- January 26
- Kansas City Royals' pitcher Zack Greinke agrees to a four-year contract worth US$38 million. [105]
- January 28
- Detroit Red Wings' forward Henrik Zetterberg signs a contract extension worth US$73 million over 12 years. [105]
- January 31
- The Australian Open tennis championships final games are played (day one).
- Girls' singles: Russian Ksenia Pervak defeats Britain's Laura Robson 6-3, 6-1.
- Boys' singles: Indian Yuki Bhambri defeats Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas 6-3, 6-1.
- Womens' singles: American Serena Williams defeats Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3.
[57]
- February 1
- The Australian Open tennis championships final games are played (day two).
- Mens' singles: Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, (7-3), 3-6, 6-2.
[57]
- In Tampa, Florida, the NFL's SuperBowl XLII game is played. The Pittsburgh Steelers win their record sixth Super Bowl by defeating the Arizona Cardinals. Santonio Holmes is named the game's most valuable player. [35]
- February 5
- Undefeated world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight boxing champion Joe Calzaghe of the United Kingdom announces his retirement, with a record of 46 wins from 46 fights. [57]
- February 8
- First baseman Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies agree to a three-year, US$54 million contract. [105]
- February 9
- New York Yankees' baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez admits to having used performance-enhancing steroids earlier in his career, over a three-year period from 2001 to 2003 with the Texas Rangers. [57]
- At Plumpton, England, jockey Tony McCoy, riding Restless D'Artaix, records his 3,000th career horse racing win. [57]
- February 14
- Mike Green of the Washington Capitals sets an NHL record for a defenceman by scoring in his eighth consecutive game. [105]
- February 15
- In the NBA's annual All-Star Game, West beats East 146-119. [35]
- February 18
- Meseret Defar of Ethiopia breaks the world indoor record in the women's 5,000-metres at the GE Gala meet in Stockholm, Sweden, covering the distance in a time of 14:24.37. [105]
- March 1
- In Victoria, British Columbia, Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg wins her third Canadian women's curling Tournament of Hearts title with an 8-5 victory over Marla Mallett of B.C. [105]
- March 14
- Annamay Pierse of Canada sets a new world's record in the women's 200-metre breaststroke swimming event, recording 2:17.50 at the short-course swimming championships in Toronto, Ontario. [105]
- March 15
- Alberta's Kevin Martin wins his fourth Canadian championship curling Brier title in Calgary, defeating Jeff Stoughton 10-4 in the final game. [105]
- March 16
- Jo Jackson wins the 400m freestyle in a new world record time of 4:00.66 at the British Swimming Championships. [57]
- March 17
- Martin Brodeur, goalie for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, wins his 552nd game, breaking the former NHL record. [105]
- March 23
- Japan defeats South Korea 5-3 in the 2009 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. [105]
- March 27
- The International Olympic Committee decides to eliminate international torch relays ahead of future Olympic Games, due to protests held during previous Olympic torch relays. [57]
- March 28
- Three Canadian figure skaters (Barbara Underhill, Paul Martini, and Brian Orser) are inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, in a ceremony at the world figure skating championships in Los Angeles, California. [105]
- March 29
- At the world women's curling championship in Gangneung, South Korea, Bingyu Wang of China defeats Sweden's Anette Norberg 8-6 to give China its first-ever world women's curling championship title. [105]
- At least 22 people are killed and 132 injured in a stampede before a World Cup of soccer qualifying match in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [105]
- April 6
- North Carolina Tar Heels overwhelms Michigan State Spartans 89-72 in the final of the NCAA Tournament. [35]
- April 12
- Women's world hockey championships in Hameenlinna, Finland won by United States defeating Canada 4-1. [105]
- Angel Cabrera becomes the first Argentine to win the Augusta National Masters golf tournament. [105]
- April 20
- Ethiopia's Deriba Merga wins the Boston Marathon (2:08:42), while Kenya's Salina Kosgei wins the women's race (2:32:16). [105]
- April 25
- Matthew Stafford signs a contract with NFL's Detroit Lions for a six-year worth US$41.7-78 million. [105]
- May 2
- At Churchill Downs, the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race takes place. Canadian horse Mine That Bird wins, the second-biggest upset in Derby history. [105]
- May 7
- Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez is suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a banned substance. [105]
- The Boston Red Sox break an 84-year-old American League record by scoring 12 runs in an inning in a game against the Cleveland Indians. [105]
- May 10
- In Bern, Switzerland, Russia defeats Canada to win gold in the championship game of the International Ice Hockey Federation. [105]
- May 16
- In Baltimore, Maryland, USA, the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes is held. The philly Rachel Alexandra wins, ridden by Calvin Borel, the first win for a philly since 1924. [105]
- May 24
- In Indianapolis, Indiana, the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 race is held. Winner is Helio Castroneves of Team Penske. [105]
- May 27
- In Rome's Stadio Olimpico in Italy, Barcelona defeats Manchester United of England to win the Champions League of soccer. [57]
- June 6
