Bayer Leverkusen let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim in new coach Erik Ten Hag's Bundesliga debut on Saturday (Aug 23). Taking over from Xabi Alonso in the summer and overseeing a radically restructured side after several high-profile exits, the former Manchester United manager cut a frustrated figure on the sideline. Leverkusen hit the lead after six minutes when Jarell Quansah, who arrived from Liverpool this summer, headed in an Alex Grimaldo free kick.&nbsp;Hoffenheim, who finished just one spot above the relegation placings last season, levelled with 25 minutes played, Fisnik Asllani taking advantage of a defensive error from Quansah.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-tottenham-hotspur-sink-manchester-city-to-go-on-top-of-standings-after-two-games-1755958163359">Premier League: Spurs sink Manchester City to go on top of standings after two games</a>&nbsp;Tim Lemperle put the visitors ahead after 52 minutes. He was given too much time by Leverkusen's defence and skidded a low shot across the grass and into the corner.&nbsp;Leverkusen lost just three league games in the past two seasons, but there would be no late heroics. The defeat showed the scale of the rebuild Ten Hag has on his hands.&nbsp;Eintracht Frankfurt proved they still know their way to the goal without departed striker Hugo Ekitike, thumping Werder Bremen 4-1 at home, Jean-Matteo Bahoya scoring a brace before half-time.&nbsp;Now at Liverpool, Ekitike scored 15 and added eight assists in the league last season, but youngsters Bahoya, Can Uzun and Ansgar Knauff all scored for the home side in a dominant victory.&nbsp;Bremen pulled one back through Justin Njinmah in the second half, but rarely troubled the hosts.&nbsp;German Cup holders Stuttgart were beaten by Union Berlin, who won 2-1 thanks to a first-half double from debutant Ilyas Ansah.&nbsp;Back in Berlin for the first time since winning the cup final in May, Stuttgart hit the woodwork twice and had a stoppage-time equaliser to Nick Woltemade ruled out for offside.&nbsp;Elsewhere, Augsburg won 3-1 at Freiburg and Wolfsburg won by the same scoreline at Heidenheim.&nbsp;On Friday, defending champions Bayern Munich exploded in their season opener, beating RB Leipzig 6-0 at home, with Harry Kane scoring a second-half hat trick.&nbsp;Later on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund start their Bundesliga campaign away at St Pauli.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Leverkusen lost just three league games in the past two seasons, but there would be no late heroics. The defeat showed the scale of the rebuild Ten Hag has on his hands.

Bayer Leverkusen let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim in new coach Erik Ten Hag's Bundesliga debut on Saturday (Aug 23). Taking over from Xabi Alonso in the summer and overseeing a radically restructured side after several high-profile exits, the former Manchester United manager cut a frustrated figure on the sideline. Leverkusen hit the lead after six minutes when Jarell Quansah, who arrived from Liverpool this summer, headed in an Alex Grimaldo free kick. Hoffenheim, who finished just one spot above the relegation placings last season, levelled with 25 minutes played, Fisnik Asllani taking advantage of a defensive error from Quansah. Also read | Premier League: Spurs sink Manchester City to go on top of standings after two games Tim Lemperle put the visitors ahead after 52 minutes. He was given too much time by Leverkusen's defence and skidded a low shot across the grass and into the corner. Leverkusen lost just three league games in the past two seasons, but there would be no late heroics. The defeat showed the scale of the rebuild Ten Hag has on his hands. Eintracht Frankfurt proved they still know their way to the goal without departed striker Hugo Ekitike, thumping Werder Bremen 4-1 at home, Jean-Matteo Bahoya scoring a brace before half-time. Now at Liverpool, Ekitike scored 15 and added eight assists in the league last season, but youngsters Bahoya, Can Uzun and Ansgar Knauff all scored for the home side in a dominant victory. Bremen pulled one back through Justin Njinmah in the second half, but rarely troubled the hosts. German Cup holders Stuttgart were beaten by Union Berlin, who won 2-1 thanks to a first-half double from debutant Ilyas Ansah. Back in Berlin for the first time since winning the cup final in May, Stuttgart hit the woodwork twice and had a stoppage-time equaliser to Nick Woltemade ruled out for offside. Elsewhere, Augsburg won 3-1 at Freiburg and Wolfsburg won by the same scoreline at Heidenheim. On Friday, defending champions Bayern Munich exploded in their season opener, beating RB Leipzig 6-0 at home, with Harry Kane scoring a second-half hat trick. Later on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund start their Bundesliga campaign away at St Pauli. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Leverkusen lost just three league games in the past two seasons, but there would be no late heroics. The defeat showed the scale of the rebuild Ten Hag has on his hands.

Bayer Leverkusen lose on Erik Ten Hag’s Bundesliga debut

Manchester City's troubles from last season were exposed once more in a humbling 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday (Aug 23) that raised questions over their quest to regain the Premier League title. Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck for the Europa League winners just before half-time as Spurs went top of the table, making it a perfect start for Thomas Frank after two league games in charge. City's run of four consecutive titles came to a spectacular end last season as they finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal.&nbsp;A 4-0 thrashing of Wolves on the opening weekend of the campaign showed glimpses of a new-look City back to their best. However, a series of defensive issues remain unresolved, while manager Pep Guardiola must decide on who will be his number one goalkeeper going forward after a day to forget for James Trafford.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/durand-cup-final-northeast-united-fc-are-crowned-champions-beat-diamond-harbour-fc-6-1-to-successfully-defend-title-1755955047110">Durand Cup final: NorthEast United FC are crowned champions; beat Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 to successfully defend title</a>&nbsp;The England international retained his place in goal despite the return to fitness of Ederson. The Brazilian is reportedly on the verge of joining Turkish giants Galatasaray, which would free up City to make a move for out-of-favour Paris Saint-Germain 'keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.&nbsp;City's failure to get those deals done before the final week of the transfer window came back to haunt them in a familiar tale for Guardiola's men against Tottenham.&nbsp;In the last 13 Premier League meetings between the sides, City have won just four despite several changes of management at Spurs in that time.Frank is the latest man in the Tottenham dugout and has made a highly impressive start.&nbsp;Spurs were minutes away from beating PSG in the UEFA Super Cup before losing on penalties, and have taken maximum points from their opening two Premier League games without conceding.&nbsp;Omar Marmoush's return was one of two City changes as Ballon d'Or winner Rodri had to settle for a place on the bench. Marmoush flashed a shot across goal and was then denied by Guglielmo Vicario with City's best chance before conceding. City's high-line was easily exposed in an embarrassing early exit from the Club World Cup to Saudi side Al-Hilal last month, and is an issue Guardiola still has to resolve.&nbsp;Tottenham took the lead on 35 minutes when Mohammed Kudus fed Richarlison, and he squared for Johnson to power past Trafford. An offside flag briefly halted Spurs' joy until a VAR review showed the slipping Ruben Dias had played Richarlison onside.&nbsp;City then completely lost their composure for the period before half-time.&nbsp;Trafford was fortunate to avoid being punished after rushing outside his box to block from Kudus. But the 22-year-old then endured a moment which might cost him the chance to be Guardiola's number one this season. Trafford's attempted pass to Nico Gonzalez inside his own box was intercepted by Pape Mate Sarr, and even though the goalkeeper recovered to deny Richarlison, Palhinha smashed home the rebound.&nbsp;Erling Haaland had the chance to reduce City's arrears in first-half stoppage time, but headed over to sum up a tough afternoon for the Norwegian.&nbsp;Spurs let a two-goal lead slip late on against PSG in Frank's first game in charge, but rarely looked in danger of suffering a similar fate.&nbsp;Haaland wasted City's other big opportunity to gain a foothold when he overhit a pass to Rayan Cherki with just Vicario to beat. But City fell to defeat with a whimper and could have been further punished on the counter-attack when Trafford made good saves to deny Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert in stoppage time.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck for the Europa League winners just before half-time as Spurs went top of the table, making it a perfect start for Thomas Frank after two league games in charge.

