The five-time world champions have yet to hit top gear in the tournament, but they have continued to find ways to survive. Their campaign nearly took an early knockout blow against Japan before a dramatic stoppage-time winner carried Carlo Ancelotti's side into the last 16. With the stakes rising, Brazil will now look to draw on their vast World Cup pedigree as they chase a first title since 2002.

Standing in their way is a Norwegian side enjoying its best World Cup run in nearly three decades. Back at football's biggest stage after a 28-year absence, Ståle Solbakken's men have exceeded expectations, claiming victories over Iraq, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire to earn a place in the knockout rounds. Spearheading that charge has been Erling Haaland, whose five goals have made him one of the tournament's most dangerous forwards.

History also offers Norway encouragement. Brazil has never defeated the Scandinavians in four previous meetings, with Norway recording two wins and two draws, including a memorable victory at the 1998 World Cup.

Records, however, are unlikely to influence Sunday's contest. Brazil possess one of the deepest squads remaining in the tournament, with Vinícius Júnior leading an attack capable of unsettling any defence. Norway, meanwhile, have shown attacking intent throughout the competition but are still searching for their first clean sheet, a vulnerability Brazil will aim to exploit.

With a place in the quarter-finals and a potential meeting with either England or Mexico up for grabs, the contest promises a fascinating clash between Brazil's tournament know-how and Norway's fearless resurgence.

How to watch Brazil vs Norway live in India

Live streaming and live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be available on the Zee5 platform and app in India. A subscription will be needed.

Live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on the Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels in India.

Key details

Date and kick-off time: Monday, July 6, 01:30 AM IST

Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, USA

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Squads:

Brazil -

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton

Defenders: Ederson, Douglas Santos, Alex Sandro, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Danilo, Bremer, Ibáñez, Leo Pereira

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Danilo Santos, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta, Raphinha, Neymar

Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Endrick, Rayan

Norway -

Goalkeepers: Orjan Haskjold Nyland, Egil Selvik, Sander Tangvik

Defenders: Kristoffer Vassbakk Ajer, Fredrik Bjorkan, Henrik Falchener, Sondre Langas, Torbjorn Heggem, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Julian Ryerson, David Møller Wolfe, Leo Ostigard

Midfielders: Thelonious Aasgaard, Fredrik Aursnes, Patrick Berg, Sander Berge, Oscar Bobb, Jens Petter Hauge, Antonio Nusa, Andreas Schjelderup, Morten Thorsby, Kristian Thorstvedt, Martin Odegaard

Forwards: Erling Haaland, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Alexander Sorloth

Ishan Kishan scored 49 and, along with skipper Shreyas Iyer (37) and Abhishek Sharma (43), helped India post a challenging 190/7 upon electing to bat first at Old Trafford on Saturday. However, England rode on an unbeaten 76 from Jacob Bethell to overhaul the target and reach 191/6 in 19 overs, recovering from a precarious 1/2 and 51/3 for a four-wicket win. The key to India's defeat was the 17th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi that cost 29 runs as the leggie finished with figures of 4-0-60-0.

Asked whether India needed an off-spinner to capitalise on the situation in the middle and lower-order, Ishan Kishan said the bowlers picked for the match were "quality bowlers," and all this talk was conjecture.

"No, I mean, we played for a perfect team, you know. It's just that when you don't win, there are a lot of thoughts coming in, a lot of ifs and buts are coming in. But at the same time, I feel all of them were very good bowlers who have done well in the past, who have made their team win in different situations. Even bowling on very flat tracks and still getting wickets. So, I don't think we could have done anything different looking at the team side," said Ishan Kishan in the post-match press conference.

Kishan, however, admitted that the team has to consider how it can improve its performance, taking the conditions into account.

"Yeah, like I said, we need to just understand what conditions are and how we can improve, what we can do better. You know, thoughts will keep coming in. But at the end of the day, we just need to understand the situation, like we are playing outside India, and what the pitch requires from us as a batter and as a bowler. Not only one batter or one bowler can, you know, just make the difference. But as a group, I feel we need to just understand more, like where we can get better," he added.

Kishan came in at one down as India went in with 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the second match. The first match was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the second innings after India posted 189/7 in the rain-hit match.

Pointing out that the team has been losing momentum in the backend and falling short by 15-20 runs from what they could have in both times they batted in this series, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter said the team has to improve, and said all batters would have to think about where they can score those 20-plus runs.

He said they will have to look at the hosts' batters to understand what they are doing better because they know the conditions better.

"100%, I mean, yes. Obviously, you know, they'll have the best choice of bowling, where to pick up, which bowler to put (under pressure), and which batsman to put (under pressure). They understand the condition better than we do. But at the same time, you know, as I said, I mean, everyone's answer is the same. Like, we are all looking to improve.

"We are all looking to understand what these guys are doing against us. Like, when we play in India, we have more ideas about the wicket. So, here, obviously, every batter needs to understand, as a team, like, where we can, you know, get those extra 20 runs, whether it's by scoring boundaries or, because it's a big ground, you need to take those, whether you have to target the gaps. So, these are a few things I feel we'll talk about as a group, we'll understand, and we'll get better with time," he said.

Rayudu acknowledged the excitement surrounding Suryavanshi's debut but reminded fans of Samson's achievements in India's recent T20 triumph.

"Let's spare a thought for Sanju Samson… very happy to see Vaibhav make his debut, and it deserves a celebration, but let's not forget that Sanju was the man of the tournament in the T20 World Cup just 3 T20 games ago," Rayudu wrote on X.

Samson's omission came after he managed just one run from seven deliveries in the opening T20I of the series against England. India opted to reshuffle their batting order for the second match, bringing in the highly-rated Suryavanshi, one of the country's brightest young prospects.

While welcoming the new face into the national side, Rayudu also expressed confidence that Samson would use the setback as motivation and return stronger. "I just hope he comes back strong and also wish Vaibhav a very long and record-shattering career," Rayudu added.

Samson had played a pivotal role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, earning the Player of the Tournament award, making his exclusion after a solitary low score a talking point among fans and former cricketers alike. Sooryavanshi, meanwhile, was dismissed for just 14 on his debut, but the youngster showed fearless intent, hitting two big sixes in his 10-ball stay at the crease.

England clinched a four-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the five-game series. While the hosts need just two wins to clinch the series, the visitors need to win the remaining three games after the first T20I ended in a washout.

The four nominees have been instrumental in their respective teams' fortunes, with finalists Australia and England accounting for two of the contenders, while Mandhana and Kapp earned recognition despite their sides falling short of the title clash.

Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Perry has enjoyed another stellar ICC event, scoring 185 runs at an average of 46.25 and claiming four wickets at 7.50. The veteran all-rounder collected three Player of the Match awards during Australia's unbeaten march to the final, beginning with an all-round display against Bangladesh, where she picked up two wickets before finishing unbeaten on 19.

The 35-year-old followed that with successive half-centuries against Pakistan and India, helping Australia maintain a perfect record and secure a place in Sunday's final.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)

England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge heads into the final as the tournament's leading run-scorer, amassing 294 runs at an impressive average of 73.5. Her campaign began spectacularly with a century against Sri Lanka in the opening match before she added two more half-centuries to power England into the title decider.

Wyatt-Hodge has also provided consistently brisk starts for the hosts, striking at 152.33 throughout the tournament.

Smriti Mandhana (India)

India's Smriti Mandhana is the lone nominee from a side that failed to reach the semi-finals. The left-handed opener scored 205 runs at an average of 41, including back-to-back fifties against Pakistan and the Netherlands to launch India's campaign in style.

Mandhana also contributed a fluent 38 against Australia in a must-win final group-stage fixture, though India eventually fell short of securing a semi-final berth.

Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)

Completing the shortlist is South Africa's Marizanne Kapp, whose all-round contributions once again proved invaluable for the Proteas. Kapp scored 124 runs at 31 and claimed eight wickets at an average of 14.37 during South Africa's run to the semi-finals.

Her defining performance came against India, where she claimed two wickets before steering South Africa's chase with an unbeaten 81 to keep her side's knockout hopes alive. The experienced all-rounder also showcased remarkable consistency with the ball, taking at least one wicket in every match except South Africa's group-stage fixture against the Netherlands.

The winner of the Player of the Tournament award will be announced following Sunday's Women's T20 World Cup final between England and Australia at Lord's.

Bengaluru, July 5 (IANS) The 24-member Indian junior men’s hockey team departed from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Saturday night for its exposure tour of Belgium, with matches scheduled from July 7 to 17, 2026.

Under new coach Frederic Soyez, the team will play six matches against Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands as part of its preparations for key upcoming international competitions, including the Junior Asia Cup.

India will play two matches each against Austria and Belgium, along with one match each against Germany and the Netherlands. Five matches will be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, while the final fixture against the Netherlands will be held at the Hockey Centre of Excellence in Antwerp.

The tour will be the team's first assignment under newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez and will serve as a key preparatory phase ahead of the FIH Hockey Men's Junior Asia Cup later this year.

The exposure tour is expected to provide valuable international match experience while helping the young Indian side test its combinations and playing style ahead of the continental tournament.

Defender Anmol Ekka has been entrusted with the captaincy for the upcoming exposure tour. The goalkeeping unit comprises Vivek Lakra and Kunal Tewatia. The defensive line features captain Anmol Ekka, Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Prasant Barla, Sanjit Tirkey, and V. Manimaran.

The midfield will be occupied by Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Mukesh Toppo, Mannu Malik, and Ritik Lakra. The forward line consists of Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Arjun Hargude, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh, and Mohd. Konain Dad and Gurusewak Singh.

Notably, four members of the squad - Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Ajeet Yadav, and Rohit Kullu - were also part of the Indian team that secured the bronze medal at the FIH Men's Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025. Their international experience is expected to add valuable depth to the squad during the tour.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Vivek Lakra, Kunal Tewatia

Defenders: Anmol Ekka, Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Prasant Barla, Sanjit Tirkey, V. Manimaran

Midfielders: Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Mukesh Toppo, Mannu Malik, Ritik Lakra

Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Arjun Hargude, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh, Mohd. Konain Dad, Gurusewak Singh

But he now seems to have changed his mind.

In an interview with broadcaster MagentaTV on Saturday night, the 59-year-old Klopp, Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer since January 2025, said he was prepared to return to coaching after stepping down at Liverpool two years ago because of declining energy.

"The timing is not perfect now either. Nevertheless, it is better than it has ever been. I am now more than recharged. So I am ready," Klopp added.

After Germany's World Cup elimination by Paraguay in the Round of 32 and Nagelsmann's departure, the DFB confirmed that it had contacted Klopp over the vacant post.

Klopp, the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach, remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2029.

"I have an existing contract with Red Bull. I like to honour contracts," Klopp said, while adding that he had expressed an interest in holding talks with the DFB. Klopp said he must also speak with Red Bull chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff before any agreement could be reached.

"I know that German football is close to Oliver Mintzlaff's heart and that he is therefore relatively open to these talks, but they still have to be held," Klopp told MagentaTV. He added that Red Bull needed to be able to handle a possible departure properly and said the ideal outcome would leave all parties satisfied.

Klopp also warned that Germany's difficulties extended beyond the identity of the national coach and argued that bigger changes are required. "The problems we currently have are not down to Julian Nagelsmann," he said. "German football is at a turning point. We now must change things fundamentally."

Klopp said the need for reform would remain regardless of whether he ultimately takes charge. "Whether that will be me in the end or whoever it will be does not change the fact that the changes are necessary," he said.

The veteran all-rounder, whose final international appearance came in New Zealand's tournament-ending defeat, thanked teammates, support staff, fans, and her family while looking back on a journey that spanned two decades in the silver fern.

Devine, who retired alongside long-time teammates Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu after the White Ferns bowed out of the competition, admitted that the magnitude of the moment had only begun to sink in.

"Well…not too sure where the last twenty years have gone, but to walk off the park one final time, with my two great mates, is a pretty fitting farewell to the international game," Devine wrote while sharing pictures with her teammates on Instagram.

The 35-year-old paid tribute to the countless people who shaped her international journey, acknowledging that her career was built on the efforts of far more people than she could individually name.

"Don't think I'll be able to thank all the people that have played a part in my journey, because otherwise I'll name half of NZ, but to the coaches, physios, trainers, officials, fans, and media, thank you. Thank you for supporting me, pushing me, and, most importantly, putting up with my shit," she said.

While Devine's career featured numerous individual milestones—including leading New Zealand to the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup title—she said it was representing her country alongside her teammates that remained her greatest source of pride.

"To my White Fern teammates (there's probably about a hundred of ya!), you are the reason I played the game…to represent our beautiful Aotearoa on the world stage, side by side…there's nothing that filled me with more pride," she added.

Devine also reserved special words for her family, who were present to witness her final walk off the international stage after supporting her throughout the highs and lows of her career.

"And last but not least…to my family. To have you watch me walk off the field for the last time is one of the most special moments of my career. You've seen it all. The good days. The bad days (there were a few), you have always had my back, and I've never forgotten that when I pulled on the Silver Fern," Devine penned.

She concluded the message with a Māori proverb that encapsulated how she viewed her achievements—not as individual accomplishments, but as the product of collective support.

"Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini (My success is not mine alone, but the strength of many)," she expressed.

Devine leaves international cricket as one of New Zealand's finest all-rounders, ending a career that spanned two decades and concluded alongside fellow White Ferns stalwarts Bates and Tahuhu, bringing to a close one of the most celebrated eras in the team's history.

Sharing a photograph of himself in the India jersey on his Instagram story after the match, the teenage batter said representing the national team was a privilege and pledged to continue giving his best whenever called upon. Sooryavanshi, who became the youngest debutant in men's international cricket on Saturday, acknowledged the messages he received from across the cricketing fraternity and supporters.

"Overwhelmed by all the messages. Thank you to everyone of my well-wishers and seniors for your constant love and support. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, and I'll always try to give my best for my team every single time. Thank you for everything, everyone," the 15-year-old, who broke Sachin Tendulkar and Shafali Verma's record to become the youngest debutant, wrote in an Instagram story.

The post came shortly after Sooryavanshi completed his maiden appearance for India's senior men's side, marking a significant milestone in the youngster's rapidly rising career. Although India ended up on the losing side in the second T20I against England, the occasion represented a landmark moment for the teenager, who earned his first international cap after impressing through the domestic circuit and age-group cricket.

By sharing the message alongside a photograph in India's senior jersey, Sooryavanshi acknowledged the encouragement he received following his debut while reaffirming his commitment to the national team.

Speaking of the game, the hosts bounced back emphatically to defeat India by four wickets in the second T20I, chasing down 191 with an over to spare. Despite Arshdeep Singh's double strike in the opening over, Harry Brook's explosive 39 off 15 balls shifted the momentum before Jacob Bethell anchored the chase with an unbeaten 76 off 46 deliveries.

Tom Banton's 39 provided crucial support, while a 29-run 17th over from Ravi Bishnoi, featuring two no-balls leading to as many free hits, proved the turning point. Earlier, India posted 190/7, but England's calculated batting, smart use of conditions, and late acceleration sealed a series-levelling victory.

The 1966 winner, England, will meet Mexico in a match to be played at the Estadio Azteca on Monday morning (IST). England head coach Tuchel says his side is up for the challenge.

