News for 'opening matches'

Sorana Cirstea stuns top seed Sabalenka at Italian Open

Sorana Cirstea stuns top seed Sabalenka at Italian Open

Rediff.com10 May 2026

Sorana Cirstea defeated Aryna Sabalenka in their third-round clash at the Italian Open.

Dhyan Santosh Upsets 6th Seed Prempunpong At Badminton Asia Jr Championships

Dhyan Santosh Upsets 6th Seed Prempunpong At Badminton Asia Jr Championships

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Indian badminton players, led by Dhyan Santosh's upset victory, showcased a strong performance in the first round of the Badminton Asia Junior Championships.

'India a very tough team in their own conditions': Hashmatullah Shahidi

'India a very tough team in their own conditions': Hashmatullah Shahidi

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Teams like India do not offer too many chances and Afghanistan must learn to capitalise on the opportunities that come their way, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said.

Axar Patel Breaks Into Top-10 Of ICC ODI Rankings For All-Rounders

Axar Patel Breaks Into Top-10 Of ICC ODI Rankings For All-Rounders

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has surged into the top 10 of the ICC ODI rankings for all-rounders, reaching ninth position following his impressive performance against England.

Paolini ends Eala's fairytale run to reach Wimbledon quarters

Paolini ends Eala's fairytale run to reach Wimbledon quarters

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Jasmine Paolini defeated Alexandra Eala in a three-set thriller at Wimbledon, ending Eala's impressive run to reach the quarterfinals. The match, witnessed by Roger Federer, saw Paolini's experience prevail after Eala had previously upset World No. 3 Iga Swiatek.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Debut Patches Go Viral

FIFA World Cup 2026 Debut Patches Go Viral

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

FIFA's 'Debut FIFA World Cup' sleeve patch for the 2026 tournament is designed to celebrate first-time players and personalise kits.

Zverev Eyes Deeper Run At Wimbledon After Strong Showing

Zverev Eyes Deeper Run At Wimbledon After Strong Showing

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Alexander Zverev, the men's second seed, has reached the last 16 at Wimbledon for the fourth time, showing growing confidence on grass. After winning his maiden Grand Slam at the French Open, he defeated Marcos Giron in straight sets and will face Jiri Lehecka next.

French Open: Nishesh Basavareddy knocks out 7th seed Fritz; Zverev cruises

French Open: Nishesh Basavareddy knocks out 7th seed Fritz; Zverev cruises

Rediff.com25 May 2026

Seventh seed Taylor Fritz was stunned by fellow American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round of the French Open on Sunday.

Austria Coach Rangnick Acknowledges Messi's Brilliance But Questions First Goal

Austria Coach Rangnick Acknowledges Messi's Brilliance But Questions First Goal

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick praised Lionel Messi's exceptional scoring ability after his team's 2-0 loss to Argentina, where Messi netted twice. However, Rangnick expressed frustration over Argentina's first goal, believing a foul on Xaver Schlager was overlooked. Despite the defeat, Rangnick was largely satisfied with his team's performance and their World Cup campaign.

Wildfire Smoke Threat to NYC World Cup Final Recedes with Weekend Rain

Wildfire Smoke Threat to NYC World Cup Final Recedes with Weekend Rain

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Concerns over Canadian wildfire smoke impacting air quality and player health for the World Cup final in New York are easing, with forecasts predicting significant rain and a cold front to clear the haze before Sunday's match, though hot and hazy conditions could still pose risks.

FIFA World Cup: Raul Jimenez Writes His Story in Tears

FIFA World Cup: Raul Jimenez Writes His Story in Tears

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

>Mexican star Raul Jimenez delivered a powerful and emotional performance in the 2026 World Cup opener, scoring a crucial goal against South Africa.

Wimbledon: Zverev fights back to avoid shock exit

Wimbledon: Zverev fights back to avoid shock exit

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

French Open champion Alexander Zverev has an allergy to grass and admits to struggling on Wimbledon's "beautiful" Centre Court but showed enough in a first-round win over hard-hitting Belgian Alexander Blockx on Tuesday to suggest he could embark on his best run yet in southwest London.

Jannik Sinner on brink of Italian Open history before rain halts semi-final

Jannik Sinner on brink of Italian Open history before rain halts semi-final

Rediff.com16 May 2026

Jannik Sinner was two games away from the Italian Open final when heavy rain suspended his semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev, with Sinner leading 6-2, 5-7, 4-2.

2026 FIFA World Cup Smashes All-Time Goals Record

2026 FIFA World Cup Smashes All-Time Goals Record

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the highest-scoring edition in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 172 goals set in Qatar 2022. The record was broken during the United States vs. Turkey match, with Auston Trusty's goal marking the 173rd, and the total quickly rising to 175 goals by the 59th match. This achievement is attributed to FIFA's expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, leading to 104 matches compared to 64 in 2022.

Paraguayan Senator calls Mbappe 'son of a b****' in fiery outburst

Paraguayan Senator calls Mbappe 'son of a b****' in fiery outburst

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla escalated her feud with French footballer Kylian Mbappe, calling him a "son of a b****" during a Senate speech. This follows an incident where Mbappe allegedly refused to shake goalkeeper Orlando Gill's hand after a FIFA World Cup match. Amarilla also claimed Mbappe called her "despicable," while France coach Didier Deschamps stated the controversy hasn't affected Mbappe's focus.

Babar Azam reappointed as Test captain for long-term stability: PCB

Babar Azam reappointed as Test captain for long-term stability: PCB

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Senior PCB selector Aaqib Javed has revealed that Shan Masood's leadership and game management issues led to Babar Azam's reinstatement as Pakistan's Test captain. The PCB plans to give Babar a long-term run, backing him for two to three years to bring stability ahead of challenging tours to the West Indies and England.

Sayali Wani Stuns Manika Batra In Ultimate Table Tennis Thriller

Sayali Wani Stuns Manika Batra In Ultimate Table Tennis Thriller

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Young table tennis player Sayali Wani achieved a dramatic victory over Indian icon Manika Batra in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7, saving three tie points and winning on a golden point to secure UP Prometheans' first win against Ahmedabad APL Pipers.

The Great Collapse: How India's Big T20 Shake-Up Failed

The Great Collapse: How India's Big T20 Shake-Up Failed

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

The Indian team, which looked invincible under Suryakumar Yadav, has suddenly hit rock bottom a few months after winning the T20 World Cup.

Grand Chess Tour: Praggnaandhaa ends rapid section as joint-leader

Grand Chess Tour: Praggnaandhaa ends rapid section as joint-leader

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won three matches in a row on the final day to tie for the first place with Firouzja Alireza of France on 12 points as the rapid section of the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour ended in Zagreb, Croatia on Friday.

Wimbledon: Swiatek overcomes Pliskova; Anisimova battles past Kenin

Wimbledon: Swiatek overcomes Pliskova; Anisimova battles past Kenin

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Defending champion Iga Swiatek eased past former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova to reach the Wimbledon third round, while Amanda Anisimova battled back to defeat Sofia Kenin in a hard-fought all-American contest.

Prithika Pavade's Heroics Lead PBG Pune Jaguars To Thrilling UTT Win

Prithika Pavade's Heroics Lead PBG Pune Jaguars To Thrilling UTT Win

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

French Olympian Prithika Pavade delivered a stellar performance, including a crucial win over two-time UTT MVP Yangzi Liu, to lead PBG Pune Jaguars to a 9-6 victory against UP Prometheans in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7. The match saw several closely contested battles and dramatic finishes.

India U20 face Pakistan in crucial SAFF Championship match

India U20 face Pakistan in crucial SAFF Championship match

Rediff.com26 Mar 2026

India U20 team prepares to face Pakistan in their opening match of the SAFF U20 Championship, aiming for a strong start and a place in the semifinals.

Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Sanju Samson's Exclusion In England T20

Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Sanju Samson's Exclusion In England T20

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the team management's decision to drop T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson for the second T20 against England, calling it "bizarre" despite the debut of teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. India lost the match, trailing 0-1 in the five-match series.

Mukund Sasikumar Reaches Quarterfinals Of SM Krishna Open

Mukund Sasikumar Reaches Quarterfinals Of SM Krishna Open

Rediff.com20 May 2026

Mukund Sasikumar progressed to the quarterfinals of the SM Krishna Memorial Open tennis tournament, overcoming Taiyo Yamanaka. Other Indian players had mixed results in singles and doubles matches.

Women's Euros PIX: Germany, Sweden win opening matches

Women's Euros PIX: Germany, Sweden win opening matches

Rediff.com5 Jul 2025

Images from Friday's Women's Euro 2025 Group C action between Germany-Poland and Denmark-Sweden.

Dreams, tears and Centre Court: Eala scripts Wimbledon classic

Dreams, tears and Centre Court: Eala scripts Wimbledon classic

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

From light-up shoes to Centre Court glory: Filipina sensation Eala fulfils a childhood dream to reach the fourth round at the All England Club.

