Aryna Sabalenka defeats Jessica Pegula, wins Miami Open - ESPN
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite resume.
Jessica Pegula Sport News
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.
’We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola
LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he and his players do not deserve a bonus even if they salvage their dismal season by winning the Club World Cup. Guardiola’s side are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League and crashed out of the Champions League and League Cup. English champions for the previous four seasons, City could finish without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s maiden season in charge in 2016/17. Their last hope of landing domestic silverware lies in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final tie at Bournemouth looming on Sunday. But even if they win the FA Cup or the Club World Cup in June and July, Guardiola believes City have underachieved so badly that they will not deserve a bonus from the big prize pot on offer at the post-season tournament in the United States. FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, confirmed this week that the Club World Cup winners will earn up to $125 million in prize money, with a total pot of $1 billion going to the 32 participating clubs. “We don’t deserve it this season. We don’t deserve a bonus this season.
Local favorite Mansour ‘Tarzan’ Barnaoui to face American Archie Colgan at PFL Europe in Paris
LONDON: The Professional Fighters League has announced that Paris’s own Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui (22-6) will face the undefeated Archie “King” Colgan (11-0) in a clash of the top lightweight contenders looking to stake their claim for title opportunities.
NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league
UAE: The National Basketball Association and International Basketball Federation have announced they will jointly explore a new professional men’s basketball league in Europe.
Jessica Pegula ends Alexandra Eala’s fairytale run, sets up final with Aryna Sabalenka
MIAMI GARDENS, United States: 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 semifinals 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. She proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek. The lowest-ranked semifinalist in the tournament’s history, Eala seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display. The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination was a sign of things to come. Eala broke Pegula three times in the set and was broken twice herself but crucially was able to hold when serving for the set at 6-5. Both players protected their serve better in the deciding set but Eala’s forehand let her down when the American broke to go 5-3 up and she served out for a victory that brought her visible relief. “Of course there is disappointment right after the match,” said Eala. “But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive and I’m just enjoying because there is so much positive around me and I don’t know how many times that happens,” she added. Playing with a strapped thigh from the outset,
Novak Djokovic beats Sebastian Korda, advances to semifinals in push for 7th Miami Open title
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Novak Djokovic is finding a higher gear in South Florida after a sluggish start to 2025.