News for 'opening matches'

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.

Rested Or Dropped? What Next For Sanju Samson?

Rested Or Dropped? What Next For Sanju Samson?

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

At 31, it would be too early and unwise to phase out a special talent like Sanju Samson, who despite the odd blip appears to be enjoying the best phase of his India career.

Mertens Stuns Rybakina In Wimbledon Third Round

Mertens Stuns Rybakina In Wimbledon Third Round

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Second seed Elena Rybakina was defeated by Elise Mertens in the third round of Wimbledon, ending her bid for a second Grand Slam title this year and the world number one ranking. Mertens dominated after winning the first set tiebreak, securing a 7-6(4) 6-1 victory.

Wimbledon: Swiatek, Rybakina survive scare; Anisimova sends strong warning

Wimbledon: Swiatek, Rybakina survive scare; Anisimova sends strong warning

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Last year's Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova secured a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over qualifier Lina Gjorcheska in her first-round match, showing no signs of her previous final defeat. The American advanced to the second round in just 61 minutes, despite recent wrist injury concerns.

Elina Svitolina fights off Gauff to win third Italian Open title

Elina Svitolina fights off Gauff to win third Italian Open title

Rediff.com17 May 2026

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine defeated Coco Gauff in the Italian Open final, signalling her ambitions for the upcoming French Open.

England's World Cup exit: Tuchel blames 'DNA' not tactics, Messi's magic key

England's World Cup exit: Tuchel blames 'DNA' not tactics, Messi's magic key

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

England's manager Thomas Tuchel has faced heavy criticism following their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, but he attributes the loss to fundamental issues like a lack of 'ball possession DNA' rather than just tactical errors, while acknowledging the unstoppable brilliance of Lionel Messi.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Points Table

FIFA World Cup 2026 Points Table

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Points Table Of FIFA World Cup 2026.

'We'll win medals, but gold?': Mary Kom's CWG prediction

'We'll win medals, but gold?': Mary Kom's CWG prediction

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom believes Indian pugilists will secure a 'reasonably good medal haul' at the Commonwealth Games, though gold might be elusive, while expressing less certainty for the Asian Games. She also criticised the Boxing Federation of India's functioning and selection policies.

Wimbledon: Sinner snaps Struff's fairytale run to reach semifinals

Wimbledon: Sinner snaps Struff's fairytale run to reach semifinals

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Champion Jannik Sinner ended one of the feel-good stories at this year's Wimbledon when he tamed big-serving German warrior Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the semifinals on Tuesday.

Djokovic Pranks Ball Girl; Challenges Rory McIlroy To Jacket Swap

Djokovic Pranks Ball Girl; Challenges Rory McIlroy To Jacket Swap

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Novak Djokovic pranked an unsuspecting ball girl by crying out in pain as she followed his orders to cut off some black tape from his right shoulder with a pair of scissors.

Mbappe, Dembele shine as France cruise past Morocco into World Cup semis

Mbappe, Dembele shine as France cruise past Morocco into World Cup semis

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

France and Morocco were goalless at half-time in their World Cup quarter-final. Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty for France, whose early dominance did not translate into goals. Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a crucial save to deny Mbappe from the spot.

Why Naomi Osaka Wore a Japanese Obi at Wimbledon

Why Naomi Osaka Wore a Japanese Obi at Wimbledon

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of Wimbledon 2026, drawing significant attention for her unique outfit. She wore a traditional white obi, a sash from Japanese kimonos, blending her heritage with Wimbledon's strict all-white dress code. This sartorial choice, reflecting themes of discipline and identity, accompanied her strong performance on court.

Upset Alert! Ben Shelton crashes out of Wimbledon

Upset Alert! Ben Shelton crashes out of Wimbledon

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Qualifier Otto Virtanen caused a significant upset at Wimbledon, defeating fourth seed Ben Shelton in a thrilling five-set match. Virtanen, who came through qualifying, secured his fourth consecutive victory at SW19, while Shelton, a strong contender, made an early exit.

