Five of the best sport books of 2023

Elton John scores, Ronnie O’Sullivan delivers on cue, and ‘Bazball’ takes off in the year’s finest sportswritingWatford ForeverJohn Preston and Elton John, VikingThe year is 1977. Elton John is one of the most flamboyant and wealthy pop stars in the wo…

Elton John scores, Ronnie O’Sullivan delivers on cue, and ‘Bazball’ takes off in the year’s finest sportswriting

Watford Forever
John Preston and Elton John, Viking
The year is 1977. Elton John is one of the most flamboyant and wealthy pop stars in the world. Graham Taylor is a disciplinarian football manager who would, later in life, be immortalised by the Sun as a turnip. They are perhaps the least likely sporting duo of all time. Yet, under their stewardship, Watford Football Club climbed from the bottom of the fourth division to become the second-best club in the country. John Preston – author of The Dig, Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell and A Very English Scandal – weaves a warm account of a beautiful friendship. Candid contributions from Elton himself reveal that Taylor didn’t just turn around a team, but a lonely and dangerously addicted musician too. Expect a big screen treatment soon.

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Emma Raducanu misses out on first batch of Australian Open wild cards

The 21-year-old Briton faces qualifying route for MelbourneProtected ranking of 103 not enough despite high-profile statusEmma Raducanu has missed out on the initial batch of wild card entires for the Australian Open. The former US Open champion has a …

  • The 21-year-old Briton faces qualifying route for Melbourne
  • Protected ranking of 103 not enough despite high-profile status

Emma Raducanu has missed out on the initial batch of wild card entires for the Australian Open. The former US Open champion has a protected ranking of 103 due to her lengthy absence from the tour following operations on both wrists and one ankle but that is not currently high enough to secure entry to next month’s grand slam tournament.

The 21-year-old British player’s status as a former slam champion and one of the most high-profile female players in the sport counts in her favour but most wild cards usually go to home players.

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Emma Raducanu misses out on first batch of Australian Open wild cards

The 21-year-old Briton faces qualifying route for MelbourneProtected ranking of 103 not enough despite high-profile statusEmma Raducanu has missed out on the initial batch of wild card entires for the Australian Open. The former US Open champion has a …

  • The 21-year-old Briton faces qualifying route for Melbourne
  • Protected ranking of 103 not enough despite high-profile status

Emma Raducanu has missed out on the initial batch of wild card entires for the Australian Open. The former US Open champion has a protected ranking of 103 due to her lengthy absence from the tour following operations on both wrists and one ankle but that is not currently high enough to secure entry to next month’s grand slam tournament.

The 21-year-old British player’s status as a former slam champion and one of the most high-profile female players in the sport counts in her favour but most wild cards usually go to home players.

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‘Took me under his wing’: Nick Kyrgios lauds Andy Murray for mental health support

Scotland tennis star spotted signs of self-harm on opponent’s armKyrgios reveals all in candid interview with Piers MorganAustralia tennis enigma Nick Kyrgios has revealed Andy Murray played a major role in helping him during a “dark” mental health cri…

  • Scotland tennis star spotted signs of self-harm on opponent’s arm
  • Kyrgios reveals all in candid interview with Piers Morgan

Australia tennis enigma Nick Kyrgios has revealed Andy Murray played a major role in helping him during a “dark” mental health crisis. Kyrgios has spoken candidly at various stages during the last two years about personal struggles, most notably in the Netflix series Break Point.

But in an interview with polarising English broadcaster Piers Morgan, the 28-year-old said Murray, the three-time major winner, took an active interest in helping turn his life around.