- Svetlana Kuznetsova beats fellow Russian Dinara Safina (6-4 6-2) to win the French Open tennis tournament in Paris. [57]
- June 7
- Roger Federer beats Robin Soderling in straight sets (6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4) to win his first French Open tennis tournament in Paris. [105]
- June 12
- The Pittsburgh Penguins win the NHL's Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 7. [105]
- June 14
- The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Orlando Magic 99-86 to win their 15th NBA championship in five games. Lakers coach Phil Jackson wins his record 10th title. [35]
- Three-time heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis is inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Lewis retired in 2003 with a record of 41-2-1, including 32 knockouts. [105]
- Anna Nordqvist finishes at 15-under-par 273 to win the LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA. [105]
- June 17
- Ivan Rodriguez, back catcher for the Houston Astros, catches his 2,227th game, beating the old record in Major League Baseball. [105]
- June 21
- Three-year-old colt "Eye of the Leopard" wins the 150th running of the Queen's Plate horse race in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [105]
- Peugeot finishes first and second in the Le Mans 24-hour car race. [57]
- June 23
- Lucas Glover wins the U.S. Open of golf at the Bethpage Black course on Long Island, New York. Glover takes home US$1.35 million for his 4-under par win. [105]
- June 28
- Brazil wins the FIFA Confederations Cup final, defeating the USA 3-2 in South Africa. [105]
- July 3
- Brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin re-sign with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks for five-year deals worth US$30.5 million each. [105]
- July 4
- Serena Williams defeats sister Venus at Wimbledon with a straight-sets victory 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 giving her a third Wimbledon title. [57]
- July 5
- Roger Federer defeats Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon men's tennis final, winning a five-set match 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 for a record 15th Grand Slam championship. [105]
- July 11
- (to July 19) The 2009 Lusophony Games take place, with athletes from 12 Portuguese-speaking nations taking part. [505.50]
- July 28
- Gemma Spofforth sets a new world record of 58.12 seconds in the 100m backstroke to win swimming gold at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. [57]
- Germany's Paul Biedermann beats Michael Phelps in the men's 200m freestyle final to win gold, setting a new world record of 1:42.00 at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. [57]
- August 16
- At the Athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Usain Bolt of Jamaica sets a new world record in the 100m dash with a time of 9.58 seconds. [57]
- August 20
- At the Athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Usain Bolt of Jamaica sets a new world record in the 200m dash with a time of 19.19 seconds. [35]
- August 23
- Eric Bruntlett of the Philadelphia Phillies completes only the second ever game-ending unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball, giving his team a 9-7 victory over the New York Mets. [35]
- October 2
- The International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen votes 66-32 for the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, over Madrid, Spain. Chicago, Illinois was eliminated on the first ballot, and Tokyo, Japan was eliminated on the second ballot. [35] [398]
- October 22
- Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in Major league Baseball to win the National League Championship Series four games to one and advance to the World Series. [35]
- October 25
- The New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 to win Major League Baseball's American League Championship Series 4 games to 2. [35]
- November 4
- The New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 to win Major League Baseball's World Series, the Yankees' 27th title with a 4-2 series victory over the defending champions. [35]
- November 29
- The Montreal Alouettes defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28 to 27 in Canada's Grey Cup football championship game. [105]
- December 21
- Martin Brodeur, goalie for the NHL's New Jersey Devils breaks the record for shutouts with his 104th win, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. [105]
2010
- January 1
- At least 96 people are killed and 100 injured by a suicide bomb attack at a volleyball court near Lakki Marwat, close to North and South Waziristan in the north-west of Pakistan. [57] [615]
- January 5
- At the World Junior Hockey final in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, team USA beats team Canada 6-5 in overtime. [105]
- January 7
- Matt Holliday signs a US$120 million seven-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. [105]
- January 8
- The Togo national football team is involved in an attack in Angola, and as a result withdraws from the Africa Cup of Nations. [615]
- January 11
- Retired US baseball star Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals admits to using steroids during his career, including when he broke the sport's home run record in 1998. [57]
- January 30
- Serena Williams wins her fifth Australian Open tennis championship defeating Justine Henin 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in Melbourne. [105]
- American twins Bob and Mike Bryan win their fourth Australian Open men's doubles tennis title, beating Canada's Daniel Nestor and Serbian Nenad Zimonjic 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3. [105]
- January 31
