Serena Williams is "looking better every day" and only she could handle the US Open hoopla that surrounds her, according to world number one Iga Swiatek.
In a febrile atmosphere, Williams made a winning start to her final Flushing Meadows campaign on Monday night, getting the better of Montenegrin Danka Kovinic.
A 6-3 6-3 first-round win over the world number 80 prompted Williams to break out in a jig of delight, and now world number two Anett Kontaveit awaits the great American in round two.
Williams will returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday evening, when she is certain of another big reception and overwhelming support.
Kovinic's best winners barely received a smattering of applause, while her mistakes were often cheered by some in the crowd.
The crowd's partisanship could again come into play when 23-time grand slam singles champion Williams, who is planning on retiring after this tournament, tackles a tough task against Kontaveit.
Swiatek watched the opening games on Monday and remarked that she had "got tight just by watching", feeling all the strain Williams was under.
"So I realised that I need to stop," said a smiling Swiatek. "I can't imagine what she must feel, having this kind of atmosphere around her and just finishing.
"I know she's doing a tournament, but I feel like yesterday it was like people did so much work to show appreciation to what she's done. It's pretty amazing. I have never seen something like it.
"For sure it was like the most popular first round of a slam ever. I'm pretty happy that she can experience something like that. I also feel that not every player would handle that kind of fuss around your first match of the tournament.
"She's handling it pretty well, as usual. So that's just confirmation of how great she is."
Williams came onto the court in a glittery tennis dress and cape, along with jewel-encrusted tennis shoes, with Swiatek describing the outfit as "pretty cool".
With two grand slam titles to her name, the 21-year-old Swiatek is among the favourites to be champion in New York.
When she watched the fanfare and ceremony for Williams, along with the first couple of games, it brought it home to Swiatek just why many regard the 40-year-old as the GOAT – greatest of all time.
"It was kind of too much for me even watching that. I realise how she must feel, but she is kind of used to it more than us," Swiatek said.
"We never had such attention around us, because she's just a GOAT. She has it probably for most of her career, so I guess she's used to it. But for me, just watching that, I was pretty shocked."
Swiatek refused to predict how the Kontaveit match would go. The Estonian is ranked second largely because of her strong run of form at the back end of last season, with recent results not so impressive or consistent.
"I feel like against Serena – I have never experienced that, so I just assume – it's all about your mindset and mentality," said French Open champion Swiatek, who beat Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-0 on Tuesday.
"I know Anett can play great tennis. It's not a mistake that she's second in the world right now. But on the other hand, I feel like Serena is looking better and better every day."
Southampton came from behind to stun Chelsea 2-1 as Adam Armstrong's goal dealt Thomas Tuchel's men their second defeat of the Premier League season.
Chelsea hit the front through Raheem Sterling after 23 minutes, but Romeo Lavia's powerful long-range strike dragged Southampton level five minutes later before Armstrong put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time.
With Reece James missing through illness, Chelsea struggled to create throughout a disjointed performance, and Kai Havertz squandered their best chance to level after the break.
The result saw Ralph Hasenhuttl's men draw level with Chelsea in the early Premier League table after a lively display, as the Blues' unconvincing start to the campaign continued.
Sterling produced a tame attempt when presented with Chelsea's first chance 13 minutes in, but he made amends to hand the Blues the lead, turning to poke home at the second attempt following good work from Mason Mount.
Chelsea's lead did not last long, however, with Lavia latching onto Havertz's clearance to open his Premier League account in spectacular fashion by drilling a vicious 18-yard strike past Edouard Mendy.
Southampton then hit the front through a well-worked goal as half-time approached, Armstrong controlling Romain Perraud's cross before composing himself and firing into Mendy's top-left corner.
Marc Cucurella kept Chelsea in the contest with an incredible goal-line block from Mohamed Elyounoussi's header after the break, before Havertz headed over from six yards when left unmarked as he met Cesar Azpilicueta's cross.
That represented Chelsea's clearest opportunity to find a leveller, with Thiago Silva forced to clear Mohammed Salisu's 73rd-minute header off the line as Saints went close to a third.
