Today on Sky Sports Racing: Worcester, Wolverhampton and Ripon feature on Monday | Racing News

Today on Sky Sports Racing: Worcester, Wolverhampton and Ripon feature on Monday | Racing News



The Sky Sports Racing cameras head to Worcester’s jumps meeting and the Flat fixtures at Ripon and Wolverhampton on Monday, with 21 live races across the three tracks.

3.45 Worcester – Lallygag, Mr Freedom and Bethpage clash

Lallygag, Mr Freedom and Bethpage clash in the AK Bets Meet Celebrant Dave On-Course Handicap Hurdle (3.45).

Sheena West saddles Mr Freedom, who was once fifth in the Fred Winter. He won last time out on the Flat but has been less than consistent before this. He needs to return to that Cheltenham Festival performance level to be in with a chance.

Lallygag’s form looked somewhat consistent before he ran out last time at Newton Abbot and, in an attempt to refocus the seven-year-old, Paul Nicholls reaches for the cheekpieces and re-instates champion jockey Harry Cobden for a steady set of hands.

The danger horse here is the four-timer seeking Bethpage. Joe Anderson takes off a valuable 3lb but this appears to be a deeper contest for him.

7.25 Ripon – Last-time-out winners Havana Prince and Makalu feature

In-form duo Havana Prince and Makalu feature in the Bishopton Equine Handicap (7.25).

Front-running Havana Prince is seeking a hat-trick of wins at Ripon following two consecutive course and distance victories. There could be more improvement at a track that clearly suits him.

Ruth Carr’s Makalu managed to defy a poor start last time out to notch a win at Beverley. He is only off 4lb higher and can be competitive.

Garden Oasis is also somewhat of a course specialist with five wins at Ripon to his name, he won off 85 back in 2021 and has a big chance.

8.00 Ripon – High Opinion bids for hat-trick

High Opinion bids for three on the bounce in the Download The At The Races App Handicap (8.00).

Bryan Smart’s five-year-old was always doing enough to win at Catterick last time out and that form has taken a boost as the second has won since. Despite being raised 5lb in the weights, Andrew Breslin on board will try to counteract this by taking off a handy 3lb.

Vadamiah seems to enjoy the trip around Ripon and could enter calculations in the hands of Luke Morris.

Paddy’s Day was only beaten a neck last time out at Newcastle but he did not seem fully comfortable over this course and distance earlier this season. He needs to bring his best here.

Monday’s racecards | Latest Sky Bet odds

Watch every race from Worcester, Wolverhampton and Ripon – live on Sky Sports Racing on Monday July 8.

Claressa Shields on Lauren Price: ‘We can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion!’ | Boxing News

Claressa Shields on Lauren Price: ‘We can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion!’ | Boxing News



Claressa Shields is a unique fighter. An undisputed champion, she is a multi-weight titlist who has also competed in MMA and who will go for a title in a fourth division later this month.

She will challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight championship in Detroit.

The Olympic middleweight gold medal has only been won by two women, Shields in 2012 and 2016, and most recently Wales’ Lauren Price, who triumphed at the Tokyo Games.

Price dropped down to welterweight after the Olympics and is only seven bouts into her professional career, but has won the inaugural women’s British title and the WBA world title already.

Lauren Price claimed the WBA world title after beating Jessica McCaskill on points and said it was the start of many more big nights in Cardiff

Shields does not rule out Price becoming one of her future rivals.

“It’s hard to put anything past Olympic champions. She won the Olympics 2021,” Shields told Sky Sports.

“I feel like when you’ve been all over the world and you’ve boxed and you’ve won World championships, it’s kind of destined for you to be great in the pros. I wish her the best of luck.”

They are not on a collision course in the immediate future. Price has plenty of ambitions to realise at welterweight and Shields is moving up in weight for the Lepage-Joanisse fight.

Lauren Price reflects on her victory over Jessica McCaskill to become Wales’ first female boxing world champion and discusses what’s next in her boxing career

But heavyweight is what the WBC calls its 12st 7lbs division, i.e. light-heavyweight (the WBO light-heavyweight title will also be on the line in their fight).

Shields has operated across several weight classes, super-welter and super-middle included, but is a natural middleweight.

Price’s greatest amateur successes were at middleweight, where she won World and European gold medals as well as the Olympic Games. Along the way, she also beat a light-heavyweight World champion at 75kgs.

Lauren Price received an incredible reception from fans after becoming Wales’ first female boxing world champion

Shields doesn’t think their current weight classes will necessarily keep them apart.

“She won the Olympics at 165lbs (75kgs) just as I did – two times – and if she ever wants to fight I would love to fight against her too,” Shields said.

“I believe anything is possible and I really want to fight anybody that wants to fight me. So if Lauren Price keeps winning and comes to 154lbs, 160, 168, we can fight and prove who’s the best Olympic champion.”

Lauren Price claims the WBA welterweight world title with a dominant win over Jessica McCaskill

Shields’ great rival is another Briton, Savannah Marshall. The American beat Marshall in their 2022 grudge match. But Marshall is now also competing in MMA as she pursues another clash with Shields.

