James Harden will exercise his $35.6 player option for next season in order to facilitate a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
The Athletic named the Los Angeles Clippers as a team likely to pursue Harden, a 10-time All-Star and the 2017-18 NBA MVP who turns 34 in August but has remained among the NBA's premier playmakers. The New York Knicks are expected to have interest as well, according to ESPN.
Harden re-signed with the 76ers last summer on a two-year, $68.6 million contract that included the opt-out clause, taking less money in order to remain with one of the Eastern Conference's top contenders. Philadelphia finished third in the East with a 54-28 record, but was knocked out in the conference semifinals for a second straight year after losing to the rival Boston Celtics in seven games.
The 76ers fired head coach Doc Rivers following their playoff exit and replaced him with former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.
Had he opted out for a second straight year, Harden would have been eligible to re-sign with the 76ers for as much as $210 million over four years.
Harden averaged 21 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists in 58 regular-season games in 2022-23, and his 38.5 per cent accuracy from 3-point range was the second highest in his 14-year career.
He struggled in the Boston series, however, averaging only 12.5 points on 21.8 per cent shooting in the 76ers' four losses. In the Game 7 defeat, Harden was held to nine points while finishing 3 of 11 from the field.
For his career, Harden has averaged 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, seven assists and 1.5 steals in exactly 1,000 regular-season games.
Should he be moved, Harden would be joining his fourth team in four seasons.
The future Hall of Famer requested a trade from the Houston Rockets prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season and was later dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in January 2021, forming a star-studded trio with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Brooklyn's "Big Three" was unable to achieve the franchise's championship dreams, however, and the group was broken up when Harden was sent to the 76ers in a blockbuster deal involving three-time All-Star Ben Simmons in February 2022.
Novak Djokovic was victorious back on British grass as he defeated Frances Tiafoe at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at Hurlingham.
The 36-year-old will bid to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles over the next fortnight, and he looked fully at ease in a light-hearted clash at the exhibition event.
As he has routinely done in recent years, Djokovic did not enter an official warm-up tournament, instead prioritising rest and recuperation after winning his 23rd grand slam title at the French Open.
The Serbian practised on Centre Court with Italian Jannik Sinner on Thursday afternoon before making the short trip across the river to Hurlingham, where he struck the ball crisply in a 6-3 3-6 (10/7) victory over Tiafoe.
“It’s always fun playing with Frances,” said Djokovic. “We get along really well. Obviously Wimbledon’s round the corner so we try to get some match play. It’s a beautiful club.”
Of his hit with Sinner, Djokovic added: “It was a little bit strange I must say that they’re allowing us to hit on Centre Court before the tournament starts. It was the first time last year.
“This year I had the privilege again, to go out on fresh grass, feel the court. It’s the best court in the world. Every year feels like the first time. It’s going to be another great year hopefully for all of us.”
Earlier in the afternoon, British number one Cameron Norrie claimed his second victory of the week at Hurlingham, defeating Serbia’s Laslo Djere 6-3 6-2.
Norrie, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club by Sebastian Korda last week, again wore strapping under his left knee.
He played down any injury concerns, though, saying: “I’m able to practise as usual. Having some bigger days earlier in the week and then to get these matches has been great. I’m doing everything that I can to manage it.
“I think the most important thing is just to go out there and just to put it aside. I’m going to have some discomfort at some points and that’s how it’s going to be.
“I felt really good today and I had a great performance. I’m exactly where I want to be. It’s good preparation having the matches at Queen’s and here. It’s my favourite time of year. I’m really enjoying my tennis and I’m hitting the ball I think as well as ever.”
Justin Rose lived up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite by setting the pace on day one of the Betfred British Masters.
The world number 31, the top-ranked player in the field, carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey to record a seven-under-par 65 and enjoy a one-shot lead over former Ryder Cup team-mate Jamie Donaldson.
Donaldson, who secured the winning point at Gleneagles in 2014, birdied five of the last six holes in his 66, with Germany’s Yannik Paul, English amateur John Gough, James Morrison and Spain’s Sebastian Garcia all on four under.
“I felt very comfortable with my game from the first shot,” said Rose, who won the British Masters in 2002 and hosted the event in 2018.
“I hit a beautiful little wedge into the 10th hole, made a nice birdie there and I think that’s the cleanest round of golf I’ve played in a long, long time.
“I really drove the ball well, the irons were being struck pretty cleanly and I actually hadn’t made many putts through the front nine to be four under so it was great to manage to make a few coming in.
“It all amounted to a very good day’s work.”
Asked about being a short-priced favourite to win the £2.7million event, Rose added: “I haven’t really paid any attention to that, even though I played with the Betfred lads (in the pro-am) and they were telling me about the pricing of the field.
“It’s obviously somewhat of a compliment but it doesn’t mean anything, does it? You have to go and play well.
