Sports

French Open champion Coco Gauff captured her third WTA 1000 title and first in Wuhan after rallying from two breaks down in the second set to defeat fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-4 7-5 in Sunday's final.

Monaco's world number 204 Valentin Vacherot completed a fairytale run at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, rallying from a set down to defeat his cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the final and secure his first ATP title.

Italy's hopes of at least making the World Cup qualifying playoffs were given a boost with a 3-1 win away to Estonia on Saturday thanks to goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito.

The UAE struck late goals through Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas to earn a 2-1 win over Oman in Doha on Saturday as Cosmin Olaroiu's side battled back to keep their hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup alive.

Thousands of UAE fans have travelled to Doha to cheer the national team in their crucial World Cup qualifier against Oman on Saturday.

World number 204 Valentin Vacherot beat a struggling Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to reach the Shanghai Masters final on Saturday, becoming the lowest-ranked player to get to an ATP Masters 1000 final since the series was introduced in 1990.

French Open champion Coco Gauff defeated Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-4 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Wuhan Open final, her third WTA 1000 final of the year.

India racked up 518-5 before declaring their first innings and returned to reduce West Indies to 26-1 at tea to tighten their grip over the second and final test between the sides on Saturday.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has withdrawn from Monday's World Cup qualifier against Iceland due to a right ankle injury sustained during his side's 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Saturday.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Oasis singer Liam Gallagher were among the thousands of mourners who bid farewell to Ricky Hatton as one of Manchester's most beloved sporting figures was laid to rest.

Brazil's Estevao and Rodrygo each netted twice as the visitors cruised to a 5-0 victory over South Korea in a friendly on Friday, showcasing a dominant display under Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Aryna Sabalenka extended her unbeaten run at the Wuhan Open to 20 matches with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Elena Rybakina on Friday, keeping alive her quest for a fourth straight title and setting up a semi-final clash with Jessica Pegula.

Dubai Basketball has announced the signing of Australian point guard Taran Armstrong on a one-year contract, with a club option for a second year.

Algeria added their name to the list of World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, the fourth African team to book a spot at next year’s finals in North America, after a comfortable 3-0 win over Somalia.

Fourth seed Novak Djokovic battled past a spirited Zizou Bergs 6-3 7-5 on Thursday to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals for a 10th time, setting up a clash with surprise package and world number 204 Valentin Vacherot.

Scotland stunned Greece with a 3-1 home win in their Group C qualifier on Thursday to take a big step towards a first World Cup since 1998 on a night that saw manager Steve Clarke equal the national record for most games in charge.

World number nine Lorenzo Musetti pleaded with the chair umpire to ask spectators to stop coughing in between his serves at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, days after the Italian issued an apology for complaining about fans' behaviour in Beijing.

Egypt has officially qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 3-0 win over Djibouti on Wednesday, becoming the third African side to book their place, while the Cape Verde Islands and Ghana both took a step closer to joining them.

Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo died on Wednesday at the age of 69 after a long battle with cancer, the club said.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which has valued the Portugal great's net worth at an estimated $1.4 billion.

Former Spain and Barcelona defender Jordi Alba will retire from football at the end of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season, the Inter Miami player said on Tuesday.

Irish MMA champion Conor McGregor has accepted an 18-month suspension for violating the UFC's anti-doping policy after missing three attempted tests in 2024, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) announced Tuesday.

Novak Djokovic battled through a left leg injury and heat exhaustion to beat Jaume Munar 6-3 5-7 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.

Preparations are underway for the 10th edition of the Al Salam Cycling Championship, the world’s largest community cycling race in terms of diversity and prize value.

Dubai Basketball kicked off their ABA League campaign in style, delivering a powerful 92:58 victory over Croatian side Split on Monday evening at Coca-Cola Arena.

The governing body of men's tennis could consider a formal heat rule after a string of retirements at the Shanghai Masters this week blew the draw wide open, with top players wilting under soaring temperatures and punishing humidity.

A LaLiga match between Barcelona and Villarreal can be played in Miami this December after UEFA "reluctantly" approved the move.

Striker Harry Kane has indicated that he is open to extending his stay at Bayern Munich beyond 2027 when his current contract ends, saying his desire to return to the Premier League has dimmed.

European Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton will return to Emirates Golf Club to defend his title at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, taking place from January 22-25.

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic missed a penalty and his side had to settle for a 0-0 draw away to Juventus on Sunday, denying the visitors a return to the top of the Serie A standings.

The New York Knicks has sealed victory in both of their NBA Abu Dhabi 2025 preseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers, winning the second match with a score of 113–104 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island.

George Russell drove a flawless race from pole position to win the Singapore Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday ahead of Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen.

Amanda Anisimova brushed off a second-set stumble to beat Linda Noskova 6-0 2-6 6-2 in the China Open final on Sunday, winning her second WTA 1000 title.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan counterpart Fatima Sana skipped the customary handshake before a women's cricket World Cup match on Sunday amid ongoing tensions between the rivals that plagued the men's Asia Cup last month.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr scored twice before a late finish from Kylian Mbappe wrapped up a 3-1 home victory over Villarreal, who finished with 10 men in Saturday’s LaLiga clash.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Leeds United 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday thanks to a goal and assist from Mohammed Kudus that consigned the home side to a first league defeat at Elland Road in over a year.

