Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has praised the backing he has received from the club’s fans and says he is “not offended” by the protest planned before Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Fulham.
Carrick has a 100% record in his second spell in charge following unexpected wins against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Despite the improvement following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and the fact United moved into the Premier League top four for the first time this season following the Arsenal success, the 1958 fans’ group is pushing ahead with its protest.
The group claims it expects between 5,000 and 6,000 fans to attend the protest march, although given it will start an hour before kick-off from either side of the stadium and meet in the middle by the ‘Law, Best, Charlton’ statue outside Old Trafford, exact numbers will be difficult to quantify.
Organisers say they have “a few surprises in store”.
“Our protest has never been about performances on the pitch, not now, and not once in the last 21 years,” they argue.
“We are judging a dysfunctional ownership model that has repeatedly failed.”
In his autobiography, Carrick said the Glazer family were “great owners”.
Few fans agree with those sentiments, regardless of whether they intend to join the protest or not.
Anti-Glazer songs are a feature of every game United play, while recently minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been the focus of negative supporter sentiment.
Asked for his thoughts on the issue, Carrick preferred to focus on the support both he and his team have received rather than address the wider issue.
“I don’t think it [the protest] connects with the two wins, to be honest,” he said.
“I fully respect the supporters. I’m not offended by it or anything, and the players certainly aren’t.
“Within the stadium, the support we’ve felt, and that’s been there for all the games that I’ve watched for quite some time, has been of the highest level and I’m sure it will continue to be like that.
“The connection we’ve had over the last couple of weeks has been pretty special and we’ve both fed off that. That’s exactly how we wanted it to be and is something we need to keep building on moving forward.”
Ospreys were boosted by Wales releasing Morgan-Williams and loose-head prop Gareth Thomas, who made his first appearance since suffering a calf injury at the start of December.
The hosts were without six members of Steve Tandy’s squad and the visitors were denied the services of two.
Dragons then suffered a huge blow in just the second minute with the loss of influential South African tight-head Rob Hunt, who was carried off after injuring his left hamstring when cleared out of a ruck.
The Rodney Parade club’s former Wales loose-head Wyn Jones did not last much longer – he went off in the 12th minute with the game still scoreless.
That meant replacements Jordan Morris and Cebo Dlamini were in for long shifts on a draining surface, and the injuries turned out to be critical.
Ferocious defence was the winner in the opening quarter with both sides failing to get off the mark after kicking penalties to the corner.
Dragons eventually made pressure count in the 18th minute when hard carrying by big ball carriers was followed by tenacious fly-half De Beer going through a gap for a try that Angus O’Brien converted.
The visitors failed to extend their lead despite being on top and paid the price on 32 minutes when the alert Morgan-Williams sniped under the posts from a ruck, Jack Walsh levelling from the tee.
In-form wing Rio Dyer, who missed out on the Six Nations squad, was twice denied down the left corner as Dragons tried to respond and it remained level at the break.
O’Brien knocked over a pair of penalties either side of a bout of defence to put the visitors 13-7 up approaching the hour.
Ospreys opted against calling for the tee from penalties, but found Dragons, with strong defence and the big clearing boot of O’Brien, a tough nut to crack as the rain lashed down.
Dragons were reduced to 14 men for the finish when Dlamini was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Harri Houston in the 73rd minute.
Ospreys kicked to the corner and Lloyd went over from the driving line-out only for Walsh to pull the conversion.
Dragons lost another man with four minutes to play due to needing to play with uncontested scrums.
That proved to be crucial as Ospreys hit the front for the first time when it mattered by working Giles clear and his pace from close-range did the rest.
MELBOURNE — Elena Rybakina finally won her second Grand Slam title with a victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open on Saturday, and it was something of a testament to quiet achievers.
After some tumult at the start of 2025, including the suspension of her coach, Rybakina finished off last year with a title at the WTA Finals in November. And now she has started the new year with a major championship.
Her low-key celebration was symbolic of her understated run through the tournament: a small fist pump, a quick embrace with Sabalenka, a handshake with the chair umpire, a smile, and a few hand claps on the strings of her racket and a wave to acknowledge the crowd.
It happened quickly after Rybakina closed with an ace to cap a third-set comeback and a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over a regular rival who beat her in the final here in 2023.
“The heart rate was definitely beating too fast. Even maybe [my] face didn’t show, but inside it was a lot of emotions,” the 26-year-old Rybakina, who was born in Moscow but represents Kazakhstan, said of her calm and clinical finish.
She knew she had to capitalize quickly this time, after she acknowledged getting tight and needing almost a half-hour from her first match point to her match-winning point in a semifinal win over Jessica Pegula.
Elena Rybakina plays a backhand return during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open on Saturday.
(Dita Alangkara / Associated Press)
Three years ago, Rybakina won the first set of the Australian Open final but lost the match in three.
