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VIDEO SHOWS: CHELSEA PRESS CONFERENCE RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT  SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (AGENCY POOL – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "The only thing I can say about Jose (Mourinho) is the thing that I just said, that for me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League. So he's a legend for different clubs in the world, that shows how good he is, how good he has been and how good Jose is.      "Then in terms of what he deserves, to be honest I'm not here to think about what he deserves, I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury. This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."  4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions, no doubt. But also for me, it's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, TALKING ABOUT THE CROWD CHANTING HIS NAME, SAYING:     "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'. To be honest, it's not, I would like one day for sure, but it's not my target, you know. I'm already happy if they can sing 'We have our Chelsea back', because that means that as a team, as a club, we are doing something important." STORY: Chelsea will welcome Jose Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge when they face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday (September 30), with the Portuguese coach returning to the London club where he won three Premier League titles across two spells.     Mourinho, who returned to Benfica 25 years after his first stint, managed Chelsea from 2004–2007 and 2013–2015, delivering a haul of trophies that cemented his reputation as one of Europe's best managers at the time.      "For me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League," Chelsea's Italian coach Enzo Maresca told reporters on Monday.       "I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is."     Chelsea winger Pedro Neto added: "As a Portuguese (player) I will be proud to play against (a team coached by) Mourinho …(because) his contributions at Chelsea and elsewhere gave Portuguese people the chance to play for and manage the best clubs."     Mourinho, appointed at Benfica on September 18, inherited a team unbeaten in their opening four league games with three wins and a draw and has overseen two wins and a draw in his first three matches in charge.     Chelsea, however, have had a turbulent start to the season after a glittering campaign last term when they won the Conference League and Club World Cup. They are also without playmaker Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin injury.     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury," Maresca said.     "This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."      Maresca's side, who like Benfica lost their Champions League opener, have two wins from six Premier League matches, losing their last two after being reduced to 10 men.      "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions," Maresca said.      "It's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal."     Asked what it would take for the home fans to chant his name like they do Mourinho's, Maresca added: "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'."  (Production: Andy Ragg)

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VIDEO SHOWS: JOSE MOURINHO PRESS CONFERENCE FULL SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE MOURINHO, BENFICA MANAGER, SAYING:     "Of course, of course I will always be a Blue. I'm part of their history and they are part of my history. I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me to become a bigger Jose. When I say I'm not a Blue, I hope everybody understands that I'm speaking about the job that I have to do, that I have to do tomorrow." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE MOURINHO, BENFICA MANAGER, SAYING:     "Chelsea is a winning machine that had, in the past two or three years, a moment without trophies. But Chelsea won something before my time, and then we started winning, and then my team kept winning, and then transformation, new teams, new coaches, more trophies, European trophies, the biggest one of them, the Champions League. So Chelsea is a winning machine. I'm the biggest one until somebody wins for (unclear)." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE MOURINHO, BENFICA MANAGER, SAYING:     "We never know. After 25 years, I was expecting to go back to Portugal to the national team, not to Benfica." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE MOURINHO, BENFICA MANAGER, SAYING:     "Now I am in Benfica and I am very, very happy. Big responsibility, even for a guy like me with so many years, years of age and years of football. Benfica is a huge responsibility for different reasons, some of them I keep to myself, but to coach Benfica is a big responsibility. You know how I am. I just love it. And let's go tomorrow, i'll be my Chelsea until start, i'll be my Chelsea after the game, during the game that's my Benfica and the only thing that matters." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSE MOURINHO, BENFICA MANAGER, TALKING ABOUT MANAGING CHELSEA FOR THE FIRST TIME, SAYING:     "At that time, I had different options, even to the Premier League. It was Chelsea, it was a happy marriage and the reason I came the second time is because, of course, I was so happy the first time. And as I was saying, I'm important in their history and they are very important in my history. I think it was a fantastic decision that I made, but to say it was the best? I can identify my worst decisions that I can identify clearly, but good decisions I had many." 10. WHITE FLASH 11. MOURINHO GREETING JOURNALISTS AS HE LEAVES PRESS CONFERENCE STORY: TO FOLLOW

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: CHELSEA PRESS CONFERENCE RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT  SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (AGENCY POOL – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "The only thing I can say about Jose (Mourinho) is the thing that I just said, that for me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League. So he's a legend for different clubs in the world, that shows how good he is, how good he has been and how good Jose is.      "Then in terms of what he deserves, to be honest I'm not here to think about what he deserves, I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury. This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."  4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions, no doubt. But also for me, it's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, TALKING ABOUT THE CROWD CHANTING HIS NAME, SAYING:     "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'. To be honest, it's not, I would like one day for sure, but it's not my target, you know. I'm already happy if they can sing 'We have our Chelsea back', because that means that as a team, as a club, we are doing something important." STORY: Chelsea will welcome Jose Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge when they face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday (September 30), with the Portuguese coach returning to the London club where he won three Premier League titles across two spells.     Mourinho, who returned to Benfica 25 years after his first stint, managed Chelsea from 2004–2007 and 2013–2015, delivering a haul of trophies that cemented his reputation as one of Europe's best managers at the time.      "For me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League," Chelsea's Italian coach Enzo Maresca told reporters on Monday.       "I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is."     Chelsea winger Pedro Neto added: "As a Portuguese (player) I will be proud to play against (a team coached by) Mourinho …(because) his contributions at Chelsea and elsewhere gave Portuguese people the chance to play for and manage the best clubs."     Mourinho, appointed at Benfica on September 18, inherited a team unbeaten in their opening four league games with three wins and a draw and has overseen two wins and a draw in his first three matches in charge.     Chelsea, however, have had a turbulent start to the season after a glittering campaign last term when they won the Conference League and Club World Cup. They are also without playmaker Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin injury.     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury," Maresca said.     "This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."      Maresca's side, who like Benfica lost their Champions League opener, have two wins from six Premier League matches, losing their last two after being reduced to 10 men.      "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions," Maresca said.      "It's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal."     Asked what it would take for the home fans to chant his name like they do Mourinho's, Maresca added: "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'."  (Production: Andy Ragg)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATP TOUR CHINA OPEN QUARTER-FINALS SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (ATP/ IMG MEDIA – see restrictions before use) JANNIK SINNER V FABIAN MAROZSAN 1. JANNIK SINNER WALKING OUT FIRST SET 2. MAROZSAN'S BACKHAND GOES LONG, SINNER BREAKS SERVE 3. SINNER TAKES SET 6-1 WITH A BACKHAND PASS SECOND SET SHOT 4. SINNER LOBS MAROZSAN WITH A BACKHAND 5. BACKHAND VOLLEY BY MAROZSAN TO BREAKS SINNER   6. MATCH POINT – MAORZSAN NETS A BACKHAND, SINNER WINS 6-1 7-5 7. PLAYERS EMBRACING AT NET 8. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, SINNER WAVING TO CROWD DANIIL MEDVEDEV V ALEXANDER ZVEREV 9. VARIOUS OF MEDVEDEV WALKING OUT 10. ZVEREV WALKING OUT FIRST SET 11. ZVEREV NETS A FOREHAND, MEDVEDEV BREAKS SERVE SECOND SET 12. ZVEREV GOES JUST WIDE WITH A FOREHAND, THROWS RACQUET, MEDVEDEV BREAKS SERVE 13. MATCH POINT – ZVEREV GOES LONG WITH A FOREHAND, MEDVEDEV WINS 6-3 6-3 14. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, MEDVEDEV WAVING TO CROWD ALEX DE MINAUR (GREEN SHIRT) V JAKUB MENSIK (BLACK SHIRT) FIRST SET 15. DE MINAUR HITS A FOREHAND PAST MENSIK TO BREAK SERVE 16. VARIOUS OF PHYSIO ATTENDING TO MENSIK 17. MENSIK RETIRING TRAILING 2-1 IN THE FIRST, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, HUGGING DE MINAUR LEARNER TIEN V LORENZO MUSETTI FIRST SET 18. SET POINT – MUSETTI WITH A FOREHAND WINNER AT THE NET TO TAKE SET 6-4 SECOND SET 19. MUSETTI RECEIVING TREATMENT FROM PHYSIO 20. RALLY ENDS WITH A TIEN DROP VOLLEY WINNER THIRD SET 21. MUSETTI NETS A BACKHAND, RETIRES TRAILING 4-6 6-3 3-0 22. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS OVER NET, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE STORY: Jannik Sinner showed his battling qualities to reach the China Open semi-finals with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan on Monday (September 29), as the Italian stepped up his bid to narrow the rankings gap on world number one Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner lost the top ranking after surrendering his U.S. Open crown to the Spaniard this month but has responded well to the setback in Beijing, claiming a seventh semi-final spot in the eight tournaments he has played this year. The world number two clinched the opening set in 26 minutes thanks to big hitting from the baseline but faced stiffer resistance in the second and had to dust himself off after falling awkwardly in the eighth game. He then found himself a break down at 4-5 but hit back immediately to deny Marozsan the set. Sinner held and pounced on his opponent's serve again in the 12th game, sealing his 40th tour-level match win of a season in which he served a short doping ban. "I feel like I started off very well in the first set. We both played well in the second set. I had some break chances at 4-3, I couldn't use them," Sinner said. "He's someone whose peak is high, which I knew before the match. When he was serving for the set he made a couple unforced errors which helped me to come back and win in two." Up next for the four-times major champion is Australian third seed Alex De Minaur, who reached the semis when Czech 20-year-old Jakub Mensik retired from their match with a left leg injury while trailing 1-4 in the opening set. American teenager Learner Tien reached his first ATP Tour semi-final after fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired trailing 4-6 6-3 3-0. The Italian appeared to be hampered by a thigh or groin issue. Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev eased past German second seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-3. The Russian has beaten Zverev 14 times in 20 meetings, including eight of their past 10 matches.  (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo, Conal Quinn)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATP TOUR CHINA OPEN QUARTER-FINALS SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (ATP/ IMG MEDIA – see restrictions before use) JANNIK SINNER V FABIAN MAROZSAN 1. JANNIK SINNER WALKING OUT FIRST SET 2. MAROZSAN'S BACKHAND GOES LONG, SINNER BREAKS SERVE 3. SINNER TAKES SET 6-1 WITH A BACKHAND PASS SECOND SET SHOT 4. SINNER LOBS MAROZSAN WITH A BACKHAND 5. BACKHAND VOLLEY BY MAROZSAN TO BREAKS SINNER   6. MATCH POINT – MAORZSAN NETS A BACKHAND, SINNER WINS 6-1 7-5 7. PLAYERS EMBRACING AT NET 8. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, SINNER WAVING TO CROWD DANIIL MEDVEDEV V ALEXANDER ZVEREV 9. VARIOUS OF MEDVEDEV WALKING OUT 10. ZVEREV WALKING OUT FIRST SET 11. ZVEREV NETS A FOREHAND, MEDVEDEV BREAKS SERVE SECOND SET 12. ZVEREV GOES JUST WIDE WITH A FOREHAND, THROWS RACQUET, MEDVEDEV BREAKS SERVE 13. MATCH POINT – ZVEREV GOES LONG WITH A FOREHAND, MEDVEDEV WINS 6-3 6-3 14. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, MEDVEDEV WAVING TO CROWD ALEX DE MINAUR V JAKUB MENSIK FIRST SET 15. DE MINAUR HITS A FOREHAND PAST MENSIK TO BREAK SERVE 16. VARIOUS OF PHYSIO ATTENDING TO MENSIK 17. MENSIK RETIRING TRAILING 2-1 IN THE FIRST, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, HUGGING DE MINAUR LEARNER TIEN V LORENZO MUSETTI FIRST SET 18. SET POINT – MUSETTI WITH A FOREHAND WINNER AT THE NET TO TAKE SET 6-4 SECOND SET 19. MUSETTI RECEIVING TREATMENT FROM PHYSIO 20. RALLY ENDS WITH A TIEN DROP VOLLEY WINNER THIRD SET 21. MUSETTI NETS A BACKHAND, RETIRES TRAILING 4-6 6-3 3-0 22. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS OVER NET, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE STORY: Jannik Sinner showed his battling qualities to reach the China Open semi-finals with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan on Monday (September 29), as the Italian stepped up his bid to narrow the rankings gap on world number one Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner lost the top ranking after surrendering his U.S. Open crown to the Spaniard this month but has responded well to the setback in Beijing, claiming a seventh semi-final spot in the eight tournaments he has played this year. The world number two clinched the opening set in 26 minutes thanks to big hitting from the baseline but faced stiffer resistance in the second and had to dust himself off after falling awkwardly in the eighth game. He then found himself a break down at 4-5 but hit back immediately to deny Marozsan the set. Sinner held and pounced on his opponent's serve again in the 12th game, sealing his 40th tour-level match win of a season in which he served a short doping ban. "I feel like I started off very well in the first set. We both played well in the second set. I had some break chances at 4-3, I couldn't use them," Sinner said. "He's someone whose peak is high, which I knew before the match. When he was serving for the set he made a couple unforced errors which helped me to come back and win in two." Up next for the four-times major champion is Australian third seed Alex De Minaur, who reached the semis when Czech 20-year-old Jakub Mensik retired from their match with a left leg injury while trailing 1-4 in the opening set. American teenager Learner Tien reached his first ATP Tour semi-final after fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired trailing 4-6 6-3 3-0. The Italian appeared to be hampered by a thigh or groin issue. Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev eased past German second seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-3. The Russian has beaten Zverev 14 times in 20 meetings, including eight of their past 10 matches.  (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo, Conal Quinn)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: CHELSEA PRESS CONFERENCE FULL SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "The only thing I can say about Jose (Mourinho) is the thing that I just said, that for me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League. So he's a legend for different clubs in the world, that shows how good he is, how good he has been and how good Jose is.      "Then in terms of what he deserves, to be honest I'm not here to think about what he deserves, I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury. This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."  4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions, no doubt. But also for me, it's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, TALKING ABOUT THE CROWD CHANTING HIS NAME, SAYING:     "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'. To be honest, it's not, I would like one day for sure, but it's not my target, you know. I'm already happy if they can sing 'We have our Chelsea back', because that means that as a team, as a club, we are doing something important." STORY: TO FOLLOW

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATP TOUR CHINA OPEN QUARTER-FINALS SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (ATP/ IMG MEDIA – see restrictions before use) JANNIK SINNER V FABIAN MAROZSAN 1. JANNIK SINNER WALKING OUT FIRST SET 2. MAROZSAN'S BACKHAND GOES LONG, SINNER BREAKS SERVE 3. SINNER TAKES SET 6-1 WITH A BACKHAND PASS SECOND SET SHOT 4. SINNER LOBS MAROZSAN WITH A BACKHAND 5. BACKHAND VOLLEY BY MAROZSAN TO BREAKS SINNER   6. MATCH POINT – MAORZSAN NETS A BACKHAND, SINNER WINS 6-1 7-5 7. PLAYERS EMBRACING AT NET 8. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, SINNER WAVING TO CROWD DANIIL MEDVEDEV V ALEXANDER ZVEREV 9. VARIOUS OF MEDVEDEV WALKING OUT 10. ZVEREV WALKING OUT FIRST SET 11. ZVEREV NETS A FOREHAND, MEDVEDEV BREAKS SERVE SECOND SET 12. ZVEREV GOES JUST WIDE WITH A FOREHAND, THROWS RACQUET, MEDVEDEV BREAKS SERVE 13. MATCH POINT – ZVEREV GOES LONG WITH A FOREHAND, MEDVEDEV WINS 6-3 6-3 14. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, MEDVEDEV WAVING TO CROWD ALEX DE MINAUR (GREEN SHIRT) V JAKUB MENSIK (BLACK SHIRT) FIRST SET 15. DE MINAUR HITS A FOREHAND PAST MENSIK TO BREAK SERVE 16. VARIOUS OF PHYSIO ATTENDING TO MENSIK 17. MENSIK RETIRING TRAILING 2-1 IN THE FIRST, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, HUGGING DE MINAUR LEARNER TIEN V LORENZO MUSETTI FIRST SET 18. SET POINT – MUSETTI WITH A FOREHAND WINNER AT THE NET TO TAKE SET 6-4 SECOND SET 19. MUSETTI RECEIVING TREATMENT FROM PHYSIO 20. RALLY ENDS WITH A TIEN DROP VOLLEY WINNER THIRD SET 21. MUSETTI NETS A BACKHAND, RETIRES TRAILING 4-6 6-3 3-0 22. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS OVER NET, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE STORY: Jannik Sinner showed his battling qualities to reach the China Open semi-finals with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan on Monday (September 29), as the Italian stepped up his bid to narrow the rankings gap on world number one Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner lost the top ranking after surrendering his U.S. Open crown to the Spaniard this month but has responded well to the setback in Beijing, claiming a seventh semi-final spot in the eight tournaments he has played this year. The world number two clinched the opening set in 26 minutes thanks to big hitting from the baseline but faced stiffer resistance in the second and had to dust himself off after falling awkwardly in the eighth game. He then found himself a break down at 4-5 but hit back immediately to deny Marozsan the set. Sinner held and pounced on his opponent's serve again in the 12th game, sealing his 40th tour-level match win of a season in which he served a short doping ban. "I feel like I started off very well in the first set. We both played well in the second set. I had some break chances at 4-3, I couldn't use them," Sinner said. "He's someone whose peak is high, which I knew before the match. When he was serving for the set he made a couple unforced errors which helped me to come back and win in two." Up next for the four-times major champion is Australian third seed Alex De Minaur, who reached the semis when Czech 20-year-old Jakub Mensik retired from their match with a left leg injury while trailing 1-4 in the opening set. American teenager Learner Tien reached his first ATP Tour semi-final after fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired trailing 4-6 6-3 3-0. The Italian appeared to be hampered by a thigh or groin issue. Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev eased past German second seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-3. The Russian has beaten Zverev 14 times in 20 meetings, including eight of their past 10 matches.  (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo, Conal Quinn)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

VIDEO SHOWS: CHELSEA PRESS CONFERENCE FULL SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "The only thing I can say about Jose (Mourinho) is the thing that I just said, that for me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League. So he's a legend for different clubs in the world, that shows how good he is, how good he has been and how good Jose is.      "Then in terms of what he deserves, to be honest I'm not here to think about what he deserves, I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury. This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."  4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions, no doubt. But also for me, it's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, TALKING ABOUT THE CROWD CHANTING HIS NAME, SAYING:     "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'. To be honest, it's not, I would like one day for sure, but it's not my target, you know. I'm already happy if they can sing 'We have our Chelsea back', because that means that as a team, as a club, we are doing something important." STORY: TO FOLLOW

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VIDEO SHOWS: CHELSEA PRESS CONFERENCE RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT  SHOWS: STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "The only thing I can say about Jose (Mourinho) is the thing that I just said, that for me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League. So he's a legend for different clubs in the world, that shows how good he is, how good he has been and how good Jose is.      "Then in terms of what he deserves, to be honest I'm not here to think about what he deserves, I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury. This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."  4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, SAYING:     "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions, no doubt. But also for me, it's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENZO MARESCA, CHELSEA MANAGER, TALKING ABOUT THE CROWD CHANTING HIS NAME, SAYING:     "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'. To be honest, it's not, I would like one day for sure, but it's not my target, you know. I'm already happy if they can sing 'We have our Chelsea back', because that means that as a team, as a club, we are doing something important." STORY: Chelsea will welcome Jose Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge when they face Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday (September 30), with the Portuguese coach returning to the London club where he won three Premier League titles across two spells.     Mourinho, who returned to Benfica 25 years after his first stint, managed Chelsea from 2004–2007 and 2013–2015, delivering a haul of trophies that cemented his reputation as one of Europe's best managers at the time.      "For me personally, he's a legend for this club. I'm from Italy, he's also a legend for Inter (Milan), where he won the Champions League," Chelsea's Italian coach Enzo Maresca told reporters on Monday.       "I think he has already shown how important a manager has been and is."     Chelsea winger Pedro Neto added: "As a Portuguese (player) I will be proud to play against (a team coached by) Mourinho …(because) his contributions at Chelsea and elsewhere gave Portuguese people the chance to play for and manage the best clubs."     Mourinho, appointed at Benfica on September 18, inherited a team unbeaten in their opening four league games with three wins and a draw and has overseen two wins and a draw in his first three matches in charge.     Chelsea, however, have had a turbulent start to the season after a glittering campaign last term when they won the Conference League and Club World Cup. They are also without playmaker Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin injury.     "We need to maintain our level for sure because the Champions League requires a high level. As you said, at this moment, we have unfortunately many players out for injury," Maresca said.     "This afternoon, we're going to assess (Moises) Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, as they are all players unfortunately for us with some small problems, so we will see if tomorrow they're going to be available. But we are, for sure in this moment we have injuries, but I think we have a squad enough in this moment also to try to replace the injuries we have."      Maresca's side, who like Benfica lost their Champions League opener, have two wins from six Premier League matches, losing their last two after being reduced to 10 men.      "After reviewing the last two games, you know, Man United and Brighton with 10 players, for sure, I could have done better probably in terms of decisions," Maresca said.      "It's like a learning process to play with 10 players because, I think for any manager it's not something normal."     Asked what it would take for the home fans to chant his name like they do Mourinho's, Maresca added: "Probably continuing to win trophies. I remember for some moments of last season, I think it was Southampton away, where the fans were starting to sing 'We have our Chelsea back'."  (Production: Andy Ragg)

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VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM WTA CHINA OPEN THIRD ROUND RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (WTA – see restrictions before use) IGA SWIATEK V CAMILA OSORIO FIRST SET 1. SWIATEK HITS FOREHAND WINNER TO BREAK SERVE 2. SWIATEK WITH AN OVERHEAD VOLLEY WINNER 3. SET POINT – OSORIO HITS BACKHAND WIDE, SWIATEK TAKES FIRST SET SECOND SET 4. OSORIO RECEIVING TREATMENT COURTSIDE 5. OSORIO DOUBLE FAULTS AND RETIRES FROM MATCH AT 6-0 0-0 6. PLAYERS HUGGING OVER NET JESSICA PEGULA (BLACK KIT) V EMMA RADUCANU 3-6 7-6(9) 6-0 FIRST SET 7. RADUCANU HITS A FOREHAND PAST PEGULA TO SAVE BREAK POINT 8. SET POINT – RADUCANU HITS FOREHAND WINNER TO TAKE FIRST SET 9. RADUCANU'S MOTHER, RENEE ZHAI, APPLAUDING RADUCANU SECOND SET 10. MATCH POINT – PEGULA HITS A BACKHAND WINNER DOWN THE LINE 11. SET POINT – RADUCANU GOES WIDE WITH A FOREHAND, PEGULA EDGES TIEBREAK 11-9 THIRD SET 12. PEGULA HITS A FOREHAND VOLLEY WINNER 13. MATCH POINT – RADUCANU RETURNS WIDE, PEGULA WINS MATCH 3-6 7-6(9) 6-0 14. PLAYERS SHAKING HANDS AT NET, SHAKING HANDS WITH UMPIRE, PEGULA WAVING TO CROWD LINDA NOSKOVA V ZHENG QINWEN FIRST SET 15. NOSKOVA BREAKS SERVE WITH A BACKHAND RETURN 16. SET POINT – ZHENG GOES WIDE WITH A FOREHAND, NOSKOVA TAKES SET 6-4 SECOND SET 17. ZHENG WITH A FOREHAND WINNER AT THE NET 18. SET POINT – NOSKOVA NETS SERVE RETURN, ZHENG TAKES SET 6-3 THIRD SET 19. NOSKOVA WITH A DROP SHOT WINNER 20. ZHENG RECEIVING TREATMENT FROM PHYSIO  21. ZHENG'S COACH, PERE RIBA, WATCHING ON 22. ZHENG RETIRING TRAILING 6-4 3-6 3-0 STORY: Jessica Pegula battled past Emma Raducanu 3-6 7-6(9) 6-0 to reach the China Open fourth round in Beijing on Monday (September 29). The fifth seed American fended off three match points in a second set tiebreak before Britain's Raducanu collapsed in the decider, seeing her serve broken three times.  For former US Open champion Raducanu, it is the second time in as many weeks she has squandered a 5-2 second set tiebreak lead to win the match having exited the Korea Open to Barbora Krejcikova in the same fashion. Pegula will take on Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in the last 16. Top seed Iga Swiatek also advanced on Monday. The Polish six-time Grand Slam winner and 2023 champion at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing led 6-0 0-0 in the second when her opponent, Colombia's Camila Osorio, was forced to retire with an abdominal injury Home hopeful Zheng Qinwen also succumbed to an injury, retiring down 4-6 6-3 0-3 in the third due to pain in her elbow to give the Czech Republic's Linda Noskova a walkover.    (Production: Aadi Nair, Conal Quinn)

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