After an extremely difficult month in which she was pursued across tennis tournaments in Asia by an obsessive spectator, Emma Raducanu struggled to find her range and rhythm on her return to competition and was comprehensively defeated 6-3, 6-2 by Moyuka Uchijima of Japan in the first round of the Indian Wells Open on Thursday. … Read more
The times are changing in Super League, perhaps best epitomised by the fact there is an unfamiliar name now sitting at the summit as the season settles into a rhythm in some style following the pomp and circumstance of Las Vegas last weekend, with Hull FC and Leigh Leopards playing out a pulsating 2-22 draw … Read more
The Premier League’s financial power continues to blow its European rivals out of the water, with combined revenues almost double those in Germany and Spain according to newly released figures from Uefa. In the latest evidence of England’s sizeable competitive advantage, Uefa’s annual European club finance and investment landscape report showed Premier League clubs reporting … Read more
Authorities in the United States have offered a $10m reward for information that leads to the arrest of a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder-turned-international drug kingpin. Police in Los Angeles said on Thursday that Ryan Wedding – also known as “El Jefe”, “Giant” and “Public Enemy” – is wanted for his role in a billion-dollar cross-border … Read more
The board game Risk describes itself as the pursuit of diplomacy, conflict and conquest for two to six players. Rugby’s version is not a million miles removed: bigger pitch and more bodies involved but plenty of overlap on the content. For Saturday’s pivotal next step in Ireland’s grand slam bid, France have put it up … Read more
Harvey Elliott has said a starring role as Liverpool’s “chosen one” against Paris Saint-Germain compensated for the anger and frustration he has felt at his limited game-time under Arne Slot. The Liverpool forward believes his match-winning goal on Wednesday in the Champions League last-16 first leg, scored 47 seconds after replacing Mohamed Salah, underlined the … Read more
Football management moves pretty fast. On Saturday Barry Ferguson was being beaten at home by Motherwell. Five days later he was leading Rangers to a famous victory in Istanbul, responding to being patronised by José Mourinho by ending Fenerbahce’s 18-match unbeaten run. Perhaps the scoreline wasn’t as eye-catching as the 4-2 win away to Borussia … Read more
Chelsea can wobble in the Europa Conference League and still win with something approaching comfort. They were below par for much of the first leg of this last-16 tie but still took a decisive step towards the quarter-finals after seeing off a spirited challenge from FC Copenhagen with goals from Reece James and Enzo Fernández. … Read more
If Ange Postecoglou was hoping that things may be different for Tottenham in the Europa League then he was sadly mistaken. An abject display in which his side fell behind to an early own goal from the unfortunate Lucas Bergvall and then failed to lay a glove on AZ Alkmaar means the Australian’s chances of … Read more
In the end, two outstretched hands were decisive. The first, from Bruno Fernandes, probably denied Manchester United a victory; the second, from André Onana, definitely denied Real Sociedad one. After a first half low on quality, Manchester United gave themselves a first-leg lead against Real Sociedad when Joshua Zirkee guided a side-footed shot beyond Alex … Read more