Is Serena Williams making a return to tennis?

The 44-year-old, who retired after the 2022 U.S. Open, has re-entered the tennis anti-doping testing pool, starting a frenzy of rumours. If she were to make a return, Williams would be able to rejoin the pro tennis circuit after spending a mandatory six months back in the testing pool.  

Despite the excitement, the 23-time slam champion took to X to hose down the rumours. 

She said: "Omg yall I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy". 

836
The number of days between Sam Kerr’s last start for Australia on home soil and her appearance in Adelaide last night against New Zealand. Kerr started her first Matildas game in over two years, playing 45 minutes in the 2-0 victory which featured goals from Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso. The next time the Matildas will be in action is when they host the Asian Cup in March.

“Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that due to the Australian government social media laws about to kick in, I have no choice but to deactivate my Instagram account in the next 24 hours until I turn 16 in February 2026.”
Australian Olympic skateboarder Chloe Covell in a post to Instagram on Tuesday. The 15-year-old, who has 320,000 followers on the platform, is subject to the Federal Government’s social media account ban for anyone under the age of 16. Covell competed in the women’s street skateboarding event at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and finished eighth.

On this day in 1961, Dutchman Anton Geesink became the first non-Japanese judo world champion, ending the nation's perfect record in the sport. Geesink defeated defending champion Koji Sone in Paris, an upset that ultimately helped globalised the sport. Judo made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and Geesink won gold in the men’s openweight category. 

Tasmania’s controversial $1.13 billion AFL stadium is all but guaranteed to proceed after key independent MP Bec Thomas announced her support today. The Hobart project was a non-negotiable condition of the AFL granting a license to the Tasmania Devils, meaning this decision clears the path for the team’s entry into the men’s league in 2028. Thomas stated her vote was secured only after the government agreed to strict safeguards, including a fixed cap on the state’s financial contribution and increased funding for grassroots sport. With the numbers now seemingly locked in, a final parliamentary vote is expected either today or tomorrow.

Former NRL star Nelson Asofa-Solomona has signed a professional boxing contract, according to News.com.au. Asofa-Solomona, who stands 200cm tall, exited Melbourne Storm at the end of last season, and had reportedly considered joining the R360 rebel league, but its two-year delay solidified his choice to focus solely on boxing. He aims to emulate NRL legend Paul Gallen and become a pay-per-view star in Australian boxing, where experts believe he has the potential to contend for a title. Asofa-Solomona already has some experience in the ring, knocking out fellow NRL player Jarrod Wallace in a bout in 2023. 

The cricket world is mourning the sudden death of former England batter Robin Smith at the age of 62. Smith was renowned for his fearless batting against the ferocious West Indies pace attacks of the 1990s, averaging 43.67 across 62 Tests. Richard Thompson, the England & Wales Cricket Board chair, said: “Robin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers around, meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and a ferocious shot. He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride”. Smith died unexpectedly in his Perth apartment on Monday.

Red Bull Racing has officially dropped Japanese F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda for the 2026 season, promoting French-Algerian rookie Isack Hadjar to partner Max Verstappen. Tsunoda has been demoted to a reserve role, marking the fourth change in teammates for Verstappen in just two seasons. Meanwhile, Kiwi Liam Lawson retains his seat at sister team Racing Bulls and will be joined by Formula 2 talent Arvid Lindblad, a move that finalises the driver grid for 2026.

Norwegian football player Erling Haaland has become the fastest man to score 100 goals in the English Premier League, reaching the mark in just 111 games. The Manchester City striker scored in the 17th minute against Fulham to help his side to a 5-4 victory and become the 35th man to score 100 goals in the league. The previous record, held by English football legend Alan Shearer, was 124 matches and had stood since 1995. Manchester City currently sit second on the English Premier League table behind Arsenal.

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A Norwegian soccer player has been cleared of a doping violation after testing positive for a banned stimulant. 

The substance was later traced to rubber crumb from an artificial pitch.

Here’s what to know.

On 22 April, Norwegian league teams Vålerenga and LSK Kvinner played a match at an indoor arena near Oslo. 

After the match, routine drug tests revealed traces of ‘DMBA’, a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in eight players’ samples. 

One Vålerenga player’s result exceeded the threshold for what is reported as a positive test according to WADA standards, 50 nanograms per millilitre. 

Norway’s anti-doping body (ADNO) launched a seven-month inquiry, which eventually confirmed the source of the positive result was rubber granules used under synthetic turf. 

ADNO ruled the player was not at fault and WADA chose not to appeal. 

The player, who has chosen to remain anonymous, told media she felt “lucky” to have strong support from her club and family, but warned the case showed how vulnerable athletes are to environmental exposure. She also calleds for better protection of athletes, saying: “The rules as they are today can lead to an innocent athlete being suspended for years.”

Vålerenga CEO Harriet Rudd described the outcome as a relief and said the squad had remained professional throughout the process. She added that the Norwegian Football Federation has recommended moving indoor competitive games outdoors to reduce risk.

The case has sparked calls for reform anti-doping rules, which hold athletes responsible regardless of intent. 

The European Union has already announced a ban on rubber crumb from 2031. 

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Australia takes a crucial 1-0 lead into the second Ashes Test against England, beginning tomorrow at the Gabba in Brisbane. 

The match is the only day/night Test of the series, adding unpredictability for both sides following Australia's dominant eight-wicket win in Perth.

Here’s what to know.

Following a persistent back injury, veteran opening batter Usman Khawaja has been officially ruled out of the Gabba Test. This all but confirms that Travis Head, who scored a match-winning century as a makeshift opener in the first Test, will retain that role at the top of the order. His move creates a vacancy in the middle of the batting order, which will be filled by Josh Inglis. The wicket-keeper-batter has been confirmed as Khawaja's replacement and is set to play his first Test on home soil, edging out all-rounder Beau Webster for the final spot in the XI.

A possible twist remains. Stand-in captain Steve Smith refused to name the final XI at a press conference on Wednesday, keeping the door open for a last-minute return from regular skipper Pat Cummins. Smith hinted that "moving pieces" remain, with Cummins reportedly being given until the final moment to prove his fitness after missing the first Test with back soreness.

Meanwhile, England has made one confirmed change, swapping out injured pace bowler Mark Wood for all-rounder Will Jacks. This decision signals a strategic gamble, with the visitors including an off-spinner who offers batting depth rather than maintaining a four-pronged pace attack. 

England is desperate to avoid going down 2-0, a deficit from which no England side has ever recovered in Australia.

A day/night Test follows the same format as a traditional five-day Test, but instead of starting play in the morning, the playing hours run from mid-afternoon until late evening. In order for the batters to maintain visibility under the floodlights, this format requires the use of a pink ball instead of the traditional red ball. 

The pink ball is notoriously unpredictable, particularly during the period when natural light fades, and the floodlights take full effect. This period is often referred to as the ‘twilight zone’. During this window, cricketers believe the ball tends to move more wildly in the air (swing) and off the pitch (seam), making it incredibly difficult for batters to hit.

Australia has a formidable record in this format, having won 13 of their 14 day/night Tests at home. In contrast, England has lost all three day/night Tests they have played in Australia.

The second Test begins tomorrow, Thursday, 4 December, at the Gabba in Brisbane. The first ball is scheduled for 3pm (AEDT). You can watch the match on Channel 7, Kayo Sports, and Foxtel.