* Two-time champion Novak Djokovic huffed and puffed his way into the French Open fourth round with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win over Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday (Jun 2).
* World number three Jessica Pegula's hopes of hoisting her maiden Grand Slam trophy ended in despair on Friday after a 6-1 6-3 defeat by Belgian Elise Mertens in the French Open third round.
* Aryna Sabalenka wasted no time as she whizzed into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-2 6-2 drubbing of Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia on Friday.
* Former French Open quarter-finalist Elina Svitolina moved into the Roland Garros fourth round with a determined performance to stave off giant-killing Russian Anna Blinkova and claim a 2-6 6-2 7-5 victory on Friday.
* Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was named Player of the Season by Serie A on Friday. The Georgia international had an impressive season, helping Napoli secure their first Scudetto in 33 years with his contribution of 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 games.
* Holder Rafa Nadal, who has missed the French Open this year due to injury, is undergoing surgery on his hip muscle, the Spaniard's representative said on Friday. The 14-time winner in Paris, who has won a men's joint-record 22 majors, has been out of action since January after hurting his hip flexor in his second-round match at the Australian Open.
* Spanish defender Sergio Ramos is leaving French Champions Paris St Germain, the Ligue 1 club said on Friday. The 37-year-old arrived at Parc des Princes on a free transfer before the 2021-22 season after failing to reach an agreement to extend his 16-year stay at Real Madrid.
* Leeds United announced the departure of manager Sam Allardyce by mutual agreement on Friday after the club's relegation from the Premier League. Allardyce, 68, was parachuted in to rescue the club in May with only four games remaining but Leeds finished second from bottom, five points adrift of the safety zone and six above Southampton.
* China returns to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) autumn calendar after a four-year absence with seven tournaments in the mainland and Hong Kong confirmed on Friday (Jun 2). The Guangzhou event will be the first tournament in China starting the week of Sep 18. It will be followed by Ningbo from Sep 25 with the China Open in Beijing from Oct 2.
