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. playerbros.org

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.

"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: Paris Saint-Germain's slow start to the French season continued on Friday as the reigning European champions went in front only to lose 2-1 at home to Monaco, who are top of Ligue 1.

Captain Marquinhos gave PSG the lead just past the half-hour mark at the Parc des Princes, where Luis Enrique's team were playing in front of their own fans for the first time in this campaign.

But Monaco hit back in the second half as Flavio Nazinho equalised before Belgian winger Stanis Idumbo fired in the winner for the principality side, who are top of the early standings with three wins from three.

PSG, who announced before kick-off that coach Luis Enrique had signed a three-year contract extension to stay at the club until 2030, will begin their bid to win a third consecutive Champions League title next midweek at home to Slovan Bratislava.Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (L) and Monaco's Moroccan midfielder #47 Safouane Benzahra fight for the ball during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 4, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

However, they will do so off the back of a stuttering start domestically, with just two points on the board three games into their latest Ligue 1 title defence -- that leaves them seven points behind Monaco already.

The Qatar-owned club beat Aston Villa last month to win the UEFA Super Cup, but then lost to Lens in the French Champions Trophy before drawing their first two Ligue 1 outings, away to Rennes and Lille respectively.

They had come from two goals down late on in both of those games, with Marquinhos grabbing a last-gasp leveller a week ago in Lille.

The Brazilian defender, PSG's captain, opened the scoring here on 31 minutes when he converted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's ball across the face of goal with his chest.

PSG looked on course at that point for a welcome victory against a Monaco side coming off a turbulent week.

The principality side, now coached by Brazilian ex-Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis, had been hoping to make a big sale to the Premier League before the transfer window closed to offset failing to qualify for this season's Champions League.

Balogun missing

But they were left reeling as United States World Cup star Folarin Balogun backed out of an agreed £40 million ($54 million) transfer to Everton on deadline day.

That was just after Monaco had pulled out of a deal to sell Lamine Camara to Chelsea, when they were banking on Balogun finalising his move.

Balogun, who was at the centre of controversy at the World Cup after US President Donald Trump successfully intervened to force FIFA to suspend a red card so he could play against Belgium in the last 16, was left out here and has not played for his club this season.

Senegal midfielder Camara did feature for the visitors, who drew level on 58 minutes when Portuguese left-back Nazinho headed in at the back post from a Jordan Teze delivery.Monaco's English defender #15 Eric Dier (C) and Monaco's Swiss midfielder #06 Denis Zakaria celebreate their win at the end of the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 4, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

That was Monaco's reward for a good start to the second half, and they went ahead on 72 minutes when Aleksandr Golovin supplied Idumbo and he beat Matvey Safonov at the goalkeeper's near post.

It is the second season running in which PSG have lost at home to Monaco, with the introduction off the bench late on of reigning Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembele and Spain World Cup final hero Ferran Torres not enough to save the hosts.

Torres had a late goal disallowed for an offside against Dembele, before the latter was denied by a superb Lukas Hradecky save deep in stoppage time.

Lyon beat Auxerre 3-1 earlier and are in second place, two points behind Monaco and level on points with Lille who won 1-0 at Toulouse on Thursday thanks to an Ayase Ueda goal.

الأخبارخالد راشد النعيمي: حرصنا على اختيار تصميم يعبر عن هويتنا وأهدافنا المستقبلية .. مشيرب يكشف عن شعاره الجديد للنادي وللأكاديميةأعلن نادي مشيرب الرياضي عن الشعار الجديد للنادي، كما كشف عن الشعار الجديد لأكاديمية مشيرب، وذلك قبل انطلاق منافسات دوري QSL 3، في خطوة تعكس توجه النادي نحو تطوير هويته البصرية و...فتح →

