Sports
No. 1 Alcaraz sails, Djokovic battles into Indian Wells 3rd round
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the third round of the Indian Wells Masters with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Grigor Dimitrov Saturday, while Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down to defeat Kamil Majchrzak in three sets.
Spain’s Alcaraz was untroubled by the former world No. 3 from Bulgaria, pushing his perfect 2026 match record to 13-0 in just 66 minutes.
Djokovic, a five-time Indian Wells champion who has struggled in recent years, had to grind for two hours and 12 minutes to subdue 57th-ranked Majchrzak of Poland 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Alcaraz said he has been wary of Dimitrov, but even in the swirling winds on Stadium Court, he was in control, firing from the baseline with power and accuracy.
He barely broke a sweat and cracked plenty of smiles, saving the lone break point he faced in the second set and even getting a high-five from his opponent on a changeover.
“I think I played great,” said the 22-year-old Spaniard, whose Australian Open triumph made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
“The conditions weren’t easy, a lot of wind today. I’m really, really happy just that I was able to do every goal that I set up before the match.”
Alcaraz, who followed up his Melbourne triumph with a title in Doha, says Indian Wells is the perfect place to keep the wins coming.
“I love being here so much, I think that’s why I’m just playing relaxed, playing calm, chilling,” he said.
Although he shares the record for most Indian Wells titles with Swiss great Roger Federer, Djokovic has found the early going in California anything but relaxing in recent years.
That was true again Saturday, but the 38-year-old Serb superstar – back on court for the first time since he fell to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final – managed to escape with a win.
Majchrzak grabbed two quick breaks in the opening set before Djokovic began to find his rhythm from the baseline and assert his superiority.
“Five weeks with no official match, I knew that the first match in such a long time will be a little bit tricky,” Djokovic said.
“I felt like I had to find my A-game when it was most needed, particularly the beginning of the third, which was the case,” Djokovic added after a match marked by extended, entertaining rallies that included a 40-ball exchange in the opening game of the third.
It was an especially satisfying win for Djokovic, who lost his opener last year to Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp and fell to lucky loser Luca Nardi in the third round in 2024.
He hasn’t reached the quarterfinals here since his last run to the title in 2016.
Draper rallies
Britain’s Jack Draper launched his title defense with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
Draper halted Alcaraz’s bid for a rare Indian Wells three-peat in the semifinals last year before beating Holger Rune in the final.
That victory launched his rise to fourth in the world, before an arm injury brought his 2025 season to a premature close.
“To come out and play the level I’m playing after the injury I had, I am really proud of that,” Draper said.
In other matches, unseeded Brazilian Joao Fonseca saved two match points to take out 16th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.
Seventh-seeded former champion Taylor Fritz squandered four match points in the second set but held on for a 6-3, 6-7 (8/10), 6-1 victory over 87th-ranked Briton Jacob Fearnley.
Lamine Yamal scored the only goal as Barcelona restored their four-point lead over Real Madrid with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Athletic were good value for a first-half stalemate at San Mames, but Barca’s quality finally told in the 68th minute when their 18-year-old focal point picked out the top corner after a helping hand from Pedri.
That was Yamal’s 19th goal in all competitions and his 13th in La Liga, keeping Real at arm’s length following their win over Celta Vigo on Friday.
Atletico Madrid’s Nicolas Gonzalez came off the bench to score twice in a battling 3-2 win over Real Sociedad at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Alexander Sorloth and Carlos Soler swapped early goals before Gonzalez and Mikel Oyarzabal netted within a minute of each other in the second half. Gonzalez won it with nine minutes remaining with a clinical headed effort.
Second-bottom Levante came within seconds of a crucial 10-man win over Girona, pegged back 1-1 in the fourth minute of added time. Joel Roca netted at the death after Carlos Espi’s opener.
There were two more red cards at El Sadar, where Osasuna scored two last-gasp goals to snatch a 2-2 draw against Mallorca.
Vedat Muriqi netted twice for the visitors, with Ante Budimir completing the late comeback.
