WTA

Djokovic seeks Indian Wells resurgence with help from Murray

BY REBECCA BRYAN

  • His first victory came in 2008 and his most recent in 2016 -- when he capped a run of three straight Indian Wells triumphs.
  • Novak Djokovic, with old rival Andy Murray in his coaching corner, is optimistic he can put together a deep run at the Indian Wells ATP Masters to kick start a so-far disappointing 2025 campaign.
  • His first victory came in 2008 and his most recent in 2016 -- when he capped a run of three straight Indian Wells triumphs.
Novak Djokovic, with old rival Andy Murray in his coaching corner, is optimistic he can put together a deep run at the Indian Wells ATP Masters to kick start a so-far disappointing 2025 campaign.
"I definitely look to go deep in the tournament," said the Serb star, who is seeded sixth in a field led by world number two Alexander Zverev and two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
"I've done, I think, the right things in preparation. I've been playing some good tennis these days. So let's see. Let's see how far I can go."
Djokovic's five titles tie him with retired Swiss great Roger Federer for most in the California desert.
His first victory came in 2008 and his most recent in 2016 -- when he capped a run of three straight Indian Wells triumphs.
After limping out of the Australian Open semi-finals in January Djokovic fell in the second round of the Qatar Open.
Murray wasn't with him there, but Djokovic said Thursday that he thinks he and the Scot will extend their player/coach partnership at least through the clay court season, and he was hoping to reap the benefits at Indian Wells and the Miami Open immediately after.
"I'm enjoying the relationship with Andy," said Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam winner who made the shock decision to hire Murray in November, just months after Murray called time on his playing career.
"I still feel like we are going through the process of getting to know each other on the court in a different way than we have known each other for 25 years," Djokovic said. "So it's obviously a new role for him.
"You know, he's also exploring it and trying to, you know, understand how he can excel in it."
Murray, himself a three-time Grand Slam winner, was once part of the "big four" of men's tennis along with Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Despite Murray's inexperience in the coaching role, Djokovic said he contributed to the Serb's strong showing in Australia.
"It was unfortunate to finish the tournament the way I did it, but it was an injury issue," Djokovic said. "In terms of the game, I think I played maybe the best tennis that I played in quite some time, since the Olympics, actually.
"So I definitely attribute that to the work I had with Andy."
Djokovic said the "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami provides the perfect stretch to build his relationship with Murray.
"It's also because other than slams, (there are) few tournaments that really give me inspiration when I wake up in the morning and think about where I want to do well.
"Indian Wells and Miami are definitely at the top of that list," he said. "I'm excited to be here with Andy on board."
bb/rcw

KSA

Saudi PIF to pay 'up to 12 months maternity leave' for tennis players

  • "WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits," it read.
  • Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to finance a joint initiative with the WTA for paid maternity leave of "up to 12 months" for players on the women's tennis circuit, it was announced on Thursday.
  • "WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits," it read.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to finance a joint initiative with the WTA for paid maternity leave of "up to 12 months" for players on the women's tennis circuit, it was announced on Thursday.
The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program "will offer benefits to more than 320 eligible WTA players", the Women's Tennis Association said in a statement.
"WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits," it read.
Players will have to compete "in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window of time" to benefit from the payments.
Belinda Bencic, who won Olympic gold for Switzerland in Tokyo and has returned to the WTA tour after having daughter Bella last April, welcomed the development.
"Absolutely it's the best news really," Bencic said after cruising past Germany's Tatjana Maria in the first round at Indian Wells in California.
"I think we are very proud as players for the WTA (to be) the first sport in female sports to make this.
"It's great for everyone who is considering to have a family and come back, especially also the lower-ranked players that have to survive somehow when they are not playing for a year and a half and then trying to come back,"
Bencic, who earned her first title since returning from her leave in Abu Dhabi in February, noted that her Thursday opponent Maria was a mother of two.
"I'm really feeling like there are so many moms now on the tour, so we're trying to show everyone it's possible to have a baby and play professional tennis," she said.

Support and flexibility

Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka, a WTA players' council representative, welcomed "the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family."
"Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine," the Belarusian former world number one, who gave birth to a son in 2016, was quoted in the statement as saying. 
For WTA CEO Portia Archer "this initiative will provide the current and next generation of players the support and flexibility to explore family life, in whatever form they choose."
Several top players have taken a break from their careers to give birth, with varying degrees of impact on their subsequent careers. The WTA says 25 active players are mothers.
Belgian Kim Clijsters won three majors -- the US Open in 2009 and 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011 -- after giving birth to her daughter in 2008, following in the footsteps of Australians Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong, who triumphed at Grand Slams as mothers.
However, 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams did not win any after the birth of her first child in September 2017, even though the American reached four finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Four-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one Naomi Osaka of Japan returned to the courts in early 2024 after giving birth to a daughter. 
Since then, the 27-year-old's best result has been a final at the modest Auckland tournament in January. 
Criticised by some tennis figures for its record on women's rights, Saudi Arabia has boosted its tennis investments in recent years, organising the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time in Riyadh last November.
That came months after the WTA entered into a multi-year partnership with the PIF sovereign wealth fund, with the kingdom again set to host the WTA Finals in 2025 and 2026. 
bb/rcw

WTA

Brazilian teen Fonseca into Indian Wells second round

BY REBECCA BRYAN

  • In women's first-round action, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic eased past Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-1 in just 65 minutes.
  • Brazilian teen sensation Joao Fonseca rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Britain's Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 on Thursday and reach the second round at Indian Wells.
  • In women's first-round action, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic eased past Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-1 in just 65 minutes.
Brazilian teen sensation Joao Fonseca rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Britain's Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 on Thursday and reach the second round at Indian Wells.
The 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, who became the 10th-youngest ATP Tour champion in history when he triumphed at the Argentina Open last month, kept his cool on a blustery day in the California desert, winning the last five games to clinch the match.
"Today was petty difficult, a lot of windy," he said. "But I got through. Beginning of the match I played really well and he was making some mistakes.
"But the second set he played more aggressive and I was a bit more tight, maybe a bit more nervous."
Fearnley appeared to have taken control when he broke Fonseca in the third game of the third set, then saved a break point to hold for 3-1 in a game that went to deuce five times.
But Fonseca won the next five games, breaking Fearnley twice and closing out an entertaining contest between the 80th- and 81st-ranked players with a backhand volley winner.
"I was a break down and I was just focused to do my stuff," Fonseca said. "I'm very happy the way that I changed my game."