The German said his players had already soaked up the atmosphere after arriving in the Mexican capital on Friday afternoon.

"As soon as we arrived, you could feel the energy of the place," Tuchel told a news conference on Saturday. "You see the people on the streets and outside the hotel straight away. It makes you sharper. It makes you feel alive. Every detail is at the highest level, and you can see the excitement in everyone's eyes. It's a next-level setting."

Mexico has won each of its four matches in the World Cup to date, including three at Mexico City Stadium.

Around 80,000 fans are expected for the match, and while Tuchel knows most will be supporting Mexico, he insisted his team was unfazed by the prospect of playing at the iconic venue, reports Xinhua

"It will be full of emotion, but I don't expect hostility. Everyone we've met has been respectful," Tuchel said. "A stadium like this can give the home team belief and momentum, and we expect that. But we have very experienced players who compete in the toughest leagues and in the Champions League. They're used to playing in these kinds of environments.

"We expect Mexico to start with intensity. We'll need to find answers to those challenges, and I'm confident we can."

Mexico has yet to concede a goal in this tournament, topping its group with three wins before overcoming Ecuador 2-0 in the round of 32.

England also finished top of its group with two wins and a draw, and recovered from a goal down to beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 in the first knockout round.

Tuchel said he and his coaching staff had studied Mexico closely, adding that England would be ready for any scenario. "Mexico is now a top-10 team in the FIFA rankings," he said. "They've had good results not only at this World Cup but since March.

They're flexible tactically. They can switch between defensive systems, from a low block to a high press, very fluently. "They attack with a lot of players through the middle, their wingers come inside, they rotate constantly, and can play through [Raul] Jimenez to build their attacks. Tomorrow we'll need the best version of ourselves, both offensively and defensively, if we're going to beat Mexico."

The former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich boss played down the possibility that Mexico City's altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level would affect his side.

"The players felt it during the warm-up today, but they adapted quickly," he said. "It's no coincidence that Mexico starts games aggressively. If we can get through the opening 10 minutes, I think we'll be in a good place.

"The altitude is what it is. The crowd is what it is. Neither is to our advantage. What matters is our spirit, our commitment, and the togetherness within the team. That's why I'm optimistic. We'll all feel the conditions tomorrow, but that's also part of the beauty of the occasion. We're focusing on what we can control," said the England head coach.

Fery reached the fourth round of the grass court Grand Slam by beating Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6 (5) in four hours and 38 minutes, sealing a thrilling victory that left him with no words to describe his feelings.

"There's no words for it, honestly," he said. "I don't know what's going on right now. It's going to take some time to really digest it. And I'm just so glad.

"I was just trying to stay in the match, backing myself as a competitor. I was down pretty much for the whole match, and I managed to scramble back from two breaks down in the fourth and fifth sets. I tried to be as good a fighter as I could and let the rest happen."

Of all the British players who lined up on the first day of The Championships, Fery was not the one tipped for a place in the fourth round. Indeed, three-and-a-half sets into his match with Bergs, he still was not the favourite, the ATP Tour said in a report on Saturday.

Yet as the rest withdrew injured or fell by the wayside in the first couple of rounds, Fery – a wild card entry – battled on. And on Saturday evening, he overcame three nosebleeds, the Belgian world No.37, and the expectations of a packed Court 18 to beat the Eastbourne champion.

Fery had made a difficult start, taking seven minutes to hang on to his serve in the opening game. He was broken two games later, and then, just when he was about to serve again at 3-1 down, he had to seek medical attention to stop his first nosebleed. While he tried to recoup, Bergs ran away with the set.

But Fery did not lose heart. The man from Wimbledon who grew up just a few minutes' walk from the All England Club fought his way back into the match, banking on his tremendous self-belief and confidence.

Standing 5ft 9in in a locker room of giants, Briton's No.3 could be at something of a disadvantage. Certainly, the 6ft 1in Bergs was hitting the ball harder and serving with greater power than Fery, but there is more to the sport than brute force (Bergs also has lovely touch with a volley).

"Tennis is a sport where I think everyone, like all heights, can thrive in a certain way," Fery was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour in a report on its website. "I try to return with very good quality and move better than guys who are taller. My returning is a strength, my movement, just general court craft."

As for being the last British player left standing, that did not bother him in the slightest, the report said. "There's no pressure attached to it," he shrugged. "I play for myself. Yeah, I want to win just for myself. If there are other Brits as well in the third round, it's awesome."

After the one-sided opening set, Fery's coach, Jeroen Benard, shouted some instructions: "Serve for the forehand. Serve for your next shot. Don't serve for the ace. Come on: legs."

Fery then opened the second set with a hold game, had his first break point in the next, and even if he dropped serve in the third game, he broke straight back in the fourth. As they chased each other to the sharp end of the set, that is when Berg's serve let him down.

In the first set, the Belgian had pushed Fery around, never giving the Briton a chance. Now, his ball toss had gone walkabout, he was giving Fery a few looks at second serves, and then, as he served to stay in the set, he offered up a double fault on set point. The last Briton standing was standing a little taller at a set apiece.

A deep breath, a settling of the shoulders, and Bergs was ready to begin again. He had been in charge an hour ago; he could be in charge again. And he was by dint of cutting out the errors and playing to his strengths. Fery was more involved in the rallies than in the first set, but the result was just the same.

The fourth set seemed to be following the exact same pattern until, from two breaks to the good, he looked up and saw the finish line. His serve and forehand fell to pieces, and Fery got his two breaks back and was heading for the fifth set.

That was when everything stopped again. Bergs called for the trainer to have his foot attended to, and as Fery sat and waited, his nose started to bleed once more. By the time both men were passed fit to resume, more than 14 minutes had passed since the last point.

Again, Bergs raced to a 4-1 lead; again, Fery reeled him in and levelled. Again, Fery's nose started to bleed (this time just as he was at 5-5). There was an eight-minute delay before the Briton could play that point. Again, he stole the set.

He has reached the second week of Wimbledon and will now climb into the top 100.

Canada was the more aggressive side in the first half. It put constant pressure on Morocco, forcing uncharacteristic mistakes and attacking with speed whenever it won the ball. But the Atlas Lions showed their class in the second half, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a late third to seal the win.

"When people talk about Morocco now, they are talking about a major footballing nation," Ouahbi said in the post-match press conference. "It is a great source of pride, but I think this is only the beginning. We want to keep going."

The coach said that tactical changes in the second half were the key to the victory, reports Xinhua.

"We were better in the second half. They were just as intense, and yet their performance was not as good. The changes we made made a difference. We were in better control. We tried to make passes behind their defense, and that forced them to defend facing their own goal. That worked well for us," he said.

Despite the 3-0 score, Ouahbi said he expected a tough fight from the co-host. "I was expecting the most difficult game so far, and I was right. I really expected this team to be a problem for us. You are not going to see many 3-0 scores in the Round of 16."

The result means Morocco will make its second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.

In their quarterfinal match at Boston Stadium in Boston on Thursday, Morocco will next face two-time winner France, who got the better of Paraguay 1-0. It will be a rematch of their last-four stage clash four years back, and Morocco will be hoping for revenge.

"We don't want to stop. We will keep the same ambition and the same confidence. We want to reach the final," said Ouahbi. "It is not about revenge against any opponent. We just want to go as far as possible and make our people proud," he added.

Dimitrov won 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3 in their third round clash against Berrettini in their third round clash.

Returning to Centre Court for the first time since suffering a devastating pectoral injury against Jannik Sinner in last year's fourth round, when he retired after leading by two sets to none, Dimitrov delivered a resilient performance, this time to leave the court with a victory, raising his arms in disbelief after sealing the win.

