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Shaun Murphy fought off a spirited fightback from world number one Judd Trump to reach the quarter-finals of the British Open in Cheltenham.

England’s Murphy, who won the Masters in January, looked comfortable with a 3-1 lead but gave up successive frames before wrapping up a 4-3 win against his compatriot.

Trump also suffered a premature exit at last week’s English Open, losing in the last 16, and he is yet to reach a semi-final this season.

Murphy faces fellow Englishman Mitchell Mann in the last eight after he beat Barry Hawkins 4-2.

World number 91 Mann has only previously featured once in the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament – reaching that stage of the Northern Ireland Open in 2021.

Defending champion Mark Selby laid down a marker to his rivals with a comprehensive 4-0 win over China’s Chang Bingyu.

Meanwhile, Mark Williams beat English Open champion Mark Allen 4-3 in the third round before returning for the evening session to win 4-1 against China’s Lei Peifan.

England’s Selby and Williams will square off in the quarter-finals in a repeat of the 2023 final, when the Welshman came out on top to claim his second title after also winning in 2021.

Stan Moody, 19, came through a back-and-forth battle with Ali Carter to win 4-3 and meets Louis Heathcote, who beat Wales’ Liam Davies 4-2.

Moody, ranked world number 55, showed experience and composure beyond his years to reach his second ranking quarter-final.

HEALTH Secretary Wes Streeting has told wasteful NHS bosses there is “nowhere to hide”.

It comes after league tables revealed three quarters of hospitals are in debt.

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Mr Streeting vowed a crackdown after rankings showed 99 out of 134 major NHS trusts in England are blowing budgets.

At least 38 fell to the sub-standard third or bottom fourth tier due to financial mismanagement.

They were relegated even if their medical care was good. In all 80 per cent of NHS hospitals were rated below standard.

Mr Streeting has refused to increase the £200billion health budget without tough reform.

Hospitals are estimated to have gone into the red by more than £600million last year.

That is while a record 2,600 bosses are paid over £110,000 a year, and some over £300,000.

Even chief executives at the ten worst-ranked hospitals are earning more than PM Sir Keir Starmer’s £172,000 salary.

Mr Streeting said: “Any football supporter will tell you the table doesn’t lie.

“Now there is nowhere for wasteful spenders to hide.”

He ordered hospitals to slash spending on agency staff and stop sending letters by post.

The NHS’s costly London HQ will close.

Bosses who cannot balance their books will also be denied pay rises and bonuses.

NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey said tough measures are beginning to stem losses.

Think tank Policy Exchange said: “NHS bosses need to turn hospitals around, with their own jobs and bonuses on the line if they fail.”

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The world tennis No 1 beat Bublik in the round of 16, losing just three games and reversing a shock loss to the Kazakh in June.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner said he enjoyed the vibe of playing under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights after he continued his hardcourt Grand Slam run by hammering 23rd seed Alexander Bublik to make the US Open quarterfinals.

The Italian tennis player came into the match on Labour Day, seeking his 25th straight major match win on his preferred surface, and never looked in danger against a tricky rival, bolting out of the blocks to win 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 on his night session debut this year.

“It’s always special to go on Ashe to play,” Sinner said after the match on Monday.

“Night matches, they’re a bit different because there’s a bit more attention, I feel. It’s a different vibe, also, around the court. It’s very loud. It’s also different to play.

“It was the first time for me this year. It was nice. You have the good and the bad if you play in the evening. It’s very special, and you feel very privileged to step onto court in the night on the biggest court we have.”

A mere 81 minutes after the clash began, Sinner was back in the locker room after gaining revenge for a shock defeat by Bublik on June 20, in the Halle Open final – his only loss to a player not named Carlos Alcaraz this year.

“We know each other well. We’ve had some tough battles this year, so we know each other a bit better,” the top-seeded Sinner said.

“He had a tough match last time [against Tommy Paul], finishing late. He didn’t serve as well as he does. I broke him in every set, and it gave me the confidence to play well.”

A double break helped Sinner build a 4-0 lead before Bublik could even get on the board, and the dominant 24-year-old chased down a drop shot to fire home a deep backhand winner that wrapped up the opening set with another break.

Bublik’s attempts to disrupt Sinner’s rhythm with more drop shots proved futile, but it was his service errors that left him trailing by two sets, before Sinner wheeled away to his eighth straight grand slam quarterfinal.

Up next is a meeting with compatriot Lorenzo Musetti. Sinner said it would be a great occasion for Italian tennis.

“It’s great to see. Italian tennis is in great form. We have so many players and different game styles,” he said.

“Lorenzo is one of the biggest talents we have in our sport. I’m looking forward to this one. From an Italian point of view, it’s great to have for sure one Italian player in the semis.

