Alcaraz, who defeated Jannik Sinner after saving championship points in a marathon final in 2025, will miss this year’s tournament with a wrist injury. The Spaniard had earlier opted out of the Madrid Open, signaling his intentions to withdraw from the second major of the calendar year. 

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to miss French Open due to wrist injury

Adolis Garcia smashed a grand slam home run and the Texas Rangers beat defending champion Houston 9-2 on Sunday to force a winner-take-all showdown in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

MLB: Texas Ranger beat defending champion Houston Astros

The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets crashed to their first defeat of the season in an upset 110-89 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, while Boston extended their unbeaten start with a brutal thrashing of Indiana.

NBA: Denver Nuggets lose their first match of season against Minnesota Timberwolves

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz continued his sensational play on Friday to beat defending champion Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5) 7-6(2) and set up a Miami Open final against Casper Ruud, who ended the dream run of Francisco Cerundolo with a 6-4 6-1 win earlier.

Miami Open: Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz defeats defending champion Hubert Hurkacz, to face Ruud in final

Former world No.1 and winner of four Grand Slams, Naomi Osaka of Japan, lost only three games in her 6-2, 6-1 victory over No.9 seed Danielle Collins of the US to make it to her maiden Miami Open semifinal on Wednesday (IST).

Miami Open: Naomi Osaka outclasses Danielle Collins to set up maiden semifinal date against Belinda Bencic

Defending champions England booked their spot in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup semi-finals with an easy 100-run triumph over Bangladesh here at Basin Reserve on Sunday.

Women's World Cup: Defending champions England book semis spot with comfortable 100 run win against Bangladesh

Defending champion Paula Badosa advanced into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez here in California on Tuesday. Badosa came up with a straight-set win over US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez of Canada.

Indian Wells: Defending champion Paula Badosa beats Leylah Fernandez; Iga Swiatek, Simona Halep enter quarters

England's title defence in the Women's World Cup suffered another jolt on Monday after South Africa edged a thrilling chase in the last over by three wickets to hand them their third defeat in as many matches.

All-round South Africa hand defending champions England third straight Women's World Cup loss

Defending champion Angelique Kerber was dumped out of Wimbledon on Thursday as she suffered a stunning 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 second-round defeat by American Lauren Davis, who began the year ranked outside the world's top 250.

Wimbledon: Defending champion Angelique Kerber ousted by Lauren Davis

Practising cover drives in shower is just one manifestation of Steve Smith's batting obsession but the Australian has assured his anxious team at the World Cup that he is not overdoing it.

Australia's Steve Smith practises cover drives in shower

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday defeated Petra Kvitova for the first time in four years with a 7-5 3-6 6-2 victory at the WTA Finals in Singapore.

WTA Finals: Despite knee injury, defending champion Wozniacki beats Petra Kvitova

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