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Carlos Alcaraz stepped up to flip the momentum in the Laver Cup with a crucial victory over Taylor Fritz to help Team Europe establish a 7-5 advantage after day two.

After Team World started the day session with back-to-back wins to go into the lead, it threatened to become three in a row when Fritz fought back from a set down to force two match points, but Alcaraz dug deep to prevail 6-3 4-6 13-11 in a thrilling Laver Breaker.

Alcaraz produced a masterful drop shot to help clinch a crucial two points for Team Europe in front of Roger Federer and Andy Murray at The O2 in only his second tournament since a four-month lay-off with a wrist injury.

“I’m really happy to get the win because I think it was really important. Seeing how the day was going, this is an important win and should give the team confidence,” Alcaraz said.

“I’m leaving the court really happy with everything I have done and also with the things I have been practising so far.

“I feel the drop is part of my game already. I am trying to use it in my favour. The drops made in the match, I think I won if not every drop at least a high percentage so in those moments, I try to use it because it was a good weapon for me.”

The pressure was on when Alcaraz stepped on to the black court in London after he watched Team Europe’s Alexander Zverev let slip a position of total dominance to lose to Alex De Minaur, who walked off with blood streaming from his right leg.

With the score 5-3 to Team World after the day session on Saturday, Alcaraz wrestled the initiative to take the first set, but Fritz responded and a fifth consecutive tie-break was required.

A wonderful serve-and-volley set up the first of three match points for Alcaraz, but Fritz went clutch and then fashioned two of his own – only for the seven-time major champion to stay in the match with an ace.

The O2 crowd were on their feet again after Alcaraz sent down a booming forehand winner before an outrageous drop shot could only be returned into the net by Fritz to give a vital win for Yannick Noah’s Team Europe.

It was backed up by Zverev being able to atone for his defeat to De Minaur after he formed a successful doubles’ partnership with Casper Ruud to beat Team World pair Brandon Nakashima and Alexander Bublik.

Zverev and Ruud triumphed 6-4 7-6 (7) to keep Team Europe in front ahead of Sunday’s final day.

Team World captain Andre Agassi had watched his gamble pay off at the start of Saturday, with debutant Learner Tien put in against French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli and he was able to battle to a 6-3 2-6 10-7 win.

It earned Tien a chest bump off Agassi before De Minaur pulled off an incredible rescue act against two-time major winner Zverev.

Zverev raced through the first set and opened up a break in the second to serve for the match at 5-4, but De Minaur broke and survived match point in the Laver Breaker before he outlasted the German in a dramatic final rally to win 2-6 7-6 (5) 11-9

“What a place to play some tennis. This is special. Thank you guys. If you notice, my blood is red as well,” De Minaur said, with reference to Team World’s red outfit.

However, Alcaraz turned it around for Team Europe and avoided the prospect of back-to-back singles’ defeats for the first time in 18 months to gain revenge on Fritz for his loss in the 2025 edition and set up a tantalising final day.

Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh remain at the centre of India’s medal push on Day 8 of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. Abhay faces Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow in the men’s squash singles final at 12:30 pm IST on Sunday, September 27. Anahat meets Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women’s final at 1:30 pm. Both Indians are assured of at least silver and have a chance to give India two squash gold medals.

 India’s archers have already reached the semifinals of four team events: recurve mixed, compound mixed, men’s compound and women’s compound. Jai Sud and Hriday Chheda are in action in the individual dressage final, adding another medal opportunity to the morning programme. 

There have also been setbacks. Manju Rani finished sixth and last in the women’s marathon race walk, while Priyanka Goswami was disqualified. India’s women’s doubles and mixed doubles badminton pairs lost their quarterfinals. In athletics, however, Vithya Ramraj and Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan have advanced to their respective 400m hurdles finals.

 Squash: Abhay and Anahat target double gold 

Abhay will play Ng Eain Yow at 12:30 pm before Anahat takes on Sivasangari Subramaniam at 1:30 pm. Wins in both singles finals would turn India’s two assured squash silvers into gold medals.

 Archery: Four Indian teams reach semifinals

   India’s recurve mixed team beat the UAE in the round of 16 and Vietnam in the quarterfinals. The compound mixed team defeated Mongolia and Kazakhstan in the corresponding rounds. India have also progressed to the men’s and women’s compound team semifinals.

