分类： sports

Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) has been thrown into unexpected upheaval just 24 hours before the opening match of its flagship State of Origin series, following breaking news that chief executive Andrew Abdo has stepped down abruptly to accept a senior leadership role at Tennis Australia.

The bombshell development comes at a critical juncture for the NRL, as the governing body prepares to enter high-stakes negotiations for its next round of broadcast rights – the current media agreement is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2027 season, making a stable leadership transition a top priority for the commission.

While the NRL has not issued an official confirmation of Abdo’s departure as of the latest update, multiple credible media reports have confirmed the resignation. Abdo took over the top executive role from predecessor Todd Greenberg in 2020, initially stepping in as interim CEO before earning a permanent appointment that September. His tenure will be remembered for steering the organisation through the unprecedented disruption of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a period that tested the resilience of every major professional sport.

Per emerging reporting, Abdo is set to replace Craig Tiley, who has served as chief executive of Tennis Australia for nearly 15 years. In the wake of his departure, NRL Commission chair Peter V’landys is widely expected to step into the role of interim CEO while the organisation launches a search for a permanent successor. Speculation over the permanent role has already begun, with V’landys tipped as a potential candidate to take on a permanent executive chairman position, while South Sydney Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly has also been named as an early contender. NRL officials have indicated they will not rush the appointment process, prioritising finding the right candidate to build on Abdo’s work.

During his four-year tenure, Abdo led the NRL to a series of landmark achievements, including delivering record-breaking annual revenue for the governing body. He also oversaw bold expansion efforts that pushed the code into new markets, headlined by the groundbreaking 2024 season opener held in Las Vegas to grow the sport’s international profile, as well as plans for new professional teams based in Perth, Western Australia, and Papua New Guinea. This story remains developing, with further updates expected from the NRL in the coming hours.

The 2026 Roland Garros kicked off its main draw on Sunday with a dramatic opening night headlined by 39-year-old Novak Djokovic, who fought through a massive test to keep his historic chase of a 25th Grand Slam title alive, while Alexander Zverev cruised to a comfortable straight-set win amid a rash of early upsets for seeded and former champions.

Djokovic entered this year’s Paris tournament with a golden opportunity to etch his name deeper into tennis history: a fourth Coupe des Mousquetaires title would cement him as the outright leader for the most major men’s singles titles in the sport, and top-ranked two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz’s injury withdrawal cleared a major path to the crown. It had been two and a half years since the Serb lifted his last Grand Slam trophy at the 2023 US Open, and a shoulder injury had sidelined him for almost the entire 2026 clay court swing heading into Paris, making his opening match even more high-stakes.

Facing 2.01-meter French big server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic found his historic dream on the brink of an early end. Buoyed by a raucous home crowd, Mpetshi Perricard took the opening set 7-5, and his precise, blistering serve left Djokovic with almost no return opportunities in the early going. But drawing on decades of Grand Slam experience, Djokovic dug in, eventually broke through the Frenchman’s serve resistance, and rallied to seal a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory after just under three hours on court. The win marked Djokovic’s first clay court victory of 2026 and stretched his record to 82 career Grand Slam main draw appearances.

“It was very challenging, obviously mentally,” Djokovic told reporters after the match. “First set, zero chance on him serving. It’s one of the most tremendous serves in terms of precision and speed that I have ever faced in my career. Obviously, the crowd gets into it and you feel the pressure even more. All in all, it was a good match to be part of. Three hours, just what the doctor ordered at age 39.” Djokovic will advance to face another French player, Valentin Royer, in the second round, after Royer defeated Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien.

Earlier in the day, played out under scorching 30-plus degree Celsius heat, German second seed Alexander Zverev earned a far more straightforward opening win, beating France’s Benjamin Bonzi 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. The only small hiccup in Zverev’s polished performance came when he dropped a break of serve in the second set, but he quickly reclaimed control to close out the straight-sets win. “It was always nice to start with a straight-sets win,” Zverev said, with the high temperatures making the shorter match a welcome result. He will next face Czech player Tomas Machac, who defeated Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in straight sets to advance.

