Cameron Norrie fought back from a first-set loss against Aslan Karatsev to advance into the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open, keeping hopes of qualifying for next month's ATP finals alive.
Norrie's return to action, having withdrawn from last month's Korea Open with illness, was not plain sailing as Karatsev won the first set tie-break 10-8 to put the Brit under pressure.
However, the 27-year-old responded by taking the next two sets 6-3 6-4 to seal safe passage, helped by six first-serve aces, which also maintains his hopes of a spot in November's finals and sets up a tie against 19-year-old Holger Rune.
Top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was given a sterner test by Maxime Cressy before eventually securing a spot in the quarter-finals 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (14-12) in a two-hour contest, while Denis Shapovalov also beat Antoine Bellier in straight sets.
The number one seed is through at the European Open in Antwerp as well as Hubert Hurkacz toppled Jack Draper 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (5-7) 6-1.
Britain's Dan Evans eased into the final eight after securing a 6-2 6-1 victory against Constant Lestienne, while there were also victories for Yoshihito Nishioka and Richard Gasquet.
Elsewhere, sixth-seed Sebastian Baez was a 7-5 7-6 (7-3) winner against Lorenzo Sonego in the Napoli Open, where Roberto Carballes Baena and Corentin Moutet were among the other victors.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is relishing Graham Potter's faith in him after producing another excellent performance in Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Brentford on Wednesday.
Although Chelsea dropped points in the Premier League for the first time under Potter after struggling to create chances, they had Kepa to thank for preserving their unbeaten record under the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss.
Kepa made five saves – three of them to deny Ivan Toney – as Chelsea kept their fifth successive clean sheet in all competitions.
The Spaniard – who was reportedly considered surplus to requirements under Potter's predecessor Thomas Tuchel – has been afforded a new lease on life in recent weeks, and is savouring his run in the team.
"I'm feeling very well, I'm feeling confident with and without the ball. I'm feeling like I'm helping the team when they need it, so [I'm] happy," Kepa told Amazon Prime.
"Of course, every player needs this confidence, this push, and I think for the goalkeeper it's even more important when you have continuity.
"For a goalkeeper, when you're not playing, in training it's not the same. I have to keep going, I have to keep working.
"We are not happy because I think they had chances, but we had chances, and the last fifteen minutes we were playing all the time in their box. Our feeling is like we dropped two points."
Kepa has now kept five clean sheets in eight appearances this season (in all competitions), while Chelsea have recorded eight shutouts in their last 11 away London derbies in the Premier League, winning nine (D1 L1).
However, Chelsea only managed to hit the target with five of their 14 attempts (36 per cent) against Thomas Frank's stubborn hosts, three of which came after the 85th minute.
Despite the Blues' lack of creativity, Potter refused to criticise his side's performance, telling Amazon Prime: "We are always disappointed when we don't win, but over the course of the game, a point is about fair.
"We expected a really tough game. The spirit is good for us, we gave everything. It's not easy with the schedule we have, but the boys gave everything, I'm proud of them.
"We wanted to do a little bit better in the first half, but you have to give credit to your opponent."
Chelsea looked to have been dealt another injury blow when Conor Gallagher was replaced after 15 minutes, but Potter revealed the England midfielder felt unwell and should make a swift return.
"I haven't spoken to the doctors, but he just felt ill," Potter said of Gallagher. "He thought he was going to be sick, so hopefully it's just a 24-hour thing and he will be okay."
Manchester United produced arguably their finest display of Erik ten Hag's reign as they beat Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The Red Devils were disappointing and often toothless against Newcastle United at the weekend, but Antonio Conte's Spurs were dominated from start to finish.
United tallied 19 shots in the first half alone, which was more than they managed in any previous league game under Ten Hag – although it was still goalless at the break.
That changed within 16 seconds of the restart as Fred's deflected strike found its way in, and Bruno Fernandes' gorgeous finish 21 minutes later wrapped up an impressively comfortable win.
United's first-half superiority began with Antony's speculative long-range effort almost catching Hugo Lloris out, before the Frenchman tipped over Fred's dipping 20-yard attempt.
The post then rescued Spurs in the 10th minute as Antony went close after cutting in from the right, though Lloris was soon busy again.
