Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her US Open match after a strong cannabis smell drifted onto court, creating a bizarre interruption during her commanding third-round start against Kamilla Rakhimova.
Persistent rain has caused significant disruptions at the Asian Games, affecting tennis, surfing, and cricket, leading to India and Pakistan advancing to the T20 semi-finals due to higher rankings after their quarter-final matches were washed out.
An ad-hoc committee overseeing Indian table tennis has removed official ranking points from national tournaments, including the upcoming Panchkula edition, causing significant anxiety among players like Ankur Bhattacharya. The committee, formed after the Table Tennis Federation of India's suspension, states its mandate is to protect athletes but will only award points once an official calendar is finalised, impacting team selections.
Naomi Osaka and other top tennis players are raising concerns about the disruptive presence of social media influencers at the US Open. While acknowledging their potential to promote the sport, players like Osaka and Jessica Pegula highlight instances of disrespect and distraction during matches due to influencers staging photo shoots and creating content, calling for better management of their activities. Daniil Medvedev offers a more balanced view, seeing potential benefits if disruptions are avoided.
The Sports Ministry has removed para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal from India's Para Asian Games contingent following allegations of kickbacks and protests from athletes. The contingent of 166 athletes and 109 support staff is set to compete in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, starting October 18, with several prominent Paralympians included despite selection controversies.
India achieved significant milestones at the Asian Games, securing its first-ever women's trap gold through Neeru Dhanda and another gold in the women's 4x400m relay. These victories pushed India's medal tally past 50, placing the country in the top 10. The day also saw strong performances in boxing, volleyball, archery, squash, and tennis, contributing to a successful outing despite some disappointments in other events.
India finished fourth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, a significant dip from the previous edition's record haul. While traditional strongholds like shooting and athletics underperformed, breakthroughs in archery, wrestling, golf, boxing, hockey, and cricket showcased a broadening sporting base. The performance serves as a reality check on sustaining progress towards top global rankings and highlights areas for improvement in mental conditioning and preparation.
Second seed Elena Rybakina ended Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen's stirring US Open run with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory on Wednesday, advancing to the semi-finals and securing the world number one ranking for the first time.
The Indian men's table tennis team rallied to defeat Slovakia 3-2 in a Group 7 match at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London.
Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade secured the men's and women's singles titles, respectively, at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, contributing to India's near-total dominance with all but one gold medal.
Rutuja Bhosale voices her frustration over line calls during the Billie Jean King Cup, while Captain Vishal Uppal reflects on India's performance and looks ahead to the match against Mongolia.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner heads to Wimbledon under scrutiny after his French Open disappointment, but coaches and experts believe the world No. 1 remains the favourite to retain his title despite fitness concerns.
Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon title defence gathered pace on Friday as the world number one swept aside American Jenson Brooksby 6-4 6-3 6-4 to enter the fourth round and reinforce his status as the man to beat at the All England Club.
Wimbledon begins June 29 with Serena Williams returning after four years, Novak Djokovic chasing a 25th Slam, and a reshaped field after Carlos Alcaraz's injury.
Novak Djokovic has confirmed long-time friend and compatriot Viktor Troicki as his head coach ahead of next week's French Open.
The World No 3, who last won a clay court title at the French Open final in 2024, targets success on the red dirt with a new coach and renewed zeal.
Alexander Zverev will play his fourth grand slam final on Sunday and will hope to end his wait for a Major title when he meets Flavio Cabolli at the French Open final on Sunday.
World number one Jannik Sinner has the opportunity to complete his Grand Slam collection at the French Open, especially with Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal altering the tournament dynamics. Sinner's improved clay court game and consistent performance make him a strong contender for the title.
World No. 4 Coco Gauff expresses concern over civilian casualties amid the Iran conflict, as the crisis disrupts tennis events in the Middle East and strands players in Dubai.
Several soccer games in Mexico were postponed due to violence following a military operation and the reported death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, alias "El Mencho."
Travel disruptions following airspace closures in the Gulf have forced Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev to miss an Indian Wells exhibition, while an ATP Challenger in Fujairah was cancelled amid security concerns.
The escalating conflict involving the U.S. and Israel with Iran has led to widespread disruption in the world of sports, with events postponed, travel plans thrown into chaos, and athletes seeking asylum.
Jannik Sinner's dedication to patience and control has transformed him into a formidable clay court player, making him a favourite for the French Open, even as he navigates the mental challenges of heightened expectations and a potential rematch with Carlos Alcaraz.
Jack Draper crashes out of Miami Open after loss to Reilly Opelka, while Ethan Quinn stuns Casper Ruud in a breakthrough win.
India's Billie Jean King Cup team expresses confidence and readiness for the Asia-Oceania Group I ties despite an injury to Shrivalli Bhamidipaty. Captain Vishal Uppal highlights the team's depth and preparation, while players emphasise the advantage of home conditions and familiarity with opponents.
'We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and the governing bodies have left us no choice but to seek accountability through the courts.'
Carlos Alcaraz powered into his third successive Australian Open quarter-final, beating Tommy Paul in straight sets in a match interrupted by a medical emergency.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the matches played at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
Defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner continued his stellar run at the hardcourt Grand Slams with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 hammering of Kazakh 23rd seed Alexander Bublik on Monday to make the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Both Caravaggio and Djokovic entered worlds ruled by giants, shattered conventions with defiance, and redefined greatness within the rigid lines of their craft. One with a brush, the other with a racquet but both turned their tools into instruments of disruption. And ultimate greatness.
The world number two was supreme in the opening two sets but then inexplicably took his foot off the gas before bouncing back from 3-1 down in the fourth set to subdue his 33-year-old opponent for a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory.
Zeng Zhiying, the 58-year-old who made her Olympic debut in Paris representing Chile, was beaten 4-1 by 46-year-old Lebanese player Mariana Sahakian.
Climate protesters halted the US Open women's semi-final between American Coco Gauff and Czech Karolina Muchova for nearly an hour on Thursday.
Spain and Portugal suffered a major power outage on Monday, affecting millions and disrupting airports, metros, and telecom companies.
Amanda Anisimova of the United States won the Qatar Open for her third career title and first since 2022.
The ATP and WTA have extended the suspension of their tours until June 7, the two tennis bodies said in a joint statement on Wednesday, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to shred the sporting calendar. The claycourt season "will not be held as scheduled" due to the suspension, the organising bodies of the men's and women's tours said. The men's ATP and women's WTA rankings will be frozen for the time.
Osaka takes equity stake in crypto exchange FTX
The second round match between former champion Angelique Kerber and Anhelina Kalinina, originally scheduled to begin after Schwartzman and Anderson, was pushed to Thursday.
The All India Tennis Association claimed that Sumit Nagal demanded an annual fee of $50,000 to play Davis Cup ties for India.
'The SGM shall be a hybrid meeting as per Article 8.3 of the Constitution of the IOA. Those who are unable to join the meeting physically, can join the meeting through Webex for which the online link would be available on the website of the IOA.'
