Marc-Andrea Husler beat world number 31 Holger Rune 6-4 7-6 (10-8) to become the Sofia Open champion and earn his first tour-level title.

Rune reached Sunday's decider with a semi-final triumph over top seed Jannik Sinner, who was bidding to win three straight titles in Sofia.

But it was Husler who took the first set, breaking his Danish opponent in the first game of the match before holding in all five of his service games to clinch the opener.

The second set was another tight affair, as both players continued to dominate on their serve. However, the match hit a crucial juncture with Rune leading the second set 6-5, as he spurned two set points to break Husler and level the final up.

Husler survived to take the second set to a tie-break, though Rune again had the opportunity to make it one set apiece as he failed to convert another two set points in the tie-break.

And Husler took advantage with two crucial breaks of Rune's serve to seal the victory and become the first Swiss player to win an ATP Tour title since Roger Federer in 2019.

"I am completely taken aback," Husler said in his on-court interview.

"I am lost for words. It was a great match. I played a great, great match for sure. I just tried to stay focused, stayed calm and I am just really happy I was able to make it."

Max Verstappen bemoaned a "messy" performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton vowed to "live and learn" to recover from another disappointing showing.

Red Bull driver Verstappen had won five straight races and recorded 12 victories in 2022 to head into Sunday's race with a 116-point championship lead.

But the Dutchman struggled on a soaked Marina Bay Street Circuit, finishing seventh as Charles Leclerc – who came in second behind Sergio Perez – cut Verstappen's advantage to 104 points.

Perez also trails his Red Bull team-mate by 106 points, though Verstappen could still secure the world title at the next race in Japan.

"It's not where we want to be," Verstappen told Sky Sports. "Yesterday, you put yourself in a spot like that and it can either work brilliantly and you can drive back to the front. Or you don't and it's very frustrating like we had [today].

"Seventh is better than eighth but it's not what I'm here for, not with a car like that and what we showed in practice. It's just incredibly messy."

Hamilton was another left frustrated as Formula One returned to Singapore for the first time in three years, slipping down to ninth after starting on the grid in third.

The seven-time world champion was initially edged out by Carlos Sainz on the first corner before crashing into the barriers later in the race when attempting to overtake the Ferrari driver.

"I think we started off with a pretty decent weekend and were just really, really unfortunate at the end," Hamilton added to Sky Sports.

"It was difficult to overtake and that lock-up into Turn 7 – when those things happen your heart sinks a little bit.

"But you get back up again and you try. It wasn't the greatest day, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

"It all went out the window when I locked up, so my apologies to the team, but we live and learn, and I'll recover."

Pep Guardiola credited the quality of his forwards after Manchester City beat Manchester United 6-3 in Sunday's derby at the Etihad Stadium, but said his team can still improve on their emphatic display.

Hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden gave the Premier League champions victory, with the duo becoming the first City players to register trebles against United since Francis Lee in December 1970.

Erik ten Hag's United scored three in the second half to restore some pride, but in truth it was a comfortable win for Guardiola's men, who moved back to within one point of league leaders Arsenal.

"In general it was really good, how aggressive we were without the ball, they could not play," the City boss told Sky Sports. 

"[But] when they have Lisandro [Martinez] and Bruno [Fernandes] and [Christian] Eriksen, they have quality to play, we saw that for a few minutes in the second half.

"The quality of the players we had up front made the difference."

City were 4-0 up and cruising at half-time, but United rallied slightly in the second half, with Antony scoring from range to reduce the deficit before Anthony Martial clinched a brace after coming off the bench.

"We scored four goals, we could not really score more," Guardiola said of the first 45 minutes.

"At half-time we [said] we have to continue, but it's more difficult and [United] played better in the second half. 

"In the last minutes we were flat, but great victory, good game, everyone was happy in the stadium."

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss also praised his team's desire, but said some of his players did not play well and insisted his team can do even better.

"This happened since we are here," he said of his team's appetite to win. "This is non-negotiable. We can win or lose, but effort and desire and helping each other [is most important].

"But, many things we can do better, and some players were still not good today and we have to improve."

Erik ten Hag said he was "surprised" by Manchester United's "lack of belief" after their comprehensive 6-3 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hat-tricks as City produced a dominant performance against their rivals on Sunday, though a second-half brace from Anthony Martial and a long-range strike from Antony allowed the Red Devils to salvage some pride.

As a result, Ten Hag joined United predecessors David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick in losing his first Premier League match against City.