In Serie A, Juventus swept aside bottom side Pisa 4-0. Andrea Cambiasso, Kephren Thuram, Kenan Yıldız and Jeremie Boga all scored in a one-sided second half.
Como were 2-1 winners at Cagliari and Lucas de Cunha scored the goal that kept them in the Europa League spot for fifth place.
Gianluca Scamacca scored twice in four minutes to claim a 2-2 draw for Atalanta against visiting Udinese.
Marseille moved ahead of Ligue 1 rivals Lyon, going third as Mason Greenwood’s finish was enough for a 1-0 success at Toulouse.
Angers beat relegation-threatened Nantes 1-0, with Strasbourg goalless against Auxerre.
George Russell powered to a commanding victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix Sunday, leading a one-two finish for Mercedes ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli while fending off an early challenge from Scuderia Ferrari.
Having dominated qualifying, pole-sitter Russell’s first win at Albert Park confirmed Mercedes’ pre-season form while giving the team their first Melbourne victory since Valtteri Bottas in 2019.
“I like this car, I like this engine, great job,” Russell said over the team radio.
“Great job everybody, it’s been a long time it’s been a long time coming to have this car beneath us.”
Profiting from an early change of tyres, the Briton finished nearly three seconds ahead of Italian Antonelli, with Ferrari’s third-placed Charles Leclerc more than 15 seconds adrift after his team’s tire strategy failed.
It was a tough day for McLaren, with home hero Oscar Piastri’s race over before it began with a crash during a reconnaissance lap some 40 minutes before the start.
His teammate and defending champion Lando Norris finished fifth, one place behind the Ferrari of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton – but over 50 seconds after Russell crossed.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was sixth for Red Bull after starting 20th on the grid following a crash in Saturday’s qualifying. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, suffered an early retirement.
Thrilling duel
Russell engaged in a thrilling early duel with Leclerc, the pair swapping the lead seven times in the opening nine laps.
“It was a hell of a fight at the beginning,” said Russell.
“I made a bad start and some really tight battles with Charles at the start – just really glad to cross the finish line.”
There was ultimately daylight between Mercedes and the rest, with Hadjar’s retirement the turning point. His Red Bull car stopped on lap 12 with smoke billowing out of the rear and triggered a virtual safety car.
Mercedes called both their drivers in to pit, swapping out medium tires for hard compounds and they rode them for the final 45 laps without issue.
Ferrari stayed out, much to the chagrin of Hamilton, who complained that at least one of them should have gone in.
Leclerc was far from convinced Ferrari could have come out on top even had they taken an earlier stop.
“I was happy to get out of the battle in first, but it didn’t help us later on,” he said.
“I don’t think we could have won.”
Ferrari sandwich
Fourth on the grid, Leclerc had a terrific start, sneaking through a tight gap between Hadjar and Russell to snatch the lead at the first corner.
With Piastri out of the race, Hamilton had a clear run in front of him and was soon up from seventh to third, leaving Russell in a Ferrari sandwich.
Furious racing ensued as Leclerc and Russell fought wheel-to-wheel and Russell nearly came unstuck when he locked up during one skirmish on lap nine.
While the Mercedes cars pitted early, Leclerc finally came in on lap 26, with Hamilton following a couple of laps later after surrendering the lead to Russell.
Out in front with teammate Antonelli one behind, Russell was confident one stop would be enough and so it proved as they burned away from the Ferraris for a thumping win.
Haas’ Oliver Bearman finished seventh, the best placing of the minor teams, while 18-year-old rookie Arvid Lindblad, the youngest-ever British F1 racer, came eighth, celebrating points in his debut race for Racing Bulls.
Ninth-placed Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the Top 10.
New team Cadillac had an underwhelming race debut in Formula One, with Bottas retiring early and teammate Sergio Perez finishing 16th, the last of the classified results.
Struggling Aston Martin saw twice world champion Fernando Alonso retire after 21 laps and a long period in the garage.
His teammate, Lance Stroll, managed 43 laps and held on to the finish but the result was not classified.
Only 20 of the 22 cars started, with Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg scratched just before the race due to a reliability problem.