Kyrgios tops the bill

Nick Kyrgios headlines the night session in this combined ATP Masters and WTA 1000 event, where all 32 men's and women's seeds have first-round byes.
Kyrgios comes into his first tournament since the Australian Open hoping he has put wrist and abdominal injuries behind him, and the mercurial Aussie faces a potentially tricky encounter with lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp -- the Dutch player who toppled Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open last year.
Van de Zandschulp went on to beat Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup play in what proved to be the last match of the Spaniard's sensational career.
The winner earns a second-round clash with Novak Djokovic, who is seeded sixth as he chases a record-setting sixth Indian Wells ATP Masters title.
Kyrgios has won two of his three meetings with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, the exception Djokovic's victory in the 2022 Wimbledon final.
In women's first-round action, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic eased past Germany's Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-1 in just 65 minutes.
Bencic, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist in 2021, captured the title in Abu Dhabi in February, her fist trophy since she returned from maternity leave during which she gave birth to daughter Bella last April.
The 27-year-old, already ahead of schedule in her comeback, said coping with the conditions was key to the match.
"Obviously today the main topic was the wind, trying to accept it and not trying to make it pretty -- just staying in the rallies, trying to be more smart rather than playing amazing shots."
Indian Wells newcomer Moyuka Uchijima of Japan cruised past former US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-3, 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting with world number three Coco Gauff.
Britain's Raducanu was back in action for the first time since she was targeted by a stalker in a troubling incident in Dubai last month.
"I didn't have what happened in Dubai in my head at all today," Raducanu said, adding that it was Uchijima's game that was the problem.
"It was a lot of balls that were, very, very spinny on these courts in the day and in the wind," she said. "So (the ball) was just jumping up a lot, and then kind of short, almost like mishits, and then deep, spinny and then flat.
"So I didn't really know what was coming."
bb/rcw

Sports

Clark edges two clear at Arnold Palmer Invitational

  • It marked an encouraging opening round for Clark, who finished a runner-up to Scottie Scheffler at last year's tournament. 
  • Wyndham Clark conjured two birdies in his final three holes to open up a two-shot lead after the opening round of the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Thursday.
  • It marked an encouraging opening round for Clark, who finished a runner-up to Scottie Scheffler at last year's tournament. 
Wyndham Clark conjured two birdies in his final three holes to open up a two-shot lead after the opening round of the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Thursday.
World number seven Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, fired a five-under-par 67 to edge clear of the field at Bay Hill on a day when gusty winds made for challenging conditions.
The 31-year-old Clark separated himself from the pack after rolling in an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-five 16th, before a brilliant second shot on the 18th left him with a tap-in for birdie.
It marked an encouraging opening round for Clark, who finished a runner-up to Scottie Scheffler at last year's tournament. 
"It's nice to put some good numbers on this golf course and if anything it's really good momentum for the rest of the week," Clark said.
With winds of up to 30 miles per hour buffeting the course throughout the day, Clark took advantage of a late afternoon lull to make his move over the final few holes.
"The last five holes it calmed down a little bit," Clark said. "But then it was tough to find where the wind was, so that's a challenge in itself... maybe the last four holes were easier."
Clark had grabbed his first birdie of the day on the par-three second hole before a bogey on the third sent him back to level par.
But back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth left him two under at the turn, before a bogey-free back nine punctuated with three birdies vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard.
Clark leads from a group of four players knotted on three under: Keegan Bradley, Canada's Corey Conners, South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Ireland's Shane Lowry, who all carded 69s to finish on three under.
Lowry flirted with finishing the day on top of the leaderboard after a superb eagle three at the par-five 16th, where his second shot from 195 yards left him with a six-foot putt that he duly rolled in.
Lowry admitted he had benefited from more benign afternoon conditions after watching the windswept morning with an increasing sense of dread. 
"It didn't look much fun out there -- I wasn't particularly looking forward to my round," Lowry said. "But I think we got favorable conditions. I was pretty happy with my result."
Lowry's playing partner, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, is one of five players tied for sixth place on two under after shooting a 70.

Afternoon reprieve

McIlroy endured a see-saw round that included six birdies but was littered with four bogeys, including a five on the par-four 18th.
Nevertheless, the four-time major winner was pleased with his start. 
"I think the guys that teed off a little later got a little bit of a reprieve," McIlroy said. 
"It was still breezy, but not quite as tough as the guys got it this morning. Yeah, couple under was a good start."
Defending champion Scheffler, meanwhile, was lurking a shot adrift of McIlroy in a heavyweight cluster of four players on one under which includes Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay.
World number one Scheffler admitted he was taken aback by cooler temperatures and the early wind lashing the course.
"This morning when I walked out of the house it was a lot colder than I anticipated -- I had to go back and grab a few extra layers," said Scheffler, adding that the contrasting conditions of fairways and greens had also proved challenging.
"A lot of the fairways are really soft, but the greens are like concrete -- so it can be really challenging to get the ball close to the hole," he said.
rcw/bb

WTA

Super cool: ATP sensation Fonseca learning to deal with demands of fame

BY REBECCA BRYAN

  • "Two years ago it was me asking for the autographs," he said, recalling seeking autographs himself at the Rio Open.
  • Casual conversations with superstars and autograph-hungry fans are 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca's new normal, but he's determined to stay grounded as he strives for tennis greatness.
  • "Two years ago it was me asking for the autographs," he said, recalling seeking autographs himself at the Rio Open.
Casual conversations with superstars and autograph-hungry fans are 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca's new normal, but he's determined to stay grounded as he strives for tennis greatness.
Fonseca, who became the 10th youngest ATP Tour champion in history with his Argentina Open triumph last month, kept his nerve in difficult, windy conditions to defeat Britain's Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 and book a second-round berth at the Indian Wells ATP Masters, where he was surprised to find himself congratulated by 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic.
"I was just leaving the court that I practiced on after my match, and then he was entering," Fonseca said of his chance encounter with Djokovic. "He asked if I won. I said I won.
"Then he just congratulated me. It was just super cool that he was talking to me," added Fonseca, who said he had traded brief greetings with Spain's Carlos Alcaraz when they bumped into each other just before his match.
The affable teen has quickly become a fan favorite, and the autograph hunters were out when he headed to a practice court after his win to put in a little extra work.
"Everything is new for me," he said of the attention. "But seeing people, and not only Brazilians but from all over the world, like, cheering for me and calling my name, just wanting autographs, kids.
"Two years ago it was me asking for the autographs," he said, recalling seeking autographs himself at the Rio Open.
Germany's Alexander Zverev, the world number two and top seed, said this week that this period in Fonseca's career is "the best time".
"Everything seems so easy," Zverev said. "You're kind of seeing a tennis ball, seeing the guy across from you at the net, and there is no thoughts behind anything else.
"I think when you're young, you're kind of swinging freely, you're enjoying your time on the professional circuit for the first time, and there is no pressure."
Fonseca is more than ready to enjoy it, but says distractions and the rising chatter surrounding him won't turn his head.
"Yeah, sometimes it comes a pressure, it's normal," he said. "You just need to focus on what you need to do and win matches, focusing with your team on the routines."
bb/rcw