Other early winners on opening day included Russia’s Karen Khachanov, 26th seed Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, 19-year-old Brazilian prospect Joao Fonseca, 11th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, and Russian eighth seed teen Mirra Andreeva, all of whom claimed straight-set opening round wins.

The day was not short of upsets, however. American seventh seed Taylor Fritz was ousted in four sets by unseeded compatriot Nishesh Basavareddy, ranked 148th in the world, marking another early Roland Garros exit for the top seed. 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova was also eliminated, falling to American 26th seed Hailey Baptiste in three sets. Former Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Sofia Kenin also bowed out in the opening round.

In the day’s most poignant story, Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk extended her clay court winning streak to 12 matches with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over Oksana Selekhmeteva, but revealed after the match that her parents’ home in Kyiv had narrowly escaped destruction that morning, when a Russian missile landed just 100 meters from the property during a large-scale bombardment of the Ukrainian capital. “This morning, 100 metres from my parents’ house, a missile fell,” Kostyuk said. “All my thoughts and all my heart was to the people of Ukraine today. My biggest example are Ukrainian people today.”

In a tense Australian Football League clash at the packed Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, West Coast Eagles’ young breakout defender Josh Lindsay has framed a narrow 10-point loss to Collingwood as a critical stepping stone for his young team’s long-term development, arguing that every hard-fought outing is building the foundation for future success.

The match marked a major milestone for Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury, and the Magpies looked set to deliver a blowout celebration early in the third quarter when they stretched their lead out to 29 points, seemingly on track to secure a comfortable win. But West Coast refused to fold, mounting a steady comeback that pulled the Eagles within three points late in the fourth quarter thanks to a major score from Jobe Shanahan. Collingwood’s Dan McStay and Nick Daicos ultimately slammed the door on the comeback, kicking late decisive goals to secure the 10-point win and preserve Pendlebury’s milestone celebration.

Despite leaving the MCG without four points, Lindsay, who earned an AFL Rising Star nomination earlier this season, said the four-quarter competitive showing proved how far the rebuilding Eagles have come week-to-week. “We’re probably a bit stiff not to get the result there, but I think our footy is building every week. We’re only getting better from here,” the 10-game veteran explained. “I think it’s just getting more games and experience. The more footy you play, you learn. If you can continue on playing footy, I’ve played 10 games so far and I’ve learned so much. Playing footy together is how I think we’re going to really build.”

The left-footed half-back has quickly emerged as one of West Coast’s most reliable ball handlers and elite kickers in his short senior career, a skill he attributes to a mix of natural instinct and intentional off-hours practice. “I think some of it comes natural but I work super hard on it,” Lindsay said. “Whether that’s before or after training, the more reps I can do the better I am going to get. I definitely say it’s hard work.”

While speculation could eventually see the young talent pushed further up the ground into the midfield, Lindsay said he is perfectly content honing his craft in his current half-back role alongside experienced leaders Liam Duggan and Liam Baker for now. “I love my role across half back, the boys give me such good confidence,” he said. “Whether down the track I do venture into the midfield, time will tell, but I am loving down back at the moment.”