This time, after breaking in the first game and taking the first set, she rallied after losing the second set and going down 3-0 in the third. She won five straight games to regain control.
“It gives me a kind of relief,” she said, “also, a lot of confidence for sure for the rest of the season.”
It was a second major title for fifth-seeded Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 and entered that Australian final three years ago as the only major winner in the contest.
While Sabalenka went on to win another three majors, including back-to-back triumphs in Australia and the 2024 and ’25 victories at the U.S. Open, Rybakina’s results dipped and she didn’t reach another major final until this tournament.
Career change
A win over Sabalenka at the season-ending WTA Finals has changed her career trajectory. She has the most match wins on tour since Wimbledon, and is now on a roll of 20 wins in 21 matches.
“Last year I didn’t start so well,” she said. “I qualified for the [WTA] Finals late. I just hope I can carry this momentum. Do a good job with the team and continue this way.”
Rybakina is 10-0 in her last 10 matches against top-10 players, and she’ll return to No. 3 in the rankings.
Kazakhstan’s flag was unfurled on the court at Rod Laver Arena after Rybakina had paraded the trophy around and posed for photos with her team.
Coaching team
She paid tribute to her coach, Stefano Vukov, who spent time under suspension last year by the women’s tour. Vukov received a silver plate from the tournament organizers for being the champion’s coach.
“Of course I would like to thank my team,” she said. “Without you it wouldn’t have been possible. Really. We had a lot of things going on [last year]. Thank you to all of you, and hopefully we can keep on going strong this year.
“It’s a win for all the team, all the people who support me,” she said. “I just hope that I can carry this moment throughout the whole season and keep on improving.”
She said she’d been working with Vukov since 2019 and she finds it helpful to hear the constant stream of technical and tactical advice he conveys from his seat beside the court. The more, the better, she said, because eventually she listens.
“We won many titles together,” Rybakina said. “And even last year in Ningbo, WTA Finals, and now this trophy I felt just, again, proud and thankful to my team for the work.”
Win some, lose some
Aryna Sabalenka reacts after winning a point against Elena Rybakina in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open on Saturday.
(Dita Alangkara / Associated Press)
For Sabalenka, it’s back-to-back losses in the final in Australia after going down in an upset last year to Madison Keys.
“Of course, I have regrets. When you lead 3-love and then it felt like in few seconds it was 3-4, and I was down with a break — it was very fast,” she said. “Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me.
“But as I say, today I’m a loser, maybe tomorrow I’m a winner. Hopefully I’ll be more of a winner this season than a loser. Hoping right now and praying.”
Rybakina went on the attack from the start and her serve was strong, with six aces and — apart from the two breaks at the end of the second set and the start of the third — she fended off six of the breakpoint chances she faced.
While Sabalenka’s emotions intensified, Rybakina maintained a determined quietness throughout.
Lindsey Vonn sat out a World Cup super-G race Saturday after crashing and injuring her left knee a day earlier but remains on track for the Milan Cortina Olympics, her coach told the Associated Press.
“No she is not racing today but preparing for Cortina as usual,” Chris Knight, Vonn’s personal head coach, said in a text message to the AP.
Vonn then posted on Instagram, “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today,” adding, “Thank you for all of the love and support I have received. Means the world to me.
“Doing my best right now….,” Vonn concluded with praying hands and fingers-crossed emojis.
Vonn crashed in a downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Friday and ended up in the safety nets. After skiing down to the bottom of the course, she was airlifted away for medical attention.
It still wasn’t clear what her injury was.
“I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams,” Vonn wrote on Instagram on Friday.
Vonn, a 41-year-old American, is expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Winter Games, which open next Friday. Her first race comes two days later in the women’s downhill.
Saturday’s super-G was slated to be her final race before the Games.
Santagiulia is due to host many of the biggest ice hockey fixtures at the Games, including the men’s and women’s gold medal matches.
The first match is due to be held there on Thursday, 5 February, when hosts Italy face France in their first game of the women’s competition.
However, the stadium, less than a week before that game, is far from ready to host matches.
The stadium has been the centre of concerns throughout the build-up to the Games, including resulting in a boycott warning from the National Hockey League (NHL).
The rink in Milan, approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation, is shorter than the minimum requirement in the NHL, leading to suggestions there could be an increase in high-speed collisions. The quality of the ice has also been questioned.
“Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we’re not going to play,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in November. “It’s as simple as that.”
The NHL said it was “pleased” with the test event at the arena in January, although that did not pass without incident. During the event there was a short delay while a small hole in the ice had to be repaired.
Santagiulia is one of two ice hockey venues for the Games, with the Milano Rho Arena staging some group-stage matches.
The Rho Arena, a temporary venue constructed in the Fiera Milano exhibition centre, has a capacity of 5,800 – 6,000 fewer than Santagiulia.
BBC Sport visited all four venues in the Milan Cluster which will host events during the Games, which officially run between 6 and 22 February.
