Sports

Bencic, ranked 23rd in the world, defeated Osaka 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the prestigious WTA premier mandatory event, where Osaka won her first tour title last year.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez might have been rested but instead both played and scored as Barcelona came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, ahead of their crunch Champions League second leg against Lyon.

Enrique Esqueda scored the winning goal for East Bengal in the 75th minute at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here.

The night did not begin well for the hard-hitting Kyrgios, who slipped while hitting a backhand in the match's opening game, opening up a cut on his right hand that required medical attention.

Ramos received a yellow card for a foul on Kasper Dolberg late in his side's 2-1 win at Ajax Amsterdam in their Champions League last-16, first-leg match.

Kyrgios, out of sorts as he dropped the first set, complained to trainers that he was feeling ill.

The world's most expensive player has been sidelined since January 23 with a foot injury he sustained in a French Cup win over Strasbourg and was originally ruled out of action for 10 weeks.

Leonce Dodoz put Aizawl ahead in the 23rd minute with a superb finish from Alfred Jaryan assist and it took East Bengal more than an hour to equalise in front of a 17,000-odd home fans at the Saltlake Stadium.

Victory gave Bencic, 21, her first win over second seed Kvitova, who had breezed past her in straight sets in the third round of the Australian Open last month.

Ahmadi caught the attention of his role model Messi, who promptly sent him two autographed jerseys and also invited him to meet the squad when they were playing a friendly match in Qatar.

Also through are Elina Svitolina and Elise Mertens, providing some comfort for tournament organisers who have somehow ended up with three of the world's top 10 in the last four, despite a high number of prominent withdrawals.

Thibaut Courtois overcame the jeers and Gareth Bale delivered a timely reminder of his talents as Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in a feisty city derby on Saturday.

Real Kashmir and East Bengal were to clash in the match, where a lot is at stake for both the sides to remain in contention for the I-League title. However the ground condition has led to the postponement of the match.

Courtois developed into one of the world's finest goalkeepers during three years on loan at Atletico but he will be up against his former club, and Chelsea team-mate Alvaro Morata, in what could prove a pivotal city derby this weekend.

Cachaza said La Liga has informal relationships with at least six Indian Super League sides.

Al-Khelaifi was elected Wednesday by the European Club Association board to be one of its two delegates on UEFA's main policy-making panel. His position on the executive committee still has to be ratified next week by the UEFA Congress in Rome, a decision...