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Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F

Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F
Borussia Dortmund's Julien Duranville goes after the ball between Ulsan HD's Lee Jin-hyun and Ulsan HD's Lee Hui-gyun during the Club World Cup Group F soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 26 June 2025

Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F

Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F
  • With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup’s round of 16 in Atlanta

A 36th-minute goal from Daniel Svensson was all Borussia Dortmund needed to put away winless Ulsan HD in a 1-0 Group F win in Cincinnati on Wednesday.
With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup’s round of 16 in Atlanta with an opponent that has yet to be determined. Fluminsense, which could have won the group with a victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, also moves on to the knockouts as the group’s No. 2 seed.
While the score indicates a close match, Dortmund dominated the pitch, putting 11 shots on goal among their 28 overall attempts. Compare that with Ulsan’s three shot attempts, all on goal and all occurring within a 16-minute period in the second half.
Dortmund put the pressure on early and often to open the match, ripping off 20 shots — eight on goal — in the first half. While Ulsan didn’t even get a shot off during the first 45 minutes plus stoppage time, goalkeeper Jo Hyeon- woo continued to deny Dortmund with seven saves.
That included a seven-minute stretch midway through the first half during which BVB put four shots on goal, only for Hyeon-woo to turn away each attempt.
Dortmund did not relent, however, and it paid off in the 36th minute as Svensson collected a touch pass from Jobe Bellingham in the box and put a left-footed shot past the keeper to put BVB in front 1-0.
Both Serhou Guirassy and Bellingham had prime chances to add to that advantage in the closing minutes of the half. Again, though, Hyeon-woo stood his ground to keep Dortmund from extending its lead.
Ulsan strung together their first strong chances at goal early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Kang Sang-Woo’s attempt from the right side of the box was saved by BVB’s Gregor Kobel. The goalkeeper was tested again in the 60th and 64th minutes as Kobel saved left-footed blasts by Lee Jin-Hyun and Ko Seung-Beom, respectively, to maintain the one-goal edge.
That was all that Ulsan (0-3-0, 0 points) could muster, however, as the South Korean side wrapped up Club World Cup play last in Group F. Hyeon-woo finished the day with 10 saves.


Djokovic voices physical concerns after US Open win

Djokovic voices physical concerns after US Open win
Updated 25 August 2025

Djokovic voices physical concerns after US Open win

Djokovic voices physical concerns after US Open win
  • The 38-year-old Serbian superstar made a winning start to his latest tilt at glory on Sunday
  • But Djokovic admitted afterwards he was worried by a sudden loss of stamina during the second set

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic fears his lack of physical conditioning may come back to haunt him as he chases a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian superstar made a winning start to his latest tilt at glory on Sunday, defeating US teenager Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in 2hr 25min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
But Djokovic, who needed a lengthy medical timeout to treat a blister on his right foot between the second and third sets, admitted afterwards he was worried by a sudden loss of stamina during the second set.
“I started great – just over 20 minutes, first set, I felt really good,” Djokovic said.
“Then some long games to start the second set... I really was surprised how bad I was feeling in the second physically.
“We had long exchanges, but also, I kind of dropped my level and made a lot of unforced errors and kind of got him back into the match.
“There are positives but also things that hopefully won’t happen in terms of how I felt on the court physically in the second set
“It’s slightly a concern. I don’t know. I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points.”
Djokovic has not played since his defeat in the semifinals at Wimbledon last month, skipping ATP Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati to focus all his energy on the US Open.
While there were a few signs of rustiness at times on Sunday, Djokovic also laced his performance with flashes of the brilliance that has been his calling card throughout a glittering career.
Djokovic looked to be a man in a hurry in a scorching start, rattling off winners to take the first set 6-1.
Tien was given hope in a labored second set from Djokovic, but the 19-year-old American could not convert a break point that would have made it one set all.
Instead, Djokovic held serve to make it 5-5 in the second set and reasserted himself to claim the second-set tie break, attacking the net cleverly and using some sublime variation to pull Tien all over the court.
Djokovic paused for a medical timeout for treatment to his right foot before the third set got under way.
The rest appeared to give Djokovic a jolt of energy and he sprinted into a 5-1 lead to leave Tien reeling.
Tien did well to save a match point on Djokovic’s serve before breaking for 5-2.
But the respite was short-lived as Djokovic again responded emphatically, breaking back immediately to wrap up victory.
“I wish I had Learner Tien’s age – when you come to the late 30s it’s about learning how to preserve the energy for what matters,” Djokovic said.
“I still have the flair, I still have the drive, and you guys give me the energy. Hopefully I can keep it going,” he told the crowd.
Djokovic will face US qualifier Zachary Svajda in the second round.