“I beat her in the UK with 20,000 of her fans. She needs to come to America and fight me in front of 20,000 of my fans and let’s see if she can handle being booed and her national anthem being booed and people telling her she sucks!” Shields declared.

Savannah Marshall discusses the rematch with Claressa Shields and if we’ll see it in the boxing ring or the MMA cage

“I would love to fight her again and prove that I’m not just one time better than you, I’m two times better than you either inside the cage and definitely inside the ring. It really doesn’t matter which one.”

But first Shields has a more immediate task, winning yet another accolade against Lepage-Joanisse.

“I’m going for my fourth division,” she said. “It’s going to be big and it’s going to be history-making.”

British GP: Lewis Hamilton holds off Max Verstappen to claim record ninth victory at Silverstone | F1 News

British GP: Lewis Hamilton holds off Max Verstappen to claim record ninth victory at Silverstone | F1 News


Lewis Hamilton triumphed in a thrilling British Grand Prix to claim a record ninth victory at Silverstone and end a run of 56 races without a win.

Hamilton held off a late charge from world championship leader Max Verstappen to hang on for victory at his home race after the Red Bull driver had overtaken McLaren’s Lando Norris in the closing stages after a chaotic rain-interrupted contest.

The seven-time world champion had not won a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and has now ensured his final season with Mercedes before joining Ferrari next year will be marked by a victory.

The record-extending 104th grand prix victory of Hamilton’s career saw him become the first Formula 1 driver to win the same race nine times, extending a record he had previously shared with Michael Schumacher. He also extended a record run for podiums at the same race to 12.

Lewis Hamilton wins the British GP and is left emotional on the team radio straight after.

“Since 2021, every day I’m getting up and fighting to train to put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team,” Hamilton said.

“This is my last race here at the British Grand Prix with this team. I wanted to win this so much for them because I love them and appreciate them so much.

Lando Norris takes full advantage of some slippery conditions at Silverstone, as he overtakes both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton for the race lead

“All the hard work they put in over these years. I’m forever grateful to everyone at Mercedes and all our partners. And to all our incredible fans. I could see you lap by lap. There’s no greater feeling to finish at the front here.”

British GP result: Top 10

1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

3) Lando Norris, McLaren

4) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

5) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

6) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas

7) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

8) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

9) Alex Albon, Williams

10)Yuki Tsunoda, RB

How Hamilton claimed record win

Having started from second behind George Russell, Hamilton took the lead on lap 18 as his Mercedes team-mate struggled as rain began to fall.

However, Hamilton too found the conditions difficult and only held the lead briefly before Norris and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri came through to occupy the top two places.

Russell retired from the British Grand Prix with a suspected water issue

Hamilton regained second when the intensifying rain forced the field to switch from slick tyres to intermediates around the midway point, as McLaren cost Piastri time by not joining Mercedes in double-stacking their cars in the pits.

Verstappen, who had struggled on the opening stint as he dropped back to fifth, was brought back into play by a smartly timed Red Bull pit stop as he climbed to third, with Russell suddenly retiring from fourth because of a technical issue.

Max Verstappen overtook Lando Norris for second as he looked to chase down Lewis Hamilton for the race win

The rain then eased to leave a final key pit stop for the leaders to switch back to slick tyres, which saw Hamilton undercut Norris for the lead as Mercedes brought him in a lap earlier than the McLaren.

Both went for soft tyres, while the looming Verstappen was on a hard tyre which would give him greater freedom to push in the final stages.

Verstappen passed Norris with four full circuits of the 52-lap race remaining, but Hamilton expertly managed his tyres to maintain a relatively comfortable 1.5s margin at the chequered flag.

Lewis Hamilton and his engineer Peter Bonnington celebrate on the podium together following his emotional British GP victory!

The victory resulted in triumphant celebrations from the British fans at Silverstone, while a tearful Hamilton exchanged emotional messages over team radio with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his long-time race engineer Peter Bonnington.

The 39-year-old waved a Union Flag out of his cockpit after taking the chequered flag, before being greeted by his mother and father immediately after exiting the car.

Hamilton’s celebrations – in pictures

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his mother after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his father after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Verstappen extends championship lead amid Hamilton glory

While he was unable to deny Hamilton on this occasion, Verstappen’s late surge and pass on Norris ensured that he further extended his world championship lead over the Brit.

A dominant start to the season that saw Verstappen win four of the first five races is now a distant memory, with the Dutchman having had to settle for just three victories across the next seven grands prix.

His 84-point lead over Norris at the halfway stage of the 24-race season puts him in an extremely strong position to claim a fourth successive drivers’ title.

Max Verstappen believes Red Bull maximised their result by finishing second

As was the case when he claimed hard-fought victories in Canada and Spain in June, Verstappen needed all of his – and Red Bull’s – excellence to ensure Norris didn’t make ground.

