INDIAN WELLS: World number one Carlos Alcaraz charged past Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to set up an Indian Wells semi-final with Daniil Medvedev after the Russian ended Jack Draper’s title defence with a 6-1, 7-5 win following a controversial umpiring call.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka also reached the last four in the women’s draw with a 7-6(0), 6-4 victory over 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko but Iga Swiatek was unable to find her way past Elina Svitolina and fell 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Australian Open champion Alcaraz improved his record to 16-0 to start the year with a solid display against a tricky opponent in the final contest of the evening to remain on course for a third Indian Wells crown.

The Spaniard eased through the opening set and though he was briefly in trouble at 0-2 down in the second he quickly regained the momentum to see off Briton Norrie and set up a meeting with twice runner-up Medvedev.

“It was really difficult, I struggled with Cameron’s style,” Alcaraz said. “His forehand has super top-spin and his backhands are flat so it’s tricky to play against him and find the correct shots. I played solid and aggressive when I could and I’m happy to be at this level.”

Russian 11th seed Medvedev was also in impressive form against Briton Draper, who had little time to recover after his stunning three-set win over Novak Djokovic on Wednesday.

Draper raised his level in the second set and stayed with his opponent up to 5-5 but Medvedev secured a late break after a controversial hindrance call from chair umpire Aurelie Tourte.

Medvedev was awarded a point to go 30-0 up following a late video review request after the Russian said he was distracted by Draper’s raised arm during the rally when the Briton thought the ball went out.

Draper insisted he had not caused a major distraction but the umpire stuck with her decision to award Medvedev the point, prompting jeers from the crowd when the call was made.

“If you look at the first forehand I did after it happened, I think I could have done a better shot if there was no gesture from Jack,” Medvedev told reporters.

“Was I distracted big time? No. Do I feel good about it? Not really. But I also don’t feel like I cheated or something. I got a bit distracted. I let it go and I let the umpire decide.”

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev beat Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-3 to make the semi-finals for the first time and become only the fifth man to complete the set of last-four appearances at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.

The German faces a big challenge in the next round, however, as he takes on world number two Jannik Sinner after the Italian made light work of American Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2.

SVITOLINA UPSETS SWIATEK

World number two Swiatek struggled early against Svitolina, with the Ukrainian capitalising on five double faults to secure three breaks and take the opening set in 38 minutes.

She found her rhythm in the second to force a decider, but Svitolina regained the upper hand by securing the only break in a tight third set before confidently closing out the match to return to the semis for the first time in seven years.

Belarusian Sabalenka had a battle on her hands against Mboko and the top seed was taken to a first-set tiebreak which she won to love — a career first.

The second set followed a similar script with Mboko clawing her back to 5-4 and threatening another tiebreak but four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka held firm.

“She’s a future Grand Slam champion,” Sabalenka said. “It’s incredible to see how brave these young girls are these days.”

Sabalenka next plays Linda Noskova, who ended Australian qualifier Talia Gibson’s fairytale run 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, the Czech reaching her second WTA 1000 semi-final.

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina advanced with a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Jessica Pegula to reach another Indian Wells semi-final where she will play Svitolina.

Victory ensured Rybakina will leapfrog Swiatek and reach a career-high world number two when the WTA rankings are updated on Monday.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2026

LONDON: Nottingham Forest suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Midtjylland in the Europa League last-16 first leg, while Ollie Watkins ended his goal drought as the Aston Villa striker sealed a 1-0 win at Lille on Thursday.

Vitor Pereira’s side were rocked by Cho Gue-sung’s late strike at the City Ground as Forest succumbed to the Danish underdogs for the second time this season.

Beaten 3-2 at home by Midtjylland in the group stage in October when Ange Postecoglou was the second of Forest’s four managers this term, the Premier League strugglers must sec­ure the first away win against the Da­nes this season in the second leg on March 19 to have a chance of advancing. Midtjylland have won 12 of their last 14 matches in European competitions.

Forest, above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference, went close when Omari Hutchinson’s 30-yard rocket was tipped over by Elias Rafn Olafsson.

Elliot Anderson’s curler forced another fine save from Olafsson before Midtjylland’s Philip Billing headed off the line to stop Pedro Bravo scoring an own goal.

In torrential rain, Forest lost their footing in the 80th minute, triggering jeers from their frustrated fans.

Ousmane Diao’s cross reached Cho and the South Korea striker planted a composed header past Matz Sels from close range.

“It is difficult to explain. We created so many chances to score. Even if we were to draw, it would not have been fair,” Pereira said.

“They had two chances, and they scored. But we had enough time and the game was there. Even the rain played against us!”

At the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Watkins netted for the first time in eight games in all competitions to put Villa on track for a place in the quarter-finals.

The England international’s second-half goal was only his ninth in a disappointing personal campaign, with just two in his last 13 matches.

He made the breakthrough in the 61st minute, meeting Emiliano Buendia’s flick on with a looping header over Lille keeper Berke Ozer.

