Australian Open 2016: Heather Watson and Kyle Edmund lose in first round as injuries hamper Brits at the first hurdle January 18, 2016 British No2 Heather Watson blamed injury after her miserable run at the Australian Open continued with a dramatic first-round elimination in Melbourne on Monday. On a bad opening day for Britons at the grand slam, Watson served for the match against Hungary’s Timea Babos before succumbing to a 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-5 defeat against the world [...]
Ryder Cup clues abound for Darren Clarke as Europe’s rookies muster emphatic EurAsia Cup win January 18, 2016 It may only have been step one of two in a big year of captaincy duties for Darren Clarke, but the EurAsia Cup could hardly have gone any better for the man tasked with masterminding Europe’s Ryder Cup defence. Clarke had a very strong group at his disposal and he coaxed a fantastic performance from [...]
Finn set to return for World Twenty20 despite being sideline for rest of South Africa tour January 18, 2016 England seamer Steven Finn is expected to be fit for the World Twenty20 in March despite being ruled out of the remainder of his side’s tour of South Africa with a side strain. Middlesex paceman Finn will miss the fourth Test in Centurion, which starts on Friday, as well as five one-day internationals and three [...]
Wenger condemns Stoke fans for mocking Ramsey over leg break January 17, 2016 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has condemned Stoke City supporters who directed tasteless chants at midfielder Aaron Ramsey during his side’s goalless draw yesterday. Sections of the home crowd taunted the Welsh midfielder by singing “Aaron Ramsey, he walks with a limp”, referring to the horrific broken leg the 25-year-old suffered under a challenge from Stoke [...]
Wasps denied historic victory at Toulon by last-gasp Mitchell try January 17, 2016 Distraught Wasps boss Dai Young rued his side’s failure to hold on for an historic European Champions Cup victory after a last-gasp Drew Mitchell try sent defending champions Toulon top of Pool Five courtesy of a 15-11 success yesterday. Visiting No8 Guy Thompson had surged over with 10 minutes remaining to give Wasps an 11-8 [...]
Australian Open 2016: Andy Murray vows not to be distracted by impending fatherhood as he bids to finally land Melbourne grand slam January 17, 2016 Britain's Andy Murray insists he will not let impending fatherhood affect his game at the Australian Open this week despite pledging to abandon the tournament if wife Kim goes into labour prematurely. Murray, who begins the year’s first grand slam on Tuesday with a first-round match against German teenager Alexander Zverev, is adamant that he [...]
Manchester United can still win title, says Louis van Gaal, after Wayne Rooney goal sinks Liverpool January 17, 2016 Liverpool 0, Manchester United 1 Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists his team could still snatch the Premier League title after they pilfered an unlikely three points at Liverpool on Sunday. A 78th-minute volley from striker Wayne Rooney – United’s only shot on target – earned Van Gaal’s third victory in four matches since [...]
Australian Open 2016 prize money: £2m earnings boost on offer for ATP Tour competitors January 16, 2016 The tennis season's first big payday arrives at the Australian Open next week – and more money is on offer in Melbourne than ever before. This year's men and women's singles winners will earn the major tournament's biggest ever reward of AUS$3.4m (£1.7m) after it increased its prize money pool by AUS$4m to AUS$44m. Should world [...]
Fifa presidential candidate Prince Ali suggests election rival Sheikh Salman may have broken rules January 16, 2016 Fifa presidential candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has accused a key rival of being a part of a "blatant attempt to engineer a bloc vote" and has called on the organisation to investigate. The Jordanian Prince has suggested rival Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa may have breached electoral rules after a cooperation agreement was [...]
Liverpool came “very close” to takeover from billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft January 16, 2016 Billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said he once almost bought Liverpool and admits he could still be tempted into investing in another Premier League club. The American, who has an estimated net worth of $4.8bn (£3.4bn), was a prospective buyer of the Merseyside giants in 2005 before fellow countrymen Tom Hicks and George [...]