Bartunkova stuns Sabalenka in China Open

Manila Times - Oct 4, 2026

BEIJING — Aryna Sabalenka was swatted aside in straight sets by 34th-ranked Nikola Bartunkova in the third round of the China Open on Sunday, leaving the event without its top two seeds. Czech player Bartunkova, 20, sent down four aces to beat the former world number one 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes. "I focused on myself, to be calm," Bartunkova said. "She's a legend... so I'm really happy that I won the match," she said of the four-time Grand Slam champion. Bartunkova next faces Austria's Sinja Kraus in the round of 16. Second-seeded Sabalenka squandered five chances to break serve in the sixth game of the first set, with Bartunkova strong on defence and firing deep. The 28-year-old from Belarus threw on a cap for the eighth game of the first set as the women switched between playing in the shade and the sun, but it did not turn the tide in her favour. A frustrated Sabalenka tossed her racquet at a break down in the fourth game of the second set, and lost on the first match point when she returned into the net. Top seed Elena Rybakina -- who weeks earlier replaced Sabalenka as World No. 1 -- was ousted by Alina Charaeva...

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PBA expects crop of talent   

Oct 3, 2026

PBA expects crop of talent   

DESPITE the exodus of Filipino cage talents who now play overseas in Japan and South Korea, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial remains optimistic that the pro league’s next rookie draft in Jan. 2027 will welcome a fresh influx of talents from the collegiate ranks. Marcial said the pro league will be holding the annual PBA Rookie Draft on Jan. 17, 2027. “I’ve heard from many of our basketball friends that the coming draft will be talent heavy, especially those coming from the UAAP and the NCAA since the tournaments are already done by December,” Marcial told The Manila Times in Filipino. Even players from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League are expected to join the draft, which could bring in young blood for Asia’s first professional league. Geo Chiu, who helped the Abra Weavers win the 2025 MPBL championship, in fact, emerged as the top pick in last year’s rookie draft. The talent depth could potentially attract former Ateneo big man Kymani Ladi, recent Asian Games Gilas 3x3 player Nic Cabanero, former Adamson forward Cedrick Manzano, Forth Padrigao, along with Fil-Americans DJ Fenner and Remy Martin, who recently played for Strong Group in the Williams Jones Cup. While the pro league has significantly lost major Filipino basketball talents, as some have opt to sign and play in the Japan B. League and Korean Basketball League, Marcial welcomed the competition from overseas. The league chieftain also maintained that the PBA remains unique, in that, it continues to provide a solid path for players who used to play overseas to continue their careers in the Philippines. “(Playing overseas) It has been there to provide livelihood for the players. That’s fine with us in the PBA. And they (Japanese and Korean pro leagues) are not threats,” he said. “We also know some of them will still come back and play in the PBA.”

Alex Eala shifts focus back to WTA Tour

Oct 3, 2026

Alex Eala shifts focus back to WTA Tour

ALEX Eala is quickly turning the page after her gold-medal bid fell short at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, shifting her full attention to her upcoming return to the WTA Tour. The Filipina netter must swiftly move past her disappointing campaign as she prepares to compete in the Wuhan Open in China from Oct. 12 to 18, followed immediately by the Ningbo Open, also in China, from October 19 to 25. “I’m going to Wuhan and continue the Tour,” Eala said after her impressive run was halted in the semifinals. Eala suffered a tough 6-3, 3-6, 2-6 defeat against China’s Wang Xiyu, settling for the bronze medal. Despite the setback, she expressed deep gratitude to those who supported her, emphasizing that she gave her absolute all on the court against her Chinese opponent. Reflecting on her stint, Eala remains positive about the experience, highlighting the valuable lessons learned and the specific areas of her game she plans to refine moving forward. “Happy that I was able to have this experience,” she shared. The exit was particularly heartbreaking as Eala entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and highest-ranked player, making her a strong favorite for the championship. Furthermore, she opted to skip the WTA 1000 Beijing Open—a mandatory WTA event—putting her at risk of penalties. However, Eala has no regrets about her decision, holding her head high over the privilege of representing the Philippines in a prestigious event held only once every four years.  With her national duty complete, her sights are now set entirely on her upcoming professional schedule on the WTA Tour.

