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#Madrid #Open #Baptiste #stuns #World #Sabalenka #knocks #quarterfinal">Madrid Open: Baptiste stuns World No. 1 Sabalenka, knocks her out in quarterfinal Hailey Baptiste ended Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence in Madrid on Tuesday and halted the world number one’s 15-match winning streak with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) quarterfinal victory to deliver the biggest shock of the tournament so far.
The American saved five match points at 4-5 in the decider and a sixth in the tiebreak before she handed Sabalenka just her second defeat of the year, and her first since the Australian Open final three months ago.
Sabalenka is a three-time champion in Madrid and reached the final in the Spanish capital in each of the last three editions of the event but was unable to shake off the 30th-seeded Baptiste, who peppered her with huge serves and ultra-aggressive groundstrokes to reach a maiden WTA 1000 semifinal.
Baptiste came up with huge serves in several crucial moments – finishing the duel with a total of 12 aces and 10 double faults – and even saved a match point with a bold serve-and-volley approach on her way to a memorable two-hour 30-minute triumph.
Next up for the 24-year-old Baptiste is ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva, who gave herself an early birthday gift by defeating Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6(7/1), 6-3 to reach her first Madrid semifinal.
The Russian teenager, who turns 19 on Wednesday, was a recent champion in Linz and improved her clay-court record to 11-1 this season.
Earlier in the day, Jannik Sinner suggested the Madrid Open organisers should reconsider their tournament scheduling to avoid late-night finishes like the one Rafael Jodar experienced in the third round on Sunday.
In a rare 11:00 am start on Tuesday, Sinner moved past British 19th seed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals.
He explained he was put on first on Manolo Santana Stadium so that Jodar, his potential next opponent, would be scheduled in the afternoon to give the Spaniard time to recover from his three-set win over Joao Fonseca that ended at 1:00 am on Monday morning.
Unusual early start
“It’s quite unusual for me,” Sinner told Tennis TV about his early kick-off.
“There was a question if it would be me or Jodar to play at 4. But I think it’s right he plays at 4, because he finished very, very late.
“But at the same time, I feel like we need to make some adjustments to the scheduling of the day. Two matches (starting) from 8pm is very late.
“Even though you have one day in between. But still it’s very, very late.
“You finish at 1:30am, and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. But we try to adapt ourselves, our bodies, our minds, so from my side it was a good performance today.”
Sinner, who is bidding to reach the semifinals for the first time in the Spanish capital, will next face 19-year-old Jodar in what will be a highly-anticipated last-eight showdown.
Jodar’s dream run on home soil continued with a convincing 7-5, 6-0 thumping of world number 66 Vit Kopriva.
Casper Ruud fought back from the brink to keep his title defence alive with a 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/3) victory over former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.
In a high-quality three-hour contest, Tsitsipas led 5-3 in the decider, holding two match points, and served for the victory at 5-4, but Ruud, who was 0/11 in break points up until then, found a way to take down the Greek’s serve and went on to clinch the tie-break.
Ruud will square off with 21-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx for a semifinal spot.
Last week’s Barcelona champion Arthur Fils advanced to the quarterfinals at the Caja Magica with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Argentine 25th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
The Frenchman will take on Jiri Lehecka, who beat sixth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3, for a place in the last four.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Hailey Baptiste ended Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence in Madrid on Tuesday and halted the world…
Sports news
#Deadspin #Mets #Kodai #Senga #lumbar #spine #inflammation #15day">Deadspin | Mets’ Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) goes on 15-day IL
Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images New York Mets right-handed starting pitcher Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with lumbar spine inflammation. The move is retroactive to Monday.
Senga received an epidural, Newsday reported.
In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Triple-A Syracuse to join the rotation.
Senga is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts this season. On Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed three runs in just 2 2/3 innings.
After that start, the Mets’ brass discussed their next move with Senga, according to MLB.com. One option would be to send the right-hander to the minor leagues, but as a veteran in his fourth season, that move would require Senga’s approval.
On Sept. 5, 2025, he accepted such a move, but on Sunday, he said he did not know if he would do so again.
Scott has a 6.75 ERA in one major league start this season. He allowed one run on zero hits with five walks and one strikeout in just 1 1/3 innings in a no-decision. For Syracuse, he had a 5.27 ERA in three starts with an 0-2 record. He pitched a total of 13 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with two walks and 17 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images New York Mets right-handed starting pitcher Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with lumbar spine inflammation. The move is retroactive to Monday.
Senga received an epidural, Newsday reported.
In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Triple-A Syracuse to join the rotation.
Senga is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts this season. On Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed three runs in just 2 2/3 innings.
