Ainsley Maitland-Niles marked his Everton debut with a superb strike, which was virtually the last kick of the game to snatch a 2-2 draw for the Toffees against Manchester United. Maitland-Niles's arrival from Lyon on the final day of the transfer window was overshadowed by Everton's failure to reinforce their attack. But the former Arsenal full-back lasered a long-range shot into the top corner in the 96th minute to punish a lackluster United performance.&nbsp;Bryan Mbeumo fired United in front inside the first minute of the second period. But an Everton side short on attacking options rallied to level through Tyrique George. Substitute Benjamin Sesko's header looked to have won United all three points. But the decision not to reinforce Michael Carrick's defence will face more scrutiny as United have conceded twice in all of their opening three games of the Premier League season.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-premier-league-referee-mike-dean-reveals-playing-games-mid-match-1788512131356">Former Premier League referee Mike Dean reveals playing games mid-match</a>&nbsp;A draw maintains Everton's unbeaten start and keeps them one point ahead of United to calm the sense of unrest among the club's fans.&nbsp;A miserable end to the window could still have ramifications for the teams’ performance over the rest of the season.&nbsp;After letting Iliman Ndiaye depart in a £65 million ($88 million) move to Manchester City and Beto to leave for Fiorentina, the Toffees expected to strengthen their forward line with the signing of Monaco's Folarin Balogun.&nbsp;An issue with the USA international's medical saw the clubs frantically renegotiate the structure of a £40 million deal but Balogun turned his back on the move.&nbsp;David Moyes has been left with only one natural striker to pick from in Thierno Barry as a result and only 18 outfield players.The return of Jack Grealish on loan for the season only slightly softened the blow as Moyes faces up to the realities of a possible relegation battle rather than a challenge for European football.&nbsp;Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as United thrashed Ipswich 5-2 last weekend to get their season up and running after a dreadful 2-0 defeat at Hull.&nbsp;The United captain came closest to breaking the deadlock in a first half otherwise devoid of quality when his volley came back off the crossbar.&nbsp;A sleepy start to the second by Moyes's men proved costly as Mbeumo was allowed to bear down on goal on his favoured left foot and arrow a shot beyond Jordan Pickford.&nbsp;United failed to build on their advantage.&nbsp;The introduction of Grealish off the bench lifted the home crowd and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall twice failed to connect sweetly with clear sights of goal. But the visitors' luck ran out seven minutes from time when Hayden Hackney fed George and the former Chelsea winger blasted into the top corner from a narrow angle.&nbsp;Sesko's involvement has been limited at the start of the campaign due to an injury in pre-season, but the Slovenian looked sharp as he stooped to head in Luke Shaw's cross to restore United's lead.&nbsp;The Red Devils never looked comfortable at the back but could not have foreseen the manner of the equaliser.&nbsp;United looked to have cleared the danger with the five minutes of added time up, but the ball broke to Maitland-Niles who swept a curling shot into the top corner.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a stunning 96th-minute equalizer on his debut as Everton twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against Manchester United at Goodison Park.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles marked his Everton debut with a superb strike, which was virtually the last kick of the game to snatch a 2-2 draw for the Toffees against Manchester United. Maitland-Niles's arrival from Lyon on the final day of the transfer window was overshadowed by Everton's failure to reinforce their attack. But the former Arsenal full-back lasered a long-range shot into the top corner in the 96th minute to punish a lackluster United performance. Bryan Mbeumo fired United in front inside the first minute of the second period. But an Everton side short on attacking options rallied to level through Tyrique George. Substitute Benjamin Sesko's header looked to have won United all three points. But the decision not to reinforce Michael Carrick's defence will face more scrutiny as United have conceded twice in all of their opening three games of the Premier League season. Also read| Former Premier League referee Mike Dean reveals playing games mid-match A draw maintains Everton's unbeaten start and keeps them one point ahead of United to calm the sense of unrest among the club's fans. A miserable end to the window could still have ramifications for the teams’ performance over the rest of the season. After letting Iliman Ndiaye depart in a £65 million ($88 million) move to Manchester City and Beto to leave for Fiorentina, the Toffees expected to strengthen their forward line with the signing of Monaco's Folarin Balogun. An issue with the USA international's medical saw the clubs frantically renegotiate the structure of a £40 million deal but Balogun turned his back on the move. David Moyes has been left with only one natural striker to pick from in Thierno Barry as a result and only 18 outfield players. The return of Jack Grealish on loan for the season only slightly softened the blow as Moyes faces up to the realities of a possible relegation battle rather than a challenge for European football. Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as United thrashed Ipswich 5-2 last weekend to get their season up and running after a dreadful 2-0 defeat at Hull. The United captain came closest to breaking the deadlock in a first half otherwise devoid of quality when his volley came back off the crossbar. A sleepy start to the second by Moyes's men proved costly as Mbeumo was allowed to bear down on goal on his favoured left foot and arrow a shot beyond Jordan Pickford. United failed to build on their advantage. The introduction of Grealish off the bench lifted the home crowd and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall twice failed to connect sweetly with clear sights of goal. But the visitors' luck ran out seven minutes from time when Hayden Hackney fed George and the former Chelsea winger blasted into the top corner from a narrow angle. Sesko's involvement has been limited at the start of the campaign due to an injury in pre-season, but the Slovenian looked sharp as he stooped to head in Luke Shaw's cross to restore United's lead. The Red Devils never looked comfortable at the back but could not have foreseen the manner of the equaliser. United looked to have cleared the danger with the five minutes of added time up, but the ball broke to Maitland-Niles who swept a curling shot into the top corner.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a stunning 96th-minute equalizer on his debut as Everton twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against Manchester United at Goodison Park.

Stoppage-time drama as Maitland-Niles denies Manchester United win at Everton

Top seed Alexander Zverev picked up the pace at the US Open on Saturday, virtually sprinting to a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over Alejandro Tabilo to reach the last 16 after labouring through a pair of marathon five-setters. The German had already spent nine hours and 26 minutes on court in his first two matches -- the most time a top seed has needed to reach the third round of a major since 1999.&nbsp;"My coach was actually quite smart -- he explained to me a best of five set match doesn't mean you have to play five sets," quipped the French Open champion, who appeared on a mission to end the trend against Tabilo.&nbsp;Meanwhile the 25th-seeded Chilean was out to avenge a loss to Zverev in the second-round last year on the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/naomi-osaka-shocked-us-open-win-mertens-1788679550853">‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens</a>&nbsp;Zverev didn't face a break point in a brutally efficient first set, winning all 11 points behind his first serve and five of seven on his second serve. He broke Tabilo twice on the way to pocketing the set in 38 minutes, and broke him again on the way to a 4-2 lead in the second.&nbsp;&nbsp;But Tabilo was finding his footing, and the pace slowed as he turned it into a tight back and forth battle. He got his first whiff of a chance when he went up 0-30 on Zverev's serve in the sixth game of the second set.&nbsp;The German quickly snuffed out the danger, but Tabilo pulled a break back in the eighth, winning three straight games to take a 5-4 lead. He had Zverev on the ropes in the 10th game, threatening to break to take the set.&nbsp;Zverev saved a pair of set points then broke Tabilo in the next game, but the Chilean promptly returned the favour to force a tiebreaker that was all Zverev.&nbsp;Undaunted, Tabilo mustered two break points in the opening game of the third set, both denied by Zverev winners.<h2>Big improvement</h2>That was the last chance Tabilo got, Zverev winning the last four games to take the match after two hours and 26 minutes.&nbsp;"I am definitely happy with the improvements," Zverev said. "I spent 10 hours on the court in two matches so I had to find my rhythm somehow, and I did. From back of the court, I was much better.&nbsp;"I was not happy with the second set," he added. "I think especially the end of the second set I lost focus a little bit. I was not moving as well. I was not playing as well. But I think the first and third sets are big improvement to the other days."&nbsp;Zverev still found himself thanking fans who stayed until after 1:00 am. Thanks to a titanic tussle between Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala in the first night match Zverev and Tabilo didn't take to the court until nearly 11:00 pm.&nbsp;Zverev will face Italian Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarter-finals after the 21st seed beat Australian wild card Dane Sweeny 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Alexander Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets to advance to the US Open fourth round. Read full match reaction after the top seed's Arthur Ashe Stadium victory. 