As well as the ice hockey venues, speed skating will take place at a temporary venue in Fiera Milano to the west of the city, while short track and figure skating are at Unipol Forum on the southern outskirts.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been contacted for comment.
DENVER — Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in a month, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points, and the Denver Nuggets knocked off the Clippers122-109 on Friday night.
Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, missed 16 games after injuring his left knee in a Dec. 29 loss at Miami. The Nuggets went 10-6 during that stretch, which also included extended absences from fellow starters Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun.
Jokic’s 29th double-double of the season came despite being on a minutes restriction imposed by coach David Adelman. The 30-year-old Serbian was limited to 25 minutes, his second-fewest this season.
James Harden had 25 points and nine assists for the Clippers (22-25), who had won 16 of their previous 19, the best win percentage in that NBA during that period.
Jokic scored 11 points over a stretch of 3:47 in the fourth quarter that extended Denver’s lead from five to 16. The Nuggets (33-16) improved to 7-3 in the second of back-to-back games.
Jamal Murray had 22 points, and Peyton Watson added 21 for Denver. Murray, who made four of five three-pointers and had a team-high nine assists, scored at least 20 points for the 35th time this season, matching a career high.
Up next for the Clippers: at Phoenix on Sunday night.
Crans-Montana event was cancelled after Linsey Vonn was third of first six skiers to crash, but race was deemed safe.
Lindsey Vonn crashed out of a World Cup downhill on Friday that was hazardous to her Olympic medal hopes, though judged safe by race officials and team coaches.
Safe, it was agreed, at the place and exact time that Vonn lost control when landing a jump and spun into an awkward slide into the safety nets, injuring her left knee.
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“It was probably good light in the spot where she completely missed the line and did the mistake,” World Cup race director Peter Gerdol said.
Gerdol spoke after the late-afternoon meeting of race and team leaders to debrief the day and detail the next morning’s schedule.
At the meeting in Crans-Montana – starting minutes after Vonn posted on social media her Olympic downhill dream next weekend was alive – a broad agreement was that the race had been safe. Some objected to it being cancelled at all.
About 25 minutes after Vonn crashed as the No 6 starter, with the race still paused, Gerdol and the race jury called it off for safety reasons.
“I feel for those guys, they have a tough job,” United States head coach Paul Kristofic said.
Norway’s Marte Monsen waves to the crowd after being stretchered off following a crash during her run [Romina Amato/Reuters]
By 10:50am local time on an overcast day in the Swiss Alps, the light had dimmed since the 10am start and was forecast to get worse. It did.
The race may have seemed unsafe because three of the six starters failed to finish, and even leader Jacqueline Wiles barely made a tight final turn that caused one crash.
Still, the Austria coach said his racer Nina Ortlieb’s exit as the first starter, at the same spot as Vonn, was caused by a poor racing line, not poor light.
Roland Assinger later said racing had been much safer than two weeks ago at Tarvisio, Italy, where the women went “110 kilometres an hour (70 miles per hour) through the fog where you can see nothing”.
Assinger’s view echoed the view of Vonn’s teammate, Breezy Johnson, who was caught swearing on a television hot mic while chatting with racers in the warmup area when the cancellation news came.
World champion Johnson recalled the “(expletive) rain in Tarvisio” and added: “Then they are like ‘This is too bad a visibility.’ Like, what the …” Johnson later apologised for her choice of words in a social media post.
Swiss TV commentator Patrice Morisod, who had chuckled on air hearing Johnson’s words live, later said: “If we cancel such a race then we don’t have ski sport.”
Lindsey Vonn of Team United States is helped to her feet after she crashed out injurying her knee in Crans-Montana, Switzerland [Michel Cottin/Agence Zoom/Getty Images]
What Gerdol and Morisod agreed on was disliking the tight turns into the finish line that sent Norwegian racer Marte Monsen into the fences and almost tricked Wiles.
“It’s not downhill,” Morisod said. “For me, that’s a big mistake for the FIS.”
Gerdol told the coaches’ meeting that the course design will be reviewed before the two-week world championships Crans-Montana will stage in one year.
“In view of the championships next year, we will definitely work on this,” the race director acknowledged.
The 2027 world seems far away when the Milan Cortina Olympics open next Friday, and the marquee women’s downhill is scheduled two days later.
Vonn faces a race to be fully fit for the Olympics she targeted in her remarkable comeback as the fastest 40-something in women’s ski race history.
She might even return on Saturday to start in a super-G on the same hill. “The coach just said he left her on the start list,” Gerdol said, “because he thinks that it could be (possible). Some of the athletes always want to race; this is clear, it is their job.”
New York venue Madison Square Gardens issues warning before Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson and Knicks vs Lakers bill.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
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Madison Square Garden says anyone fighting at the arena threatens to be “banned for life” after there were multiple altercations at one of its events.