Despite having brought upgrades to Silverstone, the RB20 couldn’t match the pace of either Mercedes or McLaren for much of the race, and it was only when Verstappen had the hard tyre on the final stint that he was finally able to pressure his rivals.

That wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the timing of his switch to intermediate tyres and then Red Bull’s decision to give him hard tyres for the final stint.

In contrast, a distraught Norris felt that his and McLaren’s strategic calls had cost him a first home victory.

Listen into the cool-down room where Lewis Hamilton offers some advice to a despondent Lando Norris about McLaren’s strategy

Allowing Hamilton to pit earlier at the end gave him the opportunity to undercut, but perhaps more importantly, McLaren gave Norris the same soft tyre as the Mercedes, when the new medium they had available was shown to be much faster by Piastri, who used it for his final stint.

Since claiming his maiden F1 victory in Miami in May, Norris has had a very strong chance of winning five of the six races that have followed, but a failure to take advantage of what has often been the fastest car on the track has left the 24-year-old hugely frustrated.

“I know [it’s a podium at the British GP] but I’m fed up of just saying I should have done better and I should have done this and could have done that, or whatever,” Norris told Sky Sports F1.

“I don’t care if it takes time, I don’t want it to take time. I should be doing it now, we should be winning now. I should be making better decisions than what I’m making.

“I’m just disappointed, it’s a win. It’s a win in Formula 1 and I’m not going to settle for something less when we should have achieved it.”

Lando Norris believes he threw away the race win after making the wrong tyre choice and he should be making better decisions instead of missing out on victories

Piastri claimed fourth to secure another strong haul of points for McLaren, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fifth and claiming an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.

Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for a second successive race as Haas claimed another superb result, with the German finish ahead of Aston Martin duo Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. Williams’ Alex Albon and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the points.

Red Bull are 71 points clear of Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ standings, with both teams only getting points from one driver as Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez finished outside the points after switching to intermediate tyres too early when the rain arrived.

Third-placed McLaren closed their deficit to Red Bull to 78 points, while Mercedes are now 152 points off the leaders.

British GP Result

Driver Team Time
1) Lewis Hamilon Mercedes 1:22:27.059s
2) Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.465
3) Lando Norris McLaren +7.547
4) Oscar Piastri McLaren +12.439
5) Carlos Sainz Ferrari +47.318
6) Nico Hulkenberg Haas +55.722
7) Lance Stroll Aston Martin +56.569
8) Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +63.577
9) Alex Albon Williams +68.387
10) Yuki Tsunoda RB +79.303
11) Logan Sargeant Williams +88.960
12) Kevin Magnussen Haas +90.153
13) Daniel Ricciardo RB +1 lap
14) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1 lap
15) Valtteri Bottas Sauber +1 lap
16) Esteban Ocon Alpine +2 laps
17) Sergio Perez Red Bull +2 laps
18) Zhou Guanyu Sauber +2 laps
George Russell Mercedes DNF
Pierre Gasly Alpine DNF

Next up for F1 is the Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest on July 19-21. You can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz through to quarter-finals after hard-fought four-set win over Ugo Humbert | Tennis News

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz through to quarter-finals after hard-fought four-set win over Ugo Humbert | Tennis News


Carlos Alcaraz was again made to sweat on Centre Court before booking a quarter-final spot with a 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-5 win over stubborn 16th seed Ugo Humbert.

Having fought back from two sets to one down to defeat Frances Tiafoe in the previous round, Alcaraz seemed to be enjoying a much easier time of it as he stormed the opening two sets, only for Humbert to produce some sublime tennis thereafter.

The Frenchman too would have felt aggrieved to lose the second set, in fact, as he squandered four break points on Alcaraz’s serve in the fifth game. And then, having only coughed up four points all set on his own serve, Humbert was suddenly broken out of nowhere to lose the set 6-4.

Alcaraz vs Humbert: Tale of the Tape

Alcaraz Match Stats Humbert
14 Aces 10
6 Double Faults 1
66% 1st serve win percentage 67%
43% 2nd serve win percentage 47%
24/34 Net points won 26/41
6/8 Break points won 5/13
45 Total winners 47
33 Unforced errors 35
121 Total points won 117

He was not to be deterred, though, as he proceeded to break the Alcaraz serve on four straight occasions over the course of a dominant third set and early into the fourth.

The defending champion appeared to have no answer for Humbert’s immaculate return game, the 16th seed hitting thumping winners with regularity and mixing in the odd heavy ball to the back of the baseline to do for the flat-footed Spaniard.

That said, Alcaraz himself twice broke Humbert to start the fourth set, but things were back on serve by the end of the sixth game as the determined Humbert continued to dig his heels into the Centre Court grass.

More thunderous groundstrokes off the left-hander’s racket helped set up three break points in the eighth game of the fourth set but, as in the second, a wasteful Humbert would ultimately rue spurning every single one of them as three games later it would be Alcaraz who’d earn the crucial break before serving things out.

Paul wins to set up Alcaraz quarter-final showdown

American 12th seed Tommy Paul raced against the fading light on Court Two to dispatch of Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 and set up a quarter-final clash with Alcaraz.