Asked what went wrong for United, who came into the game on the back of four successive league wins, Ten Hag told Sky Sports: "A lack of belief. 

"I'm surprised, why we didn't bring it on the pitch. I've seen – since, obviously, four weeks ago – a different team, a different spirit, a different fight and a level of commitment. 

"Today we didn't have commitment. From the first minute on, we were not on the front foot, we were not brave in possession"

Pushed on why he thought United fell short of their recent standards, the Dutchman added: "It's always difficult to find out. 

"I have to talk with my players and find out. They know they got better [in recent games], I saw the performances against Arsenal and Liverpool.

"But if you don't fight, which they didn't, then you have a problem against a team like Man City."

Sunday's defeat represents just the fourth time United have conceded six goals in a Premier League match – two of which have come against City (also in a 6-1 loss in October 2011).

United's last league reverse was also a comprehensive one, but Ten Hag said the defeat at the Etihad was not comparable to last month's 4-0 thrashing at Brentford.

"I don't think you can compare it," he said. "It's definitely like it was against Brentford mentally, but it's different.

"Against Brentford we didn't run. Today, we wanted to run, but we didn't follow the principles or rules. Once again, it was a lack of belief."

While Ten Hag was pleased with Martial's contribution following his second-half introduction, he said it was impossible to take many positives from an "unacceptable" display. 

"He had a really good pre-season and I'm happy for him that he scored goals, and also for Antony, but in this moment I cannot express for the outside world always positives," Ten Hag added.

"We are highly disappointed about this result and that has to be the tone for this Sunday. We have to accept that, but our performance is unacceptable.

"As a team, as individuals, we will criticise each other tomorrow, and then we have to learn the lessons and do better, starting next game.

"A team like City, they give you the status where you are at this moment. We did well against top teams like Liverpool and Arsenal. We were disciplined and followed the rules and the principles and we had the belief to play. 

"We were on the front foot in defending and you can bring a good performance and a result.

"When you're not on the front foot and when you're not brave enough to play, you get the result like today."

Wolves have sacked head coach Bruno Lage after their dismal start to the Premier League season.

Lage, who led Benfica to the Portuguese top-flight title in 2019, replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at Molineux in June 2021.

While Lage initially enjoyed good results, leading Wolves into contention for European qualification last season, they trailed off badly to finish the 2021-22 campaign in 10th position.

Despite the likes of Matheus Nunes, Goncalo Guedes and Nathan Collins arriving during a busy transfer window, Lage has failed to reverse their slide this season, overseeing a return of just six points from their first eight Premier League matches.

They sit 18th in the table, with only Nottingham Forest and Leicester City worse off.

Following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at West Ham, Wolves are winless in eight Premier League away games (D2 L6), their worst such run since a sequence of 10 road matches without victory between August 2011 and January 2012.

Meanwhile, Wolves' tally of three goals this season is the lowest tally in the Premier League, and the club's joint-worst return at this stage of a top-flight season, also having managed three in 2003-04 when they were relegated.

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi described Lage as "an excellent coach, a hardworking and dedicated manager, and a warm, wise and honest man", and said the "difficult" decision to dismiss him was made "with much sadness".

"I honestly have no doubts about Bruno's ability, and I'm sure he will succeed elsewhere," Shi said. "However, the team's form and performances over the last few months mean that we have no choice but to act."

Wolves travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in their next Premier League outing on Saturday, with coaches Steve Davis and James Collins placed in temporary charge.

Christian Eriksen described Manchester United's derby drubbing as "a very bad day at the office" after hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden rocked the Red Devils.

A 6-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium almost flattered United, with two late goals from Anthony Martial making the scoreline look as though they might at some point have had a foothold in the game.

Instead, it was a savaging for United, who conceded six goals in a Premier League fixture for only the fourth time. This was the second time it has happened against City, the first coming at Old Trafford, a 6-1 pasting in October 2011.

Eriksen was caught napping for Foden's opener, as he let the City homegrown talent run away from him to tuck in Bernardo Silva's cross.

He then lost Haaland at a corner for City's second goal, although that always looked a dreadful mismatch.

Midfielder Eriksen, playing his first Manchester derby, was left deflated by the experience and said there would need to be changes for United.

Eriksen told Sky Sports: "I think it came very heavy. I think everyone feels it as a very bad day at the office.

"We started on the wrong foot. They had a lot of chances straight from kick-off, and I think we can only blame ourselves for not coming into the game at any point.

"We missed a bit of courage to play out from the back, and we let them be in their strength."