“I know that there are a lot of Italian players in the crowd. It makes everything special.”

July 31 (UPI) — Nearly three quarters of U.S. adults experience some kind of online scam or cyber attack every week, data from the Pew Research Center showed Thursday.

Most people receive scam calls, texts and emails at least weekly, the report said. Americans reported more than $16.6 billion in scam-related losses in 2024, the FBI said.

Many U.S. financial institutions, retail corporations and federal officials are raising the issue, warning consumers about the attacks and working to educate the public about ways to avoid them and steps to take if they fall victim.

“While Americans see older adults as more vulnerable to these crimes, significant portions of both older and younger adults have been scammed and targeted online,” the report said.

Nearly half of the respondents reported that online hackers made fraudulent charges on their credit or debit cards, the most common form of attack.

More than a third reported purchasing an item online that never arrived or that was a counterfeit item for which they never received a refund.

Nearly a third said personal information was hacked through a bank, social media, email or bank account, and a quarter of respondents said they received a scam text message or phone call that resulted in them providing personal information to a scammer.

People between 18 and 29 were the most frequent victims of the scams, the report continued.

Pew polled 9,397 adults between April 14 and 20.

Brazil’s Fluminense earn hard-fought 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to book place in semifinals.

Substitute Hercules scored his second goal in as many second-half appearances to send Fluminense into the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Al Hilal in Orlando, Florida.

The tournament underdogs struck first on Friday through Matheus Martinelli in the first half before Al Hilal hit back after the break when Marcus Leonardo found the net.

But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hercules to secure a memorable win over Al Hilal in the first meeting between the two clubs.

The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday’s other quarterfinal clash between fellow Brazilians Palmeiras and English Premier League side Chelsea.

Al Hilal exit despite a fourth tournament goal for striker Leonardo.

The Saudi side was the last from Asia remaining, having pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset with a 4-3, extra-time victory over Manchester City in the second round on Monday.

Martinelli put Fluminense in front in the 40th minute with a brilliant strike. His first touch took Gabriel Fuentes’s pass beyond a charging Al Hilal defender, and his second unleashed a ferocious left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to the top right corner from about 15 yards (14 metres).

A minute into first-half stoppage time, Fluminense keeper Fabio sprawled to his left to push Kalidou Koulibaly’s powerful header beyond the post.

After nearly levelling before halftime, Koulibaly won another dangerous header six minutes into the second from a corner.

This time it landed at the feet of Leonardo, who balanced himself and scooped a finish from close range past Fabio and two defenders on the line.

It remained level four minutes later when Bounou sprawled to his right to take the ball off the feet of German Cano, who was trying to dribble round him after intercepting a pass deep in the attacking half.

Hercules put Fluminense in front for good in the 70th when he was rewarded for his own persistence.

After his first long-range shot was deflected high into the air, he continued his run forward as teammate Samuel Xavier won the next header.

It landed at the feet of Hercules, whose wonderful first touch put him in shooting position before his second sent a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner, prompting jubilation from yet another largely pro-Brazilian crowd at this tournament.

Al Hilal pressured Fluminense in the dying stages, but could not create a clear chance on Fabio’s goal.

Fluminense head coach Renato Portaluppi praised his players after the match.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, but I am so pleased with the way my players reacted,” Portaluppi told DAZN. “I am so happy that we have gone through to the semifinals.”

Asked about what he said to Hercules when he came off the bench for the second half, he replied: “I told him just to keep doing what he has to do. He would have the opportunity to score, and when it came, he took it.”

Meanwhile, it was a tough day for Al Hilal’s Portuguese players competing just a day after the Liverpool FC and Portugal national team star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in Spain.

They were honoured with a pregame moment of silence, and cameras showed Al Hilal starters and Portuguese compatriots Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo in tears during the tribute.

Harry Kane scores two goals as German giants oust yet another determined South American team from the Club World Cup.

Bayern Munich have overcome a determined resistance from Flamengo to book their place in the Club World Cup quarterfinals with an entertaining 4-2 victory in their round of 16 clash.

Harry Kane scored twice as the German giants became the latest European team to knock out their South American counterparts from the global cup competition on Sunday, prompting Flamengo coach Filipe Luis to say the football elite “remain in Europe”.

Vincent Kompany’s side will now play European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta on Saturday for a place in the last four.

Flamengo, backed by a huge and passionate following at Hard Rock Stadium, bowed out of the tournament despite a performance of real determination from Luis’s team.

Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring for Bayern in the sixth minute, and the score was doubled four minutes later as Kane bagged his first.

Bayern looked like they were going to run away with the game but the three-time Copa Libertadores champions were able to find a foothold.