 At 10:45 am, India’s men’s recurve team face the Philippines and the women’s recurve team take on Mongolia in their quarterfinals. 

 Equestrian: Sud and Chheda in dressage medal final

 Jai Sud and Hriday Chheda are competing in the individual dressage final. Both qualified for the medal event after Saturday’s rounds.

 Athletics: Hurdlers advance; Tejaswin third in decathlon

 Vithya Ramraj finished second in her women’s 400m hurdles heat in a season’s best 55.73 seconds to reach the final. Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan also advanced after finishing second in his men’s 400m hurdles heat in 49.61 seconds. Yashas Palaksha did not finish.

 Tejaswin Shankar scored 932 points with a third-place finish in the decathlon 110m hurdles, briefly moving into first place overall with 5,270 points. He then finished seventh in the discus throw with 599 points and dropped to third overall on 5,869 points. Thowfeeq Noushad did not start the hurdles and is no longer listed in India’s remaining decathlon events.

 The afternoon brings medal finals in the women’s long jump, women’s and men’s 200m, men’s high jump, women’s 100m hurdles and women’s 3000m steeplechase. Tejaswin’s decathlon concludes with the 1500m at 5:40 pm.

 Weightlifting: Harjinder Kaur competes for medal

   Harjinder Kaur is scheduled for the women’s 69kg medal event at 10 am.

 Badminton: Two doubles exits; Hooda in action

 Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly lost their women’s doubles quarterfinal to Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 18-21, 9-21. Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila lost 14-21, 21-18, 18-21 to China’s Huang Dongping and Feng Yan Zhe in the mixed doubles quarterfinals. 

Unnati Hooda is playing Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in a women’s singles quarterfinal. PV Sindhu’s quarterfinal against China’s Chen Yu Fei remains listed for 9:30 am; no result was included in the supplied update. indianexpress.com

 Shooting: Pistol and trap qualification under way

  Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat are competing in the precision stage of the women’s 25m pistol qualification. Ahvar Rizvi, Kynan Chenai and Shapath Bharadwaj are in Day 1 of men’s trap qualification, while Manisha Keer, Aashima Ahlawat and Neeru are in the women’s trap event. 

Fencing: India women reach sabre quarterfinals

 India beat Indonesia 45-23 in the women’s sabre team round of 16. They are scheduled to face Uzbekistan in the quarterfinal at 9:20 am. 

Boxing: Four Indians have quarterfinal bouts

 Ankush faces Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov in the men’s 80kg division at 9:45 am. Parveen meets Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova in the women’s 65kg division at 2 pm, followed by Sachin Siwach against Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto in the men’s 60kg division at 2:45 pm. Narender faces Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep in the men’s over-90kg division at 3:45 pm.

 Surfing: Three Indians advance to round 3

 Sivaraj Babu reached the men’s shortboard third round with a win over Iran’s Davoud Khadir. Kamali Prakash and Sugar Shanti Gayen have also progressed to round 3 of the women’s shortboard event. 

Sepaktakraw: India lose to South Korea

 India lost 0-2 to South Korea in women’s doubles Group B. Their next match is against the Philippines at 11:30 am.

 Kurash: Four Indian campaigns end

 Sangita and Bharti lost their women’s 57kg bouts in the round of 32 and round of 16, respectively. In the men’s over-90kg event, Yash Kumar Chauhan went out in the round of 16 and Vishal lost in the quarterfinals. 

Sailing: Indian skiff pairs scheduled to race

 Prince Noble and Manu Francis remain listed for the men’s skiff from 9:30 am, while Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma are scheduled for the women’s skiff from 9:40 am. No sailing results were included in the supplied update. Asian Games News

 Volleyball: India face Vietnam

 India’s men play Vietnam in a Pool C match at 12:30 pm.

 Hockey: India women take on Singapore

 India’s women face Singapore in a pool match at 3:30 pm.

 The Games are streaming on Sony LIV and are being telecast on the Sony Sports Network. www.sonypicturesnetworks.com

The drama surrounding the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight doesn’t appear to be over yet.

After months of drawn-out negotiations, it was finally announced this week that Fury and Joshua were set to meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 11 December.

It meant that Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn secured staging the bout in the UK, as per their original contract, after event organisers Sela and broadcaster Netflix pushed to make it happen in New York.

Hearn revealed this week that, despite the announcement, there were still other issues to be ironed out, particularly the inclusion of rival promoter Dana White, raising some concerns from boxing fans that the fight could yet still fall by the wayside.

