Latest - It will be Venus against Venus in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
Michael Venus Photo: Photosport
New Zealand's Michael Venus has entered the mixed doubles with Alicja Rosolska from Poland and they've been drawn against Venus Williams and Jamie Murray in the first round.
It will be the first time the two Venus's have ever played against each other and it's sure to be a match that gets plenty of attention, with it possibly being the final time Williams plays at Wimbledon, depending on the result.
Although Venus Williams exploits at Wimbledon have been overtaken by her sister Serena, she is still one of the all times greats at the grass court tournament, having won the singles title at Wimbledon on five occasions and the ladies doubles six times.
The mixed doubles at Wimbledon is one of the few trophies Williams is yet to lift, and the 42-year-old is only playing in the mixed doubles at this year's Championships and she was given a wildcard to team up with Andy Murray's brother.
Meanwhile Erin Routliffe has teamed up with Germany's Andreas Mies for the mixed doubles which is scheduled to start this weekend.
Phoenix first round opponent confirmed
The Wellington Phoenix men will play in Tasmania for just the second time after being draw against Devonport City Strikers in the round of 32 of the renamed Australia Cup.
Reno Piscopo of Phoenix (R), celebrates a goal Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
The Phoenix will visit the National Premier League Tasmania leaders on a yet to be determined date in late July or early August.
It will be the club's first Cup match in Tasmania, although the Nix did play Western United in Launceston last year.
The Phoenix advanced beyond the round of 32 for just the second time in last season's competition, before being beaten in the semi-finals.
The Wellington Phoenix have avoided one of the three all-A-League ties in the round of 32.
Newly crowned A-League champions Western United will face Cup holders Melbourne Victory, three-time Cup winners Adelaide United will visit Newcastle Jets and 2017 champions Sydney FC will host Central Coast Mariners.
Mitchell on the rise
The New Zealand batting pair of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell have attained career-best positions in the latest ICC Men's Test Player Rankings following their efforts in the third test loss to England.
Daryl Mitchell Photo: Allan McKenzie / www.photosport.nz
Mitchell and Blundell, who were involved in century partnerships in all three Tests of the series, are both in the top 20 now.
Mitchell's scores of 109 and 56 see him advance four places to 12th position while Blundell's knocks of 55 and 88 not out have lifted him 11 slots to 20th position.
England's Joe Root remains number one with Kane Williamson staying at five.
In the bowling rankings Australian Pat Cummins is number one with Kyle Jamieson six, Neil Wagner 10, Trent Boult 12 and Tim Southee 14.
Crampton the Star
Midcourter Gina Crampton has been named the Stars player of the ANZ netball Premiership.
Gina Crampton Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Stars enjoyed their winningest season in franchise history, with 11 regular season victories, an elimination final triumph, before reaching the grand final for the second time where they lost to the Pulse.
In her second season with the Stars, Crampton often ignited the Stars attack with poise and pace with ball in hand and led the competition in centre pass receives and goal circle feeds.
Defender Elle Temu's superb season didn't go unnoticed by her peers and fans alike as she picked up three awards for her tremendous defensive efforts.
Temu was named both players and members choice player of the year after her most industrious campaign, where she frequently disrupted opposition attacks with 78 deflections and 42 intercepts throughout, forming a fearsome defensive pairing with Anna Harrison.
Temu was also recognised for her contribution off-court with the Matariki award which is given to the player who displays team values on and off the court.
All even in Galle
Australia bundled out Sri Lanka for 212 but endured a top order wobble of their own before reaching 98-3 in reply after a frenetic, spin-dominated day one of the opening test in Galle.
Usman Khawaja rode his luck to an unbeaten 47, while Travis Head was on six at the close with Australia still 114 behind in what promises to be a low-scoring contest.
Earlier, a belligerent 58 by Niroshan Dickwella rescued Sri Lanka who had been on 97-5 in the second session.
-Reuters
NBA cap rises, again
The NBA salary cap is rising again with it going up by $19 million next season to $199 million.
Steph Curry Photo: AFP
The NBA league year kicks off this weekend with unrestricted free agency.
In the past 10 years, the salary cap in the NBA has increased more than 80 percent.
In 2021-22, teams had a salary cap of $180 million, benefiting from the new digital rights agreements and broadcast rights expansion the NBA included in its most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Even with the increase, many contenders, including the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, are well over the 2022-23 salary cap number and deep into luxury tax territory.
Golden State's payroll last season was $275 million.
-Reuters
World Cup ticket sales going well
Organisers have sold 1.8 million tickets for this year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with the next round of ticket sales opening on July 5.
There is a special category of tickets available only to residents of host nation Qatar and fans in the Gulf Arab state have bought the largest number of tickets, FIFA said.
Aside from Qatar, the top countries where fans bought tickets are Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, FIFA said.
FIFA expects to offer a total of 3 million match tickets during the 28-day tournament, which kicks off Nov. 21, a spokesperson said.
-Reuters
Piquet apologises for Hamilton comment
Brazil's triple Formula One champion Nelson Piquet has apologised to Lewis Hamilton after a video emerged of him using an apparent racial slur in Portuguese when referring to the Mercedes driver.
Lewis Hamilton Photo:
Piquet, 69, insisted in a statement however that the "ill thought out" comment made last November had been mis-translated into English.
"The term used is one that has widely and historically been used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for 'guy' or 'person' and was never intended to offend," he said.
"I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour.
"I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct.
"Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect."
Seven times world champion Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport, called for action yesterday to change "archaic mindsets" after Piquet's comments triggered a media storm and drew widespread condemnation.
-Reuters
Sharma in doubt for test
India's captain Rohit Sharma may miss their test match against England starting on Friday after he tested positive for COVID-19, but the team will take a late call on his inclusion after his next COVID test, head coach Rahul Dravid said.
Rohit Sharma Photo: Photosport
Sharma tested positive during a warm-up match in Leicester last week and the question of who leads the side in his absence has been left hanging, with vice-captain KL Rahul not in the squad due to an injury.
India were 2-1 ahead in the series last September when the final test at Old Trafford was cancelled due to COVID-19 cases in their camp. The fifth test will be played in Edgbaston from Friday.
Dravid did not say whether fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah would lead the side if Sharma was unavailable, saying the Indian cricket board would make a decision. Mayank Agarwal was added to the squad as cover for Sharma.
Sharma's potential exclusion could complicate India's decision-making when picking the playing 11, but Dravid said they would finalise the lineup only after they have seen the pitch the day before the game.
Virat Kohli's form has also been a cause for concern, with the former captain last hitting a century nearly three years ago. But Dravid said the 33-year-old was "ticking all the right boxes" to come out of his slump.
-Reuters