Nelly Korda has fulfilled a childhood dream by winning the US Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club on Sunday, claiming the fourth major championship of her career.

The world number one faced immense pressure as the pre-tournament favourite but sealed her victory with a dramatic par putt on the 18th green.

Despite an inconsistent start to the week, the American battled through one of the toughest tests in women’s golf to secure the defining title of her season.

Overcoming early struggles

The tournament did not begin smoothly for the four-time major winner, who shot a disappointing 73 on Thursday to tie for 52nd place.

She struggled with errant drives early in the competition, leaving her unable to find the fairways required to attack Riviera’s notoriously challenging greens.

However, the determined star worked tirelessly with swing coach Jamie Mulligan to correct her wayward form and mount a stunning comeback.

A family celebration in Los Angeles

Her final par putt took a cruel, near 360-degree swirl around the cup before dropping in, sparking wild celebrations from the gathered crowd.

She was greeted greenside by her emotional family, including her sister Jessica, who watched her debut in this prestigious event at age 14 back in 2013.

“That 14-year-old girl that stepped on the range at Sebonack in 2013, her dream has just come true sitting next to this trophy right now.”

The triumphant golfer added that the long-awaited victory was incredibly difficult to put into words.

Destiny fulfilled for the world number one

This historic win serves as the crowning achievement for a player who has comprehensively dominated the sport this year.

Her caddie, Jason McDede, was visibly moved to tears following the trophy presentation in California.

“This is the biggest event in golf, this is the one you want to win. I feel like it was destiny.”

Her father, Petr Korda, noted that lifting this specific trophy had always been his daughter’s ultimate sporting ambition.

Newly appointed Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed he will alter the club’s pre-season schedule to accommodate players returning from international duty this summer.

The Spaniard recently replaced Arne Slot following the Dutchman’s dismissal from Anfield.

Arriving after three impressive seasons at Bournemouth, the 43-year-old faces a busy summer of squad integration and potential transfer business.

Tailored returns for international players

The incoming regime plans to carefully monitor the fitness of eight first-team squad members currently away at the World Cup.

While the Basque manager intends to tweak the existing summer itinerary, he is keen to avoid wholesale disruption.

“Yes, there was already a lot of work done even before we arrived, and we are trying to change as little as possible for the beginning.”

The former Cherries boss emphasised that returning international stars will follow staggered timetables depending on their national team’s progression in the tournament.

“I think everything is in place so everything is quite smooth and there are no problems.”

Collaborating with existing Anfield staff

Rather than immediately interrupting players on their deserved holidays, the new manager is prioritising critical discussions with the existing backroom staff.

He believes the current coaching setup holds vital insight into squad dynamics to ensure a seamless transition on the first day of training.

“I want to talk to the staff, to the people that were here every day, that know very well the players, to arrive as ready as possible to that first day of pre-season.”

Integrating academy prospects alongside senior professionals is another key priority for the Merseyside outfit over the coming weeks.

“I think especially with a lot of those young players that will do the pre-season with us, a lot of things about the organisation, about the staff, about how we can create the best atmosphere.”

Despite bringing in his own tactical team, the former Rayo Vallecano manager wants to heavily value the personnel already embedded at the club to accelerate his adaptation process.

Denny Hamlin secured an emotional NASCAR Cup Series victory at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, tying his late teammate Kyle Busch on the all-time wins list.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver dominated the final stages of the 400-mile event to claim the 63rd victory of his illustrious career.

Waving a black flag bearing the number 18 out of his window, the veteran performed a poignant burnout down the straightaway to honour his former colleague.

An emotional tribute to a fallen teammate

Busch, who drove alongside the race winner for a record 523 races, tragically passed away last month.

The wider motorsport community has endured a devastating period, also grieving the recent losses of Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett and former driver Greg Biffle.

“Truthfully, I had to outlive him to tie him. He was an amazing teammate. He taught me so much at tracks like this. I just can’t say enough.”

Denny Hamlin

Surging from the back of the grid

Despite qualifying on pole position, Hamlin was forced to start from the rear of the field following a penalty for unapproved adjustments to his Toyota.

He patiently navigated through the pack, eventually seizing control with a daring three-wide pass on a restart with just 38 laps remaining.

Sweeping past Spire Racing duo Daniel Suarez and Carson Hocevar, the number 11 car never looked back.

He crossed the finish line 11.110 seconds ahead of the competition, marking the largest margin of victory at the Brooklyn circuit since June 1991.

“This Joe Gibbs team just keeps giving me amazing race cars. And at the last run there, it just hammered down.”