Manager Erik ten Hag promised a full inquest into how United put up such a feeble show, and suggested there would be tough talking at the training ground on Monday.

Eriksen expects that, and he said: "I think the main focus after this game will be on ourselves. There's a lot of things we need to change, a lot of things we need to do better.

"Today was far from acceptable for what we should be doing."

Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland described his derby hat-trick as "amazing", while Phil Foden referred to his own treble as a "dream come true" after the pair dominated against Manchester United.

A contest that saw nine goals was never in doubt as Foden and Haaland scored three each in a 6-3 victory for City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

A strike from Antony and an Anthony Martial brace gave United some consolation in the second half, but it was a dominant win for Pep Guardiola's men.

Foden's second goal of the day was his 50th in all competitions for City, making him the youngest player to reach that figure under Guardiola at the age of 22 years and 127 days, surpassing Lionel Messi (22y 164d).

Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, Foden hailed the partnership he has already built with Haaland following the latter's move from Borussia Dortmund.

"Obviously it's a dream come true [to score a hat-trick], playing in the derby, being a City fan as well," the England international said.

"Me and Erling have built that connection now and we're finding each other and it's a pleasure to be a part of the team.

"I think our determination [showed] from kick-off, we were looking right at it and we finished our chances."

Haaland became the first player in Premier League history to score hat-tricks in three consecutive games, while also becoming the first City player to score a hat-trick against United since Francis Lee in December 1970, before Foden followed suit shortly after.

"Yeah, not bad," Haaland joked, also speaking to Sky Sports. "We scored six goals, what can you say? It's amazing to win at home, score six goals here and yeah, nuts.

"You can see it all the time, the passes we give each other, we always want to go forward, we always want to attack and this is what I love about the team, we always want to go and to attack and yeah, in the end it's amazing. There's nothing more to say."

When asked who was getting the match ball, Foden asked Haaland if they were having one each.

"Yes I think we have to," the Norwegian assured his team-mate. "One ball for the first half and one for the second half."

Sergio Perez labelled the Singapore Grand Prix victory as his "best performance" after holding off Charles Leclerc on a soaked Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Ferrari driver Leclerc started on pole on Sunday ahead of Perez, who breezed into the lead at the first corner as Formula One racing returned to Singapore for the first time in three years.

The wet conditions that caused the race to be delayed by an hour were a problem throughout, with numerous safety cars deployed as five drivers failed to finish.

Perez held his nerve despite late pressure from Leclerc to claim his second victory of the season and fourth of his career to end Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen's five-race winning streak.

"It was certainly my best performance," Perez told Sky Sports after the conclusion. "I controlled the race.

"The last three laps were so intense – when I got out of the car, I felt it. I gave everything."

While Perez celebrated on the podium, stewards investigated a possible infringement behind the safety car – a misdemeanour that Ferrari deemed worthy of a 10-second time penalty.

"I have no idea what's going on, they just told me I was under investigation and to increase the gap," Perez added after finishing seven seconds ahead of Ferrari's Leclerc.

Leclerc's colleague Carlos Sainz settled for third after battling with Lewis Hamilton on the opening corner, with the Briton finishing in ninth after another frustrating outing.

"It was very tough out there," Sainz said. "I never really got into a rhythm in the wet and then couldn't challenge the top two guys.

"I had to settle for P3, but the good thing is I didn't do any mistakes and could bring the car home and be quick towards the end of the race. 

"It's a good result for the team in the Constructors' Championship."

Manchester United players "should be embarrassed" after their 6-3 defeat to local rivals Manchester City, says former Red Devils midfielder Roy Keane.

First-half doubles from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden had United four goals down at half-time, before they both capped off their hat-tricks after the interval as United conceded six in a Premier League game for just the fourth time.

And despite a late double from substitute Anthony Martial and a superb strike from Antony in consolation, Keane was fuming with United's performance after Sunday's match.

"It was the way they started - they were slow out of the blocks. City sent a message that they were up for it, and the first goal is huge," Keane told Sky Sports.

"United went down after eight minutes and they never recovered.

"There were spaces everywhere, they were sloppy in possession. Marcus Rashford never got hold of it, the wide players gave it away.

"Every time Man City went forward, they looked like they were going to score. It's a pleasure to watch City. They're one of the best teams I've seen live but for United this is a huge setback.

"There's nothing for United to take out from this game. The players should be embarrassed. You can't go into half-time 4-0 down in a derby game.

"It's hugely embarrassing, as brilliant as City were, United were desperate, particularly in midfield. They were overran in midfield and defensively they were all over the shop.

