Djokovic unscrews, Parry is magical, L’Hirondel takes off at the UTMB: sports news for the weekend
The sporting events that you shouldn’t miss during the weekend: here is the France 24 sports recap.
L’Hirondel and Dhiman, queen and king of the UTMB
Frenchwoman Blandine L’Hirondel won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix on Saturday, completing the loop (173 km and 10,000 meters of elevation gain) in 21 hours, 54 minutes and 49 seconds.
Although diminished for months by iliac endofibrosis, the 35-year-old runner and gynecologist took the lead from Lake Combal in Italy (after around 70 km) to gradually widen the gap before finishing far ahead of her competitors, despite great suffering and several falls in the last kilometers.
On the men’s side, Ben Dhiman won the UTMB in less than 19 hours. Second in 2025, the American took control of the race as soon as he left Les Contamines (after around 35 km) before embarking on an irresistible solo performance, helped by particularly favorable weather this year. He completed his effort in 18 hours, 16 minutes and 29 seconds, far ahead of the other competitors.
However, this time does not constitute a record because, like last year, the course was shortened compared to the usual route of the race, which has now become the premier event in world trail running.
Djokovic eliminated from entry into US Open
The Serbian Novak Djokovic, in great pain throughout the match, was eliminated on Sunday evening in the first round of the US Open, beaten at the end of the effort by the Argentinian Mariano Navone (49e) 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The former world number 1, now fifth, had not lost in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament for more than 20 years, at the Australian Open in 2006. This early exit further removes the prospect of seeing him achieve a 25 at 39.e record-breaking Grand Slam title.
The four-time winner in Queens (2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023) had already shown signs of feverishness two weeks ago during his only preparation match in Cincinnati, beaten from the start in stifling heat.
In Monterrey, Parry wins the first title of his career
Frenchwoman Diane Parry won the first title of her career on Saturday, beating the experienced Elise Mertens (6-4, 0-6, 6-3) at the WTA 500 in Monterrey. It is a consecration for the Boulonnaise, who is continuing her very good season at 23, with already an eighth-final at Roland-Garros and a quarter-final at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati. She thus becomes the second Habs to be crowned in Monterrey, Mexico, after Marion Bartoli in 2009.
Parry showed his power against Mertens (24e world). Her trophy projects her to the heights of the world ranking: 92e only three months ago, she will now be on the verge of the top 30.
Free of the injuries that have slowed her down in recent years, Parry arrives in great shape at the US Open, which began on Sunday. In New York, the one who is the only French member of the women’s top 100 will face the Swiss Viktorija Golubic (55) in the first round.e world).
Vuelta: Pogacar abandons after a heavy fall
Ultra favorite of the Tour of Spain, Slovenian Tadej Pogacar was forced to abandon the race on Saturday after a heavy fall during the eighth stage. The five-time winner of the Tour de France, well ahead of the general classification, tried to get back on his bike before giving up and leaving the Vuelta in an ambulance.
The red jersey, in search of a first victory in the Tour of Spain to complete his trilogy of Grand Tours, fell alone in the peloton on the left side of the road, 32 kilometers from the finish of the eighth stage, in Xeraco, near Valencia, taking several riders with him.
“His condition is stable. Following a thorough medical examination at the hospital, Tadej was diagnosed with concussion, displaced fracture of the left clavicle, stable fracture of the C7 cervical vertebra and multiple abrasions,” his UAE Team Emirates said. “Fortunately, he has no other serious injuries or neurological aftereffects. He will require surgery on his collarbone, which will be postponed as a precautionary measure related to his concussion.”
The Monaco basketball club close to leaving the professional world
French champion Monaco, who asked the French Basketball Federation to re-examine its refusal to join the first and second divisions, has once again been rejected, we learned from the club on Sunday, and is therefore close to leaving the professional world.
The National League’s financial policeman refused at the beginning of July to involve Monaco in its championships for financial reasons, a decision confirmed by the Federation’s appeals chamber. After another failure in the conciliation procedure, the ASM asked the federal office on Friday for a “re-examination of the file” after the entry into the capital of a new investor.
