World Open LIVE – Brecel in early action, O’Sullivan and Trump later

Brecel 0-0 Brown (62-5)

Anorther nasty broon to left-middle is made to look simple, but Luca will need one of four tied-up reds … so he promotes one of three on the top cushion off the pink; a tight slide to the centre and Oliver needs snookers. But he can’t quite find the angle to get it down, so we’ll have a bit of back and forth before he eventually secures the frame. Except as I type, Oliver goes in-off, so it’s just a red required now.

Brecel 0-0 Brown (33-5)

Luca looks in decent touch here – he’s been steadily improving these last few months after enjoying a long world champion’s holiday. He keeps the break going with a brown coaxed diagonally to the middle, a thin cut to right corner follows, and this looks like developing into a frame-winning contribution.

Brecel 0-0 Brown (11-5)

Attacking safety from Luca that opens the pack but leaves one for Oliver; he can manage it and no more. The world champ then misses a thin contact, looking to go up the table and flick a red close to left-middle in off the top rail. He misses but his opponent doesn’t fancy it himself so puts him back in, second time he hits, and he’s away,

Away we go!

Our boyz baize

For you this morning

We begin with Luca Brecel v Oliver Brown, and after that it’s Ronnie O’Sullivan v Michael White. Not bad, eh?

Hello there!

And welcome to the World Open 2024 – day two!

Monday recap – Allen out, Trump and Brecel reach main draw

World No. 3 Mark Allen crashed out of the World Open in China after a scrappy 5-3 defeat to Daniel Wells.

Allen was made to pay for a sluggish start in a slow-paced encounter as Wells ground out victory.

Elsewhere in the main draw, Kyren Wilson progressed with a 5-4 win over David Grace that he topped off with a 122 break, while Barry Hawkins beat Jenson Kendrick 5-2.

Monday’s action also saw plenty of qualifying matches, with home favourite Ding Junhui outlasting Zak Surety to reach the last 64, but there was a moment to remember for the Englishman after he produced a career-first 147 break.

Top seed Judd Trump and world champion Luca Brecel were also among the winners.

Stream top snooker action, including the World Open, live on discovery+

World Open LIVE – Brecel in early action, O’Sullivan and Trump later

Brecel 0-0 Brown (62-5)

Anorther nasty broon to left-middle is made to look simple, but Luca will need one of four tied-up reds … so he promotes one of three on the top cushion off the pink; a tight slide to the centre and Oliver needs snookers. But he can’t quite find the angle to get it down, so we’ll have a bit of back and forth before he eventually secures the frame. Except as I type, Oliver goes in-off, so it’s just a red required now.

Brecel 0-0 Brown (33-5)

Luca looks in decent touch here – he’s been steadily improving these last few months after enjoying a long world champion’s holiday. He keeps the break going with a brown coaxed diagonally to the middle, a thin cut to right corner follows, and this looks like developing into a frame-winning contribution.

Brecel 0-0 Brown (11-5)

Attacking safety from Luca that opens the pack but leaves one for Oliver; he can manage it and no more. The world champ then misses a thin contact, looking to go up the table and flick a red close to left-middle in off the top rail. He misses but his opponent doesn’t fancy it himself so puts him back in, second time he hits, and he’s away,

Away we go!

Our boyz baize

For you this morning

We begin with Luca Brecel v Oliver Brown, and after that it’s Ronnie O’Sullivan v Michael White. Not bad, eh?

Hello there!

And welcome to the World Open 2024 – day two!

Monday recap – Allen out, Trump and Brecel reach main draw

World No. 3 Mark Allen crashed out of the World Open in China after a scrappy 5-3 defeat to Daniel Wells.

Allen was made to pay for a sluggish start in a slow-paced encounter as Wells ground out victory.

Elsewhere in the main draw, Kyren Wilson progressed with a 5-4 win over David Grace that he topped off with a 122 break, while Barry Hawkins beat Jenson Kendrick 5-2.

