9 h. ago Djokovic at the crossroads: can last of the Big Three push past 36 barrier?

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer won final grand slam titles at the same age. The odds of beating that mark seem long, but the Serbian has always been ruthlessly determinedOn a clear September New York evening in 1981, following a soul crushing loss to John McEnroe in the US Open final for the second consecutive year, Björn Borg disappeared into the night and vanished from the sport. He was only 25. He had accumulated an extraordinary 11 grand slam titles by then, but it left one to wonder how many more championships he could have amassed had he not retired so young. His conqueror that day had a much longer career and played until he was 33. But McEnroe, like Borg, won his last grand slam singles title at 25.Back in those old days of the first phase of Open tennis (which I’ll date from 1968-1985; most of the top pros didn’t start playing the Australian Open regularly until the mid-1980s), players reached their peaks in their mid-20s and winning majors as one approached 30 was consider...

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29 h. ago Scottie Scheffler admits being 'fired up' by Rory McIlroy before emotional hometown triumph

World No.1 wins CJ Cup Byron Nelson with record-equalling score after watching the Ulsterman complete his career Grand Slam at the Masters

Events

3 d. ago Olympic medallist Fred Kerley arrested again after allegedly hitting ex

The US sprinter will not take part in Grand Slam Track this weekend

Events

3 d. ago US sprinter Fred Kerley arrested for allegedly punching former girlfriend

Olympic medallist not running at Grand Slam TrackThe 29-year-old charged with ‘battery-touch or strike’Fred Kerley, twice an Olympic 100m medallist, has been arrested for allegedly punching the hurdler and his former girlfriend Alaysha Johnson in the face, and the American sprinter will not compete in the Grand Slam Track event in Miami this weekend.The alleged incident occurred on Thursday at a hotel where Johnson, who is listed as a competitor in the Miami event, had an appointment with her conditioning coach when she told police she ran into Kerley. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Andre Agassi wins his professional pickleball debut with partner Anna Leigh Waters

Andre Agassi has won his professional pickleball debut a day after turning 55

Politics

6 d. ago Rory McIlroy comment speaks volumes after PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars' frightening claims

With a career Grand Slam in the bag following his historic Masters triumph earlier this month, Rory McIlroy's peers think the sky is the limit for the Northern Irishman

Politics

6 d. ago World No 1 Jannik Sinner sparks romance rumours with stunning model ex of Oscar winner Adrien Brody ahead of return from doping ban

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sinner has prepared for his return following his doping ban by training in Monte Carlo, where the star was pictured with a reported new love interest.

Politics

6 d. ago Rory McIlroy confirms first Scottish appearance as grand slam winner

2023 winner returning to The Renaissance Club to tee up in Genesis Scottish Open

Politics

7 d. ago The Breakdown | Red Roses triumph again but cannot afford another World Cup wobble

Seven straight Six Nations titles is impressive but rivals may have been encouraged by the nervous finish against FranceThere are two contrasting schools of thought after England’s grand-slam clinching win against France on Saturday. According to John Mitchell, the Red Roses’ head coach, his side’s nervy 43-42 victory was ideal preparation for the World Cup this year. Alternatively, as the former England hooker Brian Moore succinctly put it during post-match TV analysis: “If they were playing New Zealand, would they have got away with that?”Between them Mitchell and Moore know plenty about World Cup disappointment. The former was head coach of the All Blacks side beaten in the semi-finals of the 2003 men’s tournament in Australia. Moore was part of the England team edged out by the Wallabies in the final in 1991. They have spent enough time in top-level rugby to know how abruptly best-laid plans can be foiled and that wanting something badly guarantees you zilch. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago ‘New Rafael Nadal', 16, making waves in tennis and even has identical name to his hero

Rafael Nadal may be one of tennis' all-time legends, but there is a new starlet on the tennis scene who shares more than just a name with the 22-time Grand Slam champion

Politics

9 d. ago Aldcroft holds nerve but England will need to raise level to go all the way at World Cup | Andy Bull

Red Roses were one more mistake away from missing out on the grand slam to France but it should not have been so closeThere’s no such thing as an easy grand slam and, in the very end, England’s turned out to be as hard-won as any of them. One point up with one minute to play after conceding a sixth try at the tail end of one of the great helter-skelter Test matches, their skipper, Zoe Aldcroft, had the smarts to lead the team in a slow march back from the posts to the middle of the pitch as the clock ran on into the red. The Red Roses were, at that point, one more mistake, one more missed tackle, one more France score away from going down to their first defeat since the last World Cup, in their final match before the next one.Twickenham was only half full, but the crowd was as loud as double the number. And in all the tumult, it was the French who folded. Taïna Maka knocked the ball on from the restart. The whistle went, the ball was dead, and the game was won. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago Novak Djokovic facing ‘new reality’ after early exit at Madrid Open

The 24-time grand slam winner fell in straight sets in his second-round match.