Manchester City's troubles from last season were exposed once more in a humbling 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday (Aug 23) that raised questions over their quest to regain the Premier League title. Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck for the Europa League winners just before half-time as Spurs went top of the table, making it a perfect start for Thomas Frank after two league games in charge. City's run of four consecutive titles came to a spectacular end last season as they finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal. A 4-0 thrashing of Wolves on the opening weekend of the campaign showed glimpses of a new-look City back to their best. However, a series of defensive issues remain unresolved, while manager Pep Guardiola must decide on who will be his number one goalkeeper going forward after a day to forget for James Trafford. Also read | Durand Cup final: NorthEast United FC are crowned champions; beat Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 to successfully defend title The England international retained his place in goal despite the return to fitness of Ederson. The Brazilian is reportedly on the verge of joining Turkish giants Galatasaray, which would free up City to make a move for out-of-favour Paris Saint-Germain 'keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. City's failure to get those deals done before the final week of the transfer window came back to haunt them in a familiar tale for Guardiola's men against Tottenham. In the last 13 Premier League meetings between the sides, City have won just four despite several changes of management at Spurs in that time. Frank is the latest man in the Tottenham dugout and has made a highly impressive start. Spurs were minutes away from beating PSG in the UEFA Super Cup before losing on penalties, and have taken maximum points from their opening two Premier League games without conceding. Omar Marmoush's return was one of two City changes as Ballon d'Or winner Rodri had to settle for a place on the bench. Marmoush flashed a shot across goal and was then denied by Guglielmo Vicario with City's best chance before conceding. City's high-line was easily exposed in an embarrassing early exit from the Club World Cup to Saudi side Al-Hilal last month, and is an issue Guardiola still has to resolve. Tottenham took the lead on 35 minutes when Mohammed Kudus fed Richarlison, and he squared for Johnson to power past Trafford. An offside flag briefly halted Spurs' joy until a VAR review showed the slipping Ruben Dias had played Richarlison onside. City then completely lost their composure for the period before half-time. Trafford was fortunate to avoid being punished after rushing outside his box to block from Kudus. But the 22-year-old then endured a moment which might cost him the chance to be Guardiola's number one this season. Trafford's attempted pass to Nico Gonzalez inside his own box was intercepted by Pape Mate Sarr, and even though the goalkeeper recovered to deny Richarlison, Palhinha smashed home the rebound. Erling Haaland had the chance to reduce City's arrears in first-half stoppage time, but headed over to sum up a tough afternoon for the Norwegian. Spurs let a two-goal lead slip late on against PSG in Frank's first game in charge, but rarely looked in danger of suffering a similar fate. Haaland wasted City's other big opportunity to gain a foothold when he overhit a pass to Rayan Cherki with just Vicario to beat. But City fell to defeat with a whimper and could have been further punished on the counter-attack when Trafford made good saves to deny Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert in stoppage time. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck for the Europa League winners just before half-time as Spurs went top of the table, making it a perfect start for Thomas Frank after two league games in charge.

Premier League: Spurs sink Manchester City to go on top of standings after two games

Former tennis world number one Novak Djokovic says the expansion of most ATP Masters 1000 events to 12 days makes them "just way too long for me" as he focuses on his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.&nbsp;"To be quite frank with you, I don't enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore," Djokovic said Friday as he spoke to reporters before the Sunday start of the US Open -- the last Grand Slam of 2025.&nbsp;"It's just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the Slams, and I have said that before.&nbsp;"But I also like other tournaments. I'd like to play more of the other tournaments, but I just, we have currently informally, unofficially, 12 Grand Slams a year when you think about it.&nbsp;"Grand Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well."At 38, the former world number one says his priorities have changed in the latter stages of his career.&nbsp;"I'm not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera," Djokovic said. "I just don't think about it anymore.&nbsp;"For me, it's really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play?"&nbsp;With family now at the forefront of his life, Djokovic said, he is less willing to miss out on major personal milestones.&nbsp;He noted that his daughter's birthday falls on September 2, when he could find himself playing in the US Open quarter-finals.&nbsp;"But those are types of things that I really don't want to be missing anymore," he said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a><h2>Throwing the first pitch</h2>Djokovic, long an advocate for player input in matters such as scheduling and player compensation, said he does not see how the Masters 1000s -- which shifted this year from one-week to 12-days -- could go back to the previous format.&nbsp;Canada and Cincinnati in the run-up to the US Open became 12-day events this year."In the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren't participating enough," he said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;Djokovic himself has not played since a comprehensive semi-final loss to currently world number one Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July.&nbsp;He acknowledged that he is coming in "cold" in terms of match play, but said he had been training hard as he eyes a return to the later stages of the US Open.&nbsp;A four-time winner in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2017 when he lost to Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round of last year's tournament.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;But this week Djokovic has taken some time to explore New York as well, notably throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Yankees baseball game.&nbsp;"It was a great experience," said Djokovic, adding that he met Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.&nbsp;He also thought he acquitted himself well with his pitch.&nbsp;"I didn't throw that accurate, but it still wasn't as embarrassing I think as some of the other guys I saw in the past."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic, long an advocate for player input in matters such as scheduling and player compensation, said he does not see how the Masters 1000s -- which shifted this year from one-week to 12-days -- could go back to the previous format.