Top seed Alexander Zverev picked up the pace at the US Open on Saturday, virtually sprinting to a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over Alejandro Tabilo to reach the last 16 after labouring through a pair of marathon five-setters. The German had already spent nine hours and 26 minutes on court in his first two matches -- the most time a top seed has needed to reach the third round of a major since 1999. "My coach was actually quite smart -- he explained to me a best of five set match doesn't mean you have to play five sets," quipped the French Open champion, who appeared on a mission to end the trend against Tabilo. Meanwhile the 25th-seeded Chilean was out to avenge a loss to Zverev in the second-round last year on the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Also read| ‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens Zverev didn't face a break point in a brutally efficient first set, winning all 11 points behind his first serve and five of seven on his second serve. He broke Tabilo twice on the way to pocketing the set in 38 minutes, and broke him again on the way to a 4-2 lead in the second. But Tabilo was finding his footing, and the pace slowed as he turned it into a tight back and forth battle. He got his first whiff of a chance when he went up 0-30 on Zverev's serve in the sixth game of the second set. The German quickly snuffed out the danger, but Tabilo pulled a break back in the eighth, winning three straight games to take a 5-4 lead. He had Zverev on the ropes in the 10th game, threatening to break to take the set. Zverev saved a pair of set points then broke Tabilo in the next game, but the Chilean promptly returned the favour to force a tiebreaker that was all Zverev. Undaunted, Tabilo mustered two break points in the opening game of the third set, both denied by Zverev winners. Big improvement That was the last chance Tabilo got, Zverev winning the last four games to take the match after two hours and 26 minutes. "I am definitely happy with the improvements," Zverev said. "I spent 10 hours on the court in two matches so I had to find my rhythm somehow, and I did. From back of the court, I was much better. "I was not happy with the second set," he added. "I think especially the end of the second set I lost focus a little bit. I was not moving as well. I was not playing as well. But I think the first and third sets are big improvement to the other days." Zverev still found himself thanking fans who stayed until after 1:00 am. Thanks to a titanic tussle between Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala in the first night match Zverev and Tabilo didn't take to the court until nearly 11:00 pm. Zverev will face Italian Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarter-finals after the 21st seed beat Australian wild card Dane Sweeny 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Alexander Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets to advance to the US Open fourth round. Read full match reaction after the top seed's Arthur Ashe Stadium victory.&nbsp;

Top seed Alexander Zverev beats Tabilo in straight sets to reach US Open fourth round

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka survived another erratic outing, beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the US Open fourth round. Osaka had 41 unforced errors, her backhand in particular letting her down as she was unable to build on a comfortable first set for the second straight match.&nbsp;WATCH Osaka's Winning Moment -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Naomi survives the storm 🌪️ Osaka battles past Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after a dramatic deciding set. <a href="https://t.co/1F4m2VyE4R">pic.twitter.com/1F4m2VyE4R</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2096416463301079317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I'm literally shocked that I won this match," Osaka, seeded 13th, told an adoring crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium. "There was a certain point where I felt like I put my entire heart on the court. I just kept trying every point."&nbsp;After an early exchange of breaks in the second set, Osaka failed to convert a pair of chances and Mertens broke again for a 5-3 lead. Osaka gifted the Belgian two break points with a double fault, saving one with a forehand winner before sailing a backhand wide.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alexander-zverev-beats-alejandro-tabilo-us-open-fourth-round-1788680367665">Top seed Alexander Zverev beats Tabilo in straight sets to reach US Open fourth round</a>&nbsp;Mertens finally took the set when Osaka dumped a backhand into the net.&nbsp;Mertens kept the pressure on in the third and was rewarded with a break for a 3-2 lead, aided by a string of backhand errors from Osaka.&nbsp;Osaka was clearly frustrated, berating herself and exchanging some testy words with her team.&nbsp;"I didn't feel like I played amazing, it was really getting me down," she told the crowd, offering an apology for her behaviour.&nbsp;She was down a break trailing 4-3 when she took a medical timeout for treatment on her left calf and ankle. Osaka returned with renewed vigor, breaking Mertens at love for 4-4 and saving a break point in the next game for a 5-4 lead.&nbsp;Mertens didn't go quietly, saving a match point on the way to 5-5 and saving two more in the final game before Osaka secured the win.

Naomi Osaka admitted she was "shocked" to beat Elise Mertens in a three-set US Open thriller. Read her candid post-match reaction after advancing to the fourth round. 

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka survived another erratic outing, beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the US Open fourth round. Osaka had 41 unforced errors, her backhand in particular letting her down as she was unable to build on a comfortable first set for the second straight match. WATCH Osaka's Winning Moment -

Naomi Osaka admitted she was "shocked" to beat Elise Mertens in a three-set US Open thriller. Read her candid post-match reaction after advancing to the fourth round.&nbsp;

‘I’m Shocked I Won’: Naomi Osaka reflects on US Open thriller against Mertens

Kylian Mbappe missed a late penalty as Troy Parrott scored his first goal for Real Betis in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Friday, ending Jose Mourinho's side's perfect start to the La Liga season.&nbsp;Madrid had won each of their first three matches under Mourinho in his second spell in charge, but Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles denied Mbappe from the spot deep into stoppage time to seal a memorable victory at La Cartuja.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-premier-league-referee-mike-dean-reveals-playing-games-mid-match-1788512131356">Former Premier League referee Mike Dean reveals playing games mid-match</a>&nbsp;Vinicius Junior hit the post in the first half from Arda Guler's pass across the face of goal, with Mbappe foiled twice by heroic blocks from Natan and Marc Bartra after a rapid Madrid counter-attack.&nbsp;As Madrid pushed in search of the breakthrough, Betis took a surprise lead nine minutes from time when Parrott fired home the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had produced a fine save to keep out Nelson Deossa's header.&nbsp;Republic of Ireland striker Parrott arrived in Seville last month on a five-year deal after his move from AZ Alkmaar, delivering on his home debut the sort of clinical finish Betis fans will hope to see regularly after his prolific spell in the Netherlands.&nbsp;Carlos Espi thought he had equalised with a superb acrobatic finish from a Vinicius cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up.&nbsp;Mbappe then brushed the crossbar with a delicate effort before being handed a glorious chance to level from the penalty spot after Natan's crunching late challenge on Vinicius.&nbsp;However, Valles saved his attempt to secure a victory that lifted Betis level with Madrid on nine points from four matches ahead of just their second Champions League appearance next week.&nbsp;"The team played a great game. Sometimes you lose and cannot explain how," said Mourinho.&nbsp;"We were really dominant, created a lot going forward and had plenty of chances. If the match had ended in a draw we would have been frustrated, so imagine how we feel after a defeat."&nbsp;Asked about the incidents in the closing stages, including Espi's disallowed goal and Mbappe's fluffed penalty, the Portuguese coach refused to be drawn into refereeing controversies.&nbsp;"Honestly, I don't know why we lost. We created a lot of chances, missed three or four of them, and their goalkeeper also made three or four exceptional saves," said Mourinho.&nbsp;"I have nothing to reproach my players for. We probably deserved to win, but deserving to win does not earn you any points."&nbsp;Barcelona can move three points clear at the top on Sunday with a fourth straight victory if they beat Valencia at Mestalla.&nbsp;Madrid begin their Champions League campaign at home to Italian champions Inter Milan next Tuesday, while Betis travel to France to face Lille.