- Swiss Roger Federer beats Briton Andy Murray in three sets (6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11)) at the Australian Open tennis championship to win his 16th Grand Slam title. [57]
- February 4
- The Detroit Tigers sign baseball pitcher Justin Verlander to a US$80-million five-year contract. [35]
- February 7
- The New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the NFL Super Bowl at Dolphin Stadium in New Orleans, to claim their first NFL title. [35]
- The NFL Super Bowl is watched by more than 106 million people in the U.S., surpassing the 1983 finale of M*A*S*H to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, according to the Neilsen Company. [105]
- February 12
- In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the XXI Olympic Winter Games open. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky lights the outdoor cauldron of the Olympic flame. 2600 athletes representing 82 nations are scheduled to participate in 86 events. [105] [424.6] [615]
- February 28
- The 2010 Winter Olympics close in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. An estimated 3.5 billion people watched the games worldwide. Canada won 14 gold medals, most ever by a single nation at the Winter Games. [424.6]
- March 1
- At the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, the Canadian men's hockey team defeats the USA team 3-2 in overtime winning its 13th gold medal, a new record for any country at any Olympic Winter Games. [105]
- March 2
- Wade McGilberry of Alabama pitches a perfect game in video game MLB 2K10, winning $1 million in a contest sponsored by the gamemaker's company, 2K Sports. [579.32]
- March 13
- (to March 22) The 10th Winter Paralympic Games take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Over 500 athletes from 44 countries participate in five events. [57]
- March 21
- Joe Mauer, American League Most Valuable Player in US Major League Baseball, agrees to an eight-year, US$184-million contract extension with the Minnesota Twins. [105]
- April 5
- Duke defeats Butler 61-59 in the NCAA basketball tournament to win the national championship. [35]
- April 11
- American golfer Phil Mickelson scores a 16-under-par 272 victory in the Masters. [35]
- April 17
- Lucian Bute retains his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title with a third-round stoppage of challenger Edison Miranda in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [105]
- Cheryl Bernard beats fellow Calgarian Crystal Webster 6-4 in the final of the Grey Power Players' Championship curling event in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. [105]
- April 18
- Kevin Martin defeats Brad Gushue 8-7 at the Grey Power Players' Championship curling event, in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. [105]
- April 26
- First baseman Ryan Howard agrees to a US$125 million five-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies. [105]
- May 7
- The opening match of the 2010 world hockey championship between Germany and the United States is viewed by a world record crowd of 77,803 (validated by a representative of the Guinness World Book of Records) at the Veletins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Germany defeats the USA 2-1 in overtime. [105]
- May 9
- Dallas Braden pitches the 19th perfect game in Major League Baseball history, giving the Oakland Athletics a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland. [105]
- Tim Clark of South Africa scores a 5-under 67 to win The Players Championship of golf with a record 36-hole comeback at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. Clark earns US$1.71 million for his win. [105]
- May 15
- Lookin at Lucky racehorse finishes first at the 135th running of the Preakness Stakes in Pimlico, Maryland. [105]
- May 16
- England wins the World Twenty20 cricket World Cup championships, beating Australia by seven wickets in the final in Barbados. [57]
- Rafael Nadal of Spain wins a record 18th men's Masters tennis title by beating Roger Federer 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the Madrid Open final. [105]
- Aravane Rezai of France upsets American Venus Williams 6-2, 7-5 to win her 3rd women's Masters tennis title in the Madrid Open final. [105]
- American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan defeat Toronto's Daniel Nestor and partner Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia fell 6-3, 6-4 to win their 61st career doubles title at the Madrid Open final. [105]
- May 23
- The Czech Republic hockey teams wins gold in Cologne, Germany, with a 2-1 win over Russia in the final of the IIHF World Hockey Championship. Sweden defeats Germany 3-1 for the bronze medal. [105]
- May 30
- Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches the 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history, defeating the Florida Marlins 1-0. [105]
- Dario Franchitti of Scotland wins his second Indianapolis 500 race. [57]
- June 2
- Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners retires from Major League Baseball at age 40. Griffey ranks fifth on the career home run list with 630, won an MVP award and was a Gold Glover. [105]
- June 5
- Francesca Schiavone defeats Samantha Stosur 6-4, 7-6 (2) to win the womens singles French Open at Roland Garros stadium. Schiavone is the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament. [105]
- Drosselmeyer, a three-year-old chestnut colt owned by WinStar Farm, wins the $1 million US Belmont Stakes in 2:31.57, with jockey Mike Smith. [105]
- June 6
- Rafael Nadal win the French Open of tennis for the fifth time defeating Robin Soderling in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. [57]
- June 10