A fine save down to his right kept Marcus Rashford at bay when appearing destined to score – he then produced acrobatic stops to keep out Luke Shaw's volley and Fernandes' free-kick in a three-minute spell.
Soon after, in the 28th minute, Lloris looked beaten but Casemiro's sweetly struck left-footed drive flew agonisingly wide.
The deadlock was eventually broken at the start of the second half, as Fred's strike deflected off Eric Dier and left Lloris helpless.
Harry Kane smashed straight at David de Gea at the other end with 21 minutes to go, but United went straight down the other end and made it 2-0 – Fernandes guiding a wonderful effort into the top-right corner.
Fernandes had a late second disallowed for offside, but it mattered not.
Real Madrid extended their unbeaten streak this season to 15 games across all competitions with a 3-0 LaLiga victory against Elche, despite seeing three goals disallowed by VAR.
Federico Valverde opened the scoring with a fine strike from outside the box, his sixth goal of the season, with Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio sealing the result in the second half.
The Frenchman's goal came after he had seen three attempts disallowed by VAR for offside, which could have been decisive had Carlos Clerc headed home a glorious opportunity for an equaliser.
Andriy Lunin's save kept him at bay, however, with Benzema's goal then ensuring there would be no comeback and Asensio adding further gloss to the scoreline late on.
A frantic start saw Benzema tap home after six minutes, though the effort was disallowed for offside, but Valverde's strike just five minutes later did count, smashing home from outside the box after Vinicius Junior's shot was deflected into his path.
Three minutes before the half hour mark, Benzema was again frustrated by VAR after a second goal for the freshly crowned Ballon d'Or winner was chalked off, leaving Elche still in the game at the interval.
Benzema's frustrations would continue in the second period, the Frenchman seeing a goal disallowed for the third time by VAR for offside in the build-up on the hour mark.
Clerc should have made Real regret those spurned opportunities heading into the final 20 minutes but his header from close range was kept out by Lunin, who until that point had little to do throughout.
Any hope of a late comeback for the hosts was quelled when Benzema finally got his goal, playing a neat one-two with Rodrygo and slotting home, with Asensio then delicately cushioning a volley over Edgar Badia to extend the advantage.
An Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting double and goals from Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies helped Bayern Munich to a 5-2 comeback victory over Augsburg to seal their place in the DFB-Pokal third round.
Mads Pedersen put Augsburg in front, but Choupo-Moting scored either side of Kimmich's beautiful finish to put the Bundesliga champions 3-1 up.
An own goal from Dayot Upamecano caused some fears of a Bayern collapse, but Musiala and Davies struck late to make sure of the victory.
Bayern's return to form continues as they reach the next round of a competition they have won on 20 occasions, 14 more than any other team.
The hosts started brightly and took the lead after nine minutes, Pedersen rifling superbly into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out.
Davies missed a great chance to equalise when he fired straight at Tomas Koubek, before the Augsburg goalkeeper also denied efforts from Musiala and Serge Gnabry.
However, Koubek did not cover himself in glory for Bayern's leveller, as Choupo Moting's drive from a tight angle sneaked in at the near post to make it 1-1.
Koubek somewhat redeemed himself shortly after, making a brilliant save to paw away Sadio Mane's goal-bound shot as the visitors put increasing pressure on the Augsburg defence.
Gnabry hit the bar with a deflected effort just after half-time, before Kimmich's curler from the edge of the box flew in to give Bayern the lead.
Choupo-Moting then took advantage of a defensive mix-up to smash home Bayern's third, seemingly putting the match to bed.
And despite Augsburg pulling a goal back when Upamecano diverted into his own net, Davies produced some sublime skill to tee up Musiala to bend home before the Canadian turned goalscorer as Bayern made sure of their progress.
Liverpool secured a second 1-0 win in the space of a few days after beating West Ham in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Darwin Nunez's first-half header was enough to seal the points for Jurgen Klopp's men, his first goal at Anfield for his new club.
West Ham were second best for most of the game but will still be disappointed to leave empty-handed after Jarrod Bowen saw a penalty saved by Alisson just before the break.
It ends a run of five games without defeat for David Moyes' team, while Liverpool followed up their impressive victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
The first chance of note came in the 15th minute when a long pass from Thiago Alcantara found Nunez, whose fierce 25-yard strike was tipped over by Lukasz Fabianski.
