Category: 6. Sports

French Open champion Coco Gauff is set to open her 2025 US Open campaign on Tuesday, 26 August, taking to centre court opposite of Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at 19:00 local time (EDT, GMT-4) in a first round tussle that promises plenty of fireworks at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The tennis faithful gathered at Flushing Meadows should be primed perfectly for the highly-anticipated encounter between the two players following the first round appearance of Jannik Sinner, who’s set to face Czechia’s Vit Kopriva, as he bids to make his fourth straight Grand Slam final this season.

Of course, there will hardly be a moment to rest once play commences between Olympic singles bronze medallist Iga Swiatek and the unseeded Colombian Emiliana Arango, who will get the day off to a flying start at 11:30 local time.

Other highlights include the first round of appearances of Germany’s Alexander Zverev, Japan’s Naomi Osaka and home favourite Tommy Paul, with the action coming thick and fast on day three of the 2025 US Open.

Below, you can find out the start times for all the matches at the hard court Grand Slam tournament.

Sanju Samson is making headlines once again, this time in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2025, as he gears up for the Asia Cup 2025. The Rajasthan Royals captain has joined the Kochi Blue Tigers for a crucial state-level T20 tournament, and his performances have already caught the attention of cricket fans and analysts alike. With a record auction price of Rs 26.80 lakh, Samson is not just a marquee signing for Kochi, but also a beacon of hope for Indian cricket as the Asia Cup approaches.

Samson’s KCL 2025 Journey: Early Performances

Sanju Samson has featured in three matches for Kochi Blue Tigers so far, opening the innings and showcasing his explosive potential. His stats before the Thrissur Titans match on August 26 paint a picture of a player in fine form:

Matches: 3

Innings: 2

Runs: 134

Average: 67.00

Strike Rate: 183.56

Fours: 14

Sixes: 7

While his 13-run outing against Alleppey Ripples was a modest contribution, Samson’s innings against Kollam Sailors was a spectacle. He smashed a blistering 121 off just 51 balls, including 14 boundaries and 7 sixes, earning him the match-winning accolade and reaffirming his credentials as one of India’s most explosive T20 batters.

Match-Winning Century Against Kollam Sailors

The highlight of Samson’s KCL stint has been his maiden KCL century. Opening the innings, he displayed aggressive strokeplay, combining timing with power, and led Kochi to a thrilling victory. The 30-year-old wicket-keeper batter’s performance was crucial in a nail-biting contest that saw teammate Muhammad Ashik finish the game with a last-ball six.

After the match, Samson expressed admiration for the local talent:

“It’s a bit shocking to see we have so much talent in Kerala cricket. I request that we have to put in some special eyes in the local games… In the next one or two years, we should see one more guy playing for the country. And I can see that happening.”

Preparing for the Asia Cup: Samson’s Strategic Role

With the Asia Cup 2025 on the horizon, Samson’s stint in KCL serves as an ideal preparation platform. Although he has returned to opening in the league, India’s lineup for the Asia Cup may see him batting in the middle order, adapting to the presence of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma at the top.

His current form in KCL 2025 not only boosts his confidence but also provides valuable match practice before representing India in one of Asia’s premier T20 tournaments. Samson’s ability to switch between roles—opening and middle-order—underscores his versatility and tactical value to the national squad.

Upcoming Clash: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Thrissur Titans

Sanju Samson’s next KCL match is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, when the Kochi Blue Tigers face Thrissur Titans. Fans can expect another high-octane performance as Samson continues to showcase his power-hitting, quick scoring, and wicket-keeping skills.

The Kerala Cricket League has become a hub for emerging talent, and Samson’s participation is shining a spotlight on the depth of cricketing skill in the state. With every boundary and six, he not only cements his own form but also inspires the next generation of cricketers in Kerala.

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Beyond the excitement of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, basketball became a powerful tool for social impact, as the tournament hosted a series of Basketball For Good activations designed to empower, inspire, and unite communities in the host city.