Video on TMZ.com showed two fights breaking out on Friday, when fighters weighed in for the boxing card Saturday night headlined by Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson. One of the videos showed a brawl starting as Bill Haney, father of boxer Devin Haney, was conducting an interview near the stage.
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“Violence will not be condoned at MSG across any type of event including, hockey, basketball, boxing, concerts, or special events,” Madison Square Garden said in a statement. “If any individual is found to participate in violent activity, whether you are part of the event, or a patron, you will be banned for life and unable to attend or participate in any event across all our venues.”
The news conference Thursday for the title fight between Lopez and Stevenson became heated as the fighters on stage traded insults about family members, with people in the audience also shouting.
There was also an altercation near the cage on November 15, when MSG hosted UFC 322.
The warning comes before a busy weekend at the arena. Organisers said the boxing event is sold out, and on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Knicks for a nationally televised game that could be LeBron James’s final one at the arena.
An exciting yet excruciating playoff loss to the Seahawks doesn’t diminish the Rams’ accomplishments this season. Their ability in coming back to win so many games that appeared lost showcased their resilience time after time, week after week. Thanks for the memories.
Marty Zweben Palos Verdes Estates
When are the Rams and coach Sean McVay going to stop ignoring special teams? Open the checkbook and hire the best special teams coach available. They also need to draft a shutdown corner or two. You don’t need another receiver.
So Bill Plaschke wants to put the blame on the Rams’ loss in the NFC title game solely on Sean McVay? The defense’s atrocious cornerbacks don’t deserve most of the blame? And Plaschke’s blood-boiling need to make the grand statement way before anything is certain doesn’t prove the Plaschke Curse is alive and well? He not only jinxed them once but twice. They lost to Seattle and lost control of the No. 1 seed immediately after the first prediction they’d go to the Super Bowl and then lost again to Seattle after the second. Will someone please take this guy’s laptop away from him until the Rams actually make the Super Bowl!?!?!
Danny Balber Jr. Pasadena
Bill Plaschke in his column blames the decisions made by coach McVay, which have some merit, for the Rams losing in the NFC championship game. Of course, there is no mention of the prediction made by Plaschke the week before about the Rams winning quite confidently and going on to Super Bowl LX. The Rams and McVay never had a real chance being under the Plaschke curse.
Wayne Muramatsu Cerritos
I can only hope that if I ever decide to enter a sporting competition, Bill Plaschke predicts I will not win it.
Andrew Sacks Riverside
My dad used to tell me to only watch the end of NBA games, because they are always tied going into the last minute. The NFL is now very much like that, as evidenced by most of this season’s playoff games. And I wouldn’t have it any other way! While I’m bummed about the Rams’ finish, here’s to 2025-26, the best NFL season in recent memory.
German football federation confirms it met to discuss a boycott of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which is co-hosted by the US.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
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The German football federation has ruled out a boycott of the World Cup despite calls from within to send a message to United States President Donald Trump.
“We believe in the unifying power of sport and the global impact that a FIFA World Cup can have, the federation said in a statement issued late on Friday. “Our goal is to strengthen this positive force – not to prevent it.”
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The federation, known as the DFB, said its executive committee met and discussed the option of a boycott of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a consideration first proposed last week by DFB Vice President Oke Gottlich.
Gottlich, who is also the president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, referred to Trump’s recent actions and statements and said it was time to “seriously consider” a boycott.
In what appears to be a public rebuke to Gottlich, however, the DFB said “debates on sports policy should be conducted internally and not in public”.
The DFB said a boycott “is not currently under consideration. The DFB is in contact with representatives from politics, security, business, and sports in preparation for the tournament” from June 11-July 19.
Trump has sown discord in Europe with his takeover bid for Greenland and threats to impose tariffs on European countries that opposed it, while US actions in Venezuela and at home in dealing with protests in American cities have also raised alarm.
When president, however, Blatter opposed calls to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia over concerns about Ukraine.
“Football can not be boycotted in any country,” he said at the time.
Ahead of this summer’s tournament, fans have concerns about high ticket prices, while travel bans imposed by the Trump administration could also prohibit supporters from some competing nations from attending.
Germany’s team, at least, will be there.
“We want to compete fairly against the other qualified teams next summer,” the DFB said. “And we want fans worldwide to celebrate a peaceful festival of football in the stadiums and at fan zones – just as we experienced at the 2024 European Championship in our own country.”
Pakistan thump Australia by 90 runs in Lahore in second T20 of tour to seal three-match T20 series 2-0.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
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Skipper Salman Ali Agha hit his highest score in the shortest format before Pakistan’s spinners routed Australia by 90 runs in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore on Saturday.
Agha hit a 40-ball 76 and Usman Khan smashed a 36-ball 53 as Pakistan made 198-5, their highest-ever T20I total against Australia.
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This was enough for Pakistan’s spin quintet, who shared all 10 wickets between them with Abrar Ahmed returning the best figures of 3-14 and Shadab Khan finishing with 3-26.