"After last year, the way I exited, I would have never known what would have happened," Dimitrov shared in his on-court interview. "But guess what? I am back here and able to rewrite everything... I am just trying. It is not [only] about winning or losing, it is about overcoming every obstacle that I have in front of me," he was quoted as saying by ATP Tour.

The Bulgarian's journey back has been anything but straightforward. After the injury, Dimitrov did not return to the Tour until late October in Paris, where his comeback ended with a withdrawal ahead of his second-round match. The 35-year-old then managed only two tour-level wins midway through June 2026.

In the lead-up to the season’s third major, Dimitrov earned two wins at the ATP Challenger in Dublin before reaching the quarterfinals at the ATP 250 event in Mallorca. The No. 146 player in the ATP Rankings has carried that form at SW19 to secure his place in the fourth round of the grass-court major.

On Saturday, the Bulgarian wild card came out firing, dictating play with his aggressive serving and clean ball-striking to earn a two-set lead. Berrettini fought back to force a decider, but Dimitrov broke the Italian's serve once in the fifth set, closing out a three-hour, 32-minute victory to book his place in the fourth round, according to a report by the ATP Tour on its official website.

With this triumph, Dimitrov earned a 2-1 lead in the pair’s ATP head-to-head series. The 35-year-old will next play fellow wild card Arthur Fery, who also earned a five-set win Saturday when he rallied to defeat Zizou Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-5) in four hours and 39 minutes, advancing to the fourth round at a major for the first time.

With both Fery and Dimitrov in the fourth round, it will be the fourth time that two wild cards have made the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam tournament, and the first time since Roland Garros in 2002 (Arnaud Di Pasquale and Paul-Henri Mathieu).

Canada defender Alistair Johnston said they are quite proud of their achievements.

"I just want to be able to look myself in the mirror after this World Cup and say that I left it all out there," Johnston said. "I do think that we've done that. Even though we're down in Houston, we know what kind of cultural impact we're having back home, and that resonates with us."

Coach Jesse Marsch said losing was hard because his team played so well, reports Xinhua.

"It's always hard in these moments," Marsch said. "Especially when you play really well, it's really tough to swallow. However, I told the players that I was proud of them. We can play like this all the time. Against the best teams in the world, we can be better on the day."

Marsch wants this success to change Canadian soccer. "The challenge now is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes? Can we make sure that we continue to build the depth of what we're doing with the team?" He said.

"Can we build that into our youth national teams? Can we build a real Canadian DNA into the football we want to play, our infrastructure, and the way we teach the game in our academies?" added the coach.

Despite the exit from the tournament, Marsch had nothing but praise for his squad's spirit. "In terms of the commitment of the group and making the country proud, they couldn't have done more," he said.

While Marsch's side displayed a dominant first-half performance, the Atlas Lions showed their class in the second half, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a late third to seal the win. Morocco became the first team at the World Cup to progress to the quarterfinals.

"I think we did an amazing tournament. Until half-time of this game, we were outstanding. Everybody back home should be very proud. We felt we could have won this game, especially in the first half. We were on top of them, we were fighting, we were creating chances, our set pieces were on point," Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio said. "But from a set piece, we let that slip, and then obviously we want to go after it, and we got hurt on transitions."

Following the match, the team posted an emotional message on social media, saying, "Right now, the hurt is real. We came here believing we could keep writing history, and when you believe that deeply, the final whistle is not easy to accept."

"Over the last few weeks, we watched an entire country fall in love with this team. Streets are filled with red. Living rooms became supporters' sections. Kids who once dreamed about wearing the crest of their ancestral homes discovered a new dream. We've always believed this was a football country. Now, we know it is."

Mbappé scored the only goal of the Round of 16 match in the second half from a penalty to settle an attritional contest at the Philadelphia Stadium, moving level with Lionel Messi on goals but leading on assists in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot. The goal also moved teh France forward one behind Argentina's all-time World Cup tally of 20. This was Mbappe's record-extending 11th World Cup knockout-stage goal, while becoming the first player to score in the Round of 16 in three successive tournaments.

But it was not an easy outing for France, as was expected, as their opponents played physically.

Having stunned Germany on penalties to reach the Round of 16, Paraguay effectively shut up shop in a frustrating first half for France, whose players returned to their base with a few bruises on their bodies.

The Les Bleus dominated possession on Saturday night, but struggled to break down La Albirroja’s disciplined defence, with their efforts limited to speculative attempts from distance and none troubling goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

France began to make inroads after the restart, with Ousmane Dembele firing into the side netting following a quickly taken corner. As the pressure mounted, Gill had to dive full stretch to keep out Manu Kone's powerful long-range effort.

Paraguay's resistance was finally broken in the 69th minute after Desire Doué was adjudged to have been upended in the penalty area following a VAR review. Mbappe calmly dispatched the resultant spot-kick, sending Gill the wrong way to punch his team's ticket to the last eight.

"We knew what kind of match to expect. I think it was really good for us to experience a game like that and to see how we handled it. We showed that we're not just a team capable of playing attacking football. Every team uses its own strengths â€" there's no right or wrong way to play. The only right way is to win. Now we have to focus on Morocco. We're really looking forward to facing them because we know they're a very good team," said Mbappe after the match.

France head coach Didier Deschamps praised his side for remaining focused despite their opponent's tactics in this match.

"It wasn't easy. If we'd taken one of our chances late in the game, it would have been a much more comfortable finish. Paraguay used every trick in the book. It's not necessarily the kind of football people enjoy watching, but we stayed focused, and that's not easy to do. They're a physical side, and they defend very well. It's another important step forward. It's always difficult against South American teams, but I'm delighted that the players got the job done. We're into the quarterfinals, and we have to enjoy that," said Deschamps.

France, who won the title in 1998 and 2018 and ended up as runners-up in 2006 and 2022, will next face Morocco, who knocked out co-hosts Canada in the opening last-16 tie, at the Boston Stadium on July 9.

Mbappé scored the only goal of the Round of 16 match in the second half from a penalty to settle an attritional contest at the Philadelphia Stadium, moving level with Lionel Messi on goals but leading on assists in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot. The goal also moved teh France forward one behind Argentina's all-time World Cup tally of 20. This was Mbappe's record-extending 11th World Cup knockout-stage goal, while becoming the first player to score in the Round of 16 in three successive tournaments.

But it was not an easy outing for France, as was expected, as their opponents played physically.

Having stunned Germany on penalties to reach the Round of 16, Paraguay effectively shut up shop in a frustrating first half for France, whose players returned to their base with a few bruises on their bodies.

The Les Bleus dominated possession on Saturday night, but struggled to break down La Albirroja’s disciplined defence, with their efforts limited to speculative attempts from distance and none troubling goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

France began to make inroads after the restart, with Ousmane Dembele firing into the side netting following a quickly taken corner. As the pressure mounted, Gill had to dive full stretch to keep out Manu Kone's powerful long-range effort.

Paraguay's resistance was finally broken in the 69th minute after Desire Doué was adjudged to have been upended in the penalty area following a VAR review. Mbappe calmly dispatched the resultant spot-kick, sending Gill the wrong way to punch his team's ticket to the last eight.

"We knew what kind of match to expect. I think it was really good for us to experience a game like that and to see how we handled it. We showed that we're not just a team capable of playing attacking football. Every team uses its own strengths â€" there's no right or wrong way to play. The only right way is to win. Now we have to focus on Morocco. We're really looking forward to facing them because we know they're a very good team," said Mbappe after the match.

France head coach Didier Deschamps praised his side for remaining focused despite their opponent's tactics in this match.

"It wasn't easy. If we'd taken one of our chances late in the game, it would have been a much more comfortable finish. Paraguay used every trick in the book. It's not necessarily the kind of football people enjoy watching, but we stayed focused, and that's not easy to do. They're a physical side, and they defend very well. It's another important step forward. It's always difficult against South American teams, but I'm delighted that the players got the job done. We're into the quarterfinals, and we have to enjoy that," said Deschamps.