Real Madrid's perfect La Liga start under Jose Mourinho ends with a 1-0 shock loss to Real Betis as Kylian Mbappe misses a late penalty and Troy Parrott scores.

Kylian Mbappe missed a late penalty as Troy Parrott scored his first goal for Real Betis in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Friday, ending Jose Mourinho's side's perfect start to the La Liga season. Madrid had won each of their first three matches under Mourinho in his second spell in charge, but Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles denied Mbappe from the spot deep into stoppage time to seal a memorable victory at La Cartuja. Also read| Former Premier League referee Mike Dean reveals playing games mid-match Vinicius Junior hit the post in the first half from Arda Guler's pass across the face of goal, with Mbappe foiled twice by heroic blocks from Natan and Marc Bartra after a rapid Madrid counter-attack. As Madrid pushed in search of the breakthrough, Betis took a surprise lead nine minutes from time when Parrott fired home the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had produced a fine save to keep out Nelson Deossa's header. Republic of Ireland striker Parrott arrived in Seville last month on a five-year deal after his move from AZ Alkmaar, delivering on his home debut the sort of clinical finish Betis fans will hope to see regularly after his prolific spell in the Netherlands. Carlos Espi thought he had equalised with a superb acrobatic finish from a Vinicius cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Mbappe then brushed the crossbar with a delicate effort before being handed a glorious chance to level from the penalty spot after Natan's crunching late challenge on Vinicius. However, Valles saved his attempt to secure a victory that lifted Betis level with Madrid on nine points from four matches ahead of just their second Champions League appearance next week. "The team played a great game. Sometimes you lose and cannot explain how," said Mourinho. "We were really dominant, created a lot going forward and had plenty of chances. If the match had ended in a draw we would have been frustrated, so imagine how we feel after a defeat." Asked about the incidents in the closing stages, including Espi's disallowed goal and Mbappe's fluffed penalty, the Portuguese coach refused to be drawn into refereeing controversies. "Honestly, I don't know why we lost. We created a lot of chances, missed three or four of them, and their goalkeeper also made three or four exceptional saves," said Mourinho. "I have nothing to reproach my players for. We probably deserved to win, but deserving to win does not earn you any points." Barcelona can move three points clear at the top on Sunday with a fourth straight victory if they beat Valencia at Mestalla. Madrid begin their Champions League campaign at home to Italian champions Inter Milan next Tuesday, while Betis travel to France to face Lille.

Real Madrid's perfect La Liga start under Jose Mourinho ends with a 1-0 shock loss to Real Betis as Kylian Mbappe misses a late penalty and Troy Parrott scores.

La Liga Shocker: Real Madrid surrender top spot after shocking Betis defeat

Defending singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka sailed into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday as tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams suffered an agonising defeat on their long-awaited return to Grand Slam doubles. Alcaraz, coming off a four-month injury absence, beat China's Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to book his place in the fourth round while Sabalenka was similarly dominant in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Kamilla Rakhimova. &nbsp;Alcaraz will face 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals after Paul beat 15th-seeded Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-auger-aliassime-out-but-swiatek-osaka-and-gauff-advance-into-third-round-1788489742697">US Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime out but Swiatek, Osaka, and Gauff advance into third round</a> &nbsp;"The way he plays is unbelievable, the rhythm he has on every shot -- forehand, backhand," Alcaraz said of Wu. "His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it's really difficult to control sometimes. &nbsp;"But I think I stayed there. I played aggressively. I played smart in the toughest moments." &nbsp;Wu recovered an early break in each of the first two sets, but Alcaraz pocketed both with breaks in the final games, and after saving a pair of break points in the first game of the third, the Spaniard rolled home. &nbsp;"I think my level is really good," he said. "I've got into the rhythm of the competition. I'm getting there." &nbsp;World number one Sabalenka didn't face a break point in her dismissal of Rakhimova, firing 29 winners with 10 aces. The numbers didn't tell the whole tale of a match that saw 92nd-ranked Rakhimova challenge Sabalenka in a second-set slugfest. Sabalenka was also unimpressed by the pervasive smell of marijuana -- an increasingly common issue at the US Open -- wafting down from the stands during her match. &nbsp;"It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best," said Sabalenka, who at one point complained to the umpire about the issue. &nbsp;Sabalenka, who must repeat as champion to have a chance of remaining number one, next faces Taylor Townsend, the 96th-ranked American who beat 15th-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.<h2>Williams sisters lose thriller</h2>With Alcaraz and Sabalenka among the early starters, all eyes on the evening session were on the Williams sisters, partnering in a Grand Slam doubles event for the first time since 2022. &nbsp;The duo's return to the US Open stage comes after 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena came out of a four-year retirement to play at Wimbledon. &nbsp;But the most famous sister act in tennis -- who won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together along with three Olympic gold medals -- were beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7) by 14th seeds Chan Hao-ching of Taiwan and Australia's Maya Joint in a marathon three-hour battle. &nbsp;The Williams duo had shown flashes of their brilliant best after recovering from losing the first set to level the match after taking the second set on a tie-break. &nbsp;Momentum and a raucous New York crowd appeared to be carrying them towards victory after they sprinted into a 5-0 lead in the third-set tie-break. But Chan and Joint fought back superbly to erase the deficit before clinching victory.

US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka reach the last 16, while tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams suffer a heartbreaking doubles defeat on their return.

