Montreal, Zandvoort, Singapore to Host F1 Sprints for First Time 

07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 
07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 
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Montreal, Zandvoort, Singapore to Host F1 Sprints for First Time 

07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 
07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 

The Canadian, Dutch and Singapore Grands Prix will become Formula One sprint weekends for the first time next season on a list of six hosts announced by the sport on Tuesday.

The three venues join Shanghai, Miami and Silverstone for a format which sees a 100km race on Saturday, paying points to the top eight finishers, before the main grand prix is held on Sunday.

Shanghai and Miami will be sprint hosts for a third successive year while the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last hosted one in 2021, the season when sprints were introduced.

Brazil's Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, which has been a sprint weekend since 2021, reverts to the traditional format as do this year's other sprints in Belgium, the US Grand Prix in Austin and Qatar.

Dutch Grand Prix venue Zandvoort, a home race for Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen, is due to drop off the calendar after next year and the sprint element had already been announced.

Singapore's inclusion is a surprise, with the night race offering few overtaking opportunities on the city streets.

"The F1 Sprint has continued to grow in positive impact and popularity since it was introduced in 2021," said Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali in a statement.

"With four competitive sessions rather than two during a conventional Grand Prix weekend, F1 Sprint events offer more action each day for our fans, broadcast partners and for the promoters -- driving increased attendance and viewership.

"The 2026 season will usher in a new era of regulations, so having three new Sprint venues will only add to the drama on track."

TELEVISION VIEWERSHIP BOOSTED BY SPRINT WEEKENDS

Formula One said television viewership for sprint weekends, which feature qualifying on Friday instead of a second practice session, in 2024 was on average 10% greater than those without the Saturday race.

It added that the first three sprint weekends of 2025 had continued the upward trend, with Lewis Hamilton's Saturday victory for Ferrari in Shanghai producing an 84% live TV audience increase across the 15 top markets.

Some 26.6 million television viewers watched McLaren's Lando Norris win the Miami Grand Prix sprint, 18% more than the 2024 figure.

Verstappen's sprint win for Red Bull in Belgium drew a significantly higher audience compared to the 2024 European event, with China up 182%.

Formula One is entering a new engine era next year with significant regulation changes, putting a burden on teams, but the sport is considering adding more sprints to the calendar from 2027 and also changing the format.

That could see the number eventually doubled to 12, with reverse grids and other changes to be discussed by teams, drivers and stakeholders as the sport seeks to drive fan engagement and boost growth.

"We need to discuss the formats for the next few years," Domenicali told Italian reporters recently. "Everyone wants more sprint races instead of Friday free practice.

"Having them every weekend, like MotoGP does, is too big a step, but that doesn't mean we can't ... at least approach the weekends differently."

The 24-round 2026 F1 calendar was published in June.



Sonmez Becomes Fan Favorite in Melbourne After Coming to Aid of Ball Girl

 Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Sonmez Becomes Fan Favorite in Melbourne After Coming to Aid of Ball Girl

 Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

Zeynep Sonmez earned a place in fans' hearts as well as the second round at the Australian Open on Sunday when the Turkish qualifier rushed to the aid of a ball girl who had fainted in the punishing Melbourne heat.

The world number 112 was locked in battle with ‌11th seed ‌Ekaterina Alexandrova and waiting ‌to ⁠receive serve ‌in the second set when the girl, who was positioned beside the chair umpire, suddenly wobbled and fell on her back.

The girl picked herself up but stumbled again moments later, prompting ⁠23-year-old Sonmez to stop play and run towards ‌her.

With the crowd applauding, ‍Sonmez put the ‍girl's arm over her shoulder and ‍guided her to a seat so medical staff could provide treatment.

Sonmez went on to lose the set but she was able to secure a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win and become the ⁠first woman from Türkiye to reach the second round of the Melbourne Park Grand Slam.

Her victory comes on the back of a 2025 season in which she reached the third round at Wimbledon, marking the best Grand Slam result in the professional era for a Turkish woman.

She also reached the ‌second round of the US Open.


Fans Frustrated by Long Queues, Ticket Sales Halt on Day One of Australian Open

 Sebastian Korda of the US serves compatriot Michael Zheng during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Sebastian Korda of the US serves compatriot Michael Zheng during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Fans Frustrated by Long Queues, Ticket Sales Halt on Day One of Australian Open

 Sebastian Korda of the US serves compatriot Michael Zheng during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Sebastian Korda of the US serves compatriot Michael Zheng during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

Australian Open organizers came under fire on the Grand Slam's opening day on Sunday as frustrated fans sweated in long queues to the gates of Melbourne Park and complained of confusion over the suspension of ticket sales.

With heightened security at the event in the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney last month, hundreds of spectators gathered outside the venue in hot weather before tournament officials paused sales of the cheaper "ground pass" tickets within the first hour of play due to intense demand.

