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Tag: Tennis

  • ‘How in the world does he get so high?!’ | Mac McClung wins All Star slam dunk contest

    ‘How in the world does he get so high?!’ | Mac McClung wins All Star slam dunk contest

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    Mac McClung dazzles the judges to win this year’s All Star slam dunk contest.

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  • Why has Manchester United’s share price doubled and what does this mean for investors?

    Why has Manchester United’s share price doubled and what does this mean for investors?

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    Kaveh Solhekol explains why Manchester United’s share price has doubled since November and what this could mean for the potential sale of the club.

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  • New Zealand vs England | Sky Sports Live Cricket

    New Zealand vs England | Sky Sports Live Cricket

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    Follow updates from the Bay Oval as Ben Stokes’ England face New Zealand in the first of a two-match Test series.

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  • Premier League Darts: Peter Wright ready for his Glasgow homecoming with Mark Webster expecting the Scot to register some points

    Premier League Darts: Peter Wright ready for his Glasgow homecoming with Mark Webster expecting the Scot to register some points

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    Peter Wright remains winless in this year’s Premier League Darts. Will it be lift-off for the Scot in Glasgow? I The OVO Hydro, Glasgow hosts the third of 17 individual venues on Thursday, February 16 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

    Last Updated: 14/02/23 5:19pm

    Peter Wright will be aiming to kick-start his Premier League Darts campaign on home soil in Glasgow on Thursday

    Peter Wright will be bidding to ignite his Premier League Darts campaign against Dimitri Van den Bergh when he makes his homecoming at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on Thursday.

    The 2017 Premier League runner-up lost to eventual winner Chris Dobey on Night One in Belfast, before going down to Night Two finalist, Nathan Aspinall, in Cardiff last Thursday.

    Despite his winless start to the campaign, Wright, who picked up his first televised title for more than a year at the Nordic Darts Masters last month, will hope to return to winning ways on home turf.

    Live Premier League Darts

    February 16, 2023, 7:00pm

    Live on

    Wright broke Nathan Aspinall with this amazing 156 checkout in their quarter-final match in Cardiff last week

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    Wright broke Nathan Aspinall with this amazing 156 checkout in their quarter-final match in Cardiff last week

    Wright broke Nathan Aspinall with this amazing 156 checkout in their quarter-final match in Cardiff last week

    Wright takes on Van den Bergh in his quarter-final encounter before a potential showdown against Nathan Aspinall or Michael Van Gerwen.

    “Wright has been a bit unlucky but he’s a good reader of the game and it’s early days, so I think he’ll be fairly relaxed about the whole situation and he’ll be expected to register some points in Glasgow,” said Sky Sports’ analyst Webster.

    “He’ll get the crowd support but we know Gary Anderson is their boy so it won’t be the same level of support but they’ll get behind him.

    “For Peter, it’s week three so don’t panic. He started brilliantly last year but then it unravelled so he knows the flipside. A good start guarantees nothing and a bad start guarantees nothing either, so he’ll be fairly relaxed.

    “It’s early days in the Premier League and I don’t think the players panic yet – a couple more weeks possibly. He’ll be looking forward to going up there and that fact that it’s in Glasgow is a bonus for him.”

    “We can judge all we want but it’s got him two world titles and world No 1 so there’s obviously some method to the madness. He’ll keep doing it.”

    Mark Webster on Peter Wright changing his darts

    ‘Some method to the madness’

    'Snakebite' takes on Dimitri Van den Bergh in his quarter-final clash

    ‘Snakebite’ takes on Dimitri Van den Bergh in his quarter-final clash

    Webster says ‘Snakebite’ will “fancy his chances” against Van den Bergh, while the pace of the Belgian should be to his liking.

    “I spoke to Peter and he feels that his set-up is good so he’ll be raring to go. He’ll chop and change his darts. The fat barrels darts with the wobbly points are his best set but he generally plays well with the slim-line barrel set,” revealed Webster.