The 2026 Formula One season opened Friday beneath the bright skies of Melbourne, but the first laps of practice at Albert Park came with as many questions as answers.
The milestone 40th Australian Grand Prix marks the start of a radically reshaped era in Formula One.
New technical regulations, a reworked competitive order and growing geopolitical tensions have cast uncertainty over the early months of the championship.
The most pressing concern surrounds the Middle Eastern leg of the calendar.
Races scheduled for Bahrain on April 12 and Saudi Arabia on April 19 remain under scrutiny because of the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Closed airspace and security concerns have already forced the FIA to postpone the World Endurance Championship opener in Qatar scheduled for March 26-28.
Formula One and the FIA say they are monitoring developments closely with safety as the priority. A decision on the upcoming races is expected soon.
While politics hover in the background, the paddock’s attention remains fixed on performance. The 2026 season introduces sweeping changes to both chassis and power units, ushering in an era where power is split almost evenly between the 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine and electric energy recovered under braking.
The shift demands a new driving style. Energy management and deployment now play a greater role than ever, forcing drivers to rethink their approach to acceleration, cornering and race strategy.
Early indications suggest Mercedes may hold the upper hand.
Charles Leclerc topped the final pre-season test in Bahrain, finishing more than eight-tenths clear of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Yet whispers across the paddock suggest Mercedes have not even unleashed the full potential of their engine.
If the Silver Arrows deliver on that promise, George Russell is expected to spearhead the challenge. The British driver enters the weekend with quiet confidence.
“The car is performing as we expected,” Russell said. “The important thing is the correlation between the wind tunnel and the track. That looks good and there are no major scares.”
Ferrari remain a serious contender. Their nimble chassis and smaller turbocharger are designed to deliver quicker response and sharper race starts, a combination that could put them in position for their first Australian Grand Prix victory since 2022.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, now rejuvenated at Ferrari, believes the team has made significant progress.
“We got great mileage done in winter testing,” Hamilton said. “There’s been an amazing amount of work back at the factory and we learned a lot from last season.”
But the loudest cheers in Melbourne belong to one driver.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri carries the hopes of the home crowd and a lingering sense of unfinished business after last year’s championship slipped away to teammate Lando Norris. Piastri led the standings for 189 days between Saudi Arabia and Mexico before a series of costly errors, most notably in Azerbaijan, derailed his title bid.
Local media have pressed him relentlessly on whether he can become the first Australian to win his home race.
“If I had a dollar for every time I got asked that, I’d be a few dollars richer,” Piastri joked. “Every driver wants to win their home race and that’s no different for me.”
On Friday afternoon he gave fans reason to believe.
Piastri topped the timesheets in second practice with a lap of 1 minute, 19.729 seconds, edging Mercedes drivers Antonelli and Russell by just over two-tenths. Hamilton finished fourth, 0.321 seconds off the pace, ahead of Ferrari teammate Leclerc.
Red Bull, expected to be among the contenders, endured a mixed start.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen admitted the team is still unsure where it stands despite encouraging energy management from the RB22.
“I think we want to be a little bit faster,” Verstappen said. “From Bahrain we weren’t the quickest, so we’ll just see where we are here.”
Verstappen’s Friday reflected that uncertainty. The Dutchman stalled leaving the garage early in second practice and later slid through the gravel at Turn 10 after locking up, missing nearly half the session before returning to post the sixth-fastest time.
Norris, the defending champion, recovered from a troubled morning to finish seventh after a gearbox issue left him only 19th in the opening session.
Russell’s afternoon was hardly calm either. The Mercedes driver locked up at Turn 3 and slid into the gravel, then required repairs after a minor pit lane collision with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.
“This guy’s just hit my front wing,” Russell told his team over the radio.
Hamilton later mirrored Russell’s mistake with a similar slide at Turn 3.
The new hybrid engines, with a far greater share of electric power, have already produced a steep learning curve. Reliability problems and energy management challenges triggered two virtual safety car periods during the opening practice session.
No team appears more troubled than Aston Martin.
Adrian Newey, overseeing his first race weekend as team principal, revealed that vibrations from the Honda power unit could pose a serious problem for drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
The team’s fragile preparation continued in Melbourne.
Alonso missed the opening practice session entirely while Stroll completed only three laps. The pair managed 31 laps combined in the second session, but Alonso finished 20th and Stroll’s fastest time was more than six seconds slower than Piastri’s.
Even new entrant Cadillac experienced early frustration. Sergio Perez, returning to Formula One with the American-backed team, failed to post a lap time in the second session.
As qualifying approaches on Saturday, the 2026 season has already delivered intrigue.
A new technical era, unpredictable performance gaps and global tensions beyond the racetrack have left the sport facing an opening weekend filled with uncertainty.
Lionel Messi presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a jewel-studded pink football ball during a White House ceremony honoring Inter Miami CF for winning last season’s MLS Cup.
Miami secured the title in December with a victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Messi capped the campaign by claiming the league’s MVP award for the second straight year.
Trump praised the Argentine star during the event.
“Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s something very hard to do, very unusual,” he said, noting the pressure that comes with arriving as a global icon expected to deliver success.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami in mid-2023 amid global attention, entered the ceremony alongside Trump but did not address the audience. Parts of the event veered into politics, with the president touching on issues ranging from tensions with Iran to developments in Venezuela, Cuba and U.S. tariffs.
Addressing Messi, who has largely avoided speaking out on politics, Trump kept most of his remarks focused on sports.
“You could have gone anywhere in the world. You could have chosen any team in the world, and you chose to go to Miami. I don’t blame you. The weather’s extremely good. Do you go to Doral? You go to Doral and play golf?” Trump said, referring to a golf course he owns. “I just want to thank you for bringing us all on this ride, because you are hot and talented and a great person.”
Among the other Inter Miami players in attendance were Luis Suarez, Tadeo Allende and Rodrigo De Paul.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber sat next to Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup task force. Also attending were retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez and members of Trump’s Cabinet.
Inter Miami was the first MLS team invited to the White House during Trump’s two terms in office.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022. The 38-year-old is expected to play again for Argentina this year when the tournament is hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Football’s global showcase has been clouded by recent events, including the war with Iran and turmoil in Mexico following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera in a military operation.
Iran is part of the 48-team World Cup field and is set to play two games at SoFi Stadium in Southern California and another in Seattle during the group stage.
Trump opened the ceremony with comments about the conflict with Iran but did not mention the World Cup.
Following military action by the U.S. and Israel last week, Iran’s top football official, Mehdi Taj, said the country could not look to playing in the World Cup with “hope.”
“I really don’t care” if Iran participates, Trump told Politico this week. “I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”
It is unclear what would happen if Iran withdrew from the World Cup. No team that has qualified for the tournament has withdrawn in the past 75 years.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 when Mexico plays South Africa in Mexico City.
During the ceremony, Trump spoke about seeing Brazilian great Pele play for the New York Cosmos. Turning to Messi, he said, “You may be better than Pele,” then asked the crowd, “Who’s better?”
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said his team has “changed the culture of football in the United States forever.”
“We can play with the big boys, we can play with the heavyweights. Our league can be one of the top leagues in the world,” Mas said. “And it is this ability to dream, to persevere, to have no obstacles ahead of us, that we will continue to be successful. And hopefully, Mr. President, this is not our only visit here celebrating an MLS Cup championship.”
It was the first White House visit for Messi. He was invited by the Biden administration to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025 but could not attend because of a scheduling conflict.
Inter Miami will remain in the area to play D.C. United on Saturday.
The California desert is set for a star-studded return to tennis as the ATP and WTA Masters 1000 tournament at Indian Wells kicks off.
Former champion Carlos Alcaraz aims to extend his flawless 2026 start, while Jannik Sinner looks to capture his first title of the year after a turbulent but ultimately triumphant 2025.
Alcaraz, 22, fresh off a historic Australian Open victory that made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, arrives in the U.S. riding a 12-match winning streak, including a Qatar Open title.
The top seed faces a challenging second-round match against former world number three Grigor Dimitrov or in-form left-hander Terence Atmane.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic, chasing a record sixth Indian Wells crown to surpass Roger Federer, also looms in his half of the draw.