Image:
Tommy Paul is in good form, having triumphed at Queen’s in the lead up to Wimbledon

The 27-year-old took just over two hours to beat Bautista Agut who was bidding to reach his second Wimbledon quarter-final in his 10th appearance here.

Paul, whose grass game is finely tuned after he won the Queen’s Club warm-up event last month, had just too much power and variety for the 36-year-old, now ranked 112.

Bautista Agut made the American work in the second set but a couple of unforced errors lost him the chance to draw level and Paul raced through the final set, clinching the match with an ace.

The players had arrived on court late because of rain showers and the shadows were long across the court when they finished.

“He (Alcaraz) plays amazing tennis on grass but I’m playing pretty good too,” said Paul, who is on a nine-match winning streak. They have split their four previous career meetings, winning two each.

Elsewhere in the men’s singles, world No 5 Daniil Medvedev advanced through to the last eight after 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire with a leg injury while trailing 5-3 in the first set.

He will face world No 1 Jannik Sinner next after the Italian made light work of promising American youngster Ben Shelton, beating the 14th seed in straight sets 6-2 6-4 7-6 (11-9).

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Davis Thompson qualifies for Open Championship after record-setting win at PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic | Golf News

Davis Thompson qualifies for Open Championship after record-setting win at PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic | Golf News


Davis Thompson put in record-setting performance as he wrapped up victory at the John Deere Classic and secured a spot in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Thompson’s final total of 28 under par in Illinois eclipsed the previous tournament record of 27 under set by Michael Kim in 2017 and earned him a first PGA Tour title as well as a debut appearance in the British major from July 18-21.

The 25-year-old carded a seven-under 64 on Sunday to finish four strokes clear of CT Pan, Michael Thorbjornsen and amateur Luke Clanton, with Pan securing the second Open qualification spot by virtue of having the higher world ranking.

Image:
CT Pan will tee it up at the Open Championship for the first time since 2021

Thompson led fellow American Eric Cole and England’s Aaron Rai by two strokes heading into the final round and never looked in danger of being caught as he birdied five of his first six holes at TPC Deere Run and reached the turn in 29.

The Georgian – who came joint-second at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic after a ninth-placed finish at the US Open in June – saw his lead trimmed to three shots after he bogeyed 12 with Thorbjornsen making six birdies on the trot between eight and 13.

However, Thompson birdied 14 to effectively clinch victory with Thorbjornsen bogeying the same hole before picking up a birdie at 18 to end up alongside Pan and Clanton at 24 under.

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Thompson told CBS: “Qualifying for the Open was just an added incentive into this. The goal was to win the golf tournament after getting off to a great start and I was able to finish it off.”

Bizarrely, the winner of this tournament has stayed in the same rental house for three years running, with Thompson following in the footsteps of JT Poston in 2022 and last year’s winner Sepp Straka.

Clanton – who played the back nine in six under – became the first amateur to finish in the top 10 in back-to-back starts on the PGA Tour since 1958 having come 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

England’s Rai ended up tied for seventh at the John Deere Classic after a two-under 69, with compatriot Harry Hall a further stroke back in a tie for 12th after closing with a six-under 65 that featured eight birdies and a double bogey.

Watch the 152nd Open Championship, from Royal Troon, live on Sky Sports Golf from 6.30am on Thursday July 18.

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British GP: Lewis Hamilton opens up on post-2021 difficulties and Silverstone tears after stunning win | F1 News

British GP: Lewis Hamilton opens up on post-2021 difficulties and Silverstone tears after stunning win | F1 News


An emotional and reflective Lewis Hamilton opened up on what it meant to finally win again in Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix – admitting there had been times since the controversial conclusion to the 2021 season when he had “wanted not to continue” in the sport.

Hamilton was brought to tears at the end of Sunday’s enthralling wet-dry Silverstone race after a stirring and historic drive brought up a record ninth victory at a single Grand Prix.

Although it also represented Hamilton’s record-extending 104th win in F1, it was the 39-year-old’s first for 57 races in a drought that stretched back to the Saudi Arabian GP of December 2021, the race before that season’s infamous finale in Abu Dhabi when he missed out on a unique eighth world title and Max Verstappen won his first.

Hamilton has rarely even been in contention for victories since then with Mercedes falling from the sport’s summit in the wake of new regulations introduced from 2022. The two races that the team had won in that time were claimed by George Russell, most recently last week in Austria.

Having cried on team radio after taking the chequered flag, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1: “It’s surreal. My heart is racing.

“I had so many amazing times here in the past but when I came across the line, something released in me that I have been holding onto for a long time.

Hamilton says his incredible ninth British GP victory is the ‘most emotional’ he has had

“It was the most emotional end to a win I have ever experienced. I always wondered why I never cried! You see Rubens Barrichello crying and I was like ‘that doesn’t happen to me’ but it hit me hard.

“After such a difficult 2021, just trying to continue to come back but we as a team had a difficult time.

“There were so many thoughts and doubts in my mind along the way to the point, at times, I wanted to not continue.