    “He’ll use them again on Thursday but he will always chop and change. It’s kind of worthless even thinking that he’ll stick with this set.

    “We can judge all we want but it’s got him two world titles and world No 1 so there’s obviously some method to the madness. He’ll keep doing it.”

    Night 3 in Glasgow: Thursday, February 16

    Quarter-Finals Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
    Peter Wright vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
    Gerwyn Price vs Michael Smith
    Jonny Clayton vs Chris Dobey
    Semi-Finals Aspinall/Van Gerwen vs Wright/Van den Bergh
    Price/Smith vs Clayton/Dobey

    Concern for Clayton?

    Jonny Clayton showed good form at the Players Championship over the weekend

    Jonny Clayton showed good form at the Players Championship over the weekend

    Webster also spoke about his concern for Jonny Clayton in Cardiff last week, but ‘The Ferret’ showed some form by reaching the semi-finals of the Players Championship on Saturday in Barnsley.

    “The rhythm, the scoring, the finishing was back when I saw him play at the weekend in Barnsley,” said Webster. “He was on point so I think that was good for Jonny.

    “He needs some points soon and you don’t want to get to week three of four with no points at all. If he can get a victory over Dobey, it’s doable, but Dobey has taken the whole format in his stride.

    “Jonny is going to have to work hard to get some points.”

    Watch the best of the action from Night Two in Cardiff after Gerwyn Price delighted the Welsh crowd on an epic night

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    Watch the best of the action from Night Two in Cardiff after Gerwyn Price delighted the Welsh crowd on an epic night

    Watch the best of the action from Night Two in Cardiff after Gerwyn Price delighted the Welsh crowd on an epic night

    Can the Pro Tour and Euro Tour be a benefit or a hinderance?

    Chris Dobey has the added distraction of having to play on the European Tour as well as the Pro Tour

    Chris Dobey has the added distraction of having to play on the European Tour as well as the Pro Tour

    “I don’t think Clayton, Dobey, Aspinall and Van den Bergh can afford having any time off. Neither can Price to be fair because it’s quick-fire. You finish in Glasgow and then get to your bed, then you’re on the road down to Barnsley and then Dobey has to play on the European Tour, which is an added distraction for him,” said Webster.

    “It can be to your benefit as well because getting to a semi-final in Barnsley has probably helped his cause. You’ve got to manage it well, but if you’re going to be successful you’re going to be busy so you’ve just got to learn to manage it.”

    2023 Premier League Schedule

    Night 3 OVO Hydro, Glasgow February 16
    Night 4 3Arena, Dublin February 23
    Night 5 Westpoint Exeter March 2
    Night 6 The Brighton Centre March 9
    Night 7 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham March 16
    Night 8 Utilita Arena, Newcastle March 23
    Night 9 Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin March 30
    Night 10 Utilita Arena, Birmingham April 6
    Night 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool April 13
    Night 12 Rotterdam Ahoy April 20
    Night 13 First Direct Arena, Leeds April 27
    Night 14 AO Arena, Manchester May 4
    Night 15 Utilita Arena, Sheffield May 11
    Night 16 P&J Live, Aberdeen May 18
    Play-Offs The O2, London May 25

    We’re back for more Premier League Darts action from the OVO Hydro, Glasgow on Thursday, February 16 – live on Sky Sports Mix from 7pm.

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  • ‘I’m absolutely bemused!’ – Sue Smith reacts to Tomas Soucek’s controversial handball

    ‘I’m absolutely bemused!’ – Sue Smith reacts to Tomas Soucek’s controversial handball

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    Sue Smith reacts to a controversial call as Tomas Soucek appears to handle the ball inside the box, but the penalty wasn’t given.

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  • Erik ten Hag praises Marcus Rashford’s ‘unbelievable focus’

    Erik ten Hag praises Marcus Rashford’s ‘unbelievable focus’

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    Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag praises Marcus Rashford’s form and his impact on the team. Watch the full interview on Soccer Saturday from 12pm.

