MLB renew partnership with Pokémon GO for 2026 season
By Lee Seng Foo2 months ago
Major League Baseball (MLB) have renewed its collaboration with Pokémon GO for the 2026 season, as the league looks to enhance the in-stadium experience through interactive features.
Following its initial rollout, the initiative once again integrates the mobile game into all 30 MLB ballparks, turning stadiums into playable environments during game days from April 22 to September 30.
Fans attending games can interact with Pokémon GO elements around the venue, including dedicated in-game locations and themed activities designed to complement the live baseball atmosphere.
Selected teams are also set to host special Pokémon GO-themed events throughout the season, where attendees can access limited-time in-game content and participate in exclusive activities tied to those matchdays.
The continued partnership reflects MLB’s broader push to engage younger and digitally connected audiences, blending live sport with mobile gaming to create a more immersive fan experience.
Venus and Serena Williams will reunite at Wimbledon later this month after receiving a wildcard entry into the women's doubles draw.
The former world number ones will team up for the first time since the 2022 US Open.
The announcement is another step in Serena's comeback after the 44-year-old returned to competitive tennis earlier this month following an absence of nearly four years.
She recently competed in doubles alongside Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championships and is scheduled to pair with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open this week.
Serena has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and seven Wimbledon crowns, while Venus lifted the singles trophy five times.
Together, the sisters captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon.
Wimbledon has crowned some of the greatest champions in tennis history, from Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova to Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.
Yet for every player who lifted the famous trophy at the All England Club, there are others who left London wondering what might have been. Despite winning Grand Slam titles, reaching world No. 1 and dominating their respective eras, several of the sport's biggest names were unable to conquer the grass courts of Wimbledon.
Ahead of the 2026 edition, which will be broadcast live on SPOTV NOW, here are 10 notable players who enjoyed remarkable careers but never managed to win one of tennis' most prestigious titles.
Ivan Lendl
Few players achieved more during the Open Era than Lendl. The former world No. 1 won eight Grand Slam singles titles and 94 ATP tournaments, establishing himself as one of the dominant figures of the 1980s. Wimbledon, however, remained the one major missing from his resume. Lendl reached the final in 1986 and 1987 and made five semi-finals at the All England Club, but was unable to convert those opportunities into a title.
Monica Seles
Seles was one of the most successful players of her generation, winning eight out of nine Grand Slam singles titles and reaching world No. 1 before the age of 20. However, she never won at Wimbledon, with her best result coming in 1992 when she lost to Steffi Graf in the final. Seles never returned to the championship match, especially after the infamous stabbing attack in 1993 that sidelined her for more than two years, with quarter-final appearances representing her best results subsequently at the All England Club.
Justine Henin
Henin enjoyed success on both clay and hard courts throughout her career, but Wimbledon proved elusive. The Belgian reached the final twice, losing to Venus Williams in 2001 and Amelie Mauresmo in 2006, leaving Wimbledon as the only Grand Slam title missing from her collection.
Mats Wilander
Wilander collected seven Grand Slam singles titles and rose to world No. 1 during one of tennis' most competitive eras. The Swede won major titles on clay and hard courts, including three Australian Open crowns and three Roland Garros titles. Wimbledon was the exception, as Wilander never progressed beyond the quarter-finals, making it the only Grand Slam where he failed to reach a final.
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
Vicario won four Grand Slam singles titles and spent 12 weeks as world No. 1. Although best known for her achievements on clay, the Spaniard also produced some of her strongest tennis at Wimbledon. The Spaniard reached back-to-back finals in 1995 and 1996 but lost both matches to Steffi Graf. Those runner-up finishes remained the closest she came to winning the grass-court major.
Marcelo Rios
Rios occupies a unique place in tennis history as the only male world No. 1 in the Open Era who never won a Grand Slam singles title. Wimbledon stood out as the Chilean’s least successful major, as his best result at the All England Club was a fourth-round appearance in 1997.
