Novak Djokovic won a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title on Sunday after beating local hero Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in Turin.

World number one Djokovic moves clear of retired great Roger Federer in victories at the season-ending tournament after denying Italian Sinner a triumph on home soil.

Djokovic came into the Finals at the end of a year which has brought three Grand Slams, taking his total to an all-time best of 24, and a 40th Masters 1000 title.

And he has crowned an incredible season — in which he also reached the Wimbledon final — with yet another record, comfortably seeing off two of the game’s best young players in the process.

Sinner was bidding to become the first ever Italian to claim a Finals crown and looked like the right man to do it after his impressive group stage win over Djokovic.

But the 22-year-old, like Carlos Alcaraz in Saturday’s semi-final, simply could not handle Djokovic, a man on a mission who hit his best form at exactly the right time in the tournament.

It is a testament however to how far Sinner has come in the past year that he had Djokovic’s tournament fate in his hands at the end of the group stage, when defeat by Holger Rune would have sent the Serb home early.

Sinner saved Djokovic’s skin and in the end paid for it in the final, but the quality of his performances at the Pala Alpitour has been a cause for much optimism in Italy and suggests that he should be a Grand Slam contender next season.

– Djokovic in control –

Djokovic took control early in the match, breaking Sinner at the first opportunity in game four and then comfortably serving out the opening set.

Such was his dominance that Djokovic silenced a partisan crowd which has been rambunctious for all of Sinner’s matches, and he immediately broke serve again at the start of the second set.

He reeled off 14 straight points from the start of the final game of the first set into the third game of the second, which was eventually won by Sinner to just hold his serve.

Sinner looked like he was going to be walked over but he showed huge heart and brought the crowd to its feet when he held his serve in game seven, a 15-minute mini-epic in which Djokovic had two break points, to stay at 4-3.

However in the end he couldn’t stay with Djokovic and in the end surrendered the match in disappointing fashion with a double fault.

Earlier, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury retained their ATP Finals doubles title on Sunday as they cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

The US Open champions kept hold of their crown with a near-perfect campaign in Turin, going unbeaten in their five matches.

American Ram and Briton Salisbury took their winning streak at the season-ending tournament to 10 matches after also sweeping to last year’s title undefeated.

Granollers and Zeballos missed out on the year-end top spot in the world rankings following the straight-sets defeat, with their eliminated Green Group opponents Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek remaining in first

Zimbabwe head coach, Baltemar Brito has said his side deserved more from Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying tie against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The Warriors were held to a 1-1 draw by their more illustrious opponent at the Huye Stadium, Butare.

The Southern Africans took the lead on 26 minutes through Walter Musona.

Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, however, salvaged a point for Nigeria in the second half.

The Warriors and Super Eagles are yet to record a win in the qualifier having drawn their opening two games.

Brito believes they should have secured maximum points from the game.

“We started the game to win, we expected to win this game, unfortunately we drew,” Brito said in his post-match press conference.

“We had the ambition of winning this game, the players fought hard and this good performance is about them. They deserve all the credit for this good performance.

“We had the chance and in football it is about the team that creates chances and scores. We scored a beautiful goal, Nigeria maybe had one, two chances also they didn’t create many chances in our box.”

Zimbabwe’s next game in the qualifiers is against Benin Republic in June 2024.

Former Nigerian international Joseph Dosu has told Nigerians to hold Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro responsible if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Dosu stated this as Nigeria drew 1-1 against Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier at the Huye Stadium, Butare, on Sunday.

Goals from Walter Musona and Kelechi Iheanacho ensured both Nigeria and Zimbabwe shared a point each.

Nigeria now has two points from two games after the Zimbabwe encounter.

“I really don’t know what to say again because, from the beginning, Nigerians came out to say a lot of things with the way the Super Eagles have been playing and Jose Peseiro said we are putting pressure on the team and that we should not put pressure so that the team will play very well,” Dosu told Complete Sports.

