Sports
Sabalenka’s title drought deepens after shock Wuhan exit
Aryna Sabalenka’s struggles continued Wednesday as the Belarusian top seed suffered a shock 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) defeat to unseeded American Ann Li in the Wuhan Open round of 32.
The loss extended a frustrating spell for the four-time Grand Slam champion, who has not won a title since completing the Sunshine Double with victories at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year.
Sabalenka reached the U.S. Open final last month but lost to Elena Rybakina, leaving the 28-year-old facing her first season without a Grand Slam title since 2022.
She also suffered a third-round exit at the China Open earlier this month and surrendered the No. 1 ranking to Rybakina following the U.S. Open.
The early exit came at a tournament where Sabalenka has enjoyed considerable success. She won the Wuhan title in 2018, 2019 and 2024. The WTA 1000 event was not held from 2020-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Li, ranked 31st in the world, earned the biggest win of her career after recovering from a 4-2 deficit in the second set to force a deciding set.
Sabalenka’s hopes appeared all but over when she fell 4-1 behind in the final set and took a medical timeout. However, she mounted a late fightback, saving five match points before holding serve to make it 5-3.
Li kept her composure to finally convert her 10th match point and seal a memorable upset.
Sabalenka’s error-strewn display proved costly, as she hit 44 unforced errors compared with Li’s 28 during the two-hour, 27-minute match.
Earlier Wednesday, American second seed Jessica Pegula also exited the tournament, with 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko rallying from a set down to secure a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3 victory.
Shakhtar Donetsk secured their first win of the season in the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 victory over AEK on Wednesday, giving coach Arda Turan a memorable milestone at Stamford Bridge.
The Ukrainian side came from behind to beat the Greek club in the second round of the competition, with Pedrinho equalizing from the penalty spot before Vinicius Tobias and Gleiker Mendoza scored late goals to seal the victory.
The result lifted Shakhtar to four points after two matches, while AEK remained on three points after suffering their first defeat in four European games without conceding a goal.
AEK made the stronger start in front of their vocal supporters and nearly took the lead in the third minute. Lovro Majer delivered a corner from the left, and Harold Moukoudi rose above the defense to head against the post.
Shakhtar gradually settled into the contest and began testing goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli from distance. Alisson Santana forced a sharp save from the AEK goalkeeper in the ninth minute, with Brignoli turning his effort behind for a corner.
AEK broke the deadlock in the 28th minute after capitalizing on a Shakhtar mistake. Vinicius Tobias lost possession, allowing the Greek side to launch an attack down the left. Stavros Pilios carried the ball forward before picking out Majer, who finished low into the net to put AEK ahead.
Shakhtar responded quickly and were awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Filipe Relvas brought down Santana inside the penalty area, prompting English referee Chris Kavanagh to point to the spot.
Pedrinho took responsibility in the 34th minute and sent Brignoli the wrong way to restore parity at 1-1.
Both sides created opportunities as the match opened up, but neither could find the decisive finish until the final 10 minutes.
Shakhtar took the lead in the 80th minute when Santana picked out Tobias on the right side of the penalty area. Tobias fired from a tight angle, and the ball deflected off Brignoli’s foot before crossing the line.
Six minutes later, Mendoza put the result beyond doubt. The Shakhtar forward broke into the penalty area from the left and produced a composed finish into the top-right corner to complete the 3-1 victory.
The win marked a significant step for Turan, who claimed his first Champions League victory as a coach in only his second match in the competition. Shakhtar had opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to PSV Eindhoven.
Turan returns to Stamford Bridge for another milestone
Stamford Bridge provided a fitting setting for another memorable European night for Turan, who scored at the stadium 12 years earlier while playing for Atletico Madrid.
Atletico defeated Chelsea 3-1 in the second leg of their 2013-14 Champions League semifinal, advancing to the final after a goalless draw in the first leg. Turan scored Atletico’s third goal in the 72nd minute to help secure their place in the final.
More than a decade later, the former Turkey international returned to the same ground in a different role and secured his first Champions League win from the dugout.
After drawing his managerial debut in the competition against PSV, Turan now has four points from his first two matches as Shakhtar continue their European campaign.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been handed a four-match suspension for pulling an opponent’s hair and aggressively protesting his subsequent red card, ruling him out of the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona and prompting a furious response from coach Jose Mourinho.
The Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee announced the punishment Wednesday, just hours before Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Roma in the Italian capital. Mourinho criticized the timing, arguing that the decision unnecessarily disrupted his team’s preparations for a crucial European fixture.
Vinicius was sent off in the 73rd minute of Saturday’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal after pulling the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba as the two players sprinted down the field. Vinicius had scored shortly before the incident, but his goal was ruled out.
The disciplinary committee imposed a two-match suspension for the hair-pulling incident and an additional two matches for his conduct toward referee Isidro Diaz de Mera after the dismissal.
According to the referee’s match report, Vinicius protested the decision aggressively, raising his voice while moving toward the official and having to be restrained by teammates.
The suspension comes at a difficult time for Real Madrid, who face a demanding stretch of league fixtures that includes their meeting with bitter rivals Barcelona. The Catalan club hold a six-point lead over Madrid at the top of the standings, increasing the importance of the upcoming Clasico.
Real Madrid were expected to appeal the decision, although Spanish media reported that an initial appeal had already been rejected.
Timing issues
Mourinho, whose team recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Roma 4-3, made little effort to conceal his frustration with the announcement.
The Portuguese coach questioned why the federation had chosen to reveal the punishment so close to kickoff, particularly when a Spanish club was preparing for a European match that could affect the country’s standing in continental competition.
“Do you think it’s normal for a player from a Spanish team, preparing for an important match that’s also crucial for Spanish football, to find out about his four-match suspension just two hours before kickoff?” Mourinho said after the game.
“Couldn’t they have announced the decision now or tomorrow morning? We were on the bus about to arrive at the stadium when we found out.”
Mourinho went further, accusing the authorities of showing a lack of respect toward the club and its player.
“They’ve started doing things without any shame,” he said.
The coach also argued that the announcement could have affected Vinicius mentally ahead of the match, describing the timing as difficult to understand given the importance of the fixture.
“A Spanish team that has earned three points for Spanish football, for the rankings, for the prestige of Spanish football,” Mourinho said. “You want to kill a player two hours before the match. It doesn’t seem normal to me.”
Despite the controversy, Vinicius started against Roma as Madrid produced a dramatic late comeback to secure victory.
Fixture schedule
The suspension was not the only issue Mourinho raised after the match. He also criticized the scheduling of Madrid’s upcoming domestic and European fixtures, questioning why his team had been assigned a demanding turnaround between matches.
Madrid are scheduled to face AEK Athens in Greece on Nov. 4 before traveling to Valencia for a La Liga match on Nov. 7. Mourinho argued that the travel demands and limited recovery time would put his players at a disadvantage ahead of an already difficult league encounter.
“At the very least, it’s a lack of respect,” he said when asked about the scheduling.
Mourinho pointed to the prospect of returning from Athens in the early hours of Thursday morning before preparing for Saturday’s match in Valencia, which he described as an especially difficult away fixture.
He also dismissed explanations that television broadcasters were responsible for the scheduling decisions.
“The usual excuses, I don’t buy them, because this wasn’t 25 years ago,” Mourinho said. “The excuses from TV, that it was TV that decided, that it was TV that chose the match for Saturday, I don’t buy this anymore. I’m too old to swallow this.”
Mourinho said he intended to challenge what he viewed as unfair treatment of the club and its supporters.
“And this Vinicius story, two hours before a match, knowing that he has a four-match suspension, doesn’t deserve comment,” he said. “Real Madrid fans aren’t stupid, and I will do everything possible to open people’s eyes.”
Late comeback
While Mourinho was critical of the authorities, his team delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the night on the field.
Madrid trailed 3-1 after Donyell Malen scored twice for Roma, leaving the visitors facing defeat with seven minutes remaining. Mourinho’s substitutions then helped transform the contest, with Endrick and Carlos Espi scoring during the late rally while Arda Güler supplied two assists.
The comeback secured a 4-3 victory and offered Madrid a valuable result in their Champions League campaign, even as the controversy surrounding Vinicius threatened to overshadow the performance.
Mourinho rejected suggestions that the turnaround had been part of a carefully planned strategy, but said he believed his substitutes could make a difference late in the game.
“I’m not going to be a genius and say I had prepared everything for a 3-1 to 4-3 victory, it’s not true,” he said.
“But I genuinely thought that in the last 20 minutes I had substitutions I could make, and I had substitutions that could change things.”
Beşiktaş will look to extend their winning run in the UEFA Europa League when they visit Hoffenheim on Thursday, with the Turkish side aiming to capitalize on the German club’s difficult start to the season.
The matchday two league-phase encounter will take place at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, also known as SNP Arena.
Under coach Vincenzo Italiano, Beşiktaş have made an encouraging start to their European campaign and will seek another victory against a Hoffenheim side struggling for consistency in both domestic and continental competition.