What does it mean? Away-day blues continue for Tuchel
Chelsea never looked entirely comfortable on the south coast despite taking an early lead, and the meek loss means they have lost consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time since December 2020 under Frank Lampard.
Tuchel, meanwhile, has been dealt his first back-to-back league losses on the road since he was coaching Paris Saint-Germain in August 2019, and his attentions will now turn to attracting much-required reinforcements before the transfer deadline.
Sterling shows his value
Having fired Chelsea to a hard-fought victory over Leicester City last time out, Sterling maintained his strong start at Stamford Bridge by opening the scoring.
Since Sterling made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in March 2012, he has 169 goal involvements in the competition, putting him level with Mohamed Salah with the joint-fourth highest tally in that time.
Armstrong ends drought
Armstrong had endured a long wait for a Premier League goal, with his composed strike marking his first time on the scoresheet in 18 games since he netted against Aston Villa last November.
The striker has only scored three times in 43 appearances in the competition overall, and Tuesday's strike is sure to be remembered as his most crucial to date.
What's next?
Chelsea welcome West Ham to Stamford Bridge for a London derby on Saturday, while Southampton go to Wolves on the same day.
The San Francisco 49ers believe they have two starting quarterbacks after making the decision to retain Jimmy Garoppolo on a reworked contract.
Garoppolo was expected to be released by San Francisco before Tuesday's deadline for teams to cut their rosters to 53 players ahead of the regular season.
Instead, the 49ers and Garoppolo agreed to a rengotiated one-year that, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, is worth $6.5million in base salary and $500,000 in roster bonuses. Garoppolo has incentives for playing time that could be worth up to $9m.
San Francisco had attempted to trade Garoppolo this offseason as part of the transition to Trey Lance as their starting quarterback. The 49ers traded three first-round picks to select Lance with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
But an offseason shoulder surgery contributed to the 49ers' inability to find a trade partner, and Garoppolo – who worked out away from the team during training camp and preseason – will now serve as the backup to Lance.
The 49ers' decision has led to questions about a potentially awkward dynamic between Lance and a starting quarterback predecessor who has a 31-14 record as a starter with the team.
It is a move that has also prompted observers to talk up the prospect for locker room discord if Lance struggles on a team expected to compete to go deep into the playoffs once again, after reaching Super Bowl LIV and last season's NFC Championship Game with Garoppolo as the starter.
However, speaking in a conference call on Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan dismissed the notion of possible disharmony in the quarterback room and the wider locker room.
"That was the only option," Shanahan said, when asked if it was made clear Garoppolo would be the backup. "And we told that to Trey also.
"Trey and Jimmy have a great relationship. Trey actually likes having Jimmy in the building, and Trey was very grateful to how Jimmy was to him last year. And we feel very strongly from the two people that Jimmy will give that back to Trey this year.
"Trey's our starting quarterback. This doesn't change anything. I just feel it makes us a much better team and doesn't hurt our cap like it would have.
"There aren't 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. We believe we have two of them on our roster.
"We felt strongly giving the keys to Trey. I can't wait to get him started on our team Week 1. Having Jimmy as a backup makes us feel really good because we have a starting quarterback as a backup.
"The rest of the league had a chance to get him, and I feel so fortunate that they didn't. There's no way that's bad for our team."
Pressed on why Garoppolo practised away from the team if there was a chance of him staying, Shanahan said: "I think that was because the chances, to me, it seemed slim to none, just with the possibility of that happening.
"I remember the first week of training camp, me saying to Jimmy, 'Hey, if you don't like any of these opportunities, if you don't go to the place you want, you can't get the contract you want, we would love to have you here as a backup, in a backup role, and that deal. I want you to know we feel that way, but I also think there's no way you're not going to get something as this goes throughout training camp.'
"Jimmy agreed with that. And so we waited all throughout training camp. Then, I think as he saw other situations out there, and I think, to me, it just seemed like everyone was just waiting for us to cut him so they could see how much they could get him for.
"But once the last Saturday preseason game happened, and no one got injured, then Jimmy thought this was his best situation that he liked. And that's why we were so pumped because it's obviously a better situation for the Niners."