Sports

Man Utd draw in Spain in Europa League last 16 as Spurs beaten

BY MARTYN WOOD

  • - 'Very bad everywhere' - Rangers recorded an impressive 3-1 win away to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.
  • Manchester United drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Tottenham suffered a 1-0 loss at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
  • - 'Very bad everywhere' - Rangers recorded an impressive 3-1 win away to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.
Manchester United drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Tottenham suffered a 1-0 loss at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
Joshua Zirkzee drilled in from just outside the area to give United the lead on 57 minutes in San Sebastian but Mikel Oyarzabal levelled from the spot after Bruno Fernandes was punished for a handball.
Zirkzee cut a distraught figure after missing the decisive penalty in last week's FA Cup shootout loss to Fulham and has endured a testing first season at United, whose only remaining hope of silverware is in the Europa League.
He scored for the first time in Europe this term, unleashing a sharp low drive from 20 yards after being teed up by Alejandro Garnacho's inviting pass.
But Ruben Amorim's side could not hold on to their advantage as Fernandes handled at a corner, with Oyarzabal confidently converting his spot-kick.
Andre Onana made two excellent saves to keep United level as Real Sociedad pressed for a winner, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of next week's second leg.
"I felt until the penalty we had control of the game and then I think the penalty changed a little bit the momentum," Amorim told TNT Sports.
"I felt our team in the last 30 minutes were really, really tired," he added. 
"We take this stage to Old Trafford... it's going to be a different game, the pressure is going to be on us in that stadium and we have to be ready."
Lucas Bergvall's first-half own goal condemned Spurs to defeat in the Netherlands, and it could have been worse for Ange Postecoglou's side were it not for three fine stops from Guglielmo Vicario.
"We were nowhere near the level we needed to be and that's the thing we need to address," said Postecoglou, as Spurs registered just a single shot on target.
To compound Tottenham's misery, striker Dominic Solanke hobbled off after 20 minutes as he made his return from seven weeks out with a knee injury.

'Very bad everywhere'

Rangers recorded an impressive 3-1 win away to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.
Cyriel Dessers put Rangers ahead early on in Istanbul before Alexander Djiku hauled Fenerbahce level.
Vaclav Cerny restored the lead for the Scots before striking again nine minutes from time to place Rangers in firm control under interim boss Barry Ferguson. 
"We were very bad everywhere," said Mourinho. "Maybe you laugh but for me it was a good result because of the way we performed, the result could have been bigger than this one."
Lyon also took a big stride towards the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory at Romanians FCSB.
Paulo Fonseca fought back tears as his players celebrated Nicolas Tagliafico's opener with him, a day after the Portuguese coach was banned from the dugout until November by French football authorities after an angry altercation with a referee.
Malick Fofana won the game for Lyon with two late goals after Alexandru Baluta had equalised for FCSB. 
Uzbek forward Eldor Shomurodov struck with the final kick of the game to snatch a 2-1 victory for Roma over Athletic Bilbao in their first leg in Italy.
Paulo Dybala smacked the bar for Roma before Inaki Williams headed Athletic in front. Angelino replied for the hosts and Shomurodov won it after the Basques had a man sent off.
Lazio grabbed an even later winner at Viktoria Plzen despite finishing with nine players, as Gustav Isaksen scored in the 98th minute for a 2-1 victory.
The Italians led through Alessio Romagnoli but Plzen responded early in the second half. Lazio then had Nicolo Rovella and Samuel Gigot dismissed before Isaksen's goal.
Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to win 2-1 at Ajax, with Hugo Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri on target after a 10th-minute goal by Brian Brobbey.
Bodo/Glimt won 3-0 at home to Olympiakos with a brace from Kasper Hogh.
mw/nf

Sports

Chelsea edge Copenhagen in Conference League last 16 first leg

  • - 'Hard work' - Elsewhere, last season's defeated finalists Fiorentina went down 3-2 to Greece's Panathinaikos.
  • Chelsea took one step into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League with a 2-1 win at Copenhagen on Thursday in the first leg of their last 16 tie, while Panathinaikos and Fiorentina played out a five-goal thriller.
  • - 'Hard work' - Elsewhere, last season's defeated finalists Fiorentina went down 3-2 to Greece's Panathinaikos.
Chelsea took one step into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League with a 2-1 win at Copenhagen on Thursday in the first leg of their last 16 tie, while Panathinaikos and Fiorentina played out a five-goal thriller.
Reece James and Enzo Fernandez netted in the second half, before Gabriel Pereira halved the deficit for the hosts, as Enzo Maresca's side just did enough to take control of the tie in the Danish capital.
"Copenhagen are a good team, they play good football, have a skilled coach, and have many talented players," said Maresca.
"I'm always nervous, but right now, the focus is on our next matches. The return leg will be another tough game."
Following an uninspiring opening period, Chelsea skipper James broke the deadlock one minute after half-time when he strode onto Marc Cucurella's deep cut-back and rolled an effort from distance inside the near post.
The goal brought the game to life and Copenhagen nearly struck back instantly, only for Viktor Claesson to see his one-on-one effort come back off the inside of Robert Sanchez's post and into the goalkeeper's grateful arms.
Half-time substitute Fernandez made the game safe for the visitors with an emphatic 65th-minute finish following good work by teenager Tyrique George.
The Premier League side were cruising until 11 minutes from time when Pereira was left unmarked in the box to nod in from a set-piece. 
"When you go to Stamford Bridge (Chelsea's stadium) and need to win a game by two goals, you need a little miracle," said Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup.
"The belief is there. It's not the best possible result, but it is what it is."

'Hard work'

Elsewhere, last season's defeated finalists Fiorentina went down 3-2 to Greece's Panathinaikos.
The Greek hosts flew out of the traps, racing into a 2-0 lead inside 19 minutes courtesy of Karol Swiderski and Nemanja Maksimovic.
But within just four minutes, Fiorentina were back level after two rapid-fire strikes from Lucas Beltran and Nicolo Fagioli.
Tete restored the hosts' lead ahead of the second leg with a sweeping, left-footed finish in the 55th minute.
"This is the result of our hard work," said the Brazilian match-winner.
"We took a 2-0 lead, but they levelled through our errors. I am very happy that I got to score the winning goal."
Molde held on to win by the same scoreline against Legia Warsaw in Norway.
Eirik Hestad scored a neat opener on 11 minutes, before Kristian Eriksen doubled up six minutes later.
Fredrik Gulbrandsen raced onto a fine through ball from Emil Breivik to add a third shortly before the interval.
Kacper Chodyna and Luquinhas scored two in three second-half minutes to drag the Poles back into the tie.
La Liga club Real Betis drew 2-2 at home to Iberian neighbours Vitoria Guimaraes of Portugal.
Rapid Vienna were held 1-1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Borac Banja Luka after David Vukovic scored a 92nd-minute penalty to level for the hosts.
Three second-half goals for Jagiellonia Bialystok gave the Poles a 3-0 home win over 10-man Cercle Brugge.
Swiss side Lugano went down 1-0 in Slovenia against Celje, and Pafos of Cyprus won by the same margin at home to Sweden's Djurgarden.
The second legs will take place on March 13.
nf/mw

