Marco Bianchi 
Ahead of the 2026 WTA Finals, Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova finds herself in a rare situation where she could qualify for the season‑ending event with two different partners. After winning titles with both Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai, she may finish the year in the top nine, potentially earning two spots at the Finals and prompting a rethink of the tournament’s qualification rules.
Wales coach Sean Lynn has included full‑back Nel Metcalfe in his extended training squad for the upcoming WXV matches against Japan, marking her return after a knee injury that kept her out of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations. The squad, featuring co‑captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams, will face the Sakura XV in Tokyo and Saitama as part of a double‑header series.
Northern Ireland rider Glenn Irwin was released from Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham after being taken there for a possible spinal fracture following a crash on the penultimate lap of the third British Superbike race at Donington Park. The British Superbike Championship confirmed he is cleared and will be assessed for fitness to race at the upcoming Brands Hatch round.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have had their Shanghai Masters 2026 draws released, outlining challenging potential opponents for Djokovic and a slightly smoother path for Alcaraz. Djokovic, a four‑time Shanghai champion, also hinted he may skip the tournament depending on his form and qualification for the ATP Finals.
Hungarian tennis player Agnes Szavay captured the 2007 China Open title, defeating Jelena Jankovic in a dramatic comeback to claim the biggest victory of her career. Persistent back problems forced her to retire at just 24 years old in 2013, ending a promising tenure on the WTA Tour.
Wales were beaten 0-1 by Denmark in their Nations League match, a defeat that marked their third loss in four games within a ten‑day period. Coach Craig Bellamy blamed the newly extended international window and the resulting injury toll for the poor performance, saying the schedule favours larger nations. The loss leaves Wales third in Group A4, still hoping to improve in upcoming fixtures against Norway and Portugal.
Speaking at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, former world No.1 Ilie Nastase argued that comparing eras is impossible and named Rafael Nadal as the greatest player he has ever seen, dismissing Novak Djokovic’s claim to that title. He also praised current world No.1 Jannik Sinner and highlighted Nadal’s 14 French Open titles as a key factor in his assessment.
Scottish golfer Michael Stewart recorded a joint fourth place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, his best week of his career and earning a significant prize. The result qualifies him for the Spanish Open but clashes with the Tartan Pro Tour final at Gleneagles, where he needs a top‑10 finish to secure a Challenge Tour card for next season.
After retiring following her 2022 Olympic gold, 33‑year‑old Vicky Drummond made a comeback in Aberdeen, teaming up with Euan Kyle to dominate the Scottish Curling Mixed Doubles Championship. The pair won every match, culminating in an 8‑1 final win over Katie McMillan and Archie Hyslop.
Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez secured maximum points by winning the sprint and the race at the Japanese Grand Prix, cutting Jorge Martin’s championship lead to just two points. Martin finished second from pole, while Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium, keeping his title hopes alive.