LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz helped Europe take a 3-1 lead on the first day of the Laver Cup as the Spaniard teamed up with Jakub Mensik for a doubles victory. The world number three, playing in only his second event since a four-month injury lay-off, impressed the watching Rod Laver and Roger Federer as he and Mensik defeated Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4. Alcaraz plans to play fewer events going forward, blaming an “impossible” tennis calendar for a rising number of injuries in the sport. But the seven-time Grand Slam champion said before the competition that his “love” for team events helps him “bring my joy back on the court, bring my joy back on playing tennis.” He and Mensik were all smiles as just one break of serve sufficed in each set to earn an opening day lead. Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, the reigning French and US Open champion, were both kept in reserve by European captain Yannick Noah earlier on Friday. Casper Ruud earned the first point of the tournament by edging out Francisco Cerundolo 10-8 in a deciding tie-break. Brandon Nakashima responded for Team World, also edging out Mensik in a tie-break after the first two sets were shared. Rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar was more convincing on his Laver Cup debut with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bublik. The first side to 13 points will be crowned winners of the three-day event at London’s O2. Each match is worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday. Meanwhile, Alcaraz has called on tennis chiefs to end late matches at Grand Slams after his record-breaking US Open exit in the middle of the night. Alcaraz’s reign as US Open champion was shattered by Ben Shelton in a five-set thriller that finished at 3.33am local time in New York. The quarter-final started on a Tuesday evening and finally came to a conclusion after four hours and 28 minutes on a Wednesday morning in the latest finish in US Open history. The cut-off for matches at Wimbledon is 11pm local time, but the US Open, French Open and Australian Open do not have an allotted time to halt play.

NAGOYA, Japan — Chinese freestyler Zhang Zhanshuo completed his sweep of seven gold medals at the Asian Games, taking the 400-meter freestyle in 3 minutes, 41.28 seconds on the final day of swimming events. His time was just 1.30 seconds off the world record held by Lukas Martens of Germany (3:39.98). Zhang also won the 1,500, 800 and 200 free and added gold in three relays. He celebrated at poolside by sitting on the lane divider and counting the golds with his fingers. The Chinese won a record 30 gold medals — and 54 overall — during the six days of swimming at these Asian Games and surpassed the 28 gold medals they won three years ago in Hangzhou. Japan was right there in many races, winning seven gold and 37 medals overall — also better than their totals three years ago. Japan’s 17-year-old Shin Ohashi set the only world record of the games, taking the 200-meter breaststroke on Thursday in 2:04.83. Ohashi obliterated the old mark of 2:05.48 set by China’s Qin Haiyang in 2023 at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan. China’s 13-year-old Yu Zidi was the most talked about swimmer heading into the Asian Games. She did not disappoint, winning the 200 butterfly, and the 200 and 400 individual medleys. Her time in the 200 IM was 2:06.10, just off the world mark held by Canadian Summer McIntosh (2:05.70). Yu’s times are still a bit off McIntosh’s standard in all three events. But she is a legitimate threat at next year’s world championships and the 2028 Olympics where, of course, other swim powers like Australia and United States will be present. China won gold medals in five of the seven races on Friday, just as dominant as it was all week. Zhang Yufei won the women’s 50 fly in 25.41 with teammate Wu Qingfeng taking silver. China’s Qin Haiyang took the 50 breaststroke (26.68) with Ohashi — the record-setter on Thursday — settling for bronze. Other Chinese winners were Li Bingjie in the 800 free (8:24.02), Zhang Zhanshuo in the 400 free (3:41.28), and the women’s 4x100 medley relay (3:54.55). Japan’s Kodai Nishiono won the men’s 200 backstroke (1:56.42), and Taiwan’s Wang Kuan-hung claimed the 200 fly (1:55.05).

ALEX Eala seized the top seed and a first-round bye in the 20th Asian Games women's singles tennis at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan. The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) revealed the tournament draw in a Facebook post on Friday. Coming off a shock second-round exit at the WTA 500 Singapore Open, the Filipino tennis ace will face the winner between Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pakistan's Mahin Aftab Qureshi who clash in the first round. World No. 18 Eala suffered a stunning 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 loss to No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova of Russia in the round of 16 on Thursday in Singapore, where she was the No. 3 seed with a first-round bye. Eala is determined to bounce back in the Asian Games, where she's the favorite to win the gold medal in the tournament running from September 27 to October 3. Back in the 2018 edition of the tournament, then 18-year-old Eala snared two bronze medals -- one in individual and another in mixed doubles. No. 2 seed Zhang Shuai of China also received a first-round bye in this year's 32-player Asiad field. Ranked No. 55 in the WTA, 37-year-old Zhang is poised to challenge 21-year-old Eala for the title. Eala already defeated Zhang in their lone encounter in the first round of the HSBC Championships last June, 6-3, 6-2. No. 3 seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan and No. 4 Wang Xiyu of China are the two other WTA players poised to challenge Eala for the Asiad gold. Putintseva is ranked No. 79 while Wang is No. 83. Meanwhile, another Filipino bet in Tenniele Madis will also compete in the women's singles play. Madis will face No. 7 seed Himeno Sakatsume of Japan in the first round. Eala and Madis will compete in the doubles division, too. Eala teams up with Shaira Hope Rivera as they face Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu of Hong Kong in the first round.

