If you were forwarded this email (hi! welcome!), you can sign up for the newsletter here.

Good afternoon.

Is it too late to become a grand slam champion?

Tonight, you’ll get a sense of the answer, as the Australian Open hosts the ‘One Point Slam’, a tournament where every match is decided by a single point.

Australian amateurs will take on the likes of Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek, with a $1 million prize pool on the line at Rod Laver Arena.

Players will determine who serves by playing rock, paper, scissors. Professional players will be allowed one serve, while amateurs will be given two.

The field will feature up to 12 players from the ATP Tour, 12 from the WTA Tour, eight wildcards, eight State Championship winners and eight qualifiers, making it one of the most unpredictable events on the tennis calendar.

The action starts from 7pm (AEDT) on 9Now and Stan Sport.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

3
The consecutive number of times that Maya Joint has beaten 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Joint, who is Australia’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, beat the American star in straight sets (7-6, 6-3) to advance. In the Round of 16, Joint will face fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanović. 

Joint will be the first Australian woman to be seeded at the AO since Ash Barty (Getty)

Quote of the day

"People aren't necessarily aware that's actually a choice you have. Some athletes will be enhanced, some athletes will not be enhanced."
British sprinter Reece Prescod speaking to BBC Radio 4 about his decision not to take performance-enhancing drugs before competing in the Enhanced Games. Prescod is the fourth fastest man in British history and has a 100m personal best of 9.93 seconds. The Enhanced Games is a multi-sport event (athletics, swimming, weightlifting) where athletes will be permitted to take substances usually banned in professional sport by anti-doping bodies.

Prescod (centre) has said he will race the Enhanced Games as a clean athlete (Getty)

Random fact of the day

In the third-place playoff match between South Korea and Türkiye at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Turkish player Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal in men’s World Cup history. Even though South Korea started the match with possession, Şükür scored after 10.8 seconds. Türkiye went on to win the game 3-2. 

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🎾 Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic has pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career, stunning former Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets at the Adelaide International. Vukic won both tiebreaks in a straight-sets victory (7-6, 7-6) to move into the second round and join fellow Australian Rinky Hijikata. Hijikata advanced after beating compatriot Tristan Schoolkate, continuing a strong showing from the Aussie men in Adelaide.

Vukic hits a forehand in Adelaide last night (Getty)

Manchester United have appointed former midfielder Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the English Premier League season. Carrick, who briefly held the role in 2021, will take charge this weekend in the side’s derby against Manchester City. The club has turned to Carrick after sacking Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim earlier this month.

Michael Carrick is taking charge of United (Getty)

🏎️ Australian F1 driver Jack Doohan has left Alpine after he and the French racing team agreed to part ways ahead of the 2026 Formula One season. Doohan, who debuted in F1 in late 2024, started the 2025 season as one of Alpine’s top two drivers but was demoted after six races and spent the remainder of the season as a reserve driver. Alpine thanked the 22-year-old for his professionalism, with Doohan now set to explore other racing opportunities.

Aussie motorsports driver Jack Doohan (Getty)

Together with Deakin University

If you’re the kind of person who checks team lists, debates tactics, or plans weekends around sport…this one’s for you

Deakin University has once again been ranked #1 in the world for Sport Science in the Shanghai Ranking's Global Rankings for 2025. That’s seven times on top, and five years in a row ahead of 300+ universities worldwide.

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science you can look forward to a career in in athlete performance, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, coaching, community health and more.

If turning a passion for sport into a real career sounds good, this is your sign.

I’ve got 1 minute

Tom Curran helped the Stars to victory with career-best bowling figures (Getty)

BBL: Melbourne Stars lock in finals spot as Adelaide Strikers miss out

The Melbourne Stars booked their place in the Big Bash finals with a dominant six-wicket win over the Adelaide Strikers at the MCG. 

Here is what to know as the BBL finals begin to take shape. 

What happened

English all-rounder Tom Curran led the way for Melbourne with career-best bowling figures of four wickets for 10 runs as Adelaide were bowled out for only 83. It marked the side’s second-lowest total in BBL history. The Stars reached their target comfortably with 29 balls remaining. 

The result leaves the Strikers in 6th on the BBL ladder and means that, with just one regular season match remaining, they will miss the finals. 

How are finals shaping up?

Four of the eight BBL teams will advance to the finals. The Stars (12 points) are currently in second place behind the Hobart Hurricanes (13 points), who have also already locked in a finals spot. 

The battle for the final two spots in the finals will be between the Perth Scorchers (10 points), Sydney Sixers (9 points), and Brisbane Heat (8 points). All three teams have two matches to play. For every match a team wins, it is awarded two points. 

Tonight, the Brisbane Heat will look to maximise their chances of making the top four as they take on the Hobart Hurricanes. 

Help us grow!

Enjoying the newsletter?

If you are, why not share the love with your friends? We’d love your help in getting the word out there.

Send them this link to sign up.

I’ve got 2 minutes

NRL bosses Andrew Abdo (left) and Peter V’landys (Getty)

NRL seeks to change kick-off rules ahead of 2026 season despite opposition from clubs

The NRL is pushing ahead with a proposed change to kick-off rules, despite strong opposition from clubs, as it negotiates its next broadcast deal.

The NRL says the change would add tactical variety and help teams regain momentum, reducing one-sided games.

Here’s what to know. 

The proposed change

Under the proposal, the team that lets in a try would be given a choice to either kick off as usual or receive the ball. Currently, the conceding team must restart play by kicking the ball to the side that just scored.

The league’s 17 clubs have collectively opposed the change. Their concern is that it would alter a long-standing part of the game and make it harder for fans to follow. Some club executives have argued the rule should first be tested in lower competitions before being introduced at the NRL level.

Club leaders are scheduled to raise their concerns in a call with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.

NRL’s stance

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys says the league must continue to evolve to keep fans engaged. He has pointed to previous rule changes, such as the six-again restart, which were initially controversial but later credited with speeding up the game and boosting viewership.

The NRL believes stronger fan engagement is critical as it negotiates a new broadcast agreement expected to be worth more than $5 billion. V’landys and the commission have the authority to change rules without club approval, although they say they are still consulting.

Wayne Bennett’s response

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has publicly backed the proposal and criticised clubs for opposing it.

He told The Sydney Morning Herald: “You’ve got an option, so if it offends you, and you don’t like it, do what you’ve always done and kick off. Stop whingeing about it. The key to the game is possession.”

Bennett argues the rule increases flexibility without forcing teams to change their approach.

What’s next

The kick-off rule change looks set to be trialled in pre-season matches. 

A final decision is expected before the start of the 2026 NRL season, with the proposal now shaping as a key point of tension between the league and its clubs.

Looking back…

WNBL

Who: Adelaide Lightning v
Sydney Flames
Result: Lightning won 76-65

Adelaide International 

Who: 🇦🇺 Aleksandar Vukic v
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Result: Vukic won in two sets (7-6, 7-6)

Who: Mirra Andreeva v Marie Bouzková
Result: Andreeva won in two sets
(6-3, 6-1)

Looking forward… (All times are AEDT)

Big Bash League

Who: Hobart Hurricanes v
Brisbane Heat
Time: 7:15pm tonight

Where to watch: Channel 7, Kayo, Foxtel

Adelaide International 

Who: 🇦🇺 Rinky Hijikata v
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Time: 7pm tonight

Who: 🇦🇺 Maya Joint v
🇦🇺 Ajla Tomljanović
Time: 8:30pm tonight

TDA asks

Keep Reading