Australia were routed for 108 in 15.4 overs, giving Pakistan their biggest T20I victory over Australia, eclipsing the 66-run win in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
“It has to be a perfect game,” said Agha. “We batted well and then were outstanding with the ball. Fielding was outstanding.”
The victory gives Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead after they won the first match by 22 runs, also in Lahore, on Friday.
“We want to play in the same way, forget the 2-0 scoreline and come again with the same intensity and go to the World Cup with the same energy,” said Agha of the event starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
This is Pakistan’s first T20I series win over Australia since 2018. The final match is on Sunday, also in Lahore.
Despite skipper Mitchell Marsh coming back after resting on Friday, the visiting batters had little answer to Pakistan’s spin assault.
Ahmed dismissed Marsh for 18, Josh Inglis for five and Matthew Short for 27.
Cameron Green top-scored with a 20-ball 35 before spinner Usman Tariq dismissed him on his way to figures of 2-16.
Marsh admitted Pakistan were better.
“Pakistan outplayed us,” said Marsh. “Hopefully, we can improve and come back tomorrow. They put us under great pressure in batting; it was probably a 160-170 wicket so they scored a big total.”
Earlier, Agha and Usman led Pakistan to a fighting total after they won the toss and batted.
Agha built the innings with Saim Ayub (11-ball 23) during a second-wicket stand of 55 as Pakistan scored 72 runs in the power play.
Agha’s previous highest in all T20 cricket was 68 not out.
After Babar Azam failed with a five-ball two, Usman helped Agha add another quickfire 49 for the fourth wicket before Sean Abbott broke the stand.
Agha smashed four sixes and eight fours in his sixth Twenty20 half-century.
Pakistan added a good 61 runs in the last five overs with Usman knocking two sixes and four fours in his second T20I half-century, while Shadab’s knock had two sixes and a four.
The Usman-Shadab fifth-wicket stand yielded 63 runs off just 39 balls.
Shadab finished with an unbeaten 20-ball 28.
Pacer Xavier Bartlett and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann were expensive, conceding 92 runs between them in their eight overs.
If you want to see what a top 15-year-old girls’ soccer player looks like, go watch freshman Mia Rizo of St. Genevieve.
She has scored 19 goals and contributed six assists for the Valiants while earning universal respect for her play.
“Mia is a crafty midfielder with great vision,” coach Marlon Archey said. “She has a nose for the goal that is remarkable for a freshman playing at the varsity level.”
She has participated at the U.S. Soccer Talent Camp and continues to climb the ranks of young players.
St. Genevieve is 13-3-3 overall and 4-2-3 in the Del Rey League. The Valiants play Paraclete on Tuesday for second place in the league.
“Mia has an impeccable soccer IQ at such a young age,” Archey said. “She’s a coach’s dream.”
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Watch Elena Rybakina inflict further Grand Slam final heartbreak on world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a dramatic third-set fightback to win her first Australian Open title.
Following back-to-back Australian Open wins, Aryna Sabalenka has now lost two consecutive finals with Elena Rybakina defeat.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
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Following two years of triumph at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka is now processing another two years of pain – and a series of missed chances in Melbourne that have left her “really upset”.
A year on from losing the final in three sets to American Madison Keys, Sabalenka fell 6-4 4-6 6-4 to Elena Rybakina on Saturday, the Russia-born Kazakh turning the tables on the Belarusian who beat her for the 2023 title.
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“I was really upset with myself, I would say, because once again I had opportunities,” Sabalenka said.
“I played great until a certain point, and then I couldn’t resist that aggression that she had on court.”
While the Keys shock left Sabalenka inconsolable and her racket in pieces, defeat to fifth seed Rybakina had its own unique sting.
The world number one held a 3-0 lead in the third set and had all the running before former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke back in the fifth game and stormed to her second Grand Slam trophy.
“She made some winners. I made a couple of unforced errors,” Sabalenka continued.
“Of course, I have regrets. You know, when you lead 3-0 and then it felt like in a few seconds it was 3-4 and I was down with a break. So it was very fast.
“Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me but, as I say, today I’m a loser, maybe tomorrow I’m a winner, maybe again a loser. Hopefully not. We’ll see.”
It was Sabalenka’s second significant loss to Rybakina in a few months, having been beaten for the season-ending WTA Finals crown.
More alarmingly, it was her third loss in her last four major finals, with Coco Gauff flooring her at last year’s French Open.
Sabalenka did not lose a set coming into the Melbourne final and had won 46 of her 48 previous matches at hardcourt Grand Slams.
Now Rybakina, one of the few players able to match her for power, has dealt Sabalenka’s aura a heavy blow.
Sabalenka laughed ruefully and shrugged through her post-match news conference but was honest enough to admit she had been despondent outside the room.
