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Packed crowds turned out to see Alexandra Eala at the Australian Open Monday but the Philippines trailblazer was unable to deliver for her adoring fans in a first-round defeat, admitting it was “a bit overwhelming”. The 20-year-old was playing in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time and even practice sessions were mobbed by large numbers of her followers. She stormed to the first set against Alycia Parks in front of a full house at the intimate court six. But the lower-ranked American fought back in front of the fiercely pro-Eala crowd to win 0-6, 6-3, 6-2. The umpire had to repeatedly call for spectators to quieten down as they tried, unsuccessfully, to will Eala to victory. Hundreds more Philippines fans watched on nearby big screens and waved their national flag. Chants of “let’s go Alexandra” frequently rang out, then hush descended when her American opponent sealed the match. Eala was rushed from the court afterwards surrounded by as many as a dozen security guards. “It was so heart-warming,” she said of the hero’s welcome she received all week. “That’s one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder – I know a lot of people were rooting for me.” Eala, who has put Philippines tennis on the map, admitted however that some of the attention had been too much. “It’s a process to take it all in. I think this week definitely there were elements that were a bit overwhelming, especially during my practices,” she said. “I didn’t expect that many people to be there. So it’s a learning process.” The 49th-ranked Eala has risen fast in the past 12 months. She trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca and broke into the top 100 last year following her shock run to the semi-finals in Miami, where she beat world number two Iga Swiatek. In August at the US Open, she carved out a piece of tennis history, becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match. “I’m still young, so learning how to deal with all of this attention, but then at the same time being grateful,” Eala said after her loss to the 99th-ranked Parks. Although disappointed, Eala said just being at the first major of the year was significant for her nation. “I guess this is one of the moments that I can reflect on what this means for Philippine tennis,” she said. “I’m the only Filipina in the draw this year. I’m the only Filipina that’s ever been in the draw, I think. So there are positives to take away.” Source link
Al Shamal players rejoice after one of their four goals against Al Kharaitiyat at the Grand Hamad Stadium Tuesday. Al Shamal scored a crucial 4-1 win over Al Kharaitiyat in their Round 10 match of the QSL Cup 2025-26 season at the Grand Hamad Stadium Tuesday. The victory fetched Al Shamal three valuable points and took their tally to 15 while Al Kharaitiyat remained on 13 points. Tamer Seyam, Mohammed Waad, Omar Ali and Adam Ounas were on target for Al Shamal, while Rodrigo Tabata (Penalty) scored Al Kharaitiyat’s only goal. Al Waab 2-1 Al Shahania A stoppage time goal saw Al Waab edge Al Shahania 2-1 in their Round 10 match of the QSL Cup at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. The important win saw Al Waab take their tally to 18 points while Al Shahania remained on 17 points. Abdulrahman Mohamed and Baha Faisal were on target for Al Waab while Artur George scored for Al Shahania. Al Shahania also lost a player in the 63rd minute after being flashed with a red card. Al Markhiya and Wakrah in 1-1 draw Earlier, Al Markhiya and Al Wakrah shared a 1-1 draw at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium. While Y Njie scored for Al Markhiya in the opening half, R Burkan equalised for Al Wakrah in the second session. Al Markhiya moved to 18 points with the draw, while Al Wakrah’s tally moved to 6 points. Related Story Source link
Tens of thousands of Senegal football fans lined the streets of Dakar Tuesday as the Lions of Teranga held a victory parade to celebrate their triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. The players and coaches brandished their trophy from an open-top bus which inched its way through immense crowds across the capital, winding towards the country’s presidential palace. As the players travelled the final stretch of their journey along the city’s oceanside highway, the Corniche, fans walked and sometimes ran alongside the bus, with throngs of people lining the sidewalks. Downtown was overcome by a fever pitch of almost deafening noise – revving engines, horns, vuvuzelas and shouting – as the players neared the palace, where they will be officially received. In the morning, thousands had gathered at the parade’s starting point in Patte d’Oie, a working-class neighbourhood across town, wearing team jerseys, chanting, whistling and blowing vuvuzelas. All along the route old and young, men and women turned out decked in the country’s green, yellow and red colours, sometimes watching on from buildings and bridges, or even climbing on top of cars and billboards. Security forces were also present in large numbers, including anti-riot police. The Senegal team made its way across the capital after arriving on a special flight from Morocco shortly before midnight on Monday, where they were greeted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and other members of the government. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat hosts Morocco 1-0 in a chaotic final in Rabat on Sunday that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. “I wouldn’t have missed this moment for the world,” 26-year-old fan Doudou Thiam told AFP from the parade’s sidelines in the Bourguiba neighbourhood, wearing a Senegal jersey. “The Lions are our pride and they deserve all the honours. Even if it meant staying here all day, I would have done it”, he said. Din of victory A ruckus of whistles and horns has been almost constant since Senegal’s victory on Sunday night, when fans flooded the streets, filling the air with honking, fireworks and the deafening roar of vuvuzelas. The win marked Senegal’s second title, after their 2022 victory over Egypt in Cameroon. It was the team’s third final in just the last four editions. Hortense Kenny brought her five-year-old child to Patte d’Oie to watch the parade. “The Lions made an entire nation proud, beating the host country in those circumstances,” she told AFP, referring to the end of the match. “Now, all that’s left is to win the World Cup. With Sadio Mane, anything is possible,” she said, referencing the team’s biggest star. His role as peacemaker during the final – he was the one who stayed on the pitch and persuaded his teammates to return – has been widely praised. Nearby Abdulai Sy, a 49-year-old, told AFP he felt personally touched by the victory which gave him a “big sense of pride to also be Senegalese”. Controversial win Tuesday’s crowd seemed unphased by a cloud of controversy surrounding their team’s decision to storm off the pitch late in normal time in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco. Prompted by Mane, they returned to the pitch and an attempted ‘Panenka’ penalty from Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was easily saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper before Pape Gueye won the game with a superb shot in extra time that stunned the Moroccan crowd. The Moroccan FA said it had referred the incidents, including protests from Senegal players and fans, to the Confederation of African Football and FIFA. Far from Morocco, football’s lucrative business side had trickled down even to the streets of Dakar Tuesday. Amath Ndiaye, a 36-year-old street vendor who usually sells tissues, told AFP he has switched to hawking jerseys, flags, vuvuzelas and whistles for the duration of AFCON and the celebratory aftermath. Tuesday, he was basking in the wisdom of his decision. “I’m doing well,” he told AFP from Patte d’Oie, near the joyous crowd decked out in patriotic Senegalese gear and waving flags. Source link
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah laughs with teammate Jeremie Frimpong during a team training session in Kirkby Tuesday, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against…
Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys made winning starts to their Australian Open title defences Tuesday. Sinner, who is aiming for a third straight title at Melbourne Park, spent only 68 minutes on court in his first outing of the 2026 season before Hugo Gaston retired because of injury while losing 6-2, 6-1. The world number two consoled the weeping Frenchman and wished him well in his recovery before declaring himself delighted with the results of his off-season training. “I was very happy,” said the Italian. “We put in a lot of work to be back on court and it felt great. Obviously not the way you want to win the match, but from my side I’m very happy to be back on court.” Sinner showed some signs of rust at the start and was forced to save three break points in his opening service game before finding his imperious touch. American Keys made an even shakier start to her maiden Grand Slam title defence before rallying for a 7-6(6), 6-1 victory over Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova.A double break down thanks to some untimely double faults, Keys trailed 4-0 before forcing a tiebreak in which the unorthodox Oliynykova caused chaos with her deep, looping shots. Oliynykova brought up two set points but Keys erased the deficit with some trademark big-hitting to eventually snatch a tense tiebreak before racing through the second stanza. “I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct,” said the ninth seed. “I felt like I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. I felt like I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do.” Oliynykova, who was playing in her first major, wore temporary face tattoos – blue flowers that matched her outfit and the court – but she was put into the shade in the fashion stakes by Osaka. In one of the boldest fashion statements ever seen on a tennis court, Osaka entered Rod Laver Arena carrying a white parasol with a voluminous trailing veil and wore a wide-brimmed hat above a long turquoise tunic with crimped white trousers. The 2019 and 2021 Melbourne Park champion’s tennis was at times less impressive than her self-designed outfit but Osaka finished strongly to beat Croatian Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4and take her place in the second round. Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up, was not so fortunate and exited with a 6-2, 7-6(1) loss to Janice Tjen, who became the first Indonesian to win a match at the Australian Open in 28 years. There were comfortable first-round wins for fifth seed Elena Rybakina, in-form Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Belinda Bencic and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. In the men’s draw, 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas had to rally from a set down to beat Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki and avoid a first-round exit for the second year in a row. Sinner’s compatriot Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, also advanced after his opponent Raphael Collignon retired while trailing 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, 3-2. Eighth seed Ben Shelton, who lost to Sinner in last year’s semi-finals, beat Ugo Humbert in three tight sets while his fellow American Taylor Fritz, seeded one spot lower, needed four to get past French opposition in the shape of Valentin Royer. Melbourne Park’s favourite Frenchman of recent years, Gael Monfils, bid farewell to the tournament for the 20th and final time after a 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 loss to Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny. Monfils, who has won 13 ATP titles in a career stretching back to 2004, said in October that this year would be his last in tennis. “My journey started in 2003 with you guys, now we are in 2026 and somehow it’s the finish line,” the 39-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, told the crowd after receiving a standing ovation. “Thank you so much for this amazing ride.” Related Story Source link
Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh celebrates after scoring against Manchester City. Manchester City suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt as the Norwegian minnows caused one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history. Pep Guardiola’s side were blown away by Kasper Hogh’s first half brace and a second half strike from Jens Petter Hauge at the ecstatic Aspmyra Stadion. Rayan Cherki got one back moments after Hauge’s goal, but Rodri’s dismissal for two bookings left City in tatters as Bodo/Glimt celebrated their first ever win in the Champions League group phase. In a fishing town situated 200km north of the Arctic Circle, the 2023 European champions were caught cold in freezing temperatures of minus two degrees. Bodo’s entire population of only 55,000 people could almost fit into City’s Etihad Stadium. But Kjetil Knutsen’s underdogs ignored the huge financial and talent gap between the clubs to inflict a chastening defeat on the Premier League giants. Bodo/Glimt, who hadn’t played since December after the end of the Norwegian season, reached the Europa League semi-finals last term, an impressive run that maintained their remarkable rise over the last decade. In their first ever season in the Champions League group phase, Bodo/Glimt had already earned creditable draws against Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham. City failed to heed the warning, playing with a lack of urgency in the face of Bodo/Glimt’s relentless pressing. They travelled to Norway earlier than Guardiola’s usual schedule to ensure his players were able to practise on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial pitch. Yet they were totally out of sync in the latest disjointed display in an increasingly troubled season. City are without a win in their last four Premier League matches, with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United leaving them seven points behind leaders Arsenal. Guardiola will be alarmed by City’s second successive tame surrender, which exposed the Spainard’s claim that his players had rediscovered their hunger after finishing without a trophy last season. The City boss had said he planned to enjoy the Northern Lights from his hotel before the match, but that will be his only fond memory from one of the most embarrassing losses of his glittering career. City’s final group phase fixture is at home to Galatasaray on January 28 as they try to seal an automatic place in the last 16 via a top-eight finish. Related Story Source link
The atmosphere inside the Lusail Sports Hall was electric Tuesday as the world’s elite youth table tennis talent descended upon Doha for the WTT Youth Contender Doha 2026. From January 19 to 22, the second leg of the prestigious five-part Qatar International Series delivered high-stakes drama and a podium-heavy performance for the home nation’s under-13 squad. The spotlight shone brightest on Qatar’s Rashal Laghraibi, who fought her way to a spectacular second-place finish in the Under-13 category. Laghribi’s path to the podium was clinical, but she ultimately met her match in the final against Egypt’s Malak Zaki, falling 3-0 in a high-speed clash that tested the limits of both competitors. The Qatari presence in the division was formidable throughout the bracket, as teammate Alia al-Baz secured a well-earned third place after an emotional rollercoaster of a tournament. Al-Baz provided the highlight of the quarter-finals, outlasting Egypt’s Zeina Farouk in a 3-2 thriller that brought the crowd to its feet, before eventually bowing out to Laghribi in the semi-finals. Ali al-baz On the boys’ side of the Under-13 bracket, Rabia al-Kuwari added more silverware to the national tally by clinching third place. Al-Kuwari’s valiant run ended in the semi-finals at the hands of Uganda’s Joseph Seba Tendera in a 3-1 battle. His teammate, Mubarak Marzouq, also came within striking distance of a medal but saw his journey halted in the quarter-finals by a powerful performance from Egypt’s Youssef Taher, who took the match 3-0. Rabia al-Kuwari While the local heroes grabbed the headlines, international heavyweights lived up to their billing. The field was bolstered by global icons like South Korea’s Lee Seung-soo, ranked third in the world, and his compatriot Hyo Wa-rim, the world number two, ensuring the level of play remained world-class. In the Under-17 girls’ category, Chinese Taipei’s Wu Ying emerged victorious in a grueling five-set final, defeating India’s Divyanshi 3-2. Meanwhile, the Under-17 boys’ title went to Iran’s Benjamin Faraji, who dominated Hong Kong’s Man Long in a 3-0 sweep. In the Under-13 boys’ championship match, Malaysia’s Ko Wei Yeo proved too strong for Uganda’s Joseph Seba Tendera, securing the title with a 3-0 victory. This tournament marks a pivotal moment in the broader Qatar International Table Tennis Series. With two events already in the books, the action is set to accelerate as the “Star Contender Youth” championship takes center stage from January 23rd to 25th. The entire