Weekend Sports Results: Springboks, F1 & US Open

The weekend sports results from 5–6 September delivered major stories for South African and international fans. It was a huge sporting weekend, with a remarkable home victory at the Italian Grand Prix, the US Open entering its decisive stages and the Springboks winning another thriller against the All Blacks.

For South African fans, the Springboks' 29–24 victory at FNB Stadium was naturally one of the headline results. Internationally, however, few performances could compete with Kimi Antonelli's extraordinary charge through the field at Monza.

Here are the biggest results and talking points from the sporting weekend of 5–6 September 2026.

Antonelli storms from 19th to win the Italian Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli produced one of the standout drives of the 2026 Formula 1 season on Sunday, coming from 19th on the grid to win his home Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Antonelli had been pushed towards the back of the grid by engine-related penalties, but that did little to stop the Mercedes driver.

He worked his way through the field and eventually caught Mercedes teammate George Russell late in the race to complete a remarkable recovery.

The final podium was:

Position	Driver	Team
1	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes
2	George Russell	Mercedes
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull

The result was particularly significant because Antonelli became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.

Mercedes also secured a one-two finish, while Max Verstappen completed the podium.

Antonelli's route to victory included a late attack on Russell after the pair had followed different strategies. Despite starting so far down the order, the Italian had enough pace to put himself back into contention and then complete the job in the closing stages.

For the home crowd at Monza, it was about as dramatic a result as they could have hoped for.

Alcaraz powers into US Open quarter-finals

The US Open moved into its second week on Sunday, with defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz producing another convincing performance. Our US Open 2026 guide has more tournament context and earlier results.

Alcaraz defeated American Tommy Paul in straight sets:

Carlos Alcaraz beat Tommy Paul 6–4, 6–3, 6–4.

The result sent Alcaraz into the quarter-finals without requiring the kind of marathon match that can become increasingly costly during the second week of a Grand Slam.

Frances Tiafoe also progressed with an impressive straight-sets victory over Daniil Medvedev.

Frances Tiafoe beat Daniil Medvedev 7–6, 6–4, 7–6.

American Alex Michelsen joined them in the quarter-finals after beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7–6, 6–4, 6–4.

US Open men's results from Sunday

Match	Result
Carlos Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul	Alcaraz won 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Frances Tiafoe vs Daniil Medvedev	Tiafoe won 7–6, 6–4, 7–6
Alex Michelsen vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry	Michelsen won 7–6, 6–4, 6–4

Defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, setting up a major quarter-final against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

With the quarter-finals approaching, the US Open will remain one of the biggest international sporting events to follow this week.

Springboks beat All Blacks 29–24 in Soweto thriller

For South African supporters, the biggest result of the weekend came at FNB Stadium on Saturday. For more detail, read our Springboks vs All Blacks: 5 Lessons From the 29–24 Soweto Win and the pre-match Springboks vs All Blacks FNB Stadium guide.

The Springboks defeated New Zealand 29–24 in another fiercely contested chapter of the rivalry between the two rugby nations.

The teams were locked at 12–12 at half-time before South Africa took greater control after the break.

South Africa 29–24 New Zealand

South Africa scored four tries through Kurt-Lee Arendse, a penalty try, Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx. New Zealand responded with tries from Ardie Savea, who crossed twice, Will Jordan and Samisoni Taukei'aho.

One of the biggest differences was South Africa's ability to generate pressure through their pack. The Springbok scrum became an increasingly important weapon, while the hosts also showed a willingness to move the ball wider when opportunities appeared.

Jesse Kriel's second-half try helped South Africa take the lead before Malcolm Marx scored from a powerful maul. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu later added a penalty as the Springboks protected their advantage.

The victory moved South Africa 2–1 ahead in the four-match series.

Siya Kolisi reaches another Springbok milestone

The victory also produced a significant personal milestone for Siya Kolisi. It was Kolisi's 55th victory as Springbok captain, making him the most successful South African captain by Test wins.

It adds another achievement to a captaincy already defined by South Africa's 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs.

The Soweto Test wasn't without a cost for both teams, however. All Blacks captain Ardie Savea suffered a shoulder injury during the first half, while Cheslin Kolbe was forced from the field after sustaining a broken jaw.

Those injuries could influence the options available to both sides as attention shifts towards the final match of the series.

Wallabies secure series win after 28–28 Argentina draw

Elsewhere in international rugby on Saturday, Australia and Argentina played out a 28–28 draw in Mendoza.

The result was enough for Australia to secure the series after the Wallabies had won the opening Test 27–21.

Argentina finished the second match under severe pressure after being reduced to 13 players late in the contest, but Australia were unable to find the winning score.

For the Wallabies, the draw nevertheless completed a successful trip to Argentina and secured the series.

The biggest sports results of the weekend at a glance

Sport	Event	Key result
Formula 1	Italian Grand Prix	Kimi Antonelli won from 19th on the grid
Tennis	US Open	Carlos Alcaraz beat Tommy Paul 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Tennis	US Open	Frances Tiafoe beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets
Rugby	South Africa vs New Zealand	Springboks won 29–24
Rugby	Argentina vs Australia	28–28 draw; Australia won the series

What to watch this week

The sporting calendar remains busy after the weekend.

The US Open is entering the quarter-final stage, meaning every remaining match now carries Grand Slam title implications. Alcaraz remains firmly in the men's title picture, while Sabalenka's meeting with Noskova shapes up as one of the major matches in the women's tournament.

For South African rugby followers, attention will shift towards the aftermath of the Springboks' Soweto victory and preparations for the fourth and final Test against the All Blacks.

Formula 1 teams, meanwhile, leave Monza with plenty to analyse after Antonelli turned what looked like a compromised weekend into a famous victory.

Weekend sports recap

Sunday's biggest individual performance belonged to Kimi Antonelli, whose drive from 19th to victory at Monza produced one of the most memorable moments of the weekend.

The US Open also delivered significant results as Carlos Alcaraz continued his title defence and Frances Tiafoe eliminated Daniil Medvedev.

For South Africans, however, the weekend will largely be remembered for another Springbok victory over New Zealand.

A 29–24 win in Soweto, a 2–1 series lead and a captaincy milestone for Siya Kolisi made it another significant chapter in one of international rugby's greatest rivalries.

FAQ

Who won the Italian Grand Prix in 2026?

Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza after starting 19th on the grid. George Russell finished second and Max Verstappen third.

What was the Springboks vs All Blacks score?

South Africa beat New Zealand 29–24 at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 5 September 2026.

Who won Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul at the US Open?

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tommy Paul 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 in the fourth round of the 2026 US Open.

Did Australia beat Argentina?

The second Test between Argentina and Australia finished 28–28. Australia nevertheless secured the series after winning the opening Test 27–21.