Flamengo were rewarded for their efforts in the 33rd minute when after the dangerous Luiz Araujo played the ball in from the left, the ball fell to Gerson who unleashed a thunderbolt which rocketed past Neuer to bring the bulk of the 60,914 crowd to their feet.

But all that good work from the Rio team was undone four minutes before the break when Araujo’s poor clearance landed straight at the feet of Leon Goretzka who had the time and space to settle himself before, from more than 20 yards out, placing his shot into the corner to make it 3-1.

Flamengo came out determined to respond once again and they reduced the deficit again in the 55th minute when Michael Olise handled a cross from Giorgian de Arrascaeta at close range and Jorginho took advantage of the opportunity with an ice-cool conversion.

The contest was finally settled in the 73rd minute when Konrad Laimer won the ball in midfield and fed Kimmich who, in turn, slipped the ball through to Kane, who confidently beat Agustin Rossi with one of his trademark precision and power drives.

‘European teams have the best Brazilian players’

Later, Luis said the football elite remained in Europe as he doffed his cap to Bayern’s killer touch.

“It’s up to us to simply recognise the superiority of our opponent. They are very good, we knew that. At this level, any mistake is fatal. Those who deserved to go through got through,” he said.

“Our plan did work and we were able to apply pressure and create goal-scoring opportunities, but they were better than us; we’re playing against the football elite. If Vinicius Jr had not left for Real Madrid, we would have the best player in the world.

“They [South American players] want to be in the elite and that’s what they are, had we won today and the tournament, it would not change the reality – they’re high-quality teams. We have many Brazilian players in our teams, but they [the European teams] have the best ones. They have better players – that’s a fact.”

European teams were expected to dominate the expanded Club World Cup but sometimes struggled in the group phase while all Brazilian teams advanced and made an impression.

Bayern, however, restored a measure of what the European football establishment would call “order” ahead of Inter Milan’s clash with Brazil’s Fluminense, also in the last 16. Palmeiras progressed by beating fellow Brazilian side Botafogo on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain sweep aside Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 to set up last eight clash with Bayern Munich or Flamengo.

Paris Saint-Germain thrashed former player Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 in the last 16 of the Club World Cup, with Joao Neves scoring twice en route to victory.

A Miami own goal and a strike by Achraf Hakimi widened the margin to four by halftime at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday.

The European champions will face the winner between Bayern Munich and Flamengo in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Oscar Ustari made six saves for Inter Miami, while PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make just three after Miami were held without a shot attempted for the first 50 minutes. The match was Messi’s first time facing PSG since leaving the club and coming to the United States two years ago.

Desire Doue won PSG a free kick just outside the penalty area less than five minutes into the match. Vitinha took the kick and connected with Neves, who headed it on the run across Ustari’s body and into the net.

Miami defender Noah Allen took a tumble and subbed out due to injury in the 19th minute. His replacement, Tomas Aviles, immediately earned a yellow card by tripping up Nuno Mendes.

PSG continued to control play until Neves doubled the advantage in the 39th minute. Fabian Ruiz dispossessed Sergio Busquets, and a quick passing sequence freed up Neves for an open shot from the centre of the box.

Aviles’ unfortunate match continued when he accidentally chested a PSG cross over his own goal line in the 44th minute.

Moments later, PSG’s Bradley Barcola made a perfect run to receive a pass deep in the box, and he passed it back to Hakimi.

His first shot ricocheted off Ustari’s head and the crossbar, but Hakimi scored his own rebound for a 4-0 advantage.

After a quiet first half, Messi was credited with Miami’s first shot attempt in the 51st minute when he had a left-footer deflected over the net.

Inter Miami’s best chance came early in the second half.

A Messi pass to Luis Suarez sent him clear at the side of the net, but the ball slid harmlessly off his foot without a shot. The 38-year-old striker kicked a water bottle over the barrier in frustration, summing up the day for Inter Miami.

Messi finally connected with Inter Miami’s first shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but it was easily scooped up by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Messi had another chance on a header with about 10 minutes remaining, forcing Donnarumma to make a diving save in the only real threat to his third clean sheet of the tournament.

Neves said it was a very “positive” day for PSG.

“It is the first time I have scored two [goals] in one game, so I am very happy. But I am happier for the win,” he told DAZN.

“We have the same confidence [as before]. We will play our game, no matter against who [our opponents are]. We are tired now, but we will recover [before the quarterfinal].”

Inter Miami’s coach Javier Mascherano told DAZN that the game was a good learning experience for his side.

“We knew today was going to be very, very difficult. They [PSG] are probably the best team in the world,” he said. “In the second half we tried to play and show our worth.”