“So we have decided not to put pressure and we are still seeing the same thing. So whatever the federation [NFF] and the coaches want to do with our national teams, they should keep on doing it. If we qualify [for 2026 World Cup], fine, and if we don’t qualify, there is nothing anybody can do. We can’t hold anybody responsible except the head and the coach, Peseiro.”

Argentines voted Sunday in a nail-biter election pitting Economy Minister Sergio Massa against outsider Javier Milei, polar opposite candidates that have divided the country as it reels from triple-digit inflation.

Voters were gripped by fear, uncertainty and resignation as they cast their ballots, with few confident either candidate could put an end to decades of economic decline.

Massa, 51, is a charismatic and seasoned politician seeking to convince Argentines to trust him despite his performance as economy minister which has seen annual inflation hit 143 percent.

His rival Milei is an anti-establishment outsider, who has vowed to halt Argentina’s unbridled spending, ditch the peso for the US dollar, and “dynamite” the central bank.

Argentines are “on the edge of a nervous breakdown,” said political analyst Ana Iparraguirre of GBAO Strategies, describing tensions over what comes next.

[NaijaTimes]

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has insisted that some Nigeria supporters are interested in betting not the team.

According to Musa, most Nigeria fans don’t support the Super Eagles because they are bettors.

The former Leicester City star spoke in Lagos on Friday during a ceremony to unveil the team’s ‘Let’s Do It Again’ mantra in their bid to win a fourth AFCON title in Ivory Coast next year. 

“I love this country and I know whenever we lose, I have a family back home, I know the pressure they face when we lose. When we are on the pitch, they say ‘na him mother be this, go insult me (this is his mother, insult her). So, I know I must put in everything I have so that people don’t insult my family,” Musa said. 

“Nowadays, with the players we have in the team, none of them stay in Nigeria. They don’t know the anger that most of us, who have families in Nigeria, face when the team loses.

“He [Amaju Pinnick] did his best so that we qualified for the World Cup. We lost a lot of money and that is why most of our players right now are facing challenges because we failed to qualify for the [2022] World Cup. So, we as players lost so much money.”

The 31-year-old added, “No matter where you are playing you always go down into your corner to think when you lose money. Nowadays I understand what football is and the anger of the fans. Most of us don’t support Super Eagles because we like them, they will say, ‘hey dem don cut my ticket, give me my money’ (hey they’ve spoiled my ticket, refund my money). You will see on most of our DMs ‘you cut my ticket, you no sabi play’ (you spoiled my ticket, you don’t know how to play), its because they are bettors. Before, you will see the love and passion for the team but nowadays, betting has spoiled everything.”

Scotland will not face the firepower of Erling Haaland in Sunday’s Euro 2024 qualifier after the Manchester City striker was ruled out with a foot injury.

Haaland was hurt in Norway’s 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands on Thursday.

The match at Hampden is a dead rubber with Scotland already assured of their place in Germany next year, while Norway face an anxious wait to see if they will drop into the playoffs via their Nations League ranking.

Haaland said he is focused on being back fit as soon as possible with City facing Liverpool in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash on Saturday.

“Unfortunately, I am missing tomorrow’s game against Scotland. Wishing the boys all the best. Now treatment and trying to get back asap,” Haaland, who has 17 goals in 18 games for City this season, posted on social media.

The Norwegian Football Federation said the injury is “not serious” but that the game in Glasgow comes too early for the 23-year-old.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke said he had mixed feelings about not coming up against one of the world’s most feared strikers.

The outcome of the game will help determine whether Scotland are second or third seeds for the Euro 2024 draw on December 2.

But Clarke said it was a shame for the Hampden crowd to miss out on seeing Haaland live.

“For the crowd, it would have been great to see a player of Haaland’s standard,” he said.

“If it was a game that really meant something I’d probably be sitting here saying, ‘yeah, delighted he’s not playing’. But for the game tomorrow, it would be better I think if he played.”

