Age proves decisive in US Open 

The US Open Tennis Championships wrapped up week one of two in the sweltering New York summer. All-time great Novak Djokovic bowed out in the first round after his 39-year-old body crumbled against 25-year-old Argentinian Mariano Navone. With the world No. 1 Jannik Sinner absent due to injury, it is Carlos Alcaraz’s tournament to lose. American legends Venus and Serena Williams returned to the doubles court for the first time since 2022, in the midst of Serena Williams’ inexplicable comeback to professional tennis at age 44. The Williams sisters drew adulation from the home crowd, but were ousted in the first round by much younger opponents Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in a third-set tiebreaker, 10-7.

 

Germany hosts Women’s Basketball World Cup

Group play wrapped up on Monday in the 20th edition of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, and the draw for the knockout stage was finalized. The United States is cruising behind familiar stars such as guard Paige Bueckers, guard Caitlin Clark and forward Angel Reese. Team USA beat Italy 55-52, narrowly escaping a major upset, but defeated China and the Czech Republic by over 30 points each. The American team is the heavy favorite, but they lost two key players — forward A’ja Wilson and guard Kelsey Plum — due to injury before the start of play. Secondary title contenders include France, Belgium and Australia. Team USA will play the winner between Hungary and Japan on Sept. 10 on the quest for a fifth consecutive title.

 

Antonelli races to victory in Italian Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli stunned the crowd with a comeback on Saturday to become the first Italian man to win in Monza in 60 years. The victory was Antonelli’s seventh in the 2026 season, and vaulted him 67 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell at the top of the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship leaderboard. At just 20 years old, Antonelli is the heavy favorite to take home the first Drivers’ Championship of his career in December. Familiar names, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, fill out the top five positions in the Drivers’ Championship behind the two Mercedes drivers. The Italian race is the 13th out of 23 on the Formula One calendar, which will stop in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25.