Albert Ian Delos Santos captured the Philippines" 10th medal in the 2026 Asian Games after bagging the bronze medal in weightlifting on Saturday in Japan.

YOUNG blood Albert Ian Delos Santos made a grand entrance in his Asian Games debut, setting new junior World and Asian records to capture the bronze medal in the men’s 70-kilogram weightlifting event at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre in Japan. As the youngest competitor in the nine-man field, the promising weightlifter lifted a total of 324 kg—154 kg in the snatch and 183 kg in the clean and jerk—to secure his spot on the podium. Serving as Team Philippines’ flag-bearer, Delos Santos eclipsed his previous junior mark of 321 kg (141 kg snatch, 180 kg clean and jerk), which he set at the Asian Youth & Junior Championships in August. While Delos Santos previously recorded a total lift of 326 kg in the 71 kg class at the IWF World Championships, the International Weightlifting Federation restructured its bodyweight categories in 2026, establishing 70 kg and 71 kg as separate divisions. Coming from a proud lineage of weightlifters—his late father Alvin was a former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and coach, and his mother Diwa was a former national lifter—an emotional Delos Santos held up a photo of his father following his victory. North Korea’s Won Ju Ri claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 349 kg (151 kg snatch, 198 kg clean and jerk), while Japan’s Masanori Miyamoto took silver with 342 kg (154 kg snatch, 188 kg clean and jerk). Meanwhile, Japan’s 11-year-old eSports prodigy Yuki Kurihara won Asian Games gold on Saturday in style after thrashing a series of opponents up to three times his age. The bespectacled primary school student, believed to be the youngest competitor at the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, won the Puyo Puyo Champions final 10-2. He is host country Japan’s youngest athlete in Asian Games history. Puyo Puyo Champions is a puzzle game where players try to clear their screen of coloured blobs by lining them up and popping them. Look unruffled throughout, Kurihara waltzed into the gold-medal match with a series of dazzling displays. He crushed Thailand’s Tanarak Wongkitkun -- a relative veteran at 28 -- 10-1 in the semi-finals to ensure at least a silver medal.

THE Alas Pilipinas men’s national volleyball team faces a steep uphill battle as it opens its 2026 Asian Games campaign against a formidable South Korean squad on Sunday at the Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The game is set at 12 noon (Manila time). Slated in Pool D alongside South Korea, China and Taiwan, Alas Pilipinas must secure at least two victories to finish among the top two in the pool and advance to the quarterfinals. Currently ranked 114th in the world, the underdog Philippine team will need Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni to work his tactical magic against higher-ranked opponents—South Korea (25th), China (34th), and Taiwan (55th). Nevertheless, Alas aims to defy the odds by drawing confidence from its historic FIVB World Championship victory over then-World No. 21 Egypt. To mount its campaign, the national squad has retained its full FIVB World Championship roster. Heavy hitters Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo lead the outside hitters alongside Buds Buddin and Jude Garcia, while Leo Ordiales and John Lirck Mendoza anchor the opposite position. Middle blockers Lloyd Josafat, Peng Taguibolos, and Joshua Magalaman, together with libero Josh Ybañez, round out the defensive and net efforts. Adding a crucial boost to the lineup, star playmaker Owa Retamar arrived in Japan following a long-haul flight from Poland, where his club team, Ordu, released him from training camp to answer the national call. Retamar expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent the country across the SEA Games, World Championship, and now the Asian Games, emphasizing that playing for the national team goes beyond contracts and obligations as the team unites to focus on supporting each other. “This goes beyond contracts or obligations. When the country calls, you play for something bigger than yourself. I’m grateful to Ordu for allowing me to represent the Philippines, and after the Asian Games, I will return with the same commitment to fulfill my responsibilities to the club,” Retamar said. The setter made sure to not waste any chance to represent the Philippines. “This is for the young Owa who had all of these on his bucket list—to play in the SEA Games, the World Championship, and now the Asian Games. Playing with the Philippine team will always be a mix of excitement and challenge. Let’s set aside the noise and focus on supporting each other and playing as one team.”

