Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes is looking forward to “trying something different” as he begins life without his long-time assistant Tony Docherty alongside him.
The pair have worked together for the bulk of the past 15 years, at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen and Killie.
However, 52-year-old Doherty took the opportunity to emerge from his close friend’s shadow when he accepted an offer to become manager of newly-promoted Dundee at the end of May.
McInnes has reshaped his backroom team over the past few weeks by promoting coach Paul Sheerin to an assistant role and bringing in former Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald as first-team coach.
“I wasn’t always sure, I’d never really had any indication from Tony that it was something he wanted to do but I can see a lot of sense in (him taking) the Dundee job,” said McInnes when asked about Docherty’s surprise move into management.
“He lives in Dundee, he knows (Dundee sporting director) Gordon Strachan. And I think once they spoke to him they convinced him it was the right thing for him.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for him and I’ve no doubt he’ll do everything he can to be a success there. We wish Tony well. We had a long relationship and we’ll still have a strong relationship, it’s just not a working relationship any more.
“He’s busy with his stuff and I’m busy with mine. I’ve got Alan in now to add to me and Paul and I’m delighted to get Alan in, he’s a manager who only a few years ago got Partick into the top six.
“Archie’s been a good friend to me since we played together at Dundee United so I’m delighted to get him in.
“That’s what happens in football, things change. It’s more unusual that you work together for that length of time.
“A lot of time people say you should change your assistant every few years to keep you fresh so this is an opportunity for both of us to try something different.”
McInnes is hoping Kilmarnock – who secured their Premiership survival on the last day of last season – can emulate St Mirren next term by forcing their way into the top six.
The Buddies joined the big five city clubs of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian in the top half last term.
“I think every club outwith the big five would have wanted to be St Mirren last year,” said McInnes.
“It’s incumbent on Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen to be in the top six along with the Old Firm, and St Mirren managed to be that other team.
“We have got to all strive for that. It’s a challenge to do it but St Mirren managed it last year and we need to try and be that team this year.”
Coco Gauff believes she is on track for Grand Slam glory in the near future after powering past her doubles partner Jessica Pegula to reach the semi-finals of a rain-affected Rothesay International in Eastbourne.
Wet weather delayed the start of play on day four at Devonshire Park before world number seven Gauff wasted little time in dispatching her fellow American 6-3 6-3 in an hour and 10 minutes.
The 19-year-old fifth-seed is the highest-ranked player remaining in the competition following victory over world number four Pegula and will face another compatriot, Madison Keys, in the last four.
Gauff spoke earlier in the week of feeling like a contender going into every major tournament and is growing in confidence ahead of Friday’s Wimbledon draw.
“That would be the greatest thing,” the 2022 French Open finalist said of the prospect of winning a Grand Slam title.
“I don’t know how my career will pan out but I do think I’m giving myself the best opportunity and the best chance with the day by day work that I’m doing and that’s all I can control.
“Obviously when I get on the court I will try my best but I definitely feel like I’m on the pathway to getting one soon.”
Gauff burst on to the scene as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019 by defeating five-time champion Venus Williams en route to the fourth round.
She admits the weight of expectation has increased going into her fourth championship at the All England Club.
“I am trying to be more aggressive and I think I feel a little bit more pressure now,” she replied when asked about how her game has developed during the past four years.
“The more established you become, the more people expect from you, so sometimes I do try to take myself back to that mindset I had when I was 15.
“It’s really about balance. You have to know you’re going to do well but don’t expect too much where you, I guess, crumble under the pressure.”
There is guaranteed to be an American in the women’s final in East Sussex after Keys – the 2014 Eastbourne champion – won five games in a row during a 6-4 6-1 success over Croatian lucky loser Petra Martic.
Meanwhile, world number five Caroline Garcia endured a disappointing day as a right shoulder injury caused her to retire while trailing Russia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-2 2-1.
Kasatkina awaits the winner of Birmingham Classic champion Jelena Ostapenko and Italy’s Camila Giorgi.