The final day of the World Surf League (WSL) New Zealand Pro competition faced an unexpected and frightening suspension on Monday, after a marine animal attacked a photographer working in the waters off Raglan, on New Zealand’s North Island. Organizers have yet to confirm whether the aggressor was a shark or a sea lion, but the incident sent shockwaves through the event and forced an immediate pause to the men’s semi-final round. At the time of the attack, elite Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira were mid-competition, and both competitors witnessed the sudden incident unfold. WSL officials immediately activated a “code red” emergency protocol, halting all on-water activity while rapid-response medical teams rushed to the scene to assist the injured photographer. The victim has been identified as Ed Sloane, an Australian water photographer who has become a familiar figure on the WSL circuit. Renato Hickel, WSL Vice President of Tours and Competition, confirmed in an interview during the league’s live broadcast that Sloane suffered small puncture wounds from the attack, and was immediately transported to a local hospital via ambulance for further treatment. “We activate code red whenever there is a marine life attack on a competitor or event staff, and this time it was our beloved water photographer,” Hickel told broadcast viewers. “Thank God he is in good spirits, he is doing as well as can be expected after what happened.” Hickel added that while investigators have not formally confirmed the animal’s identity, the on-scene treating doctor leaned toward the conclusion that the attack came from a sea lion rather than a shark. He also noted that the two competing surfers, who saw the splash and the attack unfold from the water, were left deeply shaken by the incident, which reinforced organizers’ decision to pause the event immediately. After the attack, Sloane released a brief statement through WSL to share his condition and thank response teams for their quick action. “I am doing okay, I’ve had bites to my left foot and am getting medical attention,” Sloane said. “I love this place and can’t wait to watch an epic Finals Day. Cheering for everyone for a great finish to the event.” After a several-hour pause to assess safety and deploy additional protective measures, WSL organizers resumed the competition. New safety protocols added for the remainder of the event include extra jet skis positioned for rapid response, and a dedicated drone spotter to continuously monitor the water for any potential marine threats. As of the conclusion of the event’s restart, the exact species of the attacking creature remains unconfirmed. The WSL holds its annual competitive season between April and December each year, traveling to iconic surf destinations across the globe to crown its annual champions.

The final matchday of the English Premier League season delivered a rollercoaster of emotion on Sunday, as Tottenham Hotspur secured their top-flight survival at West Ham United’s expense, while two of the league’s most iconic figures said tearful goodbyes and Arsenal celebrated their long-awaited title win.

Tottenham entered their final home fixture against Everton knowing even a single point would likely be enough to stay up, holding a two-point advantage over West Ham and a far superior goal difference that would swing survival in their favour if results finished level. It took until the stroke of halftime for the pressure that had built across the entire season for the north London side to break, when Joao Palhinha put Spurs ahead. The Portuguese midfielder’s initial header cannoned off the goalpost, but he reacted quickest to poke the rebound into the net, and was immediately swarmed by jubilant teammates.

A few miles across east London, West Ham delivered a dominant 3-0 victory over Leeds United at the London Stadium, with goals from Valentin Castellano, Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson. But the three points proved too little, too late: Tottenham held on to their 1-0 lead, sending West Ham down to the Championship for next season alongside already-relegated Burnley and Wolves. The Hammers, who have been a Premier League mainstay since earning promotion in 2012, will now plying their trade in England’s second tier.

“This day for us is much more than winning a game,” match-winner Palhinha told BBC Sport after the full-time whistle. “A lot of people depend their lives on this club. It was a tough season but I think this season can help for the future. We can take a lot from it even if we didn’t reach the level Tottenham should.” Tottenham, ranked the ninth-richest football club in the world, have enjoyed a late-season upturn in form under interim manager Roberto De Zerbi, who joined the club in late March as their third head coach of a turbulent campaign. For West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the disappointment was unavoidable after his side did everything they could to claw out survival. “We knew it was going to be difficult, it was not in our hands,” he told Sky Sports. “We did our part and we hoped for the best — it didn’t happen. We have to pass the sad moment that we are living.”

The day was as much about emotional farewells as it was about league outcomes, as Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola took charge of his final match at the Etihad Stadium after 10 seasons of unprecedented success. The Catalan coach confirmed last Friday he would leave the club at the end of the season, bringing to an end a decade that delivered six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy and a host of other domestic and European honours. Before kickoff, City fans unfurled a massive banner over the stands bearing Guardiola’s portrait, with the words “Game Changer” and “History Maker” emblazoned across it. The match ended in a 2-1 win for visitors Aston Villa, the newly crowned Europa League champions, who secured fourth place in the table and a spot in next season’s Champions League with two goals from Ollie Watkins after Antoine Semenyo put City ahead. Addressing the crowd after the final whistle, an emotional Guardiola said: “In the next years, if you see me in the streets in the United States or Europe or somewhere and you are a Man City fan, come to me and hug me. I will need it.”