Former tennis world number one Novak Djokovic says the expansion of most ATP Masters 1000 events to 12 days makes them "just way too long for me" as he focuses on his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title. "To be quite frank with you, I don't enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore," Djokovic said Friday as he spoke to reporters before the Sunday start of the US Open -- the last Grand Slam of 2025. "It's just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the Slams, and I have said that before. "But I also like other tournaments. I'd like to play more of the other tournaments, but I just, we have currently informally, unofficially, 12 Grand Slams a year when you think about it. "Grand Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well." At 38, the former world number one says his priorities have changed in the latter stages of his career. "I'm not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera," Djokovic said. "I just don't think about it anymore. "For me, it's really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play?" With family now at the forefront of his life, Djokovic said, he is less willing to miss out on major personal milestones. He noted that his daughter's birthday falls on September 2, when he could find himself playing in the US Open quarter-finals. "But those are types of things that I really don't want to be missing anymore," he said. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details Throwing the first pitch Djokovic, long an advocate for player input in matters such as scheduling and player compensation, said he does not see how the Masters 1000s -- which shifted this year from one-week to 12-days -- could go back to the previous format. Canada and Cincinnati in the run-up to the US Open became 12-day events this year. "In the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren't participating enough," he said. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out Djokovic himself has not played since a comprehensive semi-final loss to currently world number one Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July. He acknowledged that he is coming in "cold" in terms of match play, but said he had been training hard as he eyes a return to the later stages of the US Open. A four-time winner in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2017 when he lost to Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round of last year's tournament. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) But this week Djokovic has taken some time to explore New York as well, notably throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Yankees baseball game. "It was a great experience," said Djokovic, adding that he met Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. He also thought he acquitted himself well with his pitch. "I didn't throw that accurate, but it still wasn't as embarrassing I think as some of the other guys I saw in the past." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic, long an advocate for player input in matters such as scheduling and player compensation, said he does not see how the Masters 1000s -- which shifted this year from one-week to 12-days -- could go back to the previous format.

Novak Djokovic narrows focus in pursuit of 25th Grand Slam ahead of US Open 2025

Noah Okafor's move from AC Milan to Leeds United on Thursday, worth a reported £18 million ($24 million), means English Premier League clubs have spent more than the previous record in a single transfer window. The money spent on the 25-year-old Swiss international, who signed a four-year deal, takes the total outlay by the clubs to £2.37 billion, passing the previous mark of £2.36 billion in the summer of 2023.&nbsp;That total will only grow as there is still over a week to go before the transfer window closes. Okafor, capped 24 times, made his name at Austrian side RB Salzburg, winning four league titles, before joining Milan and played a minor role in Napoli's Scudetto triumph last term after being sent on loan there. "As a kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. That's why for me it was quite an easy decision," said Okafor on the club website."My football suits the Premier League, this is like a dream come true. I can't wait to step on the field.&nbsp;"I heard that the Premier League is the best league in the world, it's so intense. I have loads of friends that played there or are playing there. “I am ready for this new challenge.” Okafor, who is reunited with former Salzburg teammate Brenden Aaronson and fellow Swiss Isaac Schmidt, said he had his breath taken away when Milan played Leeds in a pre-season friendly at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.&nbsp;"I was like, why are there so many fans in a friendly game? "And then I saw on the screen it was like 50,000. So I was like, wow. “And it was quite loud, but I heard in the stadium (Elland Road), the atmosphere should be crazy.” Okafor is Leeds's ninth signing since they won the second tier Championship to return to the Premier League after a two-year hiatus. They travel to one of the title favourites Arsenal on Saturday on the back of beating Everton 1-0 in their opening match. The Gunners, who beat Manchester United 1-0 in their season opener, have not lost at home to&nbsp;Premier League newboys since a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Newcastle in November, 2010.<h2>Ampadu blow</h2>Should Arsenal avoid defeat on Saturday, they would equal the Premier League's longest such run, with Chelsea racking up 43 such games between 2001 and 2015. Leeds' task was made harder when captain Ethan Ampadu was ruled out Thursday until at least after the international break in early September following a knee injury which forced the Wales midfielder off in the second half against Everton. "It's bad news with him sadly," said Leeds manager Daniel Farke. "The next (few) games we have to play without him.&nbsp;"MCL (medial cruciate ligament) injury, he will definitely be out until at least the international break. I hope to have him back the other side of the international break. He's pretty quick after injury back on the training pitch. "He's a tough boy. It's a blow for us, we will miss him in the upcoming games."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Swiss international Okafor move to Leeds heralds new EPL record

Noah Okafor's move from AC Milan to Leeds United on Thursday, worth a reported £18 million ($24 million), means English Premier League clubs have spent more than the previous record in a single transfer window. The money spent on the 25-year-old Swiss international, who signed a four-year deal, takes the total outlay by the clubs to £2.37 billion, passing the previous mark of £2.36 billion in the summer of 2023. That total will only grow as there is still over a week to go before the transfer window closes. Okafor, capped 24 times, made his name at Austrian side RB Salzburg, winning four league titles, before joining Milan and played a minor role in Napoli's Scudetto triumph last term after being sent on loan there. "As a kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. That's why for me it was quite an easy decision," said Okafor on the club website. "My football suits the Premier League, this is like a dream come true. I can't wait to step on the field. "I heard that the Premier League is the best league in the world, it's so intense. I have loads of friends that played there or are playing there. “I am ready for this new challenge.” Okafor, who is reunited with former Salzburg teammate Brenden Aaronson and fellow Swiss Isaac Schmidt, said he had his breath taken away when Milan played Leeds in a pre-season friendly at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. "I was like, why are there so many fans in a friendly game? "And then I saw on the screen it was like 50,000. So I was like, wow. “And it was quite loud, but I heard in the stadium (Elland Road), the atmosphere should be crazy.” Okafor is Leeds's ninth signing since they won the second tier Championship to return to the Premier League after a two-year hiatus. They travel to one of the title favourites Arsenal on Saturday on the back of beating Everton 1-0 in their opening match. The Gunners, who beat Manchester United 1-0 in their season opener, have not lost at home to Premier League newboys since a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Newcastle in November, 2010. Ampadu blow Should Arsenal avoid defeat on Saturday, they would equal the Premier League's longest such run, with Chelsea racking up 43 such games between 2001 and 2015. Leeds' task was made harder when captain Ethan Ampadu was ruled out Thursday until at least after the international break in early September following a knee injury which forced the Wales midfielder off in the second half against Everton. "It's bad news with him sadly," said Leeds manager Daniel Farke. "The next (few) games we have to play without him. "MCL (medial cruciate ligament) injury, he will definitely be out until at least the international break. I hope to have him back the other side of the international break. He's pretty quick after injury back on the training pitch. "He's a tough boy. It's a blow for us, we will miss him in the upcoming games." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Okafor, capped 24 times, made his name at Austrian side RB Salzburg, winning four league titles, before joining Milan and played a minor role in Napoli's Scudetto triumph last term after being sent on loan there

Swiss international Noah Okafor move to Leeds heralds new English Premier League record

