Sports
Defending champion O’Sullivan withdraws from Masters
Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Masters on medical grounds.
O’Sullivan, 49, was aiming to win a record-extending ninth title, and had been set to face John Higgins in a blockbuster opening to the tournament at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.
The Englishman’s place in the invitational event for the 16 highest-ranked players in the world will be taken by Neil Robertson.
Like Higgins, the Australian is a two-time winner of the Masters and most recently triumphed in 2022 and was ranked 17th at the seeding cutoff in December.
O’Sullivan has won 41 ranking events and seven world titles during a storied career since turning professional in 1992 and claimed his first Masters crown in 1995 at the age of 19.
His success 12 months ago, aged 48, meant that he became both the oldest and youngest-ever winner of the second Triple Crown event of the season.
He also elected to miss the Masters in 2020. This week, he pulled out of the Championship League before his final group game on Thursday after becoming frustrated with his own performance in a 3-2 loss to Robert Milkins.
‘The Rocket’ played four matches on Wednesday, losing three of them and whacked his cue against the table after missing an easy pink against Milkins.
While he quickly apologised to the referee and his opponent, there were reports from Leicester, external that he later threw his cue into a bin before it was retrieved.
Every round of the Masters, which runs from 12-19 January, will be shown live on BBC TV. You will also be able to watch uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport mobile app, with additional coverage on BBC Red Button.
Sports
Raducanu looks for new coach as Cavaday steps back
Emma Raducanu is looking for a new coach after Nick Cavaday stepped back from the role to “prioritise getting back to full health”.
Britain’s Raducanu went through a string of coaches before turning to Cavaday, who worked with her as a junior, shortly before last year’s Australian Open.
The 22-year-old missed the majority of the 2023 season after wrist and ankle surgeries, but returned to the world’s top 60 last season under Cavaday’s guidance.
“I’d like to thank Nick for a great partnership over the last year and a bit, especially post-surgeries,” Raducanu said.
“I wish him all the best in his next chapter and no doubt we’ll stay in touch.”
Raducanu is now searching for the seventh full-time coach of her professional career.
She was coached by Nigel Sears when she made her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2021, before Andrew Richardson helped the teenage qualifier create history at the US Open later that year.
Raducanu also had brief stints with Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs after splitting with Richardson.
Sports
Moyes proud of managing 700 Premier League games
Everton manager David Moyes says taking charge of his 700th Premier League game is an “incredible” achievement.
The Scotsman is into his second spell as Toffees boss and has also managed West Ham United twice, as well as having short spells at Manchester United and Sunderland.
He will become only the third manager to reach the landmark after Frenchman Arsene Wenger at Arsenal (828 games) and compatriot Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford (810).
Moyes said: “It’s incredible really. When you start out, I don’t think you ever believe you will become a Premier League manager but to get 700 games behind me is a fair achievement, I am very pleased.
“There’s two great managers ahead of me in Arsene and Alex. I don’t think I’ll be making their numbers, that’s for sure.”
Saturday’s top-flight meeting between Everton and Brighton will see the Premier League’s oldest manager in Moyes, aged 61, take on the division’s youngest in Fabian Hurzeler, who is 31.
The feat is testament to Moyes’ longevity given he was the youngest Premier League manager when he first took charge of Everton in 2002, at a time when the late Sir Bobby Robson was the oldest at 30 years his senior.
“I remember Sir Bobby giving me a few wise words,” said Moyes. “It is amazing how it has changed around and I have been really fortunate and lucky to have been given opportunities at clubs.”
Sports
Monster’ Inoue too strong for overmatched Kim
Japanese world champion Naoya Inoue defended his undisputed super-bantamweight crown with a destructive fourth-round stoppage win against the overmatched Ye Joon Kim.
The 31-year-old controlled the opening rounds before increasing the intensity and dropping Kim with a flush right hand at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
The Korean challenger, who took the fight at just 11 days’ notice, valiantly attempted to get up on the count of 10 but the 32-year-old was saved from further damage as the referee halted the contest.
Nicknamed ‘Monster’ for his outstanding knockout ratio, unbeaten Inoue defended his WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine titles with a 26th stoppage in 29 professional wins.
“I didn’t have enough time to study my opponent so I took some time to see what’s coming from him,” Inoue said.
Inoue is a four-weight world champion and arguably boxing’s number one pound-for-pound boxer.
He is also a two-weight undisputed champion having won all four recognised world titles at bantamweight.
Inoue said his next two fights will take place in Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia.
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