Trump intervention sparks storm as FIFA clears Balogun to face Belgium

Trump intervention sparks storm as FIFA clears Balogun to face Belgium

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

The United States' World Cup campaign took an extraordinary turn on Sunday when FIFA made the unprecedented decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic red-card ban, clearing the striker to face Belgium in Monday's last-16 clash after US President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case.

Deschamps' Golden Era Ends in FIFA World Cup Heartbreak

Deschamps' Golden Era Ends in FIFA World Cup Heartbreak

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Didier Deschamps, who led France to their second world title in 2018 and established them as international football's most consistent major-tournament force, will be remembered for his unprecedented legacy despite recent semi-final defeats.

FIFA sticks with original kickoff time for Mexico-England showdown

FIFA sticks with original kickoff time for Mexico-England showdown

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

FIFA is expected to keep the scheduled kickoff for Mexico's World Cup Round of 16 clash against England at the Estadio Azteca despite weather concerns, as the hosts prepare to defend their formidable home record.

Amad Diallo strikes late as Ivory Coast stun Ecuador

Amad Diallo strikes late as Ivory Coast stun Ecuador

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Manchester United's Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute as Ivory Coast stunned Ecuador 1-0 in their World Cup Group E opener on Sunday.

Sciver-Brunt confident of recovery ahead of T20 World Cup opener

Sciver-Brunt confident of recovery ahead of T20 World Cup opener

Rediff.com29 May 2026

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt says her recovery from a calf injury is progressing well as she targets a return for the Women's T20 World Cup opener against Sri Lanka next month.

World Cup: Spain And Portugal Set For Iberian Derby In Texas

World Cup: Spain And Portugal Set For Iberian Derby In Texas

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Spain and Portugal are set to clash in the World Cup Round of 16 in Texas, a rematch of last year's Nations League final. The match features a generational battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal, with Spain entering unbeaten in 34 matches and Portugal looking to overcome recent struggles.

Sinner, Djokovic Advance To Second Round At Wimbledon

Sinner, Djokovic Advance To Second Round At Wimbledon

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

World number one Jannik Sinner survived an early scare in his Wimbledon title defence but the Italian shook off the rust and fought past Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 on Monday to reach the second round.

Haaland scores twice as Norway shock Brazil to make World Cup quarter-finals

Haaland scores twice as Norway shock Brazil to make World Cup quarter-finals

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Erling Haaland scored two crucial late goals to lead Norway to a stunning 2-1 victory over five-times champions Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16, securing their place in the quarter-finals. Neymar's late penalty was not enough for Brazil, who also missed an earlier spot-kick.

'I let myself get distracted': Mbappe blames VAR confusion for penalty miss

'I let myself get distracted': Mbappe blames VAR confusion for penalty miss

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Kylian Mbappe admitted VAR confusion distracted him before his missed penalty against Morocco but said France's talented squad still has plenty to prove despite reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2-0 victory.

Portugal overcome Croatia in thriller to make World Cup last 16

Portugal overcome Croatia in thriller to make World Cup last 16

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup match, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the winning goal in stoppage time after Cristiano Ronaldo had equalised from a penalty. The victory ends Luka Modric's fifth World Cup bid, and Portugal now advances to face Spain in the round of 16.

Indian Players Dominate ITF W15 Tumakuru Open

Indian Players Dominate ITF W15 Tumakuru Open

Rediff.com6 May 2026

Indian players showcased impressive performances at the ITF W15 Tumakuru Open, with several securing victories in both singles and doubles matches. However, eighth seed Akanksha Dileep Nitture faced an early exit in the women's singles.

Magic Mortal Messi Scripts Argentina's Miracle Rescue

Magic Mortal Messi Scripts Argentina's Miracle Rescue

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Lionel Messi experienced an emotional rollercoaster in Argentina's World Cup last-16 tie against Egypt, missing a penalty but ultimately scoring a vital late equaliser to save his team's World Cup dream after being two goals down.

Monfils warms up for final French Open with star-studded farewell party

Monfils warms up for final French Open with star-studded farewell party

Rediff.com22 May 2026

Gael Monfils brought the party to Roland Garros on Thursday, teaming up with his wife Elina Svitolina to win a lively, star-studded exhibition match as he prepared for his final appearance at his home Grand Slam.