“To arrive and continue to get up and continue to try and finally succeed is the greatest feeling I can remember having.”

Hamilton celebrates his ninth victory at Silverstone with his Mercedes team and the crowd!

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the race as he took the acclaim of the 164,000-strong race-day crowd, Hamilton said there had been periods during his time away from the podium’s top step when he questioned whether he was both still “good enough” and if he would ever get back to winning ways.

“It’s so tough, I think for anyone, but the important thing is just how you continue to get up and you’ve got to continue to dig deep even when you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel,” he said.

Hamilton and his engineer Peter Bonnington celebrate on the podium together following his emotional British GP victory!

“There have definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough or I was going to get back to where I am today. But the important thing is I had great people around me, continuing to support me. My team, every tine I turned up and saw them putting in the effort, that really encouraged me to do the same thing.

“Otherwise, my fans, when I see them around the world, they have been so supportive. So a big, big thank you to everybody.”

Hamilton on the ‘glimpse of hope’ that keeps fire burning

Hamilton, who decided at the start of the year he will continue in F1 until at least the end of 2026 by signing an unexpected and blockbuster deal with Ferrari, was given a Union Jack flag from a marshal on his slow-down lap at the end of the race and celebrated with it in front of the Silverstone crowd when he got out of his Mercedes at the end of the race.

He also shared embraces in parc ferme with his mother, Carmen, and his father, Anthony who were both at Silverstone to see their son’s return to success.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his mother after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his father after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

On the huge support he receives from fans, Hamilton said: “I definitely know for sure that I couldn’t do what I do without the fans I have. The people I interact with and meet around the world, particularly here in the UK.

“I grew up in Stevenage. My dad came around the corner to give me my first helmet.

“I always thought my parents would be my only followers. It’s very incredible to have that support because that really does lift you up when you see people.

“They are so generous with gifting you something or just pumping out positive energy.

Race highlights from Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.

“That’s one thing that keeps me going. And the other is just that glimpse of hope.

“Even if it’s the tiniest spec, I just try to not ignore that and continue to focus on my inner peace day by day.”

Hamilton, who has the motto ‘still I rise’ tattooed on his back, added: “Never give up. It’s so important. It’s the easiest thing to do but you should never do it.”

Next up for F1 is the Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest on July 19-21. You can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

DP World Tour: Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson clinches Open Championship spot with emotional BMW International Open win | Golf News

DP World Tour: Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson clinches Open Championship spot with emotional BMW International Open win | Golf News


An emotional Ewen Ferguson clinched a spot at the Open Championship after winning the DP World Tour’s BMW International Open in Germany.

Scottish player Ferguson’s two-stroke stroke victory in Munich left him as one of the highest five players in the top 20 on the Race to Dubai – alongside Jesper Svensson, Laurie Canter, Nacho Elvira and Matteo Manassero – who were not otherwise exempt for the 152nd Open at Troon between July 18-21.

The 28-year-old finished on 18 under par after a four-under 68 on Sunday, with England’s Jordan Smith – who shared the lead with Ferguson after three rounds – and Australia’s David Micheluzzi tied for second on 16 under.

Highlights from the final day of the BMW International Open as Ferguson, who has recently battled bouts of vertigo, triumphed in Munich

Ferguson, who revealed after his second round that he was glad simply to be playing again following recent bouts of vertigo, told Sky Sports in a teary interview: “I honestly can’t believe it.

“The last four holes I felt like I was in a dream, I just didn’t think this was actually happening. It was crazy. I was hitting it so well, hitting it so much further than usual.

“I wanted to do it for my dad, my mum, my sister, my brother at home. I love them so much and every shot I hit was with them in mind.

Scotland's Ewen Ferguson wins 2024 BMW International Open (Getty Images)
Image:
Ferguson now has three wins on the DP World Tour

“It’s such a hard game. I’ve been moaning like mad the last two months with also being sick. [This win] is so much weight off my shoulders. I’m so happy.

“The Open Championship is a tournament that everyone wants to play in and I feel like I could do well there and the Scottish Open next week too. It’s such an exciting time for me.”

Ferguson hopes to practice with Fleetwood ahead of Open

Ferguson later revealed that he had been planning to contest final qualifying for the Open Championship on Tuesday, but felt he was playing well enough to secure a place either in Munich or via the Genesis Scottish Open.

He added: “I didn’t want to tire myself out. I felt like I could maybe win this week or maybe finish in the top 10 in Scotland and get my own spot that way, so we decided to pull out of Open qualifying.

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“It’s obviously a really good decision. It kept me fresh and I’m here with the trophy. I actually got a text from Tommy Fleetwood saying well done so I said to him, let’s get a practice round in [at the Open] so I’m looking forward to that.”

Ferguson’s victory was his third on the DP World Tour and first since the ISPS Handa World Invitational in August 2022, which came five months after his maiden triumph at that year’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Micheluzzi finished birdie, birdie, eagle to earn his share of second spot alongside Smith, whose title hopes were effectively ended when he found the water off the 16th tee as he tried to drive the green.