Defending singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka sailed into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday as tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams suffered an agonising defeat on their long-awaited return to Grand Slam doubles. Alcaraz, coming off a four-month injury absence, beat China's Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to book his place in the fourth round while Sabalenka was similarly dominant in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Kamilla Rakhimova. Alcaraz will face 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals after Paul beat 15th-seeded Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3. Also read| US Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime out but Swiatek, Osaka, and Gauff advance into third round "The way he plays is unbelievable, the rhythm he has on every shot -- forehand, backhand," Alcaraz said of Wu. "His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it's really difficult to control sometimes. "But I think I stayed there. I played aggressively. I played smart in the toughest moments." Wu recovered an early break in each of the first two sets, but Alcaraz pocketed both with breaks in the final games, and after saving a pair of break points in the first game of the third, the Spaniard rolled home. "I think my level is really good," he said. "I've got into the rhythm of the competition. I'm getting there." World number one Sabalenka didn't face a break point in her dismissal of Rakhimova, firing 29 winners with 10 aces. The numbers didn't tell the whole tale of a match that saw 92nd-ranked Rakhimova challenge Sabalenka in a second-set slugfest. Sabalenka was also unimpressed by the pervasive smell of marijuana -- an increasingly common issue at the US Open -- wafting down from the stands during her match. "It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best," said Sabalenka, who at one point complained to the umpire about the issue. Sabalenka, who must repeat as champion to have a chance of remaining number one, next faces Taylor Townsend, the 96th-ranked American who beat 15th-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3. Williams sisters lose thriller With Alcaraz and Sabalenka among the early starters, all eyes on the evening session were on the Williams sisters, partnering in a Grand Slam doubles event for the first time since 2022. The duo's return to the US Open stage comes after 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena came out of a four-year retirement to play at Wimbledon. But the most famous sister act in tennis -- who won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together along with three Olympic gold medals -- were beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7) by 14th seeds Chan Hao-ching of Taiwan and Australia's Maya Joint in a marathon three-hour battle. The Williams duo had shown flashes of their brilliant best after recovering from losing the first set to level the match after taking the second set on a tie-break. Momentum and a raucous New York crowd appeared to be carrying them towards victory after they sprinted into a 5-0 lead in the third-set tie-break. But Chan and Joint fought back superbly to erase the deficit before clinching victory.

US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka reach the last 16, while tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams suffer a heartbreaking doubles defeat on their return.

US Open 2026: Alcaraz & Sabalenka reach last 16 as Williams sisters fall in doubles thriller

Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out of the US Open on Thursday as former champions Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff reached the third round. Karen Khachanov, ranked 50th in the world, downed Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, pulling away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian who said he was "dizzy and seeing spots."I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't," a dejected Auger-Aliassime said.Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-carlos-alcaraz-aryna-sabalenka-advance-into-third-round-after-contrasting-wins-1788431134881">US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka advance into third round after contrasting wins</a>"I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it's part of our sport," Khachanov said. "From my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting."I'm super happy to get this win," added the 2022 semi-finalist after posting his first top-10 win of the year.It was the second big upset on the men's side, after Novak Djokovic was ousted in the first round.Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev.French Open champion Zverev anchored the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking on 52nd-ranked Frenchman Quentin Halys.Meanwhile three former women's champions -- Swiatek, Gauff and Osaka, booked their third-round berths.Gauff thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain.Swiatek marched through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker."I knew she would raise her level. She's capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners," said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure."I think I need matches like this to build my confidence," the 2023 US Open winner said.Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now sunk to 449th in the world.She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour.It was another encouraging performance for the former world number one, who hadn't reached a final in 2026 until her run to the title at Toronto in August.<h2>Osaka fights</h2>Japan's Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four major trophies, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point.But the Japanese star's unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set.Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory."I just felt like I had to fight," she said.So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points as she rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5).In other early matches, reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, seeded fifth, rolled over Germany's Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2.Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina was in action later, taking on Spain's Jessica Bouzas.Generations collided on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils's Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.Monfils felt the love in New York, where he made his US Open debut in 2005, chants of "Monfils" erupting frequently and intensifying in the third set."It's been a long ride," Monfils said. "You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can't top Paris, but you are up there!"

Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev.

Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out of the US Open on Thursday as former champions Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff reached the third round. Karen Khachanov, ranked 50th in the world, downed Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, pulling away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian who said he was "dizzy and seeing spots. "I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't," a dejected Auger-Aliassime said. Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve. Also Read - US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka advance into third round after contrasting wins "I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it's part of our sport," Khachanov said. "From my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting. "I'm super happy to get this win," added the 2022 semi-finalist after posting his first top-10 win of the year. It was the second big upset on the men's side, after Novak Djokovic was ousted in the first round. Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev. French Open champion Zverev anchored the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking on 52nd-ranked Frenchman Quentin Halys. Meanwhile three former women's champions -- Swiatek, Gauff and Osaka, booked their third-round berths. Gauff thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain. Swiatek marched through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker. "I knew she would raise her level. She's capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners," said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure. "I think I need matches like this to build my confidence," the 2023 US Open winner said. Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now sunk to 449th in the world. She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour. It was another encouraging performance for the former world number one, who hadn't reached a final in 2026 until her run to the title at Toronto in August. Osaka fights Japan's Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four major trophies, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point. But the Japanese star's unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set. Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory. "I just felt like I had to fight," she said. So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points as she rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5). In other early matches, reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, seeded fifth, rolled over Germany's Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2. Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina was in action later, taking on Spain's Jessica Bouzas. Generations collided on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils's Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory. Monfils felt the love in New York, where he made his US Open debut in 2005, chants of "Monfils" erupting frequently and intensifying in the third set. "It's been a long ride," Monfils said. "You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can't top Paris, but you are up there!"

Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev.

US Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime out but Swiatek, Osaka, and Gauff advance into third round

Carlos Alcaraz got off to a sluggish start but stormed home, and Aryna Sabalenka was in control all the way as the defending champions led a stream of contenders into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday. Spain's Alcaraz, seeded second in his first tournament since a wrist injury forced him to the sideliines in April, got off to a sluggish start but finished in convincing fashion in a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory over 72nd-ranked Jaime Faria of Portugal.Alcaraz won his seventh major title at the Australian Open in January but arrived in New York an unknown quantity after a wrist injury forced a four-month layoff that saw him miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-retirement-argentina-football-matches-to-halt-in-tribute-to-legend-1788417815400">Lionel Messi retirement: Argentina football matches to halt in tribute to legend</a>He dispelled doubts with a straight-sets first-round victory over Roman Safiullin, but took some time to find his range against the big-serving Faria, who claimed the first break of the match for a 4-3 lead in the first when Alcaraz flubbed a forehand.He made the break stand up to take the set, but Alcaraz stepped up his intensity and Faria folded under the pressure."Tough match for me," Alcaraz said, adding that after failing to convert an early break point he briefly lost his composure."After that I was in a rush. I did't take time, I wasn't patient and that obviously cost me the break," he said. "I tried to stay calm ... think good things are going to happen again."Meanwhile a ruthless Sabalenka took the next step on the road to a rare US Open three-peat with a 6-1, 6-1 rout of 160th-ranked Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko that lasted just 53 minutes.Sabalenka, without a title since her impressive Indian Wells-Miami double in March, delivered 24 winners, showcasing her power from the baseline and an effective touch at the net.She dropped just four points on serve in the opening set and was broken just once to give Iatcenko her only game of the second set. Sabalenka responded by winning the next three to secure the win."Happy with the level I played today, happy with the focus," said Sabalenka, who will face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova for place in the round of 16.Jessica Pegula and former champion Daniil Medvedev also raced into the third round.World number three Pegula needed just 56 minutes to trounce Sofia Kenin, the former Australian Open champion now ranked 110th, 6-3, 6-1.Seventh-seeded Medvedev downed US wild card Sebastian Gorzny 6-1, 6-3, 7-5.Pegula, who is among a trio of players who could supplant Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York, dropped just seven points on serve."I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do," said the 2024 US Open runner-up, who next meets another former finalist in Canadian Leylah Fernandez - a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1.Medvedev, who has struggled in the hard court build-up to the year's final Grand Slam, dominated 731st-ranked Gorzny.<h2>Battle to the end</h2>Eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton prevailed in a tense "battle to the end" with former world number six Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.His 11th-seeded compatriot Frances Tiafoe also advanced holding off Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5.Another American tipped as a contender -- in-form 16th-seed Brandon Nakashima -- bowed out, upset by 46th-ranked compatriot Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.Argentina's Mariano Navone backed up his epic five-set upset of Serbian star Novak Djokovic with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Italian Matteo Berrettini.Outside the covered confines of Ashe and the Louis Armstrong Stadium, rain again disrupted play.Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur finally got his campaign underway in a match postponed from Tuesday but had to wait out another mid-match rain delay on the way to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 first-round victory over Italian Andrea Guerrieri.Lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete of China pulled off a first-round upset, stunning 12th-seeded Spaniard Rafael Jodar 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.Jodar committed 37 unforced errors with just 15 winners in a humbling defeat for the 19-year rising ATP star, who won the ATP title in Marrakech this year and reached the final in Washington and the semis in Montreal recent weeks.