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  • Microsoft-Activision merger could damage gaming market, says CMA

    Microsoft-Activision merger could damage gaming market, says CMA

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    Microsoft is in talks to buy Activision Blizzard, in a deal reportedly worth over £55bn; Activision produces popular titles including Call of Duty; the game developer is also one of the largest in the esports market.

    Last Updated: 08/02/23 11:28pm

    Call of Duty is Activision’s marquee title

    Microsoft’s attempt to buy Activision Blizzard has hit a snag after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the $68.7bn (£56.7bn) deal could impact UK gamers.

    The UK competition regulator published its provisional findings after a five-month investigation into the deal and said the merger could result in higher prices, fewer choices or less innovation for gamers.

    The CMA said it could make Microsoft stronger and stifle competition, harming the rivalry between its hallmark console, the Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation.

    Activision produces a number of video games, including Call of Duty, and opponents to the merger raised concerns from rivals, claiming it could see their access to the popular franchise restricted – something Microsoft has denied.

    The CMA said it found that buying one of the world’s most well-known and biggest game publishers would reinforce Microsoft’s position in the market and subsequently reduce the competition that Microsoft would otherwise face.

    The video game developer also makes popular esports games and is one of the biggest names in the market.

    The California-headquartered company boasts the Skylanders, Crash Bandicoot and Tony Hawk games as its titles.

    Microsoft committed to ‘100 per cent equal access’

    The competition watchdog said it has written to the parties involved with a notice of possible remedies for addressing its provisional concerns, and has asked for a response by February 22, ahead of the publication of the CMA’s full report on April 26.

    Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the investigation into the deal, said: “It’s been estimated that there are around 45m gamers in the UK, and people in the UK spend more on gaming than any other form of entertainment including music, movies, TV and books.

    “Strong competition between Xbox and PlayStation has defined the console gaming market over the last 20 years. Exciting new developments in cloud gaming are giving gamers even more choice.”

    In response, Microsoft’s corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Rima Alaily, said: “We are committed to offering effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the CMA’s concerns.

    “Our commitment to grant long-term 100 per cent equal access to Call Of Duty to Sony, Nintendo, Steam and others preserves the deal’s benefits to gamers and developers and increases competition in the market.

    “Seventy-five per cent of respondents to the CMA’s public consultation agree that this deal is good for competition in UK gaming.”

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  • ‘I can’t believe you got me!’ | Patrick Mahomes hilariously tricked by Rihanna question!

    ‘I can’t believe you got me!’ | Patrick Mahomes hilariously tricked by Rihanna question!

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    Former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall dropped into the Kansas City Chiefs’ media availability to play a hilarious prank on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 27-year-old was not impressed!

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  • Mark Cavendish: Two men jailed over knifepoint robbery of cycling star and wife Peta at their home

    Mark Cavendish: Two men jailed over knifepoint robbery of cycling star and wife Peta at their home

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    Mark Cavendish and his wife Peta were victims of a knifepoint robbery at their home in November 2021

    Two men have been jailed for robbing Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish and his wife Peta of their high-value watches in a knifepoint raid at their home.

    Intruders wearing balaclavas broke into their home in Ongar, Essex at about 2.30am on November 27, 2021 and threatened to stab the athlete, a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

    They took items including two Richard Mille watches with a combined value of £700,000.

    Romario Henry, 31, of Bell Green, Lewisham, south-east London, denied two counts of robbery but was found guilty following a trial and sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison.

    Ali Sesay, 28, of Holding Street, Rainham, Kent, admitted two counts of robbery and was jailed for 12 years.

    “This was serious organised crime,” Judge David Turner KC told the defendants as he sentenced them. “This was no run-of-the-mill domestic burglary by opportunist amateurs.

    “This was planned, targeted, orchestrated, ruthless offending aimed at an internationally known sportsman and his wife who happened to be brand ambassadors for exceptionally valuable Richard Mille watches.”

