Gauff, Rybakina Sail Into US Open Quarters, Another Great Escape for Zheng

Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Gauff, Rybakina Sail Into US Open Quarters, Another Great Escape for Zheng

Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026.  EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA in action against Iva Jovic of the USA during their Women’s Singles round 4 match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

Home favorite Coco Gauff and world number two Elena Rybakina sailed into the US Open quarter-finals on Monday, while China's Zheng Qinwen mounted another extraordinary fightback to upset six-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

Fourth seed Gauff outclassed compatriot ⁠Iva Jovic 6-1 ⁠6-4 to set up a clash with fellow French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for a place in the semis.

"Mirra is someone that I always have tough matches with," Gauff told reporters. "She's obviously in a different mindset now at the top of the game coming off of a Grand Slam win ... it's going to be a really athletic, tough match."

Gauff is the sixth American player into the quarters, joining Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Frances Tiafoe, Alex Michelsen and Ben Shelton.

Rybakina continued her quest for a third major title with a 6-1 6-4 win over former US Open champion Naomi Osaka, ⁠who was hampered by an Achilles tendon injury that had flared up in the previous round.

The victory leaves second seed Rybakina one win away from becoming world number one for the first time, with Olympic champion Zheng awaiting her in the quarters.

The win was another encouraging sign for Rybakina, who had arrived in New York with questions over her fitness after retiring from the Cincinnati Open in the build-up to the tournament.

"Preparation wasn't that great," she told reporters, according to Reuters. It's an amazing progress. I'm really glad how everything worked out."

Zheng has become something of an escape artist at Flushing Meadows.

After coming back from a 0-5 deficit in the deciding set against third-round foe Madison Keys, she let the first five games slip through her fingers in 20 minutes against 2022 champion Swiatek.

However, she clawed her way back into the match and collapsed to the court with her face in her hands after sealing ⁠the win on the fourth ⁠match point.

Zheng is the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the quarter-finals of the women's draw, as she battles back from a chronic elbow injury.

Andreeva's entertaining match against Anastasia Potapova ended on a sour note as the Austrian went down injured in the final game.

Potapova valiantly retook the court but could not prevent the inevitable as Andreeva sealed the 5-7 6-4 6-3 win with a backhand strike before going across the net to hug her opponent.

The evening session in the men's draw was not short on drama.

At Louis Armstrong Stadium, Karen Khachanov fought back to claim a 7-5 4-6 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4 win over 20-year-old American Learner Tien, while on the Grandstand court Botic van de Zandschulp emerged victorious after a five-hour marathon against Arthur Gea.

The 21-year-old Gea had been one point away from becoming the first lucky loser in Grand Slam history to reach the quarter-finals, before his Dutch opponent engineered a 3-6 6-7(0) 7-6(7) 7-6(3) 6-4 comeback win.

Earlier on Monday, Belgium's Alexander Blockx dispatched Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 4-6 7-5 7-5 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.



I'd Have Left Real Madrid If I Were Vinicius, Says Mourinho

Real Madird coach Jose Mourinho said he would have left the club this summer if he were Vinicius Junior. JOSE JORDAN / AFP
Real Madird coach Jose Mourinho said he would have left the club this summer if he were Vinicius Junior. JOSE JORDAN / AFP
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I'd Have Left Real Madrid If I Were Vinicius, Says Mourinho

Real Madird coach Jose Mourinho said he would have left the club this summer if he were Vinicius Junior. JOSE JORDAN / AFP
Real Madird coach Jose Mourinho said he would have left the club this summer if he were Vinicius Junior. JOSE JORDAN / AFP

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Saturday if he were winger Vinicius Junior he would have left the club this summer.

The Brazilian was sent off during Madrid's win over Villarreal last weekend for hair pulling and was banned for four matches, meaning he will miss the Clasico clash against Barcelona on October 25, said AFP.

Vinicius, 26, has also been targeted regularly by opposition fans and been racially abused on many occasions since joining Madrid in 2018.

"He's a spectacular kid who it's easy to have a good relationship with," Mourinho told reporters.

"He's a fantastic boy, tremendous credit to him for the fact that he keeps living and surviving and still having a smile...

"If it were me in his place, probably I wouldn't be here. In this last summer I would have forced an exit to a league, a country, to somewhere there are rival clubs and stadiums that respect him."

In the summer Vinicius signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2032.

Question marks remain over whether Madrid can line up with attacking superstars Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham together, without losing balance.

"Because he loves Real Madrid, for loving the club and the city, for believing that things can always improve, he renewed and he keeps on smiling," continued Mourinho.