Matthew Southgate made a superb eagle during the BMW International Open, following his namesake Gareth Southgate’s success in leading England to the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Germany

Scotland’s Connor Syme and England’s Matthew Southgate finished in joint fourth on 14 under with Southgate making an eagle at the sixth hole.

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Emma Raducanu: Brit tumbles out of Wimbledon at hands of qualifier Lulu Sun | Tennis News

Emma Raducanu: Brit tumbles out of Wimbledon at hands of qualifier Lulu Sun | Tennis News


Wild card Emma Raducanu was shocked by qualifier Lulu Sun as her encouraging Wimbledon run came to a disappointing end in the fourth round on a gloomy Sunday.

The 21-year-old had inspired hopes of more US Open-style heroics by coming through her opening three matches without dropping a set.

But she looked nervous against powerful New Zealander Sun, the first qualifier to make the women’s singles quarter-finals here in 14 years, and, despite battling to force a deciding set, slumped to a 6-2 5-7 6-2 defeat.

History for Sun at Wimbledon

Lulu Sun is the second-lowest ranked (123) player in the last 15 editions of the tournament to make the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Championships – ranked higher only than Serena Williams in 2018 (181).

“It was a great match against her. She really dug deep in there to try and get the win from me,” said an emotional Sun.

“I had to fight tooth and nail against her… she was obviously going to run for every ball and fight until the end.

“I was looking around [Centre Court] and just taking it all in for the first time.

“I’m super happy to be able to play on this court in front of all of you. It was an amazing experience for me.”

Left-hander Sun, who had never won a Grand Slam main-draw match before this week and is now on a seven-match winning streak, racked up 52 winners compared with just 19 from Raducanu and will now face Donna Vekic for a place in the semi-finals.

It has not been a comfortable 24 hours for Raducanu, with the positive vibes from her three impressive wins given a hammering by her decision to deny Andy Murray a Wimbledon swansong by pulling out of their mixed doubles opener citing a stiff wrist.

She found herself the subject of unwanted headlines, with the social media contribution of Judy Murray – albeit subsequently claimed not to be a criticism of Raducanu – adding fuel to the fire.

The strapping on her right wrist that had been present in practice on Saturday was nowhere to be seen, and Raducanu looked happy and relaxed hitting with fellow British player Liam Broady ahead of the match.

But, from the start of the contest on Centre Court, the former US Open champion, who knows all too well what qualifiers can achieve, seemed anything but comfortable.

Her serve, which has been a key strength all tournament, was off and her groundstrokes lacked their usual fizz.

Sun, on the other hand, looked like playing on Centre Court was something she had been doing all her life, the 23-year-old crunching the ball and breaking the Raducanu serve – which the Briton had not dropped since the first round – twice to go 3-0 up.

Raducanu retrieved one of the breaks but her comeback was short-lived as Sun, who defeated eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in round one, powered her way to another break and then the set.

The Brit was under pressure again at the start of the second but this time managed to hold on to her serve, with Sun, ranked 123, putting a simple forehand volley long on break point at 1-1.

Raducanu then had two break points in the next game but was unable to change the momentum, missing two backhand returns off second serves.

She hung on again in the seventh game but at least produced some of her best tennis to save two more break points.

Raducanu’s efforts in keeping her nose in front on serve were rewarded at 5-6 when Sun tightened up a little, missing an overhead and then going long on the second set point.

However, the mood changed in the opening game of the third set when Raducanu slipped while hitting a forehand, sitting on the ground shaking her head before calling the trainer, who worked on her left hip, leg and back, which she had been periodically holding during the second set.

Raducanu underwent surgery on her left ankle last year, as well as both wrists, after slipping at a tournament in Auckland.

She restarted in confident fashion with an ace but looked a little uncertain in her movement and dropped serve. The crowd tried to inspire Raducanu into another fightback but a double fault cost her a second break at 2-4 and Sun clinched a deserved victory after two hours and 50 minutes.

Sun vs Raducanu: Tale of the Tape

Sun Match Stats Raducanu
4 Aces 4
4 Double Faults 2
69% 1st serve win percentage 54%
54% 2nd serve win percentage 53%
23/28 Net points won 3/7
5/13 Break points won 2/7
52 Total winners 19
44 Unforced errors 21
111 Total points won 95

Jonathan Overend says it was a good call by Emma Raducanu to pull out of the mixed doubles event with Andy Murray

Paolini reaches Wimbledon quarters after tearful Keys retires injured

Image:
Madison Keys was forced to retire injured against French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini

French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini reached the quarter-finals for the first time after a totally distraught Madison Keys was forced to call it quits at 5-5 in the third set with a suspected groin injury.

Playing under a closed Court One roof on yet another soggy day at the All England Club, Keys appeared to have one foot in the last eight when she went to serve for the match at 5-2 up the deciding set but clutched her left groin immediately after getting broken.

The American 12th seed called for the trainer one game later and limped off court for a medical time out before re-emerging with her left thigh heavily strapped.