Monday’s action also saw plenty of qualifying matches, with home favourite Ding Junhui outlasting Zak Surety to reach the last 64, but there was a moment to remember for the Englishman after he produced a career-first 147 break.

Top seed Judd Trump and world champion Luca Brecel were also among the winners.

Stream top snooker action, including the World Open, live on discovery+

Sterling wants Chelsea stay despite Saudi Arabia transfer interest – Paper Round

Sterling wants to fight on at Chelsea

Raheem Sterling is determined to stay at Chelsea beyond the summer despite facing jeers from his own supporters, the Standard reports. Sterling missed a penalty in the 4-2 FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester and was subsequently booed when he was substituted.

The 29-year-old missed other chances, but despite interest from abroad he wants to remain at the club and fight for silverware.

The Standard adds: “Blues fans have been critical of Sterling since his £47.5m move from Manchester City in 2022, but it is understood he wants to fight to win them over.

“Sterling is ready to snub reported interest from Saudi Arabia this summer and is determined to win big trophies with Chelsea.

“He still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract and is happy at Stamford Bridge. His £300,000-a-week wages and the asking price Chelsea would seek are also likely to rule out a move to any rival Premier League club.”

Kimmich to the Premier League?

Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs in contention to sign Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich, The Sun reports. The Germany international’s future is unclear, and it is believed he isn’t ruling out the prospect of a summer move.

The other clubs included in the list are Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The Sun adds: “Bayern tried to flog the versatile midfielder to Newcastle last summer in a deal involving defender Kieran Trippier, who they tabled three bids for.

“And they remain keen to sell the former RB Leipzig man this summer so as not to lose him on a free transfer next year.

“Arsenal are said to be one of five teams keen on acquiring the services of Kimmich, who is said to be open to the idea of potentially moving to the Emirates.”

Man Utd want Dortmund swap

Manchester United would be willing to sell Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund this summer providing Donyell Malen moves in the other direction, The Sun reports. With Liverpool also said to be interested in Malen, United hope the swap deal makes them favourites to sign the former Arsenal player.

Arsenal themselves are also said to want Malen back, the 25-year-old having spent two years at youth level with the Gunners before joining PSV in 2017.

The Sun adds: “Malen, 25, has been in great form for Dortmund this season, scoring 13 goals and racking up five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.

“Sancho, 23, has scored once and notched one assist in his nine Bundesliga games so far in his second stint with the black and yellows.

“Sancho’s contract with Manchester United expires in the summer of 2026, although the Red Devils have the option to extend it for a further year.”

Raducanu pulls out of Miami Open with reported back injury

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the upcoming Miami Open due to a reported back injury.

The 21-year-old Briton had been due to face Xiyu Wang on Tuesday in the first round, but her name has been taken off the draw and she will not play at the WTA 1000 tournament.

Afterwards she spoke about feeling “positive” following an injury-disrupted 2023.

“It was a good success, I would say,” said 2021 US Open winner Raducanu.

“I think I have handled myself a lot better on the match court. I was a lot more positive and hungry to play, and that showed I think in the tennis that I did play.”

The latest injury is Raducanu’s first setback of the season when she appeared to be putting the worst of her fitness problems behind her, having missed much of the previous two years with various ailments.

She underwent wrist and ankle surgery last year but she had been able to compete in the Australian Open, the Abu Dhabi Tennis Championship, the Qatar Open, and the ASB Classic so far in 2024.

As a result of Raducanu’s fitness and form struggles, she is currently ranked No. 288 in the world, meaning she was obliged to start in the first round while top-ranked players enter the tournament in the second round in Florida.

Iga Swiatek is the defending Miami Open champion after triumphing last year.

The world No. 1 has been in impressive form after her Australian Open second-round disappointment, and she has won the Qatar Open and Indian Wells Masters over the last month.

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Raducanu pulls out of Miami Open with reported back injury

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the upcoming Miami Open due to a reported back injury.

The 21-year-old Briton had been due to face Xiyu Wang on Tuesday in the first round, but her name has been taken off the draw and she will not play at the WTA 1000 tournament.