In the men’s draw, Argentinian fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo defeated China’s Zhizhen Zhang 6-2 6-3 to reach the maiden grass court semi-final of his career.
Cerundolo’s last-four opponent will be American Mackenzie McDonald, a 6-4 3-6 6-3 victor against Swede Mikael Ymer.
Ben Duckett fell an agonising two runs short of an Ashes century as England took the fight back to Australia in the second Test at Lord’s.
England had been a shadow of themselves on day one but rallied impressively with bat and ball before being dragged into a costly a short-ball battle during a gripping final session.
The hosts took five for 77 in the morning session to dismiss Australia for 416, a strong total but one that represented a poor return from a peak of 316 for three.
Duckett then led his side to 278 for four, punching his way to a gutsy 98 but stumbling in sight of glory as he top-edged a Josh Hazlewood bouncer to fine-leg.
The Nottinghamshire opener would have been dismayed to spring a trap that also accounted for Ollie Pope and Joe Root, but this may still go down as a career-best effort.
Duckett has reached three figures twice before but with the quality of the Australian attack and the parlous situation in the series, this trumped his 182 against a limited Ireland earlier this month and his maiden hundred in a run-fest in Rawalpindi.
Australia bowled bumpers almost exclusively for an adrenaline-fuelled hour in the evening, playing on England’s eagerness and ego after spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a worrying calf injury.
On the occasion of his 100th consecutive Test, a testament to his spotless fitness record, Lyon pulled up lame as he collected the ball in the deep and had to be helped off the pitch.
There must now be major concerns over the role he can play in the remainder of the match, as well as in next week’s clash at Headingley.
Harry Brook rode his luck on his way to a dicey 45 not out, but captain Ben Stokes restored an element of calm with a responsible 17no from 57 balls at the close.
Australia started the day 339 for five, with England eager to respond to a performance that was labelled “absolutely shambolic” by Kevin Pietersen and improve on bowling branded “utter dross” by Michael Vaughan.
And while they were unable to prevent Steve Smith turning his overnight score of 85 into a 12th Ashes century, second only to the great Donald Bradman, they would have been more than happy with their efforts.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad had sent down 33 wicketless overs between them on the first day but picked up one apiece in a rousing opening burst that set the tone for an England comeback.
Broad jagged back in sharply off the pitch to pin Alex Carey lbw in his first over of the morning and Anderson following by snapping up Mitchell Starc’s outside edge.
Smith brought up his latest hundred with a majestic cover drive but when he slashed Josh Tongue to Duckett in the gully for 110, Ollie Robinson picked up the last two wickets in short order.
Duckett and Zak Crawley survived four awkward overs before lunch and proceeded to share a buoyant stand of 91 – England’s best against Australia since January 2011.
Crawley was in particularly pleasing touch, but gifted Lyon his wicket on 48 when he raced down the pitch and was well stumped by Carey.
Duckett continued his unconventional habit of steadfastly refusing to leave anything, but was able to score quickly and safely against a pedigree attack.
Alongside Pope, who eased concerns over his shoulder injury by emerging at number three, Duckett added a further 96 as the pace and hostility of the Australian quicks failed to affect his steady rhythm.
Duckett’s interest in feeling bat on ball helped, scoring handily from square drives and cuts that could have been left and sweeping with enough confidence to rotate the strike off Lyon. Starc and Hazlewood both leaked runs at an alarming rate, with the pair both seeing their economy peak at more than seven-an-over.
Duckett reached 50 with a clean punch off the pads and was past 80 before the bouncers started to fly in.
He top-edged one over the wicketkeeper on 84 and almost picked out fine leg on 86. It was at that moment that Lyon hobbled off in anguish and leaving his side a bowler light.
Pope was going well at 42 when he succumbed, stepping inside the line and toe-ending Cameron Green to the waiting Smith. Green thought he had key man Joe Root in the same over, only for a no-ball to cut celebrations short.
England continued the high-risk strategy of pulling and hooking with catchers in the deep and it came at a cost as Duckett shovelled Hazlewood to fine-leg to shatter his dreams of a century.
