16 h. ago Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage doubles act sends Britain to BJK Cup Finals

Boulter and Burrage beat Dutch pair in decisive rubberSonay Kartal defeats Eva Vedder in singles in The HagueWith Great Britain’s presence at the Billie Jean King Cup this year hanging in the balance, their pivotal contest with the Netherlands tied at 1-1, Anne Keothavong made a dramatic call. Instead of the doubles specialist, Olivia Nicholls, present in The Hague precisely for these matches and with Harriet Dart positioned as the first-choice doubles team, the British captain chose to rely on the pure firepower provided by her singles players.It turned out to be a stroke of genius. Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage, both ranked outside the top 250 in doubles and with minimal experience together, produced an inspired performance to lead their team to victory with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs. Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago Jodie Burrage says Great Britain will celebrate BJK Cup finals spot with a party

Jodie Burrage and Katie Boulter teamed up to win a deciding doubles match and send Great Britain through.

Events

17 h. ago Northampton’s growing list of Lions contenders sparkle in Castres thrashing

Northampton 51-16 Castres: The Saints set up a Champions Cup semi-final date with Leinster that could prove crucial to Andy Farrell’s final selection

Politics

18 h. ago Northampton set up Leinster rematch after Henry Pollock batters Castres

Quarter-final: Northampton 51-16 CastresYoung flanker dazzles with two tries in Champions CupWhat is the East Midlands equivalent of deja vu? For the second season in succession Northampton are into the Champions Cup semi-finals and have booked themselves a trip to Dublin to face Leinster. Last time they came within three points of victory so, on paper at least, there is still a chance that Saints can march all the way to next month’s final in Cardiff.All the evidence would suggest, though, that Leinster are a more formidable force this year than last while Northampton had be initially resolute to see off a hard-edged Castres team who competed strongly until two tries in five minutes early in the second half from the fit-again George Furbank and the man of the moment Henry Pollock cracked their resistance. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Great Britain fight past Netherlands to secure Billie Jean King Cup final place

Captain Anne Keothavong made a late change to her pairing for the crucial final rubber.

Sport

36 h. ago Train provider issues warning ahead of FA Cup Semi Final and London Marathon clash

Train provider issues warning ahead of FA Cup Semi Final and London Marathon clash  Yahoo News UK

Events

43 h. ago Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal inspire Britain to BJK Cup win against Germany

Boulter defeated Tatjana Maria 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the HagueKartal earlier beat Jule Niemeier 6-4, 6-2 on Cup debutAn hour into her first national team assignment of the season, the forecast for Katie Boulter was grim. Down a set and a break against a cunning opponent, the British No 1 had been junkballed into oblivion and defeat drew near. Her recent difficult form and her lack of confidence in the surface beneath her feet was plain for all to see.From that uncomfortable position, Boulter showed her mental fortitude in full as she emerged with a strong 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Tatjana Maria to clinch a 2-1 win for Great Britain over Germany in their opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in the Hague. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Billie Jean King Cup: Great Britain defy Emma Raducanu absence to beat Germany in qualifying tie

Anne Keothavong's team now face a decisive clash with the Netherlands after wins for Katie Boulter and debutant Sonay Kartal

Politics

44 h. ago Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal lead Britain past Germany in Billie Jean King Cup

The winner of Saturday’s clash with the Netherlands will advance to September’s finals.

Politics

45 h. ago Justin Kluivert injury: Andoni Iraola offers new update on Bournemouth star before Fulham clash

Cherries star has missed back-to-back matches with knock suffered in FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester City

Events

69 h. ago Vancouver Whitecaps to face Inter Miami in Concacaf semis after dramatic equalizer

Tristan Blackmon scored late to eliminate PumasWhitecaps will face Lionel Messi, Miami in next roundTristan Blackmon scored a stoppage-time equalizer to help Vancouver Whitecaps earn a 2-2 draw with Pumas on Wednesday and book a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.Sebastian Berhalter put Vancouver ahead in the 33rd minute but the Mexican club responded with goals from Guillermo Martínez in the 37th and Ignacio Pussetto in the 88th to take a 2-1 lead. Blackmon sealed the semi-final spot three minutes into stoppage time as the Whitecaps advanced on away goals. Continue reading...

