Marco Bianchi 
Alexandra Eala has moved up to a career‑high 17th in the WTA rankings after Amanda Anisimova’s season‑ending injury. With the Hong Kong Open approaching, Eala aims to reach the semi‑finals to break into the top‑16, which would give her a favorable seed at the Australian Open. A strong run could further improve her ranking and tournament positioning.
Dutch tennis star Tom Okker captured two Paris Masters titles in 1969 and 1975, giving him more victories at the event than Federer and Nadal combined. Despite his success in Paris and 35 ATP titles, he never won a Grand Slam singles title, retiring in 1981 after a distinguished career.
After a difficult 2026 season, Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek announced she will not compete in the 2027 United Cup, opting instead to start her campaign at the Brisbane International. The decision is aimed at giving her the best preparation for the Australian Open and a chance to chase a career Grand Slam.
Ireland cricketer Rebecca Stokell has accepted responsibility for a breach of anti‑doping reporting rules after testing positive for a prescribed substance during the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. She has entered a voluntary suspension while the ICC investigates the case.
Swedish athlete Andreas Almgren claimed victory in the men’s New York Marathon on his debut, clocking 2:06:01 and edging out Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa by 13 seconds. His win marked the first time in three decades that a European-born runner has taken the title, while Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui won the women’s race.
Namibia clinched the series 3‑2 after a dominant performance in the fifth ODI in Windhoek. JJ Smit’s four‑wicket haul helped restrict Ireland to 129, and Namibia chased the target with five wickets in hand. The win gives Namibia a confidence boost ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifier.
Carlos Alcaraz captured the Vienna Open title by defeating Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 in the final. De Minaur praised Alcaraz’s performance but admitted it was “very annoying” to face him, while both players reflected on a strong week in Vienna.
Ciara Mageean, a 34‑year‑old Irish middle‑distance runner and 2024 European champion, died after a battle with cancer. She had previously represented Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and won multiple medals at European and Commonwealth competitions.
Rafael Jodar, the 20‑year‑old Spaniard, has set a new ATP record by climbing into the world top‑10 in just 287 days from his first main‑draw appearance. The rapid rise follows an early exit at the Basel Open but cements his place among the sport’s elite for the upcoming rankings release.
Former world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov suffered a career‑first defeat in qualifying at the Paris Masters, losing 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 to Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. The loss drops him to world No.133 and means he will have to play Australian Open qualifying next year, raising questions about his future in the sport.