Padel news: US Padel Report 2026 reveals fast-growing sport nearly doubled US footprint in one year
Misitrano Consulting has released The US Padel Report 2026, the second annual data-led national study mapping the growth of padel across all 50 US states.
Built on proprietary research, verified projections, scraping, and interviews with clubs and operators, the report includes detailed breakdowns of infrastructure, pricing, booking technologies, tournament structure, and state-by-state facility development.
Tennis news: All you need to know about the 2026 Laver Cup
The 2026 Laver Cup is almost here, and tennis fans in London are getting ready for three days of some of the biggest names in tennis going up against each other.
This year's competition takes place at The O2 from September 25-27, with Team Europe taking on Team World.
It should be an interesting weekend. Team World will return as defending champions after beating Team Europe 15-9 in San Francisco last year.
Team Europe will be hoping to put that right on home soil, writes Sports News Blitz’s Elliot Desage.
F1 news: 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule and race predictions
Formula 1 heads to the Baku City Circuit this weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the championship battle entering the first round of a triple-header.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Azerbaijan with an 81-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship after consecutive victories in Italy and Madrid.
McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are all expected to fight for victory, while Isack Hadjar will return to action for Red Bull after missing the last three races with a wrist injury.
The Baku weekend will also follow an unusual schedule, with practice taking place on Thursday, qualifying on Friday and the Grand Prix on Saturday due to Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer Juliette White provides everything you need to know ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including the weekend schedule and our predictions for the podium.
Boxing: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight on Netflix - December 11 in Cardiff
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is finally happening, with the long-awaited all-British heavyweight blockbuster officially confirmed for December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
After years of speculation, negotiations and uncertainty over the venue, Fury and Joshua will finally meet in the professional ring for the first time.
The fight will be streamed live globally on Netflix, with the full undercard and further event details expected to be announced in due course.
EFL: Preston North End approach Bradford City for talks with Graham Alexander
Preston North End have made an approach to Bradford City seeking permission to hold talks with manager Graham Alexander, as confirmed by the Bantams.
The 54-year-old City manager enjoyed an eight-year spell at the Lancashire side, making over 350 appearances, and is recognised as a legend by fans at the Deepdale.
Preston are Sky Bet’s 10/11 favourites for relegation, and have been without a manager since parting ways with Paul Heckingbottom, who left the club in the Championship relegation zone, writes Sports News Blitz’s Charlie Gardner.
F1 news: Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday instead of Sunday?
This weekend will mark the 10th edition of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, things will be a little different this weekend, writes Sports News Blitz’s Elliot Desage.
Premier League Shirts Lose Their Betting Logos This Season
Supporters looking at the new kits this season will notice that, for the first time, no Premier League club has a gambling brand across the front of its matchday shirt.
Some of those logos have not vanished, though. They have simply moved somewhere else, and the reasons behind the move go back to a wave of gambling rules that reshaped the industry over the last two years.
Those rules came from the Gambling Commission and the government's White Paper, and they hit online casino games hardest.
Scottish Premiership: Celtic chief Michael Nicholson backs manager Martin O’Neill amid fan backlash
Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has publicly backed Bhoys boss Martin O’Neill amid mounting criticism from supporters.
The Scottish Premiership champions have struggled in recent weeks, losing to eternal rivals Rangers and capitulating at home to Ferencváros in the Europa League. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Michael Davey takes a look at what has been said.
F1 news: Isack Hadjar confirmed as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate for 2027
Red Bull have confirmed that Isack Hadjar will remain alongside Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
The Frenchman joined Red Bull at the start of the 2026 campaign after an impressive rookie season with Racing Bulls, earning a promotion to the senior team after just one year on the F1 grid.
Hadjar has now secured his place for another season, with Red Bull confirming the news ahead of his return at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, writes Sports News Blitz sub-editor Nicole Powell.
Chelsea warned they cannot sustain season with Xabi Alonso's open defence
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has warned that Xabi Alonso’s side cannot sustain a full season playing the way they currently are defensively.
The Blues have looked vulnerable at the back under Alonso, with the former Real Madrid manager opting to use a back three since taking charge.
Leboeuf believes Chelsea’s defensive structure needs to change, particularly with Wesley Fofana struggling to look comfortable in the system.
Premier League news: Could Brighton do a Leicester? Arsenal's defeat serves as a lesson
Arsenal’s first Premier League defeat of the season has served as a reminder that there is still plenty of work to do.