Events

2 d. ago Great Britain out to show strength in depth at Billie Jean King Cup

Anne Keothavong is without Emma Raducanu but has plenty of talent on hand in effort to reach finals in ChinaFive months on from the heartbreak of Málaga, where they came so close to battling for the Billie Jean King Cup trophy before succumbing to Slovakia in a brutal semi-final, Great Britain will begin their pursuit of the sport’s flagship team competition as they face Germany on Friday and the Netherlands on Saturday in The Hague for a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.They will attempt to do so without Emma Raducanu, a key figure in the team’s recent success. Last year, Raducanu led them to the Finals in Málaga with two-high quality victories against France on clay. She ended 2024 5-0 in the competition. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Lionel Messi makes Inter Miami coach 'uncomfortable' as MLS outfit make history

Inter Miami after into the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time with Lionel Messi leading their charge as manager Javier Mascherano watches his former team-mate produce more brilliance

Politics

3 d. ago Great Britain face new challenge at Billie Jean King Cup and must beware underdog threat

Injuries and absences have evened the playing field for this all-important qualifying tie, but Great Britain should still have the edge

Events

3 d. ago World Cup final referee Darren Cann retires after more than 500 Premier League games

Darren Cann's involvement in the Manchester City v Crystal Palace clash at the Etihad Stadium this weekend will be his last fixture as a Premier League official

Sport

3 d. ago Emi Martinez risks wrath of PSG fans with subtle message during Aston Villa clash

Emi Martinez isn't the most popular figure with French football fans after his antics during and after Argentina's World Cup final victory over Les Bleus in 2022

Sport

4 d. ago Maxi Oyedele: from Manchester United outcast to ‘dream’ tie against Chelsea

Midfielder has bounced back from tough Forest Green loan and is chasing Conference League glory at Legia WarsawFourteen months ago, Maxi Oyedele was experiencing the lowest moment of a burgeoning career, being substituted after coming off the bench for a team destined for relegation from League Two. Now he is preparing for a European quarter-final with Legia Warsaw against one of the biggest clubs on the continent. Forest Green feels a world away.When any teenager is loaned by Manchester United to a lower-league club, the aim is for them to gain experience that can help them progress. In theory, this is done through positive performances and playing against senior professionals, allowing a youngster to learn the tricks of the trade. Sometimes, however, a setback is the best learning curve. It has helped the midfielder earn full international honours, the Conference League battle with Chelsea in Warsaw on Thursday and a Polish Cup final next month. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago The Breakdown | Premiership clubs’ European debacle illustrates growing French and Irish strength

Four English clubs conceded 215 points on a calamitous weekend with French clubs poised to improve furtherAnd then there was one. Good luck to English club rugby’s sole survivor Northampton, who still have a winnable home Champions Cup quarter-final against Castres this Saturday, but otherwise the flag of St George hangs limply at half‑mast. To suggest the Premiership’s contenders had an underwhelming weekend is like saying global share prices have taken a slight dip.If you’re squeamish about needle-sharp disappointment, look away now. Between them Saracens, Harlequins, Leicester and Sale conceded 215 points in their last-16 ties. While Sarries and Sale had their first-half moments in Toulon and Toulouse respectively, would you care to guess the aggregate second-half score over those four defeats? The uncomfortable answer was, ahem, 144-21. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Italian teams cannot cope with modern football’s intensity. They need a reboot | Philipp Lahm

Fifteen years on from a Serie A side winning the Champions League, Atlético Madrid are the blueprint for return to the topI am also a child of Italian football. My school was called AC Milan. The 4-0 win against Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final was the benchmark in my training for how a team attack and defend together. What distances do we keep? Who is responsible for winning the ball? When are cross-field passes forbidden? No other game was shown more often by our Swedish chief instructor Björn Andersson; he must have seen it a hundred times.My other experience of Italy: I suffered heavy defeats during my career. In my youth, playing against Italian teams was a nightmare. At tournaments in Sicily, Viareggio or Sardinia, we got nothing for free and always took a beating. Later, we lost the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and the 2012 Euro with the national team. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Viktor Gyokeres makes major statement amid Man United transfer links as Arsenal decision emerges

The latest Manchester United transfer news after Viktor Gyokeres delivered another statement performance for Sporting CP during their Portuguese Cup semi-final

Sport