Djokovic challenges McIlroy for Masters green jacket
By Lee Seng Foo2 hours ago
(AELTC/Simon Bruty)
Novak Djokovic jokingly challenged Rory McIlroy to a tennis match with the winner taking home the coveted Masters green jacket after easing into the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion produced a dominant performance to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Centre Court and set up a third-round meeting with France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in 2025 before successfully defending the title earlier this year, watched the match from the Royal Box wearing the iconic green jacket.
Spotting the Northern Irish golfer during his on-court interview, Djokovic could not resist making a light-hearted challenge.
“Rory, Justin [Rose], obviously Luke [Donald], it’s nice to see you guys. Congrats Team Europe on the Ryder Cup, I watched you guys,” he said.
“Rory, what a beautiful jacket. Is that a Masters jacket? It must be. Round of applause for Rory for the Masters, please.
“I want that jacket. I’ll play you. This jacket [I’m wearing] for that jacket, we’ll play tennis! No golf.”
The exchange drew laughter from the Centre Court crowd as Djokovic continued his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title, while McIlroy is preparing for the upcoming Scottish Open and The Open Championship later this month.
The Sepang International Circuit will remain on the MotoGP calendar until at least 2031 after MotoGP and the Malaysian government agreed a new five-year contract extension.
Announced on Tuesday, the agreement covers the 2027 to 2031 seasons and ensures the Malaysian Grand Prix will continue as one of the championship's longest-serving events in Asia.
Sepang has hosted MotoGP every year since 1999, with the exception of the 2020 and 2021 editions, which were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Malaysia also hosted the championship's 2026 season launch earlier this year, underlining the country’s importance to the sport.
MotoGP chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta welcomed the renewal and highlighted Malaysia's growing importance to the championship.
"Malaysia is an important market for MotoGP, where we have a strong fanbase and have seen the positive economic impact of MotoGP increase year-on-year," he said.
"Great racing, local passion and international appeal create an unforgettable event every year in Malaysia and we look forward to returning until 2031."
According to MotoGP, last year's Malaysian Grand Prix attracted a record weekend attendance of 190,977, making it one of the championship's best-attended events.
Sepang became the second venue to secure its long-term future in recent weeks after the Aragon Grand Prix renewal.
The extension also came ahead of the introduction of MotoGP's new 850cc regulations in 2027.
Malaysia's Hafizh Syahrin will line up alongside reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez and several of Ducati's biggest names at the upcoming Lenovo Race of Champions during the 2026 World Ducati Week celebrations at Misano.
Held as part of Ducati's flagship fan festival from July 3 to 5, the exhibition race commemorates the Italian manufacturer's 100th anniversary and brings together riders from MotoGP, World Superbike and other Ducati-supported championships.
Marquez headlines Ducati's MotoGP contingent alongside Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli and test rider Michele Pirro, while WorldSBK title contenders Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista are also among the star attractions.
Hafizh is the sole representative from the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) after earning an invitation on the back of another outstanding season with JDT Racing Team.
The reigning ASB1000 champion has enjoyed a perfect start to his 2026 title defence, winning all six races contested so far.
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships, live on SPOTV NOW, have already produced their fair share of records, milestones and unexpected statistics after just two days of action.
From Novak Djokovic's remarkable consistency to Southeast Asia's breakthrough performances, here are 10 fun facts from the opening round at the All England Club.
Djokovic improved his perfect first-round Wimbledon record to 21-0 after defeating China's Wu Yibing in straight sets. The victory also made the Serbian the first player in the Open Era to record more than 80 first-round wins across the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Sinner joins an Italian great
Jannik Sinner equalled Nicola Pietrangeli's Italian record of 94 Grand Slam singles match wins after surviving Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets. The world No. 1 can claim the record outright if he overcomes Nuno Borges in the second round.
Kecmanovic goes down fighting
Kecmanovic became the second player in as many years to take a reigning Wimbledon men's singles champion to five sets in the opening round. Fabio Fognini had pushed Carlos Alcaraz the distance last year, while Alejandro Falla was the previous player to do so against Roger Federer in 2010.
A seeded wild card
Despite a surprise first-round exit, Maja Chwalinska achieved one of the rarest feats in Grand Slam history by entering Wimbledon as both a seed and a wild card. The 2026 Roland Garros finalist became just the third player in the Open Era to do so after Martina Hingis at the 2002 US Open and Patty Schnyder at Wimbledon in 2004.
Nightmare start for Britain
Great Britain endured its worst Wimbledon opening since 1988 after 15 home players exited in the first round. Cameron Norrie, the nation's highest-ranked entrant, was among the biggest casualties after losing to Michael Zheng, leaving only Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery and Jan Choinski in the singles draws.
Britain's hopes had already been dented before the tournament began after Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu withdrew through injury.
Pablo Carreno Busta finally won a Wimbledon singles main-draw match on his eighth attempt. The Spaniard entered the Championships with an 0-7 singles record before advancing after Denis Shapovalov retired injured on Monday.
Spain's latest teenage winner
Rafael Jodar won his first ATP Tour-level match on grass and became only the fifth Spanish teenager in the Open Era to win a Wimbledon men's singles match. He joined an exclusive group featuring Sergi Bruguera, Tommy Robredo, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
North Macedonia celebrates a first
Lina Gjorcheska became the first player from North Macedonia to compete in a Grand Slam singles main draw. The 31-year-old achieved the milestone after successfully coming through qualifying. She went on to lose to Amanda Anisimova in the first round.
Uzbekistan's growing presence
Polina Kudermetova, Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva made their Wimbledon debuts representing Uzbekistan after switching nationality from Russia. They also joined a wider trend of former Russian players now representing other nations, including Austria's Anastasia Potapova and Australia's Daria Kasatkina.
SEAblings into second round
Alexandra Eala beat Mexico’s Renata Zarazua to clinch her first Wimbledon opening-round win and join fellow Southeast Asians Janice Tjen, Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Lanlana Tararudee in the second round.
Tjen became the first Indonesian to reach the Wimbledon second round since Angelique Widjaja in 2003, while Sawangkaew ended Thailand's seven-year wait for a women's singles victory at the All England Club.
Naomi Osaka said her Japanese heritage and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill inspired the striking outfit she wore onto court before her opening-round victory at Wimbledon on Monday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion turned heads by arriving in a custom all-white ensemble inspired by traditional Japanese ceremonial dress that complied with Wimbledon's strict dress code before changing into a white Nike playing dress before her match.
Speaking after defeating France's Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5, Osaka explained that the design reflected both her cultural roots and one of her favourite films.
"For me, my Japanese heritage means a lot," Osaka said.
"They say all white at Wimbledon and I thought it would be really cool to come out in a kimono.
"One of my favourite movies is Kill Bill. I really love Lucy Liu's character, O-Ren Ishii, and she comes out in this really iconic white kimono."
Osaka has become known for making bold fashion statements at Grand Slam tournaments, having also unveiled custom-themed outfits at this year's Australian Open and Roland Garros.
