Marta Kostyuk defeats Andreeva in Madrid to claim biggest title of career
Marta Kostyuk took an enormous step towards fulfilling her potential as the Ukrainian closed out an incredible week by winning the biggest title of her career at the Madrid Open, defeating Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, 6-3, 7-5, The Guardian reported.
Although Kostyuk’s run through a WTA 1000 draw was unexpected, this did not come out of nowhere. Kostyuk won her second career WTA event in Rouen just before Madrid and has now put together an 11-match winning streak to rise to a career-high world ranking of 15.
This result has been a long time coming. Now 23, she broke through as a 15-year-old, reaching the third round of the Australian Open as a qualifier. She is one of the best athletes on the tour, blessed with a varied and well-rounded game.
Trump says Iran can play at World Cup in US after FIFA confirmation
US President Donald Trump has told reporters that “I’m OK” with Iran playing in the upcoming football World Cup,which will be held in North America in June and July, Aljazeera reported.
The comments come after FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday said Iran would be present at the tournament and would play in the US.
“If Gianni said it, I’m OK,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
More than 500 million tickets requested for World Cup, says FIFA boss
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said demand for tickets to the 2026 World Cup had reached unprecedented levels, with 500 million requests already recorded for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Reuters reported.
“You’ve heard, there were many discussions about the ticketing of the World Cup,” Infantino said at the FIFA Congress on Thursday. “We had 500 million ticket requests — 500 million ticket requests. In the last two World Cups together, we had 50 million ticket requests. Here, 500 million.”
Infantino said FIFA had already sold the vast majority of tickets released so far.
Africa and Asia back Infantino for unique fourth term as FIFA president
FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s hopes of securing re-election as the head of world football have received an enormous boost after pledges of support from the African and Asian regional confederations, AFP reported.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) both said on Thursday that they will back Infantino if, as expected, he stands for a fourth term as FIFA supremo in 2027.
In a brief statement before the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on Thursday, CAF said it had “unanimously agreed” to support Infantino when the FIFA chief stands for re-election in 2027.