Root followed with a careless swipe at Starc, failing to cash in on his reprieve as he departed for 10.
Brook played some remarkable shots as he kept the aggression up, twice slashing airily past mid-on and almost losing his leg stump as he stepped away to swing at Green.
But Stokes settled his side in mature fashion as they ended 138 behind with six wickets in hand.
James Maddison has revealed a conversation with Ange Postecoglou over seeing a “different Tottenham team” convinced him to move to the club.
Maddison completed a £40million transfer to Spurs from Leicester on Wednesday, agreeing a five-year deal.
England international Maddison has gained plenty of admirers since joining Leicester in 2018 and Newcastle were among the clubs interested in his signature this summer, but it was a promise from new Tottenham manager Postecoglou which left a mark on the 26-year-old.
“I’m absolutely thrilled,” Maddison said in his first interview with club media.
“I feel I have a good understanding of Tottenham and now I’m a part of it, have this lovely white shirt on, and it feels brilliant. I am ready to go.
“Being a Spurs player now is something I’m very excited about. You come here and get a feel for the club, for the people.
“Speaking to the manager is very important. To have a decent chat with him and get his thoughts on how he sees Spurs going this season.
“He said, ‘whether you come or not, you’ll see a completely different Spurs team under me’, and it kind of stuck with me that he said that. It made me think that is the self belief I have in myself.
“I spoke to Daniel (Levy) as well and they both spoke very highly of everything about the club, about me and things like that are so important. Building a good relationship with him, with Daniel, speaking to other players.
“Obviously I know a lot of the lads anyway and have played against them for many years. Myself, my agent, my family, we’re all really happy with the decision and I can’t wait to get going.”
Spurs have been long-term admirers of the 26-year-old.
Ex-Tottenham boss David Pleat recommended Maddison to chairman Levy when the playmaker was still a teenager at Coventry, but no move was able to materialise and he instead joined Norwich.
Spurs’ interest and desire to eventually sign Maddison never waned with his time at Leicester only serving to highlight he was one of the most creative players in England.
During five largely successful years with the Foxes, who won the 2021 FA Cup, Maddison made 203 appearances, scored 55 goals and produced 41 assists.
Maddison’s creativity and versatility will boost a Spurs squad that has lacked a player in his mould since Christian Eriksen left in 2020.
He added: “Christian was one of my favourite players when I was growing up, especially in the lower-leagues.
“When he was in hot form for Tottenham, wearing the iconic number 23, Eriksen was someone who would produce quality moments for this football club. To swap shirts with a player like that, of his ilk, was very special.”
While Maddison has made the move from the King Power Stadium to Tottenham, Harry Winks is set to go the other way, the PA news agency understands.
Spurs have agreed a £10m deal with Leicester for Winks, who spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Sampdoria.
Winks, 27, had been a regular at Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino, but fell out of favour during the tenures of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Academy graduate Winks headed to Italy last summer in search of first-team football and his transfer to Leicester will not be announced until later this week, with his loan spell at Sampdoria not officially ending until Friday.
New boss Postecoglou is set to cast his eye over the rest of the squad – with Tottenham’s non-internationals reporting to Hotspur Way on Saturday – before any further decisions are made on outgoings.
Spurs’ focus has turned to bringing in reinforcements in central defence.
Tottenham have an interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven, but no approach has been made for either yet, PA understands.
Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from June 29.
FootballJude Bellingham said goodbye to his teens.
Gareth Bale visited Windsor Castle.
Lisandro Martinez was happy to be back at training.
Much to his team-mate’s delight.
Arsenal’s new boy got a joining gift.
While Tottenham’s latest signing watched his son get kitted out.
Everton showed off a new design.
As did Barnsley, to mixed responses.
CricketLord’s turned Red for Ruth.
Photobombed by a pigeon.
West Indies legend Chris Gayle has said that West Indies' situation in the Cricket World Cup Qualifiers is quite upsetting and that he will be disappointed if they do not play the World Cup in India.
