Maria Sharapova: Racket manufacturer Head extends endorsement deal despite failed drugs test March 10, 2016 Under-fire tennis star Maria Sharapova has been given a commercial boost after racket manufacturer Head extended their sponsorship of the Russian, despite revelations of a failed drugs test. Head praised the five-time grand slam champion's "honesty and courage" in admitting she had tested positive for banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open in January. The firm's commitment to continue working [...]
Wentworth protesters take their battle to the ballroom, asking members to bring their families to vote against the golf club’s membership fee hike March 10, 2016 Members of Wentworth Golf Club are rallying the troops against Chinese owner Reignwood, but will there be a battle in the ballroom? As City golfers continue to campaign against the club's new Chinese owner and a hike in membership fees, key figures on the estate have called for a late-night extraordinary general meeting in Wentworth's ballroom to discuss [...]
Chelsea 1, Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Agg 2-4): Hiddink bemoans lack of resources after Champions League exit March 9, 2016 Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink bemoaned the lack of resources at his disposal after his side were dumped out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage by big-spending Paris Saint-Germain for the second season running last night. Enigmatic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic secured victory on the night for French champions PSG after fiery frontman Diego [...]
Pochettino targets ultimate juggling act in bid to stoke Premier League and Europa League silverware bids March 9, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has vowed to conjure the ultimate juggling trick to maintain the White Hart Lane club’s pursuit of Premier League and European silverware this season. The north London club face German side Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday ahead of a domestic showdown [...]
England head coach Eddie Jones warned to treat recalled centre Manu Tuilagi with care March 9, 2016 England have been warned to treat Manu Tuilagi with great care after head coach Eddie Jones named the powerhouse centre in his matchday squad for Saturday’s likely Six Nations title decider against Wales at Twickenham. Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill has consistently voiced his reservations over Tuilagi’s return to the international fold so soon after [...]
The Royal Academy’s In the Age of Giorgione promotes a little known but pivotal painter of the Italian Renaissance March 9, 2016 Royal Academy | ★★★★☆ In the Age of Giorgione argues that this elusive painter, of whom little is known and to whom only a handful of surviving paintings have been definitively attributed, was a pivotal figure in Venetian art in the 16th century. It says, “his influence was profoundly felt by contemporaries”, yet the show is [...]
A year ago I never thought I’d say this but England can be crowned T20 champions March 9, 2016 The World Twenty20 in India is underway and I see no reason why England can’t surprise a few people and win the tournament. A year ago I never thought I would be saying that but in the last 12 months, with the attacking brand of cricket which they’ve adopted, England have caught up with other [...]
Akhnaten by the ENO is a brilliantly inventive collision of art forms that hovers between the sublime and the ridiculous March 9, 2016 Royal Opera House | ★★★★☆ More high art burlesque than opera, this spectacular new production of Akhnaten hovers somewhere between the sublime and the ridiculous, and often it’s hard to tell where. There hasn’t been a full production in the UK for almost three decades and a heady sense of anticipation means that Akhnaten is already [...]
Anomalisa’s puppetry is more powerful than most live action human dramas March 9, 2016 Anomalisa (PG) | Dirs. Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman ★★★★★ It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Charlie Kaufman. Having spent much of the 2000s writing films that became instant classics (Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind) he capped off the decade with his directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, which divided critics, but to many [...]
Van Gaal accuses critics of living in past as United prepare to face Liverpool in Europa League March 9, 2016 Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has accused his side’s critics of living in the past as the Old Trafford club prepare to face bitter rivals Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie tomorrow night. The two clubs have 38 top-flight English titles between them and have conquered Europe a combined eight [...]