series will reach its fever pitch with the concluding “Feeder” tournament, scheduled to run from January 27 to 31. As the final rounds for the remaining categories wrap up this Thursday, the world watches to see which of these young phenoms will carry their momentum into the next phase of this elite international circuit. Mohammed al-Rumaihi, a member of the Qatar Table Tennis Federation’s Board of Directors, Tuesday praised the performance of the Qatari national team players in the Contender Youth Championship. He noted that participation in this type of tournament hones the players’ skills and experience through interaction with players from different nationalities and schools of thought.He added: “The Al-Adaam champions have undergone many preparatory camps and have prepared well for the tournament, so these outstanding results have come about, and God willing, the future will be better.” Related Story Source link
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is preparing to stage the second edition of its annual Half Marathon in 2026, scheduled for Tuesday, 10 February, along Lusail Boulevard, coinciding with Qatar National Sport Day. The event reflects the QOC’s continued commitment to spreading sports culture and promoting an active, healthy lifestyle across all segments of society.The race features a wide range of thoughtfully designed categories to ensure broad participation. A 1-kilometre race is dedicated to children aged 6 to 14, while a 5-kilometre race is open to boys and girls aged 15 to 17. Open categories for men and women aged 19 to 39 will compete over distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, alongside similar categories for participants aged 40 and above. The competition also includes dedicated “Team Qatar ”categories for men and women aged 19 to 39, as well as 40 years and above, across the same distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, ensuring inclusive participation and a comprehensive sporting experience for all.The QOC Half Marathon 2026 will also host a Fun Run under the umbrella of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), in cooperation with the Qatar School Sports Federation, aiming to highlight the role of sport within the educational environment and further instill Olympic values among all participants.In this context, Ahmed Al-Jaber, Head of the Technical Committee of the QOC Half Marathon 2026 OrganisingCommittee, affirmed that the participation of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar School Sports Federation represents a valuable addition that enhances the stature of the event and contributes to its promotion at both continental and international levels, while serving as a practical embodiment of the “Sport for Life” slogan. Al-Jaber also confirmed that representatives from the Olympic Council of Asia will take part in the Fun Run, in addition to attending National Sport Day activities and visiting Team Village at Al Sa’ad Plaza, which will serve as a vibrant hub for accompanying events and activities. The Half Marathon will be complemented by a diverse programme of sporting and recreational activities at Team Village, organised in collaboration with several national sports federations and supported by a range of partners. Leading partners include Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, the event’s host, ASICS, the renowned Japanese sportswear brand, Doha Bank, alongside the Ministry of Interior and Hamad Medical Corporation, with strong support from dedicated volunteers.The Organising Committee has renewed its invitation to all eligible categories to register via the dedicated link on the Qatar Olympic Committee’s official website, in accordance with approved terms and conditions. This comes as part of its ambition to expand participation, increasing the number of runners from 6,000 in the inaugural edition to 10,000 participants in the second edition, from within Qatar and abroad, further strengthening the event’s international and competitive character.The Organising Committee reaffirmed its determination to deliver a second edition that meets the highest organizational and technical standards, ensuring an outstanding sporting experience for participants, reinforcing a culture of physical activity within Qatari society, and supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 toward building a healthy and active community. Source link
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (centre) trains with teammates on the eve of the Champions League match against Monaco. (AFP) Kylian Mbappe has urged Real Madrid fans to refrain from singling out Vinicius Jr for the club’s woes, insisting the blame for their stuttering form rests on the entire team. The France forward appealed for unity ahead of Real’s Champions League clash at home to Monaco today, after tensions at the Santiago Bernabeu reached boiling point during Saturday’s 2-0 La Liga victory over Levante. “I understand the fans because we’re not doing things right,” Mbappe said. “What I didn’t like was that if they boo, they should boo the whole team. You shouldn’t single out one player. It’s not Vini’s fault that we’re playing the way we are now. That’s all I have to say: don’t go after one player. It’s our collective fault, and we have the character to change that on the pitch.” Despite Saturday’s La Liga win, which saw second-placed Real move within a point of Barcelona, who lost at Real Sociedad on Sunday, frustration spilled over at the Bernabeu, with the fans directing their anger at several players, including Vinicius. The Brazil winger was jeered throughout the match and particularly targeted during the starting lineup announcements, with heavy boos resonating in the stadium. The unrest follows a turbulent period