One year on from their stunning unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph, new Bayer Leverkusen coach Erik Ten Hag has been handed the task of rebuilding the club, along with his reputation. Leverkusen open their Bundesliga season at home against Hoffenheim on Saturday (Aus 23) after a turbulent summer, with high-profile departures on and off the pitch, rendering the side unrecognisable from the 2023-24 double winners. The architect of that success, Xabi Alonso, has moved on to Real Madrid and taken his backroom staff with him.&nbsp;Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Lukas Hradecky -- all pillars in Leverkusen's double-winning season -- also left this summer, with others rumoured to be heading out the door.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/luis-suarez-scores-penalty-in-each-half-to-see-inter-miami-through-against-tigres-in-lionel-messi-absence-1755746599714">Suarez scores penalty in each half to see Miami through against Tigres in Messi’s absence</a>&nbsp;In their place are several exciting, if inexperienced, newcomers, including Jarell Quansah, Malik Tillman and Ernest Poku, with a few more reportedly on their way.&nbsp;With his reputation taking a hit after a difficult spell at Manchester United, despite winning the FA Cup and League Cup, Ten Hag is also seeking a reboot.&nbsp;The Dutchman said as much in his opening press conference in August. When asked about following on from Leverkusen's glory days, the 55-year-old said, "You can't sail today on the wind from yesterday."&nbsp;The coach was confident but asked for patience, saying it would take him a while to weave his magic.&nbsp;"No one is Harry Potter, building a team so quickly and being successful at the same time. That's not how top-level football works."&nbsp;In Ten Hag's debut in the German Cup on Friday, Leverkusen overcame some early nerves -- and a 45-minute storm interruption -- to beat fourth-division Grossaspach 4-0.&nbsp;The coach praised his charges after the win, but said, "You can see that not all the processes are working yet. It takes time."&nbsp;Away from the scrutiny he faced at Old Trafford, one of the world's biggest clubs, Ten Hag will be given time at Leverkusen.&nbsp;In an interview with AFP and other media last week, former Germany, United States and Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann backed Ten Hag to "drive Leverkusen to their maximum of success.&nbsp;“Leverkusen have to redefine their goals, because you cannot expect them to win the championship now. The goal will be getting to a Champions League spot and maybe winning the German Cup, and doing well in Europe as well. Erik absolutely has the knowledge, the charisma and the capabilities to do really well,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Lukas Hradecky -- all pillars in Leverkusen's double-winning season -- also left this summer, with others rumoured to be heading out the door.

One year on from their stunning unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph, new Bayer Leverkusen coach Erik Ten Hag has been handed the task of rebuilding the club, along with his reputation. Leverkusen open their Bundesliga season at home against Hoffenheim on Saturday (Aus 23) after a turbulent summer, with high-profile departures on and off the pitch, rendering the side unrecognisable from the 2023-24 double winners. The architect of that success, Xabi Alonso, has moved on to Real Madrid and taken his backroom staff with him. Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Lukas Hradecky -- all pillars in Leverkusen's double-winning season -- also left this summer, with others rumoured to be heading out the door. Also read | Suarez scores penalty in each half to see Miami through against Tigres in Messi’s absence In their place are several exciting, if inexperienced, newcomers, including Jarell Quansah, Malik Tillman and Ernest Poku, with a few more reportedly on their way. With his reputation taking a hit after a difficult spell at Manchester United, despite winning the FA Cup and League Cup, Ten Hag is also seeking a reboot. The Dutchman said as much in his opening press conference in August. When asked about following on from Leverkusen's glory days, the 55-year-old said, "You can't sail today on the wind from yesterday." The coach was confident but asked for patience, saying it would take him a while to weave his magic. "No one is Harry Potter, building a team so quickly and being successful at the same time. That's not how top-level football works." In Ten Hag's debut in the German Cup on Friday, Leverkusen overcame some early nerves -- and a 45-minute storm interruption -- to beat fourth-division Grossaspach 4-0. The coach praised his charges after the win, but said, "You can see that not all the processes are working yet. It takes time." Away from the scrutiny he faced at Old Trafford, one of the world's biggest clubs, Ten Hag will be given time at Leverkusen. In an interview with AFP and other media last week, former Germany, United States and Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann backed Ten Hag to "drive Leverkusen to their maximum of success. “Leverkusen have to redefine their goals, because you cannot expect them to win the championship now. The goal will be getting to a Champions League spot and maybe winning the German Cup, and doing well in Europe as well. Erik absolutely has the knowledge, the charisma and the capabilities to do really well,” he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Lukas Hradecky -- all pillars in Leverkusen's double-winning season -- also left this summer, with others rumoured to be heading out the door.

Former Man Utd coach Ten Hag hopes for fresh start at rebuilding Leverkusen

Luis Suarez scored a penalty in each half to give Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Wednesday (Aug 20), stepping up to fill the void after Lionel Messi was ruled out of the Leagues Cup quarter-final clash. Messi, who has battled a "minor" muscle injury since a Leagues Cup group match on August 2, returned Saturday after a two-week absence, scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. However, the 38-year-old World Cup winner was ruled out against Tigres as Inter advanced in the cross-border club competition for teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX.&nbsp;In a duel that produced few scoring chances, veteran Uruguay striker Suarez was the difference as Inter kept alive their hopes of regaining the title they won in 2023, during Messi's first season in MLS.&nbsp;Things swung Miami's way in the 20th minute when Javier Aquino slid to intercept a cross, and the ball hit his left arm in the area.&nbsp;The referee awarded the penalty, and the 38-year-old Suarez converted.&nbsp;Tempers flared, with Suarez moving to calm things down after Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Uruguayan compatriot Fernando Gorriaran exchanged words.&nbsp;Inter coach Javier Mascherano was sent off at halftime, receiving a red card for heated protestations to officials after injury time dragged on past what had been indicated.&nbsp;Mascherano watched from a front row of the stands when Tigres grabbed their equaliser in the 67th minute, Angel Correa slipping between two defenders and beating Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.&nbsp;Another handball by Aquino in the 87th minute, confirmed by VAR, gave Miami another penalty and Suarez converted again, this time going to the left as goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman dived in the opposite direction.&nbsp;Miami's game with Tigres was one of four Leagues Cup quarter-finals set for Wednesday.&nbsp;Mexico's Toluca face Orlando City before Los Angeles Galaxy host Pachuca, while the Seattle Sounders take on Puebla at home. There's more at stake than the Leagues Cup trophy. Both finalists and the third-place match winner will qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the Leagues Cup champion securing direct entry to the Champions Cup round of 16.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Lionel Messi, who has battled a "minor" muscle injury since a Leagues Cup group match on August 2, returned Saturday after a two-week absence, scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Luis Suarez scored a penalty in each half to give Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Wednesday (Aug 20), stepping up to fill the void after Lionel Messi was ruled out of the Leagues Cup quarter-final clash. Messi, who has battled a "minor" muscle injury since a Leagues Cup group match on August 2, returned Saturday after a two-week absence, scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. However, the 38-year-old World Cup winner was ruled out against Tigres as Inter advanced in the cross-border club competition for teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX. In a duel that produced few scoring chances, veteran Uruguay striker Suarez was the difference as Inter kept alive their hopes of regaining the title they won in 2023, during Messi's first season in MLS. Things swung Miami's way in the 20th minute when Javier Aquino slid to intercept a cross, and the ball hit his left arm in the area. The referee awarded the penalty, and the 38-year-old Suarez converted. Tempers flared, with Suarez moving to calm things down after Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Uruguayan compatriot Fernando Gorriaran exchanged words. Inter coach Javier Mascherano was sent off at halftime, receiving a red card for heated protestations to officials after injury time dragged on past what had been indicated. Mascherano watched from a front row of the stands when Tigres grabbed their equaliser in the 67th minute, Angel Correa slipping between two defenders and beating Miami keeper Oscar Ustari. Another handball by Aquino in the 87th minute, confirmed by VAR, gave Miami another penalty and Suarez converted again, this time going to the left as goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman dived in the opposite direction. Miami's game with Tigres was one of four Leagues Cup quarter-finals set for Wednesday. Mexico's Toluca face Orlando City before Los Angeles Galaxy host Pachuca, while the Seattle Sounders take on Puebla at home. There's more at stake than the Leagues Cup trophy. Both finalists and the third-place match winner will qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the Leagues Cup champion securing direct entry to the Champions Cup round of 16. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Lionel Messi, who has battled a "minor" muscle injury since a Leagues Cup group match on August 2, returned Saturday after a two-week absence, scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Suarez scores penalty in each half to see Miami through against Tigres in Messi’s absence