Jannik Sinner reached the final of the ATP Finals on Saturday, beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1 in front of passionate home support in Turin.

World number four Sinner is the first Italian to make the final of the season-ending tournament. He will face either Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.

The 22-year-old now the chance to win the biggest title of his career at the end of his best season, in which he has won four tour-level titles.

Two of those wins, in Vienna and Beijing were earned by beating Medvedev in the final. The Russian is ranked third in the world.

“It’s very difficult to play against him, but I found a way to win. I’m really happy with my performance, let’s see how things go tomorrow,” said Sinner.

“It’s an incredible feeling… It’s a privilege to play under this kind of pressure… The crowd has given me so much energy and for me it’s a pleasure to play in front of home fans.”

Sinner took early control in game four of the first set when he broke Medvedev’s serve and then fought back from 0-30 down in the next game to take a 4-1 lead.

Huge applause rang around the arena when Sinner served out the set, but Medvedev did not immediately wilt in front of the vociferous support for the home favourite.

The pair went at it toe-to-toe in the second set, holding their respective serves and slugging it out in long baseline rallies.

Medvedev eventually struck back in the tie-break, his powerful service game too much for Sinner who started to show signs of being ground down, even if it was the Russian who called for treatment straight after drawing level.

But an inexplicably bad second game in the third set from Medvedev, ending with a double fault, handed a break of serve to Sinner.

Medvedev became increasingly irritated with his own errors and the partisan crowd, following up one lost point by gesturing towards a spectator after smashing his racket into the floor.

The game was up for Medvedev once he was broken again in game six.

Sinner needed nearly the best part of 10 minutes and three break points to get the double break and close in on victory, which he sealed with a perfect service game to love.

Saturday’s other semi-final promises to be a blockbuster clash as Djokovic continues his bid for a record-breaking seventh finals title.

The world number one has a burgeoning rivalry with Alcaraz. as the Spaniard is already a two-time Grand Slam champion at the age of 20 and beat the Serbian in an epic five-set Wimbledon final.

Title holders Kano Pillars earned their first win of the second phase of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 in Lagos.

Kano Pillars dispatched Benue Buffaloes 33-24 to stay fifth in the men’s standing.

Lagos Tojemarine Academy continued in their good form as they defeated Correction Boys 29-22.

Lagos Seasider Boys struggled to defeat Confluence Stars 24-22 while Safety Shooters eased past Police Machine 29-19.

League leaders, Niger United outscored bottom-placed  Bendel Dynamos 36-17 as De Defenders secured a vital 25-22 victory over Sokoto Rima Strikers.

In the women’s category, defending champions, Safety Babes maintained their winning streak this season with a 36-24 victory over Lagos Seasider Babes.

Plateau Peacocks edged past Defender Babes 21-20 to move to fourth on the table.

Bendel Dynamos defeated Bayelsa Queens 30-24 while Sokoto Rima Queens recorded their highest win after they defeated Benue Queens 42-28.

Delta Queens stunned Imo Grasshoppers 29-26.

Correction Boys 22-29 Tojemarine Academy
Lagos Seasiders 24-22 Confluence Stars
Police Machine 19-29 Safety Shooters
Benue Buffaloes 24-33 Kano Pillars
Bendel Dynamos 17-36 Niger United
De Defenders 25-22 Rima Strikers

Women’s Results 
Delta Queens 29-26 Imo Grasshoppers
Seasider Babes 24-36 Safety Babes
Defender Babes 20-21Plateau Peacocks
Bayelsa Queens 24-30 Bendel Dynamos
Rima Queens 42-28 Benue Queens

Victor Wembanyama put on a show,z but his San Antonio Spurs slumped to a seventh straight defeat on Friday as group play continued in the NBA’s new in-season tournament.

De’Aaron Fox matched his career high with 43 points, adding eight rebounds and seven assists for the Sacramento Kings, who beat the Spurs 129-120.

