Roger Federer wobbles and attracts swipe from Nick Kyrgios on difficult opening day for top men’s seeds at Australian Open January 16, 2017 Four-time Australian Open winner Roger Federer was one of a host of big names to survive major scares as the first round of the men’s draw got underway in Melbourne on Monday. Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka, fifth seed Kei Nishikori and seventh seed Marin Cilic all needed five sets to keep their hopes alive against [...]
World No4 Simona Halep becomes first big-hitter to crash out of Australian Open as Angelique Kerber squeezes through January 16, 2017 World No4 Simona Halep became the first major casualty of the Australian Open after crashing out in the opening round following defeat to American Shelby Rogers. For the second successive year Romania’s Halep stumbled at the first hurdle of the season-commencing grand slam, losing 6-3, 6-1 to power-hitting Rogers, herself a first-round loser in her [...]
Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce not prepared to risk Premier League safety for FA Cup run January 16, 2017 Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce insists he is not prepared to risk his side’s Premier League safety for the sake of an FA Cup run as the Eagles prepare for their third round replay against Bolton. Palace host Allardyce’s former club, who are third in League One but lost at home to Swindon on Saturday, [...]
Golf’s world top 10 has never been as strong as it is now – and it makes for a fascinating season January 16, 2017 When Graeme Storm stepped off the last green at Vilamoura in October, having just missed the par putt he needed to retain his European Tour card, his world must have been shattered. Storm had been among a number of players still vying to make the top 111 on the order of merit – the cut-off [...]
Andy Murray struggles with Melbourne heat as world No1 and fellow Briton Dan Evans clear first hurdle at Australian Open January 16, 2017 Top seed Sir Andy Murray admitted struggling with temperatures of 32C in Melbourne after he laboured to victory in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday. Murray, playing his first grand slam match since becoming world No1, beat Ukrainian Illya Marchenko 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, although the contest was more competitive than the [...]
Scarlets 22, Saracens 22: Last-gasp Sarries seal place in European Champions Cup quarter-finals January 15, 2017 Saracens boss Mark McCall praised his side’s doggedness after a last-gasp Chris Ashton try snatched a dramatic 22-22 draw with Scarlets and sealed their passage to the European Champions Cup quarter-finals. Ashton crossed the line for the second time with the final play of the game and Owen Farrell duly converted, after Wales centre Scott [...]
Manchester United 1, Liverpool 1: Tempers flare as Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp clash January 15, 2017 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp accused Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho of attempting to coerce referee Michael Oliver into showing Roberto Firmino a red card as tensions sizzled during Sunday's draw. Firmino was booked for shoving Ander Herrera after the forward reacted angrily to the Spaniard pulling his shirt as the visitors looked to counter-attack in [...]
Eoin Morgan questions England batting as Virat Kohli masterclass ignites India victory January 15, 2017 England skipper Eoin Morgan blamed a below-par batting performance as his side succumbed to a three-wicket defeat in their opening one-day clash against India in Pune. The tourists’ total of 350-7, England’s record tally against India and their ninth highest of all time, proved insufficient as a Virat Kohli masterclass and destructive century from Kedar [...]
Everton 4, Manchester City 0: Pep Guardiola accepts Premier League title may be out of reach after landmark defeat January 15, 2017 Everton 4, Manchester City 0 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits his team may be out of the title race after he suffered the heaviest league defeat of his glittering career at Everton on Sunday. Striker Romelu Lukaku and winger Kevin Mirallas put the Toffees in control before young midfielder Tom Davies and £11m debutant Ademola [...]
My good form is no guarantee of going far at the Australian Open, says Britain’s Johanna Konta January 15, 2017 Britain’s Johanna Konta has played down her status as Britain’s most credible female grand slam contender since Virginia Wade as she prepares to begin her Australian Open campaign on Tuesday. Konta goes into the year’s first major tournament at a career-high ranking of ninth in the world and buoyed by a string of fine performances [...]