WTA

Brazilian teen Fonseca into Indian Wells second round

BY REBECCA BRYAN

  • Brazilian teen sensation Joao Fonseca rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Britain's Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 on Thursday and reach the second round at Indian Wells.
Brazilian teen sensation Joao Fonseca rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Britain's Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 on Thursday and reach the second round at Indian Wells.
The 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, who became the 10th-youngest ATP Tour champion in history when he triumphed at the Argentina Open last month, kept his cool on a blustery day in the California desert, winning the last five games to clinch the match.
"Today was petty difficult, a lot of windy," he said. "But I got through. Beginning of the match I played really well and he was making some mistakes.
"But the second set he played more aggressive and I was a bit more tight, maybe a bit more nervous."
Fearnley, a 23-year-old who made his ATP Tour debut last year after playing five years of US collegiate tennis at Texas Christian University, appeared to have taken control when he broke Fonseca in the third game of the third set, then saved a break point to hold for 3-1 in a game that went to deuce five times.
But Fonseca won the next five games, breaking Fearnley twice and closing out an entertaining contest between the 80th- and 81st-ranked players with a backhand volley winner.
"I was a break down and I was just focused to do my stuff," Fonseca said. "I'm very happy the way that I changed my game."

Kyrgios tops the bill

Nick Kyrgios headlines the night session in this combined ATP Masters and WTA 1000 event, where all 32 men's and women's seeds have first-round byes.
Kyrgios comes into his first tournament since the Australian Open hoping he has put wrist and abdominal injuries behind him, and the mercurial Aussie faces a potentially tricky encounter with lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp -- the Dutch player who toppled Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open last year.
Van de Zandschulp went on to beat Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup play in what proved to be the last match of the Spaniard's sensational career.
The winner earns a second-round clash with Novak Djokovic, who is seeded sixth as he chases a record-setting sixth Indian Wells ATP Masters title.
Kyrgios has won two of his three meetings with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, the exception Djokovic's victory in the 2022 Wimbledon final.
In women's first-round action, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic takes on Germany's Tatjana Maria.
Bencic, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist in 2021, captured the title in Abu Dhabi in February, her fist title since she returned from maternity leave during which she gave birth to daughter Bella in October.
The 27-year-old, who said at the Australian Open that her main concerns in the early stages of her comeback was to hone her game and boost her ranking, is ahead of schedule, having climbed to 58th in the world.
Britain's Emma Raducanu returns to action for the first time since she was targeted by a stalker during the Dubai WTA 1000 last month.
The 22-year-old former US Open champion said she was determined not to let the incident hinder her career.
"I'm here because I feel a lot better now," said Raducanu, who will face Japan's Moyuka Uchijima, who is making her Indian Wells debut.
bb/nf

Sports

Real Sociedad fight back to earn Man United draw in Europa League

  • Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee netted his first goal in five games to send Ruben Amorim's side ahead at the Reale Arena before the hour mark but Bruno Fernandes conceded a penalty for handball, which Oyarzabal dispatched in the 70th minute.
  • Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal coolly netted a penalty to hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in a Europa League last 16 first leg clash on Thursday.
  • Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee netted his first goal in five games to send Ruben Amorim's side ahead at the Reale Arena before the hour mark but Bruno Fernandes conceded a penalty for handball, which Oyarzabal dispatched in the 70th minute.
Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal coolly netted a penalty to hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in a Europa League last 16 first leg clash on Thursday.
The Red Devils are enduring a woeful season and winning the competition offers their only realistic route to Champions League football, but they could not protect their lead in San Sebastian.
Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee netted his first goal in five games to send Ruben Amorim's side ahead at the Reale Arena before the hour mark but Bruno Fernandes conceded a penalty for handball, which Oyarzabal dispatched in the 70th minute.
The hosts came close to snatching a winner late on but Orri Oskarsson twice failed to finish and the match is evenly poised ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday.
"Before the penalty I thought the team was in control, I think it changed with the penalty... we take the game to Old Trafford, we'll try to win there," Amorim told reporters.
"(The team) are really anxious to score goals and win games."
Amorim was left with just 18 players to call on because of an injury crisis, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte joining the likes of Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw on the sidelines.
Up front the Portuguese coach started with Rasmus Hojlund, who extended his barren run without a goal to 19 matches, while strike-partner Zirkzee now has two in his last 17 games.
"We have to be relentless (with our) chances -- we had enough of them today," Zirkzee told TNT Sports.
"Happy (to score) but in the end we have to win and we didn't today."
Amorim said Wednesday it was not "crucial" for his team to win the competition but suggested it could turn around a dire season, with the club 14th in the Premier League and dumped out of the other cups.
The first half was a drab affair with neither side attacking with confidence or edge, although the Premier League giants came closest.
Real Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo blocked Fernandes and Zirkzee shots as United probed.
Real Sociedad have endured a tough domestic campaign too, sitting ninth in La Liga, but with the Europa League final at the home of rivals Athletic Bilbao, they would dearly love to win it at the San Mames.
Imanol Alguacil was able to bring back Takefusa Kubo, Oyarzabal and Luka Sucic after suspension and injury ruled them out of the 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona in La Liga last weekend, but La Real struggled without injured midfield conductor Martin Zubimendi.