- The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime to win the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup, their first cup win in 49 years. [35]
- June 11
- (to July 11) The 2010 World Cup of soccer/football is hosted in Africa for the first time, as South Africa begins the opening ceremony in Johannesburg, with 32 nations competing in 64 games. [5] [57] [615]
- June 13
- Audi finishes 1-2-3 at the Le Mans 24 hour race, tying Ferrari for 2nd place among the most successful manufacturers in Le Mans history. [57]
- June 17
- The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 in the decisive seventh game of the NBA finals and secure back-to-back titles. [57]
- June 19
- Scotland records their first southern hemisphere Rugby Union series win with a 13-9 victory over Argentina in Mar del Plata's Estadio Jose Maria Minella. [57]
- Roberto Alomar, former Toronto Blue Jays second baseman, is inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Also inducted are former Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Paul Quantrill, late Minnesota Twins' owner Calvin Griffith, and late statistician Allan Roth. [105]
- June 20
- Britain's Graeme McDowell takes a one-shot victory to win the U.S. Open of golf at the Pebble Beach Golf links in California, the first European win in 40 years. [35]
- June 22
- The hockey sweater worn by Paul Henderson during the 1972 Summit Series Team Canada win over the Societ Union sells at auction for US$1,275,000, the most ever paid for a hockey sweater. [105]
- June 23
- The first-round tennis contest between American John Isner and Nicolas Mahut of France at Wimbledon ends for the day tied at 59-59 (ten hours play), becoming the longest in tennis history. The match had already been suspended on June 22 after 3 hours of play. [57]
- June 24
- American tennis player John Isner defeats Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 70-68 in their first-round encounter at Wimbledon. The longest match in history took 11 hours and five minutes over three days. The game broke the previous records for the longest match, the longest set, the most games in a set and a match, the most aces in a match and the most aces by a player. [57]
- June 25
- Edwin Jackson throws 149 pitches in a no-hitter, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. [105]
- June 30
- 24-year-old Czech Tomas Berdych defeats six-time Wimbledon tennis champ Roger Federer of Switzerland 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the Wimbledon elimination matches. [35]
- July 3
- Spain beats Paraguay with a lone goal in the quarter-finals of soccer's 2010 World Cup, to advance to the semi-finals for the first time. [57]
- American Serena Williams defeats Russian 21st seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2, to win a fourth women's singles tennis Wimbledon and 13th Grand Slam title. [57]
- July 4
- Big Red Mike wins the 151st running of the Queen's Plate in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, attended by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. The race winner receives a gold cup and 50 gold sovereigns, as well as 60 per cent of the total purse of $1 million. [105]
- Rafael Nadal wins his second Wimbledon men's tennis title and his eighth career Grand Slam singles title, defeating Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. [105]
- Liam Broady and Tom Farquharson beat Lewis Burton and George Morgan 7-6, (7-4), 6-4 in the all-British mens' doubles final at Wimbledon. [57]
- July 11
- Spain defeats Netherlands 1-0 winning the FIFA World Cup of soccer. [105] [615]
- Two bombs explode in Ugandan capital of Kampala, killing 74 people and injuring 70 in a rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant; the bombings targeted football fans watching the World Cup final. [57]
- July 13
- The 81st All Star game of Major League Baseball is played at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, with the National League defeating the American League 3-1 for the first time since 1996. [105]
- July 20
- The New Jersey Devils and Russian left-winger Ilya Kovalchuk officially agree to a landmark 17-year, US$102-million contract, but the NHL rejects the deal a few hours later, saying it circumvents the $6 million per year salary cap by paying more in early years and less in later years. [105]
- July 25
- Carl Pettersson of Sweden wins a one-shot victory (67) at the Canadian Open of golf at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario. He earns US$918,000 for the victory. [105]
- Alberto Contador of Spain wins his third Tour de France bicycle race in four years. [105]
- August 4
- The New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez hits the 600th home run of his career, at Yankee Stadium. He is the 7th player to hit 600, and the youngest (age 35). [105]
- August 15
- Germany's Martin Kaymer wins his first major golf title in the 92nd U.S. PGA Championship, earning $1.35 million. [35]
- August 23
- Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki defeats Russia's Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 at the WTA tour Rogers Cup in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, earning US$350,000 for the victory. [105]
- September 6
- New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez reaches 100 RBIs for a record 14th season, passing Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Fox, all tied at 13 seasons. [105]
- September 13
- Rafael Nadal wins the U.S. Open tennis championship, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. [105]
2011
- October 9
- The NHL hockey team the Winnipeg Jets returns to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, from Arizona. [718.42]
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