Marcial echoes Paalam’s Asian Games heartbreak

Oct 3, 2026

Marcial echoes Paalam’s Asian Games heartbreak

TWO-TIME Olympic medalist Carlo Paalam’s split-decision loss in the 2026 Asian Games gold-medal bout struck a familiar chord with fellow Olympic boxer Eumir Marcial, who experienced a similar defeat against a host nation. Paalam was poised to end the Philippines’ 16-year Asian Games boxing gold medal drought on Friday at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan. However, he fell short in a narrow 3-2 decision against Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi in the men’s 52-kilogram division. The outcome mirrored Marcial’s run at the 2022 Hangzhou Games (held in 2023), where he claimed silver in the men’s 80-kilogram division after a tight final against China’s Tanglatihan Touhetaerbieke. Both Filipino boxers lost their respective gold-medal bouts to fighters competing on home soil. Following the match, Paalam voiced frustration with the officiating, claiming the referee repeatedly disrupted his rhythm. “I was performing well, but the referee kept intervening. It wasn’t a good decision. Every time I gained momentum, he stopped me. It felt like he was focusing entirely on me,” Paalam said in Filipino via the Philippine Olympic Committee. Reflecting on the match, Marcial shared a message of solidarity on Facebook, recalling his own experience in Hangzhou. “Back at the 2023 Asian Games, I felt I was robbed in the finals as well. I believed I won and was bringing home the gold,” Marcial posted. “Losing to the host country isn’t new. But whatever the decision, we have to accept it, move forward, and keep chasing the dream. Congratulations, brother. Salute.” Marcial opted out of the 2026 Asian Games following a recent professional bout in the United States, where he secured a knockout victory over Omar Ulises Huerta. The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) and Marcial mutually agreed to skip the tournament to avoid the physical risks of rapidly transitioning back to the amateur format.

Pistons, Duren agree to $200M extension

Oct 3, 2026

Pistons, Duren agree to $200M extension

DETROIT — The lengthy negotiations between the Detroit Pistons and star center Jalen Duren didn’t leave any lingering animosity, at least not in the mind of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Duren, an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract. There were reports during the offseason that the restricted free agent sought sign-and-trade options and even felt disrespected by the front office. Duren, who was not made available to the media, underwent a physical and other testing on Friday and is expected to start practicing as early as this weekend. Bickerstaff brushed aside any suggestion that Duren might not be fully invested in rejoining the team. “The most important thing for us was having JD back with us and I know JD wanted to be back,” Bickerstaff said. “All that stuff that was floating (around), we know what’s real. It’s a negotiating process and we went through the process and we knew he’d be back.” Duren had little leverage, other than to sign a $9.6 million qualifying offer — which expired on Thursday night — and become an unrestricted free agent after this season. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon repeatedly stated he had no interest in dealing his starting center. Duren was eligible for a five-year contract worth up to $287 million but the fully guaranteed deal will still make him one of the top 10 centers in terms of annual salary. “There’s never been any bitterness between the group and how we feel about him and I know how he feels about us,” Bickerstaff said. Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 points last season, along with 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting. He struggled in the playoffs, averaging 10.2 points as the top-seeded Pistons failed to get out of the second round.

