Nick Kyrgios’s nine-match winning streak ended in the Canadian Masters quarter-finals when eighth-seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz blasted his way to a 7-6 6-7 6-1 victory.
Enjoying a superb run of form, Kyrgios suffered his first loss since falling to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
The 27-year-old’s run included a title at the Citi Open, before he ran into Hurkacz, who improved his record to 2-0 against the Australian, following a three-sets win earlier this year in the Halle semi-finals.
“Nick has been playing really unbelievable throughout the past few months,” said Hurkacz. “Battling against him, it’s very challenging, but it’s also fun.
“He can make every single shot. He doesn’t really have that many weaknesses, if any. I was just trying to serve good and stay aggressive.”
Hurkacz will next face Norwegian fourth seed Caper Ruud, who strolled into the last four by sweeping aside sixth-seeded hometown favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 6-2.
Kyrgios shrugged off the end of his winning streak, saying in his usual blunt fashion that he could not care less and was more interested in getting home after the US Open to see his mother and father, who are not well.
“I honestly don’t care,” said the Australian, adding that he would head to Cincinnati as soon as possible, where he will continue his build-up to the US Open. “I’ve been away from home, away from my mum, away from my dad.
“They’re not very well at the moment. So I don’t really care about ‘no winning streak’. I’ve got two more tournaments left before I can go home,” he said, referring to Cincinnati and the US Open.
Meanwhile, flag-waving Canadian fans filled centre court in the hope of watching Auger-Aliassime make it to the weekend.
He got off to a positive start by breaking Ruud at the first opportunity, but it was all disappointment from there as the misfiring Quebec native committed far more unforced errors.
“It was one of those days where everything goes in one (person’s) favour and luckily it was in my favour,” said Ruud. “I am sure Felix has played better than he has today.
“It is a pity because he is playing at home. Maybe that was a factor. You could be nervous, but I am not going to talk for Felix.”
Briton Dan Evans also advanced to the semi-finals, coming back from a set down to hand American Tommy Paul a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to set up a last-four meeting with Pablo Carrena Busta.
The Spaniard won 7-6(4), 6-1 against British qualifier Jack Draper to book his place in the next round.
Football fans travelling with Emirates this summer won’t have to worry about missing any FIFA World Cup 2026 action. Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates, has announced that it will broadcast every match of the tournament live onboard its flights through Sport24, its dedicated live sports channel available on the award-winning ice entertainment system.
Passengers will be able to follow every moment of the world’s biggest football tournament while flying at 40,000 feet. The move ensures customers can stay connected to the action no matter where they are travelling, with live coverage available throughout the competition.
Emirates said the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast schedule is featured its ice magazine, allowing passengers to plan their journeys around key fixtures and follow their favourite teams during the tournament.
The live coverage will be available on most Emirates aircraft equipped with Sport24 and Sport24 Extra, although availability may vary depending on aircraft type and route. Selected FIFA World Cup matches will also be shown in Emirates Lounges across Dubai, giving travellers additional opportunities to catch the action before departure.
Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca was transformed into a global stage on Thursday Night as the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially got underway, marking the beginning of the biggest edition in the tournament’s history.
A vibrant opening ceremony showcased a blend of Mexican culture, music and modern spectacle, with performances from international stars including Shakira and Burna Boy. The ceremony was designed to reflect both the heritage of the host nation and the global nature of the tournament, which for the first time will be staged across three countries — Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Before the first whistle of the competition, the atmosphere inside the historic stadium reached a crescendo as thousands of fans filled the stands, waving flags and lighting up the arena in a sea of colour. The Estadio Azteca, already steeped in football history, has now become the first venue in the world to host matches across three separate FIFA World Cups, having previously staged the 1970 and 1986 finals.
In a further highlight of the ceremony, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed the tournament’s official anthem, adding a classical flourish to an evening otherwise defined by high-energy performances and large-scale choreography.
FIFA officials described the opening event as a “symbolic bridge between continents”, underlining the expanded format of the 2026 tournament. For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 teams — up from 32 — and a total of 104 matches, spread across 16 host cities across North America. The expansion is intended to increase global participation and bring the tournament to a wider range of supporters.
Immediately after the ceremony, hosts Mexico faced South Africa in the tournament’s opening match, kicking off what is expected to be a month-long football spectacle. The match began under heavy security and heightened global attention, with millions watching around the world.
The expanded format has also brought logistical challenges, with teams required to travel across vast distances between venues in multiple countries. Organisers have emphasised investments in transport infrastructure, stadium upgrades and sustainability measures aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of the tournament.
The 2026 edition also arrives at a time when football’s global profile continues to grow rapidly, with record broadcast deals, increased digital streaming access and heightened commercial interest from sponsors. Analysts expect the tournament to break previous viewership records, particularly given its tri-nation hosting model and expanded team lineup.
Estadio Azteca itself remains one of football’s most storied venues. It famously hosted Brazil’s Pelé lifting the trophy in 1970 and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” performances in 1986. Its role in opening the 2026 tournament has been widely seen as a nod to football’s rich history in Mexico, while also signalling a new era for the sport.
As fireworks lit up the Mexico City skyline following the ceremony, attention now turns to the next phase of the tournament’s opening schedule, with matches set to continue across North America in what promises to be the most geographically expansive World Cup ever staged.
For fans, players and organisers alike, the message from Mexico City was clear: the world’s biggest sporting event has begun, and it is set to be bigger, broader and more ambitious than ever before.
Emirati International Arbiter Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi has been appointed to the officiating panel for the 2026 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, one of the biggest events on the global chess calendar.
The championship will take place in Hong Kong from June 16 to 22 and is expected to feature many of the world’s leading grandmasters, including world number one Magnus Carlsen.
Al Mazmi’s selection highlights the growing international recognition of Emirati chess officials. He currently serves as Chairman of the Arab Chess Federation’s Arbiters Committee and Tournament Director of the prestigious Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship.
Speaking about the appointment, Al Mazmi said he was proud to represent the UAE at one of chess’s most prestigious global events. He described the selection as a reflection of FIDE’s confidence in Emirati arbiters and their ability to officiate at the highest international level.
He added that the role carries significant responsibility and offers a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise with some of the world’s top chess officials while showcasing the progress of UAE chess on the global stage.
The appointment marks another milestone for Emirati representation in international sports administration and reinforces the UAE’s growing presence in the world of chess.
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