AP)
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Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid Agree on Contract Extension to 2032

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior holds up the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Saint Denis near Paris, May 29, 2022. (AP)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior holds up the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Saint Denis near Paris, May 29, 2022. (AP)

Brazil star Vinícius Júnior has agreed to a contract extension with Real Madrid to remain at the Spanish powerhouse through June 2032, the club announced Thursday.

The 26-year-old winger had entered the final year of his contract and reportedly had drawn interest from Premier League champion Arsenal.

Vinícius has scored 128 goals in 375 matches since joining Madrid at age 18 and has helped the club win 14 titles, including La Liga three times and the Champions League twice.

“Vinicius Jr. has become one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in our history,” the club said in its announcement.

Financial terms of the extension were not disclosed.

Vinícius wrote on Instagram: “Eight years at the Bernabeu are too few ... 6 more years, and forever!”

Los Blancos enter the 2026-27 season with a new coach — José Mourinho, for a second stint — and renewed expectations among fans.

Madrid hasn’t won a major title in two years with superstar striker Kylian Mbappé onboard. The club went through two coaches in Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa last season.

The record 15-time European Cup winners have seen Paris Saint-Germain win consecutive Champions League titles. Madrid has finished runner-up to fierce rival Barcelona for the La Liga title the past two seasons.

Earlier Thursday, Real Madrid reached a deal with Leipzig for the transfer of young Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old forward joined on a seven-year contract.

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Zverev Reaches US Open 4th Round with Win over Tabilo

Zverev Reaches US Open 4th Round with Win over Tabilo
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Zverev Reaches US Open 4th Round with Win over Tabilo

Zverev Reaches US Open 4th Round with Win over Tabilo

Top seed Alexander Zverev lost his way in the second set but got his game back under control to secure a 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2 victory over Alejandro Tabilo and reach the fourth round of the US Open on Saturday.

After spending a grueling nine hours and 26 minutes on court across back-to-back five-setters against Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys, the last thing the German would have wanted was another long night on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"My coach was quite smart, he said that best-of-five sets doesn't mean that you have to play ⁠five sets. I ⁠didn't know it until now, that was quite helpful," Zverev joked later, according to Reuters.

"I'm happy with my level right now, it's going in the right direction and I'm happy to be in the second week.

"I didn't practice much yesterday, only an hour, which is very little for me. I'd spent almost 10 ⁠hours on court, so I had to find my rhythm somehow. I still think I can play better, but for now I'm happy with how things are going."

The 29-year-old, who won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open and finished runner-up at Wimbledon, stormed out of the blocks by breaking 25th seed Tabilo twice before taking the first set with an unreturnable serve to love.

Zverev raced to a 4-2 lead in the second set but his level suddenly dropped, ⁠allowing world ⁠number 28 Tabilo to claim three games in a row and go within touching distance of drawing level in the match.

However, the Chilean was unable to press home the advantage and Zverev, after chiding a courtside fan who appeared to be offering coaching advice during the ensuing tiebreak, rediscovered his composure and his best tennis, pulling away to tighten his grip on the match.

The writing was on the wall for Tabilo when Zverev raced ahead 5-2 in the third, and the German booked his place in the round of 16 where 21st-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi awaits.

Sports

Jovic 'Loses Sanity Five Times Over' to Oust Eala and Book Gauff Clash

Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Jovic 'Loses Sanity Five Times Over' to Oust Eala and Book Gauff Clash

Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

American teen Iva Jovic outlasted Philippines star Alexandra Eala in an epic three-hour showdown on Saturday to reach the fourth round of the US Open, where fourth seed Coco Gauff awaits.

Jovic, the 14th seed, won five of the last six games for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over 17th-seed Eala after three hours and three minutes.

"That felt like a marathon and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match," Jovic said. "But it's really worth it for this feeling."

Two of the top rising stars of women's tennis made their Arthur Ashe Stadium debut a memorable battle that featured 17 service breaks in 33 games.

Jovic, 18 and Eala, 21, are friends and sometime doubles partners, knowing well each other's skills and style. That helped produce seven service breaks in the first 11 games.

"I'm usually not one that shows that many emotions but this one really meant a lot to me. It's everything to have another match here at the US Open," said Jovic.

That match will be against compatriot Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion.

"I'm going to be more than happy to just bring this fight and this energy and whatever happens I can leave with my head high," Jovic said.

Jovic broke four times to win the first set but was broken three times by left-hander Eala to drop the second.

Eala broke Jovic in the first game of the third set when the American netted a backhand.
"I just tried to take my time in those moments and feel the energy and feel the crowd -- even though they weren't always rooting for me," Jovic said.

Jovic smacked a forehand winner to break Eala in the fourth game and level the set, but the American double-faulted away a break in the fifth.

Jovic broke back to 4-4 with a backhand service return winner and broke again in the last game, smacking a forehand winner to reach match point and taking the victory when Eala netted a forehand.

Jovic, a quarter-finalist at this year's Australian Open, won her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17.

Sports

Rybakina Books US Open Fourth-round Berth, Inches Closer to No. 1

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Rybakina Books US Open Fourth-round Berth, Inches Closer to No. 1

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

World number two Elena Rybakina avenged her French Open defeat to Yuliia Starodubtseva on Saturday, beating the unseeded Ukrainian 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 to reach the US Open last 16.

The hard-hitting Kazakh, who claimed her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, fell to Starodubtseva in the second round at Roland Garros, a defeat that may have been on her mind as she struggled to find her rhythm in the opening set.

Starodubtseva took full advantage of Rybakina's struggles with her forehand and broke for a 5-4 lead, said AFP.

But Rybakina steadied, breaking back with an angled drop shot to level the set.

She saved a set point in the tiebreaker with one of her 12 aces, and with the first set in hand attacked in the second with confidence.

A double fault from Starodubtseva handed Rybakina a break to open the second and Rybakina maintained the edge to finish the job in just under two hours.

"It was a tough match," Rybakina said. "I feel like it wasn't my best performance, but Yuliia she's a great player. Last time we had a battle, too, and I'm glad I could win in straight sets."

Rybakina now just needs two wins -- to reach the semi-finals -- to be assured of supplanting Aryna Sabalenka atop the world rankings -- even if Sabalenka wins a third straight US Open title.

"Not there yet," she said. "It's still very far. I need to focus on my next match and not think about it."

That next match will be against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who beat Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.