'The tie is open'

Fernandes sent a free-kick wide as United started the second half with more vim and Alejandro Garnacho fired into the side-netting when well placed.
The visitors made the breakthrough after 58 minutes when Zirkzee bundled home from Garnacho's pass across the area, with Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro disappointed not to keep his effort out.
Amorim said Zirkzee, who missed a penalty in Man United's FA Cup defeat by Fulham on Sunday, deserved his moment.
"He deserved it because he's working really well, he's improving in a lot of things... and he was really important for us today," explained Amorim.
Brais Mendez fired wide from long range with Real Sociedad's first menacing effort midway through the second half.
A few minutes later the Basque side won a penalty when United captain Fernandes was adjudged to have handled in the area as he tried to defend a corner.
Oyarzabal, who scored the winner for Spain in the Euro 2024 final against England, dispatched it clinically, sending Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana the wrong way with his side's first shot on target.
The Cameroon international then made a good save from Mendez's long-range curler as La Real hit their stride.
Oskarsson should have won the game for Real Sociedad but poked a fine chance wide and had another effort well saved by Onana in the final stages.
"It's a shame about those chances that escaped us at the end, but the tie is open, we're going there alive, with a lot of desire," said Oyarzabal.
"Until we scored it was hard for us to create chances, although I don't think we suffered that much (defensively) either."
The winner of the tie will face French side Lyon or Romanian outfit FCSB in the quarter-finals.
rbs/nf

ENG

Dingwall glad to be 'the glue' of England's back-line against Italy

BY JULIAN GUYER

  • While the experienced Elliot Daly has been drafted in at full-back, it is Dingwall who, in Borthwick's words, has been tasked with being the glue that holds England's backs together.
  • Fraser Dingwall wants to be "the glue" of England's back division as they look to beat Italy in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Sunday after being recalled to Test duty for the first time in a year.
  • While the experienced Elliot Daly has been drafted in at full-back, it is Dingwall who, in Borthwick's words, has been tasked with being the glue that holds England's backs together.
Fraser Dingwall wants to be "the glue" of England's back division as they look to beat Italy in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Sunday after being recalled to Test duty for the first time in a year.
The 25-year-old Northampton centre won the last of his two caps during the 2024 Six Nations but will now start alongside four of his club-mates from the Premiership champions in the backs after England coach Steve Borthwick dropped Henry Slade from his starting side to face the Azzurri.
Slade, dropped from the matchday 23 entirely, and benched full-back Marcus Smith paid the price for a misfiring attack outscored three tries to one by Scotland last time out at Twickenham, albeit England did win 16-15 to regain the Calcutta Cup.
That was England's second straight one-point win after a 26-25 defeat of France that revived their title challenge following an opening loss to Six Nations champions Ireland in Dublin. 
While the experienced Elliot Daly has been drafted in at full-back, it is Dingwall who, in Borthwick's words, has been tasked with being the glue that holds England's backs together.
"He's said that to me before," Dingwall told reporters at England's training base in Bagshot. "I've been told that a lot to be honest and I don't really see it as a negative thing.
"One of my aims for this weekend is if I can go in and help everyone in that team play better than that's a success for me. That's how I see the glue element of it, how I can tie everything up and bring out the best in other people."
"At times it could be doing some ugly stuff to open up space for other people. It's what you see and how you talk, if you can feed as much information to the people either side of you then hopefully they can make really good decisions."

'Intelligent player'

Given Borthwick's public enthusiasm for deploying both Northampton fly-half Fin Smith and Harlequins star Marcus Smith in the same back division, his decision announced Wednesday to recall Dingwall after a lengthy absence from the Test arena was a surprise.
But former England captain Borthwick hailed Dingwall's quality by saying: "Fraser's a really smart player. He's a really intelligent rugby player. And I think he makes other players around him play better because of his presence."
Borthwick hopes Dingwall can inspire England, who've never been beaten by Italy, to a victory that will see them keep pace with as yet undefeated Six Nations leaders Ireland ahead of next weekend's final round of matches.  
"There's loads of elements to it, but largely it comes down to knowing who's around you, knowing what they're good at," said the modest Dingwall.
He will be surrounded by familiar faces against Italy on Sunday with Northampton team-mates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith inside him at scrum-half and fly-half, with their fellow Saints stars Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme the England wings. 
"Having five of us in there is pretty cool for us and also the club," said Dingwall. 
"Connections you have off the pitch massively help how you communicate with each other and how you can review things very quickly. There's an understanding of how each other plays and how to bring out the strengths that each other have."
jdg/nf

Sports

Chelsea edge Copenhagen in Conference League last 16 first leg

  • Elsewhere, last season's defeated finalists Fiorentina went down 3-2 to Greece's Panathinaikos.
  • Chelsea took one step into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League with a 2-1 win at Copenhagen on Thursday in their last 16 first leg tie, while Panathinaikos and Fiorentina played out a five-goal thriller.
  • Elsewhere, last season's defeated finalists Fiorentina went down 3-2 to Greece's Panathinaikos.
Chelsea took one step into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League with a 2-1 win at Copenhagen on Thursday in their last 16 first leg tie, while Panathinaikos and Fiorentina played out a five-goal thriller.
Reece James and Enzo Fernandez netted in the second half, before Gabriel Pereira halved the deficit for the hosts, as Enzo Maresca's side just did enough to take control of the tie in the Danish capital.
Following an uninspiring opening period, Chelsea skipper James broke the deadlock one minute after half-time when he strode onto Marc Cucurella's deep cut-back and rolled an effort from distance inside the near post.
The goal brought the game to life and Copenhagen nearly struck back instantly, only for Viktor Claesson to see his one-on-one effort come back off the inside of Robert Sanchez's post and into the goalkeeper's grateful arms.
Half-time substitute Fernandez made the game safe for the visitors with an emphatic 65th-minute finish following good work by teenager Tyrique George.
The Premier League side were cruising until 11 minutes from time when Pereira was left unmarked in the box to nod in from a set-piece. 
Elsewhere, last season's defeated finalists Fiorentina went down 3-2 to Greece's Panathinaikos.
The Greek hosts flew out of the traps, racing into a 2-0 lead inside 19 minutes courtesy of Karol Swiderski and Nemanja Maksimovic.
But within just four minutes, Fiorentina were back level after two rapid-fire strikes from Lucas Beltran and Nicolo Fagioli.
Tete restored the hosts' lead ahead of the second leg with a sweeping, left-footed finish in the 55th minute.
Molde held on to win by the same scoreline against Legia Warsaw in Norway.
Eirik Hestad scored a neat opener on 11 minutes, before Kristian Eriksen doubled up six minutes later.
Fredrik Gulbrandsen raced onto a fine through ball from Emil Breivik to add a third shortly before the interval.
Kacper Chodyna and Luquinhas scored two in three second-half minutes to drag the Poles back into the tie.
La Liga club Real Betis drew 2-2 at home to Iberian neighbours Vitoria Guimaraes of Portugal.
After a goalless first period, Cedric Bakambu nudged the Andalusians in front in the 48th minute, before Joao Saraiva levelled three minutes later.
Former Real Madrid star Isco looked to have grabbed the winner for Betis with 15 minutes remaining but Vitoria hit back through Nelson Oliveira inside the final 10 minutes.
Later, Austria's Rapid Vienna visit Borac Banja Luka of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Swiss side Lugano are hosted by Slovenes Celje.
nf/mw