Abu Dhabi will host the 2025 Junior Grand Prix Figure Skating Championship for the first time in the Middle East and Africa, with the participation of 90 skaters representing 35 countries.

Quinn Tupaea scored a brace of tries as New Zealand fended off Australia 28-14 in the Perth wet on Saturday to give themselves a chance of Rugby Championship glory.

Captain Mitchell Marsh produced a blistering unbeaten 103 off 52 balls to secure Australia's series-clinching three-wicket victory in the third and final T20 International against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

India cruised to victory over West Indies by an innings and 140 runs within three days of the opening test in Ahmedabad on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova advanced to her second WTA 1000 final of the year on Saturday, outclassing defending champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in the semi-finals of the China Open.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said he does not intend to resign but acknowledged that positive results are crucial to keeping his position at Old Trafford, as pressure mounts following a woeful start to the season.

Championship leader Oscar Piastri put McLaren back on top of the timesheets at the Singapore Grand Prix in an eventful second practice session disrupted by three accidents on Friday night.

India racked up 448 for five after opener KL Rahul and middle-order batters Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja struck hundreds to flatten West Indies and put the hosts in charge of the opening test in Ahmedabad on Friday.

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 26 has reached its latest significant milestone with the launch of the adidas TRIONDA, the Official Match Ball of the competition.

Opener KL Rahul notched his 11th Test hundred to keep India on track for a potentially decisive first-innings lead against West Indies on day two of the opening Test in Ahmedabad on Friday.

The FIA has invoked its "heat hazard" regulation for the first time at a Formula One race because of the high temperatures forecast for this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

FIFA's vice president said football's global governing body decides whether to move 2026 World Cup matches from host cities, contrary to comments made previously by President Donald Trump about the US moving games depending on the location's safety.

India seamers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah ripped through the West Indies line-up to claim seven wickets between them and dismiss the tourists for 162 before the hosts reached 121-2 on day one of the first test in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Namibia and Zimbabwe sealed places at the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup scheduled for next February in India and Sri Lanka with victories in their respective semi-finals at the African qualifiers being staged in Harare.

For the fifth year in a row, the top player in the PGA tour university ranking will earn a coveted spot in Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

India seamers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah ripped through the West Indies line-up to capture seven wickets between them and dismiss the tourists for 162 before tea was taken early on day one of the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Villarreal snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Renato Veiga's last-minute header denying the Italian side their first win.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick conceded that Paris St Germain were worthy winners in their 2-1 Champions League victory at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium on Wednesday and said that his team needed to improve in key areas.

Dubai Basketball made a stunning debut in the EuroLeague on Tuesday night, defeating Serbian giants Partizan Mozzart Bet 89-76 in front of a roaring home crowd.

Jannik Sinner was back to his best in a 6-2 6-2 victory over American teenager Learner Tien in Wednesday's China Open final, as the world number two picked up his third title of the year and 21st tour-level trophy overall.

Former world number six Gael Monfils will retire at the end of next season, the Frenchman said on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid eased to a 5-0 victory over Champions League debutants Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, bouncing back emphatically from their weekend LaLiga defeat.

Victor Osimhen scored from the spot as Galatasaray dealt Liverpool a stinging second successive defeat with a score of 1-0 on a tough Champions League night in Istanbul on Tuesday.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz wore down Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Tuesday to win his eighth title of a spectacular year and further cement his status as a dominant force in the men's game.

Jannik Sinner underlined his dominance on hardcourts in the Asian swing by outlasting Australian third seed Alex de Minaur 6-3 4-6 6-2 on Tuesday to reach his third straight China Open final.

Baseball United has signed two celebrated names from the Dubai baseball scene to the Arabia Wolves roster for its inaugural season.

FIFA has sanctioned the Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) for racist and discriminatory behaviour by fans during the CONCACAF qualifying match against Suriname for the 2026 World Cup.

West Ham United battled back from a goal down to draw 1-1 away to Everton in the Premier League on Monday, with Jarrod Bowen scoring as Nuno Espirito Santo grabbed a point in his first game in charge of the London side.

West Indies suffered a humbling defeat on Monday when they were dismissed for 83 runs by Nepal who secured an unprecedented T20 series triumph in the United Arab Emirates.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a slow start to beat Casper Ruud 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Monday and reach the Japan Open final, where he will meet second seed Taylor Fritz with the chance to claim his eighth title of the year.

India beat Pakistan to defend their Asia Cup title but refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi during the end to a politically-charged tournament on Sunday.

Barcelona secured a 2-1 comeback win over Real Sociedad on Sunday that sent them top of the LaLiga standings after they turned the match around with goals from Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski either side of halftime.

Europe withstood a ferocious challenge from the US to capture golf's biggest team prize in a nail-biting 15-13 victory during the Ryder Cup finale on Sunday.

India beat arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the final to retain their Asia Cup title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Europe turned the scoreboard blue early as they looked to put the finishing touches on an away Ryder Cup romp on Sunday at sunny Bethpage Black where the United States sent out their strongest players early in the hope they could spark a comeback.

