The Guardian

British men’s No 1 comes from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Draper continuing recovery from long-time injury Jack Draper came from behind to beat Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to start his title defence in Indian Wells. The British men’s No 1 is continuing his comeback from eight months out with an arm injury and played his first ATP Tour event since Queen’s last June in Dubai last week, losi…

We take a look at the best images from the opening day of the Games, including curling, downhill skiing and ice hockey Continue reading...

Townsend: ‘This is very significant but it’s round four’ Kyle Steyn expected to be fit for final match in Dublin Gregor Townsend remained ice cool after Scotland’s exhilarating seven-try victory against France , which keeps them in the hunt for the title with one round to play, a position Scotland have never known in the Six Nations. The win was no big deal, he seemed to be saying. “There have be…

Veteran striker who played in 2019 final brings experience to League One club in fifth round for first time in 30 years There is no shortage of FA Cup pedigree at Port Vale. Emblazoned on plaques and walls around Vale Park are memories of their 1996 victory against Everton under the legendary manager John Rudge. That 2-1 victory, in a fourth-round replay having held the Cup holders at Goodison Pa…

Pep Guardiola had Omar Marmoush in the tightest of bear hugs and seemed strangely unwilling to release the smiling Egyptian. It was the 73rd minute and two goals from the newly withdrawn Marmoush, the second a real show stopper, and another from Savinho had enabled Manchester City to come from behind and potentially shatter Newcastle’s entire season. Continue reading...

It was everything an FA Cup tie should be, as six goals were scored, one player was sent off and a Premier League side received a huge scare, requiring villainous technology to potentially save them from a penalty shootout. The only thing missing was an upset but Chelsea will not mind triumphing against Championship side Wrexham in a classic of the genre. Goals from Sam Smith and Callum Doyle twi…

The main stand at the oldest professional football ground in the world shook. It was the moment to ignite Mansfield Town dreams, a goal from the substitute Will Evans early in the second half to hint at something extraordinary. It ought to have been a mismatch. Quadruple-chasing Arsenal, the top team in England and Europe so far this season, against the one that sits 16th in League One. It was an…

Sakamoto and Wright give leaders victory at Bristol City Lions close to within a point of Boro with 3-1 away win First half goals from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Haji Wright strengthened Coventry’s position at the top of the Championship as they won 2-0 at Bristol City in a match that ended with both teams reduced to 10 men. The visitors took a 37th minute lead when the former Robins player Jay Dasil…

Guirassy and Beier on target in 2-1 win at Cologne Dortmund now eight points clear of fifth-place Leipzig Goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier took Borussia Dortmund to a 2-1 win at Cologne , tightening their grip on Champions League qualification. Dortmund’s pulsating 3-2 home loss to Bayern Munich last week ended their slim Bundesliga title hopes. Saturday’s win took second-placed Do…

Old scars haunt the hosts at the Narendra Modi Stadium, while New Zealand have their own chokers tag to ditch The Narendra Modi Stadium is a spectacular, enormous dome, the largest cricket ground in the world. On Sunday night it will contain 130,000 people, the vast majority clad in India’s blue, and one ghost that terrifies them all. This was supposed to be the site of India’s coronation as 50-o…

The humiliation in Rome means it is now three defeats in a row for England, each more soul-destroying than the last The haunted look writ large across the face of Maro Itoje said it all. England had burst into the Italy half, deep into the 80th minute and Ollie Chessum was on the gallop, desperately trying to salvage something from the wreckage. Closer and closer they got before the shrill of the…

A hundred days from their first game, Iran’s prospects of playing in the US are fast fading as turbulent times once more impact the tournament Saturday marks 100 days from what should be the start of Iran’s World Cup, a Group G fixture against New Zealand in Inglewood, near Los Angeles. As the United States bombs Iran – and Iran bombs a range of countries, including three that have also qualified…

Northern Irishman pulled out before third round ‘I felt a twinge in my back, it became muscle spasms’ Rory McIlroy is confident of defending his Players Championship title from Thursday despite withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational 35 minutes before his third round. McIlroy suffered back spasms, with the Northern Irishman unwilling to potentially put appearances at the Players and next …

Former batter says Rob Key has sounded him out before ‘I would never not look at helping England out’ Kevin Pietersen has said he would “absolutely” consider becoming part of a future England cricket coaching set-up and revealed Rob Key has ­previously sounded him out a couple of times. While Brendon McCullum, along with managing director Key, is expected to get the ­backing of the ­England and W…

Italy 23-18 England Azzurri stun visitors for first win in 33 meetings Even by the Six Nations’ usual standards this has been a remarkable tournament. And to the list of stunning outcomes can now be added the biggest result in the history of Italian rugby. For the first time in 33 attempts they have beaten England at rugby union and no one could possibly claim the boys in blue did not deserve the…