assault

Prosecutors demand Rubiales forced kiss trial be re-run

BY IMRAN MARASHLI

  • The backlash unleashed by the kiss forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace that year, saw him banned from all football-related activity for three years and plunged the federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.
  • Prosecutors on Thursday requested that the trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso be annulled and re-run, notably questioning the judge's impartiality.
  • The backlash unleashed by the kiss forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace that year, saw him banned from all football-related activity for three years and plunged the federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.
Prosecutors on Thursday requested that the trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso be annulled and re-run, notably questioning the judge's impartiality.
Spain's top criminal court last month found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,670), sparing him jail in a sentence considered lenient by feminist groups.
The sentence fell well short of the demands of prosecutors, who had sought a total of two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault and 18 months for allegedly coercing Hermoso to downplay the kiss.
Hermoso is appealing the sentence, which also cleared Rubiales and three other defendants of coercion, including former women's team coach Jorge Vilda and two senior ex-federation officials.
The prosecutors said in a statement that they were appealing the sentence, requesting the trial be declared null and void and "held again by another judge not tainted, to say the least, by an appearance of bias".
They said judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto "unduly" prevented the prosecutor in the trial, Marta Durantez, from posing certain questions and cited the "arbitrariness" of his sentence.
The statement added that the judge "made no mention in the sentence" of key evidence brought up during the trial, "as if such evidence had not existed".
Fernandez-Prieto attracted attention during the trial for his brusque attitude, frequently interrupting and scolding participants.

'Much to be done'

Rubiales was also banned from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a period of one year. He denied the charges and is also appealing the ruling.
In the appeal document seen by AFP on Thursday, Rubiales' legal team wrote the kiss had "no sexual connotation of any kind" and therefore did not constitute a sexual assault.
Rubiales maintained that the kiss was consensual and questioned "the inconsistency" of Hermoso's testimony, the document added.
It was not immediately clear when the courts would decide on the various appeals.
The former federation chief sparked worldwide uproar when he kissed Hermoso on the lips as she went up to receive her winner's medal after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney.
The backlash unleashed by the kiss forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace that year, saw him banned from all football-related activity for three years and plunged the federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.
The trial captivated Spain and made Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women's team, an icon of the fight against sexism and macho culture in sport.
Hermoso said after the verdict that the trial would "create an important precedent in a social environment where there is still much to be done".
imm/mw

CT

England considering Test skipper Stokes for white-ball captaincy

BY JULIAN GUYER

  • "Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen.
  • England cricket supremo Rob Key said on Thursday "it would be stupid" to rule Test captain Ben Stokes out of consideration for the role of skipper of the struggling white-ball team.
  • "Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen.
England cricket supremo Rob Key said on Thursday "it would be stupid" to rule Test captain Ben Stokes out of consideration for the role of skipper of the struggling white-ball team.
Jos Buttler stood down last week following a poor display by the side at the ongoing 50-over Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, where his team lost all three of their group games.
England have now suffered 10 defeats in 11 white-ball fixtures this year.
Vice-captain Harry Brook had appeared to be the heir apparent to Buttler but he is likely to be a mainstay in all three international formats, meaning a formidable workload.
England and Wales Cricket Board managing director for men's cricket Key is considering his options, which include expanding Stokes's remit.
The 33-year-old Durham all-rounder has proved himself an inspirational captain since succeeding Joe Root as Test skipper. 
But his age and injury problems mean he has largely operated as a Test specialist for 16 months.
Appointing Stokes as limited-overs captain would mean extending his "Bazball" alliance with Brendon McCullum, now the coach of England's white-ball teams as well as being in charge of the Test side.
"I think nothing's off the table really," Key told reporters at Lord's. 
"Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen. It would be stupid not to look at him. It's just the knock-on effect of what that means."
Stokes, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has not played a Twenty20 international since the T20 World Cup final in November 2022, and has not featured in a one-day international since the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.
'We need Buttler the batsman' -
Key, meanwhile, said he hoped Buttler's decision to stand down as captain would help him regain the form that has made him one of the world's leading white-ball batsmen.
The 34-year-old managed a mere 82 runs in total during Champions Trophy defeats by Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa.
"Jos Buttler at his best, he smashes that game against Australia," said Key. "You come in on the score that we're on, we end up getting 400 like we should have done."
He added: "That's what you need. You need Jos Buttler, the batsman. 
"It doesn't matter how great a captain he is, if you're not playing as well as you can do as a batter, that's a massive loss to our team."
England won the 50-over World Cup under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan in 2019 and triumphed at the T20 World Cup under Buttler three years later.
But they have slumped to seventh in the one-day international rankings and are third in the T20 standings.
"We were very poor in the Champions Trophy," said Key. "But the truth is, we haven't been particularly good in white-ball cricket, probably since the last era when Eoin Morgan did it."
England have been criticised for pursuing an ultra-aggressive approach under McCullum, regardless of the match situation, but Key said the former New Zealand captain's coaching methods were more nuanced. 
"It's not true that the only thing he says is go harder, go harder, go harder," said Key. "He speaks all the time about soaking up pressure as well."
jdg/ea

SCO

Graham returns for Scotland's Six Nations match against Wales

BY JULIAN GUYER

  • - 'Winning feeling' - Scotland are aiming to make it three wins in a row over Wales -- who have lost a national record 15 successive Tests -- for the first time in the Six Nations era.
  • Scotland have recalled Darcy Graham in the only change to their starting side for Saturday's Six Nations clash at home to Wales.
  • - 'Winning feeling' - Scotland are aiming to make it three wins in a row over Wales -- who have lost a national record 15 successive Tests -- for the first time in the Six Nations era.
Scotland have recalled Darcy Graham in the only change to their starting side for Saturday's Six Nations clash at home to Wales.
The Edinburgh wing was concussed following a sickening clash of heads with his own co-captain Finn Russell during a 32-18 defeat by champions Ireland at Murrayfield on February 9 and missed the 16-15 loss away to England a fortnight ago.
Graham replaces Glasgow's Kyle Rowe, who drops to the bench.
The 27-year-old Graham, Scotland's second-highest try-scorer of all time, passed his head injury assessment before the England match on February 22.
But Scotland decided upon a precautionary approach to ensure he was fully recovered given the severity of his clash with Russell.
"Darcy trained well last week when we had the guys in that weren't playing for the clubs at the weekend," said Scotland coach Gregor Townsend after naming his side on Thursday.
"He's had an enforced rest, rightly, but he looks like the same Darcy who was playing so well for us before he got the injury. His ability to beat players is up there with the best in the world, so he's been a key player for us."

