Serena Williams will partner world number 10 Karolina Muchova in the women’s doubles at next week’s Berlin Open as she continues her return to professional tennis.
The 44-year-old recently ended a four-year absence from the sport by making a winning start at Queen’s Club alongside Victoria Mboko.
However, the newly formed pair were forced to withdraw from their quarter-final tie after her Canadian partner suffered a nasty fall during a separate singles match.
Now, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion turns to a highly rated Czech international to continue her grass-court preparations.
Muchova relishes dream partnership
The 29-year-old expressed immense pride at receiving the invitation from one of the sport’s greatest ever competitors.
“I’m pretty excited about it. It doesn’t happen every day that such an amazing athlete, not only in tennis but overall in sport, asks you to play tennis with her,” Muchova said.
“I hope it’s going to be fun.”
The current world number 10 possesses solid pedigree on grass, having twice reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in the singles draw.
Mboko sidelined for Wimbledon
Meanwhile, Mboko’s promising grass-court season has come to an abrupt and unfortunate halt.
A medial collateral ligament injury sustained against Karolina Pliskova means the youngster will miss the upcoming Championships at SW19.
“Unfortunately, my fall on Wednesday caused an injury to the MCL in my left knee,” Mboko explained.
“I had been so looking forward to playing this year.”
Despite the frustrating setback, the injured star remained positive about her brief stint alongside the returning American icon.
“I learned so much from you and I’m sorry our tournament came to an end prematurely, but I hope we can play together again soon and finish what we started,” she added.
Rory McIlroy has opted to skip this week’s Canadian Open in Toronto to focus his preparations on the upcoming US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
The Northern Irishman has reversed his usual preference for playing a competitive tournament immediately before a major championship.
This decision aligns his schedule with world number one Scottie Scheffler, who traditionally avoids competing the week prior to prestige events.
Managing the major schedule
McIlroy has historically favoured staying sharp with competitive golf right up until a major begins.
“Before, I’m all for,” he said.
“After, I wouldn’t. I’m not a huge fan of it, but there’s only so many weeks in the year. I really like playing the week before if it makes sense.”
However, the four-time major winner is taking a different approach ahead of the action in Southampton, New York.
Scheffler has long maintained that rest is crucial for his tournament preparation.
“I typically don’t love playing the week before a major,” the American stated.
“It’s nice to have so many tournaments that are really good.”
“If y’all were to walk with me each day of the tournament and see what we have to do in order to play one week, having to do that four weeks in a row… I wouldn’t be able to perform my best.”
Driving improvements needed for Shinnecock
McIlroy recently secured a joint 12th-place finish alongside Scheffler and Justin Rose at the Memorial Tournament.
Following that result, he returned to his home on the Wentworth estate in Surrey to spend time with his family.
“I had a couple of weeks off and we got ourselves settled into our house in London for the summer,” he explained.
Despite the solid finish at the Memorial, the Holywood-born star admitted his game still requires fine-tuning.
“Off the tee still wasn’t where I want it to be,” he noted.
“Thankfully, the fairways at Shinnecock are a little wider than they are here. But, yeah, still need to work on that. I need to work on how I’m hitting it off the tee.”
Mercedes driver George Russell revived his Formula 1 world championship hopes by beating Lewis Hamilton to pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The British driver outpaced the seven-time world champion by just 0.064 seconds to secure his third pole of the season.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start Sunday’s 66-lap race from third on the grid.
Ending a frustrating run
Russell has endured a torrid two races prior to arriving in Spain.
An engine issue forced a retirement in Montreal before penalties in Monaco dropped the 26-year-old entirely out of the points.
Those setbacks left him 68 points adrift in the drivers’ standings while his teenage team-mate stormed to five consecutive victories.
“I came into this weekend with a clean slate, great weekend and it’s just great to be on pole.”
He added that Sunday will not be easy but insisted he feels completely ready for the fight.
Hamilton falls just short in tight session
The track temperature hit a scorching 51C as qualifying commenced on the outskirts of Barcelona.
Ferrari’s Hamilton had raised hopes of securing his first pole position since July 2023 by topping the opening session.
Less than two-tenths of a second separated the top five drivers during the second phase of qualifying.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen also featured heavily in the battle at the front, ultimately qualifying fourth and fifth respectively.
