News
17 articles
Beach volleyball borrowed the Davis Cup. It's the best idea it ever had
From 16 to 19 July Budapest hosts the beach volleyball Nations Cup: two pairs per country, a golden set to 15 and a ticket to the Düsseldorf Euros.
Italian volleyball is living a golden age. You can see it in the kids
From 4 to 18 July, Italy hosts the U18 volleyball Euros in Porto San Giorgio. With the senior women Olympic and world champions, the youth system explains the dominance.
Malaga, then Amsterdam: padel writes its most important week
From 11-26 July, the Premier Padel Tour moves from Malaga to the first-ever Major played in Amsterdam. It's proof padel in Northern Europe isn't an experiment anymore.
Rugby has a new global calendar. And Georgia is leading the Nations Cup
From July, the Six Nations face the southern hemisphere giants in the Nations Championship, while in the Nations Cup Georgia lead a pool with Portugal, Spain and Romania.
Why half of Europe swims in lakes (and the data says it's fine to)
Wild swimming is 2026's outdoor trend. The data on European bathing water quality, the best lakes to swim in, and the one safety rule that actually matters.
Sinner wins Wimbledon 2026: back-to-back, 5th Grand Slam
Sinner beats Zverev to defend Wimbledon: his 5th Slam, and the 10th man ever to defend the title. The analysis of a win that was built, not handed to him.
PlaySportMate is live: Europe's free sports community
PlaySportMate is online: find training partners, sports clubs and coaches across 150+ disciplines, free forever. Find out how it works.
Zverev breaks the Sinner-Alcaraz duopoly at Roland Garros. Cobolli comes close
Zverev wins his first Slam, beating Cobolli in five sets at Roland Garros 2026. The final's story, Cobolli's Italian record, and why clay makes the difference.
Today France-Spain, tomorrow Messi's last dance: semifinal day at the World Cup
On 14 July France and Spain play a World Cup semifinal, on the 15th it's Messi's Argentina against England. For the first time, the top 4 in the FIFA ranking.
The Wimbledon effect is real: what happens to tennis after the Championships
After Wimbledon 2026, tennis sign-ups and searches climb every year: the real data behind the phenomenon, and why grass remains the rarest surface on tour.
The hottest summer on record. Europe's runners didn't stop.
Summer 2026 has brought over 10,000 excess deaths across Europe and Paris's mayor calling out joggers in the street. How to run through record heat safely.
Today is the Le Lioran rematch. Here's how to actually read a mountain stage
On Bastille Day, the Tour returns to Le Lioran, where Vingegaard beat Pogačar two editions ago. A guide to reading breakaways, gaps, and mountain tactics.
Djokovic breaks Federer's Wimbledon record. At 39
At 39, Djokovic passes Federer's 105 Wimbledon wins to reach 106, before falling to Sinner in the semifinal. The record, and the story behind it, explained.
The Knicks end a 53-year wait. And European basketball goes 3-on-3
New York are NBA champions again after 53 years, Brunson named Finals MVP. While the spotlight sits there, European 3x3 heads to Antwerp — where small nations beat the giants.
The Open returns to Royal Birkdale. Why links golf stays a game apart
The 154th Open is played 16-19 July at Royal Birkdale, the club's 11th time hosting. Links golf is the oldest and most unpredictable form of the game — here's why.
A world record in Monaco, London in eight days: inside the 2026 Diamond League
A world record over 1000m and four meeting records in Monaco. The Diamond League explained: format, points, the Brussels final, and London on 18 July.
European Aquatics Championships 2026: Marchand returns to the pool where he became a legend
From 31 July to 16 August, Paris hosts the European Aquatics Championships. Léon Marchand returns to the pool of his four Olympic golds from 2024.