Kylian Mbappe struck from the penalty spot as Real Madrid beat a dogged Osasuna 1-0 on Tuesday to make a winning start in La Liga under new coach Xabi Alonso. The France striker, last season's European Golden Shoe winner, scored early in the second half after he was fouled in the area by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz.&nbsp;It was enough to seal the points in Alonso's first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008."You can see that Kylian wants to do even more after this first year where he did great things," said Alonso.&nbsp;Mbappe finished as La Liga's top scorer with 31 goals in his first season in Spain, and is now wearing the number 10 shirt vacated by Luka Modric after the Croatian left for AC Milan last month.&nbsp;"I don't know if it's linked to the new number or not, or simply to his desire to win, but he wants to improve individual and collective performance and inspire his team-mates," added Alonso.&nbsp;"You can see his desire every day. Today he created those decisive moments that enable us to win matches."&nbsp;Madrid had a shortened pre-season after their run to the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, but Alonso has been adamant that would not be used as an excuse after their request for the Osasuna match to be postponed to a later date was rejected.&nbsp;"To start on the right foot is key in La Liga. We know we weren't well prepared," Madrid defender Dani Carvajal told DAZN. "But we basically didn't suffer and it was a complete display."&nbsp;Spain international Carvajal came off the bench for his first league appearance since October after a long-term knee injury, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a><h2>New faces in Madrid</h2>Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut after his move from Liverpool, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and left-back Alvaro Carreras other summer arrivals included in the starting line-up.&nbsp;Madrid though were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October as he recovers from a operation to solve a recurrent shoulder issue.&nbsp;Madrid are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era after relinquishing both their domestic and European crowns last season.&nbsp;Alonso's side had to show patience against an Osasuna team that finished ninth last term, with the hosts largely restricted to long-range efforts from centre-backs Huijsen and Eder Militao in the first half.&nbsp;Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was equal to both, while Mbappe failed to connect cleanly after being picked out by Vinicius Junior before he curled another shot wide as Madrid struggled to break down their opponents.&nbsp;But Mbappe grabbed the only goal six minutes after half-time after he went down following a clumsy challenge by Cruz as he tried to cut past the defender.&nbsp;Mbappe duly got up and running for the new campaign as he sent Herrera the wrong way from the spot.&nbsp;Alonso handed 18-year-old Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono his debut midway through the second half as Madrid controlled the game and seldom looked troubled.Ante Budimir headed over in a rare opportunity for Osasuna and Mastantuono was denied late on by Herrera.&nbsp;Osasuna finished the match with 10 men with Abel Bretones sent off in stoppage time for throwing an arm to block the run of Gonzalo Garcia.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Real Madrid had a shortened pre-season after their run to the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, but Alonso has been adamant that would not be used as an excuse after their request for the Osasuna match to be postponed to a later date was rejected.

Kylian Mbappe struck from the penalty spot as Real Madrid beat a dogged Osasuna 1-0 on Tuesday to make a winning start in La Liga under new coach Xabi Alonso. The France striker, last season's European Golden Shoe winner, scored early in the second half after he was fouled in the area by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz. It was enough to seal the points in Alonso's first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008. "You can see that Kylian wants to do even more after this first year where he did great things," said Alonso. Mbappe finished as La Liga's top scorer with 31 goals in his first season in Spain, and is now wearing the number 10 shirt vacated by Luka Modric after the Croatian left for AC Milan last month. "I don't know if it's linked to the new number or not, or simply to his desire to win, but he wants to improve individual and collective performance and inspire his team-mates," added Alonso. "You can see his desire every day. Today he created those decisive moments that enable us to win matches." Madrid had a shortened pre-season after their run to the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, but Alonso has been adamant that would not be used as an excuse after their request for the Osasuna match to be postponed to a later date was rejected. "To start on the right foot is key in La Liga. We know we weren't well prepared," Madrid defender Dani Carvajal told DAZN. "But we basically didn't suffer and it was a complete display." Spain international Carvajal came off the bench for his first league appearance since October after a long-term knee injury, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the second half. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) New faces in Madrid Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut after his move from Liverpool, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and left-back Alvaro Carreras other summer arrivals included in the starting line-up. Madrid though were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October as he recovers from a operation to solve a recurrent shoulder issue. Madrid are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era after relinquishing both their domestic and European crowns last season. Alonso's side had to show patience against an Osasuna team that finished ninth last term, with the hosts largely restricted to long-range efforts from centre-backs Huijsen and Eder Militao in the first half. Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was equal to both, while Mbappe failed to connect cleanly after being picked out by Vinicius Junior before he curled another shot wide as Madrid struggled to break down their opponents. But Mbappe grabbed the only goal six minutes after half-time after he went down following a clumsy challenge by Cruz as he tried to cut past the defender. Mbappe duly got up and running for the new campaign as he sent Herrera the wrong way from the spot. Alonso handed 18-year-old Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono his debut midway through the second half as Madrid controlled the game and seldom looked troubled. Ante Budimir headed over in a rare opportunity for Osasuna and Mastantuono was denied late on by Herrera. Osasuna finished the match with 10 men with Abel Bretones sent off in stoppage time for throwing an arm to block the run of Gonzalo Garcia. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Real Madrid had a shortened pre-season after their run to the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, but Alonso has been adamant that would not be used as an excuse after their request for the Osasuna match to be postponed to a later date was rejected.

