Sports

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio says he expects the country’s ties with the Women’s Tennis Association to strengthen after the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA 125 event at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Gregorio led journalists on a tour of the renovated venue and confirmed Alex Eala’s participation, saying the PSC aims to use the tournament and facility upgrades to support tennis development and attract more international events to the Philippines.

British tennis player Emma Raducanu announced plans to “re-evaluate” her game after a straight-sets defeat to Anastasia Potapova in the second round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. The 2021 US Open champion, who has not won a tour title since her breakthrough, missed the chance to face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. Raducanu’s latest early Grand Slam exit follows a period of fitness and consistency struggles and comes after her public comments questioning aspects of the Australian Open schedule.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the Australian Open in Melbourne that he feels no pressure to act as a “good ambassador” for tennis like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, stating that he does not think about serving as a spokesman for the sport. The 22-year-old world number one and six-time Grand Slam champion made the comments after defeating Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round. Alcaraz, widely seen as one of tennis’s most marketable stars, said he focuses on his game and personal development while pursuing a career Grand Slam, as the Australian Open positions him as one of its main attractions.

Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler will miss the rest of the NBA season after reports said he tore the ACL in his right knee during a 135-112 win over the Miami Heat. Butler left the game in the second half following a collision with Davion Mitchell and did not return. The Warriors said they would release an official update after reviewing MRI results, while multiple US media outlets reported a season-ending diagnosis for the six-time All-Star.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, the 28th seed at the 2026 Australian Open, lost in the first round to American Eliot Spizzirri 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in Melbourne on Tuesday. Fonseca, who recently withdrew from Brisbane and Adelaide with a back issue, struggled physically as the match progressed. The defeat marked an early upset for one of the rising players in the men’s field, who entered the tournament with increased attention after titles in Basel and Buenos Aires and praise from Roger Federer.

Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to post 22 points and 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night in San Antonio. Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists, while Julian Champagnie contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Spurs built a lead that reached 39 points early in the fourth quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points for Milwaukee, which recorded its third straight loss and its second consecutive blowout defeat. The Spurs controlled the boards, dictated the tempo, and limited Milwaukee’s offense for most of the game.

Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 126-123 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, overcoming a season-high 55-point performance by Anthony Edwards on Saturday night. Donte DiVincenzo briefly put Minnesota ahead with a late three-pointer, but Wembanyama responded with a 20-foot jumper, then blocked Joan Beringer’s reverse layup and secured a key offensive rebound in the final seconds to preserve the Spurs’ lead. De’Aaron Fox added 25 points and 12 assists as San Antonio avoided a three-game season sweep by Minnesota in their head-to-head series.

The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons and multiple playoff appearances without a Super Bowl berth, part of a sweeping wave of NFL coaching changes following the 2025 season. This report details McDermott’s record in Buffalo and outlines other major moves, including Mike Tomlin’s departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the firings of Mike McDaniel, John Harbaugh, Raheem Morris, Kevin Stefanski, Pete Carroll, Jonathan Gannon, Brian Callahan, and Brian Daboll, along with each coach’s tenure, records, and best seasons.

Alexandra Eala exited the Australian Open women’s singles in the first round after Alycia Parks rallied for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in Melbourne. The 20-year-old Filipina, making her main-draw debut, rode strong crowd support early before Parks adjusted and took control. Eala entered the tournament at a career-best No. 49 following a semifinal run in Auckland and remains scheduled for doubles play. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and American Coco Gauff both advanced to the second round with opening-match victories as seeded players continued to progress at Melbourne Park.

Novak Djokovic opened his 2026 Australian Open campaign with a straight-sets win over Spain’s Pedro Martinez, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, in Melbourne on January 19, 2026. The victory marked Djokovic’s 100th career match win at the Australian Open and advanced the 10-time champion to the second round. Tournament organizers confirmed that the 38-year-old Serb, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, will next face Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli.