Sabalenka to take on Kyrgios in 'Battle of the Sexes' match
Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka will take on Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios in a 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match in Dubai on December 28, organisers announced on Tuesday.
Hong Kong Sport News
LIV Golf expands qualifying pathways for 2026 season
LONDON: LIV Golf on Monday announced expanded qualification opportunities for players aiming to join its 2026 League, increasing the number of available spots through both the LIV Golf Promotions tournament and The International Series.
Canadian teen sensation Mboko makes top-20 debut in rookie season
The tennis world took notice when Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko won the Montreal title in August with victories over four Grand Slam champions along the way, and the Serena Williams comparisons were not far behind.
Toronto teen Victoria Mboko captures Hong Kong Open for 2nd WTA title of season
Victoria Mboko defeated Spain's Cristina Bucsa 7-5, 6-7 (9), 6-2 to win the Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
Mboko beats Fernandez in all-Canadian semifinal at Hong Kong Open
Victoria Mboko won an all-Canadian showdown in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Tennis Open on Saturday, defeating Leylah Fernandez (2-6, 6-3, 6-2) to advance to her second WTA final of the season.
New Juve manager Spalletti eyes Scudetto
“Of course, I hope this team can still get involved in the title race,” he said“Only nine matches have been played; there are still 29 left to play. That’s a lot of matches”ROME: New Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti said on Friday that his seventh-placed team are capable of challenging for the Sere A title.“Of course, I hope this team can still get involved in the title race,” he said Friday, on the eve of Juve’s game at Cremonese.Spalletti, who succeeds the sacked Igor Tudor, added: “As we discussed with the players on Thursday, we must aim for the highest.“And the highest is the Scudetto.“Only nine matches have been played; there are still 29 left to play.
Liverpool must snap losing ‘habit’, says under-fire Slot
LIVERPOOL:Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side must not make a habit of losing games they should win after six defeats in their last seven games plunged the Premier League champions into crisis.The Reds have lost their last four league games ahead of Aston Villa’s trip to Anfield on Saturday and also crashed out of the League Cup to Crystal Palace in midweek.Slot’s decision to name an inexperienced side for the 3-0 defeat to the Eagles drew criticism, but he again defended the need to give his key players a rest after a series of injury problems in the early part of the season.Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong are all still sidelined, while Ryan Gravenberch is only just back in training after an ankle injury.Slot had an eye not only on the visit of in-form Villa, but Real Madrid’s trip to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday and Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City next Sunday.“It is nothing to do with the squad depth, it is how we’ve gone throughout the season in terms of injuries and availability,” said Slot at his pre-match press conference on Friday.“It’s just the situation as it is.
Bencic out of Hong Kong last eight as tennis injury list mounts
HONG KONG: Top seed Belinda Bencic pulled out of the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals on Friday as the Tokyo Olympic champion became the latest in a long line of players to suffer a late-season injury. The Asian “swing” on the WTA Tour has been particularly hard hit by injuries and pullouts in recent weeks, placing renewed scrutiny on the demanding tennis schedule. Bencic, who was ranked 421 in the world at the start of the season but has climbed to 11, was supposed to meet Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the last eight in Hong Kong. “So disappointed to have to withdraw today from my quarter-final match here in Hong Kong due to my thigh injury,” said the 28-year-old Swiss, who won gold at the Covid-delayed Olympics in 2021. “I’ve played a lot of tennis in the past few weeks and did everything I could to stay healthy, but it was not to be.” Bencic beat Linda Noskova last weekend to win the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and cap a remarkable comeback, a year after returning to tennis from having a baby. Noskova reached the final in the Japanese capital after Elena Rybakina withdrew injured ahead of their semifinal. The tournament in Hong Kong was hit even before it began with the withdrawals of former world number one Naomi Osaka and the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Both ended their seasons early through injury. Daria Kasatkina, who has won eight WTA titles, was also initially scheduled to compete in Hong Kong but she too brought the curtain down prematurely on her season. “The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly I am not alone,” the 28-year-old, who this year switched nationality from Russia to Australia, said in early October.