The Barbadian driving sensation Zane Maloney, buoyed by his dramatic Formula 3 feature race win in Belgium this past weekend, is targeting a strong finish to the 2022 FIA season.
The 18-year-old Maloney rallied from a scary crash during Saturday’s Sprint Race, to secure the feature race triumph at the Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday for his first victory in F3.
The win vaulted Maloney to seventh in the F3 Drivers’ championship standings heading into the last two races in this year’s campaign – Zandvoort in the Netherlands this weekend and the season finale in Monza, Italy from September 8-10.
“We have two more rounds, there’s still a chance at doing very well at the championship,” said Maloney, who drives for the champion Italian Team Trident.
After seven races in the season, Maloney is seventh on 74 points, 32 points off the lead held by the Frenchman Isack Hadjar (106). He is only six points off sixth-placed American Jak Crawford (80) and 22 behind current No.5 Roman Stanek (96) of the Czech Republic.
“Hopefully I’ll have a good two rounds and I will keep pushing as hard as I can,” he said.
Maloney had been forced to retire from Saturday’s Sprint after being involved in a massive two-car crash that triggered a red flag to stall the race.
The dreadful crash involving 17-year-old team Campos driver Oliver Goethe and Maloney, saw both junior F3 stars collide as they came out of a bend at high-speed. Maloney had been trying to power his way up the inside but miscalculated and failed to make the bend. The collision flung Maloney and Goethe off the track and into the safety barrier. To return the following day for his maiden F3 win was an immense coup for the Barbadian teenager and his team.
“An amazing feeling. The team did a great job to get the car back ready, everything was new. Fourteen hours of work, zero sleep. I am very sore today but it was well worth it,” Maloney said after Sunday’s victory. “I feel privileged to hear the national anthem and see the flag on the top step of the podium, and yes that’s my goal all the time to represent Barbados,” he added.
His F3 season, already highlighted by the fastest lap in Bahrain in March and achieving pole position at Imola in April, ends in mid-September and he is now targeting a top-five finish in the championship standings.
Before this year’s F3 campaign, Maloney had contested the Formula Regional European Championship in 2021, securing podium finishes including a victory in Monaco from pole position.
The Miami Dolphins will be without starting cornerback Byron Jones for at least the first four games of the season after placing him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Tuesday.
Jones sat out Miami's entire training camp after having surgery on his left Achilles tendon in March, but the team was hoping he'd be able to take the field for the season opener against the visiting New England Patriots on September 11.
On Sunday, first-year Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was not sure what would happen with Jones before Miami had to trim its roster to 53 players by Tuesday's deadline.
"There's like so many things going on, especially when you have a competitive roster like we do," McDaniel said. “So we've kind of had it pinpointed, but it's a fluid situation that has to do with him and a lot of other players."
Jones signed with the Dolphins in March 2020 after spending his first five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. The 27th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has played in 109 career games with 103 starts, totalling 421 tackles (326 solo), four interceptions, 57 passes defensed and five forced fumbles.
Jones earned second-team All-Pro honors and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2018.
Milan will go into the derby with Inter having suffered another early blip in the Scudetto race after being held to a 0-0 draw at Sassuolo.
The defending Serie A champions got back to winning ways at the weekend with a 2-0 victory over Bologna, having previously been held by Atalanta.
But they were not at their best on Tuesday in a game they would have lost had Mike Maignan not saved a first-half penalty from Domenico Berardi – the Italy international who later came off with a seemingly concerning injury.
It means Milan are still unbeaten with two wins and two draws from four games, but the stalemate offered Inter – along with the likes of Roma, Napoli and Lazio – the chance to leapfrog the Rossoneri in this round of midweek fixtures.
Milan unsurprisingly made the early running and went close in the 16th minute when Brahim Diaz dragged wide from the edge of the area.
Yet Sassuolo were gifted a chance to take the lead when Giorgos Kyriakopoulos was tripped just inside the box by Alexis Saelemaekers in the 21st minute.
However, Berardi's penalty lacked direction and Maignan was equal to it, his save providing a huge let-off for the champions.