On court, she draped a white towel over her head to conceal her anguish before gathering herself to deliver gracious congratulations to Rybakina, her most frequent opponent on tour.
She consoled herself that, barring a few errors in the final set, Rybakina had simply wrested the trophy from her grip with the quality of her tennis.
“Even in this final, I feel like I played great. I was fighting. I did my best, and today she was a better player,” said Sabalenka.
“So I don’t know. We’ll speak with the team. Now they try to avoid and escape me because they see that it’s not really healthy to be around me right now.”
Northampton Saints wing Edoardo Todaro is facing a long lay-off after suffering a serious knee injury at a training camp with Italy.
The Italian Rugby Federation website say diagnostic tests had confirmed a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee.
“The player will return to his club where he will continue his recovery and rehabilitation process, supported by the Northampton medical staff in collaboration with the men’s national team medical staff,” a statement added.
Todaro, 19, has been a revelation for Saints, scoring 10 tries in 13 appearances –despite serving a two-match ban for an aerial tackle – after signing his first professional contract before the start of the season.
The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics open on Monday but one rapper Ghali’s inclusion draws criticism in his native Italy.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
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The inclusion of Italian rapper Ghali in the cast of performers at the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has led to a dispute in Italy.
The artist, born in Milan to Tunisian parents, has been criticised in Italy because of his comments on Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
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Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the latest example of sport and politics colliding and why this case has hit the headlines.
Who is criticising Ghali’s inclusion at the Winter Olympics?
Members of Italy’s right-wing League party, part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, have criticised the choice of Ghali to perform at the event in the San Siro stadium on February 6.
What is Ghali criticised for saying about Israel?
Ghali was at the centre of a political spat two years ago during the popular Sanremo song contest, when he called for a “stop to the genocide” in reference to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
A League party source called Ghali a “pro-Palestinian fanatic” who hated Israel and the centre-right, in comments to the Italian media.
Is Ghali’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony role set to be controversial?
Sport Minister Andrea Abodi said he did not expect Ghali to use the Olympic stage to make a political point.
“I am not embarrassed to disagree with Ghali’s views and the messages he has sent, but I believe that a country must be able to absorb the impact of an artist who has expressed an opinion that we do not share, which will not be expressed on that stage,” he said.
What other names will be alongside Ghali to open the Milano Cortino Games?
Ghali, who has not commented on the dispute, is likely to appeal to a younger audience more than other performers at the opening ceremony, who will include tenor Andrea Bocelli and US pop singer Mariah Carey.
Franco-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura was the target of racist abuse online when it emerged that she would sing at the opening of the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024.
Who: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic What: Men’s singles final – Australian Open 2026 When: Sunday, February 1 at 19:30 (08:30 GMT) Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live text and photo stream gets under way at 05:30 GMT
Novak Djokovic stands one step away from cementing his place as the greatest tennis player of all time. In his way, though, is Carlos Alcaraz – a modern adversary seeking a career milestone of his own.
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Tennis history will be rewritten when the pair meet in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open 2026 on Sunday.
Djokovic is seeking his 25th major title to go past Margaret Court in the all-time Grand Slam winners’ list in the Open Era, while Alcaraz – 16 years his junior – is looking to become the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning the only one eluding his trophy cabinet.
At 38 years old, the Serb is already the oldest man to have qualified for a Grand Slam final, but he will be looking to make the most of his appearance in Sunday’s blockbuster final to seal a record-extending 25th men’s title.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz, who was the last man to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2024, will aim to convert his debut final at the Australian Open into a night when he seals a career Slam.
Both men enter the match on the back of epic semifinal wins on Rod Laver Arena on Friday, with top seed and world number one Alcaraz having a slightly longer recovery period than fourth-seeded Djokovic.
What’s the Alcaraz-Djokovic tennis rivalry?
In the five years since his first appearance in the main round of a Grand Slam, Alcaraz has swiftly become the face of men’s tennis, and his brief history with the iconic Djokovic is often seen as a passing-of-the-baton inter-generational rivalry.
Alcaraz is known for his speed and power, while Djokovic relies on his experience, consistency and resilience to fend off the next generation of tennis talents.
The young Spaniard’s first meeting against Djokovic came at the Madrid Open in 2022, where the home favourite beat the veteran in straight sets.
Since then, the pair have met in Grand Slam settings on five occasions, with Alcaraz winning both finals but Djokovic emerging victorious at the Olympics to complete his Career Super Slam.
Overall, the Serb edges his rival by five wins to four in their nine meetings.
Their last encounter was in the semifinals of the US Open 2025, where eventual champion Alcaraz was too strong for the four-time winner Djokovic.
The match ended 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in Alcaraz’s favour.
How did Alcaraz reach the Australian Open 2026 final?
An ailing Alcaraz battled past Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic to reach his first Australian Open final in a match lasting five hours and 27 minutes. The world number one outlasted the German third seed in hot conditions with a cramping body.
