PARIS (AP) — Captain Antoine Dupont praised the mentality and resilience of his France teammates after their stunning 21-19 takedown of world champion South Africa in Nations Championshiprugby on Friday.
The French played at a breathless tempo in the first half and built a 21-7 lead. They spent most of the second half with 14 men and getting ground down in scrums and mauls but withstood the Springboks' inevitable comeback to achieve a statement win.
The Six Nations champion beat South Africa at the Stade de France for the first time since 2005 and bolstered its lead in the northern hemisphere standings. France hosts Argentina next weekend and should clinch a berth in the final in two weeks at Twickenham.
“It's important to win these games, and it shows the mindset of this team,” Dupont said. "We were able to contain them when they came into our half, we were able to fight and hold the score until the end.
“The South Africans always push us to our limits. Tonight, there wasn't one guy who slacked off, not one who took a rest. We saw a great attitude.”
Dupont wore the No. 10 jersey in a test for the first time because of a spate of flyhalf injuries but he played mainly at scrumhalf to be closer to the ball and was the best player on the pitch. He set up a try for Louis Bielle-Biarrey, held up Pieter-Steph du Toit over the tryline and his vision on both sides of the ball was typically remarkable.
He acknowledged only one of France's three converted tries came off the training ground, the 16-phase effort finished by winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, including a kick-pass by Dupont.
“We weren't able to show the full range of what we had worked on in training,” he said. “Tonight, it was mainly a question of energy and attitude.”
Also outstanding were No. 8 and former captain Grégory Alldritt, recalled for the first time in a year after Paul Boudehent was injured against Fiji last weekend, and rookie lock Florian Verhaege, who has been grabbing his chance in the absence of the injured Thibaud Flament.
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Antoine Dupont of France cheers supporters at the end of the Nations Championship rugby match between France and South Africa, in Saint Denis, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez)
Antoine Dupont of France kicks the ball during the Nations Championship rugby match between France and South Africa, in Saint Denis, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez)
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Elina Svitolina overcame Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Friday, winning on her fourth match point.
Both players had more errors than winners. Svitolina hit 21 winners, made 24 errors and won six of eight break points in beating Sabalenka for the first time in six years and just the second in their eight career meetings.
“She gave me a few chances here and there so I could find my shots,” said Svitolina, who won the Finals in 2018, was runner-up in 2019 and then didn't qualify again until this year.
Sabalenka, who was runner-up at last year's Finals, rallied to take the second set and was up an early break in the third before coming undone with 35 errors. Her trademark frustration took over, as she talked to herself, gestured, shook her head and appeared disgusted. She didn't speak to the media afterward.
Svitolina will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the semifinals Saturday at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Svitolina became a first-time mother four years ago.
“I want my daughter to see me win tournaments,” she said.
Mirra Andreeva won 12 of the final 13 games to cruise past Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 and will play Jessica Pegula in the other semifinal. The Russian teenager dropped just 11 games total in winning Group 2 with a 3-0 record.
Shnaider, the second alternate, was a late replacement for Karolina Muchova, who withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness. Shnaider made her WTA Finals debut in singles after qualifying in doubles last year with fellow Russian Andreeva. They went 0-3 in round-robin play a year ago.
Shnaider led 2-0 in the first set before Andreeva took control and wrapped up the win in 55 minutes. Andreeva won 71% of her first-serve points and converted six of seven break points. Shnaider committed 32 errors in her only match after spending the week practicing and not knowing whether she would be needed.
“I don’t know how much fun that was,” Andreeva said. “It’s nice to share a court with your friend. It’s more nerve-wracking for me personally because I know her well.”
Andreeva, the 19-year-old French Open champion, needed just over an hour to win her first two matches. The wind picked up considerably on Friday under sunny skies.
“It was a little chaotic on the court,” she said.
Muchova, a Wimbledon finalist this year, already lost her first two matches and could not have advanced to the semifinals even if she had played Friday.
Muchova is the second withdrawal of the eight-day, $10 million event. Top-ranked Elena Rybakina dropped out before the tournament began last Sunday, citing a viral illness and exhaustion.
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FILE - Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, returns a ball to Zheng Qinwen, of China during the women's singles final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
FILE - Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, plays a backhand return to Zheng Qinwen, of China, during the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
FILE - Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, reacts during play against Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic, during the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
FILE - Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, returns the ball to Linda Noskova, of the Czech Republic, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig,File)