The World Cup is set to be played in India in the months of October and November.
The Caribbean side, who did not make it to the ODI World Cup via direct qualification (top 8 teams) are struggling to cope in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe and are on the brink of getting knocked out from the race.
Captained by Shai Hope, Windies faltered and lost to Zimbabwe and Netherlands in back to back matches that has almost assured their exit from the race.
"It is upsetting. I have been a part of Qualifiers before. Sad to be in such a situation. Things have not gone our way going into the Super Six. It is going to be tough. I will be very, very disappointed not seeing the West Indies in the World Cup here in India," Gayle told Press Trust India (PTI) in an interview.
West Indies head coach, Darren Sammy, lashed out at the side after their losses to Zimbabwe and Netherlands and said that it was the true reflection of the level the team are playing their cricket on.
Against Zimbabwe, Windies failed to chase down a below-par total, while against the Netherlands they failed to defend 374 runs and lost via a Super Over, courtesy of a once-in-a-lifetime performance of all-rounder Logan van Beek.
Gayle was also asked about his retirement, to which the 43-year-old replied that he was supposed to get a farewell game.
"I don't think there will be any international cricket from my point of view. After the World Cup (in 2021), I was supposed to have a farewell game. It did not happen. We have a new president in place, so I don't see it happening. But I have not made an announcement as yet. I am still active but won't be playing so often," Gayle concluded.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton could see his World Cup preparations hampered after misconduct complaints were lodged following his behaviour towards match officials in the wake of Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup final defeat by La Rochelle.
Leinster suffered a heartbreaking 27-26 loss to the French club at the Aviva Stadium on May 20.
Sexton, 37, did not play in the match in Dublin after suffering a groin injury during the Guinness Six Nations victory over England, which brought his season to an early end and required surgery.
However, following the end of the game – which Leinster had led 23-7 on the half-hour mark – Sexton came onto the pitch and became involved in what appeared to be a heated exchange with South African referee Jaco Peyper and the other match officials.
On Thursday, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) issued a statement confirming misconduct complaints had now been submitted following “thorough fact finding and careful review” of Sexton’s actions and also Leinster for not exercising reasonable control over their player.
Veteran fly-half Sexton is set to retire after the World Cup in France later this year, and if the independent disciplinary panel – which will hear the case on July 13 – issues a substantial ban, his involvement in Ireland’s preparations could be affected.
A statement from the EPCR read: “Misconduct complaints against the Leinster Rugby player, Johnny Sexton, and against Leinster Rugby, arising from the Heineken Champions Cup final on Saturday May 20 2023, have been lodged by EPCR.
“After thorough fact finding and careful review of Johnny Sexton’s behaviour towards match officials after the match, in accordance with EPCR regulations, the EPCR disciplinary officer has submitted misconduct complaints so that an independent disciplinary panel can determine whether any misconduct has been committed by Mr Sexton (through his behaviour) and Leinster (through failing to exercise reasonable control over Mr Sexton).
“The complaints were referred to the chairman of the independent disciplinary panel, who has appointed Christopher Quinlan KC (England, Chair), Adam Casselden SC (Australia) and Marcello D’Orey (Portugal) as the independent disciplinary committee to hear the case and consider whether misconduct took place.
“The hearing will take place by video conference, on July 13. EPCR will be making no further comment.”
Ireland have three warm-up fixtures on the horizon, including against England in Dublin on August 19.
Andy Farrell’s men begin their World Cup campaign against Romania on September 9 at Stade de Bordeaux, with South Africa, Scotland and Tonga also in Pool B.
Michael Beale is confident Abdallah Sima is already “aligned” to Rangers’ style of play after the Brighton forward sealed a season-long loan move to Ibrox.
The cinch Premiership club confirmed the recruitment of the 22-year-old Senegalese, who becomes their fifth signing of the summer.
Sima played against the Gers for Slavia Prague in the Europa League in March 2021, just months before earning a £7million move to Brighton.