After scoring just eight points in a 36-point loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Wembanyama scored 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

The 19-year-old French phenomenon, who was taken number one in the NBA draft, impressed with an array of shots — including a gravity-defying alley-oop dunk.

Zach Collins scored 28 for the Spurs, who roared to an 18-point lead in the first quarter but couldn’t keep pace in a fourth quarter that saw Fox deliver 14 points as Wembanyama was held to six.

“All of us, we know we’re on a good path,” Wembanyama said as he reflected on yet another defeat.

“Of course it’s hard to be patient sometimes, but it’s an everyday fight. I know that the end of the season will not look like the beginning of the season.”

Now 3-9 for the season, the Spurs fell to 0-3 in group play in the league’s new cup-style tournament — out of the running for the knockout rounds.

The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, were closing in on a quarter-final berth after a 107-95 victory over the Trail Blazers in Portland.

LeBron James, who turns 39 next month, matched his season-high with 35 points and the Lakers led by as many as 17 in the final quarter.

Anthony Davis added 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 3-0 in the tournament.

They can clinch their group with a win on Tuesday over Utah, who fell 131-128 to the Phoenix Suns.

Kevin Durant scored 38 points — including a dagger three-pointer with 18.8 seconds left — to propel the Suns to victory in Salt Lake City.

James Harden was the hero for the Los Angeles Clippers, who snapped a six-game losing streak with a 106-100 victory over the Houston Rockets — their first win in the five games since Harden arrived in a trade from Philadelphia.

With six seconds remaining and the score tied at 100-100, Harden dribbled against Jae’Sean Tate, making his trademark step back to drain a three-pointer, drawing a foul and converting the free throw.

“It’s a sigh of relief,” admitted Harden.

“It’s been some tough times these last few games. But we’ve got a bigger picture, got to be the last team standing so it’s going to be a process.”

Elsewhere, Zion Williamson scored 26 points and the New Orleans Pelicans withstood a Nikola Jokic triple-double of 26 points, 16 rebounds and 18 assists in a 115-110 victory over the NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

New Orleans never trailed, leading by as many as 20 in the third quarter and holding off a Denver charge that saw the Nuggets pull within one in the final period.

In Toronto, Boston guard Derrick White drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 27.5 seconds left as the Celtics held off the hard-charging Raptors 108-105.

Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, Jayson Tatum added 17 and Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who are 2-0 in tournament play and maintained their one-game lead atop the Eastern Conference over Philadelphia — who beat the Atlanta Hawks 126-116.

– Bridges returns –

In Charlotte, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard scored 27 points to lead seven Bucks players in double figures in a 130-99 victory over the Hornets.

Malik Beasley added 20 points and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game injury absence to score 16 points with eight rebounds and nine assists in Milwaukee’s third straight victory.

The Bucks connected on 22 of 45 three-pointers to withstand a 37-point night from Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball.

Miles Bridges came off the bench for Charlotte and scored 17 points in his first NBA game since April 2022.

Bridges missed all of last season and was suspended 10 games to start this season after pleading no contest in a felony domestic violence incident last year.

John Mikel Obi, the former Super Eagles captain, has revealed that he left Chelsea based on advice from former team-mate Didier Drogba.

Mikel Obi fell out with the newly-appointed manager at the time, Antonio Conte, after he chose to represent Nigeria at the Olympics.

After he returned to Stamford Bridge, the Nigerian was frozen out by Conte.

However, when Chelsea went into a bad patch, the Italian coach tried to make up with Mikel Obi and restore him to the team.

“Conte called me to his office and asked me to play again. I said, ‘No, thank you very much. I have already made up my mind I wanted to go anyway’,” Mikel Obi said on the Vibe with Five podcast.

“I spoke to Didier Drogba. He said, ‘Once it starts happening like this, find your way. Just go. Try something new'”.

Mikel Obi left Chelsea for Chinese club Tianjin TEDA.