Denny Hamlin

Back-to-back triumphs

The commanding performance secures a second consecutive triumph for Hamlin, following a similar penalty-defying win at Nashville Superspeedway last week.

Fellow Michigan native Erik Jones claimed the runner-up spot after also overcoming a pre-race grid penalty.

“I don’t think anyone was going to contend with Denny at the end. He was flying.”

Kyle Larson

Michigan race top five

Lionel Messi has continuously reinvented his playing style as the 38-year-old prepares to lead Argentina in a historic attempt to defend their World Cup title.

If the South American nation is to become the first country to successfully defend their global crown since 1962, their talisman will undoubtedly be at the centre of operations.

The Inter Miami star is preparing for a joint-record sixth appearance at the tournament, matching the longevity of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa.

However, the veteran forward who will take to the pitch is vastly different from the dazzling teenager who made his professional debut back in 2003.

Adapting to dominate the modern game

While most elite athletes inevitably decline with age, the former Paris St-Germain attacker has consistently found innovative ways to adapt.

Instead of merely surviving his physical decline, the Argentine has altered his approach to dictate the tempo and stay ahead of opponents who are constantly chasing shadows.

Since making his initial senior appearance in a friendly against Jose Mourinho’s Porto, the left-footed maestro has reinvented himself at least five times.

Transitioning from winger to central playmaker

When Brazilian icon Ronaldinho first witnessed the prodigious talent in training, he immediately predicted the youngster would become the best player in the world.

Two years later, during a standout 2005 performance against Juventus, opposition manager Fabio Capello was so mesmerised that he unsuccessfully attempted to sign the 18-year-old.

As he reached the age of 21 and took over the mantle from a fading Ronaldinho, then-manager Frank Rijkaard recognised the necessity of moving his prized asset centrally.

“Right in the centre of things,” Rijkaard stated.
“The more he touches the ball, the better for the side.”

The birth of the modern false nine

During Pep Guardiola’s maiden season in charge at the Nou Camp in 2008, the right flank initially served as a private attacking corridor for the dynamic forward.

Guardiola eventually shifted his star pupil away from the wing to alleviate defensive tracking responsibilities and exploit his unparalleled vision in the middle of the park.

This tactical masterstroke culminated on 2 May 2009 during a historic 6-2 domestic demolition of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Pulled off the right wing and deployed at the tip of the formation without traditional striking duties, the false nine role was emphatically reborn.

Instructed simply to drop deep, receive possession, and dictate play, the legendary attacker dismantled the Madrid defence in a system reminiscent of Hungary’s famous 1953 victory over England.

United States federal agencies and local police are scrambling to secure 11 venues against potential drone threats ahead of the World Cup, following delays caused by government shutdowns and supply chain issues.

The global tournament begins next week and is expected to attract up to seven million visitors across the American host cities.

Protecting the event has been likened to hosting “78 Super Bowls over 39 days” by Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the presidential World Cup task force.

Counter-drone measures delayed

Unmanned aerial vehicles have become a primary concern for law enforcement managing crowd safety at major sporting events.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin admitted to the House Homeland Security Committee that tournament preparations have lagged.

“On the counter-drone measures, everybody’s a little behind.”
“Drones are my biggest concern. Every single day, we improve, but that is a huge concern that we have.”

Delays in implementing these aerial defences were reportedly exacerbated by a partial government shutdown earlier this year.

Funding the security operation

Despite the logistical hurdles, counter-drone systems are now installed at all 11 stadiums hosting matches within the United States.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has directed $250m in grants to local jurisdictions to fund the necessary technology.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service has spent more than $100m over the past 18 months on similar airspace protection systems.

New federal legislation under the Safer Skies Act allows state and local police to intercept devices that threaten public safety under specific circumstances.

Local police deploy hunter tactics

Law enforcement departments in host cities are employing sophisticated methods to monitor and neutralise unauthorised aircraft.

Authorities in Kansas City, which will host team bases for England and Argentina alongside stadium fixtures, plan to utilise specialised “hunter-catcher” drones equipped with nets.

The King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington is investing approximately $12m to protect Seattle’s Lumen Field.

“We have to think about, ‘What is the worst case scenario?’”

Undersheriff Jeff Flohr told local media that aerial dangers have been a priority since tactical preparations began.

“One of our biggest concerns two and a half years ago when we started planning was, ‘What do we do with a dangerous drone?’”

George Russell saw his Formula 1 championship hopes severely dented after a costly pit-lane penalty relegated him to 12th at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, while Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli secured victory.