Thanks to Watkins, Unai Emery’s side, who beat Lille in the 2024 UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, will head into the second leg at Villa Park as favourites to advance.

Villa have won eight of their nine Europa games this season as they step up their bid to end a 30-year trophy drought.

‘A Serious match’

Emery’s men had stumbled in recent weeks, suffering a chastening defeat at bottom of the table Wolves and a 4-1 thrashing by Chelsea.

But beating Lille was a major boost before a crucial clash at Manchester United on Sunday in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

It was also a landmark 100th victory for Emery as Villa boss.

“Ollie is working and being consistent with his task,” Emery said. “The most important thing is how we played a serious match.

“We know how difficult it is with the atmosphere they have here.”

Brazil striker Endrick salvaged a 1-1 draw for Lyon at 10-man Celta Vigo. Celta’s Javier Rueda swept in Williot Swedberg’s cross in the 25th minute.

But the Spanish side had Borja Iglesias sent off for a second booking in the 54th minute. And Lyon esca­ped thanks to on-loan Real Madrid teenager Endrick, whose shot from the edge of the area in the 87th minute was fumbled over the line by Celta keeper Ionut Radu.

Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini rescued a 1-1 draw in the all-Italian showdown at Bologna.

Fifth-placed Roma, 12 points above eighth-placed Bologna in Serie A, fell behind when Federico Bernardeschi struck in the 50th minute with a clinical finish from Jonathan Rowe’s assist.

Pellegrini came off the bench to haul Roma level in the 71st minute, tapping in from Donyell Malen’s pass.

Portuguese league leaders Porto won 2-1 at Stuttgart and Genk beat Freiburg 1-0 in Belgium.

Ferencvaros defeated Sporting Braga 2-0 in Budapest, while Panathinaikos earned a shock 1-0 home win against Real Betis.

Palace held in conference league

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace labou­red to a 0-0 draw at home to AEK Larnaca in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League last-16 tie on Thursday.

Palace created a glut of chances on a wet and windy night at Selhurst Park but failed to score against their Cypriot opponents for the second time this season, having lost 1-0 to Larnaca in the league phase.

French forward Jean-Philippe Ma­t­eta came on as a late substitute for his first Palace appearance since January 25 after a move to AC Milan collapsed due to concerns over a knee injury.

Oliver Glasner’s side will go to Cyprus next week seeking to keep alive their first full venture into European football.

Should they get through they could meet two-time runners-up Fiorentina in the quarter-finals. The Italians edged past Rakow Czestochowa of Poland 2-1 in Florence thanks to a stoppage-time penalty.

Strasbourg, who finished top in the league phase, maintained their unbeaten record in Europe this season with a 2-1 win away to Croatian side Rijeka.

Former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott scored both goals for AZ Alkmaar in a 2-1 victory over Sparta Prague, while Spain’s Rayo Vallecano won 3-1 away to Turkish team Samsunspor.

AEK Athens are on course for the quarter-finals after a 4-0 win at Slovenians Celje, while Shakhtar Donetsk won 3-1 at Lech Poznan. Bundesliga club Mainz drew 0-0 at Czech side Signa Olomouc.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2026

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 128 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the rain-affected second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Maaz Sadaqat was the stand-out performer of the game, blasting a rapid 75 for Pakistan before picking up three wickets.

Chasing a revised target of 243 in 32 overs after a two-hour rain and hailstorm delay, Bangladesh collapsed for 114 in 23.3 overs despite a brief counterattack from Litton Das.

Bangladesh had already been in trouble before the weather halted play.

Tanzid Hasan fell early for one, caught at backward square leg off Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Saif Hassan departed for 12 after offering a catch to short mid-off off Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was bowled by Shaheen for a duck, leaving the hosts reeling at 27 for 3 in 6.3 overs when a sudden thunderstorm accompanied by hail forced the players off the field.

When play resumed, Litton attempted to revive the chase with a series of boundaries, including two sixes. He was eventually trapped lbw for 41 by part-time spinner Maaz Sadaqat.

Tawhid Hridoy made 28 off 38 balls before falling lbw to Haris Rauf, while Afif Hossain added 14 before becoming Sadaqat’s second victim.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz managed just one run as Bangladesh’s innings folded quickly.

Rauf and Sadaqat claimed three wickets each to complete a dominant bowling performance for Pakistan.

Earlier, Bangladesh had fought back with the ball to bowl Pakistan out for 274 in 47.3 overs after a blistering start by the visitors.

Pakistan raced to 103 for the opening wicket inside 13 overs through an aggressive partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Sadaqat.

Sadaqat struck 75 off 46 balls with six fours and five sixes, while Farhan scored 31 before falling to Taskin Ahmed.

Salman Agha later top-scored with 64 from 62 balls and shared a 109-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan (44), though Agha’s innings ended in a dramatic run-out by Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the non-striker’s end that sparked animated reactions on the field.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 56 as Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 274, a total that proved more than enough on a rain-shortened night in Mirpur.

With this win, Pakistan have levelled up the three-match series 1-1, with the series decider to be played on Sunday.