by Tanish Prabhu
Antonelli wins home GP, Leclerc crashes out in a forgettable season with Ferrari
It was a speculator weekend in Monza, as Kimi Antonelli won his first race at home, marking the first Italian driver to win a home race since 1966.
Frenchman Pierre Gasly won the Qualification Round on Saturday, a remarkable achievement in his career spanning 10 years, while Kimi Antonelli started the race on Sunday at P19. That didn’t worry him and Mercedes too much as the young Italian roared his way through each lap to win yet another race in 2026, his first at home and the possibility of becoming a World Drivers champion is looking much easier by each race.
But it was another forgettable race for Charles Leclerc, who came in contact with Lewis Hamilton and not long after, he crashed into a wall which looked dangerous. Leclerc has had a series of unfortunate events, which has forced him out of race very quickly. Ferrari has had to rely on Lewis Hamilton this year for points, but for Leclerc, his problems with his car continue. He has escaped a serious injury after losing control. Leclerc signed with Ferrari last season, but was that right decision given his ongoing struggle with his car? Now that Max has resigned with Red Bull till 2030 and Mercedes are in good form, where does that leave Leclerc’s future in the sport he once dominated in his own way?
Alcaraz dominates in New York, De Minuar bows out early again
It’s been an easy road so far for Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open, having beaten his opponent in straight sets without any issues or reoccurring injuries. Alcaraz said he has missed competing in the tournaments and has looked in good touch since his return to the courts. He also looks fitter and happier than ever as the defending champion will face American Ben Shelton in the Quarter Finals on Wednesday.
But elsewhere, hopes were high for Australian Alex De Minuar who had a good first round, but looked shaky in the second round against Botic van de Zandschulp. De Minuar could not fight him into the game from the first set and struggled to find the gaps against Zandschulp, which tells you a lot about who carries the legacy of Rod Laver and Lleyton Hewitt. It was a disappointing result for him, but not so much for young Dane Sweeney, who beat Lorenzo Musseti in the second round in a big upset, but bowed out to Luciano Darderi in straight sets. It was a massive effort to make it to the third round for the young Australia, which tells you that there is talent among Australians
German Alexander Zverev has had a mixed tournament so far. He has won his matches, but his first two matchups saw him struggle to get points easily. It was a hard road to victory both times, with both games going to five sets, while the third round ended in three sets. Regardless of how different his year has been compared to previous encounters, Zverev has a massive battle in the round of 16 against Luciano Darderi and he must push through if he wants to win another tournament this year.
English Premier League
The 2026/27 Premier League season is in its third round, but the opening weeks have already provided plenty of clues about who could challenge the title, who has work to do and which teams could surprise this season.
Arsenal and Manchester City have emerged as the early frontrunners, with both clubs sitting on three wins from three matches and nine points. The defending champions Arsenal produced the statement result of the weekend, overcoming Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium after conceding inside the opening two minutes. Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea a dream start after just 77 seconds, but Arsenal responded through Kai Havertz before captain Martin Ødegaard completed the comeback early in the second half. The result continued Arsenal’s impressive recent record against their London rivals and maintained their perfect start to the campaign. Goalkeeper David Raya also proved decisive late in the match, denying Chelsea’s Estêvão to preserve all three points. For Mikel Arteta, the victory offered another indication that Arsenal can handle the pressure of defending their Premier League crown.
Manchester City have been equally impressive on the results front. They maintained their 100 per cent record with a 1-0 victory over Coventry City, leaving them level with Arsenal at the summit. Behind the two early leaders sits Chelsea on six points. The defeat to Arsenal was a reality check for new manager Xabi Alonso, whose side have shown plenty of attacking ambition but have also conceded seven goals in their opening three league matches. Chelsea’s summer spending has created huge expectations, with 11 high-profile additions arriving during the transfer window. Alonso’s challenge now is finding the balance between Chelsea’s attacking approach and a defence that has struggled to keep opponents out. With only three rounds completed, it is far too early to make definitive predictions. However, the opening weeks have already established an intriguing battle at the top. Arsenal and Manchester City have set the standard, Chelsea are attempting to turn an expensive rebuild into a genuine title challenge, while Liverpool and Manchester United still have plenty to prove.
China Masters Badminton
South Korea’s An Se-young has continued her remarkable 2026 season by claiming a third consecutive China Masters title, while Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan produced one of the biggest breakthroughs of the tournament in Shenzhen. World No.1 An defeated Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 21-6 in Sunday’s women’s singles final to extend her winning streak to 33 matches. The victory also made her the first player to win the China Masters three consecutive times. The Olympic and world champion has been almost unstoppable this season. An has now won 49 of her 50 matches in 2026, with her only defeat coming against China’s Wang Zhiyi in the All England final in March. Her run in Shenzhen included a straight-games victory over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the semi-finals, before she produced another dominant performance against Miyazaki in the decider. After a competitive opening game, An took control of the final in the second, dropping just six points to secure another major title.
While An’s victory was expected, the men’s singles tournament delivered a major surprise.
Jason Gunawan, ranked 32nd in the world, defeated fellow Hong Kong player Lee Cheuk Yiu 219, 21-16 in the final to claim his second career BWF World Tour title. The 22-year-old’s victory was particularly significant because it came at his first BWF World Tour Super 750 event. He also became the first Hong Kong player to win a Super 750 or higher-level singles title. Gunawan’s road to the final included victories over some of the tournament’s biggest names. He stunned world No.1 Jonatan Christie in the round of 16 before overcoming Denmark’s fifth seed Anders Antonsen in a three-game semi-final thriller. His victory also created a historic allHong Kong final, with Lee defeating France’s second seed Christo Popov to reach the decider. It was the first time in more than a decade that two Hong Kong players had contested a World Tour final. Gunawan controlled the final from the beginning, winning the opening game 21-9 before closing out the championship in straight games. For Lee, the defeat continued a frustrating wait for another title. He has now finished runner-up in five BWF World Tour finals since winning the Hong Kong Open in 2019.
The China Masters also produced success in the other disciplines. India’s Satwiksairaj
Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the men’s doubles title after defeating China’s He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17. Japan’s Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi claimed the women’s doubles crown, while China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping won the mixed doubles title. The results in Shenzhen underline the contrasting stories of the tournament.For An Se-young, another China Masters crown further strengthens her position as the dominant force in women’s badminton. For Gunawan, however, the week could represent the beginning of a breakthrough on the world stage. The 22-year-old arrived in Shenzhen ranked 32nd in the world. He left as a Super 750 champion and with victories over two of the sport’s biggest names to prove he belongs among the world’s elite.