But the Uruguayan was not to be denied seven minutes later as he ran onto Kostas Tsimikas' pinpoint left-wing delivery to head past the despairing Fabianski into the far corner of the net.
Liverpool almost scored again when Nunez rattled the post from the edge of the box but nearly had their lead wiped out just before half-time.
Bowen was felled in the box by Joe Gomez, only for Alisson to save the England international's resulting penalty low to his right.
Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino went close to adding to the hosts' lead in the second half, while Kurt Zouma hit his own crossbar with an attempted block.
West Ham could have snatched a late equaliser when the ball fell kindly for Tomas Soucek in front of goal, only for substitute James Milner to deflect it off target and ultimately seal the win for Liverpool.
Chelsea dropped points in the Premier League for the first time under Graham Potter after producing a flat performance in a 0-0 draw at Brentford.
Kepa Arrizabalaga continued his excellent form to keep the hosts at bay in West London, but a much-changed Chelsea side failed to carve out clear-cut chances during Wednesday's frustrating draw.
While Potter remains unbeaten in seven games with Chelsea in all competitions, the result saw him lose his perfect Premier League record with the Blues, who missed their chance to close in on the top three.
Chelsea remain seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal after failing to break down Thomas Frank's Bees, whose defensive organisation came to the fore in an impressive display.
Kepa made a strong save from Ivan Toney's header as Chelsea withstood a flurry of early Brentford corners, before Conor Gallagher limped off after just 15 minutes in a blow for the Blues.
The Spanish goalkeeper bettered that stop with a terrific reflex save after 33 minutes, clawing another Toney header away from goal after the striker latched onto a second ball in Chelsea's penalty area.
David Raya made his only save of the opening half from Cesar Azpilicueta's low drive two minutes later, before Bryan Mbeumo nodded straight at Kepa after the restart.
Chelsea improved following the introductions of Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic, but their offensive woes were summed up by Kai Havertz shooting straight at Raya after finding space in the area.
Kepa stood firm once again to stop Toney's low effort with eight minutes remaining, as both defences refused to be beaten in an even affair.
West Indies Women captain Hayley Matthews’ top-score of 35 was not enough to prevent the Melbourne Renegades from a 21-run defeat against the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League in Mackay, Australia on Monday.
The Renegades won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that proved costly as the Heat’s Australian opening pair of Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne put on a mammoth 165 for the first wicket.
Harris scored a 50-ball 65 including six fours and a six while Redmayne remained unbeaten on 98 from 67 balls including 12 fours. Laura Harris was not out on eight alongside Redmayne as the Heat eventually posted 180-1 from their 20 overs. Matthews was expensive, conceding 40 runs from her four overs without picking up a wicket.
In their reply, the Renegades batted decently but fell short of their target in the end, finishing 159-6 from their 20 overs. Matthews was good at the top of the innings with a quick 19-ball 35 including six fours while Carly Leeson ended not out on 34 against New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr’s 2-27 from four overs.
Matthews’ Renegades are currently fifth in the eight-team table with two points from as many games.
The PGA Tour has announced four more "elevated" events for the new season that will see increased prize money and fields guaranteed to feature the world's best players.
The Phoenix Open, RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship and Travelers Championship will now all have $20million (£17.8m) prize purses meaning there are now 17 elevated events throughout the course of the current season.
The other 13 elevated events are comprised of the four majors, the Players Championship, the three FedEx Cup Playoff events, the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament, the WGC Match Play and the Tournament of Champions.
The idea of elevated events was initially developed in August in collaboration with numerous high-ranking golfers after several high-profile PGA tour golfers left to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.
The invitational series offers lucrative signing bonuses that vastly outweigh potential PGA tour prize money winnings and has secured the services of current Open champion Cameron Smith as well as two-time major champion, Dustin Johnson.
But it is hoped these elevated events, which the PGA Tour's top stars are committed to playing, will dissuade more players from leaving in the future and ensure the best players play together more frequently.
The four newly announced elevated events are only for 2023; the expectation being that other events will be given elevated status in the coming seasons.