Arsenal defender Gabriel headed a stoppage-time winner from a corner to secure his side a 2-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday and close the gap on leaders Liverpool to two points with a stunning late show.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Sunday with a commanding 6-2 6-4 win over American Brandon Nakashima, while Danish third seed Holger Rune was sent packing by Jenson Brooksby.

Premier League champions Liverpool dropped points for the first time this season when they lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace in the eighth minute of added time as Manchester United and Chelsea suffered 3-1 defeats on Saturday.

Team Europe is all but assured to win the 45th Ryder Cup after Saturday's one-sided show at Bethpage Black, leaving more spotlight on the home fans' interactions with Rory McIlroy.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had a penalty saved as his team slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, Igor Thiago scoring twice for the hosts.

UAE National Team sprinter Maryam Karim ranked first in World Athletics' (WA) Under-18 400m hurdles list for August 2025, with a best time of 57.66 seconds.

West Ham United have sacked manager Graham Potter, the Premier League club said on Saturday, with the team languishing 19thin the table with three points from five matches.

Cam Roigard scored two tries on his return from injury as the All Blacks held off a Wallabies fightback to prevail 33-24 in a hard-fought Rugby Championship test on Saturday and maintain their grip on the Bledisloe Cup for another year.

Keegan Bradley said the United States team would not deviate from its plan and kept seven of its eight players from Friday's Ryder Cup foursomes session in the lineup for Saturday morning.

The UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) appears poised for an emergency vote on suspending Israel from competition next week, with national federations scrambling to position themselves amid mounting political pressure following calls for action.

President Donald Trump would look to move matches for the 2026 World Cup if he deems any of the US cities planning to serve as hosts to be unsafe.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in a make-or-break Super Fours contest on Thursday to book their place in Sunday's Asia Cup final where they will hope to make it third time lucky against arch-rivals India.

The three official FIFA World Cup 26 mascots have been unveiled, with each highlighting one of the host nations of the world’s greatest sporting event.

Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shattered a long-standing barrier by signing with Sydney Thunder, to join Australia's Big Bash League (BBL).

World number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame a foot injury scare to beat Argentina's Sebastian Baez 6-4 6-2 on his Tokyo Open debut on Thursday, extending his sizzling run of form to reach the second round at the ATP 500 event.

Defending champions India stormed into the final of the Asia Cup on Wednesday after thumping Bangladesh by 41 runs in a Super Fours stage contest to maintain their blemish-free run in the tournament.

Julian Alvarez scored twice in eight minutes to complete his hat-trick and hand Atletico Madrid a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory in LaLiga over Rayo Vallecano at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi scored his MLS-leading 23rd and 24th goals and added his 13th assist to power visiting Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over New York City FC on Wednesday night, clinching an MLS Cup Playoff spot.

FIFA is bringing a major football event to Dubai this October, featuring the Afghan women's refugee team for the first time in an international tournament.

Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the season with a swashbuckling 4-1 victory over Levante on Tuesday, as Vinicius Jr orchestrated the first-half demolition before Kylian Mbappe's second-half brace sealed a comprehensive win.

Novak Djokovic will return to action in Shanghai next month in his first tournament since his US Open semi-final defeat by Carlos Alcaraz, organisers of the Masters tournament said.

Pyramids forward Fiston Mayele scored a hat-trick to lead his side to the African-Asian-Pacific Cup title, following a 3-1 win over AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Alexander Isak scored his first goal for Liverpool while Hugo Ekitike was sent off after bagging a late winner as the hosts beat second tier Southampton 2-1 at Anfield to reach the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday.

England spinner Shoaib Bashir and fast bowler Mark Wood have been named in the squad after injuries for the Ashes series starting in Australia in November.

Retired international cricket umpire Harold Dennis "Dickie" Bird, who officiated in three World Cup finals, has died aged 92, his former clubs Yorkshire and Leicestershire said on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts (ADREA) school for classical horsemanship will open its first outside Europe in Abu Dhabi's Jubail Island on November 1.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi will undergo knee surgery to address a lingering meniscus injury, the LaLiga champions said.

Paris St Germain's France international Ousmane Dembele said winning the Ballon d’Or was never a personal goal but admitted he could not hold back tears when he spoke about his family after being named the world’s best player on Monday.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said matches against Pakistan can no longer be considered a real rivalry after his side extended their recent dominance over their neighbours with a six-wicket victory in their Asia Cup Super Four clash on Sunday.

Ferran Torres scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Getafe on Sunday, with Dani Olmo adding the third goal and an assist in another impressive display by Hansi Flick's side.

Taylor Fritz delivered the decisive blow at the Laver Cup on Sunday by beating Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(4) as Team World completed a 15-9 win over Team Europe to reclaim the men's team competition title in San Francisco.

Abu Dhabi has created sporting history by attracting the sailing regatta Cowes Week to its shores in January 2023, consolidating its position as the Middle East's sports capital.

Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has outlined exactly why football is failing to properly address racism within the game in an exclusive interview with Off Script on Dubai Eye 103.8.