Novak Djokovic survives China Open scare

Oct 3, 2026

Novak Djokovic survives China Open scare

BEIJING — Novak Djokovic survived a scare to beat outsider Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the second round of the China Open on Friday night in Beijing. It was not an easy fight for the 39-year-old Serbian, a firm favorite in China who has never lost in Beijing in 31 matches. Pumped-up home hope Bu, 24, threatened to spoil the party in the marathon two-hour 52-minute match, frustrating Djokovic by pushing him back and forth across the baseline. The former world number one needed a medical timeout for his torso after giving back a break in the second set, but held on in a tense tie-break to force a deciding third. Back with better tennis, 11th-ranked Djokovic won four games in a row and held serve before sinking a backhand winner. “Amazing atmosphere tonight,” Djokovic told an electrified crowd, adding he “tried to give my all”. Ongoing health issues have clouded the tennis star’s 2026 season, his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam ending with a shock first-round exit at the US Open after vomiting and cramping on court. But feeling refreshed in Friday’s decider was a welcome change from “investing my emotional, mental... and physical” energy on those issues rather than his game, he told reporters in Beijing. “Finally that I get to play tennis, you know, without really thinking about all the other things happening,” he said. He will play either Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the top seed in Beijing, or Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng in the quarter-final. Just before the men’s late-night thriller on centre court, Aryna Sabalenka sent down 11 aces as she dismissed Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-3 to launch her China Open title charge. The world number two from Belarus next faces Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32 in the women’s 1000-level event. Sabalenka groaned over a smattering of unforced errors during the 62-minute match but had the clear edge over Mexico’s Zarazua, ranked 94th, breaking to win on the second time of asking. “I was just trying to stay focused on myself. Tried to stay aggressive on my serve, on the return as well,” the 28-year-old said. “So happy with the game I played today.” Earlier on Friday, Japan’s Naomi Osaka wrestled back control to survive her second-round clash with Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The four-time Grand Slam champion next plays Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic. French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame a first-set wobble to beat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, a 2025 Beijing finalist, beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1. Andreeva next faces Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova and Noskova will meet Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the third round. Elsewhere in the men’s draw, a series of searing forehands from Daniil Medvedev sent qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta home 6-4, 6-2, earning the Russian world number six a second-round meeting with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

Messi returns home for Argentina farewell

Oct 3, 2026

Messi returns home for Argentina farewell

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday (Saturday in Manila) ahead of his farewell game with the national team. Messi is set to play in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a final appearance for the team he led to a World Cup title in 2022. The Argentine Football Association said the goal of the match is to ensure “the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.” Messi, who announced his international retirement on Aug. 31, flew in from Miami on a private jet with his family, landing in his hometown of Rosario, 300 kilometers (about 190 miles) north of Buenos Aires. Several fellow 2022 World Cup champions will join the celebrations. However, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were unable to attend after Roma declined to release them. Messi’s decision brings the curtain down on a historic 21-year international career in the Albiceleste jersey, leaving behind a legacy that includes 125 goals and reaching two more World Cup finals — losing to Spain this year and Germany in 2014. Messi is not taking part in any of Argentina’s other games in this international window. The team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Ohtani shaking off injuries as Dodgers launch post-season

Oct 3, 2026

Ohtani shaking off injuries as Dodgers launch post-season

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers expect superstar Shohei Ohtani to be nearing full strength when they take on the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series with an eye on a third straight World Series title. The four-time Most Valuable Player, who landed in the injured list with nagging left knee and right biceps injuries late in the regular season, has benefitted from five days off as the 100-win Dodgers enjoyed a first-round bye, manager Dave Roberts said. “I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. “Every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better... he’ll be a threat in the lineup.” The Dodgers are chasing the first World Series three-peat since the New York Yankees won it all in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Tarik Skubal — the two-time reigning Cy Young Award-winner acquired from Detroit in August to bolster that bid — is expected to start game one of the best-of-five series against the Braves on Saturday. The Milwaukee Brewers, the top seeds in the National League after winning 103 regular-season games, will take on the San Diego Padres while in the American League the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays face the New York Yankees and the second-seeded Cleveland Guardians meet the Chicago White Sox — who had the backing of lifelong fan Pope Leo XIV during their Wild Card win over the Houston Astros. The Braves topped the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in the best-of-three Wild Card series to book their sixth post-season showdown with the Dodgers. Atlanta have been buoyed by the dominant pitching of Chris Sale and a resurgent Tyler Mahle while the Dodgers, even with Ohtani unable to pitch, have a formidable rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow in addition to Skubal. “Everyone knows the Dodgers have a juggernaut, but we played well against them this year,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss, who was scrambling to get his roster settled as the team headed to Los Angeles after beating Philadelphia 6-2 on Thursday night to clinch their series win. “That doesn’t carry a whole lot of stock. Once the playoffs begin everybody starts at zero. The Dodgers are healthier now than they were when we saw them.” The Brewers finished with the best record in baseball for the second straight year and after falling short of the fall Classic in each of their past nine trips to the playoffs they’re determined to cash in on their regular-season capital. But they’ll face a red-hot team in the Padres, who clinched a playoff berth with a 16-5 record in September and swept the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in their Wild Card series.

