As the summer draws to a close, there is a tendency to lament the arrival of autumn. With chillier days and darker evenings set to arrive, it can be easy to pine for the long hot days of summer. And yet, if you’re a sports fan, the autumn can be the best time of the year.
Just looking at September, there are plenty of highly-anticipated sporting events getting underway or reaching their climax next month. Whether it’s tennis, golf, greyhound racing, the Paralympics or football, September offers a veritable feast of sporting action. Let’s take a look at what’s to come.
US OpenÂ
Everyone loves a tennis Grand Slam, and the final major tournament of 2021 is set to take place at Flushing Meadows in New York City over the first two weeks of September. The US Open is one of the sport’s most prestigious events, and there will be a whole host of top players battling it out to get their hands on the trophy.Â
Last year, Dominic Thiem was the victor after coming from behind to beat Alexander Zverev in the final. It was a cracking match, and if this year’s tournament lives up to that standard it will be a sensational couple of weeks of tennis.
Ryder Cup
For golf fans, the Ryder Cup stands as one of the most distinguished tournaments in the sport. Every two years, golfers from Europe and the USA battle it out against each other to crown the winners. Following Europe’s triumph in France back in 2018, and after a year-long delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year we are heading to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin to see if the US can exact revenge. As one of the world’s most unique sporting occasions, there will be plenty of excitement when the Ryder Cup finally rolls around on September 24th.Â
East Anglian Cup
The unique thrill of greyhound racing cannot be understated, and one of the sport’s premier fixtures is taking place next month — the famous East Anglian Cup scheduled for September 16th. It is set to be a special occasion too, with it being the 75th edition of the famous race, which takes place at Yarmouth each year. With punters already scrambling to find the best greyhound tips, it’s set to be a hugely entertaining day of racing action.
Paralympic Games
With the Paralympic Games getting underway towards the end of August, and running into the beginning of September, there’s plenty more exciting sporting action to look forward to in Tokyo. After the success of the Olympic Games, you can understand why people are anticipating the Paralympics, with so many inspiring stories to get your sporting juices flowing.Â
Champions League
September also sees the return of the Champions League, Europe’s most coveted prize. From 2024, there will be a new version of the competition featuring more matches, but for now we can revel in the joy of the classic 32-team group and knockout format.Â
An interesting development this season is the abolition of the away goals rule, which could lead to greater entertainment in the knockout stages. Chelsea are the defending champions, and will be hoping they can make it back to the final, which will take place in Saint Petersburg next May.