He has so far struggled to establish himself with the Premier League club and has spent time on loan at Championship side Stoke and French Ligue 1 team Angers.
“We are delighted to have Abdallah join us for the forthcoming season,” Beale told Rangers’ website. “He is a player I’m excited to work with, he has excellent variety in his game and can fulfil a number of attacking positions in our team.
“He has recently turned 22 years old and has experienced playing in three domestic top divisions, in the Europa League and is a senior international for Senegal.
“We met a few weeks ago and discussed at length his alignment to our style of play and his future development as a player.
“He is someone I have followed closely since his breakthrough in the Czech Republic and I am extremely pleased to have Abdallah join the squad at the very start of pre-season.
“I would also like to say thank you to the staff at Brighton who have been excellent since our initial contact a number of weeks ago.”
Sima, who scored five goals in 34 appearances for Angers last term, follows Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland and Sam Lammers in signing for Rangers this summer as Beale continues reshaping his squad following the departure of high-profile players like Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
The attacker, who will join up with his new team-mates on July 1, is excited about his move to Glasgow.
“Rangers is a big club with a big history,” he said. “I played here for Slavia Prague two or three years ago and when I came here I liked it so for me it is very exciting to join Rangers.
“I spoke with Michael Beale and it was a very natural conversation, he told me about Rangers and about how we will be playing. I already knew a bit about how Rangers play so when they called me I was very honoured.”
Lewis Hamilton has called on Formula One’s lawmakers to introduce a radical new rule to end Max Verstappen’s dominance of the sport.
Hamilton believes the FIA should deny all of the grid’s teams the chance to develop next season’s machine until a specific start date.
The seven-time world champion says Verstappen’s Red Bull team are so far ahead this year that they have already started work on their 2024 project.
But Verstappen, who has won six of the opening eight rounds on his seemingly unstoppable march to a hat-trick of world championships, bit back at Hamilton’s suggestion, telling his British rival he was not complaining about the current rule when he was winning.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Hamilton, already 93 points behind Verstappen in the championship, said: “At the end of the year we will probably catch Red Bull, but that’s probably because they are already focusing on next year’s car.
“They don’t have to make any changes to this car because they’re so far ahead.
“I have been here for 17 years, and before I got here there has been periods of dominance and it continues to happen.
“I was fortunate to have one of those periods and Max is having that now, but with the way it is going it will continue to happen over and over again and we don’t need that for the sport.
“If you are so far ahead, you don’t need to develop the car so you can start early with the next car and with the budget cap you can spend this year’s money on next year’s.
“But if everyone had a time where you could only start on next year’s car – say August 1 – no one has a head start. Then it is a real race in that short space of time for the future car.
“Maybe that would help everyone be closer the following year. I might be wrong, but something has to change.”
Hamilton won six of his record-equalling seven titles in a period of dominance for Mercedes. And when his theory was put to Verstappen, the two-time world champion said: “We were not talking about that when he was winning his championships right, so I don’t think we should now.
“That is how Formula One works. When you have a competitive car it is great but at one point you have to look ahead to the next year.
“A lot of things in life are unfair so we just have to deal with it.”
Hi Royal could have another crack at Paddington in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on August 2.
Kevin Ryan’s colt massively outran his odds in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when second to Chaldean at 125-1.
He then went on to prove that was not a performance out of the blue by attempting to make all in the Irish equivalent and was only caught late on by Aidan O’Brien’s subsequent St James’s Palace Stakes winner Paddington.
Hi Royal lost second close to the line also but having skipped Ascot, connections are hoping his freshness will reap dividends at Goodwood.
“Hi Royal has been a real credit. He proved his run in the 2000 Guineas was no fluke when he went to Ireland last time at the Curragh, that was another solid race,” said owner Jaber Abdullah’s assistant racing manager Philip Robinson.
“Hopefully it is all systems go and I think he’s going to run in the Sussex next.
“Paddington won well at Ascot, so I think you could say Hi Royal improved from Newmarket to Ireland, he’s getting better and better with each run.