Hoffenheim, coached by Christian Ilzer, enjoyed a strong 2025-26 campaign but fell short of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League through the Bundesliga. Their current season has been far less convincing, with four defeats in five league matches.
Their latest setback came Saturday, when they lost 3-2 to Hamburger SV after surrendering a second-half lead. Hoffenheim went ahead 2-1 early in the second half but conceded twice late on after Bernardo was sent off.
Their European campaign also began with disappointment, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to OFI Crete despite creating chances worth 1.74 expected goals. Hoffenheim will hope to respond on home soil, where their only victory of the season so far came in a 2-1 win over Stuttgart on Sept. 12.
Beşiktaş, meanwhile, opened their Europa League campaign with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Marseille. İlhan Fakılı, Michael Murillo, Ernest Poku and Vaclav Cerny scored in a result that underlined the Turkish side’s attacking potential.
The Black Eagles have also won five of their six matches preceding Thursday’s fixture, although their away form remains a concern. They have lost three of their last four away games and kept only one clean sheet across all competitions since mid-August.
Cerny ruled out
Beşiktaş will be without Cerny, who sustained a thigh injury during Sunday’s 2-1 Super Lig victory over Kocaelispor.
An MRI scan revealed a strain and swelling in the hamstring area of the Czech winger’s left thigh, ruling him out of the trip to Germany.
His absence could open the door for İlhan Fakılı and Leandro Trossard to operate on the wings, with Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic leading the attack.
Hoffenheim also have an injury concern, with versatile forward Patrick Wimmer recovering from a hamstring problem. Bambase Conte, Adam Hlozek and Adam Daghim are expected to compete for attacking roles behind striker Tim Lemperle.
At the back, Turkish international Ozan Kabak is expected to feature in central defense alongside Koki Machida, with Vladimir Coufal and Mats Rots potentially filling the fullback positions.
Kökçü and Vlahovic lead Beşiktaş attack
Beşiktaş will rely heavily on captain Orkun Kökçü and Vlahovic, both of whom have been productive in front of goal this season.
Kökçü has scored five goals in 13 appearances, while Vlahovic has found the net six times in eight matches. Their form gives Italiano two important attacking options as Beşiktaş seek to maintain their momentum in Europe.
Salih Özcan is expected to anchor the midfield, with Kökçü and Junior Olaitan operating further forward. Fakılı and Trossard could provide width in support of Vlahovic.
Hoffenheim’s defensive organization will be tested by Beşiktaş’ attacking movement, although the visitors must also guard against a response from the hosts, who will be eager to recover from their disappointing European opener.
Six out of seven
Beşiktaş’ recent European record offers further encouragement ahead of the trip to Germany.
The Turkish club have won six of their seven European matches this season, defeating Midtjylland 1-0 and 2-0 before recording two 1-0 victories over Hradec Kralove.
They also beat Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 before losing the return leg 1-0, then opened the Europa League league phase with their 4-1 triumph over Marseille.
Across those seven matches, Beşiktaş have scored 12 goals and conceded twice, demonstrating their effectiveness at both ends of the pitch in European competition.
Hoffenheim, however, will offer a different test, particularly with the German side playing at home and looking to revive their campaign.
The match will also feature a familiar face for Turkish football fans in Kabak, the Hoffenheim defender who has made seven appearances this season and scored once.
Eight Turkish Süper Lig clubs, Kocaelispor coach Selçuk İnan, Trabzonspor midfielder Melih Kabasakal and Eyüpspor forward Ahmed Abdullahi have been referred to the Turkish Football Federation’s (TFF) Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) following incidents during league matches.
The TFF announced the referrals on its official website, citing alleged improper chants, crowd disturbances, a breach of stadium safety regulations and conduct by individuals during or after matches played between Oct. 9 and 12.
Galatasaray and Kasımpaşa were both referred over alleged improper chants during their match on Oct. 9. Galatasaray also faces disciplinary proceedings over crowd disturbances.
Gençlerbirliği was referred for alleged improper chants during its Oct. 10 match against Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, while Amed was referred over crowd disturbances during the same game.
Samsunspor and Trabzonspor were both referred for alleged improper chants following their Oct. 10 encounter. Trabzonspor also faces disciplinary proceedings over crowd disturbances, while midfielder Melih Kabasakal was referred separately for an alleged rule violation during the match. His referral took effect on Oct. 11 under precautionary measures.
Beşiktaş and Kocaelispor were both referred following their Oct. 11 match. Beşiktaş faces charges relating to alleged improper chants and crowd disturbances, while Kocaelispor faces additional scrutiny over spectator access routes that were not kept clear, in violation of the federation’s stadium regulations.
