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Flamengo’s impressive Club World Cup start sets up mouth-watering Chelsea showdown

Flamengo’s dominant 2-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis on Monday will have caught the attention of Group D favorites Chelsea, and suggests the Brazilian side could have a significant impact at FIFA’s revamped tournament. The Brazilian Cup champions next face Chelsea, who beat MLS side LAFC 2-0 earlier in the day, in a mouth-watering clash at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Friday that should determine the group winner. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: It has been over a decade since a European team lost at the Club World Cup but the ease with which Flamengo dispensed with Esperance will give them confidence they can end that run when they face Chelsea on Friday. The London side were the last European team to taste defeat at the tournament, losing to Corinthians in the 2012 final, but since then the continent’s clubs are undefeated in 27 matches. Palmeiras and Boca Juniors came close to wins over Porto and Benfica in their openers at the current edition, and South American sides have six games left against European opposition in the group stage to break their stranglehold. Flamengo are unbeaten in over a month and lead the Brazilian league playing a solid brand of football under the calm guidance of former Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis. KEY QUOTES: Flamengo midfielder Jorginho: “We enjoyed the goal, and the fans were amazing, as I’ve seen before but now I’m living it. The most important thing is the performance that we did.

Williams scores 40 points and Thunder win 120-109 for a 3-2 NBA Finals lead over Pacers

OKLAHOMA CITY: Jalen Williams scored a career playoff-high 40 points, MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved one win from a title by beating the Indiana Pacers 120-109 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.

Tiafoe crashes out, Rune cruises through at Queen’s Club

LONDON: Frances Tiafoe fell to a first round exit at Queen’s Club on Monday as veteran Brit Dan Evans rolled back the years, while fourth seed Holger Rune eased through.

Madrid to host grand prix as Formula One announces 2026 calendar

HONG KONG: Spain will host two Formula One grands prix in 2026, with the new race in Madrid joining Barcelona, after organizers on Tuesday announced the calendar for a season that could bring big changes on the grid. The 2026 campaign will open for the second successive season in Australia at Melbourne’s Albert Park street circuit on March 6-8. The race in the Spanish capital Madrid is on September 11-13 and will bring the curtain down on the European segment of the season. The new Madrid circuit will have both street and non-street sectors. The 24-weekend campaign will again conclude in Abu Dhabi, on December 4-6. Montreal in Canada will now follow Miami in May to cut down on traveling for the teams. The 2026 season promises to look radically different with Cadillac becoming the 11th team on the grid and sweeping new regulations on aerodynamics and power units. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, said: “Next year’s FIA Formula One World Championship marks a significant new chapter for our sport. “A new race, new teams, and the arrival of new manufacturers, all ushering in a fresh era of innovation and competition.”

De Bruyne secures Belgium win over Wales in seven-goal thriller

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne spared Belgium’s blushes after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Wales 4-3 and kickstart the Red Devils’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday. Goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour had given Belgium a dream start. Wales, though, rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson to stun the side ranked eighth in the world. But De Bruyne rode to his nation’s rescue, as he has so often in a stellar career, by steering in Tielemans’ perfect cross in the 88th minute. Defeat was Craig Bellamy’s first as Wales manager as they fell just short of a national record of 10 matches unbeaten. However, there remains plenty of positives for Wales’ hopes of reaching next year’s World Cup. They sit second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia, and three in front of Belgium, who have two games in hand. Only one side will automatically qualify with second earning a place in the play-offs. After a 1-1 draw at North Macedonia on Friday to begin their qualifying campaign, Rudi Garcia recalled three of his Premier League stars in Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana and Tielemans and Belgium clicked into gear. De Bruyne’s shot struck the arm of Johnson inside the area to give Lukaku the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot for his 89th international goal. Tielemans rounded off a brilliant team move for the home side’s second moments later as he turned in Maxime De Cuyper’s low cross. A dazzling solo effort from Doku compounded Wales’ woes as they seemed set for a second half of damage limitation. However, Harry Wilson’s penalty reduced the visitors’ deficit in first half stoppage time after Matz Sels was controversially penalized for

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard confident ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier against Australia

JEDDAH: On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s crucial closing match against Australia in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers, head coach Herve Renard expressed confidence in the readiness of his squad and stressed the importance of victory, despite the heavy odds against securing automatic qualification for the finals in North America next year.

Beaten Sinner extends lead on Alcaraz at top of ATP rankings

PARIS: Italy’s Jannik Sinner extended his lead at the top of the ATP world rankings on Monday despite his defeat to second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final. Sinner, who lost to Alcaraz in the semifinals last year, gained 500 points for reaching this year’s final. Spaniard Alcaraz lifted the title for the second straight year, gained no points and remained second. Germany’s Alexander Zverev remained third despite his quarter-final elimination to Novak Djokovic. At 38, Serb Djokovic, who was unable to take a set from Sinner in the semifinals despite a strong fight, climbed one place to fifth, still behind Jack Draper. The Briton also climbed one place to a career-high fourth after his memorable loss in the round of 16 to Alexander Bublik. The latter, who was then swept aside by Sinner, jumped 19 places to 43rd. Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, forced to retire against Alcaraz in the semifinal, continued his ascent with another place gain to reach world number six for the first time. Taylor Fritz, eliminated in the first round, dropped three places to seven with fellow American Tommy Paul climbing to eighth, his best ranking ever. Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open finalist, dropped eight places to No. 16 in the ATP rankings after losing in the second round this year.

Aberdeen end 35-year wait for Scottish Cup by upsetting Celtic in shootout

GLASGOW: Aberdeen denied Celtic a treble and secured their first Scottish Cup triumph in 35 years after an extra-time final at Hampden Park on Saturday.

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ATP Sport News

Flamengo’s impressive Club World Cup start sets up mouth-watering Chelsea showdown

Williams scores 40 points and Thunder win 120-109 for a 3-2 NBA Finals lead over Pacers

Tiafoe crashes out, Rune cruises through at Queen’s Club

Madrid to host grand prix as Formula One announces 2026 calendar

De Bruyne secures Belgium win over Wales in seven-goal thriller

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard confident ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier against Australia

Beaten Sinner extends lead on Alcaraz at top of ATP rankings

Aberdeen end 35-year wait for Scottish Cup by upsetting Celtic in shootout