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Nishikori Bows Out for Final Time in Tokyo as Crowd Salutes Japanese Trailblazer

Japan's Kei Nishikori waves to the spectators after his first round loss to Frances Tiafoe at the Japan Open tennis in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Daiki Katagiri/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Kei Nishikori waves to the spectators after his first round loss to Frances Tiafoe at the Japan Open tennis in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Daiki Katagiri/Kyodo News via AP)
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Nishikori Bows Out for Final Time in Tokyo as Crowd Salutes Japanese Trailblazer

Japan's Kei Nishikori waves to the spectators after his first round loss to Frances Tiafoe at the Japan Open tennis in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Daiki Katagiri/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Kei Nishikori waves to the spectators after his first round loss to Frances Tiafoe at the Japan Open tennis in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (Daiki Katagiri/Kyodo News via AP)

Kei Nishikori's final match before retirement ended in a 6-4 6-4 loss to American Frances Tiafoe in the Japan Open first round on Thursday, as an adoring crowd in Tokyo rose to salute the former world number four and Japanese trailblazer.

The 36-year-old was the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open and the second after Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan to make it into the top 10.

After bowing out at the tournament he won in 2012 and 2014, Nishikori soaked up applause from fans at the Ariake Coliseum as organizers honored his two-decade career with a ⁠video tribute featuring ⁠messages from top players including Novak Djokovic.

"We had some great battles at the Grand Slams and other tournaments all over the world," 24-times Grand Slam champion Djokovic said, according to Reuters.

"Your resilience and your fighting spirit to always come back after all the adversity you had with your body, injuries and everything that you faced is really ⁠commendable and admirable.

"I'm really glad you're ending your career in your town, in your country, in front of your people. You're definitely going to get the farewell and applause that you absolutely deserve. All the very best in retirement, Kei."

Seven-times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz said he considered himself a fan, while others like Grigor Dimitrov, Alex de Minaur and Andy Murray heaped praise on his two-handed backhand.

The Shimane-born Nishikori reached his career-high ranking of four in 2015 and claimed 12 titles on the ATP Tour, ⁠but has ⁠been hampered by injuries for years and has slipped to 436 in the world.

Former world number three and twice Grand Slam runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece led the tributes on social media, thanking Nishikori for his hard work and aggressive, counter-punching playing style in a memorable professional career.

"Beyond your remarkable achievements, you captivated audiences everywhere with your one-of-a-kind playing style, bringing immense pride and emotion to people across Japan," Tsitsipas wrote in Japanese on X.

"I've always loved watching your matches and it saddens me that I won't get to see you on tour anymore. I'll keep cheering you on in whatever you do next."

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Sports

Colapinto Takes Full Blame for Baku Crash as he Faces Social Media Storm

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina walks down pit lane following his crash during the Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix auto race, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina walks down pit lane following his crash during the Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix auto race, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
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Colapinto Takes Full Blame for Baku Crash as he Faces Social Media Storm

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina walks down pit lane following his crash during the Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix auto race, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina walks down pit lane following his crash during the Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix auto race, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Alpine's Franco Colapinto said that the days following his crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix had been among "the most difficult" of his career, as he faced questions and social media abuse following the collision that wiped out teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris.

The incident occurred after a safety car restart in Baku, with Colapinto locking up at turn one before ploughing into French teammate Gasly in a crash that also collected reigning Formula One champion Norris.

Norris initially called for Colapinto to be given a one-race ban for triggering the crash, but later apologized for the comments that he said he made in the heat of the moment.

"There are some moments that are trickier than others, the most important is to grow from those and to improve as a driver and as a ⁠person," Colapinto told ⁠reporters on Thursday ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

"So I think it's been one of those that you have to move on and learn from it. It also makes you stronger."

The 23-year-old took full responsibility for the "silly mistake" which had "very big consequences," pointing out that both McLaren drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri also locked up at turn one during the race.

"As soon as we made contact, I came back to (the ⁠paddock and took) full responsibility for it," he added, according to Reuters.

Colapinto revealed he was "a bit surprised" by Norris' initial comments calling for a race ban, noting that the McLaren driver had previously spoken out against online backlash.

"I think he was in the heat at the moment," Colapinto said. "Of course, he knows what comments create, because he suffered from it or he was probably the driver that was speaking the most about hate just a few seasons ago."

The crash sparked a wave of social media abuse, with Colapinto addressing criticism of his passionate Argentine fanbase while pointing out that hate comes "from all the world and from many other fan bases.

"My message is ⁠sort of the ⁠same, that they sometimes don't realise what you can create by writing on your keyboard and that we are all humans," he said. "It's not easy for us when we get these kinds of things."

Colapinto said he and Norris have since resolved their differences, with the Argentine saying they had chatted and "it's all good."

He also praised Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore's handling of the situation, calling him "probably one of the best I've had in the sport," while dismissing speculation about his future with the team.

"Those things never changed and now we're praying for the future," he said when asked if he had been threatened with being dropped.

"I'm very grateful to be part of this team and with the support of everyone and Flavio from the start. Pierre, as my teammate, we have a very good relationship as well. Everything is good."

