Category: 6. Sports

It was in Chicago that Amorim first said Mainoo would be in competition with Fernandes this season.

Although he was also keen to stress both men could play in different positions, Amorim clearly feels the pair are best suited to the advanced midfield role in his system, which for Mainoo is a clear problem.

How realistic is it that he can oust the captain from the United side, at least in the short-term?

In truth, Mainoo is a victim of his own success.

The Stockport-born player emerged so quickly and came into a team struggling so often, he was almost a totem.

Yet the fabulous end to the 2023-24 campaign masked positional deficiencies in Mainoo’s game that were apparent as United’s midfield was routinely overrun. At the Euros, he had Declan Rice covering him.

As last season began Mainoo’s confidence and form dipped, and he was injured when Erik ten Hag was sacked and Amorim took his place.

Mainoo was prominent in Amorim’s starting line-ups from December onwards, but that meant he was involved in a string of damaging defeats.

He was injured again in February and, by the time he returned, Amorim was targeting the Europa League – meaning his only starts to the end of the season were in the Premier League. Three of those games were lost, the other, at Bournemouth, was a draw.

It was against that backdrop Amorim made his summer call on Mainoo.

He feels the competition for places will help his side and the midfielder, who he says boasts quick feet, an excellent passing range and invaluable speed in tight spaces, will benefit.

Evidently, Mainoo feels the evidence of the opening two league games only points to extended spells on the sidelines, frustration and stunted progress.

American third seed Coco Gauff, who has regularly used her platform to speak out against racism, said Ostapenko was wrong to use those words about Townsend.

“I think it was a heat of the moment thing. I think Jelena was probably feeling emotions after she lost,” added 21-year-old Gauff.

“I do think that shouldn’t have been said regardless of how you’re feeling, especially given those were the reasons that she stated.

“Knowing Taylor personally, she’s the opposite of that.”

Ostapenko lost in the women’s doubles on Thursday but did not fulfil her media duties afterwards, with organisers citing illness.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka, speaking after her victory on Wednesday night, said she had spoken to Ostapenko to “help her face it more in a mature way”.

Sabalenka said: “She just sometimes can lose control. She has some things in life to face and some struggles.

“I was just trying to help her to settle down and just was someone she could speak to and just let it go.

“I really hope that one day she will figure herself and she will handle it much better. I’m pretty sure, looking back, she’s not happy with her behaviour.”

Wayne Rooney received a surprising phone call enticing him to join Manchester United when he was a teenager – from Paul Scholes.

Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain spoke about the process of joining United, why he nearly went to Newcastle and receiving interest from abroad.

“While I was still at Everton, I was sat at home one night and watching Coronation Street and my house phone rings. So I answered it, it’s Paul Scholes,” he said. “Like, ‘Wazza, it’s Scholesy… are you going to sign for us or what?’ I was just sat there, I was like: What’s going on here?”

Rooney joined Manchester United from Everton in 2004 when he was 18, but he says manager Sir Alex Ferguson would ideally have waited longer to recruit him.

The Red Devils had to move quickly, though, to prevent him joining Newcastle instead.

“I think, if I’m being honest, that Alex Ferguson wanted to wait another year. And then Newcastle kept coming in and I would have gone to Newcastle if United didn’t sign me then,” he said.

“It got to the last day and then [Everton chairman] Bill Kenwright wouldn’t send the forms over. And Bill, God rest him, was very emotional. And I’m a local lad from Liverpool playing for Everton. It was massive. And he actually got on the phone, put his mum on the phone to me when I was at Old Trafford, then he got on the phone and he was crying down the phone.”

Rooney joined United on transfer deadline day, with the deal coming so quickly that he ended up wearing his wife Coleen’s cousin’s jumper when he made the move.

“I was quite chilled and there was a lot of press trying to follow me around and stuff,” Rooney said.

“I was actually staying in Coleen’s uncle’s in Liverpool. And the night before deadline day, we sat in, we had a Chinese, a few glasses of wine and then I actually had no clothes there.

“So, the jumper that I signed for Manchester United in was Coleen’s cousin’s jumper! So yeah, it shows how prepared I was for it.”

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s rivalry in international cricket has been defined not just by world‑class action on the pitch but also by a myriad of crowd‑trouble incidents off it—prompting Rashid Khan to remind both sets of fans of the bigger picture.

As Pakistan gear up to face Afghanistan in the opening game of the UAE tri‑series in Sharjah tonight, Rashid has delivered a strong message, urging supporters to leave behind the hostility that marred the same fixture in 2022.