Kylian Mbappe lifts Real Madrid past Osasuna in La Liga opener

Iga Swiatek shrugged off lingering weariness to partner Casper Ruud to back-to-back victories in the revamped mixed doubles competition at the US Open on Tuesday.&nbsp;Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.&nbsp;Swiatek and Ruud needed just 39 minutes to dispatch the US pairing of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in their opening game at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then reappeared roughly 20 minutes later to defeat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti 5-3, 4-2 in their quarter-final clash.&nbsp;The victories capped a gruelling 24 hours for Polish star Swiatek, who hot-footed it to the airport after Monday's win in Cincinnati and only arrived at her hotel in New York in the early hours of Tuesday.&nbsp;"Honestly the last two days have felt like one day, but I'm super happy to be here," Swiatek said, adding that her tight turnaround had helped her unwind after her exertions in Cincinnati.&nbsp;"Honestly I think actually it's kind of nice for the recovery," Swiatek said. "To have another task and to not let yourself be lazy but also focused on the next exciting thing."&nbsp;Ruud and Swiatek had just enough time to fit in a quick practice before taking to the court in their first match as a doubles pairing.&nbsp;"I was happy to team up with Iga," Ruud said afterwards. "She's on the winning train these days so I'm just jumping on the train and let's see if we can win some more before the mixed doubles is over.&nbsp;"I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30am, and she's here playing."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a><h2>Alcaraz, Djokovic out</h2>Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the United States and Britain's Jack Draper in Wednesday's semi-finals.&nbsp;Pegula and Draper clicked smoothly to eliminate the glamour pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2 in the first round before easing past Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;Medvedev and Andreeva had earlier romped past Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic in straight sets in the first round, winning 4-2, 5-3.&nbsp;In other results on Tuesday, US tennis icon Venus Williams and partner Reilly Opelka exited against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, losing 4-2, 5-4.&nbsp;Italy's reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2.&nbsp;Earlier Tuesday, world number one Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the mixed doubles was confirmed as expected. Sinner, who retired due to illness in the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz on Monday, was due to partner Katerina Siniakova in the doubles.&nbsp;Sinner and Siniakova were replaced in the draw by the American duo of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.&nbsp;This year's US Open mixed doubles competition is being held over Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before the main singles draws get under way.&nbsp;The tournament is using a modified scoring system,&nbsp;with short sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.&nbsp;The final will be a best-of-three set match to six games, featuring no-advantage scoring, with tiebreakers at six-all and a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set, with the winning pairing pocketing $1 million. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.

Iga Swiatek shrugged off lingering weariness to partner Casper Ruud to back-to-back victories in the revamped mixed doubles competition at the US Open on Tuesday. Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals. Swiatek and Ruud needed just 39 minutes to dispatch the US pairing of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in their opening game at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then reappeared roughly 20 minutes later to defeat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti 5-3, 4-2 in their quarter-final clash. The victories capped a gruelling 24 hours for Polish star Swiatek, who hot-footed it to the airport after Monday's win in Cincinnati and only arrived at her hotel in New York in the early hours of Tuesday. "Honestly the last two days have felt like one day, but I'm super happy to be here," Swiatek said, adding that her tight turnaround had helped her unwind after her exertions in Cincinnati. "Honestly I think actually it's kind of nice for the recovery," Swiatek said. "To have another task and to not let yourself be lazy but also focused on the next exciting thing." Ruud and Swiatek had just enough time to fit in a quick practice before taking to the court in their first match as a doubles pairing. "I was happy to team up with Iga," Ruud said afterwards. "She's on the winning train these days so I'm just jumping on the train and let's see if we can win some more before the mixed doubles is over. "I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30am, and she's here playing." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Alcaraz, Djokovic out Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the United States and Britain's Jack Draper in Wednesday's semi-finals. Pegula and Draper clicked smoothly to eliminate the glamour pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2 in the first round before easing past Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals. Medvedev and Andreeva had earlier romped past Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic in straight sets in the first round, winning 4-2, 5-3. In other results on Tuesday, US tennis icon Venus Williams and partner Reilly Opelka exited against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, losing 4-2, 5-4. Italy's reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2. Earlier Tuesday, world number one Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the mixed doubles was confirmed as expected. Sinner, who retired due to illness in the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz on Monday, was due to partner Katerina Siniakova in the doubles. Sinner and Siniakova were replaced in the draw by the American duo of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison. This year's US Open mixed doubles competition is being held over Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before the main singles draws get under way. The tournament is using a modified scoring system, with short sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. The final will be a best-of-three set match to six games, featuring no-advantage scoring, with tiebreakers at six-all and a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set, with the winning pairing pocketing $1 million. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.

Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis; Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic out

More than 50 people were killed on Tuesday in western Afghanistan when a passenger bus carrying migrants recently returned from Iran collided with a truck and a motorcycle, local police and a provincial official said.&nbsp;Police in Herat province said the accident was caused due to the bus's "excessive speed and negligence".&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brahmaputra-dam-terrorism-and-taiwan-here-s-what-chinese-fm-wang-yi-s-discussed-during-his-visit-to-india-5-points-pm-narendra-modi-jaishankar-1755616731606"> Brahmaputra dam, terrorism and Taiwan: Here's what Chinese FM Wang Yi discussed during his visit to India | 5 points</a>&nbsp;The bus was carrying Afghans recently returned from Iran and en route to the capital Kabul, provincial official Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi told AFP.&nbsp;The returnees are part of a massive wave of Afghans deported or forced out of Iran in recent months.&nbsp;"All the passengers were migrants who had boarded the vehicle in Islam Qala," said Saeedi, referring to a border crossing point. Police in Guzara district outside Herat city, where the accident occurred, said a motorcycle was also involved. The majority of those who died were on the bus, with two people travelling in the truck killed and another two on the motorcycle. Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways, and a lack of regulation. In December last year, two bus accidents involving a fuel tanker and a truck on a highway through central Afghanistan killed at least 52.

The bus was carrying Afghans recently returned from Iran and en route to the capital Kabul, provincial official Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi told AFP.