US Open chaos as Bonzi ousts raging Medvedev

US Open chaos as Bonzi ousts raging Medvedev
Updated 25 August 2025

US Open chaos as Bonzi ousts raging Medvedev

US Open chaos as Bonzi ousts raging Medvedev
  • The match exploded into drama in the third set as Bonzi served at advantage on match point, leading 5-4
  • Frenchman admitted he had lost composure during Medvedev’s third-set antics

NEW YORK: France’s Benjamin Bonzi sent Russian 13th seed Daniil Medvedev crashing out of the US Open early Monday in a stormy late-night thriller that boiled over into chaos following an extraordinary third-set flashpoint.

Bonzi advanced to the second round after holding his nerve to win 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 0-6, 6-4 in 3hr 45min.

The match exploded into drama in the third set as Bonzi served at advantage on match point, leading 5-4 after winning the opening two sets.

After faulting on his first serve, Bonzi prepared to serve again when chair umpire Greg Allensworth suddenly halted play after a photographer mistakenly walked onto the court.

Allensworth called for time after shouting “Not now, get off the court please” before awarding a new first serve to Bonzi on the grounds of a “delay caused by outside interference.”

That prompted an incandescent reaction from Medvedev, who sprinted across the court to remonstrate angrily with Allensworth, accusing the umpire of seeking to end the match early.

“Are you a man? Are you a man?” the 2021 US Open champion asked Allensworth, before shouting into a courtside microphone: “He wants to go home guys. He doesn’t like to be here, he gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”

Medvedev then turned to the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd, waving his arms wildly to encourage them to voice their displeasure.

As deafening catcalls and jeers rained down, play was held up for more than six minutes before Bonzi finally got the opportunity to serve for the match once again.

With the Frenchman clearly rattled, Medvedev saved match point and then went on to force a third-set tie-break, which he duly won to keep the match alive.

Bonzi appeared to wilt in the fourth set, Medvedev winning 6-0 to send it to a decider.

But Bonzi showed great resolve in the fifth set, twice recovering from going a break down before breaking Medvedev’s serve to seal victory.

“It was crazy. I may have got some new fans but also some new non-fans,” Bonzi said afterwards.

“The energy was wild. Thanks to all those who were booing that gave me energy in the fifth.”

Bonzi admitted he had lost composure during Medvedev’s third-set antics.

“I never experienced something like that. Maybe we wait five minutes before the match point and it was so difficult to play,” he said.

“I tried to stay calm and stay in the match, but it was not easy.”

Medvedev meanwhile slumped to his seat after the defeat, smashing a racquet violently in frustration.


Tommy Fleetwood secures elusive first PGA victory to win FedEx Cup title

Tommy Fleetwood secures elusive first PGA victory to win FedEx Cup title
Updated 25 August 2025

Tommy Fleetwood secures elusive first PGA victory to win FedEx Cup title

Tommy Fleetwood secures elusive first PGA victory to win FedEx Cup title
  • The win came in Fleetwood’s 164th career start on tour, which included 30 top-5 finishes
  • Fleetwood, who entered fifth in the points standings, became the first player in the FedEx Cup era (since 2007) to claim his first career PGA tour title at the Tour Championship

ATLANTA: Asked and now answered.

Emphatically.

Stop questioning Tommy Fleetwood about finally getting his first PGA Tour victory. He got his win, after so many close calls, in a big way. The Englishman captured the FedEx Cup championship with a victory in the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday. He takes away the coveted playoff championship and a $10 million winner’s check.

Fleetwood finished 18 under par with a final-round 68. Patrick Cantlay (71), who played in the final pairing, and Russell Henley (69), the first- and second-round leader, tied for second at 15 under.

Fleetwood had a huge smile, maybe of relief, after making his tap-in putt to finish as fans circled the 18th green. They chanted “Tom-my, Tom-my,” as he hugged his caddie. Then he looked upward and let out a scream of delight. He raised both hands as he walked off the green and was greeted by several players.

The win came in Fleetwood’s 164th career start on tour, which included 30 top-5 finishes. Two of those near misses came in these playoffs, a tie for third at the St. Jude’s Championship and a tie for fourth at the BMW Championship. He’s had to answer questions about finally breaking through, especially when he entered the final round holding a share of the lead.