There is also potential for events in Europe on the DP World Tour to be given elevated status as part of the "strategic alliance" with the PGA Tour.
The Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned by both tours, could well be one event given elevated status as part of this alliance in future seasons.
Kevin De Bruyne believes Erling Haaland made a "very good" decision when he opted to join Manchester City, saying he does not understand anyone who doubted the Norwegian.
Although Haaland endured a quiet outing as City fell to a 1-0 loss at Liverpool on Sunday – their first defeat of the Premier League season – he has made a brilliant start to life in England.
Haaland has scored 15 goals in 10 Premier League games since joining City, and became the first player in the competition's history to hit hat-tricks in three successive home games earlier this month.
De Bruyne has already struck up a strong understanding with Haaland, and believes City's depth of attacking quality has made the striker's adaptation easier.
"I don't understand why people would say it would be difficult to score goals here," De Bruyne told City's website.
"I think we have an amazing team, we create a lot of opportunities for our strikers so if he's there, he will score goals.
"I think he made a very good decision to come."
Haaland scored nine goals in his first five Premier League games – the best return in the competition's history, and De Bruyne thinks it was crucial for the 22-year-old to hit the ground running.
"He did it before. He's a very good striker," De Bruyne added. "I am very happy for him that he started the way that he started with us, because obviously there was a lot of pressure coming here.
"But he's fine, he's very relaxed and he's started well. He scores a lot of goals, so he's helping us to win games."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been fined €602 for storming into the referee's changing room after his team's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.
First-half goals from Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde left Barcelona facing a 2-0 deficit at the break, but a Ferran Torres strike with seven minutes to play gave the visitors hope.
That was soon extinguished though as a VAR review led to the award of a Madrid penalty after Eric Garcia tripped Rodrygo, who scored from the spot to secure three points for his side and condemn Xavi's men to defeat.
The result sparked a furious reaction from Laporta, who confronted referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez in the official's changing room after the match.
The Competition Committee fined him on Wednesday, citing article 133 of the disciplinary code, which relates to non-compliance with orders, as well as article 255, which stipulates those who access the changing rooms when they are not allowed to face potential sanctions.
Sunday's defeat saw Madrid leapfrog Barca to the top of LaLiga, another blow for Laporta's team after their Champions League hopes were left hanging by a thread following a 3-3 home draw against Inter last week.
Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has history in his sights at the United States Grand Prix this weekend.
Crowned champion for the second successive season at the Japanese Grand Prix two weeks ago, Verstappen has the chance to further illustrate his dominance at the Circuit of the Americas.
Should he prevail in Austin, he will equal Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher as the driver with the most wins in a single F1 season with his 13th victory,
Schumacher achieved the feat in 2004 for Ferrari, with compatriot Vettel matching him nine years later for Red Bull in the 2013 campaign.
Verstappen and Red Bull will look to make it lucky 13 amid the continued fallout over their cost cap breach last season.
Last week, the FIA announced Red Bull had been found guilty of a "minor" cost cap breach and a procedural breach.
There have been no details of any prospective penalties released by the sport's governing body, however, in a letter to the FIA, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said the breach "constitutes cheating".
Brown's comments are likely to be the talk of the paddock in Texas this week, but Red Bull will look for their most emphatic riposte to come on the track.
They have won the last seven races. Only once, when they won nine in a row in 2013, have they gone on a longer run. An eighth successive victory would be the seventh-longest winning streak in F1.
FERRARI ANYTHING BUT RELIABLE
After initially threatening to produce a compelling title fight in both the drivers and constructors' championship, Ferrari have wilted miserably as Red Bull's main rivals.
Along with well-documented strategy struggles, reliability has been a big contributor to Ferrari's woes.
Carlos Sainz's form has encapsulated that point. He has retired in five of his last 16 races in the Formula One, as many as in his previous 61 appearances in the competition.
MERCEDES TO MAKE 2023 FIGHTBACK?
Lewis Hamilton has won five times in Austin but the seven-time world champion appears unlikely to challenge this year, with Mercedes still waiting for their first win of a dismal season.
Yet Hamilton is confident the Silver Arrows will bounce back next season and ensure that, unlike the much-maligned W13, their W14 car can return the dominant force of the modern era to the front of the grid.