The British driver has slipped to third in the driver standings and now trails 19-year-old Antonelli by 68 points.

Russell had climbed as high as third on the iconic street circuit before a drive-through penalty abruptly ended his podium challenge.

The Mercedes driver was penalised for crossing the solid white line upon pit-lane entry, shortening the timing loop and triggering a speeding infringement.

A season of relentless frustration

Speaking after the race in Monte Carlo, the 26-year-old admitted his title campaign has been derailed by circumstances outside of his control.

He recently retired from the lead of the Canadian Grand Prix due to a mechanical failure and suffered terrible safety car timing while leading in Japan.

“I’m beyond frustration now,” Russell told the media.

“I’m just struggling to comprehend how this season has panned out.”

“I wish I could take some responsibility for the car breaking down in Canada or the penalties today, but it’s been completely outside of my control, and that is an incredibly difficult pill to swallow.”

Antonelli dominates in opposite garage

While the senior driver struggles with misfortune, his teenage stablemate is making life at the summit of motorsport look incredibly straightforward.

Antonelli’s triumph in the principality marked his fifth consecutive race win of the 2026 campaign.

The Italian prodigy comprehensively outperformed his more experienced garage neighbour across the weekend.

Despite the mounting deficit, 16 rounds still remain on the calendar for the championship momentum to potentially swing back.

However, overtaking on the narrow streets of Monaco proved near-impossible after an early delay trapped the number 63 car behind Isack Hadjar’s ailing vehicle.

“I don’t ever really believe in good luck or bad luck, but when I look at the season as a whole… there’s not a lot I can do.” George Russell

Feyenoord have sacked head coach Robin van Persie after just 16 months in charge following a declining trend in Eredivisie results.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker guided the Rotterdam club to a second-place finish and Champions League qualification in his only full season at the helm.

However, the side ultimately finished 19 points adrift of eventual champions PSV Eindhoven.

The 42-year-old’s departure comes merely two weeks after the board appointed Devy Rigaux as technical director and Robert Eenhoorn as general manager.

Board cite declining performances for dismissal

Rigaux acknowledged the Dutchman’s efforts during a challenging campaign that still secured vital European football.

“Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 1.5 years. He certainly deserves credit for concluding a difficult season with a final second-place finish.”

The Feyenoord technical director explained that a thorough internal analysis prompted the sudden managerial change.

“We took into account, among other things, the development of the style of play and the declining trend in terms of points total, both in Europe and in the Eredivisie.”
“The conclusion was that it is better to start the next season with a new head coach.”

A legendary playing career yields to managerial struggles

The former Dutch international previously enjoyed two spells as a player in Rotterdam at both the beginning and end of his illustrious career.

He scored a total of 46 goals across 122 appearances for his boyhood team before retiring.

Transitioning into coaching, the ex-forward initially worked as an assistant under Dick Advocaat while developing his tactical acumen within the youth setup.

He briefly departed to take charge of Heerenveen in May 2024 before returning to manage Feyenoord nine months later.

During his playing days in England, the prolific attacker spent eight successful years in North London and lifted the FA Cup with Arsenal.

A high-profile transfer to Old Trafford followed in 2012, where he immediately fired Manchester United to the Premier League title during his debut season.

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2026 due to an ongoing wrist injury ahead of the tournament’s start on June 29.

The two-time champion has failed to recover from the issue that previously ruled him out of the French Open.

His absence is a significant blow to the prestigious Grand Slam, which begins at the All England Club on Monday.

The 23-year-old Spaniard was the runner-up in last year’s gripping Centre Court final.

Sinner and Swiatek return to SW19

Jannik Sinner fought back from a set down in that 2025 showpiece to claim the men’s trophy for the very first time.

While the men’s draw has lost a major drawcard, the women’s singles promises intense competition.

Iga Swiatek returns to London looking to defend her crown following a dominant campaign last summer.

The defending champion demolished Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to comprehensively secure the 2025 title.

She will face fierce challenges from the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.

Schedule and ticket information

The two-week grass-court event runs from June 29 until the men’s singles final on Sunday, July 12.

Main draw matches on the outer courts are scheduled to commence daily at 11:00 BST.

Action on the primary show courts starts later, with No. 1 Court opening at 13:00 BST and Centre Court at 13:30 BST.

Fans hoping to secure last-minute access can still utilise the iconic Wimbledon queue for daily allocations.

Limited tickets for the main show courts and thousands of ground passes are distributed each morning.

Unsuccessful ballot entrants on the official waiting list may also find opportunities directly via the tournament website.

Premium options are also available through online Debenture tickets or official hospitality packages.