Sports
Nadal wins 21st Grand Slam title

Rafael Nadal took all-time ownership of the record for men’s Grand Slam singles titles as the Spaniard earned his record 21st major crown with an extraordinary 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 come-from-behind victory over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open men’s singles final at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
Nadal looked down and out after dropping the opening two sets, but steeled himself to snap a three-way tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on 20 major singles titles, winning the match in five hours and 24 minutes.
Thirteen years since he denied Federer on Rod Laver Arena, the 35-year-old became just the fourth man in the open era to capture every major twice following a remarkable 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 victory.
It was his first comeback from two sets down in a major final and first at any stage of a Grand Slam since the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2007.
“I know it’s a tough moment, Daniil. You’re an amazing champion. I’ve been in this position a couple of times trying to have the trophy with me,” Nadal said. “It has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career, and to share the court with you is just an honour.
“For me it’s just amazing. A month-and-a-half ago I didn’t know if I’d be back and today I’m back here with you holding this trophy.”
Nadal admitted serious conversations had been held within his team about whether he could ever compete at the highest level again following a chronic footy injury.
An unprecedented 21st major, his first since Roland-Garros in 2020, gave the Spaniard the outright lead over his great rivals Federer and Djokovic for the first time.
“What you did today I was amazed. During the match I tried to play tennis but after the match I asked him ‘Are you tired?’,” Medvedev said. “You raised your level after two sets for the 21st Grand Slam… you’re an amazing champion. Congrats. It was unbelievable.
“I’m going to try to be better next time.”
Three years ago, Medvedev played up to the role as the Flushing Meadows villain, but won over a new legion of fans when he surged back from a two-set deficit only to fall narrowly short to Nadal.
Medvedev was under no illusion he would have it easy winning over a crowd intent on seeing one of the greats stand triumphant for the first time since 2009 on the final Sunday at Melbourne Park.
He cared not for sentiment though and a 136km/h backhand winner down the line was a warning sign he was taking the early initiative.
Sweat-soaked in the heat of battle on a humid summer’s night, the Spaniard was desperate to stem the flow when he rushed the net only to push a forehand volley wide.
It handed the Russian a 5-2 lead and he landed the set in 42 minutes.
Where Nadal’s heavy, higher-kicking blows typically proved so effective at wearing down challengers, Medvedev represented the modern prototype, a 1.98m tormentor with seamless movement and exceptional baseline consistency.
He was a formidable prospect, particularly on hard courts, and the sixth seed was under the pump.
Despite landing little more than half his first deliveries and spending more than twice as long on serve, Nadal was hanging tough.
His first break point arrived via a punishing 40-shot rally, ended on a backhand drop-shot winner, and he brought the crowd to its feet two points later when he opened up a 3-1 lead.
A set point slid by in a 12-minute battle on serve and, having survived Felix Auger-Aliassime from match point down in in a four-hour-plus quarterfinal, Medvedev was emboldened.
Thirty minutes later, he held a two-set advantage.
It was a sizeable summit for Nadal from here.
Not since a round of 16 clash against Mikhail Youzhny at the All England Club 15 years ago had he recovered from two sets down in a major.
With the pair locked at 4-all in the fourth, a first sniff of a chance arose.
A bold attempt off a poor drop shot backfired badly on Medvedev when it caught the net cord.
It proved pivotal as Nadal capitalised and after three hours and 12 minutes, Rod Laver Arena erupted when the 35-year-old landed the third set.
Medvedev’s woes were only mounting.
As the match passed the four-hour mark, Nadal appeared physically fresher of the two and 14 minutes later, the contest was all square.
A forehand winner to break at two-all in the decider came as a telling blow to his opponent’s fading hopes.
Twice before Nadal had led a break in the deciding set of an Australian Open final only to lose with victory in sight – to Djokovic in 2012 and to Federer in 2017.
It was an ominous sign when he failed to serve out the match at the first time of asking.
But Medvedev was unable to carry the fleeting momentum any further.
After five hours and 28 minutes Nadal had completed one of his greatest triumphs against extraordinary odds.
That number, 21, had never seemed further but had a sounded pretty sweet as it rang around Rod Laver Arena.
“All the support I have received since I arrived here, you are just amazing,” Nadal said. “Without a doubt, probably one of the most emotional ones in my tennis career.
“Having the huge support I received in those three weeks will stay in my heart the rest of my life.”
Sports
Record stand puts Bangladesh in command in Galle Test