France, who won the title in 1998 and 2018 and ended up as runners-up in 2006 and 2022, will next face Morocco, who knocked out co-hosts Canada in the opening last-16 tie, at the Boston Stadium on July 9.

Canada came flying out of the blocks and had the better of the early exchanges but couldn't make their pressure tell. The North Africans found it tough to get a foothold in the match with Yassine Bounou in the Morocco goal denying both Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi in one-on-one situations within 11 minutes. As the first half intensified, Seven yellows were shown by the officials, and the game came to boiling point in the 40th minute as captain Achraf Hakimi pushed Richie Laryea after both had been chasing down a long ball.

The second half saw a much-changed Morocco side take to the pitch and they opened the scoring five minutes after the interval. From a free-kick Hakimi cut it back neatly to Azzedine Ounahi, who was given too much room on the edge of the box and passed it beyond goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau into the net to give the African outfit the lead. Canada, as expected, were pushing for an equalizer but Morocco’s defence was solid. Despite a staggering 30 touches in the Moroccan box, Canada managed just three shots on target, and only one after the 11-minute mark.

Ounahi completed his brace to seal the win in the 82nd minute, as Morocco broke away from Canada with pace and he cooly slotted it home, Soufiane Rahimi then completed the rout in stoppage-time as he dribbled the ball under the Canadians’ goalkeeper after his looping header had earlier rattled the crossbar.

The defeat ends Canada’s best men’s World Cup journey which had already yielded a historic first World Cup point, win, progression to the knockouts and round of 16 victory. Captain Alphonso Davies still recovering from a hammy was not in attendance.

Morocco will play Paraguay or France - who face off later on Saturday - in the quarterfinals.

Speaking after the victory, Brook reflected on his side's fielding effort, the tactical planning behind the chase, the importance of adapting to the venue's dimensions, and the impact Bethell continues to have on the team despite his young age.

Brook reserved special praise for Bethell, whose unbeaten 76 earned him the Player of the Match award, describing the left-hander as a player whose influence extends well beyond his batting.

"Yeah, he's awesome to have out there (Bethell). He rallies the troops really well when we're out in the field, and gives me a massive hand out there as well. And he's so mature for his age, and he's got a very long career ahead of him," Brook said post match.

England's victory was built on recovering from the loss of both openers in the first over before Bethell anchored the chase. Brook said the team had entered the contest confident that the target was within reach, given the conditions and the prevailing wind, even though the start did not go as planned.

"We knew that we could chase that with the wind and the dimensions of the ground. The idea was to get off to a really good start in the powerplay. That didn't quite work in the first couple of overs. But we were happy with where we were after that powerplay. And then the way that Beth played there was phenomenal," he added.

Brook also highlighted the value of understanding the playing conditions and pointed to a crucial phase involving Sam Curran and Will Jacks that, in his view, proved decisive in shaping the result.

"Yeah, and again, it was just about using the dimensions and the wind as well as we could. And that little spell that we had with him (Curran) and Jacksie, I can't remember what over it was, but I think they went for about 10 or 12 runs. And that was vital in the context of the game," the England skipper said.

Reflecting on England's overall batting philosophy, the captain said the side's combination of power and innovation allows it to exploit different scoring areas, particularly during the fielding restrictions.

"I think you've got to try and maximise the powerplay as well as you can, really. And all our batters have so much strength and power, but innovation as well, and we can hit different parts of the ground. And I thought we used that really well," he stated.

Brook also praised England's effort in the field, revealing that reducing easy twos had been one of the team's key objectives before the match. He pointed to the difference in running between the two sides as evidence that England had executed that plan effectively.

"Extremely pleased, yeah. I thought the lads toiled around in the field... outstanding. And it's one of the things that we spoke about, trying to get off the rope and stop the twos. And there were some decent stats there. I think we had 11 twos and they had five. So we were pretty happy with that," Brook said.

Following her title success in Eastbourne just a few weeks ago, Keys extended her winning run to 10 matches, reaching the Wimbledon Round of 16 for the sixth time in her career. The win also represented her 30th career Wimbledon main draw victory and also served as revenge for the only loss she had suffered against Anisimova, which was at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh where Anisimova came back from a set down to beat her.

The American needed one hour and 40 minutes to take her turn in coming back from a set down on Centre Court. In the previous round Anisimova had put immense faith in her serve to defeat Sofia Kenin, but today it simply deserted her. The sixth seed committed seven double faults against Keys having just committed eight combined in her previous two matches and, after hitting a costly double fault on break point in the second set, which helped fuel Keys’ turnaround, she was unable to contain her opponent, with the former Australian Open champion dominating the remaining two sets with her powerful baseline game, continuing her tremendous grass court form.

The result opened up the bottom half of the women’s singles draw, even further after the shock departures of No.2 seed Elena Rybakina and No.3 seed Iga Swiatek earlier in the day. Keys will next play No.9 seed Linda Noskova for a place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after the Czech also fought back from a set down in spectacular style to save a match point, as well as overcoming No.17 seed Sorana Cirstea 2-6 6-3 7-6(9).

Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Bethell reflected on his previous success against India, England's calculated approach to the chase, the turning point provided by Ravi Bishnoi's expensive over, and the partnerships that helped overhaul a target of 191.

Having also impressed against India during the 2026 T20 World Cup, Bethell said delivering against quality opposition makes performances all the more rewarding, while acknowledging the challenge posed by India's attack.

"I really enjoyed that semi-final (2026 T20 WC), although we couldn't get over the line. They're a high-skilled attack, it's just that I've played them on two pretty nice pitches. And, yeah, you want to do well against the best teams in the world. So, yeah, it's really pleasing to do so," Bethell said during the post-match presentation.

Bethell arrived at the crease with England reeling at 1/2 after both openers fell in the first over. However, Harry Brook's counterattacking cameo restored the momentum before Bethell and Tom Banton stitched together a crucial partnership that steadied the chase. Looking back, Bethell said the innings was built around partnerships and waiting for the right moments to accelerate rather than attacking throughout.

"It worked out well in the end, but just going into bat two down, Brooky (Harry Brook), set the tone really well there. He flipped the momentum straight back on them. And, that made it easier for me to go out there and just give him strike to start and then it's a shame when he got out. But I thought Banton came in and that partnership we built, both of us would have liked to go on and finish that. But everyone just keep chipping in. And then, yeah, in those kind of chases, you're not going rapid the whole time, but a couple of big overs and then the game swings. So, yeah, it was one of them that just kind of got timed really well," he added.

The biggest swing arrived in the 17th over when England collected 29 runs off Ravi Bishnoi, aided by two free hits after the leg-spinner overstepped twice. Bethell admitted that targeting that particular end of the ground had not originally been part of his thinking, but the circumstances demanded a change in approach.

"If I'm honest, I probably would have targeted the other end more with my leg side, with the wind, but, and the shorter side. But, yeah, when, (there are) a couple of free hits and then bowler's down, so then you try and take him. So, yeah, that all worked out really well. And then, yeah, Jof (Jofra Archer) came in and finished it off," he stated.

While one boundary was significantly shorter than the other, Bethell said England's batters avoided becoming fixated on clearing the shorter side and instead focused on exploiting whichever areas the field allowed.

"Yeah, I think so. I mean, the thing with playing on different dimensions is one side might be easier to hit sixes, but you can also score the same amount of runs, hit in the gaps that are bigger on that big side. So, yeah, it was just about being smart with that. And I thought as a batting group, we were really good at that on the whole," Bethell concluded.

Fresh from winning his long-awaited first Grand Slam title at the French Open, the German arrived at Wimbledon full of confidence, even though he admitted that grass is his least-favored surface. He has never made it past the fourth round at SW19, but his recent performance suggested he might finally be ready to break through.