"Again we look at leadership - there was nothing there from Man United."

After a Europa League game away to Omonia Nicosia on Thursday, United return to Premier League action at Everton on October 9.

Just for a while, this was threatening to be a story of how the Manchester City narrative doesn't need to be driven by Erling Haaland.

Phil Foden had fired them ahead with his first derby goal against Manchester United, Kevin De Bruyne was looking terrific, and Jack Grealish prowled with intent.

And then Haaland decided that, no, actually it would be all about him again.

Except, it's never really all about him, is it? That's like saying the Rolling Stones are all about Mick Jagger, when they've had Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and all those other fine lads, as a supporting cast.

But every great band needs a frontman with presence, charisma and delivery, and Haaland is emphatically City's Jagger.

It's a gas, gas, gas when Haaland's involved, but not if you're United.

He showed no sympathy for the Red Devils at the Etihad Stadium, becoming the first City player to score a hat-trick against United since Francis Lee in December 1970, and the first player in Premier League history to net a hat-trick in three consecutive home games. Haaland has 14 goals in eight Premier League games now. Just take a moment.

Here he complemented his treble with two assists, helping Foden on his way to finding the back of the United net three times.

United looked to have turned a corner after a rotten start under Erik ten Hag, winning four Premier League games in a row after early aberrations against Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford.

The 3-1 win over leaders Arsenal was four weeks ago, though, their last outing in the competition, and it turns out that around the corner we thought they'd turned was into a blue brick wall. United crashed headlong into it, and now what should we make of them? This served as a cruel reminder that United are light years behind their neighbours.

It was City's first-ever six-goal haul at home to United.

City were rampant from the early stages, with Haaland, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva peppering the United goal in just the third minute, red-shirted sprawled limbs just about repelling the men in blue.

The eighth-minute opener looked easy when it came from Foden, City passing through United at will, Silva with the centre and Foden drifting away from Christian Eriksen before planting his left-footed finish high past David De Gea.

It was a dereliction of defensive duties from Eriksen, unforgivable on derby day. His deployment in a central defensive midfield role, with Casemiro only a substitute, immediately looked a clanging error from Erik ten Hag.

For Foden, it was his first goal against United in his eighth derby.

Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, De Bruyne. What a backing band. They were queueing up at one point to rain shots on the City goal, with United increasingly desperate, but still just one goal behind after half an hour, still somehow in the contest. Marcus Rashford, by this stage, had taken six touches, while Haaland had City's fewest, just 13.

Haaland's 14th touch showed the Norwegian at his most magnificent, using his physical presence to shake off the attentions of Eriksen, an improbable marker, and meet De Bruyne's corner from the left with a mighty header.

His 12th Premier League goal was followed moments later by a 13th. Haaland's 16th touch of the game was as deadly as the 14th, with De Bruyne again teeing him up with a delicious pass in behind Raphael Varane for the striker to poke past De Gea.

Varane went off injured, probably relieved to get off the pitch, with Victor Lindelof tossed into the lion's den.

City's fourth was just phenomenal, De Bruyne feeding Haaland on the left and this time the striker turned supplier, a delicious ball across goal turned in by Foden for his 50th goal for the champions.

United fans streamed out of the stadium before half-time, which meant they missed Antony's fine strike early in the second half.

They missed Haaland and Foden sealing their hat-tricks too, Haaland smashing Sergio Gomez's cross past De Gea before Foden drove Haaland's pass beyond the Spanish goalkeeper.

Anthony Martial pulled another back, and then scored again from the penalty spot to cut City's lead to 6-3, but they were the most scant of consolations.

As this spurious fightback went on, Cristiano Ronaldo remained rooted to the United bench, an unused substitute. An afterthought. Yesterday's man.

Haaland has as many Premier League hat-tricks as Ronaldo already, just 56 days into his Premier League career.

You can't always get what you want on derby day. City and Haaland, their swaggering main man, could hardly have asked for more, though.

Aurelien Tchouameni has dismissed talk of him being the new Paul Pogba and explained why he turned down Paris Saint-Germain to join Real Madrid.

Tchouameni has emerged as another big French talent, prompting Madrid to lure him to Santiago Bernabeu from Monaco for a fee of €80million that could rise to €100m in June.

PSG are among the top European clubs who were also eager to land the midfielder, but he had already agreed to sign for the European champions.

Tchouameni has been likened to France team-mate Pogba, but the 22-year-old does not want to hear those comparisons after making a name for himself.