    The trial was told that Sesay’s DNA was found on Mrs Cavendish’s phone, which was taken and found outside the property.

    The charges were that the accused men robbed Cavendish of a watch, phone and safe, and robbed his wife of a watch, phone and suitcase.

    Mrs Cavendish, who like her husband was naked during the robbery, had told jurors she had heard a noise that woke her in the night and went downstairs to investigate.

    She said she could see “men’s figures in balaclavas, and they were running towards the bottom of the stairs”, and that she believed there were “between three and five” people.

    Court artist sketch of Peta Cavendish giving evidence, watched by Judge David Turner, at Chelmsford Crown Court

    Court artist sketch of Peta Cavendish giving evidence, watched by Judge David Turner, at Chelmsford Crown Court

    She told the court she ran back to the bedroom shouting “get back” or “get in” to her husband, who was unable to activate a panic alarm.

    Mrs Cavendish said one of the intruders “dragged” Cavendish “from his feet and started punching him”.

    One had her husband in a headlock, she said, adding: “One of them held a large black knife to his throat and they said ‘where’s the watches?’ and ‘do you want me to stab you?”‘. She agreed with a suggestion that it was a Rambo-style knife.

    Mrs Cavendish said that at the time her husband had been “out of hospital for four days, maybe” after a cycling crash which left him with three broken ribs and a tear to his left lung.

    She said that when she went downstairs after the intruders had left, she saw that a patio door was smashed, and Cavendish cut his feet on the broken glass.

    Edward Renvoize, prosecuting, said Henry had a previous conviction for supplying drugs in 2012, and for perverting the course of justice in 2013 by “assisting in burning out a vehicle that had been used in a murder as part of a gang enterprise”.

    Archangelo Power, for Henry, said the defendant’s brother had been murdered three and a half months before the robbery and that had a “significant bearing on the psychological make-up of the defendant”. Mr Power said Henry had been “on the verge of committing suicide”.

    Mark Cavendish and his wife had high-value watches stolen in the robbery

    Mark Cavendish and his wife had high-value watches stolen in the robbery

    Mr Renvoize said that Sesay had admitted at an earlier hearing to six unrelated firearms offences over the possession of two guns and ammunition, when he had been prohibited by a previous sentence from possessing such items.

    The prosecutor said Sesay was arrested at an address in Thornton Heath, south London, on December 16 2021 and officers “had to use a chainsaw to gain access” and saw items, later found to be firearms, being thrown from a window to a neighbouring garden.

    The judge jailed Sesay for eight years for the firearms offences, consecutive to the 12-year prison sentence for the robbery, making a total of 20 years. The judge said Sesay had previous convictions including for supply of cocaine and heroin in 2017.

    Graeme Molloy, for Sesay, said the defendant was “truly sorry for his role” in the robbery and had admitted his involvement.

    Speaking about the firearms offences, Mr Molloy said Sesay claimed the guns were not his but that he had thrown them from the window. Mr Molloy said the guns “were loaded but the cartridge wasn’t in the firing chamber”.

    Jurors were told that two other men, Jo Jobson, from Plaistow, east London, and George Goddard, from Loughton in Essex, have been named as suspects in the robbery but have not been apprehended. Jobson was 25 and Goddard 26 at the time of a police appeal last March.

    Oludewa Okorosobo, 28, of Flaxman Road, Camberwell, south London, denied two counts of robbery and was cleared by jurors after a trial.

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  • ‘Absolutely ludicrous!’ | Have you ever seen a fluke like this?!

    ‘Absolutely ludicrous!’ | Have you ever seen a fluke like this?!

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    Nine-Ball superstar Francisco Sanchez Ruiz pockets the two off an incredible fluke in the World Pool Championship.

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  • Casemiro sending off: Should there have been more red cards in Manchester Utd-Crystal Palace melee? 

    Casemiro sending off: Should there have been more red cards in Manchester Utd-Crystal Palace melee? 

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    Should there have been more red cards in the Manchester United-Crystal Palace melee that saw Casemiro sent off?

