1. McLaren play down Lando’s injury
Formula 1 returns from its summer break with the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday and there are fears that McLaren driver Lando Norris could miss the race because of injury.
The 19-year-old is wearing a leg brace but McLaren say it’s being used as a precaution. The team told GPToday.net: “Lando mildly inflamed a tendon in his left foot while out running when he was on holiday.
“If it was anyone else they wouldn’t be wearing a boot, it’s belt and braces for a couple of days to isolate it while it recovers.
“It’s precautionary. He inflamed a tendon running but all good. Looks way more dramatic than it is.”
2. Ronaldo: Messi rivalry made us better players
Cristiano Ronaldo believes the rivalry with Lionel Messi has made both players better footballers. When asked about Barcelona star Messi, Juventus striker Ronaldo said: “I have no doubt that Messi has made me a better player and vice-versa. When I am winning trophies it must sting him and it’s the same for me when he wins. I really admire the career he [Messi] has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain because it was a rivalry that he appreciated.”
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3. Konta and Evans through in New York
The final tennis grand slam of the 2019 season – the US Open – is underway at Flushing Meadows in New York. British players Johanna Konta and Dan Evans are through to the second round. In the women’s singles Konta beat Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 while in the men’s singles Evans secured a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino.
Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: ‘GOATs’ battle at US Open
4. New career for Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins will train to become a social worker, the BBC reports. The 39-year-old, who won the 2012 Tour de France, does not want to “live off the back” of his cycling career. He told The Big Issue that he wants to “help people”.
5. Indian PM Modi praises badminton star Sindhu
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tipped badminton star PV Sindhu to “inspire generations” after she won gold at the BWF World Championships. Modi tweeted: “The passion and dedication with which she’s pursued badminton is inspiring. PV Sindhu’s success will inspire generations of players.”
6. McIlroy: winning beats the money
Rory McIlroy insists that lifting trophies is far more important to him than winners’ cheques after the Northern Irish golfer secured the PGA Tour’s FedExCup and $15m (£12.2m). After winning the Tour Championship, the PGA’s final event of the season, the 30-year-old said: “I was thinking about winning this tournament, winning the stroke average, getting back to second in the world. All those things are way more important to me. I realise I’m in a very privileged position that I can say that but at this stage in my career they are way more important to me.”
7. Ireland ‘not good enough’ against England
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admits his side did not play well in the 57-15 thrashing by England on Saturday, but says all that matters is what happens when the Rugby World Cup starts next month. “What really matters is in four weeks’ time,” said Schmidt. “You do get some disproportionate scores [in warm-ups], but we weren’t good enough.” On Saturday 31 August Ireland continue their World Cup preparations with a trip to Cardiff to take on Wales.
8. Klopp planning a sabbatical?
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted he will leave the club and take a sabbatical from football when his Anfield contract expires in 2022. The German told Kicker: “Who can now say if he can give it his all in three years’ time? If I decide for myself that I can’t go on anymore, I’ll take a break and in that year I’d have to make a definite decision [over my career]. I have absolute energy, but I have one problem; I can’t do ‘a little bit’. I can only do ‘all or nothing’.”
9. Merson: Spurs already out of title race
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes that Tottenham’s Premier League title hopes are already over after their 1-0 defeat at home against Newcastle. Merson said: “Spurs look in disarray, a worrying sign this early in the season. They are out of the title race already, five points behind Liverpool with three games played. That may sound harsh, but would you back Spurs to win the league over Liverpool if Liverpool had a five-point head start?”
Premier League transfer news: Alexis, Ozil, Eriksen, Matic, Monreal, Abraham
10. Happy meals for Headingley heroes
England cricket star Ben Stokes has revealed that he and some of his team-mates celebrated the Ashes third Test victory over Australia by having a drive-thru at McDonald’s. It was “happy meals” all round for the heroes of Headingley.
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Today’s back pages: ‘burger king’ Stokes eclipses Botham and Flintoff