He told Telefoot: "I am not the new Pogba, I am Aurelien Tchouameni, I try to write my own story. Pogba is a player I followed a lot when he was little and whom I follow a lot. We play in the same position, but there is only one Pogba."

Tchouameni revealed he had no intention of staying in his homeland with PSG after giving Madrid his word that he would move to the Spanish capital.

He added: "No, no, I didn't hesitate with PSG. It is also a very big European club, but I had already decided to play for Real Madrid."

Tchouameni has fierce competition for a place in the Madrid midfield and knows he must grasp his opportunities.

"No matter the price of the transfer, at this club there is always pressure," he said. "But I'm trying to live up to expectations, to do what I can do on the pitch and so far it's going quite well.

"It was not me who was in the office to give the numbers of my signing. So whether it's 80 [million Euros], 60, 40... in the end, when you arrive in Madrid and you're a starter, you always have to perform."

Pogba hopes he will be a starter when Les Bleus attempt to retain the World Cup in Qatar.

He said: "I try to contribute to the team, then if [N'Golo] Kante and Pogba return, the coach will be the one I choose and I will always do my best to be the starter.

"I think about the World Cup every day. I'll try to win points with Real Madrid and then we'll wait for the list."

Sergio Perez secured a fourth Formula One triumph and second of the season as he dominated at the Singapore Grand Prix, ending Max Verstappen's five-race winning streak.

Verstappen headed into Sunday's race with a 116-point lead at the top of the championship, aiming for a sixth straight win and 12th victory of 2022 as he edges towards the title.

Yet it was Red Bull team-mate Perez who added to his Monaco Grand Prix crown earlier in the year by winning at a soaked Marina Bay Street Circuit, where safety cars were a regular feature.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished in second and third respectively, with Verstappen's championship lead over the Monegasque driver dropping to 104 points after the Dutchman came in seventh.

After an hour-long delay, Perez raced out the blocks to take the lead from Leclerc, while Lewis Hamilton recovered after being forced off the track in a battle with Sainz.

A plethora of safety cars followed as Zhou Guanyu, Nicholas Latifi, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon all retired inside the first 28 laps.

Perez continued to clock the fastest laps at the front before Hamilton – frustrated by Sainz in third – slammed into the barriers, with Lando Norris overtaking his fellow Briton.

Yuki Tsunoda's crash saw another safety car deployed before Verstappen swerved off the track to drop down to 12th, though he recovered to overtake Pierre Gasly and Valtteri Bottas.

Perez's domination under the lights continued despite the push of Leclerc as the Red Bull driver claimed victory at the first F1 race in Singapore in three years.

'I TOLD YOU' – HAMILTON BEMOANS MERCEDES TYRE DECISION

Hamilton started the race in third but fell down a place after a first-corner battle with Sainz saw the seven-time world champion edged off the track.

"I told you about these tyres, in future you need to listen to me. No grip," Hamilton declared on the team radio soon after, lamenting Mercedes' late decision to operate on intermediate tyres.

It was not the first time Hamilton – who ended in ninth – has exchanged such words with his team, adding to a frustrating season that could end without a single victory for the first time in his career.

ALONSO DENIED HISTORY

Alpine's Alonso was aiming to surpass Kimi Raikkonen for the most Grand Prix finishes in history as the Spaniard looked to complete his 351st race.

But after stating "engine, engine" on the team radio, Alonso was forced to withdraw before the halfway point in Singapore, leaving him waiting to overtake Raikkonen.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is convinced Karim Benzema will be awarded the Ballon d'Or later this month.

Benzema played a talismanic role as Madrid won LaLiga and the Champions League last season, scoring 44 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions.

The striker has already hit the net three times in four league games this season, and is set to return from a three-week injury absence against Osasuna on Sunday.

The next winner of football's most prestigious individual honour will be announced on October 17, and Perez is in no doubt as to who will receive it.

"Benzema has already received the UEFA best player of the year award and in the coming days, he will be awarded the Ballon d'Or," Perez said, in comments carried by Mundo Deportivo.

"No one doubts it."

Benzema's recent absence has failed to prevent Madrid from making a perfect start to their title defence, winning their first six games of the season in LaLiga.

Los Blancos are the only team in Europe's top five leagues to have maintained a 100 per cent winning record this campaign, and Perez has been delighted by their form.

"We have a squad to keep dreaming of all the challenges and challenges that will come. Real Madrid does not allow complacency or relaxation," he added.

"After winning the European Super Cup, we have won all the games we have played, being the only club in the five major leagues that has achieved it. This is the path."