Sports

Michael Jordan's 'Last Dance' Jersey Sells for Record $12.26 Million

The No 23 jersey worn by Michael Jordan in his final regular-season game with the Chicago Bulls (Mike Blake/Reuters) 
The No 23 jersey worn by Michael Jordan in his final regular-season game with the Chicago Bulls (Mike Blake/Reuters) 
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Michael Jordan's 'Last Dance' Jersey Sells for Record $12.26 Million

The No 23 jersey worn by Michael Jordan in his final regular-season game with the Chicago Bulls (Mike Blake/Reuters) 
The No 23 jersey worn by Michael Jordan in his final regular-season game with the Chicago Bulls (Mike Blake/Reuters) 

A jersey worn by Michael Jordan during one of the most famous seasons of his career sold at auction for $12.26 million on Tuesday to become the most expensive basketball jersey to ever cross the block, according to CNN.

The white mesh top emblazoned with Jordan’s iconic number “23” was worn by the star during Game 3 of his legendary 1998 NBA Finals run. It was the end of his time with the Chicago Bulls, known as “The Last Dance,” which was chronicled in a 2020 ESPN and Netflix documentary series of the same name.

During the pivotal game against the Utah Jazz, Jordan delivered a crushing performance in front of a home-court crowd that helped shift the series in the Bulls’ favor, with Jordan ultimately leading the team to win its sixth championship in eight seasons.

The shirt is the only publicly known white game-winning jersey from the 1998 Finals ever put on sale, making it an extremely rare piece of memorabilia, according to Joopiter, the online auction house that hosted the sale.

“The significance of this jersey extends well beyond the box score,” Joopiter had written on its online auction listing.

“This is the type of object collectors wait a lifetime for — an irreplaceable artifact that transcends basketball to become a piece of global cultural history,” said Caitlin Donovan, the auction platform’s global head of sales, in a press release prior to the sale’s conclusion.

In becoming the most expensive basketball jersey ever sold at auction, the shirt surpassed the previous record set by another Jordan jersey from Game 1 of the same finals.

In 2022, a red jersey worn during that matchup where the Bulls lost, sold for $10.1 million, more than double initial estimates, CNN previously reported.

In 2021, a jersey also worn by the player during his sophomore season at the University of North Carolina set an auction record at the time when it sold for $1.38 million.

The current record for the most expensive sports collectible ever sold is held by Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” jersey, which sold for $24.12 million in 2024. Ruth wore the jersey during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, when he appeared to gesture toward something in center field just before hitting a fifth-inning home run into the bleachers, a story which is now part of baseball lore.

 

 

 

Sports

Guardiola Backs Man City After Bombshell Guilty Verdicts

Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Guardiola Backs Man City After Bombshell Guilty Verdicts

Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League. (Action Images via Reuters)

Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola threw his weight behind the club on Wednesday after a bombshell verdict on Premier League financial rule breaches plunged their future into serious doubt.

The former boss broke his silence 24 hours after it was announced that the club had been found guilty of more than 100 breaches of financial rules in the world's richest domestic league.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the disciplinary case and the decision by an independent commission as the "most significant in Premier League history".

He said City "systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade", adding that the league was committed to a swift resolution.

The likely punishment is uncertain but, according to Premier League rules, City could face a substantial points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The 10-time English champions, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, have vowed to appeal and have until Friday to do so.

Guardiola, who was a vocal supporter of the club over the issue before leaving the Etihad in May, broke his silence in a post on X.

"I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here, more than ever," said the Spaniard, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in a golden decade at the helm.

"I am, always have been, always will be, behind my club, my owner, my chairman, (CEO) Ferran (Soriano), the players, staff, (manager) Enzo (Maresca) and you, our unique supporters.

"Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."

- 'Significant breach' -

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he did not want to see the club's Emirati owners walk away as a result of the case.

"I would be really concerned to lose them," he told the BBC, highlighting the investment the Abu Dhabi United Group had made in Manchester, where Burnham was mayor until June.

But English football's independent regulator, David Kogan, said that his body has the power to assess the suitability of club owners and executives "where appropriate", when there is "clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals".

The Premier League, which first charged City in 2023, announced the findings of the commission on Tuesday.

The commission found City arranged "sham" deals to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018, a period in which they won three Premier League titles and other silverware.

In doing so, they concealed the true state of their finances but the commission said that the club were "significantly in breach of both the Premier League's and UEFA's spending limits".

The commission found the club guilty on all charges related to breaches of financial rules over the nine-year period.

They have also been found guilty of most of the charges they faced in relation to a failure to cooperate with a Premier League investigation.

Sky Sports reported that City's stadium and shirt sponsor Etihad has categorically denied any implication the Emirati airline has been involved in improper commercial arrangements and threatened to take legal action against the Premier League.

- Punishment -

Everton and Nottingham Forest were given points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of financial sustainability rules.

On that basis, City could face relegation given the sheer weight of the case against them.

There is speculation they could even be stripped of their titles.

"If the appeal fails, Manchester City cannot stay in the league, they have to suffer. And I say that as a supporter and a fan," said the club's former chairman, David Bernstein.

Former City defender Micah Richards, who was part of the side that won the club's first top-flight league title for 44 years in 2012, said the uncertainty was "heartbreaking".

"I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating," Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.

City have become the Premier League's dominant force since the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour, the vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.

The team are next in action against Liverpool at Anfield on October 11, where they will take on the club who have been their closest challengers over the past decade.