Carlos Alcaraz rallied past Jaime Faria in four sets while Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the US Open third round with a 53-minute win, leading contenders Jessica Pegula and Daniil Medvedev through.

Carlos Alcaraz got off to a sluggish start but stormed home, and Aryna Sabalenka was in control all the way as the defending champions led a stream of contenders into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday. Spain's Alcaraz, seeded second in his first tournament since a wrist injury forced him to the sideliines in April, got off to a sluggish start but finished in convincing fashion in a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory over 72nd-ranked Jaime Faria of Portugal. Alcaraz won his seventh major title at the Australian Open in January but arrived in New York an unknown quantity after a wrist injury forced a four-month layoff that saw him miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Also Read - Lionel Messi retirement: Argentina football matches to halt in tribute to legend He dispelled doubts with a straight-sets first-round victory over Roman Safiullin, but took some time to find his range against the big-serving Faria, who claimed the first break of the match for a 4-3 lead in the first when Alcaraz flubbed a forehand. He made the break stand up to take the set, but Alcaraz stepped up his intensity and Faria folded under the pressure. "Tough match for me," Alcaraz said, adding that after failing to convert an early break point he briefly lost his composure. "After that I was in a rush. I did't take time, I wasn't patient and that obviously cost me the break," he said. "I tried to stay calm ... think good things are going to happen again." Meanwhile a ruthless Sabalenka took the next step on the road to a rare US Open three-peat with a 6-1, 6-1 rout of 160th-ranked Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko that lasted just 53 minutes. Sabalenka, without a title since her impressive Indian Wells-Miami double in March, delivered 24 winners, showcasing her power from the baseline and an effective touch at the net. She dropped just four points on serve in the opening set and was broken just once to give Iatcenko her only game of the second set. Sabalenka responded by winning the next three to secure the win. "Happy with the level I played today, happy with the focus," said Sabalenka, who will face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova for place in the round of 16. Jessica Pegula and former champion Daniil Medvedev also raced into the third round. World number three Pegula needed just 56 minutes to trounce Sofia Kenin, the former Australian Open champion now ranked 110th, 6-3, 6-1. Seventh-seeded Medvedev downed US wild card Sebastian Gorzny 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Pegula, who is among a trio of players who could supplant Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York, dropped just seven points on serve. "I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do," said the 2024 US Open runner-up, who next meets another former finalist in Canadian Leylah Fernandez - a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. Medvedev, who has struggled in the hard court build-up to the year's final Grand Slam, dominated 731st-ranked Gorzny. Battle to the end Eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton prevailed in a tense "battle to the end" with former world number six Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5. His 11th-seeded compatriot Frances Tiafoe also advanced holding off Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5. Another American tipped as a contender -- in-form 16th-seed Brandon Nakashima -- bowed out, upset by 46th-ranked compatriot Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Argentina's Mariano Navone backed up his epic five-set upset of Serbian star Novak Djokovic with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Italian Matteo Berrettini. Outside the covered confines of Ashe and the Louis Armstrong Stadium, rain again disrupted play. Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur finally got his campaign underway in a match postponed from Tuesday but had to wait out another mid-match rain delay on the way to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 first-round victory over Italian Andrea Guerrieri. Lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete of China pulled off a first-round upset, stunning 12th-seeded Spaniard Rafael Jodar 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Jodar committed 37 unforced errors with just 15 winners in a humbling defeat for the 19-year rising ATP star, who won the ATP title in Marrakech this year and reached the final in Washington and the semis in Montreal recent weeks.

Carlos Alcaraz rallied past Jaime Faria in four sets while Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the US Open third round with a 53-minute win, leading contenders Jessica Pegula and Daniil Medvedev through.

US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka advance into third round after contrasting wins

The NBA on Tuesday walloped the Los Angeles Clippers with a record $30 million fine, stripped the team of five first-round draft picks and banned owner Steve Ballmer for a year after a probe uncovered major salary cap violations involving star Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers, who said they plan to fight the punishments, will forfeit a first-round NBA Draft pick every year 2029-2033 after having been found to have aided Leonard in evading salary cap rules in deals with team corporate sponsors when he signed in 2022.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/enzo-fernandez-reacts-after-joining-built-for-success-manchester-city-in-record-deal-1788337166040">Enzo Fernandez reacts after joining 'built for success' City in record deal</a>Clippers owner Ballmer was banned from all league and team activities for one year, president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while Leonard was fined $700,000.The $30 million fine is comfortably the largest ever imposed on a team by the NBA, eclipsing the previous largest penalty of $3.5 million against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000 for breaching salary cap rules."I'm deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers' institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said."The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations."The Clippers, responding in a statement, said the probe was biased to fit what the team called a "predetermined narrative" and vowed to challenge the penalties."We vehemently reject the NBA's findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence," a club statement said.The Clippers said feedback it had received directly from the NBA "differs from what it announced today publicly.""For the past year, we cooperated fully and in good faith and we will now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence," the statement said."We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process."The Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to Toronto in July but the Raptors said they would await the result of the investigation before finalizing the deal."As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate," Leonard said in a statement.The investigation was into allegations the Clippers compensated Leonard $28 million through an endorsement deal with now-bankrupt Aspiration.It found what the NBA called "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules."Law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen &amp; Katz found the Clippers initiated and facilitated sponsorship income deals between Leonard and four team corporate sponsors -- Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.The probe found the club induced companies to enter into agreements with Leonard by offering them business, also paid personal expenses for Leonard and his representatives, and failed to report improper solicitations for income opportunities by Leonard's then-business manager, Dennis Robertson.Leonard, through Robertson, violated salary cap rules by obtaining improper off-court income, pressuring the Clippers to assist him in getting those opportunities and failing to reimburse the Clippers for expenses.Robertson was banned from engaging with NBA teams on behalf of any player, employee or other NBA or team personnel for five years.<h2>'No knowledge'</h2>Leonard accepted responsibility for actions by his representatives but said he had no clue salary cap violations were involved."Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family," Leonard said in a statement."I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap."The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association agreed the penalties are final and binding to all parties but the league said it will "consider further action as appropriate."

Clippers owner Ballmer was banned from all league and team activities for one year, president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while Leonard was fined $700,000.