for the 15-times European champions. Their defeat by Barca in the Spanish Super Cup final this month, coupled with a shock 3-2 Copa del Rey exit at second-division side Albacete, has left fans disillusioned. The dismissal of manager Xabi Alonso last week, seven months into his tenure, has further fuelled tensions. Reports of internal discord, including clashes between the coach and Vinicius, cast a shadow over Real’s beleaguered campaign and Alonso’s exit. Saturday’s scenes painted a picture of strain and vulnerability. Broadcast footage showed a visibly emotional Vinicius sitting on the stairs leading to the pitch, clearly affected after hearing boos during the lineup announcement. Mbappe, who was seen comforting the 23-year-old winger before the game, emphasised the importance of providing a supportive environment for Vinicius. “Vini, like you, like her, like everyone else, he’s a human being,” Mbappe said. “He’s an unbelievable talent, a great guy, and I’m fortunate to know him. We all need to protect him better. He’s not alone at Real Madrid, and we’re all with him. When he’s at his best, he’s one of the best players in the world. My job is to support him, look after him. When he’s happy, he’s a difference-maker, and that should be our collective focus.” Levante’s visit to the Bernabeu might have secured three points for Los Blancos, but the tense atmosphere underscored the lasting impact of recent disappointments. Despite Barcelona’s surprising 2-1 loss at Sociedad, giving Madrid the chance to close the gap, the Bernabeu faithful remain restless, demanding improvement from their players. Real have the opportunity to move closer to qualifying for the Champions League last 16 with a win over Monaco today that could be key to Arbeloa rediscovering their rhythm and encourage fans to offer the united backing the team needs. Related Story Source link
Despite leaving Liverpool as one of the most highly regarded coaches in world football in 2024, Jurgen Klopp said he never thought of himself as among the game’s best. “I never considered myself a world-class coach,” Klopp told AFP and other media in an interview in Leipzig, “because I still had so many questions when I finished. I was like ‘how can I be world class with these questions still?” After starting out at Mainz, where he took the club to the top flight for the first time, Klopp moved to Dortmund, where he won two Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League final. After signing with Liverpool in 2015, Klopp’s Reds won every trophy on offer, including Champions League and Premier League. In his new role as Red Bull’s global head of football, where he oversees a multi-club structure with teams including RB Leipzig, New York Red Bulls and Paris FC, Klopp said that he wants to help coaches answer those questions. “My role with the coaches is to be the guy I never had. I sat in my office very, very, very often, very, very, very alone. A lot of people gave me advice and have great ideas… It’s great to have ideas, but it’s really not that easy to make the final decision. I want to be in moments when I know they are alone, or feel alone. I want to be there.” Klopp oversaw the firing of then-Leipzig coach Marco Rose, a long-time friend, in 2025 and said that being on the other side felt odd. “Grave-digger of the coaches – that’s a title I never wanted to win!” From taking Mainz to the Bundesliga to breaking Liverpool’s Premier League drought, Klopp improved clubs and players wherever he went. Often taking over with teams at a low ebb, the coach would try and put things in perspective. “How did I start a game? I would say ‘the worst news is you can lose it’ – so let’s try and win it… Do not try to avoid defeat – try to win.” The coach said he told his players: “Giving your all doesn’t mean you will get anything, but it’s your only chance to get something. That’s pretty much how you do it. We gave everything – and sometimes we got something.” Klopp said media and fans were too focused on results. “I never watch the goals back, because I want to understand the game to the left and the right of the result. I want to understand why it happened… Results are the result of the performance. So we worked on the performance and the results came later.” He said he “didn’t take any pride” out of trophy ceremonies and parades. “I love being a part of it, not in the middle of it. You might see pictures where someone gave me a trophy and I’d take it, but I didn’t need to touch it. For me, it was the journey that I loved. That gave me much more than the moment.” Klopp retains cult-like status at his former clubs, with fans remembering the German for his sideline antics and everyman appeal as much as his successes. RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schaefer told AFP that Klopp has brought the same presence into his new role, even if he is no longer on the sideline. “He has something that is unique. He has a god-given talent which everyone knows from his coaching jobs. He can catch people in five to 10 minutes.” Schaefer said Klopp plays an important role in player recruitment by “talking to families, talking to players about our vision, about our project. “You know if Jurgen Klopp is in the room.”Since stepping down at Anfield, Klopp has been linked to an array of high-profile coaching jobs, but he said that a return to the dugout is unlikely. “I don’t expect to change my mind, but I don’t know. “We’re building a house right now and my missus wanted to have a really big trophy room. There was another small room and I said ‘this is enough, because we know how many trophies we have, we will not add any.’ “It might sound arrogant, but I know I can coach a football team. But I don’t need to do it until my last day.” Related Story Source link