“It’s a shame the story is gone,” Fleetwood said of finally breaking through. “I enjoyed it while it lasted in a sick way. ... I’ll be proud of the strength that I had to show to keep coming back and showing that it can be done if you’re resilient enough and you keep putting yourself in those positions.

“I’ll look back at it and I’ll be able to tell people that I am really, really pleased that I get to talk to kids or aspiring golfers or aspiring sports people, whatever they’re trying to do, and I can genuinely talk about showing resilience or keep coming back after tough losses and keep working and all of those things and the skills that you have to use in order to put yourself there again and then finally get it done.”

Fleetwood, who entered fifth in the points standings, became the first player in the FedEx Cup era (since 2007) to claim his first career PGA tour title at the Tour Championship.

Cantlay found trouble early with a bogey at the first hole and a double-bogey at the second. When Fleetwood birdied No. 2, he was 17 under to Cantlay’s 13 under. Henley took over second place at 15 under.

Fleetwood took a three-stroke lead, at 18 under, into the second nine over Cantay and Henley.

When Cantlay birdied and Fleetwood bogeyed the 10th, just a stroke separated the two. Cantlay bogeyed the 11th, and Fleetwood’s edge was back to two strokes. A Fleetwood birdie at the 13th, and the lead was back to three at 19-under.

When Fleetwood’s tee shot at the par-3 15th landed on dry land — after he hit water in the third round — the tournament was all but over even though he took a bogey. He would play the final hole with a three-stroke lead.

“I think it’s easy for anybody to say that they are resilient, that they bounce back, that they have fight,” Fleetwood said. “It’s different when you actually have to prove it. There’s different types of mental strength. I’ve clearly got things wrong in the dire moments of tournaments, and I might have made the odd dodgy decision, might have put a bad swing on it.

“But I’ve had to have mental strength in a different way. I’ve had to be resilient in terms of putting myself back up there, getting myself back in that position, no matter how many times it doesn’t go my way, no matter how many doubts might creep in. Think the right things, say the right things to yourself, say the right things outwardly, and I am really pleased that I can be proof that if you do all the right things and you just keep going that it can happen.”

Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player and FedEx Cup points leader, started four strokes back. He hit his opening drive out of bounds and managed bogey. He would get two within two strokes of Fleetwood on the back nine but put his tee shot on the par-3 15th in the water and made double-bogey. Scheffler’s chance at back-to-back FedEx Cup titles was over. Scheffler (68) finished tied for fourth at 14 under.

“I wasn’t as sharp as I would have hoped to have (been),” Scheffler said. “I had a good first round, but outside of that didn’t really play my best.”

The Tour Championship changed formats this year to a winner-take-all final with all players starting at even par. However, had they used the starting- strokes format from the previous six years, Scheffler would have won the tournament and the title. Fleetwood, starting at 5 under, who have finished at 23 under; Scheffler, starting 10 under, who have finished 24 under.


Rahm and Legion XIII outlast DeChambeau and the Crushers in the LIV Golf team final

Rahm and Legion XIII outlast DeChambeau and the Crushers in the LIV Golf team final
Updated 25 August 2025

Rahm and Legion XIII outlast DeChambeau and the Crushers in the LIV Golf team final

Rahm and Legion XIII outlast DeChambeau and the Crushers in the LIV Golf team final
  • Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton each birdied the final two holes of regulation, then ended the playoff with a pair of birdies on the second extra hole against DeChambeau and Paul Casey

PLYMOUTH, Michigan: Jon Rahm and Legion XIII outlasted Bryson DeChambeau and the Crushers in a playoff Sunday in the LIV Golf League team final.
Legion XIII rallied to match the Crushers at 20 under at The Cardinal at Saint John’s, with the Stinger squad from South Africa well back at 12 under in three-team final.
Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton each birdied the final two holes of regulation, then ended the playoff with a pair of birdies on the second extra hole against DeChambeau and Paul Casey. Rahm made a 6-footer and Hatton had a short putt for the deciding birdies.
“Tyrrell and I got it going a little late, but better late than never,” Rahm said. “When it came to the playoff, I felt fairly confident we’re both really good wedge players, and if we just put it in the fairway, I was fairly confident we were going to give ourselves a lot of chances.”
Caleb Surratt led Legion XIII with a 64, Rahm and Tom McKibbin each shot 65, and Hatton had a 66.
“Neither Tyrrell or I were having a great day today, and even during the whole week, I don’t think we played our best,” Rahm said. “But the young guys kind of were a beacon of strength playing good and out there today as well. They carried us all the way to the end.”
DeChambeau shot 62.
“He played incredible golf, Rahm said about DeChambeau. “He played unbelievable. His driver was on an absolute roll, and he had the putter going.”
Casey and Anirban Lahiri had 65s, and Charles Howell III closed with a 68. Howell birdied five of the first seven, then dropped three strokes.
Rahm helped Legion III take the team event a week after successfully defending his LIV Golf season points title in Indiana, a tournament where he closed with a 60 before losing a playoff to Sebastian Munoz.