تتجه الأنظار اليوم إلى ملعب لوسيل، الذي يحتضن مواجهة لوسيل والوكرة ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة، في تمام الساعة السابعة والربع مساءً، وسط طموحات مشتركة من الفريقين لتحقيق الفوز وحصد النقاط الثلاث.
ويدخل لوسيل اللقاء وهو يحتل المركز التاسع برصيد نقطة واحدة، ويبحث عن انتصاره الأول في البطولة، خاصة أنه قدم مستويات قوية خلال الجولتين الماضيتين، رغم عدم نجاحه في تحقيق الفوز. ويأمل الفريق، باعتباره الوافد الجديد، في مواصلة عروضه الجيدة وتحويل الأداء المميز إلى نتيجة إيجابية تمنحه دفعة قوية في بداية مشواره بالدوري.
في المقابل، يحتل الوكرة المركز الثامن بالرصيد نفسه، ويتطلع بدوره إلى تحقيق فوزه الأول وتعزيز موقعه في جدول الترتيب، بعدما ظهر الفريق بصورة جيدة خلال الجولتين السابقتين، لكنه لم يحالفه الحظ في حصد النقاط كاملة.
ومن المنتظر أن تحظى المواجهة بدرجة كبيرة من الندية والإثارة، في ظل تقارب مستوى الفريقين ورغبتهما في الابتعاد عن المراكز المتأخرة. وسيحاول كل فريق فرض أسلوبه منذ البداية، مع التركيز على استغلال نقاط الضعف لدى المنافس، واللعب بفاعلية أكبر أمام المرمى.
وبعدما بذل الفريقان جهودًا كبيرة في الجولتين الماضيتين دون الوصول إلى الفوز، ستكون مواجهة اليوم فرصة مثالية لخطف النقاط الثلاث، وتحقيق الانطلاقة التي يبحث عنها كل طرف في مشواره بالبطولة.



إيمانويل: جاهزون لكل السيناريوهات

قال إيمانويل ميسكيتا، مدرب لوسيل أن هدف لوسيل خلال المباراة امام الوكرة هو استمرار الأداء المميز الذي ظهر عليه أمام الأهلي في الجولة الثانية من بطولة الدوري، والتي انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بثلاثة أهداف لكل فريق. وتابع حديثه قائلًا: «أداؤنا في المباراة الأخيرة أمام الأهلي يمنحنا الثقة لمواصلة العمل بقوة والقتال في كل مباراة، ونأمل أن نكون في الموعد أمام الوكرة والخروج بنتيجة إيجابية». وبسؤاله حول المنافس الوكرة وبما يقدمه في بطولة الدوري، قال: «الوكرة فريق قوي ويمتلك خبرة كبيرة، ونتيجة مباراتهم الأخيرة أمام الريان وخسارتهم المباراة ستمنحهم دافعًا إضافيًا أمام لوسيل للتعويض، ولكن نحن جاهزون لجميع السيناريوهات».
واختتم المدرب حديثه خلال المؤتمر الصحفي بالحديث عن جماهير لوسيل، قائلًا: «الجماهير هي قلب كرة القدم، نحن نلعب من أجلهم ودعمهم يعني لنا الكثير، وننتظرهم بشغف في مباراتنا المقبلة أمام الوكرة».

سييرا: نتطلع للفوز الأول

أكد التشيلي خوسيه لويس سييرا مدرب الوكرة على ثقته في قدرة النواخذة على بدء رحلة الانتصارات في بطولة الدوري بداية من لقاء الجولة الثالثة أمام نادي لوسيل. وقال «بغضّ النظر عن المنافس، أعتقد أن فريقي في حالة جيدة، وأرى أننا قدمنا مباراة جيدة في اللقاء الماضي أمام نادي الريان، ورغم اعترافي بوجود بعض الأمور التي تحتاج إلى تصحيح، لكن بشكل عام أعتقد أننا لعبنا بشكل جيد». وأضاف: لو حافظنا على هذا المستوى ولعبنا بنفس الأداء، أعتقد أن لدينا فرصًا حقيقية لتحقيق الفوز على لوسيل وحصد النقاط الثلاث. وواصل حديثه قائلًا: علينا أن نركز على ما هو قادم، والأهم بالنسبة لنا هو الفوز على لوسيل في الجولة الثالثة حتى ندخل فترة التوقف الأولى للدوري بأريحية كبيرة وبمعنويات مرتفعة تساعدنا على التحضير الجيد لاستئناف الدوري.

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.