Berardi's day got worse when he had to be helped off seven minutes into the second half and was clearly emotional in the dugout after coming off.
Kristian Thorstvedt drew a comfortable save from Maignan as the hosts initially enjoyed the better of the second period.
Chances at either end were few and far between thereafter, though, Milan hitting the target just twice in an underwhelming display that was capped by Alessandro Florenzi limping down the tunnel in injury time.
Australian Cameron Smith said joining LIV Golf was a "business decision" that will also enable him to spend more time in his homeland.
The Open champion was on Tuesday among six new recruits announced by the Saudi-backed breakaway tour and will make his debut in Boston this week.
Smith is reported to have agreed a deal worth over $100million to turn his back on the PGA Tour and sign up for LIV.
The world number two admitted he was lured by a huge payday, but the money was not the only aspect that appealed to him.
He told Golf Digest: “[Money] was definitely a factor in making that decision, I won't ignore that or say that wasn't a reason.
"It was obviously a business decision for one and an offer I couldn't ignore."
America-based Smith added: "I've lived over here seven years now, and I love living in the US, but just little things like missing friends' weddings, birthday parties and seeing your mates having a great time at rugby league games has been tough.
"The biggest thing for me joining is [LIV's] schedule is really appealing. I'll be able to spend more time at home in Australia and maybe have an event down there, as well. I haven't been able to do that, and to get that part of my life back was really appealing."
Smith's compatriot Marc Leishman, along with Joaquin Niemann, Harold Varner III, Cameron Tringale and Anirban Lahiri, will also make their LIV Golf debuts in Boston, in the three-day tournament that starts on Friday.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson will also make his LIV bow this week as a non-playing captain.
Remco Evenepoel produced an individual time-trial masterclass on stage 10 to increase his overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana.
The 22-year-old Belgian completed the 30.9-kilometre course in a blistering 33 minutes and 18 seconds in Alicante on Tuesday, making a big statement following a rest day.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider Evenepoel extended his general classification advantage to two minutes and 41 seconds over defending champion Primoz Roglic, who moved above Enric Mas into second place.
It was a maiden Grand Tour stage victory for Evenepoel, who powered along the route to strengthen his grip on La Roja.
Jumbo-Visma's Roglic crossed the line 48 seconds slower than the leader, while Evenepoel's team-mate Remi Cavagna was a full minute off the pace in third place.
INEOS Grenadiers duo Carlos Rodriguez and Pavel Sivakov finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Sam Bennett, a contender to win the sprint jersey, was unable to take to the ramp to start stage 10 due to a positive COVID-19 test that ended his participation in the race.
Evenepoel's time-trial triumph ends long Belgium wait
Not since 1979 had a Belgian rider won an individual time trial at the Vuelta, with Fons De Wolf the man to set the pace all those years ago in Valladolid.
This was a special day for Evenepoel as he took the top step of the podium and gave himself further breathing space, knowing there is plenty of work still to be done.
STAGE RESULT
1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 33:18
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +0.48
3. Remi Cavagna (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +1:00
4. Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) +1:22
5. Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) +1:27
CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS
General Classification
1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 34:35:50
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +2:41
3. Enric Mas (Movistar) +3:03
Points Classification
1. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) 147
2. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 85
3. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) 81
King of the Mountains
1. Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 40
2. Robert Stannard (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 21
3. Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 17
World number one Iga Swiatek cruised through her first test at the US Open by swatting away Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-0 at Flushing Meadows.
The Polish star is chasing a third grand slam title, and her second of the year after triumphing at the French Open in June.
Having held top spot in the rankings since April in the wake of Ash Barty's retirement, the 21-year-old is chasing her best result yet in New York, having reached the fourth round last year.
Against the unseeded Paolini, she made an impressive start to her quest at Louis Armstrong Stadium, with a near-flawless performance that saw her break her opponent seven times.
Swiatek showcased her ruthless streak barely a handful of minutes into the first set, rifling home three unanswered points on her first serve before promptly breaking the Italian for the first time.
Another break followed, before Paolini hit back to make matters 4-2, the only time she looked to seriously threaten the Pole's dominance.