Those concerns may have become a reality, after Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger reported that the fight could already be in doubt and be replaced by a clash between Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia.

“Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua could be called off due to issues, according to sources, and a replacement fight between Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia is being considered.”

Crawford last fought in September 2025 when he defeated Canelo Alvarez to become undisputed super-middleweight champion, before retiring from the sport three months later.

Garcia is the current WBC welterweight champion, defending the belt with a second-round knockout over Conor Benn earlier this month, and has been involved in a war of words with Crawford throughout 2026.

While a match-up between ‘Bud’ and Garcia would certainly interest fans, it would be a disaster if the fight between Fury and Joshua did fall through just days after being officially announced.

Many, however, will regard this update as just the latest gamesmanship in what appears to be a messy behind-the-scenes situation. The ‘issues’, and how that might lead to a contracted bout being cancelled, remain unclear.

In the Premier League, Manchester City were found guilty of 114 out of the 115 charges the Premier League had brought against them over breaches of financial regulations. The ten-time Premier League winners, who deny the charges, face sanctions which could go as far as being excluded from the league.

In the Laver Cup, Team Europe leads 3-1 after the first day of action in London. A win for doubles pair Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensík on Friday evening put daylight between them and Team World, as the hosts look to avenge last year’s 15-9 overall defeat.

France are through to the European Volleyball Championship, having beaten Finland in four sets on Friday. Les Bleus take on Poland on Saturday for the title.

Paulie Malignaggi has offered his reaction to a reported clash between Shakur Stevenson and Manny Pacquiao, which could feature on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.

The all-British heavyweight showdown is expected to take place on December 11, headlining an event at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

That is, of course, if Fury and Joshua actually make it to the ring, as despite it being announced earlier this week, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger has since reported that their fight is in jeopardy.

Prior to that, it had emerged that an encounter between Stevenson and Pacquiao – between whom there is a near two-decade age gap – was being planned for the same night in Wales.

Should it come to fruition, this would represent Stevenson’s first outing since signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, who he joined after dethroning Teofimo Lopez with a unanimous decision victory in January.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has not fought since his draw with Mario Barrios in July 2025, when he ended a near four-year layoff and almost claimed the WBC welterweight title.

Yet despite that surprisingly impressive performance, former world champion Malignaggi has emphasised on his YouTube channel that, against Stevenson, the 47-year-old would be facing an entirely different competitor.

“Manny Pacquiao-Shakur Stevenson has no place on this card; [it] has no place in big-time boxing. I am completely befuddled.

“[I’m] disappointed in Stevenson; [I’m] disappointed in Zuffa, obviously. These are ‘click bait’ type of fights. These are names that draw attention, so you can get people to watch. Then the fight’s a dud and all these casuals sit there complaining about boxing, telling you why boxing’s dead.”

Malignaggi went on to credit Pacquiao with being “competitive against the worst world champion I’ve ever seen in my life”, emphasising a considerable difference between Barrios and Stevenson.

The first India-West Indies ODI at Thiruvananthapuram will witness Men in Blue’s iconic duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, now ODI-exclusive legends, start their chase for several milestones and career-defining records that could dominate headlines leading up to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. Both Rohit and Virat have exceptional numbers against West Indies, with the former having the highest number of runs by a batter against West Indies. In 37 ODIs and 35 innings against WI, Rohit has scored 1,613 runs at an average of 57.60, including three centuries and 12 fifties, with a best score of 162. On the other hand, Virat has 2,261 runs in 43 matches and 41 innings at an average of 66.50, with nine centuries and 11 fifties.

Virat, India’s second-highest ODI run-getter after Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs), is just 59 runs away from becoming the second player to reach 15,000 ODI runs. He has scored 14,941 runs in 314 matches and 302 innings at an average of 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties, with a best score of 183. He will could also become the fastest to reach the landmark within this series.

The countdown towards the much-anticipated 100-century mark will continue for Virat and his legion of fans, with the 37-year-old sitting on 85 centuries. With nine centuries in just 41 innings already against West Indies, a century or two, even a hat-trick (something Virat has done against West Indies before) cannot be ruled out. 

