Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova is “saying goodbye” to tennis at the age of 32. In an article written for Vogue and Vanity Fair, Sharapova said her body “had become a distraction” after a struggle with shoulder injuries. The Russian won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 aged 17 and completed the career slam – all four major titles – by winning the French Open in 2012. In 2016, she served a 15-month ban after testing positive for meldonium.
Former Olympic 1500m champion and three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop says he is turning his back on athletics to try motorsport. Kiprop won gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but is serving a four-year doping ban imposed in April 2019.
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has been cleared to play in the Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed the news at his media conference ahead of the game at the Bernabeu. The England forward has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on February 2 but is in line to return in Spain. Guardiola said: “Raheem is fit. His physical condition and regeneration is amazing. He said he could have played against West Ham and Leicester but the doctor said it was too soon. But that was a good sign.”
Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren says he would be “disappointed” if Deontay Wilder exercised his option for a world heavyweight title rematch. Wilder was stopped by the Briton on Saturday in Las Vegas, but a clause in the contract for that fight allows him another bout. The American has indicated he will take the fight, but Warren wants Fury’s next opponent to be Anthony Joshua. “I prefer to go straight to Joshua, but that is the contract,” he said.
Dillian Whyte has rubbished Deontay Wilder’s complaints about the Tyson Fury defeat, but still wants to settle his feud with the American, even without the WBC title. The south Londoner was denied the opportunity to inflict a first defeat on Wilder, who suffered a seventh-round stoppage loss to Fury at the weekend that ended his WBC title reign. Wilder later suggested that his extravagant ring walk outfit was too heavy and weakened his legs before the opening bell.
Zimbabwe has been barred from hosting any international matches until further notice after its main stadiums failed to meet required standards. Zimbabwe’s FA (ZIFA) says the Confederation of African Football (CAF) took the decision after inspecting stadiums in November. It means that Zimbabwe’s key 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria next month will now have to be played in a neutral venue.
Kobe Bryant’s widow has sued the owner of the helicopter which crashed in fog and killed her husband and their teenage daughter. Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit alleging wrongful death claims the pilot was careless and negligent by flying in cloudy conditions and should have aborted the flight. The pilot, Ara Zobayan, was among the nine people killed in the crash last month. The lawsuit came as thousands attended a public memorial service for the basketball legend and his daughter at the arena where the NBA superstar played most of his career.
Top-flight Egyptian side Zamalek face punishment after failing to turn up to the Cairo derby against rivals Al Ahly on Monday. It comes after sanctions were handed to players and officials from both clubs following a brawl when the teams met in last week’s Egyptian Super Cup. Zamalek say they intended to play but had been delayed in traffic. However, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said there were “no obstacles” holding up the team bus. The EFA apologised to fans and say it will take disciplinary action against Zamalek.
Five Serie A matches will be played behind closed doors this weekend – including Juventus’ match at home to Inter – because of coronavirus. Matches at Udinese, AC Milan, Parma and Sassuolo will take place without fans. Games at Lazio, Napoli, Lecce and Cagliari will go ahead with supporters as normal, but Sampdoria’s match on Monday is yet to be decided upon. Italy has put towns in northern Italy into lockdown after 229 people tested positive and seven died.
Vanessa Bryant has given a moving tribute to her late husband, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, and daughter Gianna at a memorial service in Los Angeles. Former Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Bryant, 41, and Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash last month. Thousands of fans, celebrities and basketball stars attended Monday’s ceremony at the Staples Center. “Kobe was the MVP of girl dads,” said Vanessa. “He was the most amazing husband – Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words.”
Liverpool survived a rare night of struggle in this stellar season to overcome West Ham United 3-2 and close to within four wins of the Premier League title as keeper Lukasz Fabianski suffered an Anfield nightmare. Victory means Liverpool equal the English top-flight record of 18 successive wins, set by Manchester City from August to December 2017, with Jurgen Klopp’s side last dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in October. The Hammers – whose fans staged protests against the club’s owners throughout – threatened to inflict Liverpool’s first league defeat this term when they led midway through the second half.