“Quality players, if they play well, they are going to be hard to beat, but the hard part is playing well. Obviously I’ve done the first step, got off to a good start, but got a long way to go this week.
“Coming off a missed cut at the US Open and a week off without too much practice, the beginning part of this week was important for me to get tuned back in to my feels and it’s nice to get off to a good, positive start.”
Donaldson was just one under par after 12 holes of his round before picking up shots on the 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th.
“Nothing was going in, it was all a bit slow at the start and suddenly it all kicked in on the back nine,” the 47-year-old Welshman said. “Five in six holes to finish, so yeah, fantastic.
“I was just trying to be patient. There were a lot of downwind holes towards the end there, so it made it easier to have birdie chances and hit a few good shots.”
The leading three players on Sunday evening, who are not already exempt, will earn a place in next month’s Open Championship and Donaldson added: “It’s a big goal.
“I’m down for the qualifier at West Lancs next week but it would be great to do it here and save having to play 36 holes in one day. There’s a long way to go but I do really want to be playing in the Open. Three more days and I need three more similar rounds.”
Paul currently holds an automatic qualifying place for the Ryder Cup and overcame a back injury which forced him out of last week’s BMW International on home soil to card an opening 68.
“Sometimes when the expectations aren’t as high, your acceptance if you hit bad shots is better,” said Paul, who won his maiden DP World Tour title in Mallorca last season.
“I’m obviously really pleased with my round. I flew here on Tuesday morning, thinking I’d have a 30 per cent chance that I could tee it up.
“My physio Rob is here this week and I also received some good treatment last week, but it took some time to get better.”
Defending champion Thorbjorn Olesen is five shots off the lead after an opening round of 70.
The National Football League announced Thursday it has suspended three players for at least the 2023 season for violating the league's gambling policy, while another received a six-game suspension.
Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, and free agent defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor have been issued indefinite suspensions through the conclusion of the 2023 season at a minimum. Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere will be ineligible for the first six games of the upcoming campaign.
The Colts waived Rodgers and Berry shortly after the NFL's announcement. The two players, along with Taylor, were determined to have placed wagers on NFL games during the 2022 season.
"We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league's gambling policy," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement. "The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance. As an organisation we will continue to educate our players, coaches, and staff on the policies in place and the significant consequences that may occur with violations."
Petit-Frere, a 2022 third-round pick who started 16 games at right tackle for the Titans as a rookie, was found to have made bets on other sports at the team facility.
"We have been made aware of Nick's suspension by the league," the Titans said in a statement "We believe in Nick and know that he has deep respect for the integrity of the game and our organisation. We will continue to emphasise to our players the importance of understanding and adhering to league rules and policies."
Rodgers, a cornerback who made nine starts for the Colts last season, issued a statement on June 5 acknowledging his involvement after reports surfaced he was under investigation by the league.
"Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions," he said. "I know I have made mistakes and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation. The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organisation, my coaches, and my teammates. I've let people down that I care about.
"I made an error in judgement and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It's an honour to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this."
Rodgers was entering his fourth season with the Colts after being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. The 25-year-old appeared in 45 games with 10 starts and had three interceptions in 2021.
The NFL previously suspended five players in April, most notably Detroit Lions 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams, for gambling policy violations. Williams will miss the first six games of next season.
Additionally, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley sat out the entire 2022 season for wagering on NFL games while then a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Ridley, who recorded 90 catches, 1,374 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for the Falcons in 2020, was traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville in November and has since been reinstated by the league.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Lando Norris has revealed he had a number of expensive items stolen in a robbery at a villa in Marbella.
It is the second time the British Formula One star has been targeted by thieves after he was accosted by two men and had his Richard Mille designer watch stolen after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
McLaren driver Norris, 23 was understood to be on holiday in the south of Spain for three days when the incident took place.
Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Norris said: “We were out for dinner and our place got robbed.
“A mixture of many things were stolen. Some were expensive and some were not so expensive. It is still an ongoing conversation so I cannot say too much.”
Norris was reported to be on holiday with a group of friends, including influencer Jennie Dimova.
Dimova posted a video to her TikTok, saying: “If you are wondering why I look like that it is because our villa got robbed and everything I have ever owned – my clothes, my shoes, my bags, my jewellery – everything has been taken – and I am left with literally nothing. I cried for two hours but what can I do?”
The popular Norris is only 11th in this season’s drivers’ championship having scored points at just three of the opening eight rounds in his under-performing McLaren machine.
The British team have brought an upgrade to this weekend’s event in Spielberg in the hope of turning their disappointing season around.
Dual Group One-winner Nashwa adds star quality to proceedings at Newcastle on Friday as the headline act in the Jenningsbet In Shiremoor Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Nashwa helped Hollie Doyle create a piece of history when winning the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) last season, meaning she became the first woman to ride a Group One European Classic winner.
Doyle and Nashwa went on to double their top-level tally against older fillies and mares in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
Nashwa ended her season by finishing second in the Prix de l’Opera and fourth at the Breeders’ Cup, where she lost all chance with a slow start.
