Rallying: Retired four times world champion Tommi Makinen will be Toyota’s team principal when the Japanese manufacturer returns to the world rally championship in 2017. Toyota said in a statement that Toyota president Akio Toyoda, a keen amateur racer who has had instruction from Makinen in the past, will be chairman of the team returning after an 18-year absence. Toyota are returning with a Yaris WRC car prepared in Germany.
WTA finals: Serena Williams added yet another record to her glittering career by becoming the earliest qualifier for the end-of-season WTA Finals. The Australian and French Open champion booked a spot at the eight-woman championship in Singapore this week, still more than three months away. “I’m really thrilled to be the first player to qualify for the WTA Finals and I can’t wait to return to Singapore to defend my title,” Williams said. Serena has held the top spot in the rankings for 124 consecutive weeks.
Boxing: Unbeaten British boxer Tyson Fury will get a shot at the world heavyweight title in October after agreeing terms for a meeting with champion Wladimir Klitschko. The 39-year-old Ukrainian’s WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO crowns will be on the line when the pair meet in the German city of Duesseldorf. The 26-year-old has a 24-0 record while Klitschko has not lost for 11 years. “Done deal,” said Klitschko on his Twitter account. “Looking forward to the fight on October 24th.”
Tennis: Grigor Dimitrov has split with coach Roger Rasheed, days after his disappointing third-round exit from Wimbledon. The Bulgarian confirmed the move on Twitter. “After much thought I have decided to end my working relationship with Roger,” the 24-year-old tweeted. Long touted as a future grand slam champion, Dimitrov began working with Rasheed in 2013 and made the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year on the way to cracking the top 10 in a breakout season under the Australian.