More than 50 people were killed on Tuesday in western Afghanistan when a passenger bus carrying migrants recently returned from Iran collided with a truck and a motorcycle, local police and a provincial official said. Police in Herat province said the accident was caused due to the bus's "excessive speed and negligence". Also read: Brahmaputra dam, terrorism and Taiwan: Here's what Chinese FM Wang Yi discussed during his visit to India | 5 points The bus was carrying Afghans recently returned from Iran and en route to the capital Kabul, provincial official Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi told AFP. The returnees are part of a massive wave of Afghans deported or forced out of Iran in recent months. "All the passengers were migrants who had boarded the vehicle in Islam Qala," said Saeedi, referring to a border crossing point. Police in Guzara district outside Herat city, where the accident occurred, said a motorcycle was also involved. The majority of those who died were on the bus, with two people travelling in the truck killed and another two on the motorcycle. Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways, and a lack of regulation. In December last year, two bus accidents involving a fuel tanker and a truck on a highway through central Afghanistan killed at least 52.

The bus was carrying Afghans recently returned from Iran and en route to the capital Kabul, provincial official Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi told AFP.&nbsp;

Over 50 people killed after bus hits truck in Afghanistan

Rescuers and residents resumed searching on Tuesday for survivors as the death toll from five days of torrential rain rose to almost 400, with authorities warning monsoon downpours would continue until the weekend.&nbsp;Torrential rains across Pakistan's north have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, leaving many residents trapped in the rubble and scores missing.&nbsp;The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said 356 people were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a mountainous province in Pakistan's northwest bordering Afghanistan, since Thursday evening.&nbsp;Dozens more were killed in surrounding regions, taking the toll in the past five days to almost 400.&nbsp;Rescuers dug through mud and stone in hard-hit Dalori village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the hope of finding survivors and the bodies of people missing.&nbsp;Villagers stood watching and praying as the rescuers worked, a day after the search was halted by more intense rain.&nbsp;Umar Islam, a 31-year-old labourer, struggled to hold back his tears as he spoke about his father, who was killed on Monday."Our misery is beyond explanation," Islam told AFP as neighbours tried to console him.&nbsp;"In a matter of minutes, we lost everything we had," he said."Our lives are ruined."&nbsp;Fazal Akbar, 37, another villager, described the aftermath of the floods as "terrifying".&nbsp;"It happened so suddenly that no one even had a minute to react. Announcements were made from the mosque, and villagers rushed to begin the rescue themselves," said Akbar."In less than 20 minutes, our village was reduced to ruins."<h2>More rain</h2>Many roads have been damaged, making it hard for rescuers to reach areas damaged by the floods.&nbsp;Communication also remains difficult, with phone networks hit in flood-affected areas.&nbsp;Heavy rain also began falling on Tuesday in southern parts of Pakistan that had so far been spared the worst of the monsoon downpours.&nbsp;The rain was expected to continue until Saturday, and "another spell is to start by the end of the month", said NDMA chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik.&nbsp;More than 700 people have been killed in the monsoon rains since June 26, the NDMA said, with close to 1,000 injured. The monsoon is expected to last until mid-September.&nbsp;Authorities also warned of urban flooding in big cities in coastal areas of Sindh province, including the financial capital Karachi, "due to weak infrastructure".&nbsp;It has also been raining in 15 districts in neighbouring Balochistan province, and the main highway connecting it with Sindh has been blocked for heavy vehicles, said provincial disaster official Muhammad Younis.&nbsp;Between 40 and 50 houses had been damaged in two districts, he said.&nbsp;Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September.&nbsp;Pakistan is among the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events.&nbsp;Monsoon floods submerged one-third of Pakistan in 2022, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Torrential rains across Pakistan's north have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, leaving many residents trapped in the rubble and scores missing.

Rescuers and residents resumed searching on Tuesday for survivors as the death toll from five days of torrential rain rose to almost 400, with authorities warning monsoon downpours would continue until the weekend. Torrential rains across Pakistan's north have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, leaving many residents trapped in the rubble and scores missing. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said 356 people were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a mountainous province in Pakistan's northwest bordering Afghanistan, since Thursday evening. Dozens more were killed in surrounding regions, taking the toll in the past five days to almost 400. Rescuers dug through mud and stone in hard-hit Dalori village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the hope of finding survivors and the bodies of people missing. Villagers stood watching and praying as the rescuers worked, a day after the search was halted by more intense rain. Umar Islam, a 31-year-old labourer, struggled to hold back his tears as he spoke about his father, who was killed on Monday. "Our misery is beyond explanation," Islam told AFP as neighbours tried to console him. "In a matter of minutes, we lost everything we had," he said. "Our lives are ruined." Fazal Akbar, 37, another villager, described the aftermath of the floods as "terrifying". "It happened so suddenly that no one even had a minute to react. Announcements were made from the mosque, and villagers rushed to begin the rescue themselves," said Akbar. "In less than 20 minutes, our village was reduced to ruins." More rain Many roads have been damaged, making it hard for rescuers to reach areas damaged by the floods. Communication also remains difficult, with phone networks hit in flood-affected areas. Heavy rain also began falling on Tuesday in southern parts of Pakistan that had so far been spared the worst of the monsoon downpours. The rain was expected to continue until Saturday, and "another spell is to start by the end of the month", said NDMA chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik. More than 700 people have been killed in the monsoon rains since June 26, the NDMA said, with close to 1,000 injured. The monsoon is expected to last until mid-September. Authorities also warned of urban flooding in big cities in coastal areas of Sindh province, including the financial capital Karachi, "due to weak infrastructure". It has also been raining in 15 districts in neighbouring Balochistan province, and the main highway connecting it with Sindh has been blocked for heavy vehicles, said provincial disaster official Muhammad Younis. Between 40 and 50 houses had been damaged in two districts, he said. Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September. Pakistan is among the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events. Monsoon floods submerged one-third of Pakistan in 2022, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Torrential rains across Pakistan's north have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, leaving many residents trapped in the rubble and scores missing.

Pakistan monsoon floods: Death toll nears 400 as downpours continue

Pakistan demoted former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday (Ausg 19) in a contract review that scrapped the top category after a string of poor recent results. There are now no players in the top category A for the first time since the system of central contracts was introduced 21 years ago. Azam and Rizwan have both been demoted to category B contracts, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.&nbsp;"We have awarded central contracts to 30 players with 10 each placed in B, C and D. Notably, no player has been selected in category A in this cycle," the PCB said in a media release, without giving any reason.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-asia-cup-squad-shubman-gill-returns-to-t20i-side-as-bcci-announce-15-man-team-check-details-inside-shreyas-iyer-1755595700460">India Asia Cup 2025 Squad Announcement: Shubman Gill returns, Iyer dropped as BCCI name 15-man team</a>&nbsp;Azam and Rizwan are the biggest names in Pakistan cricket but poor performances in the past 12 months saw them lose their places in the Twenty20 international squads announced for a tri-series and the Asia Cup.&nbsp;Joining Rizwan and Azam in category B are T20I captain Salman Agha, Fakhar Zaman, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.&nbsp;The national team's recent performances in all three formats of the game have fallen badly.&nbsp;Pakistan beat England in a home Test series 2-1 last year but then lost 2-0 in South Africa and drew 1-1 at home against a lowly West Indies, finishing 10th and last in the World Test Championship.&nbsp;The slump has also resulted in Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood being demoted from category B to D.&nbsp;Pakistan won their first one-day international series in Australia for 22 years in November and routed South Africa 3-0 but then crashed out in the first round of the Champions trophy, an event they co-hosted with Dubai.&nbsp;They also crashed out of last year's Twenty20 World Cup in the first round and lost a recent Twenty20 international series in Bangladesh 2-1.&nbsp;The tri-series, also involving Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, starts from August 29 in Sharjah, followed by the Asia Cup in Dubai.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The two superstars are demoted to the B category, with no player in the elite A category, the PCB announced. 