The NBA on Tuesday walloped the Los Angeles Clippers with a record $30 million fine, stripped the team of five first-round draft picks and banned owner Steve Ballmer for a year after a probe uncovered major salary cap violations involving star Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers, who said they plan to fight the punishments, will forfeit a first-round NBA Draft pick every year 2029-2033 after having been found to have aided Leonard in evading salary cap rules in deals with team corporate sponsors when he signed in 2022. Also Read - Enzo Fernandez reacts after joining 'built for success' City in record deal Clippers owner Ballmer was banned from all league and team activities for one year, president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while Leonard was fined $700,000. The $30 million fine is comfortably the largest ever imposed on a team by the NBA, eclipsing the previous largest penalty of $3.5 million against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000 for breaching salary cap rules. "I'm deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers' institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations." The Clippers, responding in a statement, said the probe was biased to fit what the team called a "predetermined narrative" and vowed to challenge the penalties. "We vehemently reject the NBA's findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence," a club statement said. The Clippers said feedback it had received directly from the NBA "differs from what it announced today publicly." "For the past year, we cooperated fully and in good faith and we will now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence," the statement said. "We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process." The Clippers agreed to trade Leonard to Toronto in July but the Raptors said they would await the result of the investigation before finalizing the deal. "As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate," Leonard said in a statement. The investigation was into allegations the Clippers compensated Leonard $28 million through an endorsement deal with now-bankrupt Aspiration. It found what the NBA called "a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules." Law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz found the Clippers initiated and facilitated sponsorship income deals between Leonard and four team corporate sponsors -- Aspiration, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance. The probe found the club induced companies to enter into agreements with Leonard by offering them business, also paid personal expenses for Leonard and his representatives, and failed to report improper solicitations for income opportunities by Leonard's then-business manager, Dennis Robertson. Leonard, through Robertson, violated salary cap rules by obtaining improper off-court income, pressuring the Clippers to assist him in getting those opportunities and failing to reimburse the Clippers for expenses. Robertson was banned from engaging with NBA teams on behalf of any player, employee or other NBA or team personnel for five years. 'No knowledge' Leonard accepted responsibility for actions by his representatives but said he had no clue salary cap violations were involved. "Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family," Leonard said in a statement. "I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap." The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association agreed the penalties are final and binding to all parties but the league said it will "consider further action as appropriate."

Clippers owner Ballmer was banned from all league and team activities for one year, president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while Leonard was fined $700,000.

NBA fines LA Clippers $30 million for salary cap violation involving Kawhi Leonard

Tiger Woods, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence after crashing his car in Florida in March, is expected to formally change his plea, court documents showed Tuesday. A "change of plea" hearing early Wednesday (Sep 2) morning was added to the golf superstar's case docket at a Martin County court, online records showed.Woods' lawyer did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment about the nature of the change of plea.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-equal-british-transfer-record-enzo-fernandez-1788287462735">Manchester City equal British transfer record with £125m Enzo Fernandez deal</a>The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March.He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him.Woods pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test, telling authorities he was looking at his phone and changing radio channels when he crashed.Days later he said he was "stepping away" to seek treatment and focus on his health.He was cleared by a judge to travel overseas to an inpatient facility, reportedly in Switzerland.Woods made his first public appearance since his arrest at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship in June.The following month, a judge ruled that prosecutors could review Woods' hospital treatment, as well as the golfer's prescription drug records.In both cases the information can be reviewed only by prosecutors and designated law enforcement officers and experts and Woods's defense team.Woods has undergone multiple back operations and surgeries on severe leg injuries suffered in a separate, 2021 California car crash.

The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March. He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him.

Tiger Woods, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence after crashing his car in Florida in March, is expected to formally change his plea, court documents showed Tuesday. A "change of plea" hearing early Wednesday (Sep 2) morning was added to the golf superstar's case docket at a Martin County court, online records showed. Woods' lawyer did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment about the nature of the change of plea. Also Read - Manchester City equal British transfer record with £125m Enzo Fernandez deal The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March. He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him. Woods pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test, telling authorities he was looking at his phone and changing radio channels when he crashed. Days later he said he was "stepping away" to seek treatment and focus on his health. He was cleared by a judge to travel overseas to an inpatient facility, reportedly in Switzerland. Woods made his first public appearance since his arrest at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship in June. The following month, a judge ruled that prosecutors could review Woods' hospital treatment, as well as the golfer's prescription drug records. In both cases the information can be reviewed only by prosecutors and designated law enforcement officers and experts and Woods's defense team. Woods has undergone multiple back operations and surgeries on severe leg injuries suffered in a separate, 2021 California car crash.

The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March. He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him.

Tiger Woods set to change his 'no guilty' plea in DUI crash from March

Hollywood star actor and producer Naomi Watts will receive a lifetime achievement award at Spain's top film festival next month, organisers announced on Monday.&nbsp;The San Sebastian Film Festival said the British-born Australian, a two-time Oscar nominee, would take the "Donostia" prize as "one of the most talented and recognised actresses of her generation".&nbsp;Watts, 57, first made a name for herself in David Lynch's 2001 movie "Mulholland Drive" and has played versatile roles in both auteur cinema and big productions.&nbsp;She earned Oscar nominations for her performances in "21 Grams" (2003) by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and "The Impossible" (2012) under Spain's Juan Antonio Bayona.&nbsp;Inarritu's "Birdman" (2014), "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (2010) by Woody Allen and Michael Haneke's "Funny Games" (1997) feature among her other standout roles.Watts was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in Ryan Murphy's mini-series "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans", where she was also an executive producer.&nbsp;Watts has also stood out in recent times for raising awareness about women's health and menopause.&nbsp;The prize ceremony will take place on September 19 in the northern coastal city of San Sebastian, where the Spanish-speaking world's most prestigious film festival will run from September 18-26.&nbsp;A showing of the new film "The Housewife" will follow, where Watts stars as the enigmatic wife of a suspected former Nazi official living in 1960s New York.&nbsp;German director, scriptwriter, producer and actor Werner Herzog is also due to take home a Donostia award this year.&nbsp;The illustrious list of previous winners includes Gregory Peck, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Agnes Varda, Catherine Deneuve and Pedro Almodovar.

The San Sebastian Film Festival will be honouring British-born Australian actress Naomi Watts for her contribution to cinema. Watts, 57, first made a name for herself in David Lynch's 2001 movie Mulholland Drive.

Hollywood star actor and producer Naomi Watts will receive a lifetime achievement award at Spain's top film festival next month, organisers announced on Monday. The San Sebastian Film Festival said the British-born Australian, a two-time Oscar nominee, would take the "Donostia" prize as "one of the most talented and recognised actresses of her generation". Watts, 57, first made a name for herself in David Lynch's 2001 movie "Mulholland Drive" and has played versatile roles in both auteur cinema and big productions. She earned Oscar nominations for her performances in "21 Grams" (2003) by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and "The Impossible" (2012) under Spain's Juan Antonio Bayona. Inarritu's "Birdman" (2014), "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (2010) by Woody Allen and Michael Haneke's "Funny Games" (1997) feature among her other standout roles. Watts was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in Ryan Murphy's mini-series "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans", where she was also an executive producer. Watts has also stood out in recent times for raising awareness about women's health and menopause. The prize ceremony will take place on September 19 in the northern coastal city of San Sebastian, where the Spanish-speaking world's most prestigious film festival will run from September 18-26. A showing of the new film "The Housewife" will follow, where Watts stars as the enigmatic wife of a suspected former Nazi official living in 1960s New York. German director, scriptwriter, producer and actor Werner Herzog is also due to take home a Donostia award this year. The illustrious list of previous winners includes Gregory Peck, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Agnes Varda, Catherine Deneuve and Pedro Almodovar.

