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Sabalenka blocks out noise to start US Open ‘three-peat’ bid with victory
Aryna Sabalenka began her defence of the US Open title with a 6-2 6-4 win over Camila Osorio, taking the first step in her bid to become the first woman to win three consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014. The victory matters beyond the match itself, as the world number one…
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Kushner states regret over World Cup sell-off plan
Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner has said he regrets agreeing to lead investment in Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, calling it a scheme he failed to foresee the political fallout from. It marks Kushner’s first public comment since the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal collapsed amid backlash in…
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Scotland beat Dutch by nine wickets to level series
Scotland levelled their one-day international series against the Netherlands at 1-1 with a comprehensive nine-wicket win in Stirling, bouncing back after a heavy defeat in the series opener. The hosts, captained by Sarah Bryce in the absence of her sister Kathryn, chased down a modest target with ease, thanks largely to disciplined bowling that restricted…
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How Messi’s decade of dominance almost never happened
Lionel Messi retired from international football, ending his career as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, having captained the team to World Cup glory in 2022 and Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. His storied international career, though, nearly ended a decade earlier: after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile…
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Touchline ban reduced for Rangers manager McInnes
Rangers manager Derek McInnes has had a touchline ban reduced to two matches, with a further two suspended, after successfully appealing against a punishment imposed over comments he made about a controversial Celtic penalty. The original sanction, a four-match ban with one game suspended, stemmed from remarks McInnes made in a TV interview while managing…
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Tottenham in talks to sign winger Mudryk on loan
Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on a season-long loan, having entered the race late after failing in attempts to land Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo. The 25-year-old Ukraine international is keen to play in the Premier League after his doping case with the Football Association was resolved…
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Elliott expected to join Valencia on loan
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is expected to join Spanish side Valencia on a season-long loan, with the deal dependent on finalising a wage-sharing arrangement between the two clubs before La Liga’s transfer window shuts. The move follows a difficult loan spell at Aston Villa last season, where the 23-year-old made just one Premier League start,…
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Ex-teammate exposes ‘huge’ difference between French trans star Julie Tetart and Brittney Griner
Two former teammates of French trans basketball player Julie Tetart have publicly challenged claims that she holds no physical advantage over female opponents, ahead of ongoing debate about her possible eligibility for the WNBA. Speaking on the French podcast “Club Five,” Sara Crudo and Martina Bestagno described Tetart’s strength as unmatched in the women’s game,…
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Messi Ends Argentina Career After Leading Team to 2022 World Cup Victory
Lionel Messi has confirmed his retirement from international football, closing out a 20-year Argentina career that culminated in World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. The 39-year-old captain said he wrote the decision on 21 July, two days after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in this summer’s World Cup final, and that the recent death of…