Swiatek responded with her third break in a row, before bouncing back from another lost service game to seal the first set.
With momentum on her side, the Roland Garros victor bulldozed her opponent across the second set – and though Paolini was able to save match point once, there was never any doubt who was heading through to round two.
Data Slam: Swiatek's youthful spirit powers on
Having failed to live up to expectations to an extent when her 37-match winning streak came to an end at Wimbledon against Alize Cornet, and struggled for consistency on tour since, Swiatek responded in impressive fashion.
With 45 grand slam match wins under her belt now, she is the youngest woman to reach that number since Caroline Wozniacki did so at the 2011 Australian Open.
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Swiatek– 14/18
Paolini – 5/18
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Swiatek– 1/0
Paolini – 1/3
BREAK POINTS WON
Swiatek– 7/9
Paolini - 2/3
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri says he has not seen Paul Pogba since allegations of an extortion plot targeting the France international came to light.
Pogba returned to Turin in July following six frustrating years at Manchester United, having originally left Juventus to head back to Old Trafford, where he started his career.
The early stages of the World Cup winner's second Juventus spell have been blighted first by a knee injury and now by claims of an attempt to extort money from him.
Pogba's lawyers have alleged he has been targeted by an organised gang. ESPN reported the matter is being investigated by French police, with threats received by Pogba said to be serious.
Speaking ahead of his team welcoming Spezia for a Serie A game on Wednesday, Allegri said he has not caught up with the Frenchman, having stayed away from him during his injury recovery.
"I haven't seen him because Injured players work train at different times," Allegri said on Tuesday, when asked about the midfielder.
He explained: "At the moment Paul Pogba isn't available, if everything goes well, from next week he'll start running again, he is a very important player for us."
Allegri confirmed Angel Di Maria would return to the fold for the Spezia game after an adductor injury, but declined to say whether the Argentine playmaker would start.
"I haven't decided on the line-up yet," Allegri said. "Angel Di Maria [is] available, [but] tomorrow, I will decide on the formation. The match will be a difficult and important one. Spezia are doing good things in the league and they are a team that scores goals."
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson entered training camp seeking a new contract. He enters the 2022 season with a new team instead.
The New Orleans Saints shipped Gardner-Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles in a surprising cutdown day trade on Tuesday.
NFL Network was the first to report the trade and it has yet to be confirmed what the Eagles are giving the Saints in return.
A fourth-round pick in 2019 by New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and slated to earn a base salary of $2.54million in 2022.
He was working on a contract extension with the Saints but, after negotiations stalled, the team explored a possible trade.
Able to play multiple positions in the secondary, the versatile Gardner-Johnson intercepted three passes last season to tie for the Saints team lead.
In 43 games over three seasons with New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson amassed 157 tackles, five interceptions and 28 passes defended in 31 starts.
Sebastien Haller has given a positive update on his tumour treatment, but the Borussia Dortmund striker says it will be "a few months" before he can consider a playing return.
His diagnosis followed a July move to the Bundesliga heavyweights, after a superb 2021-22 season with Ajax saw Haller finish as the Eredivisie's top scorer.
Hopes of a flying start in Germany were checked after a testicular tumour was found, with the 28-year-old forced to step back from the field to undergo chemotherapy. Dortmund have since signed Anthony Modeste as back-up.
Former West Ham player Haller has said he is in good spirits and does not feel his body has been significantly affected since starting his course of treatment.
"I walk every day and check my body," Haller told ESPN. "I haven't lost that much after two weeks. I'm even at the same level as a few months ago. That's a good sign and I hope it stays that way. I feel very well."
The Ivory Coast international was reluctant to put a time-frame on his return to competitive football, saying: "Let's just say now is not the best time to take that step, because it will take me a few months.
"The important thing is that I don't lose too much muscle mass. I have to stay fit, and a month before I return on the field I will do some work with the ball again. Now the most important thing is that my body feels good.
"My first goal is to be back on the field, to play for [Dortmund] and score my first goal. That will be a beautiful and emotional moment."
Dortmund have enjoyed a solid start to the new campaign in Haller's absence, with three wins from four Bundesliga games, as they aim to mount another title challenge against holders Bayern Munich.
