• Australia’s No 30 seed falls to shock 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Czech player

• ‘I don’t want to be a punching bag’ – retirements mar dramatic day

*Valentova 1-1 Joint (30) Joint takes the first point in response, but then overhits to give Valentova the second. A 180kmh ace from the Czech puts her up 30-15. Unforced error and a double fault give Joint the break point, which she seals with a snappy backhand. It’s one game all.

Valentova 1-0 Joint (30)* Joint goes bang and starts off with an ace, but then loses the second to a double fault. Lovely clean hitting in this first game. Valentova loses her first break point. At deuce, Joint double faults again. Valentova can’t convert the second break point either, with Joint amping up the aggression at the net. A nice lob secures Valentova her third break point and she wraps up the first game with a forehand winner.

• Australia’s No 30 seed falls to shock 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Czech player

• ‘I don’t want to be a punching bag’ – retirements mar dramatic day

*Valentova 1-1 Joint (30) Joint takes the first point in response, but then overhits to give Valentova the second. A 180kmh ace from the Czech puts her up 30-15. Unforced error and a double fault give Joint the break point, which she seals with a snappy backhand. It’s one game all.

Valentova 1-0 Joint (30)* Joint goes bang and starts off with an ace, but then loses the second to a double fault. Lovely clean hitting in this first game. Valentova loses her first break point. At deuce, Joint double faults again. Valentova can’t convert the second break point either, with Joint amping up the aggression at the net. A nice lob secures Valentova her third break point and she wraps up the first game with a forehand winner.

Just when it seemed that another match would be dominated by the dreariness of a debatable video assistant referee decision, a moment of majesty from Charalampos Kostoulas provided a pertinent reminder of the beauty that football can provide.

With his side staring at what would have been a controversial defeat, the 18-year-old Kostoulas found himself facing away from the Bournemouth goal near the penalty spot when the ball bounced towards him in the first minute of injury time. A touch on his chest bought time to set himself, before a wonderful bicycle kick sent the Amex Stadium wild.

Just when it seemed that another match would be dominated by the dreariness of a debatable video assistant referee decision, a moment of majesty from Charalampos Kostoulas provided a pertinent reminder of the beauty that football can provide.

With his side staring at what would have been a controversial defeat, the 18-year-old Kostoulas found himself facing away from the Bournemouth goal near the penalty spot when the ball bounced towards him in the first minute of injury time. A touch on his chest bought time to set himself, before a wonderful bicycle kick sent the Amex Stadium wild.

Misjudged penalty after Senegal’s walk-off chaos leaves forward facing a lifetime of criticism

After Portugal had beaten England in the World Cup quarter-final in 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo was asked how he had looked so calm taking his penalty in the shootout when England’s players appeared crushed by the occasion. For a moment he seemed baffled by the question, then he explained that those moments are what he lives for. Where others feel pressure, he sees opportunity.

What, you wonder, did Brahim Díaz see during the Afcon final on Sunday? When his shoulder was tugged by El Hadji Malick Diouf and he collapsed, did he consider the consequences? When he howled in the face of the Democratic Republic of the Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo as he waited for the verdict of the video assistant referee, did it occur to him he would take the penalty if it were given? He had scored one against Mali in the group stage, but that was with Achraf Hakimi, a very fine penalty taker, off the pitch.

Misjudged penalty after Senegal’s walk-off chaos leaves forward facing a lifetime of criticism

After Portugal had beaten England in the World Cup quarter-final in 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo was asked how he had looked so calm taking his penalty in the shootout when England’s players appeared crushed by the occasion. For a moment he seemed baffled by the question, then he explained that those moments are what he lives for. Where others feel pressure, he sees opportunity.

What, you wonder, did Brahim Díaz see during the Afcon final on Sunday? When his shoulder was tugged by El Hadji Malick Diouf and he collapsed, did he consider the consequences? When he howled in the face of the Democratic Republic of the Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo as he waited for the verdict of the video assistant referee, did it occur to him he would take the penalty if it were given? He had scored one against Mali in the group stage, but that was with Achraf Hakimi, a very fine penalty taker, off the pitch.

• Manager has ‘been feeling the trust’ from club hierarchy

• Spurs hampered by injury crisis before visit of Dortmund

Thomas Frank has insisted the Tottenham hierarchy are standing with him in the face of the storm gripping the club.

The manager’s job is in the balance, his situation precarious after the home defeat against West Ham on Saturday. The Spurs support were so incensed by the result and the continuation of the team’s terrible Premier League form – they have won twice in their past 13 league matches – that they demanded Frank be “sacked in the morning”.

• Manager has ‘been feeling the trust’ from club hierarchy

• Spurs hampered by injury crisis before visit of Dortmund

Thomas Frank has insisted the Tottenham hierarchy are standing with him in the face of the storm gripping the club.

The manager’s job is in the balance, his situation precarious after the home defeat against West Ham on Saturday. The Spurs support were so incensed by the result and the continuation of the team’s terrible Premier League form – they have won twice in their past 13 league matches – that they demanded Frank be “sacked in the morning”.

• Pool stages could revert to an October start

• ‘The format is delivering,’ European rugby chief insists

The organisers of the Champions Cup are looking to shift the start of the tournament back to October to add extra impetus to the pool stages. This year’s competition kicked off in December, but there is collective support from coaches and clubs to commence their campaigns before the packed November Test window.

The existing structure and calendar slots are technically in place until 2030, but there is growing recognition that a change could be helpful. Among other benefits, clubs would have a better chance of having their best players fit and firing before the autumn internationals which, in turn, could encourage more early season interest.

• Pool stages could revert to an October start

• ‘The format is delivering,’ European rugby chief insists

The organisers of the Champions Cup are looking to shift the start of the tournament back to October to add extra impetus to the pool stages. This year’s competition kicked off in December, but there is collective support from coaches and clubs to commence their campaigns before the packed November Test window.

The existing structure and calendar slots are technically in place until 2030, but there is growing recognition that a change could be helpful. Among other benefits, clubs would have a better chance of having their best players fit and firing before the autumn internationals which, in turn, could encourage more early season interest.