Tennis

Beijing: World No.1 Elena Rybakina could not regroup and fell to 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in the second round of the China Open on Saturday in Beijing. The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan was playing her first match since seizing the top ranking on her US Open win in New York, but Armenia's Charaeva triumphed 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a clinical comeback.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Sports for All Federation (QSFA), under the Ministry of Sports and Youth, will launch a series of Sports for All activities for women and girls of all ages at Ruqaya Preparatory School for Girls in the Umm Al Seneem area tomorrow,Sunday October 4. The event aligns with the QSFA's community role and its programs dedicated to women and girls. It aims to increase their participation in sports and community activities by providing opportunities for participants across a broad range of ages, encouraging regular exercise and making physical activity an integral part of daily life. Running for three months, the event will be held weekly from Sunday to Wednesday, from 4pm to 7pm. It will offer a diverse program of sports and recreational activities supervised by specialized female trainers and an all-female administrative and technical team from the QSFA. This arrangement will provide a welcoming atmosphere in which participants can exercise safely and privately, with activities tailored to the needs of different age groups. The Sports for All Oasis event features a wide range of activities, including football, volleyball, badminton, and basketball. It also offers fitness classes, walking sessions, bodyweight strength training, and stretching and balance exercises. These options give participants varied ways to stay active through programs tailored to their ages and physical abilities. QSFA Executive Director Abdullah Al Dosari said the launch of the Sports for All Oasis reflects the Ministry of Sports and Youth's commitment to supporting women and advancing its vision of broadening participation in sports. He highlighted the Federation's dedication to providing high-quality programs tailored to women and girls of all ages. In a press statement, Al Dosari said the event aims to provide women and girls with a safe and comfortable sports environment that respects their privacy and enables them to participate in a variety of activities in an organized setting under the supervision of a specialized female team. He noted that women-focused sports events have become an integral part of the QSFA agenda, providing an important platform for encouraging women and their daughters to exercise and develop a lasting connection with physical activity, while upholding the highest organizational standards and addressing their specific needs for privacy. Al Dosari added that the Federation organized approximately 38 sports tournaments and events for women and girls during the summer as part of its efforts to expand sports participation. He said the diversity of these programs, which catered to various age groups and fitness levels, was instrumental in attracting a large number of participants. He said the Sports for All Oasis is a new addition to this framework. The three-month program combines sports and recreation while offering participants a wide range of options, encouraging sustained physical activity and motivating women and girls to make sports an integral part of their lifestyles.

Tennis

Beijing: Big-serving Alexander Zverev trounced home hopeful Shang Juncheng 6-0, 6-3 at the China Open on Saturday to set up a quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic in Beijing. The German top seed needed just 55 minutes to brush aside the Chinese wildcard, ranked 250th, firing nine aces along the way. "Happy with the win," the world's second-ranked player said, adding that his 21-year-old opponent had been "dangerous" and had "nothing to lose". "Looking forward to the next couple of weeks," he said ahead of his tie with Djokovic -- who has never lost a match in Beijing -- on Sunday. Zverev's cruise into the next round comes as he trains his sights on the number-one spot currently held by Jannik Sinner. The Italian won in Beijing last year but is not there this time around, and said on Saturday that he would not play at next week's Shanghai Masters either. He did not give a reason for his latest withdrawal, but has not played since his Wimbledon title in July due to a right knee injury. Also in the men's draw, third seed Daniil Medvedev eased into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. Alex de Minaur, seeded fifth, and Andrey Rublev both needed three sets to advance and will play each other in the last eight. Stop shouting Earlier, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen rebuked rowdy fans at her home tournament before opponent Anna Kalinskaya retired with injury to give the Chinese player a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 3-0 victory. During a tight first-set tie-break, Zheng -- a beloved figure in her home country -- twice was heard telling spectators to "stop shouting" as she stepped up to serve. "I thought the first set in particular was really difficult," Zheng told the crowd in an on-court interview after the two-hour-and-22-minute match. "Indeed, seeing some movement in the audience, my emotions were not very stable," the 23-year-old added. But she declared: "It's my problem, it's my problem," and vowed to adjust. Chants for Zheng rang through the wind-rattled stadium before most points, with fans occasionally yelling at each other to quieten down. The umpire also stepped in to warn people to stop moving around in the stands during play. After levelling in the second set, the world number 54 was handed a lifeline when Russia's Kalinskaya retired three games down in the third due to injury. Zheng next faces either Czech player Marie Bouzkova or Australia's Kimberly Birrell in the third round. Gauff digs deep In the women's draw, Coco Gauff kept her composure to beat Camila Osorio 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-2, overcoming shaky serving to survive the second round. The Colombian, ranked 66th, put up a formidable fight after double-faulting to lose a testy first-set tie-break, though she needed medicine to push through trouble with her back. Osorio saved two match points but Gauff, the world number four, dug deep, rescuing long rallies with a solid backhand and cross-court saves. "It was tough, it wasn't the cleanest," said the 22-year-old American after the two-hour-and-18-minute match. "Just happy with how I was able to reset," she said. She next faces Chinese teenager Sun Xinran, world number 582, who beat Spain's Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 7-5. Sixth-seeded Elina Svitolina and former champion Iga Swiatek, seeded eighth, also went through on Saturday. World number one Elena Rybakina is playing Armenia's 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in the evening session.