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Alcaraz twice fell a break down in the first set against De Minaur before recovering and making the decisive break in the 12th game.
The 21-year-old was more dominant with his serve in the second set and made the only break in the sixth game.
"I started quite badly with the serve, I was struggling a little bit mentally with it," said Alcaraz.
"It was just the first few games with my serve, then I think I improved a lot. I calmed myself down and started to think positively again. Alex started strong, playing aggressively, and the first set was really tight.
"I'm really glad I managed to win the first set and in the second I played some great tennis, so really happy."
Four-time runner-up Tsitipas looked uncomfortable from the off against Fils and left for an off-court assessment at the end of the second game.
He returned but could only manage five more points and retired while 0-2 30-40 down.
World number 13 Rune broke defending champion and second seed Ruud twice in each set to secure a 6-4 6-2 win.
Sixth seed Rune will play Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals after the Russian beat Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4 7-5.
Zverev heckled again over domestic abuse allegations
Alexander Zverev asked for a spectator who heckled him over domestic abuse allegations to be kicked out of his Munich Open quarter-final.
The German number one seed was serving at 5-5 in the second set against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor when the fan shouted: "Let's go, you wifebeater."
Zverev spoke to chair umpire Fergus Murphy and could be heard saying "Fergus, please kick him out".
It is not clear if the spectator was ejected from the stadium.
In January, Zverev was heckled by a spectator during the Australian Open men's singles trophy ceremony.
As he stepped up to receive his runners-up trophy, a spectator loudly shouted: "Australia believes Olya and Brenda."
The 27-year-old was accused of violence by his former girlfriend Olya Sharypova in 2020 and of domestic abuse in 2023 by Brenda Patea, with whom he has a child.
Zverev has repeatedly denied both sets of allegations and a Berlin court case brought by Patea was discontinued last year.
Zverev won the match on Friday against Griekspoor 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-4. He will face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in the semi-final on Saturday.
A Landmark for Table Tennis: Olympic Recognition and a Boost for Womens Sport Development
The ITTF leadership celebrated the sports elevation to six medal events at the Olympic Games during a press conference in Macao, China.
On 9 April 2025, the IOC Executive Board decided to introduce a groundbreaking Mixed Team event for table tennis at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The moment was cast as both a validation of long-term vision and a catalyst for future growth, particularly in terms of women sport development.
ITTF President and IOC Member Petra Sörling, , commented, The table tennis family is very proud to have six medal events. This decision reflects the strength of our sport and its universal appeal. It aligns perfectly with ITTFs vision for an inclusive, innovative future. One where men and women compete together, as equals, in a truly team-driven format. We believe the Mixed Team event will be a powerful catalyst for the development of womens table tennis globally, giving member associations fresh opportunities to invest and innovate.
The announcement marked a defining moment in ITTFs Olympic journey, which began with four medal events at Seoul 1988. With this sixth addition, table tennis is now poised to further its appeal and relevance within the Olympic Movement.
Also speaking in Macao, China was ITTF Deputy President Liu Guoliang, who oversaw the landmark Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu an event widely viewed as a proof of concept.
When we announced the inaugural Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu in August 2023, I believed it would be a meaningful step for our sport, said Liu. But I never imagined that less than two years later, this event would be part of the Olympic programme. It should be said that this is a victory for the world table tennis industry. I want to thank Petra Sörling for all her efforts and contributions in communication with the IOC and beyond.
ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton praised the achievement and pointed to the broader aspects that has helped the sport stand out. In the last few months our President Petra Sörling and our Secretary General Raul Calin were very focused on obtaining this extra medal and I think table tennis owes both of them a lot, said Dainton. In addition to the innovative Mixed Team format, what I think has helped us is that table tennis is having an incredibly large number of young fans, and especially female fans. This is a unique situation, and I think this has impressed quite many in the Olympic Movement.
With Chengdu preparing to host the third edition of the Mixed Team World Cup from 30 November to 7 December 2025, and the countdown to Los Angeles 2028 officially under way, table tennis finds itself entering a new Olympic chapter built on growth, innovation and inclusivity.
Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender.
Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Sian Jones, Lleucu George, Catherine Richards.
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Siobhán McCarthy, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan, Edel McMahon (capt), Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney, Sadhbh McGrath, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
'Awesome' squad competition driving England's title bid
Mitchell opted to only make three changes from his side's hammering of Wales in Cardiff to the comfortable win in Ireland last Saturday, with a large majority of his frontline stars, who were involved in last year's Grand Slam win over France in Bordeaux and WXV1 title triumph, starting.
Nine changes for the game against Scotland offers a perfect opportunity for some big names to play their way into a potential title showdown.
Holly Aitchison - Mitchell's preferred fly-half option last year - starts her first game at 10 this Six Nations and will want to show off the running game that originally gave her the edge on in-form Zoe Harrison.
Aitchison's half-back partner Lucy Packer continues to look lively off the bench and is rewarded with a start as she looks to add to her four try assists - the joint-highest in the tournament - to prove worthy of a spot over Natasha Hunt.
Former England captain Marlie Packer returns at open-side flanker to start her first game since the opening-round win over Italy.
The 35-year-old has lifted the Six Nations trophy over the past two years but was replaced by Zoe Aldcroft in January as skipper.
Packer's involvement for Saracens in the Premiership Women's Rugby final, which was played a week before the opening Six Nations game, was factored into her management. But back-to-back strong performances from Loughborough Lightning's Sadia Kabeya has put pressure on the 2014 World Cup winner.
Maddie Feaunati's switch to number eight has been a huge success this campaign and with World Cup winner Alex Matthews now back up to speed, even a back row bench spot is hugely competitive.
"There are going to be some really difficult decisions to be made, but it is in their hands to play their hearts out," former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.
"You want some older senior players in your squad, whether England have younger senior heads that can do that, I am not too sure."
Powerful Gloucester-Hartpury centre Jade Shekells was a surprise inclusion for her first Red Roses start on Saturday.
Having only re-joined XVs from sevens at the start of the season, her punch in the carry caught the interest of Mitchell who then capped the 28-year-old against Italy, to add another player to a list of talented centres.
One of those centre options is 117-cap Emily Scarratt, and like Packer she returns to the matchday squad for her first appearance since the opening round.
"We are completely blessed at the minute to have so much strength and depth with so many good youngsters," 2014 World Cup-winner Scarratt told BBC Sport.
"Competition within the team is awesome and really making everyone step up and push on."
The fact a Grand Slam-decider could occur without a fit Packer or Scarratt shows Mitchell's mission to grow "two teams" is reaching its required destination.
Wade previously scored 82 tries in seven seasons with Wasps before joining the Buffalo Bills as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway in 2019.
He scored a 65-yard touchdown on his debut for the Bills during pre-season, but never made a regular-season appearance.
He returned to rugby union in 2022 with a move to Racing, before linking up with Gloucester last summer.
Wigan legend Martin Offiah, who himself left rugby union to join Widnes in 1987, said Wade's signing was big for the sport.
"Wigan's signing of Christian Wade is the biggest coup for the sport of rugby league since Jonathan Davies joined me at Widnes back in the 80s," he said.
Wigan head coach Matty Peet told the club website: "As well as working hard to learn a new sport, we are expecting Christian to bring his own personality to the team in terms of his athleticism, skill and experience."
Newcastle: Obatoyinbo, Hearle, Doherty, Clark, Stevenson, Connon, Stuart; Brocklebank, Blamire, McCallum, Hawkins, de Chaves, Lockwood, Neild, Chick (c)
Replacements: Fletcher, Rewcastle, Palframan, Baker, Leatherbarrow, Pepper, Arnold, Spencer
Northampton: Ramm; Glister, Odendaal, Hutchinson, Seabrook; Charlie Savala, James; West, Wright, Green; Munga, Lockett, Scott-Young, Pearson, Mapu.
Replacements: Walker, Haffar, Millar Mills, Mayanavanua, Augustus, Mitchell, Smith, Witheat
Referee: Luke Pearce
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. Jake Garcia earned his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole during qualifying for Friday evenings Blacks Tire 200 at Rockingham Speedway.