“Goodwood should be interesting.”
The same owner saw his silks carried to glory in the French 2000 Guineas by Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who beat Isaac Shelby at ParisLongchamp before stepping up in trip for the French Derby.
He once again ran with great credit at Chantilly, finishing third behind arguably France’s two best three-year-olds, Ace Impact and Big Rock.
“Marhaba Ya Sanafi won the French Guineas and then stepped up in trip for their Derby,” said Robinson.
“I think he stayed the trip there, you couldn’t really say he didn’t.
“He could come back to a mile if the trainer (Andreas Schutz) wanted, but I think he got 10 furlongs well so he’s got options.
“It will be up to the trainer where he goes but the French Derby winner did look very impressive that day, I was very impressed with him.”
Mark Cavendish knows he will have to put sentiment to one side as he looks for one last hurrah in his final Tour de France.
The 38-year-old will start his 14th and last Tour in Bilbao on Saturday as he moves into the final months of a glittering career, having announced in May that he will retire at the end of the season.
Cavendish is a former world champion and an Olympic medallist, but for the Manxman nothing compares to the Tour, a race in which his 34 career stage wins stand level with Eddy Merckx for the most of all-time.
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The next three weeks will be a long goodbye, but Cavendish knows he cannot allow emotions to get the better of him as he looks to taste victory again.
“I know I’ve still got a job to do,” he said. “I know I’ll regret that, not living in the moment of enjoying things. The whole experience of the Tour de France, you can’t describe it. This race gives you the most incredible emotions.
“Unfortunately you don’t really analyse it and appreciate them until afterwards. It’s the same every year. I know it’s my last one but it’s the same, I’ve got a job to do and I can’t really afford those little moments of sentiment.
“But I can definitely appreciate them later.”
Cavendish moved level with Merckx in 2021 when, just a few short months after fearing his career was over, he capitalised on an unexpected opportunity with what was then the Deceuninck-QuickStep team to turn back the clock with four stage victories.
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Cavendish had landed on his feet in securing a short-term deal with Deceuninck, who in Michael Morkov have arguably the best lead-out man in the business.
But when Cavendish again found himself scrambling for a contract this winter following the sudden collapse of the B&B Hotels squad, the phone call that came was from Astana-Qazaqstan, a team with no sprinting pedigree and no sort of lead-out train in place.
Cavendish’s former team-mate and lead-out man Mark Renshaw has joined in the past week as a lead-out consultant, but the work to develop a train has been an ongoing project for Cavendish and his team-mates since the day he joined.
“With Astana-Qazaqstan being new to sprinting, it doesn’t mean the resources aren’t there to be able to have an incredible lead-out team, it just means it takes time to practice it and learn it,” Cavendish said.
“A lot of races where I haven’t crossed the line first I’ve taken as wins because I’ve seen the growth of the team, and that’s across different guys – even down to climbers and (general classification) guys committing to a bunch sprint.
“Whether I cross the line (first) or not, if I see the improvements it counts as a win so I’m really happy.”
Whatever happens during July, Cavendish is grateful to have been able to extend his career this far, having given a tearful interview as far back as 2020 when he feared he would be forced out of the sport as he struggled to find a new team.
“I’ve created the most incredible memories, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’m deeply privileged that I could continue my career in the way I did…
“I think the biggest thing you can instil is to never give up. That’s the biggest thing I instil into my kids. They can do what they want and enjoy it but they commit to it if that’s what they want to do. It’s a good way to live life.”
Savannah Marshall has admitted talk of a rematch with Claressa Shields will not go away as she prepares to challenge Franchon Crews-Dezurn for her undisputed world super-middleweight titles on Saturday.
Marshall is making her first appearance since she was comprehensively outpointed by Shields last October, and knows victory over Crews-Dezurn is likely to propel her towards another shot at the American next year.
The respective trajectories of Marshall and Shields have been tied together since their amateur days and Marshall told Sky Sports: “It’s the only fight out there after these fireworks.”