Zverev controlled the opening set with strong serving before Giron stepped up his game in the second. The American didn't face any break points and forced a tie-break. Zverev remained composed, saving the two break points he faced and performing well in the tie-break to come within one set of victory.

The German broke early in the third set, taking the second game. Although Giron broke back at 4-2, Zverev responded right away by reclaiming the lead and served out the match after two hours and 34 minutes.

"He (Giron) plays fantastic on grass, and he shows it every time he steps on the surface," Zverev said after the match. "He has won tour-level events on grass. I knew I had to be ready from the first point onwards, and I am very happy to move on in straight sets."

The 29-year-old delivered another strong performance behind his serve, hitting 17 aces and winning 77 percent (54/70) of his first-serve points. Even though Giron consistently applied pressure, Zverev improved his perfect record against the American to 5-0, having won 13 of the 14 sets they have played.

The victory also placed Zverev among elite German players. He became only the third German man in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon Round of 16 at least four times. He joins three-time champion Boris Becker, who accomplished this 12 times, and 1991 champion Michael Stich, who reached the last 16 five times.

By matching his best Wimbledon result again, Zverev is now just one win away from his first quarter-final appearance at this grass-court major. Wimbledon is still the only Grand Slam where he has not progressed beyond the fourth round, despite having reached finals at the other three majors.

Standing between Zverev and that long-awaited breakthrough is 13th seed Jiri Lehecka, who advanced to the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Jaume Munar earlier on Saturday.

Speaking after the defeat, Iyer assessed how the game unfolded, highlighted Jacob Bethell's decisive innings, backed Ravi Bishnoi despite his expensive spell, and stressed that the young leg-spinner would emerge stronger from the experience.

India had appeared in control for much of England's chase after reducing the hosts to 1/2 in the opening over and keeping the pressure on through the middle phase. However, Bethell's unbeaten 76 and a momentum-shifting 29-run 17th over swung the match firmly in England's favour.

Reflecting on where the match turned, Iyer chose not to single out any individual despite the decisive spell.

"I think we all know where it went away but I don't want to pinpoint a particular player. I was like, okay he's going to come back strong after that (the first no ball). But the 17th over haunted us. But he'll learn," Iyer said post game.

The India skipper also felt his side had posted a competitive first-innings total on a surface that wasn't straightforward for batting.

"I think it was a phenomenal score on this pitch with variable bounce. First 15 overs we were on top of the game but suddenly - credit to the way Jacob played," he added.

Bethell's calculated assault, particularly against the spinners in the closing stages, proved decisive as England overturned India's advantage. Iyer credited the left-hander and England's planning for identifying the conditions and boundary dimensions early in the chase.

"They analysed the dimensions of the ground and the wicket early," he said.

Iyer also praised Sam Curran for executing England's tactical plans with the ball during India's innings, pointing to the accuracy of his lines.

"He was bowling right outside off stump, and that was very well planned (Curran)," the skipper stated.

The India captain reserved special praise for Bethell's fearless mindset, saying the youngster's approach had already stood out during practice sessions, as he said, "He's got that unflinching attitude where he's fearless. The way he bats in the nets... something to learn out of him. I wasn't anticipating him to be nervous."

Despite the disappointing result, Iyer insisted the dressing room would move forward positively rather than dwell on the setback.

"Absolutely, I'm always in high spirits and I know that this is the lowest you can go," he concluded.

Earlier, India had recovered from a mid-innings slowdown to post 190/7, with Abhishek Sharma setting the tone, Ishan Kishan anchoring the middle overs and Tilak Varma providing the finishing kick. However, England's fearless batting eventually proved too strong despite a spirited fight from India's bowlers.

The visitors could scarcely have imagined a better start with the ball. Arshdeep Singh struck with the very first delivery, inducing an outside edge from Phil Salt, before removing Jos Buttler for a duck in the same over as Varun Chakaravarthy held on to a sharp catch at midwicket. England were reeling at 1/2, and India appeared firmly in command.

That advantage lasted only briefly. Brook responded with a breathtaking display of clean hitting, taking Harshit Rana for two boundaries before completely dismantling Arshdeep in the third over. The England skipper hammered 27 runs from the over, striking three sixes and three fours with astonishing timing to transform the complexion of the chase. From 1/2, England rocketed to 38/2 within three overs, swinging the momentum decisively.

India eventually found relief through Axar Patel, whose successful review ended Brook's electrifying 39 off just 15 deliveries. Axar, who also completed 100 T20 wickets during the innings, slowed the scoring considerably alongside Varun Chakaravarthy, allowing India to claw their way back into the contest.

Bethell, though, never allowed the required rate to spiral out of control. Calm against both pace and spin, the left-hander accumulated smartly while Tom Banton settled in after the early collapse. Their partnership steadied England through the middle overs, with Banton repeatedly using the reverse sweep and conventional strokeplay to keep the scoreboard moving.

Arshdeep returned to break the stand, having Banton caught in the deep for 39, before Varun trapped Will Jacks lbw soon after to leave England needing 49 from the final five overs with five wickets in hand. At that stage, India sensed an opening.

Instead, the match slipped away in one disastrous over. Ravi Bishnoi, who had already overstepped once earlier in the innings, bowled two no-balls in the 17th over, both resulting in free-hits. Bethell punished every mistake mercilessly, smashing three towering sixes and a boundary in an over that leaked 29 runs.

Bethell reached a superb half-century during that assault and continued to dictate terms. Although Harshit Rana removed Sam Curran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi celebrated his maiden international catch on the boundary, England were left requiring only manageable runs in the final two overs.

Arshdeep, who finished with excellent figures of 3/40 after his dream opening spell, briefly delayed the inevitable, but Bethell calmly guided England home before Jofra Archer sealed victory with two runs off the final ball of the 19th over.

India's innings had followed a similarly fluctuating script. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, making history as India's youngest T20I debutant, announced himself with two sixes before being stumped for 14. Abhishek Sharma then blazed 43 off 24, while Shreyas Iyer (37) and Ishan Kishan (49) stitched together a valuable partnership after the powerplay.

England fought back impressively through Sam Curran's variations, with the left-armer claiming 3/32, but Tilak Varma's unbeaten 24 from only 11 balls, including three sixes in the closing overs, lifted India to what initially looked like a formidable 190.

That total ultimately proved insufficient against an England batting unit that recovered brilliantly from 1/2. Brook's explosive counterattack ensured the asking rate never became overwhelming, while Bethell's mature, unbeaten 76 provided the perfect finishing touch as England completed a memorable chase to take a lead in the series.

Brief Scores: India 190/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 49, Abhishek Sharma 43; Sam Curran 3/33, Will Jacks 1-22) lost to England 191/6 in 19 overs (Jacob Bethell 76, Harry Brook 39, Tom Banton 39; Arshdeep Singh 3-40) by four wickets.

Australia and England will reignite one of women's cricket's biggest rivalries when they meet in the title match at Lord's on Sunday. Both teams have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, leading their groups before winning convincingly in the semi-finals, setting up an exciting finale.

Perry suffered a quad injury during Australia's eight-wicket semi-final win over West Indies and had to retire hurt, raising concerns about her fitness for the final. However, Molineux confirmed that the 35-year-old completed a full training session on Saturday.

"She (Perry) went through a bit of a test for the final. She trained really well today, batted, and bowled. We'll check tomorrow and see how she feels," Molineux said.

The Australian captain mentioned that Perry's batting alone could justify her spot even if she can't bowl.

"It’d be great if she could bowl for us, but with our bowling depth, we feel covered in that area. Her T20 World Cup performance with the bat has been incredible; she's won a couple of games for us. I think her batting, even if she's not bowling, will still be a huge plus for us."

