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Tennis: A tearful Nick Kyrgios (picture), a dark horse to win the US Open, retired from his third-round match against Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko with a hip injury on Saturday, ending the Australian’s bid for a maiden grand slam. A limping Kyrgios was trailing 4-6 6-4 6-1 when he decided he was unable to carry on playing. The 14th seed was seeking to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows for the first time. “It’s tough, I don’t like to retire, that is probably the second or third time I’ve done it,” said a dejected Kyrgios.
Snooker: The Guild Hall in Preston will once again host the world’s top snooker stars in February when the 2017 Ladbrokes World Grand Prix takes place at the iconic venue. The world ranking tournament runs from February 6 to 12 and will feature 32 of the best players on the planet. The Guild Hall has previously staged various major snooker events including the UK Championship and it will now host the World Grand Prix for the first time. The top prize in Preston will be £100,000. Shaun Murphy won the World Grand Prix last season, beating Stuart Bingham 10-9 in a dramatic final.
Motor Racing: A sale of Formula One to Liberty Media is to go ahead this week, the sport’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on the sidelines of the Italian Grand Prix yesterday. Reports said that according to Ecclestone, Liberty Media will transfer the first of two tranches of payment in the $8.5 billion (£6.3 billion) deal tomorrow. It is left unclear what role Ecclestone would play once a deal had gone through. He was quoted as saying: “I will do what I have always done. What role I play is my decision.”
Rugby Union: Warren Gatland has been retained as coach of the British and Irish Lions for their 2017 tour of New Zealand, British media reported yesterday. The 52-year-old Wales coach would be confirmed for his second successive tour on Wednesday in Edinburgh. Gatland, who was born in New Zealand, guided the Lions to a series win over Australia in 2013. The Lions play 10 matches on the highly anticipated tour, which includes three tests against the All Blacks, a game against the Maori All Blacks and matches against each of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises.