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Sabalenka roars past Gauff to join Pegula in WTA Finals last four

By in News, Sports News
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Phil Cartwright

BBC Sport journalist

Aryna Sabalenka roared past Coco Gauff to avenge her French Open final defeat and secure her place in the WTA Finals last four alongside Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka, Gauff and Pegula went into Thursday’s matches in Riyadh knowing only two of them would progress from the Stefanie Graf Group.

American Pegula won 6-2 6-3 against already-eliminated Jasmine Paolini, meaning a straight-set win for defending champion Gauff would have knocked world number one Sabalenka out.

Gauff also had the statistical edge, having come out on top in their previous meeting at Roland Garros in June – with Sabalenka putting in a performance she later described as the “worst final I ever played”.

Sabalenka was wayward at the start but rallied to beat the American 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 and top the group with a 100% record.

“We always have great battles. It’s enjoyable playing against her because I know it’s going to be a great fight,” Sabalenka, 27, told Sky Sports.

“Whenever I focus on myself and what I have to do, without getting over-emotional and just staying in the zone – that’s the key for me.”

Sabalenka maintains perfect record

French Open champion Gauff did not do too much wrong in the opening set but Sabalenka excels in tie-breaks, having won 22 of the 24 breakers she has played this year.

Gauff’s serve, which has been problematic in recent times, held up extremely well in the first set – with 72% of first serves in, 62% of first-serve points won and 70% of points won behind her second serve.

However, she failed to serve out the opener at 5-4 up before her first double fault of the match gifted four-time major singles champion Sabalenka two set points in the tie-break.

On the other side of the net, Sabalenka demonstrated the full range of emotions as she twice battled back from a break down; frustration after several points lost, despair after sending a backhand volley wide during the tie-break and then celebration as she thrashed a powerful forehand winner to clinch it.

Sabalenka quickly moved 4-0 up in the second and, despite briefly giving back one of her two breaks of serve, she served out victory to stay on course for a first WTA Finals title.

    • 2 hours ago

‘Not many negative notes’ for Pegula

Jessica Pegula hits a backhandGetty Images

An unwell Paolini, who has not had a rest day in Riyadh because of her participation in the doubles tournament with Sara Errani, battled hard against Pegula but the 2024 US Open finalist was ultimately too strong.

Pegula broke twice in both sets as she wrapped up victory in just 63 minutes.

Paolini could not make any inroads in her returning games, with 2023 WTA Finals runner-up Pegula winning 33 of 41 points on her own serve and facing only one break point.

In the doubles, Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani secured their semi-final spot with a 2-6 7-5 10-5 victory against defending champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe.

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RSF says it agrees to mediators’ ceasefire proposal in Sudan war

By in News, World News

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) says it has agreed to a proposal by the United States for a ceasefire in Sudan after more than two years of fighting with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

The paramilitary group said in a statement on Thursday that it would accept a “humanitarian ceasefire” proposed by the US-led “quad” mediator group, which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, “to address the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the war and to enhance the protection of civilians”.

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There was no immediate comment from Sudan’s military.

Earlier this week, the US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, said efforts were under way to reach a truce and that the warring sides had “agreed in principle”.

“We have not recorded any initial objection from either side. We are now focusing on the fine details,” Boulos said on Monday in a statement carried by the Sudan Tribune news outlet.

Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan said the plan would begin with a three-month humanitarian truce that could pave the way for a lasting political solution, which would include a new civilian government.

The RSF “said that they’re eager to find some kind of end to this two-year conflict”, Morgan said of the group’s agreement to the truce.

SAF has repeatedly said it wants to continue fighting, Morgan reported, adding that army officials do not believe members of the RSF can be reintegrated into Sudanese society.

SAF has previously said it does not want the UAE’s involvement in truce discussions and that it will demand the RSF withdraw from any city it occupies, among other stipulations, she said.

“This humanitarian access the ceasefire would bring about is desperately needed, but the Sudanese army is yet to agree to it. They have conditions,” Morgan reported. “It doesn’t look like the RSF will meet them.”

Earlier on Thursday, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had said his forces were “striving for the defeat of the enemy”.

“Soon, we will avenge those who have been killed and abused … in all the regions attacked by the rebels,” he said in a televised address.

The announcement comes as the RSF faces accusations of committing mass killings since it seized the city of el-Fasher in North Darfur state on October 26, following an 18-month siege.

The RSF now dominates the vast western Darfur region and parts of the country’s south, while the army holds the north, east and central regions along the Nile and the Red Sea.

More than 70,000 people have fled el-Fasher and surrounding areas since the RSF’s takeover, according to the United Nations, with witnesses and human rights groups reporting cases of “summary executions”, sexual violence and mass killings of civilians.

The World Health Organization had reported the “tragic killing of more than 460 patients and medical staff” at a former children’s hospital during the city’s takeover.

‘Mass graves’

Researchers at Yale University said in a report on Thursday that new satellite imagery has detected activity “consistent with mass graves” in the city.

The US university’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) report said it found evidence consistent with “body disposal activities”.

The report identified “at least two earth disturbances consistent with mass graves at a mosque and the former Children’s Hospital”.

It also noted the appearance of metres-long trenches, as well as the disappearance of clusters of objects consistent with bodies near the hospital, the mosque and other parts of the city – indicating that bodies deposited around those areas were later moved.

“Body disposal or removal was also observed at Al-Saudi Hospital in satellite imagery,” the report said.

Displaced Sudanese children who fled with their families during violence in el-Fasher sit inside a camp shelter amid ongoing clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese army, in Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan, November 3, 2025 [Mohamed Jamal/Reuters]

The war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has pitted the army against the group led by al-Burhan’s former deputy, RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti.

Both the warring sides have been accused of war crimes. In a September report, the UN Human Rights Council accused both sides of extrajudicial killing, large-scale attacks against civilians and torture. It also reported an “overwhelming volume” of evidence on sexual violence primarily perpetrated by RSF and SAF members.

Minister broke rules over football watchdog appointment

By in News, Sports News

Lisa Nandy has been found to have “unknowingly” breached public appointment rules with her choice to be the boss of England’s new football watchdog.

The culture secretary named sports rights executive David Kogan as the government’s preferred choice to run the new regulator in April.

But she later stood back from the process, after establishing that Mr Kogan had donated £2,900 to her 2020 Labour leadership campaign, according to a report.

“The fact of the donations was capable of giving rise to a perceived conflict of interest in the appointment process,” Sir William added.

He added that Nandy was “in a position readily to ascertain whether he had donated to her campaign”, since she had been advised by officials of that Kogan had “extensive links to the Labour Party and had made several donations to it”.

In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Nandy said she had declared Kogan’s donations to her campaign “as soon as I discovered these donations existed”.

She added: I deeply regret this error. I appreciate the perception it could create, but it was not deliberate and I apologise for it”.

Pauline Collins dead: Shirley Valentine actress dies after years of Parkinson’s disease

By in Entertainment News, News

Shirley Valentine actress Pauline Collins has died “peacefully” aged 85. She died in her London care home surrounded by her family having endured Parkinson’s disease for several years, her family said.

They said in a statement: “We are heartbroken to announce that Pauline Collins died peacefully at her care home in Highgate this week, having endured Parkinson’s for several years. She was surrounded by her family.

“Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens.

“She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them.






Pauline last appeared on screen in 2017
(
PA)





Pauline Collins


She was awarded an OBE in 2001
(
Press Association)

“More than anything, though, she was our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma. Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us. And she was John (Alderton)’s life-long love. A partner, work collaborator, and wife of 56 years.

“We particularly want to thank her carers: angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all love. She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye. We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers; so joyful and full of energy; and give us the space and privacy to contemplate a life without her.”

Pauline had a lengthy acting career, having first found fame thanks to playing Sarah Moffat in Upstairs, Downstairs. She went on to appear in its spin-off show, Thomas & Sarah.

The actress is best known for playing the title character in play Shirley Valentine, which landed her a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress and made her an international star. Pauline also picked up the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

In 1989, Pauline reprised the role for a film adaptation of the play and she went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The film followed the life of a Liverpool housewife who rediscovers herself on a trip to Greece – a performance that became one of the defining portrayals of British cinema in the 1980s.






Pauline Collins (L) and John Alderton


Pauline and John married in 1969 and welcomed three children together
(
Dave Benett/WireImage)





Pauline Collins (L) and John Alderton


John has paid a touching tribute to his wife following the sad news
(
PA)

After Shirley Valentine, Pauline appeared in a number of television dramas including Forever Green and The Ambassador. She made appearances in films City of Joy, Paradise Road, Albert Nobbs, Quartet and The Time of Their Lives.

Pauline was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2001 Birthday Honours for services to drama. In her personal life, Pauline married fellow actor John Alderton in 1969.

Following her death, John has said: “Pauline Collins was a remarkable star. I had the great good fortune to have worked with her more than any other actor in our many TV series, films and West End stage shows together, and watched her genius at close quarters.

“What I saw was not only her brilliant range of diverse characters but her magic of bringing out the best in all of the people she worked with. She wanted everyone to be special and she did this by never saying ‘Look at me’. It’s no wonder that she was voted the nation’s sweetheart in the 1970s.

“She will always be remembered for Shirley Valentine, not only for her Oscar nomination or the film itself, but for clean-sweeping all seven awards when she portrayed her on Broadway in the stage play, in which she played every character herself. But her greatest performance was as my wife and mother to our beautiful children.”

They welcomed three children together, Nicholas, Kate and Richard and lived in Hampstead, London. Pauline also had daughter Louise with actor Tony Rohr, and made the “heartbreaking” decision to give her up for adoption in 1964.

She reunited with her daughter when Louise was 21-years-old, and even documented the reunion on her book, Letter to Louise. Born in Devon and raised in Wallasey, Cheshire, Pauline trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama after working briefly as a teacher.

She continued acting well into later life, appearing in film and television projects including Albert Nobbs, The Royale Family, and The Last Detective. Pauline is survived by her husband John, their children and grandchildren.

If you have been affected by this story, you can contact Parkinson’s UK’s helpline on 0808 800 0303

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