Coco Gauff ready to rule the French Open again

Coco Gauff ready to rule the French Open again

Rediff.com22 May 2026

Coco Gauff is showing strong form ahead of the French Open, presenting her with a significant opportunity to secure another Grand Slam title.

Gill completes 6,000 T20 runs as GT openers rewrite IPL history

Gill completes 6,000 T20 runs as GT openers rewrite IPL history

Rediff.com22 May 2026

Shubman Gill became the second-fastest Indian to complete 6,000 T20 runs while Sai Sudharsan continued his record-breaking IPL season as Gujarat Titans' prolific opening pair scripted more history against Chennai Super Kings.

Cobolli's dream Wimbledon run gets even better

Cobolli's dream Wimbledon run gets even better

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Italian tennis player Flavio Cobolli defeated Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur in straight sets to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the second consecutive year. Cobolli's victory came after a challenging match, including stoppages due to heat, and sets up a clash with either Arthur Fery or Grigor Dimitrov.

Ronaldo becomes oldest scorer in FIFA World Cup knockouts

Ronaldo becomes oldest scorer in FIFA World Cup knockouts

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, netting a penalty at 41 years and 147 days during Portugal's dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia. This historic goal, his first in a World Cup knockout stage, helped Portugal advance to the Round of 16, with Ronaldo dismissing speculation about his future focus on the tournament.

Thailand Open: Sindhu, Lakshya Advance To Quarter-Finals

Thailand Open: Sindhu, Lakshya Advance To Quarter-Finals

Rediff.com14 May 2026

PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen progressed to the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament with straight-game wins.

2nd unofficial Test: Arachchige puts Sri Lanka A in command against India A on Day 1

2nd unofficial Test: Arachchige puts Sri Lanka A in command against India A on Day 1

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige scored an unbeaten 83, leading his team to 288 for 5 on the opening day of the second unofficial 'Test' against India 'A'. Indian bowlers Yash Thakur and Saransh Jain took two wickets each, but the hosts built strong partnerships on a slow Galle pitch.

Iyer Reflects On India's T20I Defeat, Calls It A Learning Curve

Iyer Reflects On India's T20I Defeat, Calls It A Learning Curve

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

India's new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer reflected on the team's disastrous series losses to Ireland and England, admitting they failed to adapt to English conditions. Despite the setbacks, Iyer views the experience as a crucial learning opportunity for himself as a leader and for the team, especially concerning future overseas tours and World Cup preparations. He highlighted the need for better adaptation, improved fielding, and strategic team combinations.

'We lived up to the hype': Solbakken proud of Norway's World Cup

'We lived up to the hype': Solbakken proud of Norway's World Cup

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

An emotional Stale Solbakken praised Norway's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England ended their dream run in the quarter-finals.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina fight back to beat England 2-1, face Spain in final

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina fight back to beat England 2-1, face Spain in final

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

England manager Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to his starting XI for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, bringing Reece James and Djed Spence into the defence, while Argentina's Lionel Scaloni makes one switch, with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul.

Jude Bellingham's brace takes England past Norway to World Cup semis

Jude Bellingham's brace takes England past Norway to World Cup semis

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Jude Bellingham scored twice as England fought back to defeat Norway 2-1 in the third World Cup quarter-final at Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday.

'Back Our Own Strengths': Shafali's Simple Plan To Beat Australia

'Back Our Own Strengths': Shafali's Simple Plan To Beat Australia

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Shafali Verma believes that keeping the game plan simple is the best way for India to get the better of Australia in their must-win Women's T20 World Cup clash at Lord's on Sunday.

1st ODI: Axar, Gill shine as India crush England in Birmingham

1st ODI: Axar, Gill shine as India crush England in Birmingham

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

India comfortably chased down 259 to beat England by six wickets in the first ODI, with Shubman Gill scoring 80 before Axar Patel and Washington Sundar guided the visitors home with unbeaten fifties.

Ounahi's Double Propels Morocco Into World Cup Last Eight

Ounahi's Double Propels Morocco Into World Cup Last Eight

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 in the World Cup last 16, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring two goals, to advance to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive time. The victory ended Canada's tournament run.

Bethell spoils Sooryavanshi's big day as England edge out India

Bethell spoils Sooryavanshi's big day as England edge out India

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Jacob Bethell guided England to an impressive four-wicket victory in the second T20 against England on Saturday as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his eagerly-awaited India debut at Old Trafford.