This weekend is unofficially the weekend of the unofficial fifth major.

The world’s top tennis players are competing at Indian Wells in California, while the world’s top golfers are teeing off at the Players Championship.

Both events are widely referred to as their sport’s ‘unofficial fifth major’.

As for who decided that… well, no one officially.

🏉 Carlton held on to defeat Richmond by four points, winning 75-71 in a tense AFL season opener at the MCG. The Blues led by 27 points at half-time before Richmond mounted a late comeback. Zac Williams’ crucial fourth-quarter goal proved decisive, while Richmond forward Tom Lynch was only able to score two of his ten shots on goal as the Tigers fell short. The result was sweet relief for Carlton, who gave up a 41-point lead to lose to Richmond in the same fixture last year. 

🏉 The Parramatta Eels staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Brisbane 40-32 at Suncorp Stadium. 23-year-old Parramatta playmaker Jonah Pezet starred for the Eels against the club he is set to join next year, setting up four tries and scoring the match-winner in the 79th minute after regathering his own grubber. The Broncos are the first premiership-winning team since 2007 to lose the World Club Challenge and their first two NRL matches. 

🏟️ Sweden’s Armand Duplantis has broken the pole vault world record for the 15th time, clearing 6.31 metres at the Mondo Classic (named after him) in Uppsala. The two-time Olympic champion raised the bar to a record height after earlier clearing 5.65m, 5.90m and 6.08m on his first attempts. Duplantis has now improved the world record by one centimetre on each occasion since first setting it in 2020. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall finished fifth in the event. 

🎾 Australia’s Talia Gibson has been eliminated in the quarter-finals of Indian Wells after a three-set loss to Czech world No.14 Linda Noskova (6-2, 4-6, 6-2). The 21-year-old qualifier produced a stunning run at the tournament, defeating three top-20 players to reach the final eight. Gibson’s breakthrough performance will see her rise into the world’s top 70 for the first time in her career.

🎿 Sixteen-year-old Liana France has become Australia’s youngest-ever female Winter Paralympian after making her debut in the women’s giant slalom standing event in Cortina. France finished 14th but celebrated the milestone with her family in the stands. The teenager said crossing the finish line was surreal, adding she felt she had already “won the race by getting here.” Meanwhile, Georgia Gunew finished 10th in the vision-impaired women’s giant slalom.

Talking points: The Roosters and Rabbitohs meet tonight, with South Sydney winger Alex Johnston heading into the match on 211 career tries, two short of beating Ken Irvine’s record of 212 that has stood since 1973. The Roosters look to bounce back from a loss to the Warriors last week, while South Sydney will look to build on their Round 1 win over the Dolphins. The Roosters have also adjusted their backline after Billy Smith was ruled out with a concussion from an e-bike crash outside Rugby Australia headquarters yesterday afternoon, adding to an injury-interrupted career that has held him to 46 games since 2019.

How to watch: The match kicks off at 8pm tonight. You can watch it on Channel 9, Foxtel and Kayo

Talking points: The Matildas will take on North Korea tonight in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup in Perth. Australia finished second in Group A after a 3-3 draw with South Korea, while Korea DPR placed second in Group B following a 2-1 loss to China. Ranked ninth in the world, North Korea are returning to the tournament for the first time since 2010, when the Matildas defeated them in the final on penalties to win the Asian Cup. That was also the last time these two teams met. The winner will progress to the semi-finals as well as secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

How to watch: The match kicks off at 9pm tonight. You can watch it on Channel 10 and Paramount+. 

Talking points: Oscar Piastri will be looking to bounce back at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix after crashing before the start of his home race in Melbourne. The McLaren driver won in Shanghai last year and will be hoping the circuit in Shanghai brings the same fortune again. Mercedes arrive as early championship favourites after George Russell led teammate Kimi Antonelli to a one-two finish in Australia, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton showed promising pace behind them. The race is also the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season, meaning there will be extra points on offer in a shorter race on Saturday at 2:30pm (AEDT). 

How to watch: The Chinese Grand Prix begins at 6pm on Sunday (AEDT). You can watch it live on Foxtel and Kayo.

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