Marshall took four months off after her first professional loss but says the experience has turned her into a better fighter as she prepares to step up to face Crews-Dezurn at Manchester’s AO Arena.
Marshall got the better of her opponent in an amateur meeting in 2011 and believes the move to 168lbs will be a significant factor in wresting the belts from Franchon-Crews.
“I was beaten by the better fighter and that was hard to take,” added Marshall.
“I had the opportunity to become the best pound for pound in the world. I hate losing so it was a bitter pill to swallow. But it’s dead and buried.
“I’m not having to struggle to make the weight, this time it’s been a lot easier, and camp’s being a lot more enjoyable.”
Crews-Dezurn has won eight times since she lost her ambitious professional debut against Shields in 2016.
She accused Marshall of complacency heading into her bout against Shields and believes the Hartlepool fighter lacks the motivation to rebound and claim the win that would set up a prospective rematch.
“Unfortunately she got a defeat because she underestimated,” said Crews-Dezurn.
“That’s what happens when you get content, when you think everything is going to be given to you. You let somebody come to your home town and take something you thought was yours because you got complacent.”
Jamaica’s journey at the 2023 Men’s Lacrosse World Championships came to an end on Wednesday when they suffered a 1-20 defeat against Canada in the Quarterfinals at the USD Torero Stadium in San Diego.
Canada, who were the #2 seed entering the playoffs, quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first quarter and, by the end of the first half, they led 9-1. The domination continued throughout the second half as they produced 11 unanswered goals to subject Jamaica, the #10 seed, to their biggest defeat of the competition.
The Caribbean side, who turned heads after going 4-0 to top Pool D and advance to the playoffs, finished the tournament with a 5-1 record including a dramatic 7-6 win over #7 seeded Italy.
The top four seeds all advanced to the semi-finals set for Thursday.
Top seed, the USA, will take on #4 seed Australia while #2 seed Canada will face #3 seed Haudenosaunee.
Jamaica’s final game at the Championships will come against Israel on Friday in the 7th place playoff.
LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd insists British tennis is “moving in the right direction” despite having just three direct entries in Friday’s Wimbledon singles draws.
Cameron Norrie, a semi-finalist at the All England Club in 2022, Dan Evans and two-time winner Andy Murray are the only UK players to have qualified for the Championships based on ranking.
British participation at SW19 will be swelled by a host of wildcards, including Katie Boulter, who replaced the injured Emma Raducanu as her country’s number one female player earlier this month.
National governing body CEO Lloyd believes there are plenty of reasons for positivity.
“Over the last 12 months, we’ve had four men in the top 50 of the world, which we’ve never had in the history of our sport in this country before,” he told the PA news agency.
“We actually had more players – men’s and women’s singles players – in the top 200 of the world than we’ve had for the last 40 years, so we’re moving in the right direction.
“Obviously we always want more players at the very top of the game inspiring the fans to follow tennis and to watch on their televisions and that’s very much what we’re striving for.
“We’re looking forward to a good Championships.”
The enforced withdrawals of 2021 US Open champion Raducanu (wrists and ankle) and Jack Draper (shoulder) have deprived Britain of two of its most talented young players for the Grand Slam tournament.
Norrie, who is ranked 13th in the world, is the only seeded British player, with Evans, Murray and the wildcard entrants at risk of drawing a star name in the first round.
While there was a complete absence of British players in the women’s singles draw at this year’s French Open, that doom and gloom has been eased by a raft of encouraging results on grass, including world number 88 Boulter beating compatriot Jodie Burrage to win her first WTA title in Nottingham.
“I think we’re the only nation in the world that has had a men’s and a women’s Grand Slam singles champion and doubles and mixed doubles champion in the last decade,” continued Lloyd, speaking in Eastbourne as part of a £30million investment by the Government and LTA which has led to 1,000 public tennis courts across the UK being refurbished.
“And I think ourselves and Spain are the only nations in the world that have had men’s and women’s singles champions (during that time).
“We’re right up there at the top of the game but obviously we want to keep doing better and better.”
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