Alexandra Eala - players.bio

Atletico thump Rayo, Valladolid relegated after Betis defeat

MADRID: Atletico Madrid cruised to a 3-0 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday as they bounced back from defeat at Las Palmas last weekend. Real Betis bolstered their Champions League ambitions with a 5-1 win over Real Valladolid, confirming the visitors’ long-expected relegation. Atletico have little to play for in the rest of the season with leaders Barcelona 10 points clear with five matches remaining, but produced a solid derby display. Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring in the third minute after Giuliano Simeone, son of coach Diego, crossed for the Norwegian target man to nod home at the back post. It was a formula which should have led to more goals for Atletico but the striker wasted several presentable opportunities. Sorloth headed over a few minutes later and then was denied by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla. Atletico were outplaying Rayo but the visitors could have levelled when Isi Palazon drilled toward the far corner and Jan Oblak made a fine save. Sorloth spurned another headed opportunity before Conor Gallagher struck just before half-time. Rodrigo de Paul lofted a cross into the area which the former Chelsea midfielder nodded beyond Batalla. Oblak tipped over a Palazon header as Rayo looked for an equalizer, before Atletico substitute Antoine Griezmann fired narrowly wide after a Julian Alvarez backheel teed him up. Julian Alvarez rounded off the win in the second half with his 15th La Liga goal of the season after Griezmann sent him through. Real Betis bolstered their hopes of finishing in the top five as they hammered Valladolid at the Benito Villamarin stadium with playmaker Isco on the scoresheet. Former Brazil great Ronaldo is the majority shareholder at Valladolid, who were promoted last

Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

BENGALURU, India: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood starred with 4-33 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 11 run IPL win at home against Rajasthan Royals, who won the toss and chose to field first Thursday. Chasing 206 to win after Bengaluru’s 205-5, Rajasthan looked comfortable before Dhruv Jurel was dismissed by Hazlewood in the 19th over of the chase. Jurel scored a 34-ball 47 and was removed with 17 needed off 9 balls for the win. Hazlewood removed England’s Jofra Archer on the next ball, leaving Royals reeling with 17 needed off the final over. Earlier, Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a 42-ball 70 to steer Bengaluru to a par score on a batting friendly Bengaluru wicket. Openers Kohli and Phil Salt raced to 59-0 in the powerplay before Salt was removed on 26 in the seventh over with the team on 61-1. Kohli then built an important 95 run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal before finally falling in the 16th over to Archer. Padikkal, who was batting very well, fell soon after a 27-ball 50, with Bengaluru on 161-3. Quick wickets toward the end took away the momentum before key cameos by Tim David (23) and Jitesh Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 20. Archer was Rajasthan’s standout bowler and finished with 33-1.

PSL X: Babar’s 50 helps Peshawar Zalmi cruise to 7-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars

ISLAMABAD: Spurred on by a stellar half-century by skipper Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi beat Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets to register their second victory of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X edition in Lahore on Thursday. Zalmi were set a modest total of 130 runs after Azam’s side bowled out the Qalandars for a modest 129 runs in 19.2 overs. Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the Zalmi bowlers with 3/15 figures while Luke Wood and Hussain Talat returned figures of 2/25 and 2/18, respectively. The “Yellow Storm” ran into difficult earlier on during their chase, losing opener Saim Ayub for just 2 runs while star batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell for a duck. Azam kept his cool, scoring 56 runs from 42 balls and building partnerships with Mohammad Haris (20 off 16) and Hussain Talat (51 off 37) to see his team to the end. “Not an ideal start for our home leg,” the Qalandars wrote on social media platform X. “Overwhelmed with the support of our home crowd, we will come back stronger!“

Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defense

MADRID: Defending Madrid Open champion Iga Swiatek survived a debut scare to beat rising teenage star Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the third round in the Spanish capital. The 19-year-old Filipino, who beat Swiatek in straight sets on a shock run to the Miami Open semifinals in March, claimed the first set as the world number two struggled. Swiatek, who has been below her best so far this season, found her rhythm in the second set and eventually downed Eala, ranked 72nd, with ease in the third. “It wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing and I’m happy that I was just patient,” Swiatek told Spanish broadcaster TVE. “I always love playing here, for sure I’m proud of my performances in the last two years.” Eala broke Swiatek in the first game and produced two battling holds on her first two service games, saving two break points in each as the Pole hunted for a way back in. The exciting Filipino saved another break point in the sixth game before breaking Swiatek to love for a 5-2 lead in the Madrid sun. Clay court expert Swiatek recovered a break but Eala was able to serve out her advantage, capturing her third set point when the five-time Grand Slam champion sent a backhand long. Swiatek only converted one of six first-set break points against the resilient Eala, who won both of hers. The teenager again broke in the first game of the second set, but this time Swiatek, who has four French Open titles, was able to respond immediately. When Eala broke again for a 3-2 lead, Swiatek followed suit to get back on serve, with the Pole raising her level toward the end of the second set. She broke to love in the 10th game to force a deciding set and sped through it, securing breaks in the second

Swiatek withdraws from Billie Jean King Cup tournament

World number two Iga Swiatek has pulled out of the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tournament in her home country of Poland, she said on social media on Wednesday.

Alexandra Eala's Dream Run Ends As Jessica Pegula Sets Up Miami Final With Aryna Sabalenka

Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala's remarkable run at the Miami Open came to a brave end with a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals on Thursday. In an enthralling battle over 2hrs 24mins, fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 win to seal a place in Saturday's final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka blasted her way into the final with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Italy's Jasmine Paolini. The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main draw victories to her name before arriving in Miami.

Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying

SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Dorival Júnior was fired on Friday after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team. Júnior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier. Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked. Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically. Under the 62-year-old Júnior, Brazil won seven matches, drew another seven, and lost two.

PSG ‘feel like champions’ as Ligue 1 title nears, says Luis Enrique

POISSY, France: Coach Luis Enrique said Paris Saint-Germain “can feel like champions” knowing they could seal the Ligue 1 title this weekend but warned his players not to let their level drop. The unbeaten league leaders go to second-bottom Saint-Etienne, where a win would secure an 11th French title in 13 seasons if Marseille lose away to Reims and Monaco draw with Nice on Saturday. “We’re never champions until it’s mathematically certain, but we can feel like champions, we’re the best team in Ligue 1,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Friday. “We’re going to use these last eight matches for other goals, to be competitive against all opponents... to be ready for the three months that remain. “There’s the French Cup and the Champions League, where we want to be right to the end.” PSG face second-tier Dunkerque in the semifinals of the French Cup in Lille next week before taking on Aston Villa in the last eight of the Champions League. Luis Enrique doesn’t believe the possibility of wrapping up a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title on Saturday should have any effect on his team’s mindset. “It seems totally unimportant to me, there are eight games left in the league, we want to be competitive because that will prepare us in the best way for the other competitions,” said the Spaniard. “I feel almost the same as I did this time last year, we were almost champions, in the semifinals of the cup and quarter-finals of the Champions League, with young players who have a year’s more experience.” PSG will be without Lee Kang-in against Saint-Etienne after the South Korean picked up an ankle injury on international duty.

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Alexandra Eala Sport News

Atletico thump Rayo, Valladolid relegated after Betis defeat

Australia’s Hazlewood steers Bengaluru to win over Rajasthan

PSL X: Babar’s 50 helps Peshawar Zalmi cruise to 7-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars

Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defense

Swiatek withdraws from Billie Jean King Cup tournament

Alexandra Eala's Dream Run Ends As Jessica Pegula Sets Up Miami Final With Aryna Sabalenka

Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying

PSG ‘feel like champions’ as Ligue 1 title nears, says Luis Enrique