Marco Bianchi 
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic announced via Instagram that he will return to the China Open in Beijing after a 11‑year absence, having last won the event in 2015. He expressed excitement about playing at the National Tennis Centre and thanked Chinese fans for their support. The announcement comes as he looks to rebound from an early exit at the US Open.
In the US Open third round, Iva Jovic defeated Alex Eala 7‑5, 3‑6, 7‑5, extending her 3‑0 head‑to‑head record. Former WTA player Andrea Petkovic later predicted on a podcast that Eala, being two years older, will win a Grand Slam title before Jovic.
Philippe Coutinho, the former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder, signed for Santos FC for the remainder of the season, linking up with his Brazil teammate Neymar. The move marks the first time the two friends will play together at club level after Neymar returned to Santos earlier last year.
The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix on the new Madring circuit drew criticism from several drivers for its limited overtaking opportunities. Organisers have pledged to work with the FIA and F1 management to redesign parts of the track for next year, with team principals from Ferrari and Mercedes expressing support for changes.
Honda has reshuffled the leadership of its Formula 1 power‑unit project, naming Yoichiro Fukao as the new Large Project Leader and removing Tetsushi Kakuda. The change comes after the Aston Martin‑Honda partnership has struggled, sitting 10th in the constructors’ standings with a best finish of ninth at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Former champion John Newcombe warned that Australian tennis is in decline, urging Tennis Australia to overhaul its programs and development pathways. He criticised new CEO Andrew Abdo’s format‑change proposal and highlighted the nation’s lack of Grand Slam success at the 2026 US Open. The comments come as Tennis Australia seeks to balance commercial growth with nurturing homegrown talent.
Defending champion Marc Marquez claimed victory at the San Marino Grand Prix on the Misano circuit, propelling him to the top of the MotoGP standings with 274 points. He edged out his brother Alex by 0.657 seconds, while fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta finished third. The win also gave Marquez a five‑race win advantage over rival Jorge Martin as the season heads toward Austria.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe reiterated that the federation’s position on the ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes will remain unchanged, emphasizing the importance of competition integrity. He announced he will attend the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing to defend this stance, while Russian Athletics criticised his personal involvement.
Ukrainian basketball forward Kate Koval left LSU after the program signed a Russian player and after her family was affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She was granted an NCAA waiver and transferred to Baylor University, where she will continue her college career.
Glentoran entered the 2026‑27 Irish Premiership with high expectations but have only secured two wins from six matches, sitting eighth and nine points behind leaders Coleraine. Manager Declan Devine faces mounting pressure as coach Tim McCann and owner Ali Pour demand greater accountability from the squad ahead of a decisive clash with Coleraine.