Deontay Wilder has blamed his elaborate ring-walk costume for his WBC heavyweight title defeat by Tyson Fury. The American, 34, said his costume was too heavy and as a result he “didn’t have the legs” for the fight. Britain’s Fury, 31, produced a dominant display to win the title in Las Vegas on Saturday when Wilder’s corner threw in the towel in the seventh round. Wilder also told US media he will exercise his rematch clause for a third fight against Fury. “Fury didn’t hurt me at all, but the simple fact is that my uniform was way too heavy for me,” Wilder told Yahoo. Wilder said the costume, which featured armour, a mask and a crown, weighed at least 40 pounds (18.1kg) and was a tribute to Black History Month.
Hosts Cameroon will begin their pursuit of winning their first African Nations Championship (CHAN) on 4 April against Zimbabwe, it has been announced. The fixtures have been finalised, with the Indomitable Lions facing Zimbabwe at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, which is also the venue for the tournament’s final on 25 April.
India will host the archery and shooting events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, six months before the main event in Birmingham. The proposal was put forward by India, who threatened to boycott Birmingham 2022 after shooting was excluded. Both events will take place in Chandigarh in January 2022, with the main Games from 27 July to 7 August. The move to India was approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) executive board. Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022 will be separately organised and funded, but medals will count towards the overall competition.
Inter Milan are expected to play their home Europa League last-32 match against Ludogorets behind closed doors because of fears about the spread of coronavirus. Inter were one of four Serie A clubs to postpone their weekend game. Talks have been taking place between the club, Italian government officials and European football’s governing body Uefa about Thursday’s fixture. With 165, Italy has the largest number of cases of the virus in Europe. Many schools and colleges have been closed in Milan on Monday, although the local transport system is operating.
Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech over a five-year-deal which will see the Morocco international move to Stamford Bridge for 40m euros in the summer. The clubs reached an agreement for 26-year-old Ziyech, who will remain at the Eredivisie leaders for the rest of the season, earlier this month. “I am proud to have signed for such a huge club as Chelsea,” said Ziyech. “I am looking forward to next season and hope we can achieve great things.”
Neymar was sent off late on as Paris St-Germain came from behind to get back to winning ways against Bordeaux. The Ligue 1 leaders drew 4-4 at Amiens last week before losing 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and fell behind to a Hwang Ui-jo opener. Edinson Cavani replied and Marquinhos’ first goal was swiftly cancelled out by Pablo in first half stoppage time. But Marquinhos and Kylian Mbappe then scored in quick succession before Ruben Pardo’s late reply gave Bordeaux hope.
Ajax have signed winger Antony Matheus dos Santos from Sao Paulo for an initial 15.5m euros, which could rise to 21.75m euros. The 19-year-old, known as Antony, will join Ajax in July on a five-year deal. The move comes after Ajax forward Hakim Ziyech agreed to join Chelsea in the summer for 40m euros.
Nigeria mourned on Sunday the ‘untimely death’ of footballer Kazeem Tiyamiyu locally known as Kaka after he was knocked down and killed by a car in an apparent hit-and-run. The 21-year-old, who played in defence for second tier side Remo Stars, was being detained by police in a vehicle before his death on Saturday in Sagamu, Ogun State, south-west Nigeria, according to his club. The state police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed in a statement that there is an order for the ‘immediate arrest’ of the officer for his “unprofessional act of leaving an arrested person alone in the vehicle”.
Former Confederation of African Football General Secretary Amr Fahmy has died at the age of 36 after a two year battle with cancer. The Egyptian served as General Secretary between November 2017 and April 2019, when he was removed from his position without explanation. CAF released a statement calling his death shocking and saying they “extend our deepest condolences to his family especially his parents, his spouse and daughter.
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