Upon resumption, she started sobbing after netting a drop shot to fall 15-40 behind. Although the 29-year-old saved the first break point with a backhand winner, she was again in tears after surrendering her serve with a double fault.

Clearly struggling to even walk between points, Keys somehow conjured a lob to win the first point off Paolini’s next service game. But when she saw the next point whizz past her for an ace, she shook her head and signalled it was all over as she walked to the net to give her Italian opponent a tearful hug.

The Italian seventh seed had produced a stirring comeback from 5-1 down in the second set to force a tiebreak and the final score ended up being 6-3 6-7 (8-6) 5-5 in Paolini’s favour when a heartbroken Keys had to call it a day.

“I’m so sorry for her. To end the match like this it’s sad. We played a really good match. it was really tough, lots of up and downs. I feel a bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that,” Paolini, who had not won a Tour-level main draw match on grass before this year, told the crowd in a courtside interview.

“It was a rollercoaster. I started really well and was really focused on court but she’s a great champion and she raised her level so it was tough to return balls. I was repeating to myself stay in there. At the end I know she retired, but I’m here with the win.

“I hope you enjoyed the match,” added the 28-year-old after becoming the fifth Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the professional era, equalling the country’s best result at the grasscourt major.

Paolini will next face either US Open champion Coco Gauff or American 19th seed Emma Navarro.

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British GP: Lando Norris ‘fed up’ as McLaren admit to errors after missing out on Silvestone victory | F1 News

British GP: Lando Norris ‘fed up’ as McLaren admit to errors after missing out on Silvestone victory | F1 News



Lando Norris admitted to being “fed up” after narrowly missing out on another Formula 1 victory at the British Grand Prix.

Norris came from fourth to take the lead at his home race, but the British driver and his McLaren team combined to make several errors around a final pit stop which gave up the lead to eventual winner Lewis Hamilton, before Max Verstappen passed him for second in the closing stages.

Since claiming his maiden F1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix in May, Norris has had strong chances of victory at five of the six races that have followed, but has failed to take advantage of having the most consistent race pace during that period.

“I know (it’s a podium at the British GP) but I’m fed up of just saying I should have done better and I should have done this and could have done that, or whatever,” Norris told Sky Sports F1.

” I don’t care if it takes time, I don’t want it to take time. I should be doing it now, we should be winning now. I should be making better decisions than what I’m making.

Race highlights from Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.

“I’m just disappointed, it’s a win. It’s a win in Formula 1 and I’m not going to settle for something less when we should have achieved it.”

By passing Norris in the closing stages, Red Bull’s Verstappen extended his lead over the Brit at the top of the drivers’ standings to 84 points.

Norris finished second to Verstappen in Imola, Canada and Spain, before damage sustained in a collision between the pair when battling for the lead in Austria last weekend forced Norris to retire.

Lewis Hamilton takes the lead of the British GP, after Lando Norris suffers from a slow pit stop.

“I’m not (being hard on myself),” Norris continued.

“Should we have won a race today? Yes? Did we? No. So I’m not going to be happy with another third place. I lost more points to Max, so I’m not going to be happy with that.

“Plenty of good things, there are positives, yes, but I’m only going to be satisfied with the end result and I’m not.”

Norris: Soft tyre call left no chance of win

In a thriller at Silverstone, Norris dropped from third on the grid to fourth after being passed by Verstappen on the opening lap, but was able to scythe his way through to the lead as the McLaren excelled in slippery conditions when rain began to fall.

Norris held the lead as heavier rain forced the field to switch to intermediate tyres, and maintained a lead over Hamilton until the rain eased to set up a crucial final pit stop to go back onto slick tyres.

George Russell holds the lead from Lewis Hamilton as Max Verstappen is up into third ahead of Lando Norris on the opening lap of the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton came in at the end of lap 38 as Norris stayed out for a further circuit, which enabled the Mercedes to gain time on the faster compound, while the McLaren driver compounded the problem by running slightly deep into his pit box to lose further time.

But most crucially, McLaren gave Norris the same soft tyre that Mercedes had put Hamilton on for the remaining 13 laps.

Verstappen, who pitted at the same time as Hamilton, was on hard tyres, which gave the Dutchman more freedom to push without fear of suffering degradation in the final stages.

Lando Norris takes full advantage of some slippery conditions at Silverstone, as he overtakes both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton for the race lead.

Norris was caught and passed by Verstappen on lap 48, while Hamilton was able to hold on for victory with relative ease. Frustratingly for McLaren, Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri showed strong pace in the final stint on the same new medium tyre that Norris had available.

Reflecting on his regrets, Norris said: “Just the two at the end. Just what tyre to box on to and a lap too late. I think the lap too late is completely on me. That’s just driver feel and driver knowledge of when to box and Lewis did a better job than me on that side.

“Boxing to the soft, that’s a team call, that’s between me. So many good parts but, again, just a couple that let us down and threw away the win so pretty disappointed.”

Max Verstappen overtakes Lando Norris for second as he looks to chase down Lewis Hamilton for the race win at Silverstone!