"No one or nobody can... well, influence him negatively yes, because he's human... but take away his joy of living and working and being with his team-mates, no, no one can do that."

Mourinho took Vinicius off during the 4-3 Champions League win at Roma on Wednesday, with the winger still struggling to return to the form that helped him win the competition twice under Carlo Ancelotti.

Mourinho said he was happy that Vinicius's ban was four matches, saying he thought some hidden figures at the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee "would give him one or two more".

- 'There are limits' -

Madrid face Sevilla on Sunday aiming not to fall further behind league leaders Barcelona, who visit Real Betis later on Saturday.

Hansi Flick's Barcelona have won every single match this season and are six points ahead of fourth-placed Real Madrid.

Los Blancos and Mourinho have blamed referees for some of their results, including the 2-1 derby defeat by Atletico Madrid in September.

On Friday Real Madrid called for La Liga president Javier Tebas to resign after he compared the club's efforts to discredit referees to the techniques of propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

Tebas later attempted to clarify that he was drawing comparisons with "those propaganda techniques" and not with the ideology of the Nazis.

"I don't want to talk about this, there are limits and there are limits. You can only excuse it if it's a clinical case -- otherwise there's no excuse," said Mourinho.

"I don't want to go down that road. Madrid and its fans understands what it is up against.

"For the prestige that the league has abroad, for being the current world champions, it's better if we try to keep this here and not let it get out (to the world)."


Kompany: Bayern Are Close to their Best Despite Consecutive Draws coach

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gives a press conference after the UEFA Champions League football match between Viking FK and FC Bayern Munich in Stavanger, Norway on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP)
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gives a press conference after the UEFA Champions League football match between Viking FK and FC Bayern Munich in Stavanger, Norway on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP)
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Kompany: Bayern Are Close to their Best Despite Consecutive Draws coach

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gives a press conference after the UEFA Champions League football match between Viking FK and FC Bayern Munich in Stavanger, Norway on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP)
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gives a press conference after the UEFA Champions League football match between Viking FK and FC Bayern Munich in Stavanger, Norway on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP)

Bayern Munich are edging closer to their very best despite drawing their last two matches, coach Vincent Kompany said on Friday.

The German champions, who take on visitors RB Leipzig on Saturday, have drawn their last two matches in all competitions – a 2-2 against Augsburg that included conceding the fastest goal in Bundesliga history, followed by a 3-3 at rank outsiders Viking in the Champions League on Tuesday.

They looked far from convincing in both matches, missing chances and looking shaky at the back, and having ⁠to come from ⁠behind both times to rescue draws.

They are currently in third spot in the Bundesliga, two points behind leaders Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund.

"We want to attack," Kompany told a press conference. "We have the feeling that there are a lot of things behind the perception of ⁠these two results. I have the feeling it is just before we show our very best version.

"In the last two matches we shot 50 times on goal. If we do a few things better then we are not too far from our very best version."

Bayern have busy weeks coming up and after Leipzig – they face Arsenal in the Champions League before taking on leaders Freiburg in the Bundesliga. They then host Dortmund in ⁠Der ⁠Klassiker on October 31 after a German Cup second-round match against Magdeburg.

"These moments that some people think might be difficult we say these are the best moments you can have in your career. If you win these matches then you have created some moments," Reuters quoted Kompany as saying.

"We are sharp and motivated... we look forward to these matches to measure ourselves against the best.

"The lads reach the limit in every training session and it is fun to watch. They know it is now best to talk on the pitch."


Chelsea Captain Reece James Undergoes Knee Surgery

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 6, 2026 Chelsea's Reece James applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 6, 2026 Chelsea's Reece James applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
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Chelsea Captain Reece James Undergoes Knee Surgery

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 6, 2026 Chelsea's Reece James applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - September 6, 2026 Chelsea's Reece James applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Chelsea captain Reece James has undergone knee surgery, the Premier League club said Friday.

Chelsea described the procedure as minor, but did not confirm the precise nature of the injury, which was sustained during a training session.

England defender James has endured a slew of injuries involving his knee and hamstring. A hamstring problem ruled him out of part of the 2026 World Cup.

Chelsea did not say how long it would take before the 26-year-old James would be back in action, The Associated Press reported.

“Reece has already begun his road to recovery and will be supported by the club’s medical department at Cobham during this rehabilitation phase,” it said in a statement. “Everyone at Chelsea wishes Reece a speedy recovery and will support him on his road to return.”

Chelsea, which is sixth in the league, travels to Everton on Saturday.