That night three years ago still lingers in memory. Pakistan edged Afghanistan by one wicket in a nail‑biting finish, but the drama spilled beyond the boundary ropes. Clashes broke out in the stands between rival supporters, prompting the PCB to lodge a protest with the ICC. Then‑chairman Ramiz Raja condemned the incident as “hooliganism,” while Sharjah police detained several fans to defuse the chaos.

But Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s talismanic captain, hopes it doesn’t come to that.

“Cricket brings unity; it brings people and nations together,” Rashid said in his appeal. “It’s just a game, and it should be enjoyed that way. I want fans to come, support their teams, and leave with good memories. This game is about entertainment, not fights.”

Matches between the two teams have been charged from the start, and political relations between the countries have only strained further since, forcing organizers to take no chances this time. Separate seating arrangements for Pakistan and Afghanistan supporters have been introduced at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and security officials are on high alert to prevent any repeat of those ugly scenes.

Rashid Khan’s Afghanistan could face Pakistan three times in one week—starting tonight—with a potential clash in the upcoming Asia Cup also on the cards.

For fans in Sharjah and beyond, the tri‑series offers a competitive build‑up to the Asia Cup. For Rashid Khan, it’s also a chance to remind everyone that the true spirit of cricket lies in joy, not hostility.

Novak Djokovic returns to centre court at Flushing Meadows on Friday 29 August, as the men’s singles tennis tournament enters the third round of play at the 2025 US Open.

Facing Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie at 19:00 local time (EDT, GMT-4), he’ll look to prove his fitness and silence the doubters as he chases a fifth singles title at the hard court Grand Slam.

Likewise, Carlos Alcaraz – silver medallist in the men’s singles event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and owner of the most talked about haircut in tennis at the moment – will look advance his title interests, taking to centre court opposite of Italy’s Luciano Darderi during the morning session at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

There’ll certainly be no shortage of support for American tennis star Taylor Townsend, as she takes on world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in the third round of the women’s singles tournament.

Expect fireworks from the likes of Jessica Pegula, Emma Raducanu and Ben Shelton as well, with the stakes becoming all the more clear as tennis’ brightest stars advance closer to the championship match at the year’s final Grand Slam.

Below, you can find out the start times and all the matches for sixth day of action at the 2025 Us Open.

The Pakistan Independence Day National Ranking Tennis Tournament concluded at the PTF Tennis Complex, showcasing the country’s top tennis talent across senior and junior categories.

In the men’s singles final, Muzammil Murtaza claimed the title after veteran Aqeel Khan retired following a tight first set, 7-6 (2). In doubles, the experienced duo of Aisam-ul-Haq and Aqeel Khan battled past Barkatullah and Yousaf Khalil 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 in a crowd-pleasing contest.

On the women’s side, national champion Ushna Suhail brushed aside Sheeza Sajid 6-1, 6-2 in the singles final. Junior categories also produced exciting results, with Hamza Roman outclassing Abdul Basit 6-0, 6-2 in boys’ U-18, while Zunaisha Noor defeated Soha Ali 6-1, 6-4 in girls’ U-18.

Other winners included:
    •    Boys’ U-14: Razik Sultan bt Muhammad Muaz 6-1, 6-2
    •    Girls’ U-14: Bismal Zia bt Aimen Rehan 6-3, 6-1
    •    Boys’ U-12: Muhammad Ayan bt Muhammad Muaz 6-3, 6-4
    •    Girls’ U-12: Khadija Khalil bt Eman Shahbaz 6-1, 6-3

The closing ceremony was attended by Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani as Chief Guest, while Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. Alongside PTF Secretary General Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail, they distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up and praised the players for their performances.

The tournament concluded with the PTF officials commending the players for their commitment and promising continued efforts to promote tennis across Pakistan.

Meltdowns come in a variety of shapes and sizes. When Shane Lowry found his ball in someone else’s divot mark on the Friday of the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow but was not permitted to clean and replace, his gaskets started to give way.

When he hacked the ball 60 yards into a greenside bunker, they blew. Slamming his club into the turf and loudly swearing about “this place” before making bogey at the hole, Lowry missed the cut for the weekend.

In 1995, Manchester United’s enigmatic playmaker Eric Cantona launched a kung-fu kick that stunned the world of soccer but ensured he graduated from Old Trafford a folk hero.

During a Premier League game against Crystal Palace, the Frenchman received a red card and, as he made his way towards the tunnel, a fan ran to the hoarding raining down profanities. In a moment of red-misted rage, Cantona jumped the barrier with a flying kick aimed at the fan.