'Winning feeling'

Scotland are aiming to make it three wins in a row over Wales -- who have lost a national record 15 successive Tests -- for the first time in the Six Nations era.
But another loss this championship would raise fresh questions over whether Townsend, whose contract expires in April next year, remains the right man to lead Scotland into the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The former Scotland playmaker is the country's longest-serving head coach in the professional era, having been appointed in 2017. 
Townsend, however, has been unable to improve on Scotland's record of never finishing higher than third in the Six Nations, with their most recent title achieved in the last edition of the old Five Nations back in 1999.
But Townsend, whose side are currently fourth in the table, insisted his players would not lack motivation in the closing stages of this championship.
"Well, we've got two games to go," he said. "We don't know where that's going to leave us at the end of the competition if we did manage to get two wins, but there's a lot to play for.
"There's a higher-up place on the table, but also our own performances, how we worked during the week to produce a performance that we're proud of, that makes our supporters proud, but also to earn that winning feeling. 
"We were close at Twickenham, and that fuels the motivation to do better next game."
Scotland conclude their Six Nations away to France on March 15 and Townsend accepted travelling to Paris with a record of just one win from four games "wouldn't be great".
"We've just got to focus on how we get the victory, how we build on what we did well against England," he said. "And we're going to not think of anything else outside of that."
Townsend, reflecting on Wales' performance against Ireland, added: "They were excellent. I think defensively, they really filled the field well, they were hard to break down.
"They've got experienced players back in their team now that have played a lot of Test matches, and they're playing with freedom."
jdg/mw

Sports

New Zealand set for 'scrap' with India on slower pitch: Santner

BY FAISAL KAMAL

  • New Zealand defeated South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday and now move back to Dubai where they lost the last group match to India by 44 runs.
  • New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner on Thursday said a slower pitch in familiar territory for India in Dubai will make for a tight contest in the Champions Trophy final.
  • New Zealand defeated South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday and now move back to Dubai where they lost the last group match to India by 44 runs.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner on Thursday said a slower pitch in familiar territory for India in Dubai will make for a tight contest in the Champions Trophy final.
The two teams clash on Sunday to decide the winner of the eight-nation tournament held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Rohit Sharma's India are playing all their games at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan because of political tensions.
They beat Australia in the first semi-final.
New Zealand defeated South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday and now move back to Dubai where they lost the last group match to India by 44 runs.
"I guess finals cricket is different, but for us what we have been doing to get us to this point has been good," Santner said on his arrival in Dubai.
"But obviously we have come against a good side, who have played all their games in Dubai and know that surface and we will be better for the run we had the other day against them," he said.
"Obviously the surface will dictate a little bit of how we want to operate. Will be slower than what we got in Lahore, might be more of a scrap."
The tournament's tangled schedule, with teams flying in and out of the UAE from Pakistan while India have stayed put, has been hugely controversial.
The pitches have been vastly different in the two countries.
Pakistan tracks produced big totals -- the Black Caps posted a Champions Trophy record 362-6 before restricting South Africa to 312-9 in the semi-final in Lahore, in contrast to the slow and turning decks of the Dubai stadium.
But Santner said the team has taken the travel in their stride.
"It's all part of the challenge," said Santner. "We have been to every place here obviously into Pakistan and Dubai. But I think the guys understand that it's part of it these days."
New Zealand won a tri-series tournament in Pakistan with South Africa as the third team and had many of their players in top form getting into the 50-over tournament.
Left-hander Rachin Ravindra hit his second century of this tournament in the semi-final clash and put on 164 runs with in-form Kane Williamson, who hit 102.
"Obviously that tri-series before -- the tournament was handy in guys getting in form, especially into one of these tournaments which are quite short, three games and you're into the semis," said Santner.
"We have had a bit of a roll on and hopefully it continues."
The captain added: "We are here now and boys are pretty excited for the challenge ahead. One day off at training but the boys be fizzing and ready for the main event."
fk/ea/mw

Sports

Neymar back for Brazil after 16-month absence for World Cup qualifiers

  • Neymar returns for qualifiers against Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina five days later.
  • Neymar was on Thursday recalled by coach Dorival Junior to the Brazil team after almost a year and a half out injured for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
  • Neymar returns for qualifiers against Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina five days later.
Neymar was on Thursday recalled by coach Dorival Junior to the Brazil team after almost a year and a half out injured for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
Neymar started Brazil's first four qualifying games but went off injured in a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023, his last appearance for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying. 
After 12 of the 18 rounds, they are fifth in the 10-nation group. But the top six are guaranteed places in the World Cup and Brazil are five points ahead of Bolivia in seventh.
Neymar returns for qualifiers against Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina five days later.
Brazil's top scorer with 79 goals said last month next year's World Cup is going to be his last.
He will be 34 by the time the competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico, kicks off.
Neymar scored for the first time in over 14 months last Sunday with his first goal for Santos since his return to his boyhood club at the start of the month.
The 33-year-old helped Santos beat fourth division Agua Santa 3-1 in a Sao Paulo state championship match. 
Neymar, who failed to score in his first three games with Santos, stepped up to slot home a penalty in the 14th minute. 
It was his 137th goal in 229 appearances for the club he has returned to after leaving them in 2013 for Barcelona. 
It was also his first goal for anyone since October 3, 2023 when he was playing for Al Hilal against Nassaji Mazandaran in the Asian Champions League. 
He terminated his contract with the Saudi club at the end of January to return home.
Neymar spent 18 months with Al Hilal after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 on a deal that enriched him by a reported 100 million euros ($103m) a season.
Neymar played five games for them before suffering the serious knee injury playing for Brazil against Uruguay.
raa/ma/nr/ea

IRL

Doris delivers huge boost to Ireland for key France match

BY PIRATE IRWIN

  • However, France have aspirations for the title -- England could also win it -- and are the last side to have won a Six Nations match in Dublin, in 2021.
  • Irish captain Caelan Doris is fit and will face France handing a massive boost to Ireland ahead of their potential Six Nations title decider in Dublin on Saturday.
  • However, France have aspirations for the title -- England could also win it -- and are the last side to have won a Six Nations match in Dublin, in 2021.
Irish captain Caelan Doris is fit and will face France handing a massive boost to Ireland ahead of their potential Six Nations title decider in Dublin on Saturday.
The 26-year-old No 8, who missed the win over Wales last month owing to a knee injury, will win his 50th cap and is one of four changes to the starting XV from the Welsh match.
Fullback Hugo Keenan returns, as does prop Finlay Bealham, who was a replacement against the Welsh, and Bundee Aki comes in to partner Robbie Henshaw in the centres for the suspended Garry Ringrose.
"Caelan has done incredibly well to get back to full fitness," Ireland's interim head coach Simon Easterby told reporters on Thursday.
"It says a lot about him that he has done as many other players might not have been able to do that in such a short space of time."
Jamie Osborne, who stood in for Keenan against Wales, moves to the wing as Mack Hansen has a thigh injury.
Easterby said Osborne's versatility earned him the nod ahead of an out and out winger such as Calvin Nash.
"We felt it was right to give him (Osborne) the right wing as it gives us coverage across the backs due to his versatility," said Easterby.
"Mack (Hansen) was touch and go but he was comfortable with the call." 
Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park, who has been outstanding thusfar, will form the half-back partnership.  
Jack Conan, who started the Wales game instead of the injured Doris, has also recovered from a lower back problem and will be on the bench.
Like Bealham and Doris, Conan is set for his 50th Test appearance.

