General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 11:41 AM ET

Tennis

Top contenders are advancing at Wimbledon, though not without scares. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek survived a first-round scare, eventually overcoming Taylor Townsend in three sets, and later powered past Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to reach the third round earning an A+ verdict. Defending champion Jannik Sinner also faced a stern test, dropping the first two sets before mounting a comeback against Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set thriller. Sinner admitted he was "happy but not the freshest" after another tough match against Wu Yibing. Coco Gauff rallied to reach the third round, defeating Solana Sierra 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7) drawing on past experiences. Arthur Fery kept British hopes alive by fighting back from a set down to reach the third round amidst a controversy, while Katie Swan also advanced after overcoming injury concerns. Novak Djokovic, aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam, began his campaign with a hard-fought win over Wu Yibing in his first major appearance. Meanwhile, Serena Williams made her singles return after nearly four years, falling in a three-set thriller to Maya Joint despite showing flashes of her old form. Nick Kyrgios's return to Wimbledon ended swiftly in the men's doubles, marked by an audible expletive directed at an umpire leading to a potential fine. Naomi Osaka chose to honor Japan with a Wimbledon kimono, navigating the tournament's strict dress code with inspired fashion. The tournament has also seen a significant number of British players eliminated early, prompting an inquest into the state of domestic tennis with 15 singles first-round exits.

Rugby Union

The inaugural Nations Championship is set to kick off with several key storylines. Outgoing Australia coach Joe Schmidt has ruled out a return to Leinster, stating his international coaching career is unlikely to continue. England will face South Africa in Johannesburg with George Furbank making his first start in nearly two years in the championship opener. Wales have made six changes for their opener against Fiji, with Alex Cuthbert reverting to wing and Leigh Halfpenny joining the coaching staff as interim kicking coach for the summer tests. Wales have also faced internal disputes, with the squad settling a disagreement over match fees with the Welsh Rugby Union just days before their Fiji opener a significant hurdle. Ireland's squad is grappling with injuries as they prepare to face Australia in Sydney, with coach Simon Easterby expecting a physical contest at altitude. Sam Prendergast earns a recall to the Ireland starting team for the Australia match, while Jamie Osborne gets a chance to prove his credentials on the wing amidst other team changes. The Welsh Rugby Union has delayed revealing details of its plan to cut a professional men's team by 2028, a move expected in the "coming weeks" following financial challenges. In club news, Scarlets have announced a £2.1m loss for the 2024-2025 season and confirmed Nigel Davies as their head coach for the next two seasons amidst 'challenging' times. Exeter Chiefs have completed their takeover by Black Knight, the owners of Premier League club Bournemouth marking a new era. In the Champions Cup, Northampton and Bath have been handed difficult pool assignments, drawn with the Bulls and Montpellier, while Leicester face a challenging path in their pool with rule changes impacting the competition.

WNBA & Basketball

The WNBA season is eight weeks in, with a new set of rankings highlighting top performers. The Minnesota Lynx have ascended to the No. 1 spot in the latest power rankings, while the Las Vegas Aces remain at No. 2 showing consistent form. The New York Liberty captured the Commissioner's Cup title, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 93-85, with Sabrina Ionescu scoring 26 points and Breanna Stewart adding 25 securing their second title. However, A'ja Wilson has been ruled out of the Commissioner's Cup final due to an ankle injury impacting the Aces' lineup. ESPN's rankings of the 50 best players feature a mix of established MVPs like A'ja Wilson and promising rookies eight weeks into the season. Fantasy managers can look to add players like Kristine Anigwe and Lexie Brown as free agent options. In men's basketball news, LeBron James is set to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and enter free agency, with speculation mounting about potential landing spots for his 24th season, including the Golden State Warriors marking a potential career shift.

Golf & Other Sports

United States President Donald Trump has expressed his hope to visit the Irish Open golf tournament at his Doonbeg resort in County Clare in September signaling a potential high-profile appearance. Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has denied new allegations of misconduct and rejected claims that he was forced to leave several California golf clubs addressing recent controversies. Sergio Garcia will miss the Open Championship for the third time in four years, failing to qualify for the event continuing a recent trend. In boxing, Briton Moses Itauma has been ordered to begin talks with Frank Sanchez regarding a potential fight for the IBF heavyweight title vacated by Oleksandr Usyk a significant step in his career. Jaron "Boots" Ennis has climbed to the top of the junior middleweight rankings after defeating Xander Zayas solidifying his position. The Enhanced Games, which encouraged performance-enhancing drug use, concluded with only one world record set, though participating athletes received substantial paychecks offering a unique model. In horse racing, jockey Frankie Dettori is recovering in hospital after breaking his ribs in a car crash sustaining injuries.

International Rugby & Cricket

The rugby landscape is preparing for the Nations Championship, with Wales squad members settling a dispute over match fees with the Welsh Rugby Union just days before their opener. Dafydd Jenkins has been ruled out of Wales' summer tests due to injury, impacting their squad selection for the upcoming matches. Leigh Halfpenny will join the Wales coaching team as interim kicking coach for the summer series offering experienced guidance. Meanwhile, Ireland's preparations for the Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney are complicated by injuries as they face a tough challenge. The new Nations Championship, pitting northern hemisphere against southern hemisphere, promises intense competition with global supremacy at stake. In cricket, England's T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa is set to go ahead with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt passed fit after an injury scare boosting team confidence. Former spinner Alex Hartley believes England is playing their best cricket "for years" and is confident about their semi-final prospects following strong recent form. Ellyse Perry gave Australia an injury scare during their semi-final win over the West Indies, retiring hurt but is expected to be fit