Why Did India Drop 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Why Did India Drop 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

India's decision to drop 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth and final T20I against England, despite the series already being decided, has drawn criticism from former cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Swann, who argue the youngster should have been given more opportunities.

Underdog Cape Verde Confident Of Defying Odds Against Messi's Argentina

Underdog Cape Verde Confident Of Defying Odds Against Messi's Argentina

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Cape Verde, despite being a significant underdog, is confident of challenging Argentina and Lionel Messi in their World Cup knockout match.

Messi, Bellingham and history collide in Argentina-England semi-final

Messi, Bellingham and history collide in Argentina-England semi-final

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Lionel Messi's Argentina take on Jude Bellingham's England in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, reviving one of football's greatest rivalries with a place in the final on the line.

Anvay Dravid strokes 67-ball 87 but India U-19 Lose To Sri Lanka

Anvay Dravid strokes 67-ball 87 but India U-19 Lose To Sri Lanka

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Anvay Dravid, son of legendary Rahul Dravid, displayed his potential with a 67-ball 87, but opener Dimantha Mahavithana made an unbeaten 155 to guide Sri Lanka U-19 to an eight-wicket win over India U-19 in the second Youth ODI.

Serena Williams' Return To Wimbledon Ends In Shock First Round Loss

Serena Williams' Return To Wimbledon Ends In Shock First Round Loss

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Tennis legend Serena Williams' highly anticipated return to competitive action at Wimbledon after a four-year hiatus concluded with a 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 defeat to Australian qualifier Maya Joint in the first round. Despite flashes of brilliance and fighting back from a match point, Williams was unable to overcome the 20-year-old, who secured the most significant victory of her career.

Kostyuk, Noskova break new ground, enter Wimbledon semifinals

Kostyuk, Noskova break new ground, enter Wimbledon semifinals

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Czech teenager Linda Noskova powered into their first Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday, with both players producing dominant straight-set victories in sweltering conditions at the All England Club.

Cape Verde... and Messi magic to Argentina's rescue again

Cape Verde... and Messi magic to Argentina's rescue again

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

The noise at the Miami Stadium belonged to one nation, but the occasion belonged to one man as Lionel Messi scooped up another Man of the Match trophy.

PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen Advance At Thailand Open

PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen Advance At Thailand Open

Rediff.com13 May 2026

PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Kidambi Srikanth secured victories in their respective singles matches at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament, while other Indian players experienced mixed results.

Sir Garfield Sobers leaves behind an unmatched cricket legacy

Sir Garfield Sobers leaves behind an unmatched cricket legacy

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Sobers excelled at many sports, including soccer and basketball, but cricket was his passion. His first memories of the sport were of playing in the road or on the beach, aged eight.

Wimbledon: Djokovic mauls Tsitsipas to storm into Round 3

Wimbledon: Djokovic mauls Tsitsipas to storm into Round 3

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Novak Djokovic turned his Centre Court clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas -- a player he has twice beaten in Grand Slam finals -- into an exhibition.

'Wickets are so easy in IPL': Archer taunts India's batters

'Wickets are so easy in IPL': Archer taunts India's batters

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

England pace spearhead Jofra Archer attributed India's struggles in the T20I series to the return to 'normal' English conditions, contrasting them with the 'easy wickets and smaller boundaries' experienced during the IPL. Archer's 3/29 and Josh Tongue's 4/38 led to India's biggest T20I defeat by runs.

Morocco edge Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup last 16

Morocco edge Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup last 16

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Morocco triumphed over the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to advance in the World Cup after a drama-filled 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash on Monday.

Spying scandal rocks English football as Southampton expelled from world's richest match

Spying scandal rocks English football as Southampton expelled from world's richest match

Rediff.com20 May 2026

Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs after being found guilty of spying on opponents. Middlesbrough have been reinstated and will face Hull City in the final.

Time For India To Unleash Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Time For India To Unleash Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

After yet another failure for Sanju Samson -- his third in a row -- 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his India debut in the second T20I against England on Saturday.