AFC Champions League Elite: Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad to Host UAE's Al-Ain

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
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AFC Champions League Elite: Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad to Host UAE's Al-Ain

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad is seeking its second consecutive victory in the AFC Champions League Elite as they prepare to host the UAE's Al-Ain on Monday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported.

Al-Ittihad enters the encounter in high spirits following their first tournament victory last week against Uzbekistan's Neftchi. The result provided a significant boost, helping the team regain its footing and remain competitive after a disappointing start in which it earned only one point from its first two matches.

Al-Ittihad, two-time winners of the continental title, aims to capitalize on their home advantage and the support of their fans to secure a positive result against the current group leaders.

The team will seek to increase its points tally, deliver a more effective attacking performance, and continue its upward trajectory in the competition.



AFC Champions League Elite: Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad to Host UAE's Al-Ain

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
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AFC Champions League Elite: Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad to Host UAE's Al-Ain

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)
The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported (File photo/Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad is seeking its second consecutive victory in the AFC Champions League Elite as they prepare to host the UAE's Al-Ain on Monday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

The match is part of the fourth round of the West Region league stage of the 2026–2027 season, SPA reported.

Al-Ittihad enters the encounter in high spirits following their first tournament victory last week against Uzbekistan's Neftchi. The result provided a significant boost, helping the team regain its footing and remain competitive after a disappointing start in which it earned only one point from its first two matches.

Al-Ittihad, two-time winners of the continental title, aims to capitalize on their home advantage and the support of their fans to secure a positive result against the current group leaders.

The team will seek to increase its points tally, deliver a more effective attacking performance, and continue its upward trajectory in the competition.


Shnaider Beats Fernandez to Win Tokyo Title

Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026.  EPA/KIYOSHI OTA
Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA
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Shnaider Beats Fernandez to Win Tokyo Title

Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026.  EPA/KIYOSHI OTA
Diana Shnaider of Russia poses with the trophy after winning the singles final match against Leylah Fernandez of Canada during the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2026. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA

Russia's Diana Shnaider won her first title of the year with a hard-fought victory over Leylah Fernandez in Tokyo on Sunday and couldn't wait to tell her mum all about it.

The world number 13 beat Canada's Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the Pan Pacific Open and then went straight to her phone to call home.

"I was calling my mum -- I wanted to hear her voice after winning a title and share a first few moments with her," the 22-year-old Shnaider said.

"She said 'you've just finished and already you're calling me'."

It was Shnaider's first title since Monterrey in August last year and the sixth of her career.

She looked to be cruising to victory after winning the first set and taking a 4-0 lead in the second.

World number 23 Fernandez came back to win the second set, but Shnaider regained control to close out the match.

"It was definitely a tight, close match," AFP quoted Shnaider as saying.

"It makes me even more happy that I was able to fight for the title and in the end win it."

Fernandez went into the final with 16 wins in her previous 20 matches.

That run included victory at the Singapore Open in September and a runner-up finish at last week's Ningbo Open in China behind world number one Elena Rybakina.

Fernandez struggled with her serve, double-faulting five times throughout the match and landing only half of her first serves in the first set.

She got it together when it mattered though, stunning Shnaider in the second set with some tenacious tennis to even the score at one set each.

Shnaider regained her composure when she returned for the final set, breaking Fernandez's serve twice and clinching the title with her first match point.

She was appearing in her first final of the year after losing in the semi-finals four times before this week.

"Very happy that I was able to win the title," she said.

"It definitely means a lot to me, to my team, my family to finish on a high note."

Fernandez shed tears as she thanked her family in her on-court interview and said that she had received some "bad news".


Marquez Wins Malaysian MotoGP to Move to Brink of World Title

Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
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Marquez Wins Malaysian MotoGP to Move to Brink of World Title

Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Race winner Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez holds a Spanish flag following the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Marc Marquez moved to the brink of an eighth world title with an imperious victory at the Malaysian MotoGP on Sunday.

The Ducati star and reigning champion romped home ahead of Pedro Acosta and brother Alex Marquez at a sweltering Sepang.

With chief title rival and Aprilia rider Jorge Martin missing the Sepang race with a broken wrist, his fellow Spaniard Marquez can now seal the championship next weekend in Qatar.

Marquez started alongside brother and polesitter Alex on the front row of the grid but grabbed the lead at the first corner and never looked back.

There are just three race weekends left.

Marquez, who was second in Saturday's sprint behind Acosta, sits top of the pile with 399 points.

Martin is second on 355, with Marco Bezzecchi third with 332.