Defending champion Sabalenka into second round of US Open, Raducanu notches first win since 2021 triumph

Defending champion Sabalenka into second round of US Open, Raducanu notches first win since 2021 triumph
Updated 25 August 2025

Defending champion Sabalenka into second round of US Open, Raducanu notches first win since 2021 triumph

Defending champion Sabalenka into second round of US Open, Raducanu notches first win since 2021 triumph
  • Americans Taylor Fritz Shelton and Ben Shelton make smooth progress
  • Tjen of Indonesia and Eala of the Philippines upset top-seed opponents

NEW YORK: Defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was given an early test before she moved into the second round while Emma Raducanu won her first match at the Grand Slam since her 2021 triumph as the tournament began a day earlier than usual on Sunday.
Under the new extended 15-day format, first-round singles action will be contested from Sunday to Tuesday, rather than two days as in previous years, spreading out the star attractions and allowing access for another 70,000-odd spectators.
Sabalenka was among the marquee names on the opening day’s schedule and the Belarusian fed off the vocal Arthur Ashe crowd to overcome determined Swiss Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-1 and move into the next round.
“When I won that first set and you cheered for me, I got goosebumps,” said Sabalenka, who will take on Russia’s Polina Kudermetova in the second round on Wednesday.
“Your support means a lot to me, thank you for coming. It was an amazing atmosphere.”
Novak Djokovic, the record 24-times Grand Slam singles champion, headlines the evening schedule on the main showcourt against American Learner Tien and he will be followed by 2024 finalist Jessica Pegula, who plays Egypt’s Mayar Sherif.
Italian Jasmine Paolini kicks off the later program on Louis Armstrong Stadium against Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava, followed by the 2021 champion and 13th seed Daniil Medvedev, who faces France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

Ben Shelton of the United States in action against Ignacio Buse of Peru in the first round of the men'ss singles at the US Open in QUeens, New York. (Imagn Images)

Compelling wins
Earlier, the extra crop of local ticketholders witnessed compelling wins from 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz, who beat compatriot Emilio Nava 7-5 6-2 6-3, and 2023 semifinalist Ben Shelton, who beat Peru’s qualifier Ignacio Buse 6-3 6-2 6-4.
Fourth seed Fritz and the sixth seed Shelton have emerged as two of the brightest hopes to end a 22-year US men’s drought at their domestic major, as their women’s counterparts have long carried the torch for American tennis.
Briton Raducanu, the first qualifier to win the tournament four years ago, made the second round for the first time since hoisting the trophy as she defeated Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1 6-2.

“I did feel different coming into it this year,” said Raducanu, who lost in the first round in 2022 and 2024.
“I felt like I was doing the right things day to day, but still, it’s in the back of your head. So I’m just very pleased to have overcome that.”
 

Emma Raducanu of Britain serves against Ena Shibahara of Japan during their Women's Singles First Round match of the 2025 US Open on August 24, 2025 in Queens, New York City. (Getty Images via AFP)

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, who lost to Raducanu in the final four years ago, defeated compatriot Rebecca Marino 6-2 6-1 while 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova saw off Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3 7-6(3).
Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko made smooth progress with a 6-4 6-3 win over Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu.
There were a handful of surprises, as qualifier Janice Tjen earned Indonesia’s first win in a Grand Slam main draw in 22 years when she knocked out 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 4-6 6-4.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines got the crowd on their feet as she battled back from 1-5 in the deciding set to defeat Denmark’s 14th seed Clara Tauson 6-3 2-6 7-6(11) in a nerve-searing affair at the Grandstand.
“It was so, so difficult,” said Eala. “This match is one for the books for me.”