Smotherman drops career-low 62  in Utah 

Oct 3, 2026

Smotherman drops career-low 62  in Utah 

IVINS, Utah — Austin Smotherman made 10 birdies Friday (Saturday in Manila) to match the lowest round of his PGA Tour career, a 9-under 62 that gave him a one-shot lead in a Bank of Utah Championship where making birdies is the only way to make up ground. Kevin Roy opened with a pair of 63s and broke by five shots his best 36-hole score. In perfect conditions at the Black Desert Resort, that left him one shot behind Smotherman. Smotherman, playing in his 100th PGA Tour event and still looking for his first victory, made all but two of his 10 birdies from inside 10 feet. His longest was a 20-footer on the par-3 17th, part of a birdie-birdie-birdie finish that gave his second 36-hole lead of the year at 17-under 125. He also led after 36 holes at the Cognizant Classic, where he tied for second. “It was just very steady — a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges,” Smotherman said. “It’s what you’ve got to do to shoot 9 under.” He also shot 62 at the Cognizant Classic in February and the Bermuda Open four years ago. Doug Ghim had another bogey-free round, this one a 62 that left him two shots behind along with Kevin Streelman, who had a 65. The late drama came from Jackson Koivun, the 21-year-old who finished at Auburn in June and was unbeaten in the Presidents Cup last week at Medinah. Koivun was outside the projected cut line for much of the afternoon and came to the par-5 18th needing birdie to assure playing the weekend. His drive found the bunker down the left side, slightly down because of the rake grooves. He still went with a 5-wood with lava rock down the left side. He cleared that and stayed short of more trouble, then hit a pitch-and-run to 6 feet for birdie and 67. That allowed Koivun to make the cut on the number at 6-under 136. Among those who missed the cut was Utah native Tony Finau. The Bank of Utah Championship is the second of eight tournaments that are part of the FedEx Cup Fall, where the top 100 in the standings at the end of the year keep full cards for next year. The top 60 are assured of getting into $20 million signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera.

Korean golfers play for military exemption  

Oct 3, 2026

Korean golfers play for military exemption  

NAGOYA, Japan — A gold medal for two South Korean golfers at the Asian Games would mean more than a chunk of metal to dangle around their necks. For Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Seong-hyeon, winning gold at the Asian Games — in the men’s individual or team event — would excuse them from mandatory military service at home. Kim Joo-hyung goes by Tom Kim when he plays on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon goes by S.H. Kim. Under any name, they got a good start in the first round on Wednesday toward landing the exemption. The final round is Saturday. “I am 100% nervous,” S.H. Kim said. “A lot of pressure.” He added he’s struggling with knee and back injuries and was not optimistic about his chances in the individual event. “Team gold is easier,” he said. Japan led the men’s team competition after the first round, with South Korea and China two strokes behind. In the individual event, Wang Wei-hsuan of Taiwan and Kazuki Higa of Japan were tied at 5-under 65 atop the leaderboard at Kasugi Country Club. Mun Do-yeob, the third member of the South Korea team, was tied with four others at 4-under 66. Unlike his teammates, 35-year-old Mun doesn’t need the exemption. In South Korea most men serve 18-21 months of military service. “I already finished my military service so I don’t really think about the military (exemption)”, Mun said. “But I want to play good, so we make our team get a gold medal ... to make sure they don’t go to the military.” The format is 72 holes of stroke play. The teams are made up of three players, but only the best two scores count each day toward the team total.