After that start, the Mets’ brass discussed their next move with Senga, according to MLB.com. One option would be to send the right-hander to the minor leagues, but as a veteran in his fourth season, that move would require Senga’s approval.
On Sept. 5, 2025, he accepted such a move, but on Sunday, he said he did not know if he would do so again.
Scott has a 6.75 ERA in one major league start this season. He allowed one run on zero hits with five walks and one strikeout in just 1 1/3 innings in a no-decision. For Syracuse, he had a 5.27 ERA in three starts with an 0-2 record. He pitched a total of 13 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with two walks and 17 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images New York Mets right-handed starting pitcher Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with lumbar spine inflammation. The move is retroactive to Monday.
Senga received an epidural, Newsday reported.
In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Triple-A Syracuse to join the rotation.
Senga is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts this season. On Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed three runs in just 2 2/3 innings.
After that start, the Mets’ brass discussed their next move with Senga, according to MLB.com. One option would be to send the right-hander to the minor leagues, but as a veteran in his fourth season, that move would require Senga’s approval.
On Sept. 5, 2025, he accepted such a move, but on Sunday, he said he did not know if he would do so again.
Scott has a 6.75 ERA in one major league start this season. He allowed one run on zero hits with five walks and one strikeout in just 1 1/3 innings in a no-decision. For Syracuse, he had a 5.27 ERA in three starts with an 0-2 record. He pitched a total of 13 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with two walks and 17 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers…
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#Afghan #womens #refugee #team #allowed #play #FIFA #tournaments">Afghan women’s refugee team allowed to play in FIFA tournaments
The Afghanistan women’s refugee team has been granted eligibility for international competitions, some five years after national team players fled their country’s Taliban rule.
The FIFA Council, meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, agreed on Tuesday to amend its regulations to recognise the refugee team, which plays under the name Afghan Women United.
While it is too late for the refugee team to try to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, it could participate in qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“We are proud of the beautiful journey initiated by Afghan Women United, and with this initiative, we aim to enable them, as well as other FIFA member associations that may not be able to register a national or representative team for a FIFA competition, to make the next step, in coordination with the relevant confederation,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
The first move toward recognition came last October, when the Afghan refugees played in a tournament that included Chad, Libya and Tunisia in Morocco. That event followed years of lobbying on the team’s behalf by players, former captain and activist Khalida Popal and human rights groups.
There are more than 80 Afghan refugee players scattered across Australia, the United States and Europe. Two camps were recently held for the women, one in England and another in Australia.
The team, coached by Pauline Hamill, is expected to play a pair of exhibitions during the upcoming June international window against opponents to be determined.
The Afghan women’s team played its last competitive match in 2018. The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, shut down all women’s sports when it returned to power in 2021. The players fled Afghanistan, fearing persecution.
Even before the demise of the team, the Afghan football federation was under investigation for misconduct involving the women’s program, including allegations of rape and physical abuse. Keramuddin Keram, the federation president, was banned for life by FIFA.
Discrimination is not allowed under FIFA regulations, but the Afghan federation hasn’t been suspended from international football despite failing to acknowledge the women’s team.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
The Afghanistan women’s refugee team has been granted eligibility for international competitions, some five years after national team players fled their country’s Taliban rule.
The FIFA Council, meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, agreed on Tuesday to amend its regulations to recognise the refugee team, which plays under the name Afghan Women United.
While it is too late for the refugee team to try to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, it could participate in qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“We are proud of the beautiful journey initiated by Afghan Women United, and with this initiative, we aim to enable them, as well as other FIFA member associations that may not be able to register a national or representative team for a FIFA competition, to make the next step, in coordination with the relevant confederation,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
The first move toward recognition came last October, when the Afghan refugees played in a tournament that included Chad, Libya and Tunisia in Morocco. That event followed years of lobbying on the team’s behalf by players, former captain and activist Khalida Popal and human rights groups.
There are more than 80 Afghan refugee players scattered across Australia, the United States and Europe. Two camps were recently held for the women, one in England and another in Australia.
The team, coached by Pauline Hamill, is expected to play a pair of exhibitions during the upcoming June international window against opponents to be determined.
The Afghan women’s team played its last competitive match in 2018. The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, shut down all women’s sports when it returned to power in 2021. The players fled Afghanistan, fearing persecution.
Even before the demise of the team, the Afghan football federation was under investigation for misconduct involving the women’s program, including allegations of rape and physical abuse. Keramuddin Keram, the federation president, was banned for life by FIFA.
Discrimination is not allowed under FIFA regulations, but the Afghan federation hasn’t been suspended from international football despite failing to acknowledge the women’s team.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
The Afghanistan women’s refugee team has been granted eligibility for international competitions, some five years…