A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership between skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and seasoned campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim put Bangladesh firmly in the box seat at stumps on day one of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.
The pair stitched together 247 runs – now the highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in Tests against Sri Lanka – steering the tourists to a commanding 292 for three at close after a wobbly start.
Having elected to bat first, Bangladesh were reeling at 45 for three when the duo came together. What followed was a gritty rescue act – a partnership built on sound temperament, clever shot selection and an unflinching resolve as they dug their team out of early trouble.
Mushfiqur, the most capped Test player in Bangladesh history with 97 appearances, silenced his critics with a timely ton. The veteran, under the pump after a lean patch spanning 13 innings without a half-century, rolled back the years with a knock of poise and purpose.
The 38-year-old has fond memories of Galle, having struck a monumental double hundred here in 2013 and once again turned tormentor-in-chief for the Sri Lankan bowlers. He did enjoy a slice of luck – a tough chance spilled by debutant Tharindu Ratnayake on 25 – but made it count, navigating a nervy passage in the 90s before scampering a quick single to notch up his 12th Test hundred.
Shanto, positive from the outset, kept the scoreboard ticking with deft footwork and a keen eye for the loose ball. He brought up his sixth Test century – and second against Sri Lanka – with a cheeky paddle sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya, marking his first ton since November 2023.
Earlier, Sri Lanka made early inroads with right-arm quick Asitha Fernando drawing first blood, removing opener Anamul Haque for a duck. Off-spinner Ratnayake, handed his Test cap on the back of a prolific domestic season, struck twice in quick succession – but once the Shanto-Mushfiqur duo got their eye in, it was one-way traffic.
Sri Lanka also handed a debut to opening batter Lahiru Udara, another domestic heavyweight, while the hosts paused before the start of play to felicitate retiring stalwart Angelo Mathews. The 38-year-old Mathews, playing his 119th and final Test, will hang up his boots with over 8,000 runs – behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka’s all-time charts.
This Galle encounter marks the curtain-raiser of the new World Test Championship cycle – and by stumps on day one, Bangladesh have already made a strong statement of intent.
Rex Clementine in Galle
Sports
Akesha, Dinara get Sri Lanka off to winning start

Sri Lanka commenced the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group 3 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Qatar as Akesha Silva and Dinara de Silva won their singles and doubles encounters at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Tuesday.
In the first singles match, Akesha Silva beat Hind Ai Mudahka (Qatar) 6-3, 3-0 (Hind Al Mudahka retired) before Dinara de Silva beat Mubaraka Ai Naimi (Qatar) 6-3, 6-0 in the second singles match.

Akesha Silva
Dinara and Akesha then joined to beat Mubaraka Ai Naimi and Dana Khalifa 6-0, 7-5 in the doubles match.
Sri Lanka are set to meet Nepal today.
Sports
Action from Junior National Athletics Championship

The four-day Junior National Athletics Championship concluded at Diyagama on Sunday. Here are some action pictures from the final day.

Chathushka Imesh (713), Pasindu Sandaruwan (697), and Shihan Nadeeshana (973) won the first, second and third places respectively in the Under 18 boys’ 100m final.
(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
- Madushani Herath won the best athlete award in the Under 23 women’s category for her notable performance in the triple jump.
- Dilni Rajapaksha established two new meet records in the Under 16 age category. Here she is competing in the triple jump
- Mihinsa Hasarangi clinched gold in the Under 16 girls’ 100 metres

Rumesh Tharanga established a new meet
record in the Under 23 men’s javelin throw.

Mihisara Gunarathna (1232) won the Under 20 boys’ 1,500m.
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