Author: Australian Associated Press

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Alex de Minaur progresses despite distraction of aerial display at Italian Open

  • Australia’s No 1 regains focus to beat Hugo Dellien 6-4, 6-4
  • De Minaur will play 12th-seeded Tommy Paul in last 16 in Rome

An overhead in tennis normally means being lobbed but it was a different aerial intervention that troubled Alex de Minaur in Rome.

The Australian No 1 was progressing well towards the last 16 despite the distraction of an unwell spectator when his match with Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien was interrupted by a flypast by the Italian Air Force’s acrobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour arrows).

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Door open for overseas Wallabies to take on the Lions, says Australia coach Joe Schmidt

  • Players like Samu Kerevi, Pete Samu and Will Skelton in frame
  • Squad of up to 40 players to be picked before first Test in Brisbane

Such is the magnitude of the challenge and occasion that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to ditch his no overseas-based players selection strategy for the blockbuster series against the touring British and Irish Lions.

While not picking talent from outside of Australia is not strictly a set-in-stone policy, Schmidt has made clear his preference to mostly overlook Wallabies stars playing offshore, or heading overseas.

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Marta Kostyuk praises Daria Kasatkina ‘courage’ and shakes hands at Italian Open

  • Ukrainian lauds former Russian for switching nationality to Australia
  • 22-year-old makes point of shaking hands with world No 15 in Rome

Daria Kasatkina’s switch from Russian tennis to play for Australia has been given a stamp of approval from her Ukrainian conqueror at the Italian Open.

Marta Kostyuk, one of the women’s tour’s in-form players, has made a high-profile point along with many of her fellow Ukrainian players of not shaking hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents after matches in protest at the invasion of her homeland.

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Willie Rioli to undergo AFL ‘education’ over threatening message

  • AFL hands one-game ban to Port Adelaide forward
  • Player will miss Saturday night’s Showdown in Adelaide

Willie Rioli has made himself unavailable for Port Adelaide’s Showdown with the Crows, calling his threatening message to an opponent “unacceptable”. The Power forward will sit out Saturday night’s blockbuster at Adelaide Oval, telling the club on Thursday he was mentally in no position to play.

The AFL later released a statement, saying they were suspending Rioli for one game and requiring him to participate in “education on respectful/non-violent language and conduct”.

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NRL confident of early success for Bears after Perth team confirmed for 2027 entry

  • Bears to enter competition before PNG expansion side
  • Club will wear red and black and play home games at HBF Park

Peter V’landys insists the Perth Bears can be immediately competitive, adamant their link with North Sydney will set them up for success on entry to the NRL in 2027. The league confirmed on Thursday Perth would become the 18th franchise, joining the competition one year before Papua New Guinea’s 2028 admission.

The announcement ends a long push from Western Australia to have a team in the competition, after the Western Reds were killed off in the Super League war. The Bears link will also revive the moniker of one of the league’s foundation clubs, after North Sydney’s exit following the failed merger with Manly in 2000.

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Australian cyclist Caleb Ewan stuns sport by announcing retirement

  • Sprinter won five Tour de France stages in top career
  • Messy exit from JaycoAlUla team took ‘significant toll’

Caleb Ewan, at his peak one of Australian cycling’s greatest talents, has stunned the sport by announcing his immediate retirement.

Ewan delivered his bombshell decision on social media, saying events of the last two years – especially around his messy exit from top Australian team Jayco AlUla – have “taken a significant toll on my relationship with the sport”.

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‘Remain respectful’: Willie Rioli escapes sanction for message to Bulldogs player Bailey Dale

  • Port Adelaide forward apologises after message for Bailey Dale
  • AFL gives warning but will not take further action against Rioli

Willie Rioli has apologised for a threatening private message sent to a Western Bulldogs player that caused a stir and was referred to the AFL.

No further action will be taken by the league after the Port Adelaide forward contacted a teammate of Bulldogs opponent Bailey Dale.

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Les Kiss confirmed as next Wallabies coach with Joe Schmidt to stay on until 2026

  • Kiss to see out Super Rugby Pacific contract with Queensland Reds
  • Schmidt to remain in charge for end-of-season European tour

Joe Schmidt will remain as Wallabies coach until next mid-2026 before Less Kiss takes over, Rugby Australia has confirmed.