In alignment with the FIBA Foundation’s mission to increase the social impact and legacy of FIBA events, the FIBA Asia Cup joined the growing list of continental championships where Basketball For Good took center stage. These initiatives highlight how FIBA events extend their influence well beyond the competition, leaving behind a legacy of inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity.

The official rest day of the competition transformed into a celebration of community, with two distinct Basketball For Good clinics organized by FIBA’s Regional Office in Asia and the Local Organizing Committee.

The first welcomed dozens of enthusiastic young girls eager to take part in basketball activities. The second, with the support of Special Olympics Saudi Arabia, provided children and youth with intellectual disabilities an unforgettable opportunity to step onto the court and experience the unifying spirit of sport.

Both sessions were graced by FIBA Asia Cup Ambassadors Sam Daghlas and Ali Al Maghrabi, joined by several members of the Saudi National Team.

Girls’ Clinic: Building Leaders On and Off the Court

The clinic for girls showcased the growing momentum of women’s basketball in Saudi Arabia, reflecting FIBA’s strategic priority of “Women in Basketball.” Partnering with Jeddah United, a trailblazer in the development of female basketball in the Kingdom, the initiative proposed a series of fun games and teamwork-based drills. The young participants not only learned how to dribble, pass, and shoot, but also absorbed lessons in leadership, self-confidence, and empowerment.

The event was a vivid example of how basketball can inspire the next generation of players, coaches, referees, and fans—helping to grow the sport while instilling values that go far beyond the court.

Special Olympics Clinic: A Celebration of Inclusion

The second clinic celebrated inclusion, bringing together children and youth with intellectual disabilities for an afternoon filled with joy, laughter, and shared learning. Thanks to the support of Special Olympics Saudi Arabia, participants were able to play alongside their heroes, receive encouragement, and build friendships in a safe and welcoming environment.

The clinic highlighted the importance of partnerships and synergies in creating sustainable impact, reinforcing the FIBA Foundation’s strong collaboration with Special Olympics.

Cheering On Their Role Models

As a special highlight, participants from both clinics were invited to watch a FIBA Asia Cup game. Cheering loudly from the stands, they witnessed their role models compete at the highest level, sparking dreams of their own futures in basketball.

A Lasting Legacy for Jeddah

By leveraging the platform of one of Asia’s premier basketball events, the FIBA Foundation and its partners ensured that the impact of the tournament extended well beyond the final buzzer—leaving behind stories of inspiration, friendship, and growth.

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About the FIBA Foundation

The FIBA Foundation, established in 2008, is the social and legacy arm of FIBA. It addresses the role of basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and cultural heritage while using the sport as a catalyst for positive change.

New Zealand have suffered a huge blow in the form of white-ball captain Mitchell Santner requiring abdominal surgery after returning from the UK, following his participation in the Hundred Men’s 2025. The recovery period is being stated of around one month, which leaves a question mark on his participation in the T20I series against Australia.

New Zealand’s head coach Rob Walter commented on the importance of having Santner in the side. Despite not confirming anything regarding the timeframe of his recovery, he was hopeful that the bowling all-rounder would be fit in time to play Australia.

“Mitch is a world-class player and a crucial part of our T20 side from a skills and leadership point of view. With that in mind, we expect to name him in our squad when we announce it in a couple of weeks’ time, and from there, we can assess how his rest and rehabilitation progresses following surgery, before making a call on the eve of the series,” stated Walter, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Injuries to Glenn Phillips, Will O’Rourke and Finn Allen come as massive setbacks too. Phillips has had to extend his rehabilitation from a groin injury that forced him out of the recent Zimbabwe series. A stress fracture to O’Rourke’s back meant that he will be undergoing a strength & conditioning programme before being reassessed. It has been confirmed that Allen will be out for three months following a surgery on his right foot.