Afterwards she spoke about feeling “positive” following an injury-disrupted 2023.

“It was a good success, I would say,” said 2021 US Open winner Raducanu.

“I think I have handled myself a lot better on the match court. I was a lot more positive and hungry to play, and that showed I think in the tennis that I did play.”

The latest injury is Raducanu’s first setback of the season when she appeared to be putting the worst of her fitness problems behind her, having missed much of the previous two years with various ailments.

She underwent wrist and ankle surgery last year but she had been able to compete in the Australian Open, the Abu Dhabi Tennis Championship, the Qatar Open, and the ASB Classic so far in 2024.

As a result of Raducanu’s fitness and form struggles, she is currently ranked No. 288 in the world, meaning she was obliged to start in the first round while top-ranked players enter the tournament in the second round in Florida.

Iga Swiatek is the defending Miami Open champion after triumphing last year.

The world No. 1 has been in impressive form after her Australian Open second-round disappointment, and she has won the Qatar Open and Indian Wells Masters over the last month.

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Lazio announce Tudor as new manager following Sarri resignation

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media

Aldeguer confirmed as new Ducati rider in MotoGP for 2025

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media

Chelsea’s Cuthbert says ‘it’s hard not to dream’ of Champions League success

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

Murray drawn against Berrettini in Miami Open first round

Andy Murray has been drawn against Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Miami Open.

The former world No. 1 takes on the experienced Italian in the round of 128, with the 32 seeds not introduced until the next round.

The winner of the tie will go on to play Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Murray was last in action at Indian Wells, where he beat David Goffin in straight sets in the first round before losing out to fifth seed Andrey Rublev.

Murray won gold at both the 2012 and 2016 Games, and is a three-time Grand Slam champion.

He has struggled for form and fitness since major hip surgery in 2018, and he went back under the knife in 2019.

For many athletes the severity of the surgery would have precluded a return to the sport, but last year was a high point in his post-surgery career, claiming the Aix-en-Provence, Surbiton and Nottingham trophies.

Berrettini has also battled injury issues over the last year but comes into Indian Wells on the back of a run to a second-tier Challenger final in Phoenix.

Murray won their last meeting in five sets at the 2023 Australian Open.

Alcaraz will meet Aleksandar Vukic or Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round.

World No. 3 Jannik Sinner, the second seed and in the opposite side of the draw to Alcaraz, will face either Pedro Cachin or a qualifier in his opener.

The first round matches in Miami begin on Wednesday, March 20.

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 French Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

‘My heart needs a pit stop’ – Sagan to have second heart surgery ahead of Olympics bid

Peter Sagan has revealed he requires a second heart surgery as his preparations to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer hit another setback.

Sagan retired from elite road racing last year to focus on the mountain bike cross country event at the Games in France, but after some recent training in Marseille, he announced he faces a new obstacle.

“Nothing to worry about, you could say that my heart needs a pit stop,” Sagan confirmed on social media.

“I will undergo surgery next week and thanks to my friend, sports cardiologist Dr. Roberto Corsetti, I am sure I will be back in the saddle very soon.”

Sagan had surgery less than a month ago, when he was fitted with a device to monitor his heart for any irregular cardiac rhythms, although there were not thought to be any serious problems with his heart.

For 34-year-old Sagan, the news came as a blow because he had just signed with Specialized Factory Racing’s mountain bike team for the upcoming season.

“I am thrilled to be in this new MTB environment and to have joined the Specialized team with familiar faces,” Sagan said of the move.

“Despite some health scares earlier this year, I am now back in training and excited for the upcoming season.”

Sagan did not compete in the MTB French Cup last weekend in Marseille and it is not known when he will return.

Sagan’s home country of Slovakia do not automatically qualify for the cross country event in the upcoming Games as they sit 38th in the standings, missing the cut-off point of the top 19.

He will need to make use of the qualifying period that runs until May 26 and secure enough points to move up the rankings.

Stream the Paris 2024 Olympic Games live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com