Guardiola was not the only Liverpool legend saying goodbye. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson played their final match for the Reds, who finished fifth in the table after a 1-1 draw with Brentford, enough to secure the final Champions League spot for next season. Before kickoff, Liverpool’s coaching staff and squad formed a guard of honour for the pair, who were later embraced by club icons Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush. “I think I cried more than in my whole life,” Salah told Sky Sports. “I’m not really an emotional guy. We lived our youth here, sharing everything from the beginning to the end. We put this club back where it belongs.”

For Arsenal, the final day was all celebration, as the Gunners lifted the Premier League trophy in front of travelling fans at Selhurst Park after a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. It is Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004, ending a 20-year wait for the top-flight crown after three consecutive second-place finishes. Manager Mikel Arteta admitted he had doubted whether the club would break their drought during those near-misses. “That was beautiful,” he said. “Look at the joy of all of the people, they have been waiting for this for so long. We have had difficult moments along the way but it is all worth it when you see that kind of reaction.”

Elsewhere, newly appointed Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will have no European football to contend with next season after the Blues, playing with 10 men for much of the match, fell to a 2-1 away defeat to Sunderland. The win lifted Sunderland into next season’s Europa League alongside Bournemouth, while Brighton & Hove Albion will compete in the Conference League.

Twenty-three-year-old Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk turned a moment of personal terror into a powerful tribute to her homeland on Sunday, as she claimed a gritty first-round victory at the Roland Garros French Open just hours after a Russian missile landed just 100 meters from her family’s residential property in Kyiv.

Seeded 15th in the singles draw, Kostyuk delivered a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over Oksana Selekhmeteva, a former Russian player who recently acquired Spanish citizenship just four days ahead of the tournament, kicking off her Paris campaign with a result that carried far more meaning than a spot in the second round.

In an on-court interview immediately after the match, Kostyuk opened up about the terrifying morning she endured before stepping onto the Paris clay. “This morning, 100 metres from my parent’s house, a missile fell,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud of myself today, I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my life. All my thoughts and all my heart were with the people of Ukraine today. My biggest example are the Ukrainian people today.”

Speaking to reporters later, Kostyuk explained the strike was part of a massive, hours-long Russian air bombardment across Kyiv that unfolded overnight and into Sunday morning. While her family emerged unharmed, the experience shook the athlete deeply, even as she acknowledged the persistent uncertainty of life amid the ongoing invasion. “It was half of the night, it was happening throughout, like, four hours. (My family) feel okay. Obviously very scary, but, you know, it’s not the first very difficult night, not the last, so, you know, they are adapting,” she said.

Kostyuk noted that the initial 2022 Russian invasion was defined by crippling uncertainty, but Sunday’s strike was one of the most harrowing events she has lived through since the war began. “Right now, I think it was just the closest that it has ever been to my house, and this what probably makes it the most emotional,” she said. “There are better days, worse days, but yeah, this one was, I would say top three worst ones, for sure.”

Despite feeling physically ill with anxiety after receiving the news of the near-miss, Kostyuk said she never considered withdrawing from the tournament. She emphasized that so long as her loved ones remained safe, she felt obligated to compete. “Everyone is healthy, alive… So these things, you know, it’s difficult, but none of my close friends or people I know is injured or dead,” she explained. “I don’t want to think what I would do if something worse happened, but I knew that this is the day to go out and play, and it didn’t cross my mind today that I shouldn’t go out. There were obviously times in the match when I would go back to thinking about it, because most of the morning I felt sick just thinking that if it was 100 metres closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today.”

Kostyuk has maintained a consistent, public stance against the war since the invasion began, refusing to shake hands with Russian-born players before and after matches. She also criticized the global professional tennis tour for sidelining awareness of the conflict in recent years. “I live it always, and I have also adapted to the fact that the tour forgot about it,” she said. “I’m still trying to do things that I can do and what I can to influence, and I use my platform, I use my speeches or, whenever I have a moment to remind about it, to remind of the horror of, you know, everyday lives of people. People adapt, people forget, people move on. There is a lot of issues in the world, a lot of wars, and things that people want to support or people are thinking about.”

With her first-round win secured, Kostyuk will next face American player Katie Volynets in the second round, after Volynets defeated France’s home crowd favorite Clara Burel in straight sets.