Garcia turned a best lap of 22.05 seconds at 153.469 mph as the Truck Series returns to the 94-mile track for the first time since 2012. His first series pole came in his 57th series start.
It was a really big deal. I knew qualifying would be important today, said the ThorSport Ford driver. I am really proud of my guys. I just hold the steering wheel. They did a really good job and brought me a really fast truck. It was a really good start to our weekend, and hopefully, we can keep it going.
Chandler Smith, who won last weeks race at Bristol Motor Speedway, qualified second for Front Row Motorsports and Ford.
Garcias teammate, Ben Rhodes, was third, while Connor Mosack starts fourth in a McAnally-Hilgeman Racing Chevrolet.
Smiths Front Row teammate, Layne Riggs, claimed the fifth position.
Bailey Currey, Kaden Honeycutt, Giovanni Ruggiero, reigning series champion Ty Majeski and Tanner Gray completed the top 10.
Point leader Corey Heim will start 15th.
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Formula 1 point leader Lando Norris was at the top of the leader board when Yuki Tsunodas crash brought an end to the session Friday evening at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Norris moved his McLaren to the head of the charts with a lap of 1 minute and 28.267 seconds and he remained there until the end of practice as the majority of the field worked on long runs.
Norris teammate, Oscar Piastri, turned the second-best lap of the second session, while four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull.
Charles Leclerc was fourth quick for Ferrari, while Carlos Sainz was fifth in a Williams.
Tsunoda claimed sixth, but finished the session in the barrier at the final turn after the Red Bull driver clipped the inside wall, breaking his suspension and sending the car into the barrier.
George Russell clocked in seventh for Mercedes, while Alpines Pierre Gasly, who headed the first practice session, was eighth at the end of the day.
Experienced Kahne Leads Xfinity Field Back To The Rock
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will compete at Rockingham Speedway for the first time since 2004 with the running of Saturdays North Carolina Education Lottery 250.
The Rock is not the same track on which driver-turned-television analyst Jamie McMurray won the last four Xfinity Series events held at the Richmond County speedway. Repaved in late 2022 and remeasured at 0.94 miles, the iconic track is unfamiliar territory to all but one driver in Saturdays field, as far as actual racing is concerned.
Only Kasey Kahne has competitive Xfinity Series experience at the track, with his last series appearance coming in the final race there in 2004. On Saturday, Kahne will make his first Xfinity start at any track since 2017 in the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
Kahne, a sprint car driver and team owner, quickly acclimated to the stock car in his return to pavement during an organizational test in January.
It had been six and a half years, said Kahne, who won a Truck Series race at Rockingham in 2012. It was really nice to be back in a car. I didnt know exactly how it would feel and if I would have to refigure out how to drive in a way.
But truthfully, once I got to Turn 3 coming to the start of practice and the car loaded into the corner, I instantly felt right at home and felt like I had been doing it for a while. From there on, it was a solid practice for the next four or five hours.
Despite the lack of competitive reps, other drivers arent coming to Rockingham with empty notebooks. Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones and series leader Justin Allgaier participated in a Goodyear tire test last November.
And the organizational test in January gave a broad range of drivers in both the Xfinity and Truck Series a sense of what they will face on Easter weekend.
In Allgaiers case, theres more on the line than the race trophy. The driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet is competing for a record eighth $100,000 bonus in the final Xfinity Dash 4 Cash race of the season.
To win the bonus, Allgaier will have to finish ahead of three other eligible driversteammates Carson Kvapil and Sammy Smith and Joe Gibbs Racings Brandon Jones.
Its really cool to be heading back to Rockingham with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, said Allgaier, who won two of the first three Dash 4 Cash bonuses this season, at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway.
No one really knows what to expect this weekend, but I feel like the test we had here back in January gave (crew chief) Jim (Pohlman) and all the guys on this team a good playbook to start with.
Weve had a lot of momentum on our side here lately, and hopefully that will carry over and well have another great run on Saturday.
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