Sinner, meanwhile, opens against either Australian James Duckworth or Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina.
The Italian missed last year’s event serving a suspension for a banned steroid but bounced back to win Wimbledon and the ATP Finals.
Despite losses in the Australian Open semis to Djokovic and a Doha quarterfinal exit to Jakob Mensik, Sinner says he is building on momentum.
“It has been a very hard practice week here for me,” he said, emphasizing his focus on aggression and refinement at the baseline. The 22-year-old has previously won five Masters 1000 hard-court tournaments, including Toronto, Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris.
On the women’s side, world number one Aryna Sabalenka returns to Indian Wells seeking her first title after falling in last year’s final to Russian teen Mirra Andreeva and in 2023 to Elena Rybakina.
Sabalenka will start against Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume or U.S. wild card Alycia Parks, with Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova awaiting deeper in her quarter. Rybakina, the third seed, highlighted the desert conditions’ challenges: “It’s not easy to get short points, free points. You need to work for each point.”
Second-seeded Iga Swiatek, a two-time Indian Wells champion, also faces a tough path, with a potential quarterfinal against Andreeva, who upset her in last year’s semis.
Djokovic, 38, remains a formidable presence despite his age, having pushed Alcaraz to the limit in the Australian Open final after defeating defending champion Sinner in a five-set thriller.
“I can still compete at the highest level and beat these guys,” Djokovic said. “As long as I have the fire and motivation, I’ll keep going. I enjoy the thrill of competition and performing in front of the fans.”
The Serb, a five-time Indian Wells champion, continues to tailor his schedule around the Grand Slams and select events, keeping his focus sharp and his ranking among the elite.
Iranian striker Sara Didar fought back tears on Wednesday as journalists asked about the escalating conflict engulfing her homeland.
The 21-year-old forward, a rising star with Bam Khatoon FC in Iran’s Kowsar Women Football League, spoke at a press conference ahead of Iran’s second group-stage match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“Obviously, we’re all concerned and sad at what has happened to Iran and our families,” Didar said, voice trembling. “But I really hope it’s very good for our country, to have good news ahead, and I hope my country would be strongly alive.”
Her words captured the emotional strain facing athletes competing thousands of miles from home while their country reels from violence.
Head coach Marziyeh Jafari, a seasoned figure in Iranian women’s football with 11 domestic titles since 2008 and AFC Coach of the Year for Women in 2025, reflected the team’s dual burden.
“We have so many concerns regarding our families and the people in Iran. Nobody loves war. But here, we are coming to play football professionally and we do our best to concentrate on the match ahead,” Jafari said.
She emphasized that internet disruptions and communication blackouts left the squad disconnected from real-time updates on loved ones, heightening the pressure on the team.
Iran opened their Group A campaign with a 3-0 loss to South Korea on March 2 at Robina Stadium.
Players stood respectfully during the national anthem but remained silent, a quiet reflection of the turmoil back home.
Thursday’s matchup against host nation Australia at Cbus Super Stadium presents another daunting challenge, as the Matildas seek to secure a quarterfinal berth.
The backdrop is a conflict that erupted Feb. 28, 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched “Operation Epic Fury,” targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure and resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on U.S. and regional targets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent energy markets into turmoil.
Civilian casualties have been staggering. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports at least 787 dead, including 165 schoolgirls and staff killed at Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab on the conflict’s first day. Rescue teams uncovered more victims amid the rubble, triggering mass funerals and international condemnation. UNESCO labeled the attack a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law.
Amid this chaos, Iran’s women’s team is navigating only its second appearance at the Asian Cup, a testament to the resilience of a program battling limited resources and societal barriers. Ranked 68th by FIFA, the squad qualified through a tough Asian qualification process. Despite the devastation at home, the players aim to focus on the sport, representing a nation in crisis and providing hope amid heartbreak.
“Here, we are professionals, but we carry the hopes of our families and country with us,” Jafari said. Football Australia and the AFC have extended full support to the team, while the Iranian diaspora in Australia has rallied behind them, offering encouragement.
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