"I think for us we know what the problems are with this car," Hamilton said. "I believe that we as a team, we've not gone from being world champions to not being able to build a good car.
"I have no doubt that we'll have a better car next year. Whether or not we've rectified every issue that we have this year, we'll find out when we get there."
Steven Gerrard remains adamant he is the right man to lead Aston Villa out of their poor run of form, declaring: "I'm capable of getting out of this".
With Villa languishing near the Premier League's relegation zone after winning just two of their first 10 games of the season, Gerrard's position as manager has been called into question.
Ahead of their trip to Fulham on Thursday, Villa have won just one of their last eight league matches (D3 L4), only scoring five goals during that run.
Earlier this week, reports suggested Villa may make an audacious move for former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino if they opt to dispense with Gerrard's services, but the former Liverpool midfielder is determined to fight on.
"I'm here to fight and to lead every single minute of every day, and I've got every confidence and belief in myself that I can change this situation," Gerrard said on Wednesday.
"I'm game for these periods because I believe and know I can get through them if I stay true to myself. I'll front this head on, I'm game for it and I'll show everyone that I'm capable of getting out of this.
"I accept how I'm getting judged right now, but there's no one on the planet more determined to change it than myself and that's all I need to focus on, which is the next three points."
Only Wolves (3.5 per cent) have a worse shot conversion rate than Villa in the Premier League this campaign (6 per cent), with Gerrard's team scoring just seven goals from 116 attempts.
Key to their struggles has been the poor form of Philippe Coutinho, who is yet to score this season, but Gerrard believes his former Liverpool team-mate will come good.
"The age he is at and the talent, I very much have full confidence and belief in Phil," Gerrard added. "Obviously the stats at the moment suggest that he's not in the best place or at his best, which we all understand.
"But we as a staff and me as his manager, will give him every bit of support he needs. You don't lose talent, you don't lose class. It's still there.
"Confidence and belief can change very quickly, so my opinion on Phil Coutinho won't ever change, because I see it on a daily basis. He's just got to replicate it in the games."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admits there is "a lot" he would do differently in terms of his behaviour on the touchline, but believes coaches "have a responsibility" to stay cool.
Following Jurgen Klopp's furious reaction to a foul against Mohamed Salah being missed by officials during Liverpool's 1-0 win against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, the German was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor, and later acknowledged he deserved his red card.
City boss Pep Guardiola had also been animated after Phil Foden's second-half goal was disallowed following a VAR review that spotted a foul in the build-up.
At a press conference ahead of Arsenal's Europa League Group A match with PSV at Emirates Stadium, Arteta said: "We do have a responsibility, not only with the referees as well but with the game. We want to get this game played and respected.
"Obviously to talk about any managers, I have enough just looking after my own behaviour and trying to do the right things for our club.
"But yes it is very intense, you get heated, there are moments like in the last few games. You've seen many, many incidents when VAR has to step in and there is a lot of controversy and a lot of moments where the result is in the air. It depends on a decision and it’s not easy to manage, but of course, we have a huge responsibility.
"If I have to watch myself on the camera after a match then there are probably things I would do differently. But when you are there in the heat and the way you talk even to your own players, a lot of time you would do it differently.
"It's something that we have to learn, I think we are all conscious of it but the heat of the game takes you to behave in certain ways."
The Gunners sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League after their win at Leeds United on Sunday was followed by City's loss at Liverpool.
Arsenal were set to host City on Wednesday had it not been for the PSV fixture - which was re-arranged following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - but Arteta insists it does not matter when his current team faces his former employers.
"I don't know, it is what it is," he said. "Obviously the fixtures and the amount of games that we have, at the end of the day we're going to have to play with everybody and we have this schedule and we've adapted to it."
Arteta confirmed Oleksandr Zinchenko will be fit again from a calf injury before the World Cup break, despite the Ukrainian having not played since the north London derby victory against Tottenham, hinting that he could even play a part on Thursday.
Gabriel Martinelli could be absent after missing training, but Arteta refused to rule out either Zinchenko or the Brazilian attacker, saying: "No they are not ruled out, but we will see tomorrow what we decide."
Arsenal will confirm qualification with a win against the Dutch side, sitting five points ahead of third-place Bodo/Glimt with a game in hand.
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