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  • Stephen Humphrys scores sensational goal from his own half for Hearts!

    Stephen Humphrys scores sensational goal from his own half for Hearts!

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    Watch as Hearts forward Stephen Humphrys picks up the ball from just outside his own box, before driving forward and scoring from inside his own half!

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  • Highlights: Emanuel Navarrete stops Liam Wilson in epic encounter

    Highlights: Emanuel Navarrete stops Liam Wilson in epic encounter

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    Catch the best of the action from Emanuel Navarrete’s clash with Liam Wilson for the WBO Super-Featherweight title

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  • Chelsea 0-0 Fulham | Premier League highlights

    Chelsea 0-0 Fulham | Premier League highlights

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    FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Chelsea against Fulham in the Premier League.

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  • Cristiano Ronaldo denied first league goal for Al Nassr by offside flag

    Cristiano Ronaldo denied first league goal for Al Nassr by offside flag

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    Cristiano Ronaldo is still looking for his first goal in the Saudi Arabia Pro-League after having an effort ruled out against Al-Fateh for offside.

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  • Derek Carr shows off impressive skills in precision challenge

    Derek Carr shows off impressive skills in precision challenge

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    Watch quarterback Derek Carr’s best shots from the Precision Passing Challenge during the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown.

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  • Premier League Darts: Debutant Chris Dobey stuns Michael van Gerwen to win opening night in Belfast

    Premier League Darts: Debutant Chris Dobey stuns Michael van Gerwen to win opening night in Belfast

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    Chris Dobey enjoys a dream Premier League debut by defeating Michael van Gerwen in the Belfast final I The Cardiff International Arena hosts the second of 17 individual venues on Thursday, February 9 with the play-offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

    Last Updated: 03/02/23 12:56am

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    Take a look at the best of the action from Night One of the Premier League in Belfast

    Take a look at the best of the action from Night One of the Premier League in Belfast

    Chris Dobey made a dream Premier League debut as he stunned six-time defending champion Michael van Gerwen to win the opening night of action in Belfast.

    Dobey claimed his first major PDC title by winning the Masters in Milton Keynes which helped him gatecrash the cast list for this year’s Premier League.

    The 32-year-old from Bedlington produced a Hollywood-style ending after defeating two-time former world champion Peter Wright in the quarter-finals and then sending Nathan Aspinall crashing out to reach the final where he upset favourite Van Gerwen.

    Premier League – Night 1 in Belfast Results

    Quarter-finals Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2 Jonny Clayton
    Michael Smith 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
    Peter Wright 3-6 Chris Dobey
    Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Gerwyn Price
    Semi-finals Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
    Chris Dobey 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
    Final Chris Dobey 6-5 Michael van Gerwen

    Dobey took out this majestic 170 finish against Van Gerwen in the final

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    Dobey took out this majestic 170 finish against Van Gerwen in the final

    Dobey took out this majestic 170 finish against Van Gerwen in the final

    A captivating final, which saw Dobey reel in a 170 checkout in the second leg, went all the way to a deciding leg with Dobey landing a sensational 160 checkout to cap a memorable week.

    “I’m living the dream,” said a delighted Dobey, who twice starred as a Challenger in the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Premier League.

    “The 160 checkout had to go because Michael was waiting on 127 and he’s well capable of taking that out.

    “Michael has got a great record against me, and it gets in your head, but I knew I could do it after beating him on TV for the first time at the European Championship.

    “I know what I can do, and right now my confidence is sky high.

    “I felt that I deserved my place in the tournament, I didn’t have anything to prove to myself but I think I’ve proved a few people wrong tonight.

    “I’m getting a taste of it now and I love it. I want to be here all the time.”

    Dobey produced a Hollywood ending in the deciding leg to win Night One

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    Dobey produced a Hollywood ending in the deciding leg to win Night One

    Dobey produced a Hollywood ending in the deciding leg to win Night One

    Van Gerwen picked up three league points after gaining sweet revenge over Michael Smith in their first meeting since the World Championship final, and Dimitri Van den Bergh to go second on the embryonic table.