Explaining why he and the team came to the decision to fit a soft tyre, Norris said: “Lewis was on it, he won the race.

“It’s not the wrong call but we’re terrible on soft tyres as a team. Just because of the car balance and how it works. We’ve always been bad on that kind of tyre, Mercedes have always been very good so I almost had no chance of beating them.

“I expected to come out ahead of the Mercedes, I didn’t, but even if I came out ahead I wouldn’t have won the race because we were too slow.”

Stella: Pit wall should take decisions away from drivers

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admitted the wrong call had been made regarding Norris’ tyres.

Stella also conceded that McLaren had made a mistake earlier in the race when choosing not to double stack Piastri behind Norris in the pits, which resulted in the Australian dropping from second to fifth as the leaders switched to intermediate tyres in the rain.

“Difficult conditions, mixed. Many calls to be made. Many were right but there were a couple that in hindsight we would do differently,” Stella told Sky Sports F1.

Listen in to the cool-down room where Lewis Hamilton offers some advice to a despondent Lando Norris about McLaren’s strategy at the British GP.

“I think we would acknowledge that giving one more lap with Oscar, we lost a lot of time before going onto the intermediate tyres. We didn’t want to lose the time in the double shuffle but in hindsight, it would have been the right thing to do.

“And the second call is that with Lando, we should have gone on medium tyres at the end rather than trying to match Lewis. I think it would have been safer to be competitive at the end of the race, and even if Lewis had been ahead after the stop, then I think we would have had our shot at the end of the race with more consistent tyres.

“It’s easy in hindsight. They are all opportunities to grow and improve as a team. I think overall, it’s great once again for McLaren to be in a podium finish, Oscar P4, many points – important for both championships.”

In the cases of both Norris and Piastri, lengthy discussions between driver and pit wall took place over team radio, which Stella admitted contributed to the wrong decisions being taken.

Karun Chandhok unpicks the British GP where five possible drivers could have taken victory but Lewis Hamilton claimed his record ninth win.

“For both Oscar not going one more lap and for Lando not going on soft but actually going on medium, it should have been a call of the pit wall,” he added.

“So we take the responsibility for this. The drivers, they already keep themselves quite busy in keeping their car on track in these conditions. The pit wall have more information. It’s for us to make these calls.

“We will grow and learn, but we are also excited and encouraged that we keep being competitive and fighting at the front. A bit of a bittersweet day because we know we could have won the race, but ultimately many positives and we take it from here looking forward to the next events.”

Despite failing to maximise their potential, McLaren were the highest scorers in the constructors’ standings, reducing their deficit to leaders Red Bull to 78 points and closing within seven points of second-placed Ferrari.

Next up for F1 is the Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest on July 19-21. You can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

Rob Burrow: Thousands pay final respects to Leeds Rhinos legend on funeral route | Rugby League News

Rob Burrow: Thousands pay final respects to Leeds Rhinos legend on funeral route | Rugby League News


Thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects to Leeds Rhinos legend and motor neurone disease campaigner Rob Burrow as a private funeral service was held.

Burrow passed away at the age of 41 on June 2, four and a half years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

The service was attended by many of Burrow’s ex-team-mates and coaches, including Kevin Sinfield, with whom Burrow raised more than £15m for MND charities since his diagnosis.

Image:
Burrow passed away at the age of 41 on June 2, four and half years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease

Sinfield – who ran seven ultra-marathons in as many days last December to generate funds – flew back from New Zealand, where he has been part of the England rugby union side’s coaching staff.

The funeral procession passed by Featherstone Lions’ ground where Burrow played rugby as a young boy, and slowed again through Featherstone near to where he played junior rugby.

Cars arrived and slowed into Pontefract Crematorium, passing through family and friends for the final time before a haka was performed as Burrow was carried out of the hearse.

Burrow’s former Leeds colleagues Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Ryan Hall and Matt Diskin were among those also present.

Team-mate and close friend Kevin Sinfield sent a special message to Leeds fans following Burrow’s passing

‘Burrow a true inspiration, a giant of a person’

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington told the PA news agency of Burrow: “He was a true inspiration.

“The whole rugby league community has come together supported by Leeds Rhinos fans and so many others and his efforts over the last four and a half years with MND inspired the nation.

“With so much support from those such as Kevin Sinfield, politicians and other sports figures… it has been quite remarkable and he leaves a huge legacy. This is the final journey, it has been a remarkable chapter.

Leeds Rhinos gathered to remember their inspirational number seven and give Burrow the fitting tribute he deserved in the match against Leigh in June

“We all knew what the outcome would eventually be and Rob has been remarkable with his fight and what he’s been able to do, not only Rob, but his family.

“The whole family have come together and have been supported by sport in general. It’s brought people together and has moved the nation.

“He was full of life, full of ambition and full of enthusiasm.

“Rob was 5ft 4in but was a giant of a man, a giant of a rugby league player and a giant of a person.”

You can donate to the MND Association at www.mndassociation.org/skysports