TENNIS
Ons Jabeur expressed regret after ending her season in September. The former world No. 2 has struggled with injuries, which affected her ranking, and she confirmed she won’t compete in 2024. After her WTA Finals appearance, Jabeur admitted she was “not very happy” to be there.
She hasn’t played since her loss to Naomi Osaka at the Canadian Open in August. After withdrawing from the Cincinnati and US Opens, her team decided to cut her season short due to a shoulder injury.
Jabeur recently returned to the tour in a new role, attending the WTA Finals in Riyadh. While proud to support women’s sports in Saudi Arabia, she found it difficult to appear without playing, having qualified for the event in 2022 and 2023. “I’m very happy to be here in Riyadh, the WTA Finals is happening here. I think it’s a great thing for women’s sport, for Arab women’s sport as well,” she told Arab News. “It’s the biggest event that ever happened for women in Saudi. It’s an amazing step.”
ATHLETICS
NOV 2: The Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye won a thrilling men’s race at the New York City marathon. Nageeye produced a powerful sprint finish to edge ahead of 2022 winner Evans Chebet in the race’s closing stages and crossed the line in a time of 2:07.39, six seconds faster than Chebet.
They had been part of a strong six-man group which emerged in the race’s final 10 miles and then was gradually whittled down as each runner dropped off the pace. Defending champion Tamarit Tola was among them but lost contact with the leaders with five miles left and eventually finished in fourth place. Kenya’s Albert Korir rounded out the men’s podium in third place.
BOXING
Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif faces renewed scrutiny over her eligibility to compete in the women’s category at the Paris 2024 Olympics. French magazine Le Correspondant recently reported on a leaked medical document regarding Khelif, though these claims remain unverified. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to support Khelif’s right to compete, calling the report “unverified” and lacking confirmed origins. Khelif, who is pursuing legal action over previous comments about her eligibility, is now preparing to take further legal steps in response to this report. The IOC expressed regret over the harassment Khelif is currently experiencing. Khelif, who competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and holds a World Championship silver, has consistently affirmed her eligibility for the women’s division.
NOV 22: Harlem Eubank remained undefeated with a points victory over France’s Nurali Erdogan in Newcastle, marking his 20th career win. In his first bout at welterweight, the 30-year-old delivered an uneven performance over eight rounds, with judges scoring the contest 77-73, 79-70, and 77-72 in his favour. The fight saw Erdogan, 27, deducted two points for excessive holding, while Eubank also lost a point in the final rounds. Despite being momentarily wobbled by a fifth-round left hook, Eubank stayed composed, fighting through a cut to secure the win. Originally slated to face Adam Azim at light-welterweight, Eubank and his team hinted at “big things” in 2025 without naming specific opponents. While the performance was far from his best, Eubank successfully navigated his welterweight debut, keeping his record unblemished.
NOV 2: Shabaz Masoud won the IBO super-bantamweight title with a split decision victory over Liam Davies in Birmingham. Despite entering as the underdog, Masoud impressed with clean counters and effective straight lefts, securing the title on two scorecards (116-112, 115-113), while Davies controversially took the third card at 115-113. Known as “The Maverick,” Masoud quickly took control, while Davies struggled to win rounds until the middle stages, where he managed to pressure Masoud with powerful shots. In the final rounds, Davies’ corner urged a knockout, but Masoud held firm, landing precise punches to secure a clear points win.