Kocaelispor coach Selçuk İnan was also referred to the disciplinary board without precautionary measures over comments he made during a postmatch flash interview and news conference. The TFF cited statements allegedly damaging the reputation of Turkish football.
Eyüpspor forward Ahmed Abdullahi was referred under precautionary measures for an alleged rule violation during the club’s Oct. 12 match against Göztepe, with his referral taking effect on Oct. 13.
The referrals will be assessed by the PFDK, which determines disciplinary sanctions under the federation’s regulations. The referrals themselves do not constitute final rulings.
Trabzonspor will look to carry their domestic momentum into Europe when they visit Finnish side KuPS Kuopio on Thursday for their opening match in the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League league phase.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Türkiye time at Tammelan Stadion in Tampere.
Trabzonspor enter the competition after falling short in the Europa League qualifying playoffs, losing 1-0 at home and 4-0 away to Hungary’s Ferencvaros for a 5-0 aggregate defeat.
The Black Sea club will now attempt to make a fresh start in Europe’s third-tier competition, hoping to end their recent continental struggles with a victory.
The match also offers an opportunity for coach Thomas Reis to extend his team’s improving domestic form.
Trabzonspor have won their last two Turkish Süper Lig matches convincingly, beating Galatasaray 4-0 at home before securing a 3-0 victory away to Samsunspor.
Those results have given Reis’s side renewed confidence, with seven goals scored and none conceded across the two matches.
Another victory on Thursday would give Trabzonspor three consecutive competitive wins and provide a timely boost to their European campaign.
Reis’ European breakthrough
The match will mark Reis’s first European fixture in charge of Trabzonspor, adding another test for a coach who has overseen an encouraging improvement in the team’s domestic performances.
However, ending the club’s European winless run remains a priority. Trabzonspor’s last continental victory came on Aug. 1, 2024, when they defeated Slovakia’s Ruzomberok 1-0 at home in the Europa League second qualifying round.
Since then, the Turkish side have played six European matches without winning, recording four defeats and two draws.
Their heavy aggregate loss to Ferencvaros underlined the need for a stronger performance as they begin their Conference League campaign.
Trabzonspor can take some encouragement from their previous meetings with Finnish opposition, having recorded one win and one draw in two matches against teams from the country.
KuPS seek response
KuPS will also be eager to make a positive start, although the Finnish champions arrive after a difficult spell in their domestic league.
Coach Miika Nuutinen’s side have struggled for consistency during their title defense in the Veikkausliiga.
Their only victory in their last seven league matches was a 2-0 away win over VPS, followed by consecutive 1-0 defeats against AC Oulu at home and Inter Turku away.
The Finnish club nevertheless secured a place in the Conference League league phase after overcoming Shamrock Rovers in the qualifying playoffs. Following a 1-1 draw in Ireland, KuPS won the return leg 1-0 to advance on aggregate.
Their European campaign has already included setbacks in earlier qualifying rounds, with exits from the Champions League qualifiers against Sabah Baku and the Europa League qualifiers against Universitatea Craiova before they secured their place in the Conference League.
Jaime Moreno, who has scored 11 goals for KuPS across all competitions this season, will be one of the home side’s principal attacking threats.
The Finnish club have also faced the challenge of playing away from their usual home ground. Their stadium in Kuopio does not meet UEFA’s requirements for Conference League matches, forcing them to stage their European fixtures at Tammelan Stadion in Tampere, approximately 300 kilometers away.
The venue has a capacity of 8,000 and features an artificial playing surface, conditions Trabzonspor will need to adapt to quickly.
KuPS and Trabzonspor have never met before, although the Finnish side have previous experience against Turkish opposition, recording one win and one defeat in two encounters.
Suspensions and injuries affect Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor will be without several players for the opening fixture. Chibuike Nwaiwu and Sidny Lopes Cabral are suspended after receiving red cards, while goalkeeper Onuralp Çevikkan and midfielder Okay Yokuşlu have been listed among the injured.
Ruslan Malinovskyi is also unavailable because of suspension and injury concerns, while Umut Nayir is another reported absentee. Tim Jabol-Folcarelli has been an injury concern, and Arseniy Batagov has been working toward a return.
Malinovskyi’s absence has also affected the club’s European squad planning. Melih Kabasakal was added to Trabzonspor’s UEFA list as his replacement.
There will, however, be additional options for Reis in Europe. Batista Mendy and Benjamin Bouchouari, who have been unable to play in the Süper Lig because of foreign-player registration restrictions, are eligible for continental fixtures.
Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League struggles continued Tuesday as Barcelona came from behind to secure a 4-1 victory at RAMS Park, leaving the Turkish champions without a point after their first two matches in the competition.
Aleksey Batrakov gave Galatasaray the lead in the 27th minute, but Joao Cancelo equalized before halftime. Barcelona took control after the break, with Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi scoring in a 15-minute spell to complete the comeback.
The defeat followed Galatasaray’s 3-1 loss away to Sporting CP in their opening match, leaving Okan Buruk’s side under pressure to recover in their next European fixture. Barcelona, meanwhile, maintained their perfect start to the campaign with a second consecutive victory.
Galatasaray initially struggled to cope with Barcelona’s possession and pressing, spending much of the opening period defending in their own half. The hosts looked to threaten on the counterattack, using long passes to find striker Victor Osimhen and winger Rafael Leao.
That approach paid off in the 27th minute when Galatasaray caught Barcelona out during a quick transition.
Barcelona had appealed for a penalty after Anthony Gordon went down inside the Galatasaray penalty area following a challenge from Barış Alper Yılmaz. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır gathered the ball and immediately restarted play, launching a move that ended with the hosts taking the lead.
Batrakov collected possession near the halfway line and released Leao down the left flank. The winger drove toward the penalty area before cutting the ball back toward the edge of the box, where Batrakov arrived to finish and put Galatasaray ahead.
The goal was the 21-year-old Russian’s first in seven competitive appearances for the club, including five in the Turkish Super Lig.
Galatasaray thought they had doubled their advantage seven minutes later when a corner from Batrakov reached Osimhen, whose header was turned into his own net by Barcelona defender Gerard Martin. Italian referee Marco Guida initially awarded the goal, but a video assistant referee review overturned the decision because Barış Alper was offside and interfering with an opponent.
Barcelona increased the pressure as halftime approached and equalized in the 43rd minute. Dani Olmo supplied Cancelo, who finished into the far corner to make it 1-1.
Uğurcan had kept Galatasaray in the contest with several important first-half saves, denying efforts from Gordon, Cancelo and Olmo. However, the goalkeeper was unable to prevent Barcelona from taking control after the break.
The visitors moved ahead in the 50th minute when Lamine Yamal crossed for Lopez to head home. Three minutes later, Yamal set up Gordon, who finished from a tight angle to double Barcelona’s lead.
Galatasaray struggled to contain the visitors’ attacking pressure, and Adeyemi made it 4-1 in the 65th minute, finishing after a move involving Yamal and Gabriel Jesus.
Barcelona’s three goals in 15 minutes transformed a competitive match into a comfortable victory and exposed Galatasaray’s defensive difficulties after halftime.
The result also extended a troubling pattern for Buruk’s side in Europe. Galatasaray opened their Champions League campaign against Sporting by taking the lead through a Gonçalo Inácio own goal in the fifth minute, only to concede three times in a 3-1 defeat.
Against Barcelona, the Turkish side again went ahead but failed to protect their advantage, conceding once before halftime and three more times after the restart.
Galatasaray have now lost seven of their last 10 Champions League matches, recording two wins and one draw during that stretch. Their victories came against Juventus, whom they beat 5-2, and Liverpool, whom they defeated 1-0. They also drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid.
Their difficulties against Spanish opposition have been just as pronounced. Galatasaray have failed to win their last 10 European matches against Spanish clubs, recording eight defeats and two draws. Their most recent victory came in the 2012-13 Champions League quarterfinals, when they beat Real Madrid 3-2 at home in the second leg.
Tuesday’s defeat was Galatasaray’s 21st in 37 European meetings with Spanish teams. They have recorded eight wins and eight draws in those encounters.
Despite the scoreline, Galatasaray’s supporters continued to back the team and Buruk as Barcelona extended their lead. Fans chanted the coach’s name during the second half and applauded the players after the final whistle. Uğurcan also received special recognition for his first-half saves.
Club captain Abdülkerim Bardakcı started on the bench, with Yunus Akgün wearing the armband from the opening whistle. When Yunus was replaced by Leroy Sane in the 58th minute, the captaincy passed to Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez.
Barcelona, meanwhile, continued their impressive start under coach Hansi Flick. The victory extended their winning run to 10 competitive matches this season, including eight in La Liga and two in the Champions League.
The Catalan side have scored 43 goals in those 10 matches, an average of 4.3 per game, while conceding nine.
Galatasaray will look to end their losing run when they travel to France to face Lille on Oct. 21. Barcelona’s next European assignment will take them to Paris Saint-Germain.
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