Macmac Alfanta starred as National University defeated the University of the Philippines, 72-64, in the UAAP Season 89 men"s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jay Rooney CIRCUIT CHAMPION - R11 (6) Was brave in defeat on return and should get a smoother run here   Owen Goulding THUNDER PRINCE - R4 (9) Huge run from woeful draw last start, now drawn better and will be rock-hard fit   Paul Lally CIRCUIT CHAMPION - R11 (6) Didn't have the race run to suit last start and looks well placed to atone   Phillip Woo BRIGHT MORTAR - R5 (6) Should go one better on preferred dirt surface after resuming second on turf   Trackwork Spy PACKING FIGHTER - R9...

Zhang Ziyu played a starring role to drag China to women’s basketball bronze at the Asian Games on Saturday, with her coach predicting the teenager standing 2.2 metres (7-foot-3) will one day be “invincible”. The 19-year-old is already taller than NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and she made full use of her advantage as China beat Chinese Taipei 77-64 in the third-place match in Nagoya. Zhang has made a name for herself in recent weeks, impressing American superstar Caitlin Clark at the Women’s...

MANILA, Philippines — National University held off University of the Philippines, 72-64, at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday to claim its second straight win in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament.   The Bulldogs barked to a 21-4 start and did just enough down the stretch to deny any uprising by the Fighting Maroons. Reinhard Jumamoy logged 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists for NU which improved to 2-1 and dragged UP to the same record. NU, UP, and Ateneo now share the lead in the team standings. Mac Alfanta came through with 13 points as Paul Franciso and Mo Diassana chipped in 11 and 10 markers, respectively. Arvie Poyos paced UP with 13 points, four assists, and three steals.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament NU def. UP, 72-64 Macmac Alfanta Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

Alex Eala has arrived in Japan as she begins the final stretch of her preparations for the 2026 Asian Games, where the Filipina tennis star will lead the country"s medal hopes in the women"s singles event.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala arrived in Nagoya, Japan on Saturday as she prepares for the 20th Asian Games. "Proud and excited," said Eala in a quick interview at the airport as posted by the Philippine Olympic Committee Facebook page Saturday evening.  Eala is coming off a shock second-round exit at the WTA 500 Singapore Open, where she fell to world No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, last Thursday. As the top seed in the Asiad women's singles play, Eala earned a first-round bye in the tournament at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. The competition will run from September 27 to October 3.

Carlos and Eldrew Yulo's medal haul in the 2026 Asian Games tell a story of success, but the brothers know all too well that it is only part of the story.

North Korea’s weightlifters will flex their considerable collective muscle when they return to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years at Los Angeles in 2028 – and they could be in for an American gold rush if the Asian Games are any indication. The secretive nation has been the dominant force in global weightlifting since emerging from self-imposed Covid exile to smash six world records at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. They also won six golds. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan...

Far Eastern University broke through in UAAP Season 89 with a 93-70 victory over the University of the East on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

MANILA, Philippines — Asian Games bronze medalist Albert Ian delos Santos dedicated his medal to his late father after delivering a podium finish at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Delos Santos lifted 141 kilograms in the snatch and 183 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 324 kg, good for the bronze medal in the men’s weightlifting competition on Saturday. In a Facebook post by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Delos Santos said he felt his father’s presence throughout his performance. “Coincidentally, the lights are not that bright from the others. But my platform was the brightest,” he said. “I said I’m gonna be sentimental. That’s papa,” he added. Delos Santos brought with him a photo of his father, Alvin delos Santos, who was also a former weightlifter and served as his coach. The elder Delos Santos died earlier this year. “To my Filipino supporters, thank you for supporting and watching. And for those curious, that is my late father… every lift, I dedicate it to him and to him only,” Delos Santos said.

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda University secured its second straight victory after holding off Jose Rizal University, 65-62, in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Sean Torculas spearheaded the Red Lions with 29 points and eight rebounds, while Andrei Ugaddan chipped in 11 points. Chris Hubilla paced JRU with 14 points and three rebounds in the losing effort. Eligado added 13 points, while Salvador finished with 11. Laurence Mangubat contributed 10 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Bombers. With the victory, San Beda improved to 2-1, while JRU also dropped to 2-1 in Pool A.

Andrei Ugaddan and Aldous Torculas took turns to help San Beda University escape their preseason tormentor Jose Rizal University, 65-62, in the NCAA Season 102 on Saturday.

NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament San Beda def. JRU, 65-62 Sean Torculas Player of the Game #NCAASeason102

Tennis legend Billie Jean King and two former professionals acknowledged modern players are suffering from burnout, but believed any change would be affected by the differing needs of elite players and rest, and the commercial pressure of tournaments. At present, WTA rules say players ranked in the top 30 must compete in all grand slams and ten WTA 1000 tournaments, and skipping these events results in ranking penalties and heavy financial fines that directly damage world standings and core...

Ateneo de Manila University bounced back at the expense of Adamson University, 73-68, on Saturday for its second win in the UAAP Season 89 men"s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament FEU def. UE, 93-70 Kirby Mongcopa Player of the Game #UAAPSeason89

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University hammered the University of the East, 93-70, at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday to take its first win in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament. Kirby Mongcopa pumped 13 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists to lead the Tamaraws, who bounced back from their season-opening loss to the Adamson Soaring Falcons. Mo Konateh came through with 15 points and nine rebounds while Jorick Bautista chipped in 13 points. Toper Lagat scored 20 points and five rebounds for the Red Warriors, who played under interim coach Paolo Hubalde after Chris Gavina resigned as head coach. UE dropped to 0-3.

Karis Teetan is confident Galaxy Patch can replicate his stable debut for Brett Crawford late last season and figure prominently when he returns in Sunday’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin. A multiple Group winner and Group One placegetter for Pierre Ng Pang-chi, Galaxy Patch made an impressive first appearance for Crawford in the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) in June when he stormed home for a close second to Little Paradise. There is a 4lb swing on that race in favour of...

Nesthy Petecio got her 2026 Asian Games campaign off to a flying start, forcing a referee stoppage in her first match in the women's 60kg division on Saturday at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Olympian Nesthy Petecio scored a knockout victory (referee stops contest) against Jordanian Mays Alreem Abukhadijah to enter the 20th Asian Games women's boxing 60kg quarterfinals at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan on Saturday. Petecio unleashed a right hook at the 1:51 mark of the second round that shook Abukhadijah, as the referee deemed it a knockdown and ruled the latter unfit to continue after the count. Petecio faces Chinese Yang Chengyu in the quarterfinals on Monday with a win securing her a bronze medal in the meet.

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran hitter Regina Jurado showed the way as University of Santo Tomas got off to a great start with a 25-21, 25-12, 25-18, victory over College of Saint Benilde in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Jurado scored 12 of her game-high 13 points on attacks as the Golden Tigresses asserted their mastery over the Lady Blazers in a rematch of their SSL National Invitationals championship showdown. “Very thankful and nakaka-gain talaga ng confidence namin na first win namin ito and sunud-sunod ang mga games and liga. Happy na nakuha namin ang first game na ito,” said Jurado, who only saw action in two sets. UST joined Mapua University in sharing the top spot in Pool B of the league’s centerpiece competition, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R&B Milk Tea.    Marga Altea and Erica Guttierez added seven points each while Avril Bron finished with five markers for the Tigresses, whose one-hour, 20-minute triumph was aided by the Lady Blazers’ 25 errors. UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos also tested his setter rotation and yielded good results. Aneeza Santos and Arlene Waje tallied eight excellent sets each while veteran playmaker Cassie Carballo dished out six. UST encountered resistance late in the first set after CSB cut a five-point deficit down to two, 23-21. The Tigresses responded with two straight points capped by a kill by Jurado. UST’s second stringers held the fort in the second frame, dominating their Lady Blazers counterparts. The Tigresses cruised the rest of the way to begin their mission to settle unfinished business after a runner-up finish in the previous edition of the tournament, supported by Smart, PusoP.com and Summit Natural Drinking Water, with the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, Jersey Haven, Solar Sports and 12 Beyond Production as technical partners. Camila Bartolome was the lone bright spot for CSB, unloading 11 points on nine kills and two aces. Mary Grace Borromeo had six points for the Lady Blazers. Action continues on Sunday with Emilio Aguinaldo College taking on San Sebastian College-Recoletos at 1 p.m. Arellano University, which beat University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-23, on Friday, battles Letran at 3 p.m. followed by the 5 p.m. clash between debuting University of the East and Lyceum of the Philippines University. All games are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports. TMT

For Albert Ian Delos Santos, winning bronze at the 20th Asian Games meant more than just the weight he lifted.

The battle for mixed doubles gold in squash will be an all-Hong Kong affair at the Asian Games on Sunday, after the city’s duos both won their semi-finals on a day when the city’s athletes picked up another three bronze medals and some semblance of normality returned to table tennis. With swimming finally over at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, it was the turn of the divers to take centre stage, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, China won the two gold medals on offer on Saturday, the first of...