Pakistan demoted former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday (Ausg 19) in a contract review that scrapped the top category after a string of poor recent results. There are now no players in the top category A for the first time since the system of central contracts was introduced 21 years ago. Azam and Rizwan have both been demoted to category B contracts, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. "We have awarded central contracts to 30 players with 10 each placed in B, C and D. Notably, no player has been selected in category A in this cycle," the PCB said in a media release, without giving any reason. Also read | India Asia Cup 2025 Squad Announcement: Shubman Gill returns, Iyer dropped as BCCI name 15-man team Azam and Rizwan are the biggest names in Pakistan cricket but poor performances in the past 12 months saw them lose their places in the Twenty20 international squads announced for a tri-series and the Asia Cup. Joining Rizwan and Azam in category B are T20I captain Salman Agha, Fakhar Zaman, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi. The national team's recent performances in all three formats of the game have fallen badly. Pakistan beat England in a home Test series 2-1 last year but then lost 2-0 in South Africa and drew 1-1 at home against a lowly West Indies, finishing 10th and last in the World Test Championship. The slump has also resulted in Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood being demoted from category B to D. Pakistan won their first one-day international series in Australia for 22 years in November and routed South Africa 3-0 but then crashed out in the first round of the Champions trophy, an event they co-hosted with Dubai. They also crashed out of last year's Twenty20 World Cup in the first round and lost a recent Twenty20 international series in Bangladesh 2-1. The tri-series, also involving Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, starts from August 29 in Sharjah, followed by the Asia Cup in Dubai. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The two superstars are demoted to the B category, with no player in the elite A category, the PCB announced.&nbsp;

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan demoted in PCB contract review after Asia Cup snub

Lukas Nmecha's controversial late penalty gave Leeds lift-off on their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Everton at a jubilant Elland Road on Monday. The match appeared to be meandering towards a stalemate until James Tarkowski was harshly adjudged to have handled Anton Stach's driven shot. Nmecha had only been on the field for six minutes of his Leeds debut but confidently fired past Jordan Pickford in the 84th minute.&nbsp;"It's not a penalty," said Tarkowski. "I was pretty convinced it was going to get overturned (by VAR).&nbsp;"A bizarre moment and it cost us the point in the end."&nbsp;Everton handed a debut to Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish in the second half, but the Toffees were left to rue not posing anything of an attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes.&nbsp;Leeds are aiming to avoid the trend of the past two seasons when all three promoted clubs have been relegated.&nbsp;Daniel Farke has also struggled previously with the step up to the English top-flight during two attempts as Norwich manager.&nbsp;But after Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday, two of the three promoted sides have won on the opening weekend for only the third time in the Premier League era.&nbsp;Farke's men stormed to promotion by winning the Championship title with 100 points last season and Leeds started in confident fashion.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;The home side were dominant in the opening half with 12 shots on goal but only once made Pickford work when the England goalkeeper blocked from Joel Piroe.Grealish's introduction coincided with Everton's best spell of the game.&nbsp;Lucas Perri, one of Leeds' eight summer signings, made an impressive save at his near post to turn behind Carlos Alcaraz's powerful strike before Jake O'Brien headed the resulting corner over.&nbsp;Just as Leeds looked like they might have to hold on for a point, they were gifted the chance for a perfect start with all three.&nbsp;There was little Tarkowski could do as his left arm was down by his side as it blocked Stach's effort.&nbsp;Nmecha stayed calm amid the furore as the German international found the bottom corner.&nbsp;"For a newly-promoted side it (Elland Road) has to become a fortress," said Farke."It's great to see the joy and the pride in their eyes. It's great to give the supporters, who are so emotional and care so much about their club, something to cheer."&nbsp;Tarkowski had Everton's only chance to make amends with an equaliser but he headed over.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The home side were dominant in the opening half with 12 shots on goal but only once made Pickford work when the England goalkeeper blocked from Joel Piroe.

Lukas Nmecha's controversial late penalty gave Leeds lift-off on their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Everton at a jubilant Elland Road on Monday. The match appeared to be meandering towards a stalemate until James Tarkowski was harshly adjudged to have handled Anton Stach's driven shot. Nmecha had only been on the field for six minutes of his Leeds debut but confidently fired past Jordan Pickford in the 84th minute. "It's not a penalty," said Tarkowski. "I was pretty convinced it was going to get overturned (by VAR). "A bizarre moment and it cost us the point in the end." Everton handed a debut to Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish in the second half, but the Toffees were left to rue not posing anything of an attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes. Leeds are aiming to avoid the trend of the past two seasons when all three promoted clubs have been relegated. Daniel Farke has also struggled previously with the step up to the English top-flight during two attempts as Norwich manager. But after Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday, two of the three promoted sides have won on the opening weekend for only the third time in the Premier League era. Farke's men stormed to promotion by winning the Championship title with 100 points last season and Leeds started in confident fashion. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) The home side were dominant in the opening half with 12 shots on goal but only once made Pickford work when the England goalkeeper blocked from Joel Piroe. Grealish's introduction coincided with Everton's best spell of the game. Lucas Perri, one of Leeds' eight summer signings, made an impressive save at his near post to turn behind Carlos Alcaraz's powerful strike before Jake O'Brien headed the resulting corner over. Just as Leeds looked like they might have to hold on for a point, they were gifted the chance for a perfect start with all three. There was little Tarkowski could do as his left arm was down by his side as it blocked Stach's effort. Nmecha stayed calm amid the furore as the German international found the bottom corner. "For a newly-promoted side it (Elland Road) has to become a fortress," said Farke. "It's great to see the joy and the pride in their eyes. It's great to give the supporters, who are so emotional and care so much about their club, something to cheer." Tarkowski had Everton's only chance to make amends with an equaliser but he headed over. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The home side were dominant in the opening half with 12 shots on goal but only once made Pickford work when the England goalkeeper blocked from Joel Piroe.

Leeds United beat Everton for perfect start to Premier League return

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