'Cracking contest'

On what will be an emotional day at Lansdowne Road three legends will be making their final home appearances.
Scrum-half Conor Murray -- who formed a world class half-back partnership with Johnny Sexton for many years -- Ireland's record caps-winner with 136 Cian Healy and last year's title winning skipper Peter O'Mahony will all retire from Test rugby after the final match at Italy next Saturday.
"This weekend gives the Irish public the chance to mark the final home international appearances for Peter, Cian and Conor -– three stalwarts of Irish rugby who help drive the highest standards in our camp," said Easterby.
Easterby said although it would be emotional he did not think they would wish for their teammates to be motivated solely by their impending retirements.  
"They leave a massive void as they have been part and parcel of international rugby for so long," said the 49-year-old former Ireland flanker.
"As a mark of respect and motivation they and the team want to finish on a high. That's all they have ever thought about is what is best for the team."
The Irish are on course for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title and are the only side capable of achieving the Grand Slam.
However, France have aspirations for the title -- England could also win it -- and are the last side to have won a Six Nations match in Dublin, in 2021.
Victory for the French would put them in pole position for the crown ahead of the final matches -- they host Scotland and Ireland are in Italy -- as their points difference is vastly better than their hosts on Saturday.     
Easterby, standing in while Andy Farrell takes charge of the preparations for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, said it should be a "cracking" Test match.
"The team has worked hard again this week and the preparation has been positive for what we know will be a huge test against France," said Easterby.
"There's great respect and rivalry between the two teams and it should be a cracking contest." 
Team (15-1)
Hugo Keenan; Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (capt), Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony; Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy; Finlay Bealham, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Ryan Baird, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley
Coach: Simon Easterby (IRL)
pi/iwd

WAL

Wales unchanged for Scotland Six Nations clash

  • "This week we've challenged ourselves to keep improving," said Cardiff boss Sherratt after naming his latest Wales side.
  • Wales' interim head coach Matt Sherratt has named an unchanged team for his side's Six Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
  • "This week we've challenged ourselves to keep improving," said Cardiff boss Sherratt after naming his latest Wales side.
Wales' interim head coach Matt Sherratt has named an unchanged team for his side's Six Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Sherratt has kept faith with the side that gave champions Ireland a scare in Cardiff last month before losing 27-18 -- a record-extending 15th straight Test defeat.
It is the first time since 2019 and World Cup games against Georgia and Australia in Japan that Wales have fielded the same XV.
There are two changes on the bench. Former captain Dewi Lake, who was recently recalled to the squad after recovering from biceps surgery, returns along with Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti.
"This week we've challenged ourselves to keep improving," said Cardiff boss Sherratt after naming his latest Wales side.
"We want to keep the same intent and bravery as we showed last time out, but making sure that we are building on our game," added the Englishman, who has taken over for the final three rounds of the Six Nations following the end of Warren Gatland's second spell as Wales coach.
“We’re excited for the challenge of playing Scotland in Edinburgh and can't wait to get out there on Saturday."
Scotland, looking to bounce back from an agonising 16-15 loss to England at Twickenham that left them with two defeats from three Championship games, are due to name their side later Thursday.
Wales (15-1)
Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Jac Morgan (capt); Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands; WillGriff John, Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans, Joe Roberts
Coach: Matt Sherratt (ENG)
jdg/kca/nr

Sports

Liverpool must be ready to 'suffer' in PSG return leg, says Van Dijk

  • Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over.
  • Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's Champions League suffering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain is not yet over despite surviving an onslaught to win the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-0 in the French capital.
  • Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over.
Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's Champions League suffering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain is not yet over despite surviving an onslaught to win the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-0 in the French capital.
The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life".
Harvey Elliott came off the bench to score the winner with his first touch on 87 minutes. Liverpool had only two shots, compared with PSG's 27 attempts at goal.
It was the Paris side's first defeat in 23 games, a run stretching back to November.
Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over.
"It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time," said the Liverpool captain.
"What I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better."
Liverpool boss Arne Slot conceded his side would have been lucky even to escape with a draw.
Van Dijk agreed the backs-to-the-wall display is not how the runaway Premier League leaders are used to winning but paid tribute to the "world-class" opposition they faced.
"We don't want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents," he said.
"But we played against a team with a lot of quality, world-class quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and they made it difficult for us but we found a way and we have to try to finish it off next week."
Slot's substitutes made a telling contribution as Darwin Nunez set up the winner for Elliott, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo helped snuff out the PSG threat.
"We are coming to the last stages of the season and the message is pretty clear -- everyone who is part of the team has to play a part when they come on," said Van Dijk.
"With the goal you saw Darwin makes it difficult for Marquinhos and the ball falls and he gives a good pass to Harvey for the finish.
"Even Wataru coming on, Curtis doing a good job is good to see. Everyone needs to feel that importance because there are many big games -- and decisive games -- coming up so we have to keep going."
Liverpool can extend their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League when bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit Anfield on Saturday.
kca/jw/iwd

assault

Prosecutors demand Rubiales forced kiss trial be re-run

  • The backlash unleashed by the kiss as Hermoso went up to receive her winner's medal after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace and plunged the football federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.
  • Prosecutors on Thursday requested that the trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso be annulled and re-run, notably questioning the judge's impartiality.
  • The backlash unleashed by the kiss as Hermoso went up to receive her winner's medal after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace and plunged the football federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.
Prosecutors on Thursday requested that the trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales for his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso be annulled and re-run, notably questioning the judge's impartiality.
Spain's top criminal court last month found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,670), sparing him jail in a sentence considered lenient by feminist groups.
The sentence fell well short of the demands of prosecutors, who had sought a total of two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault and 18 months for allegedly coercing Hermoso to downplay the kiss.
Hermoso is appealing the sentence, which also cleared Rubiales and three other defendants of coercion.
The prosecutors said in a statement that they were appealing the sentence and requested the trial be declared null and void and "held again by another judge not tainted, to say the least, by an appearance of bias".
They said judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto "unduly" prevented the prosecutor in the trial, Marta Durantez, from posing certain questions and ignored some of the evidence and cited the "arbitrariness" of the sentence.
Fernandez-Prieto attracted attention during the trial for his brusque attitude, frequently interrupting and scolding participants.
The backlash unleashed by the kiss as Hermoso went up to receive her winner's medal after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Sydney forced Rubiales to relinquish his post in disgrace and plunged the football federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.
The trial captivated Spain and made Hermoso an icon of the fight against sexism and macho culture in sport.
imm/ds/gj