Morning Briefing: De Minaur wins in Barcelona, Cameron Green's nightmare continues

[h2]Demon survives a first round scare[/h2][p]Our own Alex De Minaur is attempting to win his 12th career singles title and got his Barcelona Open campaign off to a winning start against Austria's world number 86 Sebastian Ofner, taking out his first round match [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/de-minaur-a-EZgZ9Xfh/ofner-s-h6vs3iR2/?mid=ETfHCJBj"]7-6 (9-7) 6-4[/a]. [/p][p]It wasn't without its troubles, with the world number seven needing to save a set point during the first set tiebreak before needing to save another three break points in the second set, converting his one and only break point into a 6-4 second set victory.[/p][p]De Minaur will need to kick things up a gear in the second round against Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic, who has been in good form on clay. [/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/de-minaur-a-EZgZ9Xfh/medjedovic-h-nDcBkcu7/?mid=dz3bCEi3"]You can read our preview of Alex De Minaur's next match, scheduled to begin at 8:30pm AEST tonight, here.[/a] [/b][/p][embed guid="42395e30-55e2-4734-95d3-369fdb7c8ef0" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eH-x9Y4tDk" social-type="youtube" /][h2]No runs, no wickets, no love for Cameron Green[/h2][p]AU$4.17 million.[/p][p]That's what the Kolkata Knight Riders have paid for 56 runs and one wicket from Cameron Green's five IPL 2026 performances so far, with the most recent being by far the most disastrous.[/p][p]Kolkata have shuffled Green around between numbers three and four and then number six overnight in a desperate attempt to find his most suitable position, but the constant and erratic change has not been helpful for an already unsettled Australian fighting for his international future in all three formats.[/p][p]Green was bamboozled by Afghan leg-spinner Noor Ahmad first ball in an overnight loss to Chennai Super Kings as his side fell 33 runs short of a target of 193. [/p][p]That was after he bowled just two overs for figures of 0/30, meaning his four overs bowled in the competition this year have gone for a hefty 58. [/p][p]As one of the highest paid players in the competition, his failures are attracting a lot of attention across India and the world. Were it not for his enormous price tag, his season could already be over. [/p][embed guid="fd29cf83-6ece-44e6-8877-4a58534430aa" url="https://x.com/IPL/status/2044101038316368246?" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Moana Pasifika confirm sad exit[/h2][p]It was an experiment that never really got going despite the best efforts from Ardie Savea last year. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/rugby-union-super-rugby-moana-pasifika-to-go-under-unless-new-backer-can-be-found-reports/I9zanYP0/"]As first reported yesterday[/a], Moana Pasifika staff and players were told at training on Tuesday that team ownership would be meeting their financial obligations through 2026 but not beyond that. [/p][p]Savea's exit from the team at the end of 2025 and recent news of head coach Tana Umaga's impending defection to the All Blacks coaching staff took what wind was remaining out of the sails of the Auckland-based club made up primarily of players representing Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.[/p][p]The club confirmed on Wednesday morning that "[b]despite the tireless dedication of players, staff, and supporters, it is no longer viable to continue the franchise at this level of competition[/b]".[/p][p]A withdrawal of World Rugby funding put the Pasifika's future into disarray, and whilst New Zealand Rugby told media they are still exploring options to keep the team going into 2027, reports circulated on Wednesday that the team had already been offered for sale at the end of 2025 only to find no interested parties. [/p][p]The running costs of Moana Pasifika were estimated to be in the range of $10-12 million per year. [/p][p]The Pasifika was set up as a professional talent pathway for the three aforementioned nations but lacked the general infrastructure to bring the team into Tonga or Samoa, with only a small but dedicated community of Auckland-based expatriates contributing to what was by far the smallest crowds of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. [/p][p]Fijian Drua, which has had a bit more success on and off the field, will continue through 2027. [/p][embed guid="7598e316-7395-4c79-baa7-132f99478106" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpW6Ht88Gvs" social-type="youtube" /]