    Losing semi-finalists Aspinall and Van den Bergh left Belfast with two points each thanks to quarter-final wins over Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton respectively.

    The Bedlington thrower says he took confidence from his Masters win to claim victory on his Premier League debut

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    The Bedlington thrower says he took confidence from his Masters win to claim victory on his Premier League debut

    The Bedlington thrower says he took confidence from his Masters win to claim victory on his Premier League debut

    Sunday – Crowned Masters Champion

    Monday – Announced in the 2023 Premier League

    Thursday – Wins in Belfast on full debut

    “You’ve either got it or you haven’t in terms of that ability. He’s knows he’s got the ability so that panic hasn’t set it. That Masters win is the catalyst for we don’t know, but it’s the catalyst for tonight. That was an amazing win. He didn’t look nervy on the 160 but he’s creating that for himself. I love seeing new winners. Dobey has been a great player for a long time. Good luck to him. He wasn’t nervous, which is mind-boggling, but crack on Chris.”

    Wayne Mardle on Chris Dobey

    Where are we heading next?

    Night 2 in Cardiff: Thursday, February 9

    Quarter-Finals Michael Smith vs Jonny Clayton
    Nathan Aspinall vs Peter Wright
    Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey
    Michael van Gerwen vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

    The Premier League roadshow heads to Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Thursday, February 9 for Night Two of the league phase, as Welsh duo Price and Clayton face Dobey and Smith respectively in the quarter-finals.

    The night’s other quarter-finals will see Aspinall face Wright, while Van Gerwen takes on Van den Bergh.

    2023 Premier League Schedule

    Night 2 Cardiff International Arena February 9
    Night 3 OVO Hydro, Glasgow February 16
    Night 4 3Arena, Dublin February 23
    Night 5 Westpoint Exeter March 2
    Night 6 The Brighton Centre March 9
    Night 7 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham March 16
    Night 8 Utilita Arena, Newcastle March 23
    Night 9 Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin March 30
    Night 10 Utilita Arena, Birmingham April 6
    Night 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool April 13
    Night 12 Rotterdam Ahoy April 20
    Night 13 First Direct Arena, Leeds April 27
    Night 14 AO Arena, Manchester May 4
    Night 15 Utilita Arena, Sheffield May 11
    Night 16 P&J Live, Aberdeen May 18
    Play-Offs The O2, London May 25

    We’re back for more Premier League Darts action from the Cardiff International Arena on Thursday, February 9 – live on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 7.30pm.

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  • Tennis star Kyrgios to contest Australian assault charge

    Tennis star Kyrgios to contest Australian assault charge

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    CANBERRA, Australia — Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was due to appear in an Australian court Friday to apply to have an assault charge stemming from events two years ago dismissed on mental health grounds.

    His lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith appeared in a court in Kyrgios’ hometown of Canberra in October and asked for an adjournment so forensic mental health reports could be prepared.

    Magistrate Glenn Theakston adjourned the case until Friday, when lawyers for the 27-year-old Australian are expected to apply to have the charge dismissed under a section of the local crimes law.

    Kyrgios, a Wimbledon finalist last year, is set to appear in court in person for the first time since he was charged by police by summons in July last year.

    His hearing was listed to start at 2:15 p.m. local time (0315 GMT).

    The law gives magistrates the power to dismiss a charge if they are satisfied an accused person is mentally impaired, and if dealing with an allegation in such a way would benefit the community and the defendant.

    The common assault charge, which has a potential maximum sentence of two years in prison, relates to an incident in January 2021 that was reported to local police in December that year.

    The charge reportedly relates to an incident involving his former girlfriend.

    Kukulies-Smith told the court his client’s mental health history since 2015 made the application appropriate, citing a number of public statements made by Kyrgios.