When Italy played France in the 2006 Fifa World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane brought his foaming-at-the-mouth moment to camera in the last game of his career with France.

Clownishly headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in extra time, the French captain bid adieu and ended his international journey with a red card.

Serena Williams was always a player who was aware of the performative side of tennis. In the 2018 US Open final against Naomi Osaka, Williams was given a first code violation after umpire Carlos Ramos judged a gesture from team member Patrick Mouratoglou to be coaching.

Williams – who was aiming to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles – said she had not received coaching, telling the umpire she would “never cheat to win and would rather lose”.

(Mouratoglou later admitted that he had been coaching from the box.)

Williams received another violation for a racket smash at 3-2 in the second set, leading to Ramos docking her a point. A furious Williams walked over to Ramos to scream blue murder as the crowd started booing.

“You are a liar. You will never be on a court of mine as long as you live. When are you going to give me my apology? Say you are sorry,” demanded Williams, who also called Ramos “a thief” for taking her points.

In the same stadium this week at Flushing Meadows, the experts would have said that the volatile Russian Daniil Medvedev should have avoided sensory overload, taken precautions against overwhelming situations and sidestep any unexpected changes.

The psychologists would have suggested a coping mechanism, a safe place or advised him to remove the emotion and to set process-oriented goals instead of outcome-based ones.

Instead, Medvedev devoted almost seven minutes to inciting the crowd and railing at the umpire, Greg Allensworth, after a photographer prematurely entered the court on match point between opponent Benjamin Bonzi’s first and second serve.

The umpire then awarded Bonzi with another first serve.

“First serve. Ladies and gentlemen, because of the delay caused by an onside interference, first serve has been granted,” Allensworth announced.

The “take two” idiom, which is common in club tennis, did not sit well with the Russian as he crashed and burned.

“Are you a man? Are you a man?” the world number 13 challenged Allensworth. “Why are you shaking? What’s wrong, huh? Guys, he wants to leave. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.’

“What did Reilly Opelka (tennis player) say?,” Medvedev then repeatedly shouted to the crowd as he continued to stoke the fires.

Opelka had earlier in the year been fined by the ATP Tour for branding Allensworth the “worst ump (umpire) on tour”.

Medvedev then returned to the baseline and continued to encourage the spectators to get involved. It was more than six minutes before Bonzi finally hit his serve.

But the lasting image of Medvedev losing in the first round of a Grand Slam for the third time in a row was not a comfortable one. It was disquieting.

Instead of making a quick exit, he sat disconsolately on his chair. In a catatonic state, he then obliterated a racket by repeatedly smashing it against a metal bench that was holding his belongings.

He swung the racket more than 20 times into the bench edge using both hands. Even when the broken head was hanging by strings and flapping, he metronomically kept the pounding going.

It went far beyond bad behaviour. The body language spoke of defeat and bewilderment. Medvedev was in deep distress, his mental frailty cruelly exposed.

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As is often the case across sports, there was more schadenfreude around the court than compassion.

Many of the fans would have known that Medvedev simply opted for what he has opted for many times before, which is blowing his stack. He has done it many times.

This week, he was fined $42,500 (€36,500) for the tantrum, which is pocket change for a player worth €40 million in prize money.

A more progressive method would be to stage an intervention. Offer an option to use the fine to pay for professional help.

That way, the ATP Tour has some chance of correcting a problem that has only got worse in Medvedev’s 11-year career.

Coco Gauff displayed the mindset of a two-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion on Thursday (28 August), dismissing Croatia’s Donna Vekic – silver medallist in the women’s singles event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – in straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, all while battling against her own self-doubt on centre court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 21-year-old American tennis star wore her emotions on her sleeve during the challenging second round match at the 2025 US Open, which produced lengthy highlight-worthy rallies, even as both players struggled with diminishing service confidence.

In the end, however, Gauff emerged victorious, winning four-consecutive games to seal an emotional win at Flushing Meadows,

“Honestly, today was a tough match for me, but I’m just happy with how I was able to manage,” Gauff stated during an on-court interview.

“It’s been a rough couple of weeks, but I’m just happy to be back on this court, and you guys bring me so much joy,” she added, acknowledging the fervent support of the partisan crowd, before breaking into tears.

“You guys really, really help me a lot. I’m doing this for myself, but I’m also doing it for you,” she clarified, serving up some advice of her own: “No matter how tough it gets inside; you can do it.”

Whether she meant it as inspiration for the crowd, or targeted self-affirmation for her own dinged-up psyche, Gauff will look to live up to those words as she progresses towards the second week of singles action at the 2025 US Open.