“These guys did a great lap but we are in a good position to be able to fight tomorrow so we have a race!”
Leclerc crashes out to trigger red flag
The final qualifying session was temporarily halted when Charles Leclerc suffered a heavy nose-first crash into the barriers at turn four.
It marked the third crash in eight days for the Monégasque driver following a miserable home race weekend.
Meanwhile, Antonelli remains on the brink of history as he aims for a remarkable sixth consecutive grand prix victory.
Triumph on Sunday would make the Italian teenager only the sixth driver in Formula 1 history to achieve that milestone.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso could leave Aston Martin to make a sensational return to former team Alpine as he weighs up his Formula 1 future.
The veteran driver had previously suggested he would conclude his racing career with his current employers.
However, speculation in the Barcelona-Catalunya paddock indicates the 44-year-old is evaluating a final switch following a dismal start to the 2026 campaign.
Briatore connection fuels Enstone reunion
A move back to the Enstone-based outfit would mark the Spaniard’s fourth stint with the team.
His most successful era came when he claimed consecutive drivers’ championships in 2005 and 2006 under the Renault banner.
Reports suggest Alpine boss Flavio Briatore, who also serves as the driver’s long-time manager, is eager to facilitate the reunion.
The strong personal bond between the pair means any formal invitation to return would be seriously considered.
Contrasting fortunes in 2026
Departing his current team would require walking away from a lucrative long-term contract.
That existing arrangement reportedly includes a post-retirement ambassadorial role designed to keep him in the sport for years to come.
Aston Martin’s highly anticipated engine partnership with Honda has endured a disastrous opening to the new season.
The Silverstone squad suffered double retirements in the first two races and continue to battle a severe lack of pace.
A belated first championship point was finally secured last Sunday in Monaco after a post-race penalty demoted rival Sergio Perez.
Alpine enjoy midfield revival
Conversely, the French manufacturer has enjoyed a remarkable revival after finishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings in 2025.
Powered by a new Mercedes engine supply, the revitalised outfit currently sits an impressive fifth in the midfield battle.
A buoyant mood surrounds the former world champion ahead of his home race this weekend, the site of his last Grand Prix victory in 2013.
British forward OG Anunoby is on the verge of clinching the NBA Championship with the New York Knicks following his dramatic game-winning tip-in against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Harlesden-born star could secure basketball’s ultimate prize in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time.
His team faces Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in a highly anticipated Game 5 showdown.
The defensive specialist approaches this crucial fixture having already delivered a performance for the ages.
A monumental comeback at Madison Square Garden
The Knicks successfully erased a historic 29-point deficit during Game 4 to stun their Texas-based opponents.
The dynamic wing spearheaded the 107-106 victory by registering 33 points and connecting on seven three-pointers.
It was his decisive offensive rebound and score with just 1.2 seconds remaining that sent the home crowd into raptures.
New York head coach Mike Brown described the last-gasp effort as “the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball”.
Inspiring the next generation of British talent
The viral moment has drawn unprecedented global attention and sparked immense pride across the Atlantic.
Four UK players began the current NBA campaign on active rosters, representing a record high for the nation.
Basketball currently stands as the second-most popular team sport in Britain, with grassroots engagement surging rapidly.
“Game four was probably the top of British basketball history. It was just amazing for Britain and the UK, and just everyone that loves basketball in the UK,” the match-winner told reporters.
Building a lasting domestic legacy
The former Toronto Raptor hopes his newfound spotlight will translate into tangible growth for the sport back home.
He believes that establishing more youth courts and academies is essential to fostering early interest among children.
“More youth courts for kids to start early and play basketball and just start loving the game.”
Team-mate Karl-Anthony Towns fittingly dubbed the decisive put-back as a “right hand from God”, cementing the Briton’s legacy in Manhattan folklore.
British pole vault record holder Molly Caudery has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season after undergoing emergency spinal surgery.
The 26-year-old world indoor champion required a microdiscectomy to address a severe back issue that rapidly deteriorated last week.
She will consequently miss the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the European Championships in Birmingham.
Diamond League success followed by sudden injury
The devastating setback comes just days after the British athlete secured victory at the Diamond League meeting in Rome.