The Principality club, finalist in the Euroleague in 2025, is not immediately considering taking the matter to the administrative court as it still has the possibility, he told AFP.
Monaco takes the lead, Lens loses and PSG comes from afar
AS Monaco dominated the clash against Olympique de Marseille (2-0) at the end of the second day of Ligue 1, Sunday at home, and takes the lead in the championship with two victories in two matches. The only team with six points, ASM has a second success while OM (eighth, three points) is already losing this season.
In the other matches of the French championship, Lens was overthrown in Strasbourg with a double from Gessime Yassine and in a match rich in opportunities (2-1). PSG was miraculous on the Rennes pitch by snatching a draw thanks to two goals in added time.
City and Chelsea win, the Reds slow down
A double from Rayan Cherki and another from Erling Haaland allowed Manchester City to secure a second victory in as many championship matches, Friday on the grounds of Pierre Sage’s Crystal Palace (4-1). Chelsea led 3-0 then lost the lead, but held on to obtain a second success in two Premier League matches on Sunday against Brighton (4-3).
In the other matches, Liverpool had the merit of pushing hard to come back to the score on Saturday against Nottingham Forest (2-2). The Reds and their new coach Andoni Iraola obtained a deserved point in the last minutes, like against Newcastle (2-2) last weekend. Beaten 2-0 by Hull last weekend, Manchester United recovered on Sunday against Ipswich Town (5-2) with a hat-trick from their captain Bruno Fernandes.
Real’s walk against Malaga, while waiting for the Barça match
Effective in front of goal, Real Madrid took a stroll on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium against promoted Malaga (4-0) and regained first place in La Liga with a third victory in three days. José Mourinho’s men temporarily regain first place in the championship ahead of their rivals Atlético Madrid (second) and Alavés (third), while awaiting FC Barcelona’s third match on Monday evening against Rayo Vallecano.
Furthermore, Atlético Madrid dominated Sevilla FC on Saturday despite the absence of its striker Julian Alvarez (3-1). Attractive offensively, the Colchoneros won on the lawn of the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium thanks to a double from Alex Baena and an excellent finish from Ademola Lookman.
Inter takes control, Como stifles Napoli
Inter Milan moved to the top of the Italian Championship after their laborious success at Cagliari (1-0) on Sunday for the second day of Serie A, while Como won the first shock of the season on the field of Naples (2-1).
Inter did the minimum, but provided the essentials. With his six points, he is ahead of his rival AC Milan (second) and Juventus Turin (third), who won their match respectively against Venice (2-0) and against Parma (2-0). The poster at the Diego-Armando-Maradona stadium has shifted in favor of Como. Thanks to its first victory of the season, the Lombard club, which will discover the Champions League two years after leaving Serie B, has temporarily returned to sixth place (four points).
Leipzig and Dortmund in the wake of Bayern, Leverkusen surprised
RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, respective winners of Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-0) and Hamburg SV (2-0) on Saturday during the first day of the Bundesliga, followed in the wake of Bayern, in demonstration against Stuttgart (5-1) on Friday. The Munich residents occupy first place in the ranking, quite anecdotal after one day, they who have not left the comfortable chair of leader of the German championship since September 14, 2024.
Carles Martinez Novell’s first on the Bayer Leverkusen bench, on the other hand, turned into a nightmare for the former Toulouse coach, with a setback (3-2) on the lawn of Elversberg, new to the Bundesliga.
In basketball, during the victory against Slovenia (92-67) for qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, Thursday evening in Bercy, the new captain of the France team, Victor Wembanyama, was able to measure his immense popularity. The NBA star has become the face of the Blues. A player loved for his sporting performances, but also for his atypical personality.
Also read“He is the greatest ambassador of French basketball”: at Bercy, Wemby madness
Behind Ben Dhiman, Baptiste Chassagne finished on Saturday, as in 2024, in second place (18 hours, 47 minutes and 38 seconds) in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Chamonix. During his race, the Frenchman – who supports the AS Saint-Étienne football club – was able to walk part of the way alongside a spectator who was broadcasting “Allez les Verts” on his portable speaker. Enough to give momentum to the UTMB runner, who clearly appreciated this passage.
With AFP