Walter expressed sympathy towards O’Rourke and was confident that the tall pacer will come back fitter and more determined. He also spoke on how unfortunate it was to not have Phillips and Allen as part of the team. However, Walter shed light on the positives of other players getting opportunities in the absence of the three. 

“We’re really feeling for Will at the moment and wishing him speedy recovery. He’s had such an impressive start to his career and so naturally it is disappointing when an injury like this comes along, but he’s a resilient guy and determined to put the work in and come back stronger. It’s disappointing to lose the services of Glenn and Finn who have played important batting roles in our T20 set up in recent times. Like in Zimbabwe, their unavailability will present opportunities for others to put their hands up in what’s going to be a hugely exciting and important series against Australia,” added Walter.

New Zealand have a run of white-ball contests in the near future. They will be playing Australia (three T20Is), England (three T20Is, three ODIs) and West Indies (five T20Is, three ODIs) from October 1 to November 22.

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Decked out with a new buzz cut, the world no 2 was in sparkling form against towering Reilly Opelka of the US.

Carlos Alcaraz is sporting a new buzz cut at the US Open, and while the cropped style is drawing a mixed reaction online, the Spaniard’s spectacular tennis is leaving no room for discussion as he dismantled Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round.

Having ditched his tousled pretournament look, the second seed made an impressive start on Monday in his quest to secure a second Grand Slam title of the year.

“I’ve got to ask the people if they like the new haircut or not. Did you like it, guys? I think they like it,” Alcaraz said on court in response to a question about whether he was moving faster on court with his new look.

“Today was a really difficult one,” he added.

“He really is a great and a really tough player with that serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm I wanted to get in the match, but I’m really happy with everything.

“The return was one of the best things today. I tried to play my best tennis, tried to be focused on the serve. Overall, I had a really great performance today.”

The 22-year-old, who won the first of his five major trophies in New York three years ago, looked every bit like championship material against the 2.11-metre (6 feet 11 inches) Opelka as he broke for a 3-2 lead and clinched the opening set with ease.

Alcaraz wobbled on serve for the first time in the second set when he sent down consecutive double faults, but Opelka failed to convert both his break point opportunities.

After breaking Opelka in the 11th game, Alcaraz held to love for a 2-0 lead and turned up the heat in the ninth game of the third set, breaking again thanks to a foot fault and a wayward serve by his opponent.

“Nothing depends on you. It always depends on him,” Alcaraz said about the difficulty of playing the towering Opelka.

“The way he serves, the way he plays from the baseline, you just have to be focused, put as many returns as you can in and try to be in the rally and win the points he lets you win.

“It’s just difficult when you play someone who doesn’t let you play your game. It was a very difficult first round.”

Alcaraz held to love to complete the victory and set up a second-round encounter with Italian Mattia Bellucci, who went through after his Chinese opponent, Shang Juncheng, retired during their encounter earlier in the day.

MANAGUA (Nicaragua) – Canada stands alone at the top of Group B as it won its third straight game of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025, defeating Puerto Rico 82-73 at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex in Managua, Nicaragua.

It was the eighth win for Canada in 20 matchups against Puerto Rico, with Canada winning the last two meetings between the teams.

Turning point

The teams were evenly matched through the first half, as Canada led by just two points after the second quarter. The teams were sharing rebounds and assists at the same pace. Puerto Rico even cut the lead to one to end the third quarter, making Canada sweat.

However, the Canadians were able to hit three 3-pointers early in the fourth, with two coming from Marcus Carr. They were able to find a lead before Kyshawn George, Trae Bell-Haynes, and Leonard Miller took Canada on a run, giving them an 8-point lead, which they used to ride to victory.

TCL player of the game

George led Canada with 17 points on 50 percent shooting, also adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Mfiondu Kabengele recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, marking his first for Canada in just his third game in the AmeriCup. Bell-Haynes added 11 points while Carr added another 10.