Andy Roddick
Roddick came closer than most to ending his Wimbledon drought. The former world No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion reached three Wimbledon finals in 2004, 2005 and 2009. Unfortunately for the American, all ended in defeat to Roger Federer, including their memorable 16-14 fifth-set battle in 2009.
Jim Courier
Courier was one of the dominant players of the early 1990s, reaching six Grand Slam finals in the space of three years. Four resulted in Australia Open and Roland Garros success, but the former world number one came up short at the US Open and Wimbledon. For the latter, he lost to Pete Sampras in the 1993 final.
Ilie Nastase
Nastase was one of the leading figures in men's tennis during the 1970s, winning two Grand Slam singles titles and more than 60 career tournaments. He had several deep runs at Wimbledon, including reaching the finals in 1972 and 1976, but defeats to Stan Smith and Bjorn Borg denied him a title.
Guillermo Vilas
Long before Argentina became a regular force in men's tennis, Vilas helped put the country on the global tennis map. The left-hander won 62 singles titles including four Grand Slam honours during a remarkable career. While he enjoyed major success on clay and hard courts, grass was a tougher challenge. Vilas never progressed beyond the Wimbledon quarter-finals, leaving the tournament as one of the few notable gaps in an otherwise outstanding career.
Pedro Acosta hailed Marc Marquez as one of the greatest riders in MotoGP history, pointing to the Ducati star's remarkable comeback from injury and adversity.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider discussed Marquez during an appearance on the Gypsy Tales Podcast, where he reflected on the nine-time world champion's return to the top of the sport.
After suffering a series of injuries that threatened to derail his career, Marquez fought his way back to claim the 2025 MotoGP world title and secured his first victory of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“If he's not the G.O.A.T., then he's the same level as Valentino [Rossi],” said Acosta.
“If you just think about his comeback to MotoGP, winning on the second try, and how much he suffered.
“For me, what makes Marc one of the greatest is not how much he achieved, it's how much it cost to take it back.
“When you have the crown and it goes away, normally we have to understand [it can happen when] younger riders like [Fabio] Quartararo, Pecco [Bagnaia], [Jorge] Martin come.
“These guys are talented, and you are coming back from really difficult years to take back what is yours."
MotoGP returns to Brno this weekend for the 2026 Grand Prix of Czechia, one of the championship's most historic venues and a circuit that has produced plenty of memorable moments over the years.
Ahead of the highly anticipated action, live on SPOTV NOW, here are five things to know about this weekend's race.
Marc Marquez closing in on Brno record
Fresh from his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Marc Marquez heads into the weekend as one of the most successful riders in Brno history. The Ducati rider has won four times at the Czech circuit, triumphing in 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2025. Another victory this weekend would see him move clear of Valentino Rossi for the most premier-class wins at Brno since MotoGP's rebranding in 2002.
Crutchlow returns to scene of historic maiden win
Castrol Honda LCR rider Cal Crutchlow will once again deputise for the injured Johann Zarco this weekend. The Czech circuit holds a special place in the Briton's career after he claimed his maiden MotoGP victory there in 2016. The triumph also delivered LCR's first-ever premier-class win and ended a 35-year wait for a British rider to stand on the top step of a 500cc/MotoGP podium.
Pole position offers no guarantee of success
Starting from pole position has historically provided not much advantage at Brno. Since 2002, polesitters have converted their advantage into victory only nine times from 20 races, a success rate of 45 per cent. The trend has become even more pronounced in recent years, with only four of the last 10 Grands Prix of Czechia winning from pole position.
Will there be sixth straight different winner?
The last five races have produced five different winners: Alex Marquez (Jerez), Jorge Martin (Le Mans), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Barcelona), Marco Bezzecchi (Mugello) and Marc Marquez (Balaton Park). A new winner in the Czech Republic would make it six different winners from six consecutive races, matching the best run from the 2025 season.
The modern MotoGP record remains eight different winners from eight races, a feat achieved in both 2016 and 2020.
The work is not done for MotoGP teams and riders when the chequered flag falls on Sunday. They will remain at Brno for the first official test featuring MotoGP's new 850cc machinery and Pirelli tyres ahead of the 2027 regulation overhaul.