Politics

9 d. ago England survive mighty fright against France to claim Women’s Six Nations grand slam again

England 43-42 France: The Red Roses just about clung on after a thunderous comeback from the visitors at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Events

1 week ago England hold on to claim Women’s Six Nations grand slam with one

England 43-42 FranceDow and Sing score twice before visitors’ late fightbackThere was a moment after France’s Joanna Grisez scored where fans were wondering if this would be the day England’s stranglehold on this competition came to an end. The Red Roses were 31-7 up after 23 minutes, but a resolute France cut back the lead to one point in the final minute. A French knock-on ended the game and the sheer pressure the hosts were under was plain to see by the wild celebrations by the England players at full-time. Despite the nervous ending for England, they not only retained the trophy at Twickenham but claimed a seventh successive title. England’s victory stretched their winning run in this tournament to 34 games and 25 in all competitions.The Red Roses are used to lifting silverware, but the trophy they are hunting will be on the line in the next game they could play here in five months’ time in the Rugby World Cup final. That has eluded them since 2014 and it remains their main targ...

Politics

1 week ago Novak Djokovic crashes out of Madrid Open after defeat by unseeded Arnaldi

Setback in troubled year for 24-time Grand Slam winnerSerb also lost in Monte Carlo in build-up to Roland GarrosNovak Djokovic’s struggles continued in the clay-court season as he fell to his third consecutive defeat. In the second round of the Madrid Open on Saturday, he lost 6-3, 6-4 to the unseeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi. Djokovic, who had received a first round bye as a seeded player, had arrived here after a difficult few weeks.His otherwise encouraging week in Miami ended with a difficult loss to Jakob Mensik in the final. He then lost his first match at the Monte Carlo Masters to Alejandro Tabilo of Chile. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Novak Djokovic faces up to ‘new reality’ after crashing out of Madrid Open

Defeat is third in a row for 24-time grand slam winner‘I’m not sure if I will come back,’ says crestfallen SerbNovak Djokovic is not sure if he has competed in Madrid for the last time after succumbing to a difficult 6-3, 6-4 loss to the unseeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the second round, his third consecutive defeat.Asked whether this was his last match in Madrid, Djokovic replied: “It could be. It could be. I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be.” Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago England v France: Women’s Six Nations grand slam decider – live

Live news from the 4.45pm BST kick-off at TwickenhamSarah Rendell’s preview | And you can drop Luke an emailThere are two games to think about at Twickenham on Saturday, the one the Red Roses will play in, and the one they want to play in. The first is their grand slam decider against France, which kicks off at 4.45pm. The second – at the same venue, five months and one day later – is the World Cup final which, if everything goes as the team hopes at the Stadium of Light, Franklin’s Gardens, Ashton Gate and the other grounds they will visit between now and then, will be the next game they play at the home of English rugby.Mitchell makes nine changes. The women’s world player of the year, Ellie Kildunne, is ruled out by injury so Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing will start at full-back. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago First Europe, then the world: Twickenham awaits in year of twin peaks for England

Grand slam clash is vital stepping stone in Red Roses’ quest to reclaim the World Cup crown they last held in 2014There are two games to think about at Twickenham on Saturday, the one the Red Roses will play in, and the one they want to play in. The first is their grand slam decider against France, which kicks off at 4.45pm. The second – at the same venue, five months and one day later – is the World Cup final which, if everything goes as the team hopes at the Stadium of Light, Franklin’s Gardens, Ashton Gate and the other grounds they will visit between now and then, will be the next game they play at the home of English rugby.The Red Roses head coach, John Mitchell, has been around long enough to know the smart thing to do is separate the two. “We’ve got to be careful focusing on the World Cup final because we’ve got to earn the right to contest it,” Mitchell said this week. “It’s good to have the chance to be back at our home stadium, but it’s an isolated situation, that’s the wa...

Politics

1 week ago Zoe Harrison urges England to embrace the occasion in grand slam clash with France

Harrison has got the nod at fly half as the Red Roses battle their fiercest foes at Allianz Stadium for Women’s Six Nations glory

Politics

1 week ago Djokovic says tennis will always outlive its star players and he can feel the changes taking place

Novak Djokovic says he can feel the changes taking place in tennis

Sport