    In February last year, Kyrgios opened up about his performance at the 2019 Australian Open, saying what appeared to be a positive time in his life had been “one of my darkest periods.”

    “I was lonely, depressed, negative, abusing alcohol, drugs, pushed away family and friends,” he wrote on Instagram. “I felt as if I couldn’t talk or trust anyone. This was a result of not opening up and refusing to lean on my loved ones and simply just push myself little by little to be positive.”

    Kyrgios made further references to his mental health struggles during his runs to the final at Wimbledon and the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.

    After ending Daniil Medvedev’s U.S. Open title defense in September last year to reach the quarterfinals, Kyrgios expressed pride at lifting himself out of “some really tough situations, mentally” and “some really scary places” off the court.

    Theakston questioned whether Kyrgios would need to appear in court for Friday’s hearing, but Kukulies-Smith said his client wanted to attend.

    Kyrgios had a career setback last month when he withdrew from the Australian Open because of an injured left knee that required arthroscopic surgery.

    He was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year in singles and teamed with good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis to claim the men’s doubles championship at the 2022 Australian Open.

    Kyrgios was considered the host country’s strongest chance to win a title at Melbourne Park last month before he had to pull out of the tournament. Djokovic went on to win the Australian Open singles championship for the 10th time.

    ___

    AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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  • Tennis star Kyrgios to contest Australian assault charge

    Tennis star Kyrgios to contest Australian assault charge

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    CANBERRA, Australia — Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was due to appear in an Australian court Friday to apply to have an assault charge stemming from events two years ago dismissed on mental health grounds.

    His lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith appeared in a court in Kyrgios’ hometown of Canberra in October and asked for an adjournment so forensic mental health reports could be prepared.

    Magistrate Glenn Theakston adjourned the case until Friday, when lawyers for the 27-year-old Australian are expected to apply to have the charge dismissed under a section of the local crimes law.

    Kyrgios, a Wimbledon finalist last year, is set to appear in court in person for the first time since he was charged by police by summons in July last year.

    His hearing was listed to start at 2:15 p.m. local time (0315 GMT).

    The law gives magistrates the power to dismiss a charge if they are satisfied an accused person is mentally impaired, and if dealing with an allegation in such a way would benefit the community and the defendant.

    The common assault charge, which has a potential maximum sentence of two years in prison, relates to an incident in January 2021 that was reported to local police in December that year.

    The charge reportedly relates to an incident involving his former girlfriend.

    Kukulies-Smith told the court his client’s mental health history since 2015 made the application appropriate, citing a number of public statements made by Kyrgios.

    In February last year, Kyrgios opened up about his performance at the 2019 Australian Open, saying what appeared to be a positive time in his life had been “one of my darkest periods.”

    “I was lonely, depressed, negative, abusing alcohol, drugs, pushed away family and friends,” he wrote on Instagram. “I felt as if I couldn’t talk or trust anyone. This was a result of not opening up and refusing to lean on my loved ones and simply just push myself little by little to be positive.”

    Kyrgios made further references to his mental health struggles during his runs to the final at Wimbledon and the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.

    After ending Daniil Medvedev’s U.S. Open title defense in September last year to reach the quarterfinals, Kyrgios expressed pride at lifting himself out of “some really tough situations, mentally” and “some really scary places” off the court.

    Theakston questioned whether Kyrgios would need to appear in court for Friday’s hearing, but Kukulies-Smith said his client wanted to attend.

    Kyrgios had a career setback last month when he withdrew from the Australian Open because of an injured left knee that required arthroscopic surgery.

    He was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year in singles and teamed with good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis to claim the men’s doubles championship at the 2022 Australian Open.

    Kyrgios was considered the host country’s strongest chance to win a title at Melbourne Park last month before he had to pull out of the tournament. Djokovic went on to win the Australian Open singles championship for the 10th time.

    ___

    AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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  • Scottish Premiership Goals of the Month: January

    Scottish Premiership Goals of the Month: January

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    We take a look at some of the best goals scored in January in the Scottish Premiership.

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