Schmidt was to have finished up after this year’s Rugby Championship but RA was keen for “minimal disruption to the Australian rugby ecosystem” and for Kiss to complete his Super Rugby Pacific contract with the Queensland Reds in 2026.

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Alex de Minaur turns on the power to reach last 16 of Madrid Open

  • Australian beats Denis Shapovalov after blackout delay
  • Straight sets win sets up clash with Lorenzo Musetti

Alex de Minaur has charged into the fourth round of the Madrid Open with a powerful performance as electricity returned to Spain.

The Australian No 1 took less than 90-minutes to defuse the big-serving Canadian Denis Shapovalov with a straight sets 6-3, 7-6 win on Court Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

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Australian doubles ace Max Purcell accepts 18-month ban for anti-doping breach

  • US Open doubles champion admits exceeding limit for an IV infusion
  • 27-year-old says he has developed a nervous tic because of the case

Grand slam doubles champion Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month ban for breaching anti-doping rules, with the Australian saying he has developed a nervous tic and anxiety because of the case.

The 27-year-old entered a voluntary provisional suspension in December after admitting to breaching Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program “relating to the use of a prohibited method”.

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Rugby Australia set to announce Les Kiss as next Wallabies coach

  • Reds coach expected to confirmed as Joe Schmidt’s successor
  • Kiss will become fifth Wallabies coach in six years

The protracted process to secure Les Kiss as the next Wallabies coach has been finalised with the Queensland Reds mentor to be the fifth man to fill the seat in six years. Kiss is expected to front the media in Sydney on Wednesday before flying to Suva to join the Reds squad ahead of Saturday’s crucial Super Rugby Pacific encounter with Fiji.

He is contracted until the end of next year at the Reds, who sit fourth and are eyeing a title push this season. But it is understood the Queensland Rugby Union and Rugby Australia have negotiated a release for the former representative rugby league winger, who arrived at Ballymore last year after two decades in Europe.

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Lachlan Galvin lifts lid on emotional toll of Tigers saga after ‘tough’ few weeks

  • Teenager stars in win over Cronulla on return to first grade
  • ‘It’s been pretty difficult,’ says Wests playmaker of contract situation

Lachlan Galvin has described the last fortnight of his life as “difficult” and “tough” after the wantaway five-eighth made a triumphant return to Wests Tigers’ NRL side.

Galvin claimed he was undaunted by making his first grade comeback – after a six-day exile in NSW Cup – at a packed Leichhardt Oval as he starred in the Tigers’ 20-18 golden point win over Cronulla on Sunday.

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Alex de Minaur sounds warning with ruthless victory at Madrid Open

  • Australian No 1 seals 6-2, 6-3 win Lorenzo Sonego
  • Djokovic suffers third straight loss in 6-3, 6-4 defeat

While Alex de Minaur looks more comfortable and impressive on the clay with every passing match, the great Novak Djokovic seems to be losing his magical powers on the red stuff.

For while Australia’s No 1 kicked off his Madrid Open quest with a clinical 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italian Lorenzo Sonego on Saturday, all the talk at the Caja Magica surrounded another dismal first-round defeat for Djokovic, whose quest for 100 titles took another savage hit.

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Auckland clinch ALM premiership as City held to draw by Adelaide

  • Auckland clinch A-League Men premiership in maiden season
  • Melbourne City held to 0-0 by Adelaide United at AAMI Park

Auckland FC have claimed the A-League Men premiership in their first season, while Melbourne City will lick their wounds and turn their focus to locking in second place after falling short.

Second-placed City were held to a 0-0 draw by Adelaide United at AAMI Park on Saturday night. The draw also means City could yet let second place slip - and with it an Asian Champions League Elite berth and the first week of finals off - while Adelaide’s finals hopes are all but over.

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Melbourne Storm leave Indigenous elder ‘heartbroken’ after cancelling Welcome to Country

  • Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin was to perform before NRL Anzac Day clash
  • Club say was ‘miscommunication’ over decision to call off ceremony

Melbourne Storm are under fire after being accused of cancelling a Welcome to Country at its Anzac Day NRL match at the last minute, leaving an Aboriginal elder “broken-hearted”.

Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin said she was informed by the club on Friday afternoon that she was no longer required to address the crowd before the match at AAMI Park.

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