🗞️ The 'King of Clay' Retires

AUSSIE SPORTS
Nightmare Start

⚽️ New coach Tony Popovic steered the Socceroos to a 3-1 victory against China to revitalise hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

A Craig Goodwin cracker, unlikely hero Lewis Miller's header, and a goal from debutant Nishan Velupillay ensured Popovic's tenure started in triumph, after going 1-0 down early.

🎾 Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said on Thursday he expects to see Australian former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios back in action at Melbourne Park for the season-opening Grand Slam in January.

Kyrgios pulled out of this year's Australian Open and has played just one singles tour match in the last two years as he battled knee, foot and wrist injuries

In his long absence from court, Kyrgios has done television and broadcasting work but recent messages posted on social media suggest he will be looking to resume his playing career towards the end of the year.

"Nick will be back," Tiley told Australia's Channel Nine TV on Thursday as he promoted the tournament.

❤️ Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and his wife Sandra were airlifted to hospital after a gas explosion in the Hunter Valley.

Multiple reports stated the Robinsons were cooking dinner on Monday night when a barbecue gas bottle exploded, causing burns to their arms.

The injuries took place at the property of former Easts player and NSWRL boss John Quayle.

Ambulances and a rescue helicopter attended the scene for critical care with the pair doused in cold water quickly after the accident.

They have since been discharged and are now recovering at their home in Sydney.

🥊 No Limit CEO George Rose said he is “happy to go anywhere” but confirmed Las Vegas is likely the “main alternative” should Tim Tszyu’s blockbuster world title fight be moved on the 20th Oct.

Tsyzu’s showdown with undefeated IBF super welterweight king Bakhram Murtazaliev, along with Australian Mateo Tapia’s undercard bout, could both be shifted depending on the damage caused by Hurricane Milton.

The hurricane, which hit the Florida coastline today, is predicted to be one of the worst in US history, having already recorded winds of 390km/hr.

AFL NEWS
Pay Cut

💰 Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver is reportedly happy to take a pay cut to fit in at Geelong, as he holds out hope of being traded there despite his club’s repeated denials.

The Age reports both a Cats source and a source at Oliver’s management had confirmed he would accept a reduction in his deal, which runs until the end of 2030 on an average of $1.3 million, to get the trade done.

NRL NEWS
Hero’s Return

🇳🇿 New Zealand hero Shaun Johnson is coming out of retirement to replace Jahrome Hughes in the Pacific Championships.

The 34-year-old had marked himself as unavailable for the Kiwis' Pacific Championship campaign that begins against Australia on October 27, and has not played for New Zealand since 2019.

But the neck injury Hughes suffered during Melbourne's charge to the grand final left new Kiwis coach Stacey Jones short on options, and Johnson has the chance for the perfect sign-off to his rugby league career.

🔁 Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson is free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs after the Eels granted the fullback permission to test his value on the open market.

Gutherson is off contract at the end of 2025 and was free to officially field offers for the 2026 campaign from November 1 of this year.

But incoming Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has waived that, effectively giving the longstanding Eels skipper to engage in talks with other clubs immediately.

Ryles has suggested Gutherson's future heading into 2025 may lie as a utility and the Eels were therefore unable to offer him a long-term deal until they had seen him adapt to that role.

WORLD NEWS
Farewell King

🎾 Farewell Rafa: Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from tennis at the end of this season.

The 38-year-old will represent Spain in his final appearance at next month's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

Nadal has barely played over the past two seasons because of injuries and suggested last year he could retire at the end of the 2024 season.

In a video message, Nadal said: "I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis.

"The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially.

"I don't think I have been able to play without limitations."

Nadal retires as the second-most successful men's singles player of all time, behind only long-time rival Novak Djokovic.

Dubbed the 'King of Clay', Nadal won the French Open singles title a record 14 times, winning 112 of his 116 major matches at Roland Garros.

No player has won as many Grand Slam singles titles at the same tournament.

Nadal is also a four-time US Open champion and won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice.

He also won Olympic singles and doubles gold and helped Spain to four Davis Cup titles.

And, who can forget the 2008 Wimbledon men’s singles final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, which many consider the greatest tennis match of all time. 

🏏 England produced one of the greatest innings in Test history, with a Harry Brook triple century, 317 (322) saw the visitors power past Pakistan’s first innings total on day four in Multan.

Joe Root was dismissed for 262 (375), lbw to Salman Ali Agha, ending the fourth-largest partnership in Test history and the largest for the fourth wicket, of 454 runs.

England soon declared at 7-823, the fourth-highest total in Test history. Pakistan closed at 6-152 as England close in on a final day victory.

🏀 NBA Record: Wednesday night's 122-112 preseason win for Golden State over the Sacramento Kings saw the Warriors make 28 of their 52 3-point attempts, the most the team has ever made in a game.

🎾 Wimbledon ditches line judges: The All England Club will adopt electronic line calling beginning next year, ending a 147-year run of using line judges. That leaves the French Open as the only major yet to make the switch.

⛳️ "The Showdown": The previously-announced match pitting the PGA Tour's duo of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against LIV's Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau now has a name ("The Showdown"), a date (Dec. 17 local) and a site (Las Vegas' Shadow Creek Golf Course).

⚽️ EPL Whispers: Manchester United prepare a AU$100m move for PSG’s Randal Kolo Muani, Real Madrid are targeting Arsenal's William Saliba as a ‘top priority’, while Chelsea remain interested in Striker Victor Osimhen.

🥊 Aussie on the Undercard: Heavyweight Australian Demsey McKean will feature on the undercard of the rematch between Tyson Fury's and Oleksandr Usyk on 21 December in Saudi Arabia.

Itauma will take on Brit Moses Itauma, who had been touted as the next generation of heavyweight stars.

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