What better place to start another exceptional run than Thiruvananthapuram, where Virat has not been dismissed yet. In two ODIs at Thiruvananthapuram, Virat has scored 199 runs without getting out, including an entertaining knock of 166* in 110 balls (with 13 fours and eight sixes) against Sri Lanka in January 2023, which saw him go from an 85-ball hundred to 166* in 110 balls, a masterclass in ODI cricket acceleration and innings building.

He also needs two more centuries to break Sachin’s all-time record of 60 List-A tons, currently sitting at 59 centuries in the format. This could do wonders to Virat’s legacy as a batter in the 50-over format, having dominated it from state to international level.

Currently sitting at 41 international centuries at home, Virat is two more tons away from breaking Sachin’s all-time record of 42 centuries at home.

There is also a third Sachin record that Virat could break, the most ODI runs by a batter in home conditions. Sachin has scored 6,976 in 164 matches, and currently Virat has 6,867 runs in 130 matches and 127 innings at an average of 62.42, with 27 centuries and 36 fifties.

In six innings this year, Virat has scored 384 runs at an average of 64.00 and a strike rate of over 106, with a century and three fifties.

On the other hand, Rohit, currently India’s third-highest ODI run-getter, is just 105 runs away from becoming the third Indian batter to touch the 12,000-run mark in ODIs, after Virat Kohli (14,941 runs) and Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs).

So far in 288 ODIs and 280 innings, Rohit has smashed 11,895 runs at an average of 48.95, with 34 centuries and 62 sixes, with a best score of 264.

Rohit, the opening batter, is also set for a massive milestone as he is just 135 runs away from becoming only the fourth opener (second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar) to have 10,000 runs as an opener in ODIs. Currently, he has scored 9,865 runs in 201 matches and 199 innings at an average of 54.5, with 32 centuries and 49 fifties. After initial years of middle-order struggle, this new record will solidify Rohit’s legacy as an all-time great opener. 

Sachin is at the top with 15,310 runs in 344 matches and 340 innings at an average of 48.29, with 45 centuries and 72 fifties, including a best score of 200*.

In nine ODIs this year, Rohit has scored 379 runs at an average of 42.11 with a strike rate of 99.21, with a century and a fifty in nine innings, with his last innings being a knock of 138 against England at Lord’s.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Alejandro Garnacho’s loan move to Aston Villa has yet to get off the ground, though the club could be obligated to sign him permanently if certain conditions are met

Former Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho will take confidence from scoring his first Aston Villa goal in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton during the international break. The winger has endured a frustrating start to life at Villa Park following his loan switch from Chelsea.

Garnacho is yet to make a start under Unai Emery, featuring only as a substitute and accumulating 31 minutes of Premier League action so far this season. There had been expectations he would be handed an opportunity in Villa’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Coventry City, but he remained an unused substitute.

After leaving him out of the side, Emery delivered a clear message to the youngster, saying: “Continue working. Work, work, train, work. When he can have minutes to play, try to play well.

“He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.”

Those players include academy prospects George Hemming, Ibrahim Mbaye and Alysson, all of whom have featured in recent matches while Garnacho has been left watching from the stands.

There has already been speculation that he could follow a similar path to Harvey Elliott, who spent last season on loan at Villa from Liverpool. Elliott made just five Premier League appearances during his spell, only one of which came as a starter.

However, Garnacho was among the players who remained at the club during the international break and was handed an opportunity in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton. The winger seized his chance, scoring the only goal of the game in a performance that will have done his hopes of breaking into Emery’s plans no harm.

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The strike could prove to be a turning point as Garnacho looks to establish himself at Villa Park and avoid a similarly frustrating loan spell. Elliott struggled for opportunities under Emery, who opted against using the Liverpool loanee regularly because a permanent transfer would have been triggered after 10 appearances.

Villa hold a conditional obligation to buy Garnacho at the end of the season for around £43million if certain clauses are met. The forward only left United last summer, joining Chelsea in a £40m move after his relationship with former head coach Ruben Amorim broke down.

There were hopes the switch to Stamford Bridge would reignite his career, but Garnacho struggled to make a significant impact in west London. Chelsea endured a disappointing campaign, finishing 10th in the Premier League and missing out on European football, while the winger found regular opportunities difficult to come by.

United will be keeping a close eye on Garnacho’s progress at Villa Park. If Villa were to trigger the clause to make his move from Chelsea permanent, Michael Carrick’s side would be due a windfall of around £300,000 thanks to the 10 per cent sell-on clause negotiated as part of his move to Stamford Bridge.