Koivun shines in stellar Presidents Cup debut

Oct 3, 2026

Koivun shines in stellar Presidents Cup debut

MEDINAH, Illinois — Jackson Koivun crushed his tee shot on No. 18 and twirled his driver in the air as he strutted toward the fairway. The 21-year-old Koivun looked quite comfortable in his Presidents Cup debut. More like a seasoned veteran than the youngest player on the US team. The former Auburn star defeated Si Woo Kim 2 up in singles, part of an epic rally for the Americans in a 17-13 victory over the International squad. He went 2-0-1 in his three matches at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago. “I put him in a big spot today, a really big spot,” US captain Brandt Snedeker said. “That was a massive match. If we were going to have any chance today, he had to win that match. The guys were cheering in the room last night when we made that decision to put him in that spot. The whole team went crazy because they knew they wanted the kid to go up against Si Woo, and he delivered today in a big way.” Koivun led the Tigers to the NCAA title in June. Almost two months later, the California native won the 3M Open in his third professional start, holding off Scottie Scheffler on the way to the victory. Despite his lack of experience, Koivun was selected by Snedeker for the American team. He became the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to start a year without a tour card and play in the Presidents Cup. “I had some goals, but for it to come this quickly is definitely shocking, and I’m just thankful and grateful for the trust the captains put in me to put me out in three of the five matches,” Koivun said. Koivun teamed with Justin Thomas for a 4-and-3 victory over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria in fourballs on Thursday. He rested during Friday’s foursomes — a 5-0 sweep for the International team — before playing with Thomas again on Saturday in a fourballs match against Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im that was halved. “He’s really just — he gets it. He’s very mature,” Thomas said. “It just was really cool to kind of just watch him do his thing. I’ll never in my life forget the smile he had on his face when he put the tee in the ground on Thursday morning and he was about to hit.” Koivun fell behind at the beginning of his singles match against Kim, losing two of the first four holes. He got one back when he made an 18-footer for birdie on No. 5, a 480-yard, par-4. But Kim restored his 2-up lead when he birdied No. 9 and Koivun missed a 6-footer. Koivun rallied with an impressive finish, winning five of the last eight holes. He tied the match with a 12-footer for birdie on No. 12. He opened a 2-up lead on No. 15, when he hit it into 7 feet and Kim missed a 6-footer. Up one going into No. 18, Koivun showed no signs of any nerves. He blasted a 310-yard drive into the fairway and an 8-iron from 159 into 8 feet, punctuating each swing with a twirling club and a confident walk toward the green. Koivun’s victory guaranteed at least a tie for the US, and the Americans closed it out from there. Koivun was one of the first players to hold the Cup during the closing ceremony, capping a valuable experience for the phenom. “Yeah, I think I’ll just take a lot of knowledge that I can be out here and I can compete,” he said. “It’s just exciting being able to call these guys my friends, and now when I go to tournaments it’s not like, ‘Oh, there’s so and so.’ It’s like, ‘I was on a team with them and we won the Presidents Cup.’”

Fifa Asean Cup: Gianni Infantino incurs Hong Kong fans’ wrath as city team claim trophy

Oct 3, 2026

Fifa Asean Cup: Gianni Infantino incurs Hong Kong fans’ wrath as city team claim trophy

More than 30,000 Hong Kong fans gave Gianni Infantino their raucous verdict on his leadership of world football on Saturday, before and after watching the city team beat Cambodia 2-0 to be crowned inaugural Fifa Asean Challenge Cup champions. Infantino, the Fifa president, was lustily booed when he delivered the trophy to the pitch alongside local football association president Pui Kwan-kay before kick-off. When he returned to present the spoils to Hong Kong, the stadium PA was raised to an...

2026 Asian Games: Updated Philippines medal tally and list of medalists, as of October 3

Oct 3, 2026

2026 Asian Games: Updated Philippines medal tally and list of medalists, as of October 3

Alexandria Enriquez won a silver medal in the jiu-jitsu competion to add to the Philippines' haul in the 2026 Asian Games, which now stands at 29 medals as of Saturday, October 3.

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