Road to the final:
First round: Beat Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 6-2
Second round: Beat Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 6-2
How did Djokovic reach the Australian Open 2026 final?
Djokovic stunned reigning champion Jannik Sinner early on Saturday, with the veteran turning back the clock to upset the Italian in a gruelling four-hour-nine-minute match.
Road to the final:
First round: Beat Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Second round: Beat Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Third round: Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(7-4)
Fourth round: Beat Jakub Mensik via walkover
Quarterfinal: Beat Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 retired
What’s being said about the Djokovic-Alcaraz Australian Open final?
Tennis experts, fans and former champions have been weighing in on what promises to be a modern epic.
Rafael Nadal: “I think the favourite is Carlos. He’s young, he has the energy and he’s in his prime. But I mean, Novak is Novak. He’s a very special player. I think it’s a positive example of commitment, of resilience. Novak, for obvious reasons, is not at his prime, but he is still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive. So full respect.”
Andy Roddick: “Man regrets inspiring child.”
How much is the prize money for the Australian Open champion?
The men’s singles champion and runner-up will receive $2.9m and $1.5m, respectively, from the total tournament prize money of $78.1m.
How to stream and follow the Australian Open 2026 final?
Al Jazeera’s build-up to the final will begin at 05:30 GMT, before the live score, photo and text commentary stream from 08:30 GMT.
In a meeting between two of the biggest hitters on the women’s tour, Rybakina neutralised Sabalenka’s trademark power with clean ball-striking and clutch serving, before digging deep in the deciding set.
Sabalenka has spent 75 weeks at the top of the rankings and remains the dominant player in the women’s game – particularly on hard courts, with this her seventh consecutive major final on the surface.
But Rybakina has emerged as the Belarusian’s kryptonite after winning seven of their past nine hard court encounters.
Having appeared on course for an impressive comeback win, Sabalenka sat with her towel over her head as she contemplated that yet another final had slipped from her grasp.
Rybakina, meanwhile, was able to celebrate a hugely impressive run to the title, having also overpowered world number two Iga Swiatek and sixth seed Jessica Pegula on her way to the final.
She has now won her past 10 matches against fellow top-10 players and is the first player to claim the title by defeating three top-10 players in each round from the quarter-finals onwards since Naomi Osaka in 2019.
Rybakina is undoubtedly the form player on the WTA Tour, boasting more wins than anyone else since the end of Wimbledon last year (38) and losing just once in her past 21 matches.
Fifth seed Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open tennis final beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.
Published On 31 Jan 202631 Jan 2026
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Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous display to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Saturday and capture a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world number one in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago.
Rybakina returned to the site of her heartbreak in 2023 to complete an impressive victory and earn her second major trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials as the player best equipped to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt aura.
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The 26-year-old capped a fortnight of relentless efficiency while largely flying under the radar, adding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a resume that also includes the 2025 WTA Finals crown where she downed Sabalenka.
“It’s hard to find words now but I want to congratulate Aryna for her amazing results in the last couple of years. I hope we’re going to play many more finals together,” Kazakh Rybakina said.
“I want to say thank you to you guys (fans). Thank you so much to Kazakhstan. I felt the support from that corner a lot. It’s really a Happy Slam and I always enjoy coming here and playing in front of you guys.”
Aryna Sabalenka was seeking a third Australian Open title at Melbourne Park [Phil Walter/Getty Images]
In the first Grand Slam final since 2008 featuring players yet to drop a set, it was top seed Sabalenka who blinked first under the Rod Laver Arena roof as Rybakina came out all guns blazing to break in the opening game and wrest control.
The Kazakh fifth seed’s huge ball-striking caused all sorts of problems for twice champion Sabalenka, as she comfortably got to set point in the 10th game and finished it off to send alarm bells ringing in her opponent’s dugout.
Having arrived with 46 hardcourt Grand Slam match wins from the last 48, four-time major winner Sabalenka found her groove and started the second set more positively, but Rybakina saved three breakpoints to hold for 1-1.
A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the chance to level at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to turn the final set into a shootout destined to be decided by whichever player held their nerves.
Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing victory to add to her All England club triumph.
Elena Rybakina celebrates a point in the Women’s Singles Final against Aryna Sabalenka [Phil Walter/Getty Images]
The knockout blow was a huge ace, after which the typically restrained Rybakina walked forward, smiled and pumped her fist before celebrating with her team.
Sabalenka, denied an Australian Open “three-peat” by American outsider Madison Keys in last year’s final, endured heartbreak again as she retreated to her chair and draped a white towel over her head to conceal her anguish.
“I’m really speechless right now,” she said, before turning to her victorious opponent and the fans.
“I want to congratulate you on an incredible run and incredible tennis. Such an incredible achievement. I love being here, love playing in front of you all. You guys are incredible support. Let’s hope next year is going to be a better year.”