Julian Nagelsmann is glad Hasan Salihamidzic has extended his stay as Bayern Munich sporting director – as long as the man who helped bring him to the club does not sack him.
Bayern announced on Monday that Salihamidzic, who has worked in a boardroom position at the Allianz Arena since August 2017, will remain part of the executive member board for at least three more years.
During Salihamidzic's time in charge of the sporting department, Bayern have won five Bundesliga titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, European Super Cup and the DFB-Pokal twice.
Nagelsmann was at the helm for the most recent of Bayern's league title triumphs and has welcomed the continuity behind the scenes.
"I am very happy about it," Nagelsmann said at a pre-match news conference on Tuesday. "I like working with him but also from the club's perspective, he did great work in difficult transfer periods.
"It's not always been easy. I've tried to explain many times that as a sporting director, you can't decide things by yourself. The supervisory board has to agree with things like they did with his renewal and transfers.
"You can't walk through the market and collect all the players that you want. There is a supervisory board that needs to decide how and whether things are done. So your hands are kind of tied.
"Hasan has a good connection to everyone in the club and also to everyone in the supervisory board. That helps in many situations. It's never him by himself or the manager alone but a cooperation of many people from the club.
"Privately, I also have a good connection to him. We have moments where things aren't all about football but where we talk about other things – that is also good for the working climate.
"So I'm happy I don't have to adjust to anyone new. He was one of the motors behind me joining the club. I am very happy that the supervisory board made that decision, as long as he doesn't kick me out!"
Bayern started their latest Bundesliga title defence strongly with three successive victories, scoring 15 goals in the process, prior to being held 1-1 at home to Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend.
Nagelsmann's side now turn their focus to the DFB-Pokal, where a trip to third-tier side Viktoria Koln awaits on Wednesday.
Bayern have failed to get beyond round two of the competition in the past two seasons and Nagelsmann does not intend to take the hosts lightly, even if changes to the side are planned.
"We have everyone fit," Nagelsmann told reporters. "Jamal [Musiala] is not quite 100 per cent yet and probably won't start, but he'll be in the squad. We're going to take everyone with us and make a decision on the day.
"We'll have to see on Leon Goretzka and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. I'd like to give them a bit of rhythm but they certainly won't be starting. In all it could be five changes to the side to help give others a chance.
"It is an important game for us, a knockout game. The opposition have an experienced coach and experienced players. It will not be an easy game at what is a great setting, in a stadium with lots of spectators."
Nagelsmann suggested Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich are among the experienced players likely to start against Viktoria, who are eighth in the 3.Liga after winning three, drawing one and losing two of their first six matches.
One player who definitely will not be involved at RheinEnergieStadion is Joshua Zirkzee, whose move to Serie A side Bologna was confirmed on Tuesday.
Bayern have a buy-back clause for Netherlands Under-21 international Zirkzee, who made 17 appearances for their first team.
Joan Mir has signed a two-year deal to become compatriot Marc Marquez's Repsol Honda team-mate.
Suzuki Ecstar rider Mir will join Marquez at Honda for the 2023 and 2024 MotoGP seasons.
The 24-year-old agreed to make the move after Suzuki confirmed this will be their last season competing in the premier class.
Mir, the 2020 MotoGP world champion, follows his team-mate Alex Rins in switching from Suzuki to Honda.
The Spaniard is relishing his next challenge and is determined to finishing this season strongly when he has recovered from an ankle injury that will keep him out of the San Marino Grand Prix this weekend.
He said: "I'm very excited to officially announce that I will join the Repsol Honda Team next year.
"Thanks to HRC for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to defend these historic colours, which are full of history and world titles.
"We will take advantage of all my experience accumulated over the years in MotoGP with Suzuki to contribute as much as possible to the project and to fight together to become world champions again.
"Now it's time to continue focused on my recovery to return to the circuits as soon as possible and have a great end of the season with Team Suzuki Ecstar."
Meanwhile, Aprilia Racing and RNF on Tuesday confirmed that Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) will be racing RS-GPs next season in the Noale factory's new Independent Team.
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