The San Sebastian Film Festival will be honouring British-born Australian actress Naomi Watts for her contribution to cinema. Watts, 57, first made a name for herself in David Lynch's 2001 movie Mulholland Drive.

Naomi Watts to receive lifetime award at top Spain film festival

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz didn't miss a beat as he returned from a four-month injury absence with a straight-sets first-round victory in the US Open on Monday (Aug 31). Out of action with a wrist injury since April, Alcaraz passed his first test with flying colors, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also made it safely into the second round."It's been a really tough five months for me," Alcaraz said. "Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn't decide to come back in a better tournament. It's a really special place for me."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-venus-williams-suffers-first-round-exit-in-record-26th-appearance-1788160905576">US Open: Venus Williams suffers first-round exit in record 26th appearance</a>"I tried to enjoy as much as I can," he added. "I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything."Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.Monday's performance might not have been peak Alcaraz, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion unleashed his powerful forehand with increasing confidence and displayed his familiar touch at the net."I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure," said Alcaraz, who said he was most proud that he was able to quell his own doubts about his fitness."I tried to forget everything, I tried to enjoy," he said.Alcaraz's smooth move into the second round came less than 24 hours after ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone.The tournament was already missing top-ranked Jannik Sinner, absent with a bad knee, and Djokovic's exit removed another possible obstacle for Alcaraz, who could have met the Serb superstar in the semi-finals.<h2>Aggressive Sabalenka</h2>Sabalenka's bid for a rare US Open three-peat comes amid a worrying drop in form, but the Belarusian star rose to the occasion in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio.She was slowed by 23 unforced errors but belted 32 winners to more than compensate, her thunderous groundstrokes proving enough to see off a counter-punching opponent who stepped up her game in the second set."She brought the fight," Sabalenka said. "She battled really well and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible."I think I played great. She's a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point, so I'm happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets," she added.Sabalenka hasn't reached a final since capturing the prestigious "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami back in March.Poland's six-time Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek sailed into the second round with a straight sets victory over China's Wang Xiyu.Eighth-seeded Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka on the way to her lone US Open triumph in 2022, eased past Wang 6-2, 6-3 in 1hr 28min."It was a good day in the office," Swiatek said afterwards. "I felt pretty good right from the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity. I want to keep it that way."Elsewhere Frenchman Arthur Fils, flying high after his first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati, was brought back to earth by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-4.Tsitsipas bagged his first win over 22-year-old Fis in six encounters."I am speechless, I don't know what to say," said Tsitsipas, a former top five player who has slumped to 53 in the world. "It's an amazing start to the tournament."With top-seeded German Alexander Zverev due to open his campaign on Tuesday, Monday night's showcourt action on Ashe saw American eighth seed Ben Shelton overcome a rocky start before booking his place in the second round with a four-set defeat of the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor.Shelton looked out of sorts as Griekspoor roared through the first set with three breaks of serve to win 6-1.But Shelton turned the tables to score a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory in 2hr 35min."Started off with a little bit of nerves tonight, but I found my rhythm," Shelton said.The final game on the Ashe court sees Naomi Osaka, whose four Grand Slam titles include two US Opens, take on Anastasia Zakharova.

Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz didn't miss a beat as he returned from a four-month injury absence with a straight-sets first-round victory in the US Open on Monday (Aug 31). Out of action with a wrist injury since April, Alcaraz passed his first test with flying colors, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also made it safely into the second round. "It's been a really tough five months for me," Alcaraz said. "Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn't decide to come back in a better tournament. It's a really special place for me." Also Read - US Open: Venus Williams suffers first-round exit in record 26th appearance "I tried to enjoy as much as I can," he added. "I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything." Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. Monday's performance might not have been peak Alcaraz, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion unleashed his powerful forehand with increasing confidence and displayed his familiar touch at the net. "I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure," said Alcaraz, who said he was most proud that he was able to quell his own doubts about his fitness. "I tried to forget everything, I tried to enjoy," he said. Alcaraz's smooth move into the second round came less than 24 hours after ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone. The tournament was already missing top-ranked Jannik Sinner, absent with a bad knee, and Djokovic's exit removed another possible obstacle for Alcaraz, who could have met the Serb superstar in the semi-finals. Aggressive Sabalenka Sabalenka's bid for a rare US Open three-peat comes amid a worrying drop in form, but the Belarusian star rose to the occasion in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio. She was slowed by 23 unforced errors but belted 32 winners to more than compensate, her thunderous groundstrokes proving enough to see off a counter-punching opponent who stepped up her game in the second set. "She brought the fight," Sabalenka said. "She battled really well and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible. "I think I played great. She's a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point, so I'm happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets," she added. Sabalenka hasn't reached a final since capturing the prestigious "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami back in March. Poland's six-time Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek sailed into the second round with a straight sets victory over China's Wang Xiyu. Eighth-seeded Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka on the way to her lone US Open triumph in 2022, eased past Wang 6-2, 6-3 in 1hr 28min. "It was a good day in the office," Swiatek said afterwards. "I felt pretty good right from the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity. I want to keep it that way." Elsewhere Frenchman Arthur Fils, flying high after his first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati, was brought back to earth by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas bagged his first win over 22-year-old Fis in six encounters. "I am speechless, I don't know what to say," said Tsitsipas, a former top five player who has slumped to 53 in the world. "It's an amazing start to the tournament." With top-seeded German Alexander Zverev due to open his campaign on Tuesday, Monday night's showcourt action on Ashe saw American eighth seed Ben Shelton overcome a rocky start before booking his place in the second round with a four-set defeat of the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor. Shelton looked out of sorts as Griekspoor roared through the first set with three breaks of serve to win 6-1. But Shelton turned the tables to score a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory in 2hr 35min. "Started off with a little bit of nerves tonight, but I found my rhythm," Shelton said. The final game on the Ashe court sees Naomi Osaka, whose four Grand Slam titles include two US Opens, take on Anastasia Zakharova.

Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

US Open: Defending champion Alcaraz makes winning return to Flushing Meadows

The Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with few Hollywood productions but plenty of indie gems, heavy-hitting documentaries and A-listers.&nbsp;AFP picks the films, the issues and the personalities that are likely to attract the most attention during one of the world's most glamourous film events, which runs until September 12.&nbsp;<h2>- Murdoch biopic -</h2>&nbsp;The festival and main competition starts with a promising opener by British "Trainspotting" and "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle who is premiering his latest movie "Ink" about right-wing media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.&nbsp;Australia-born Murdoch, the 95-year-old Fox News owner, has been the subject of several new biographies recently and a dramatisation of his family's internal battles in hit HBO series "Succession".&nbsp;Boyle focuses on his arrival in the UK media industry in 1969 when he purchased The Sun tabloid.<h2>- 'Musk' -</h2>&nbsp;Oscar-winning documentary maker Alex Gibney, whose previous films chronicled US military abuse and corruption, has turned his attention to the world's richest man, Elon Musk.&nbsp;"Hit piece for sure. Gibney is incapable of anything else," the billionaire wrote on X last month of the nearly four-hour film titled "Musk".&nbsp;<h2>- Robert Pattinson -</h2>&nbsp;Robert Pattinson will be one of the biggest names on the Venice Lido this year, with the "Batman" and "The Odyssey" star appearing in "Primetime" by Lance Oppenheim.&nbsp;It is based on the real-life story of American TV show "To Catch a Predator" that sought to expose paedophiles, with Pattinson set to play presenter Chris Hansen.&nbsp;Hollywood favourite George Clooney will also add some stardust when he picks up a lifetime achievement Golden Lion award alongside Ellen Burstyn ("The Exorcist",&nbsp;"Interstellar").&nbsp;<h2>- Studios and streamers -</h2>&nbsp;American industry behemoths -- the Hollywood studios and streamers Netflix and Amazon -- turned up en masse in Venice in 2025 with a slate of pretty underwhelming movies.&nbsp;They are skipping this year's edition, extending a trend seen at Europe's other two biggest film events in 2026, the Berlin and Cannes festivals, where they also shunned organisers.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Indie and arthouse -&nbsp;Hollywood's absence will leave more attention and eyeballs for some of the strong independently produced movies on offer.&nbsp;These include "Wild Horse Nine", a dark comedy by Ireland's Martin McDonagh starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, "Company" by Casey Affleck, as well as "Bucking Fastard" by German veteran Werner Herzog, featuring sisters Kate Mara and Rooney Mara.&nbsp;Two of Asia's acclaimed filmmakers, Japan's Hirokazu Koreeda and South Korea's Lee Chang-dong, are also in the main competition with their latest "Look Back" and "Possible Love".&nbsp;<h2>- Manchester's finest -</h2>&nbsp;The oft-feuding Oasis rock'n'roll brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are set to light up the Lido to promote a documentary about their sold-out comeback tour last year.&nbsp;"Don't Look Back in Anger" promises a behind-the-scenes look at the Oasis mania sparked by the reunion, produced by Steven Knight, the creator of the "Peaky Blinders" series.&nbsp;<h2>- Palestine -</h2>&nbsp;A new documentary called "NAZA" from two of the directors of Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian production "No Other Land" is one of several films in Venice about Israel's war in Gaza.&nbsp;Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor explore Israel's AI-assisted targeting systems in Gaza where an estimated 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.&nbsp;Other documentaries on the conflict include "Citizen Osama" about a photojournalist in Gaza, while "Road to Jericho" by Israeli director Amos Gitai documents Jewish extremist settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.&nbsp;<h2>- Men's club -</h2>&nbsp;Venice supremo Alberto Barbera prompted a backlash by selecting just one film by a woman director in the initial 20-strong main competition announced in July -- the appropriately titled "Woman Unknown" by May El-Toukhy.&nbsp;The quality of submissions from women directors "was not enough to put them into the competition," he argued -- which led to an open letter from campaign and industry groups.&nbsp;The late addition of "NAZA" improved the gender balanced very slightly -- it is co-directed by a woman.&nbsp;<h2>- Spanish power couple -</h2>&nbsp;For fans of Spain's power couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, French director Florian Zeller's latest movie "Bunker" is a must-see.&nbsp;The real-life couple, who got together on the set of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008, play partners in a faltering marriage whose relationship is tested by a lucrative professional project for a billionaire played by Paul Dano.

With Hollywood taking a backseat, the Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, driven by indie highlights, powerful documentaries, and major star power.

The Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with few Hollywood productions but plenty of indie gems, heavy-hitting documentaries and A-listers. AFP picks the films, the issues and the personalities that are likely to attract the most attention during one of the world's most glamourous film events, which runs until September 12. - Murdoch biopic - The festival and main competition starts with a promising opener by British "Trainspotting" and "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle who is premiering his latest movie "Ink" about right-wing media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Australia-born Murdoch, the 95-year-old Fox News owner, has been the subject of several new biographies recently and a dramatisation of his family's internal battles in hit HBO series "Succession". Boyle focuses on his arrival in the UK media industry in 1969 when he purchased The Sun tabloid. - 'Musk' - Oscar-winning documentary maker Alex Gibney, whose previous films chronicled US military abuse and corruption, has turned his attention to the world's richest man, Elon Musk. "Hit piece for sure. Gibney is incapable of anything else," the billionaire wrote on X last month of the nearly four-hour film titled "Musk". - Robert Pattinson - Robert Pattinson will be one of the biggest names on the Venice Lido this year, with the "Batman" and "The Odyssey" star appearing in "Primetime" by Lance Oppenheim. It is based on the real-life story of American TV show "To Catch a Predator" that sought to expose paedophiles, with Pattinson set to play presenter Chris Hansen. Hollywood favourite George Clooney will also add some stardust when he picks up a lifetime achievement Golden Lion award alongside Ellen Burstyn ("The Exorcist", "Interstellar"). - Studios and streamers - American industry behemoths -- the Hollywood studios and streamers Netflix and Amazon -- turned up en masse in Venice in 2025 with a slate of pretty underwhelming movies. They are skipping this year's edition, extending a trend seen at Europe's other two biggest film events in 2026, the Berlin and Cannes festivals, where they also shunned organisers. - Indie and arthouse - Hollywood's absence will leave more attention and eyeballs for some of the strong independently produced movies on offer. These include "Wild Horse Nine", a dark comedy by Ireland's Martin McDonagh starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, "Company" by Casey Affleck, as well as "Bucking Fastard" by German veteran Werner Herzog, featuring sisters Kate Mara and Rooney Mara. Two of Asia's acclaimed filmmakers, Japan's Hirokazu Koreeda and South Korea's Lee Chang-dong, are also in the main competition with their latest "Look Back" and "Possible Love". - Manchester's finest - The oft-feuding Oasis rock'n'roll brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are set to light up the Lido to promote a documentary about their sold-out comeback tour last year. "Don't Look Back in Anger" promises a behind-the-scenes look at the Oasis mania sparked by the reunion, produced by Steven Knight, the creator of the "Peaky Blinders" series. - Palestine - A new documentary called "NAZA" from two of the directors of Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian production "No Other Land" is one of several films in Venice about Israel's war in Gaza. Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor explore Israel's AI-assisted targeting systems in Gaza where an estimated 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Other documentaries on the conflict include "Citizen Osama" about a photojournalist in Gaza, while "Road to Jericho" by Israeli director Amos Gitai documents Jewish extremist settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. - Men's club - Venice supremo Alberto Barbera prompted a backlash by selecting just one film by a woman director in the initial 20-strong main competition announced in July -- the appropriately titled "Woman Unknown" by May El-Toukhy. The quality of submissions from women directors "was not enough to put them into the competition," he argued -- which led to an open letter from campaign and industry groups. The late addition of "NAZA" improved the gender balanced very slightly -- it is co-directed by a woman. - Spanish power couple - For fans of Spain's power couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, French director Florian Zeller's latest movie "Bunker" is a must-see. The real-life couple, who got together on the set of "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in 2008, play partners in a faltering marriage whose relationship is tested by a lucrative professional project for a billionaire played by Paul Dano.

With Hollywood taking a backseat, the Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, driven by indie highlights, powerful documentaries, and major star power.

Venice Film Festival 2026: Indie gems, star power, and controversy lead a Hollywood-light lineup

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