Australia returns to the Women's T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2023 after missing out in 2024. Despite having a team full of experienced players, Molineux believes the team's improvement since last year's ODI World Cup semi-final loss to India has driven their success.

"The group has grown over the last three to four months," she said. "We’ve freed ourselves up a bit to play openly and showcase our skills. It's a very smart cricket team."

Standing between Australia and a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title is an unbeaten England side playing in front of a large home crowd at the Home of Cricket. Molineux acknowledged the challenge but feels her team is prepared.

"They've played some excellent cricket lately, and they seem full of confidence with 30,000 English fans here at Lord's," she said.

"We know it’s going to be an incredible challenge, but it will also be a really special day. We match up well against them."

History adds another interesting element to Sunday's final. Australia leads England 5-2 in Women's T20 World Cup matchups and has won all three previous T20 World Cup finals between the two rivals. However, England has never lost a Women's World Cup final - ODI or T20 - on home soil.

The 21-year-old, seeded 29th, delivered a fearless display on Centre Court to defeat the third seed 7-6(9), 6-2, overcoming two set points in a gripping opening-set tiebreak before taking complete control of the contest.

The victory makes Eala the first player from the Philippines to reach the second week of a Grand Slam, extending what has already become the finest major campaign of her career.

The opening set proved to be the decisive passage of play. With both players refusing to yield, the contest stretched into a tense tiebreak where Swiatek twice stood within a point of taking the lead. Eala, however, refused to buckle under pressure, producing clutch tennis to edge the breaker before carrying that momentum into a dominant second set.

Once ahead, the Filipina never allowed the reigning champion a route back into the match. She dictated rallies from the baseline, absorbed Swiatek's pressure with composure and raced through the second set to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

The result also reinforced Eala's growing reputation as one of the tour's most dangerous giant-killers. Since announcing herself with a victory over Swiatek in Miami last year, she has steadily built on that breakthrough with a runner-up finish at Eastbourne and two WTA 125 titles this season, including Birmingham. Her latest triumph improved her record against Top-10 opponents to 7-4 and maintained her unbeaten run against elite players on grass this year.

Having arrived at Wimbledon with just one main-draw win in Grand Slam singles, Eala has now rewritten history for Philippine tennis and moved within three victories of an unlikely title.

Standing between her and a place in the quarter-finals is 13th seed Jasmine Paolini, who enjoyed a far more straightforward afternoon.

Last year's Wimbledon finalist needed only 66 minutes to dispatch Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-2 in a polished display. Paolini was rarely troubled on serve, conceding only 11 service points throughout the match while saving both break points she faced. She also proved clinical at the net, winning 10 of her 12 approaches to secure a sixth appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam.

The fourth-round meeting carries added intrigue, with Eala holding a psychological edge after defeating Paolini in Dubai earlier this year. With confidence soaring after dethroning the defending champion, the Filipina will now aim to continue her dream run and edge another step closer to the biggest achievement of her burgeoning career.

The Australian took two hours and 41 minutes to secure his win, showing great composure after losing the second set. De Minaur broke Svajda's serve eight times and won an impressive 70 percent of his second-serve return points. He is on track for potentially his best Grand Slam performance.

"I thought it was a high-quality match. A lot of credit goes to Zach. He's a very talented player and made things tough for me," De Minaur said after the match.

"I was happy that I managed to stay mentally strong and maintain my level throughout the third and fourth sets. I felt that was key to winning today."

World No. 66 Svajda was competing in the Wimbledon main draw for the first time. He was just four places away from his career-high ranking and recovered well after a slow start, challenging the Australian throughout the match.

"Zach's got great timing on the ball. The first set threw me off a bit. I felt he didn’t start as strong as he could," De Minaur said.

"The difference between the first and second sets was significant. He became much more aggressive, hitting through the ball and changing directions more. I felt my slice worked well in the first set, but then it became less effective."

"He's a smart player, and we both have a similar playing style. We like to move the ball around the court, and we don’t hit with the highest spin. It made for some entertaining tennis, in my opinion."

This victory helped De Minaur avoid another early exit at a major tournament after his loss to Jakub Mensik at this year's Roland Garros, where Mensik reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Alexander Zverev.

With a spot in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on the line, De Minaur will next face either Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli or Karen Khachanov.

"I know I’ll need to step up for the next match. Still, I feel like I'm playing at a high level," De Minaur said.

"I feel like I’m in a good place. My body feels good, and I’m mentally fresh. I think that’s when I’m at my most dangerous. I hope to put everything together and play well."

The Australian is happy with how his tournament is going and believes he is gaining momentum at the right time.

"I feel great. I'm pleased to have made it through the first week. That was my first goal in this tournament," he said.

"It's getting down to crunch time, I guess. I'm satisfied with my play. My body feels good. Today, I moved around the court really well. I'm confident sliding from both sides, which is important.

"Now it's about building, right? Focus on what's in front of you. Don't look too far ahead. Keep that tunnel vision. That's basically it."

The evening also marked a historic occasion as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became India's youngest T20I debutant. Walking out alongside Abhishek Sharma, the teenager announced himself in fearless fashion despite England's quicks extracting appreciable pace and bounce from the fresh surface.

Jofra Archer began with an incisive opening over, repeatedly beating Abhishek outside off, but India soon counterattacked. Sooryavanshi wasted little time in showcasing his attacking instincts, lifting Archer over the wicketkeeper for his maiden international six before depositing Josh Tongue deep into the stands with another clean strike. While the youngster looked unfazed by the occasion, his promising stay ended on 14 when Will Jacks deceived him in flight and Jos Buttler completed a sharp stumping.

Abhishek, meanwhile, mixed audacious strokeplay with a few nervy moments against the extra bounce. He punished anything overpitched, collecting boundaries at will and striking a quickfire 43 off 24 deliveries before Sam Curran induced a mistimed pull to deep midwicket in the final over of the PowerPlay.

With India well placed at 65/2 after six overs, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan rebuilt intelligently. They rotated strike consistently against England's three-pronged spin attack before cashing in on scoring opportunities. Shreyas was particularly fluent against the slower bowlers, using his feet confidently and producing a stunning back-foot six off Liam Dawson. Kishan complemented him with calculated aggression, finding boundaries through square on both sides of the wicket as the pair added 65 runs for the third wicket.

England, however, wrestled back control through disciplined bowling and clever captaincy from Harry Brook. Will Jacks delivered a miserly over that yielded only singles before Curran returned to vary his pace expertly. The slower balls gripped on the surface, making clean hitting increasingly difficult, and the pressure eventually brought rewards.

Dawson dismissed Shreyas for a well-made 37 after luring him into a mistimed loft, while Curran struck twice in quick succession, removing Shivam Dube and then ending Kishan's enterprising knock on 49, just one run short of a deserved half-century. Curran finished as England's standout bowler with figures of 3/32, leading a remarkable recovery after India's dominant start.

At 153/4 after 17 overs, India risked falling short of a par score, but Tilak Varma injected fresh momentum. Despite Axar Patel's unfortunate run-out, the left-hander attacked fearlessly at the death, taking on both Tongue and Archer. He launched two towering sixes and added another maximum and boundary in the final over, remaining unbeaten on 24 off just 11 deliveries to propel India to 190/7.

England's disciplined middle-over comeback had briefly shifted the balance, but Tilak's late assault ensured India carried momentum into the innings break with what promised to be a challenging total under the Manchester lights.

Brief Scores: India 190/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 49, Abhishek Sharma 43; Sam Curran 3/33, Will Jacks 1-22) against England.

The evening also marked a historic occasion as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became India's youngest T20I debutant. Walking out alongside Abhishek Sharma, the teenager announced himself in fearless fashion despite England's quicks extracting appreciable pace and bounce from the fresh surface.

