Alcaraz, Sabalenka into US Open last 16

New York, USA: Defending singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka sailed into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday as tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams suffered an agonising defeat on their long-awaited return to Grand Slam doubles.

Alcaraz, coming off a four-month injury absence, beat China's Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to book his place in the fourth round while Sabalenka was similarly dominant in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Kamilla Rakhimova.

Alcaraz will face 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals after Paul beat 15th-seeded Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3. sportnewz.click

"The way he plays is unbelievable, the rhythm he has on every shot -- forehand, backhand," Alcaraz said of Wu. "His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it's really difficult to control sometimes.

"But I think I stayed there. I played aggressive. I played smart in the toughest moments."

Wu recovered an early break in each of the first two sets, but Alcaraz pocketed both with breaks in the final games and after saving a pair of break points in the first game of the third the Spaniard rolled home.

"I think my level is really good," he said. "I've got into the rhythm of the competition. I'm getting there."

World number one Sabalenka didn't face a break point in her dismissal of Rakhimova, firing 29 winners with 10 aces.

The numbers didn't tell the whole tale of a match that saw 92nd-ranked Rakhimova challenge Sabalenka in a second-set slugfest.

Sabalenka, who must repeat as champion to have a chance of remaining number one, next faces Taylor Townsend, the 96th-ranked American who beat 15th-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.

Paris, France: Head coach Luis Enrique has agreed a three-year contract extension with two-time defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 giants announced Friday.

The Spaniard's previous deal had been due to expire at the end of this season, but he has signed a new contract lasting until 2030.

The news was announced ahead of PSG's Ligue 1 match against Monaco at the Parc des Princes, with players Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Willian Pacho, Lucas Beraldo and Senny Mayulu all also penning contract extensions.

"They represent the present and the future of our club's project," PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said in a statement.

"Together, we're aiming to build for the long term, to remain true to our values, and to continue writing a story that our supporters can be proud of."

Luis Enrique, joined by those five Champions League winners, was given a raucous reception from the home fans when the announcement was made. PSG went on to lose the game 2-1, to leave them still without a win three matches into the new Ligue 1 season.

"It is not the best moment to talk about this but what I can say is that it is the first time in my career -- and I am an old coach -- in which I have stayed more than three years in the same club," said the 56-year-old after the match.

"I am more motivated now than I was in my first year here, which is bizarre for me. I am very happy and I hope to be up to the job."

The former Barcelona and Spain boss was appointed PSG coach ahead of the 2023/24 season, tasked with leading them to a long-awaited maiden European Cup.

He achieved that with a stunning 5-0 final victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final, before Paris successfully defended their title by beating Arsenal on penalties in May.

PSG have also won three Ligue 1 titles and two French Cups since Luis Enrique replaced Christophe Galtier at the helm.

Spanish World Cup winner Ruiz has extended his deal until the end of next season, with an optional extra year.

Portugal midfielder Neves, Brazilian defender Beraldo, Ecuador centre-half Pacho and youngster Mayulu have all signed deals until 2031.

Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush has reportedly agreed personal terms on a five year contract with Tottenham Hotspur.

Omar Marmoush’s representatives have agreed the framework of his proposed Spurs contract, according to reports. Tottenham hope to complete a double move for Marmoush and Brazilian winger Savinho before Monday.

The package for the two City forwards is currently valued at £140 million. Savinho’s transfer has been finalised, while the Egyptian’s fee is not expected to exceed £60 million after relevant deductions.

Separate reports support the claim that negotiations have reached an advanced stage, although they give different figures for the proposed transfers.

Yesterday, Sky Sports reported that Tottenham have agreed to pay £75 million plus £10 million in add-ons for Savinho, while describing talks for Marmoush as “close to an agreement.”

The Guardian, meanwhile, values Marmoush’s proposed move at £75 million and the combined deals at £160 million.

The latest development comes after KingFut reported that Spurs had opened talks with City over both forwards.

Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi reportedly sees Marmoush as an important part of his attacking rebuild. However, Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca insisted that Marmoush had not asked to leave the club.

الأخبارنادي لوسيل يطلق نشاط كرة الطاولةأعلن نادي لوسيل الرياضي انطلاق نشاط كرة الطاولة تحت مظلة الاتحاد القطري لكرة الطاولة، في إطار استراتيجيته الرامية إلى التوسع في مختلف الألعاب الرياضية، وتعزيز قاعدة الممارسين، و...فتح →

“Omar is still here, still with us. He is different to Savinho, so we will see what happens,” Maresca said, explaining that Savinho had communicated his desire to leave from the beginning of the coach’s tenure

Marmoush joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025. His contract runs until June 2029.

The post Omar Marmoush Reportedly Reaches Agreement with Tottenham appeared first on KingFut.

Paris, France: Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin poured praise on the Somali referee in a statement released a few hours before global body FIFA's flagship World Cup was to start.

"Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football," said Ceferin.

"Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination."

UEFA said that after talks with the African confederation, it "has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup" on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.

Artan's case has been on of many incidents to taint the runup to FIFA's World Cup.

UEFA said Artan's appointment came in the framework of an accord between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation.

African pride

"UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination," it said.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had "made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent, extremely proud".

"His receipt of the CAF men's referee of the year award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys."

His appointment to referee the Super Cup "is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide", Motsepe said.

Artan was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.

A US State Department official told AFP that the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations", therefore "making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States".

FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup.

Artan's appointment to the 52-strong roster of referees for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States had been a huge source of pride for his compatriots.

He returned to a hero's welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday and vowed to take part in the next World Cup in 2030.

تنطلق غداً منافسات النسخة الثالثة من بطولة متحف قطر الأولمبي والرياضي «3-2-1» للشطرنج الخاطف تحت 16 عاماً، وذلك ضمن سلسلة البطولات التي ينظمها الاتحاد القطري للشطرنج في إطار شراكاته مع مؤسسات الدولة.
ويشارك في البطولة التي تنطلق عند الساعة الرابعة عصراً في قاعة المتحف 50 لاعباً ولاعبة، حيث ستقام المنافسات بنظام الشطرنج الخاطف ووفق النظام السويسري، على أن يتحدد الفائزون الأوائل بعد نهاية خمس جولات.
وأكد السيد حمد التميمي، المدير التنفيذي للاتحاد القطري للشطرنج، أن البطولة تشهد مشاركة واسعة من اللاعبين واللاعبات من مختلف الجنسيات، وتأتي ضمن خطة الاتحاد الرامية إلى تحقيق العديد من الأهداف، في مقدمتها نشر ثقافة الشطرنج في المجتمع.
وأعرب التميمي عن تطلعه إلى مزيد من التعاون مع الجهات ومختلف المؤسسات في الدولة، بما يسهم في مساعدة الاتحاد القطري للشطرنج على تحقيق رؤيته وتطوير اللعبة وبناء قاعدة عريضة لها.
وأوضح أن هذه البطولات تهدف إلى بناء جيل يرفد المنتخبات الوطنية باللاعبين، وتعد فرصة ثمينة لاكتشاف المزيد من المواهب وتوسيع نطاق اختيار أفضل اللاعبين لتمثيل الشطرنج القطري في البطولات الخارجية.