In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

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‘Took me under his wing’: Nick Kyrgios lauds Andy Murray for mental health support

Scotland tennis star spotted signs of self-harm on opponent’s armKyrgios reveals all in candid interview with Piers MorganAustralia tennis enigma Nick Kyrgios has revealed Andy Murray played a major role in helping him during a “dark” mental health cri…

  • Scotland tennis star spotted signs of self-harm on opponent’s arm
  • Kyrgios reveals all in candid interview with Piers Morgan

Australia tennis enigma Nick Kyrgios has revealed Andy Murray played a major role in helping him during a “dark” mental health crisis. Kyrgios has spoken candidly at various stages during the last two years about personal struggles, most notably in the Netflix series Break Point.

But in an interview with polarising English broadcaster Piers Morgan, the 28-year-old said Murray, the three-time major winner, took an active interest in helping turn his life around.

In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

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Rafael Nadal plots return to tennis in Brisbane after year stuck on sidelines

Spaniard has not played since January’s Australian OpenThe 22-time grand slam winner has been plagued by hip injuryRafael Nadal will return to professional tennis in January after a year-long layoff as he seeks a fitting end to his legendary career.Nad…

  • Spaniard has not played since January’s Australian Open
  • The 22-time grand slam winner has been plagued by hip injury

Rafael Nadal will return to professional tennis in January after a year-long layoff as he seeks a fitting end to his legendary career.

Nadal, a 22-time grand slam champion, has not competed since the Australian Open in January, where he lost in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald after suffering a hip injury.

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Rafael Nadal plots return to tennis in Brisbane after year stuck on sidelines

Spaniard has not played since January’s Australian OpenThe 22-time grand slam winner has been plagued by hip injuryRafael Nadal will return to professional tennis in January after a year-long layoff as he seeks a fitting end to his legendary career.Nad…

  • Spaniard has not played since January’s Australian Open
  • The 22-time grand slam winner has been plagued by hip injury

Rafael Nadal will return to professional tennis in January after a year-long layoff as he seeks a fitting end to his legendary career.

Nadal, a 22-time grand slam champion, has not competed since the Australian Open in January, where he lost in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald after suffering a hip injury.

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Sports quiz of the week: Terry Venables, Katie Taylor and Mohamed Salah

Have you been following the big stories in football, golf, motor sport, snooker, rugby union, tennis and boxing? Continue reading…

Have you been following the big stories in football, golf, motor sport, snooker, rugby union, tennis and boxing?

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‘Not good enough’: Keothavong joins criticism of WTA Finals before BJK Cup

‘I felt for the players,’ says GB’s Billie Jean King Cup captainGreat Britain host Sweden in BJK Cup playoff tie this weekendAnne Keothavong has joined the loud chorus of prominent figures critical of last week’s WTA Finals in Mexico. Great Britain’s B…

  • ‘I felt for the players,’ says GB’s Billie Jean King Cup captain
  • Great Britain host Sweden in BJK Cup playoff tie this weekend

Anne Keothavong has joined the loud chorus of prominent figures critical of last week’s WTA Finals in Mexico. Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain expressed sympathy towards the players competing at the event in Cancún and the difficult conditions they were forced to play in throughout the week.

“Most people in tennis watching from afar would probably question what was going on,” said Keothavong. “And I felt for the players. That’s the WTA season-ending championships. That’s meant to be the highlight of the year for those top eight players and the doubles players. And the conditions and everything that they had to deal with was difficult.

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Andy Murray splits from coach Ivan Lendl after difficult season

Murray thanks ‘unique character’ after announcing decision‘I’ve learned an awful lot over the years from him’Andy Murray has decided to split with his longtime coach, Ivan Lendl. The decision comes after a difficult season for Murray culminated in a di…

  • Murray thanks ‘unique character’ after announcing decision
  • ‘I’ve learned an awful lot over the years from him’

Andy Murray has decided to split with his longtime coach, Ivan Lendl. The decision comes after a difficult season for Murray culminated in a dire loss to Alex de Minaur at the Paris Masters after leading 5-2 and match point in the third set.

“Ivan has been by my side at the biggest moments in my career and I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s helped me achieve,” said Murray in a statement. “ He’s a unique character, who understands what it takes to win and I’ve learned an awful lot over the years from him.”

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