Should the Australian Open finals be played at an earlier time? | Simon Cambers and Joey Lynch

The first time I covered the Australian Open, in 2001, the final began at 2pm. Andre Agassi beat Arnaud Clement in a lopsided final that lasted one hour, 46 minutes. This year marked my 18th visit and on Sunday I wondered aloud (on the internet) why, since 2005, the Australian Open men’s final has been played at night, when Wimbledon, the US Open and Roland-Garros are all afternoon starts.Overseas broadcast rights are incredibly lucrative, of course. Tennis Australia has invested millions of dollars in the expansion and improvement of Melbourne Park and the Australian Open, paying the players far more prize money than in the past

Brighterdaysahead topples favourite Lossiemouth to win Irish Champion Hurdle

There was a full-throated roar from the stands as the 2026 Dublin racing festival finally got under way on Sunday and another as Lossiemouth, the favourite, went to post for the Irish Champion Hurdle later in the afternoon, but the cheers 10 minutes later were for her market rival, Brighterdaysahead, as Gordon Elliott’s mare convincingly reversed the form of the December Hurdle here last month to win the big race of the day.Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead were foaled within three weeks of each other in March 2019 but last month’s Grade One was the first time that the two mares had met on the track.Lossiemouth emerged as the winner by a length, recording a ninth Grade One win in the process, but she did not look comfortable at any stage here on Sunday as El Fabiolo, a stable companion at the Willie Mullins yard, set a steady pace with Brighterdaysahead in close attendance.Paul Townend, Lossiemouth’s rider, made some ground on the turn for home as El Fabiolo dropped away, but Jack Kennedy soon pushed Brighterdaysahead into a useful lead and a good jump at the last set the seal on a three-and-a-quarter length success.The result prompted some abrupt and significant moves in the ante-post betting for next month’s Cheltenham festival, as Lossiemouth, who set off as the narrow favourite for the Champion Hurdle on 10 March, was pushed out to a top price of 7-1 and simultaneously cut to around 11-10 for the Mares’ Hurdle, a race she has won in the past two seasons, on 12 March

Tuskegee basketball coach ‘violated’ after being handcuffed by police at end of game

Tuskegee men’s basketball coach Benjy Taylor is considering legal action after being handcuffed and led off court at the end of his team’s loss to Morehouse College on Saturday.Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin said Taylor had attempted to make sure protocols were followed when opposing Morehouse football players joining the basketball players in the postgame handshake line.“You don’t do that … that’s a security breach,” Ruffin told HBCU Gameday. “We have security measures for our protection of our officials, our student athlete coaches and spectators.”Videos of the incident soon spread online

Nel Metcalfe hat-trick puts Gloucester-Hartpury top as World Cup bounce goes on

The English top flight returned from a six-week break with impressive crowds continuing to benefit from the post-Rugby World Cup bounce and the battle for top four spots as tight as ever. While only six points separate third from sixth in the Women’s Premiership, the reigning champions, Gloucester-Hartpury, once again proved their superiority with a seven-try 45-26 win over Loughborough that lifted them above Saracens at the top of the table.Gloucester are now five points clear of Saracens, who did not play like weekend, and 12 of the chasing pack as they continued their unbeaten run with their last league defeat coming in November 2024. The defending champions underlined their intent for a fourth consecutive title with a stunning home display. The Wales international Nel Metcalfe was the star for the hosts with a 24-minute first-half hat-trick

Harry Brook blocks out the noise to lead England to T20 series win in Sri Lanka

Numerous apologies, serious scrutiny and, still, he goes and does that. Harry Brook’s 12-ball 36 helped England chase down a revised target of 168 in the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka, securing a series victory.England had initially been set 190, but a rain break changed the equation; when Brook emerged England needed 87 from 7.5 overs. He put on an exhibition over the off side to turn the chase his team’s way

Sri Lanka v England: second men’s cricket T20 international – as it happened

And that’s that from Pallekele. Thanks for sticking with us despite the downpour. Another good win for England, with Buttler, Banton and Brook bringing England home with two balls to spare. It was a closer game than Friday’s but Sri Lanka lost crucial momentum in the last half of their innings.We’ll be back on Tuesday for the final T20 of this World Cup warm-up