Ground passes, which ‌cost A$65 ($43) ‌for adults during day sessions, allow largely unfettered ‌access ⁠to the minor ‌courts and are hugely popular at the year's first Grand Slam.

Tournament director Craig Tiley confirmed in the morning that only the more expensive tickets to the main showcourts were available, but fans were oblivious as they queued for extended periods outside the venue.

Josh Main, a visitor from the Netherlands, said the experience was a letdown during a family trip that coincided with the Grand Slam.

“We went to look for ⁠tickets but there was a big line, so I thought, are we in the right line?” he ‌told Reuters. “They told us there are no tickets ‍left, so we can’t get in.

"They ‍did say there were tickets left for Rod Laver (Arena) but we’re not going ‍to sit there today and it’s expensive ... I think they said it was 300 bucks or something."

Local fans also voiced disappointment, with Melbourne resident Elton Yu surprised to find ground passes unavailable.

“Never expected to not have any tickets for the ground pass which I always do,” he told Reuters.

Susan Walsh, another Melbourne resident, said she and her group had already purchased arena tickets but hoped ⁠to enter earlier.

“We tried to buy a ground pass and they just told us it was only tickets that were $229 per person,” she said. “Didn’t want to spend that much money ... So, a bit disappointed.”

Tiley said the sales halt was just for the Sunday day session and that there were ground passes available for the evening.

“We’ve had to pause them because obviously we want people to come on site and have a great time,” he told reporters.

“There’s still the 'After 5' (o'clock) ground passes available, which is $49, come on-site for that.”

Governing body Tennis Australia (TA) said fans were encouraged to book in advance and that crowd numbers were constantly monitored at Melbourne ‌Park.

“Tickets will become available as capacity allows,” a spokeswoman said in a statement to Reuters.


Hosts Morocco Ready for Battle with Mane’s Senegal in AFCON Final

Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) semi-final football match between Nigeria and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat on January 14, 2026. (AFP)
Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) semi-final football match between Nigeria and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat on January 14, 2026. (AFP)
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Hosts Morocco Ready for Battle with Mane’s Senegal in AFCON Final

Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) semi-final football match between Nigeria and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat on January 14, 2026. (AFP)
Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi celebrates after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) semi-final football match between Nigeria and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat on January 14, 2026. (AFP)

The Africa Cup of Nations reaches its climax on Sunday with a final showdown between the continent's two leading footballing powerhouses as hosts Morocco look to win the title for the first time in 50 years when they take on Sadio Mane's Senegal.

The match kicks off at 1900 GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where almost all of the crowd of 69,000 will be backing a Morocco side captained by African player of the year Achraf Hakimi.

The first AFCON ever to start in one year and end in another could be the second in a row to be won by the host nation, with the Atlas Lions aiming to follow in the footsteps of Ivory Coast, crowned champions in front of their own fans in Abidjan in 2024.

Walid Regragui's Morocco have established themselves in recent years as Africa's pre-eminent national team, becoming the first from the continent to reach a World Cup semi-final, in 2022, and climbing to 11th place in the world rankings, just above Italy.

However, they have long been AFCON underachievers, with their only title to date coming in 1976. This will be their first final since 2004, when they lost to Tunisia with Regragui part of the team.

Senegal, meanwhile, are appearing in their third final in four editions and are targeting a second title to follow their 2022 triumph, when Mane scored the decisive penalty in a shoot-out win over Egypt in Yaounde.

"We dreamt of being here and now we have done it," Regragui told reporters in the Moroccan capital on Saturday.

He has been under suffocating pressure to deliver the title for the football-mad nation, and would perhaps not have kept his job through to the approaching World Cup in North America had he not at least taken the team this far.

"I hope this is just the beginning and not our last AFCON final," he added.

"Big football nations want to be up there on a regular basis. Tomorrow (Sunday) we want to try to make history."

He added: "Senegal will need to be really strong to beat us at home, although they are capable."

Morocco's success over the last four weeks has been based around the attacking inspiration of Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz, the tournament's top scorer with five goals, as well as a defense which has conceded only once -- and that a penalty in a group-stage draw with Mali.

Being at home brings extra pressure, but can also be a huge advantage, and Senegal have complained about the conditions in which they were welcomed to Rabat ahead of the game.

The Lions of Teranga were based in the northern port city of Tangiers for the duration of the tournament before arriving in Rabat by train on Friday.

Senegal's star player Mane, a two-time winner of the African player of the year prize, said after netting the winner in the semi-final against Egypt that Sunday's game would be his last ever AFCON appearance.

Remarkably, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw insisted on the eve of the game that the former Liverpool forward may have no choice but to rethink that decision.

"I think he made his decision in the heat of the moment and the country does not agree, and I as coach of the national team do not agree," said Thiaw.

"We would like to keep him for as long as possible," added the coach, who is without center-back and captain Kalidou Koulibaly due to suspension.