The Gunners suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, ending their perfect start to the campaign.
Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres were all on target as Brighton produced an impressive performance.
Speaking to Mr Gamble, ex-Chelsea star and France World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf praised Brighton for their performance while warning Arsenal that other teams will punish them if they are not at their best.
Rugby: England star Henry Pollock ends contract speculation; signs extension with Northampton Saints
Henry Pollock has ended speculation over his future by signing a new multi-year contract with Northampton Saints.
The England and British & Irish Lions back-rower was due to enter the final year of his previous agreement, but will remain at Franklin’s Gardens after committing to the Premiership champions.
The new deal is reportedly worth more than £400,000 per year.
What Simon Wilson’s Irish Open win tells us about chip leads
Simon Wilson began the nine-player final table of the 2025 Irish Open Main Event fifth in chips. Michel Karim held the lead.
By the end of the tournament in Dublin on 21 April, Wilson was the champion and Karim had finished fifth.
The changing order gives anyone following poker results a reason to look beyond the name at the top of a chip count.
A lead describes the chips available during a contest. It does not reveal the next hand or settle the result.
Cricket betting tips: Best bets for England vs Sri Lanka and South Africa vs Australia
International cricket moves to ODI mode this week, with England taking on Sri Lanka in Durham before South Africa and Australia get their series underway in Durban.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket betting expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, value plays, and key betting angles ahead of this week’s action.
Premier League news: Matheus Cunha grabs late equaliser for struggling Man Utd at Fulham
Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday as Matheus Cunha struck a late equaliser for Michael Carrick’s side.
Despite the positive end to the match for the Red Devils, the result leaves Carrick with plenty to ponder going into the international break. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reviews the game at Craven Cottage.
The best Liverpool v Man City games
Manchester City won all three meetings with Liverpool in 2025-26, taking the Etihad league game 3-0, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Anfield, and knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup 4-0 in the quarter-finals.
The two league results gave City their first league double over Liverpool since 1936-37.
That is one lopsided season inside a fixture that spent the previous decade producing the closest thing English football had to a fair fight.
The sides meet again at Anfield at 4:30pm on Sunday 11 October, and the Liverpool vs Man City odds now sit against a run of three straight City wins.
Six meetings built the reputation this game carries, ranked by what was at stake and what happened.
EFL League One: AFC Wimbledon retain upper hand over bitter rivals MK Dons despite dull draw
The EFL League One season may still be in its infancy, but some clubs are already in a higher position than expected while others experience underachievement.
One side which has seen a positive series of events so far is AFC Wimbledon, with the south-west London outfit currently placed in fifth position. Here, Sports News Blitz writer and EFL follower AJ Becker takes a look at the reasons behind their success.
A first in Africa: Nairobi, Kenya, to host 2029 World Athletics Championships
Kenya will become the first African nation to host the World Athletics Championships come 2029.
The country’s capital, Nairobi, will host the tournament at the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium.
London and Rome missed out on the 2029 rights, while Munich was awarded the 2031 championships.
F1 2027 calendar: Shock Monaco Sprint race, Portugal’s return, 10 Sprints, and more
Formula 1 and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) have officially confirmed the 2027 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar.
The calendar features 24 Grands Prix across 22 countries, with 10 Sprint weekends, writes Sports News Blitz sub-editor Nicole Powell.
Wavelight lights up Nakuru: Ben McGrath and Jai Shah on bringing pacing tech and Athletic.net to Kenya’s running culture
A Wavelight time trial at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, Kenya (altitude approximately 5,949 ft) on Friday, August 14, brought together young track and field athletes from Iten - the high-altitude town known as Kenya’s “Home of Champions” - for what was the first such session filmed and conducted with the technology in East Africa.
Ben McGrath - Athletic Engagement Director and PA & Broadcast Announcer at RunnerSpace, and Sales and Event Operator at Wavelight Technologies - and Jai Shah, Regional African Partner at Wavelight Africa, were on the ground.
Beyond the lights themselves, the pair are helping introduce Athletic.net, the results and athlete-database platform (part of the RunnerSpace family), to Kenyan athletics.
The goal is structured results, free video and profile access, and better pathways for athletes from youth level through to the professionals.
Sports News Blitz sub-editor Nicole Powell sat down with them after the session.