She cleared a season’s best height of 4.80m in the Italian capital before experiencing the sudden flare-up.
Taking to social media, the European bronze medallist expressed her profound disappointment at missing out on major international competitions.
“And just like that, my season is over. Absolutely heartbroken to even be writing this, missing out on yet another major champs and home games.”
“Emergency spinal surgery wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card.”
A history of championship heartbreak
The surgical procedure was necessary to remove a portion of a spinal disc and prevent permanent nerve damage.
This latest medical intervention extends a frustrating run of bad luck at major events for the talented vaulter.
She famously failed to register a height during her opening event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Prior to that, the former Commonwealth silver medallist also missed the World Championships in Tokyo due to an ankle injury sustained during her warm-up.
“I had a back flare-up last week that got worse quickly and immediate surgical intervention was needed to prevent any further damage.”
“The surgery was a success and my road to recovery starts today.”
Focus turns to long-term rehabilitation
Despite the devastating interruption to her campaign, the national record holder is determined to mount a successful return to the sport.
“Really thought 2026 was going to be my year after heartbreak in Paris and Tokyo and everything in between, but just wanted to add another chapter in the autobiography before the comeback.”
England captain Ben Stokes returned to training with Durham on Saturday following a team curfew breach that ruled him out of the second Test against New Zealand.
The 35-year-old all-rounder and pace bowler Gus Atkinson are unavailable for Wednesday’s match at The Oval pending a disciplinary investigation.
Both players broke a midnight curfew following the first Test victory over the Black Caps last Sunday.
They were present in the early hours of Monday morning when a member of security staff was allegedly struck by a Saracens rugby player.
Domestic return permitted
Despite being suspended from international duties by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), both men are free to play domestic cricket.
The Durham star bowled in the middle at Chester-le-Street during his county’s Championship match against Derbyshire.
He subsequently batted in the nets alongside batting coach Dale Benkenstein and international team-mate Emilio Gay.
This paves the way for the suspended duo to feature in the next round of County Championship matches starting on Friday.
Captaincy future uncertain
Initial speculation suggested the veteran player was considering retirement in the immediate aftermath of the disciplinary incident.
However, his swift return to the nets strongly indicates a resolute desire to resume his playing career.
England director of cricket Rob Key recently confirmed he expects the talismanic leader to play international cricket again.
“I don’t see why not.”
That was the definitive response from Key when questioned about the player’s international future.
But the managing director offered no guarantees regarding the prospect of him retaining the captaincy he has held since 2022.
“There are a lot of things to happen before then. We’ve got to run the investigation, find out what happened exactly.”
Key added that no official decisions will be made until the ongoing disciplinary process is completely concluded.
The ECB maintains all options remain open, explicitly denying reports that the skipper has already been asked to stand down.
An outcome from the investigation is not expected before the second Test begins, with head coach Brendon McCullum scheduled to address the media on Monday.
Premier League champions Arsenal are preparing a €100m move to sign Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad.
The Gunners secured the domestic title last season and narrowly missed out on Champions League glory.
Manager Mikel Arteta has now identified the left-wing position as a crucial area for further reinforcement.
The Spanish coach reportedly considers the Turkish international to be his primary transfer target.
Gunners plan major investment
Securing the highly-rated attacker will require significant financial resources.
The 21-year-old recently signed a new lucrative contract with the Serie A giants, placing them in a strong negotiating position.
Reports suggest the North London club are willing to sanction a massive €100m bid to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium.
Should the pursuit fail, Arsenal have reportedly identified Christos Tzolis as an alternative option.
Stellar season in Turin
The exciting talent enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Italy, registering 11 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
Those impressive performances helped to elevate the young attacker into a vital role for the Old Lady during a challenging domestic season.
His form has been highly praised by prominent figures within the Italian game.
“He’s an alien, not a normal footballer. Every now and then he does something wrong just to see if he can fit into normality, but he can’t.”
That glowing assessment from Luciano Spalletti highlights exactly why Europe’s elite clubs are circling.
International duty delays talks
Advanced negotiations remain on hold while the coveted attacker represents Türkiye at the World Cup.
The newly crowned English champions possess the financial capability to conclude the deal once the tournament ends.
Arteta is also closely monitoring the striker market amid growing speculation regarding Gabriel Jesus’ future at the club.