“We want to take Swansea to the Premier League, and to do that we are going to need money – that’s the reality of the game these days.
“I want to introduce sponsorship deals and publicity that will make them a global name.”
The West Coast rapper has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide but is yet to attend a Swansea game, though his son Cordell Broadus was in the directors’ box for the Welsh side’s draw with Watford last August.
American billionaire businesswoman Martha Stewart, who joined Snoop Dogg and Real Madrid legend Luka Modric as a Swansea co-owner in December, was in Wales for the game against Wrexham just before Christmas.
Swansea have said Snoop Dogg is likely to attend a game at some point this season, though there is still no confirmation of when he may appear at the Swansea.com Stadium.
“For real I want to meet with the fans,” Snoop Dogg said.
“These fans are passionate, they are real, and I want to hear what they got to say when I am in Swansea.
“I knew I always wanted to invest in a soccer team – it’s been a dream of mine for years, it was all about waiting for the right opportunity.”
Modric was the first celebrity name to get involved at Swansea, with the former Ballon d’Or winner named as a co-owner last April.
Swansea’s American owners, led by Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, believe bringing in high-profile names at boardroom level will help increase the profile the club which will in turn boost income.
Mike Erush is the soccer coach at Cal State Los Angeles. He’s also the coach for Harvard-Westlake, which won its third Mission League title in four years Friday by defeating Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 1-0 on an early goal from sophomore Truman Kim.
The Wolverines (16-1-3, 8-0-1) have received strong play from the Chen brothers, JT, a sophomore, and Ollie, a freshman.
“They have some good chemistry,” said goalkeeper Jackson Friedman, one of the best in the Southland.
The Chens take turns passing the ball to each other and pressuring opponents. Landon Marks leads the team in goals.
Cathedral 2, Bishop Amat 1: The Phantoms (14-2-2, 6-0-1) won the Del Rey League championship. Adrian Rivera and Christopher Guzman each scored goals.
Oak Park 2, Moorpark 1: Ryder Cash and Carson Casella (penalty kick) scored goals for the Eagles.
El Camino Real 2, Chatsworth 0: The Royals are closing in on the No. 1 seed for the City Section Open Division playoffs with a 7-0-1 mark in the West Valley League. Caleb Haynes and Josh Serrano scored goals.
Girls’ soccer
El Camino Real 1, Chatsworth 0: Jacky Alvarado had the goal for the Royals, who face defending City champion Granada Hills on Wednesday.
Boys’ basketball
Oak Park 61, Moorpark 49: It’s another Coastal Canyon League title for coach Aaron Shaw. Beau Prophete finished with 23 points. Oak Park is 7-0 in league.
St. John Bosco 73, Servite 65: The Braves (19-6) claimed the No. 1 seed for next week’s Trinity League tournament. Christian Collins scored 23 points and Gavin Dean-Moss had 13 points.
JSerra 67, Mater Dei 66: The Lions earned the No. 3 seed for the Trinity League tournament.
Santa Margarita 102, Orange Lutheran 81: Kaiden Bailey scored 31 points and Drew Anderson 30 for the Eagles, which have the No. 2 seed for the Trinity League tournament.
Oaks Christian 64, Newbury Park 28: Brady Sullivan and Andrew Logan each scored 13 points for Oaks Christian.
Thousand Oaks 62, Calabasas 50: The Lancers won the Marmonte League game.
San Pedro 54, Carson 45: Bryce Jackson had 18 points for 20-6 San Pedro.
Palisades 75, Fairfax 47: Jack Levey made eight threes to score 24 points for the Dolphins.
Birmingham 68, Chatsworth 47: X’zavion McKay had 19 points and Tekeio Phillips added 18 points for Birmingham.
Los Alamitos 74, Newport Harbor 60: Tyler Lopez led the way with 18 points.
Brentwood 56, Campball Hall 49: The Eagles (24-3) rallied in the fourth quarter to win the Gold Coast League game.
Heritage Christian 72, Valley Christian 34: Freshman Ty Lazenby had 20 points to set up a showdown Saturday in a rivalry game at Village Christian.
Redondo Union 101, Palos Verdes 67: Chace Holley had 21 points and SJ Madison and Devin Wright each had 18 points as Redondo Union moved closer to the Bay League title.
Girls’ basketball
Sierra Canyon 66, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 27: Jerzy Robinson finished with 20 points for Sierra Canyon (23-2).
Oak Park 89, Moorpark 20: The Eagles (17-6, 6-0) continued their march to a Southern Section Open Division playoff spot. Karisma Lewis scored 19 points and Diana Sorrondo had 18 points.
Windward 67, Crossroads 40: Charis Rainey had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Windward.
St. Margaret’s 53, Rosary 49: Freshman Jayden Witten had a 35-point performance for St. Margaret’s.
Oaks Christian 56, Newbury Park 48: Presley Kushner scored 32 points for Oaks Christian.