For Puerto Rico, Jose Alvarado went off as he poured in 20 points, going 8-of-16 from the floor, while also grabbing 5 rebounds. Gian Clavell added 19 points and 7 assists in the loss.

Stats don’t lie

While the teams were evenly matched in most categories, the areas where Canada excelled the most were points in the paint. The team scored 42 points down low, and put up 28 points from the bench to Puerto Rico’s 19.

Puerto Rico may not have won, but it tallied an impressive stat of its own, as the team played an almost flawless game, turning the ball over only 6 times, their lowest amount in an AmeriCup.

Bottom line

Canada and Puerto Rico were the two heavyweights of Group B, and their matchup delivered as the two teams went back and forth until the final minute of action.

While Canada finishes the Group Phase unbeaten, both teams have qualified for the quarter-finals and are still alive in their quest to be AmeriCup 2025 champions.

They said

“Puerto Rico’s a tough physical team, experienced team, really pushed our young group to really grow up today, and I really appreciate how hard they play,” said Canada head coach Nate Mitchell on playing Puerto Rico.

FIBA

Oman has named its 17-member squad for its debut campaign at the 2025 Asia Cup, with Jatinder Singh named team captain.

Placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, India, and hosts UAE, Oman will be tested against Asia’s giants in what promises to be a landmark tournament for the Gulf nation.

Four uncapped players—Sufyan Yousuf, Zikriya Islam, Faisal Shah, and Nadeem Khan—have been handed a chance to make their international debuts. The squad features a blend of experience and youth, with veterans like Aamir Kaleem and Mohammed Nadeem adding stability while newcomers prepare to step onto the big stage.

For Pakistan fans, the news holds meaning as Oman will be the first team to test the team’s mettle. The two sides face off on September 12 in Dubai, a fixture that could set the tone for the group. Oman will then meet the UAE on September 15 before rounding off the group stage against India on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Oman’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad

Jatinder Singh (c)	Hammad Mirza	Vinayak Shukla	Sufyan Yousuf
Ashish Odedera	Aamir Kaleem	Mohammed Nadeem	Sufyan Mehmood
Aryan Bisht	Karan Sonavale	Zikriya Islam	Hassnain Ali Shah
Faisal Shah	Muhammed Imran	Nadeem Khan	Shakeel Ahmad
Samay Shrivastava

There are no guaranteed wins in cricket, and teams will be cautious of taking Oman lightly at this year’s Asia Cup. While they might not be the favorites in any of their contests, Oman’s participation alone against the Asian elites signals a bright future for the team.

Earlier this season, former world number one Williams was officially considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without competing.

Then, out of nowhere as the eyes of the tennis world were trained on Wimbledon, Williams announced she was ready to play again at the Washington Open.

Williams beat 35th-ranked Peyton Stearns on her comeback in Washington, whetting her appetite for more competitive action.

Despite an opening defeat in Cincinnati, the two-time champion received a wildcard for a record-extending 25th appearance at the US Open.

Some argued putting a veteran with one victory in more than two years into the 128-woman draw blocked the development of a younger player.

Others believed an all-time great should always be offered the chance to compete.

Williams’ impressive level against Muchova answered the doubters – once she overcame a worrying start.

When she won only two of the opening 13 points, it felt like an ominous sign of things to come and led to a subdued atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A roar of encouragement arrived when Williams claimed her first point of the match, with the volume turning up as she started to gain a foothold.

Improving her service game proved key to the turnaround, acting as a confidence-builder which led to more fluent timing and movement.

The ball-striking was as clean and crisp as it had been for a long time.

But, given she had only played four matches in 18 months, Williams faded in a deciding set where Muchova sharpened up and served strongly.

Williams had proved a point. Yet she remained typically evasive when asked if she planned to more tournaments later this year.

“Are there any tournaments in the States? Can someone move a tournament here?” she asked.

“I don’t know that I’m willing to travel that far at this stage in my career to go play.

“I love playing. But my goal is to do what I want to do.”