Jofra Archer began with an incisive opening over, repeatedly beating Abhishek outside off, but India soon counterattacked. Sooryavanshi wasted little time in showcasing his attacking instincts, lifting Archer over the wicketkeeper for his maiden international six before depositing Josh Tongue deep into the stands with another clean strike. While the youngster looked unfazed by the occasion, his promising stay ended on 14 when Will Jacks deceived him in flight and Jos Buttler completed a sharp stumping.

Abhishek, meanwhile, mixed audacious strokeplay with a few nervy moments against the extra bounce. He punished anything overpitched, collecting boundaries at will and striking a quickfire 43 off 24 deliveries before Sam Curran induced a mistimed pull to deep midwicket in the final over of the PowerPlay.

With India well placed at 65/2 after six overs, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan rebuilt intelligently. They rotated strike consistently against England's three-pronged spin attack before cashing in on scoring opportunities. Shreyas was particularly fluent against the slower bowlers, using his feet confidently and producing a stunning back-foot six off Liam Dawson. Kishan complemented him with calculated aggression, finding boundaries through square on both sides of the wicket as the pair added 65 runs for the third wicket.

England, however, wrestled back control through disciplined bowling and clever captaincy from Harry Brook. Will Jacks delivered a miserly over that yielded only singles before Curran returned to vary his pace expertly. The slower balls gripped on the surface, making clean hitting increasingly difficult, and the pressure eventually brought rewards.

Dawson dismissed Shreyas for a well-made 37 after luring him into a mistimed loft, while Curran struck twice in quick succession, removing Shivam Dube and then ending Kishan's enterprising knock on 49, just one run short of a deserved half-century. Curran finished as England's standout bowler with figures of 3/32, leading a remarkable recovery after India's dominant start.

At 153/4 after 17 overs, India risked falling short of a par score, but Tilak Varma injected fresh momentum. Despite Axar Patel's unfortunate run-out, the left-hander attacked fearlessly at the death, taking on both Tongue and Archer. He launched two towering sixes and added another maximum and boundary in the final over, remaining unbeaten on 24 off just 11 deliveries to propel India to 190/7.

England's disciplined middle-over comeback had briefly shifted the balance, but Tilak's late assault ensured India carried momentum into the innings break with what promised to be a challenging total under the Manchester lights.

Brief Scores: India 190/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 49, Abhishek Sharma 43; Sam Curran 3/33, Will Jacks 1-22) against England.

Serena announced her decision on Instagram on Saturday, stating that her knee had not healed enough after the injury from her first-round singles match earlier in the week.

"I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles," Serena wrote on Instagram. "Coming back to compete has been a gift. The chance to play alongside Venus again meant everything to me. I did everything I could, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete."

This news comes four days after Serena hurt her knee late in the first set of her first singles match in nearly four years. She lost a tough match to Maya Joint, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, in her long-awaited return to Grand Slam singles competition.

The Williams sisters, who have won six Wimbledon doubles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, received a wild card into the doubles draw. They were set to face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the first round on Saturday.

This match would have been the first doubles game for Serena and Venus since the US Open in 2022, which was also Serena's last singles match before her comeback this season.

Before Wimbledon, Serena had gradually rejoined the tour by playing doubles with Victoria Mboko at the Queen's Club Championships and with Karolina Muchova in Berlin.

Although the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion did not say when she expects to return, she suggested that fans might not have to wait long.

"All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you."

Venus, on the other hand, is still set to compete at the Washington Open and the Canadian Open after her mixed doubles run at Wimbledon ended on Friday.

On a day of shifting momentum and growing belief, Mertens produced one of the standout performances of the tournament to defeat the second seed Elena Rybakina 7-6(4), 6-1.

The Belgian repeatedly forced Rybakina onto the defensive in a fiercely contested opening set. Twice Mertens earned a break advantage, and twice the 2022 Wimbledon champion clawed her way back to level terms. The set eventually headed to a tiebreak, where Mertens was the steadier player, taking it 7-4 with a series of clean, aggressive strikes.

That breakthrough changed the complexion of the match. Rybakina’s usually dependable serve began to wobble, and Mertens pounced. The Belgian swept through the second set, winning five games in a row and breaking serve twice as she wrapped up victory in just over an hour and a half.

The result sends Mertens into the Round of 16, where she will meet Marie Bouzkova. Bouzkova survived a marathon battle against Liudmila Samsonova, recovering from a set down to win 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 after more than three hours on court.

Marta Kostyuk also enjoyed a breakthrough afternoon, defeating Emma Navarro 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in her career.

The Ukrainian started sharply, using her movement and variety to disrupt Navarro’s rhythm. After a tight opening stretch, Kostyuk seized control by breaking for 4-2 and carried that momentum into a dominant run that delivered the first set.

Navarro responded well in the second, forcing a decider, but Kostyuk produced her strongest tennis when it mattered most. She reeled off a stunning sequence of 11 consecutive points in the final set, racing away from her opponent and sealing the match with authority.

The victory continues an outstanding run for Kostyuk, who has now won 19 of her last 20 matches and improved her season record to 25-5. The Roland Garros semifinalist is also closing in on a maiden Top-10 ranking, climbing to No. 11 in the live standings.

Kostyuk converted four of her five break-point chances and repeatedly attacked Navarro’s second serve, winning 26 of the 36 points played behind it. Her reward is a fourth-round meeting with either fellow Ukrainian Daria Snigur or American qualifier Ashlyn Krueger.

With Mertens eliminating one of the title favourites and Kostyuk continuing her rapid rise, Wimbledon’s women’s draw took another dramatic turn on Saturday.

Patna, July 4 (IANS) Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) President Harsh Vardhan on Saturday hailed teenaged batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s international debut for India in the ongoing second T20I against England as a ‘golden day in the history of Bihar cricket’ and a matter of immense pride for the entire state.

Sooryavanshi, 15, etched his name into the annals of cricketing history by making his highly-anticipated international debut during the second T20I against England at Old Trafford on Saturday. At 15 years and 99 days, Sooryavanshi was handed his maiden cap by vice-captain Tilak Varma, thus becoming the youngest-ever Indian cricketer to debut in international cricket.

Eventually, Sooryavanshi, playing at the expense of Sanju Samson, made 14 before being stumped off the bowling of Will Jacks. "Today will be remembered as a golden day in the history of Bihar cricket. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi representing India at such a young age is a matter of immense pride for the entire state.

“Through his hard work, discipline, and exceptional talent, he has proved that no dream is impossible when dedication meets opportunity. By surpassing the record of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, he has created history.

“On behalf of the Bihar Cricket Association, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Vaibhav and his family and wish him a long, successful, and illustrious international career," Vardhan said in a BCA statement on Saturday.

In doing so, Sooryavanshi has shattered long-standing benchmarks of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Shafali Verma, who was previously the youngest cricketer to play T20Is for India in both men’s and women’s circuit.

Tendulkar had famously made his international debut for India in a Test match against Pakistan in Karachi back in November 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days. Meanwhile, Shafali was 15 years and 239 days old when she earned her maiden T20I cap against South Africa in Surat in 2019.

Echoing Vardhan’s sentiments, BCA Secretary Ziaul Arfin highlighted that Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise reflects the steady progression and overhaul of grassroots cricket infrastructure in the state.

"Vaibhav Suryavanshi's international debut for India is not just an individual achievement but the outcome of years of hard work and the steady development of cricket in Bihar. The history he has created today will inspire young cricketers in every district of the state.

“By reaching the international stage at such a young age, he has shown that with the right platform and proper guidance, talent can achieve global recognition. The Bihar Cricket Association is immensely proud of Vaibhav and wishes him a long, successful, and distinguished international career," he added.