Slightly below her best on her seasonal reappearance in France behind Above The Curve, the daughter of Frankel looks the one to beat in this Group Three with no penalty.
Owner Imad Al Sagar’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: “She had hard races in the Opera and at the Breeders’ Cup.
“She needed her first run back in the Prix Corrida, she really needed that, so to try to get a good run at the nice autumn prizes we wanted her to hopefully get back to her level with the plan then possibly being to head to the Nassau.
“We need to get her back on track now and the timing of this race is good with the Nassau a month away.
“Hollie is on a roll, she completed a full set of winners (at British Flat tracks) at Carlisle so that is good.”
He went on: “Imad has shown patience, these fillies pretty much tell us when they are ready so it is a question of hopefully getting everything lined up in the right order.”
Nashwa’s main market rival is the Roger Varian-trained Al Husn, winner of a Listed race at Ayr last time out.
Hughie Morrison’s One For Bobby, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Misty Dancer and the Karl Burke-trained Bright Diamond are also among the nine runners
Frankie Dettori will miss the ride on Coral-Eclipse favourite Emily Upjohn at Sandown next week after failing in his appeal against the nine-day careless riding ban imposed for his ride on Saga at Royal Ascot.
Dettori attempted to switch right-handed towards the rail in the early stages of the Wolferton Stakes and in doing so caused James McDonald to quickly snatch up Cadillac. Certain Lad and Notre Belle Bete, who were behind Cadillac, were also hampered in the scrimmaging.
Owned by the King and Queen and trained by John and Thady Gosden, Saga eventually finished fifth in the 10-furlong Listed event, which was won by Royal Champion.
An independent disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority on Thursday considered evidence from all relevant parties, including Dettori, and elected to uphold the careless riding offence originally decided upon by stewards on the first day of Royal Ascot.
The panel then retired to deliberate over submissions from Dettori’s legal representative seeking a reduction in the penalty, but ultimately decided that nine days was appropriate and made no amendment to the sanction.
The BHA, who called Rob Hornby, rider of Foxes Tales, as a witness, made the case that Dettori had been unaware of the presence of Cadillac on his inside when riding towards the rail on the first bend of the race.
Charlotte Davison, representing the BHA, pressed Dettori on whether or not he would have made the manoeuvre had he spotted his horse on the inside, to which Dettori repeated he was “surprised” that McDonald had taken that line.
Davison put forward that Hornby and McDonald were both entitled to move towards the rail as they did as no orange markers had been deployed to prevent it, and that it was Dettori’s carelessness with regards to his surroundings that had caused the incident.
Rory Mac Neice, representing Dettori, argued the jockey had positioned himself to account for the false rail and that the incident was set in motion by McDonald riding into a gap that would inevitably close when the rail came into play.
Mac Neice agreed that riders were entitled to track across the inside rail as soon as the race began, but said that in doing so Saga was left short of room and unsettled, causing Dettori to seek cover – at which point he submitted that McDonald had ridden into the gap left on the rail, a gap he described as a “cul-de-sac”.
That act “sandwiched” Dettori, Mac Neice argued, and though he was aware of the horses surrounding him, he was in a “no-man’s land” and unable to prevent the incident.
After several hours of listening to each party and their submissions and evidence, the panel confirmed it found the careless riding rule had been breached.
They then considered any change to the penalty imposed after further submissions on either side, but again returned to say they were adhering to the original findings of the stewards on the day and that the nine-day penalty had not been reduced.
James O’Mahony, chair of the panel, said: “Coming to our conclusions, firstly it is clear, and as Mr Dettori has accepted, that he did move laterally right. He said to get cover, and we do find that his lateral movement right was connected with the interference as a matter of cause and effect.
“Secondly, he couldn’t and shouldn’t have moved right if he was aware of the presence of Mr McDonald as he was not clear. He says he was not aware of the presence of Mr McDonald, our conclusion is that he should have been aware.
“It may have come as a surprise to him that Mr McDonald would take that course, and maybe with his experience Mr Dettori wouldn’t have taken that course so close to the rail, but there it is – he did and he was there.
“We have carefully assessed the relevance and question of to what extent, if any, there was pressure on Mr Dettori from the outside, from the presence of other horses, in particular Rob Hornby’s mount.
“We have carefully sifted and worked through the evidence of Mr Hornby and Mr Dettori and our clear conclusion on balance of probabilities is that there were no significant problems in relation to the presence of other horses.
“In our judgement, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Dettori was in breach of the rule preventing careless riding and this appeal, as far as that matter is concerned, is refused.”
Dettori’s dates of suspension are July 4-12, while he will also be out of action from July 13 after picking up an eight-day whip ban for his ride on Queen Anne runner-up Inspiral, which sees him miss the July meeting at Newmarket.
Winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom, Emily Upjohn is odds-on in places for the Eclipse, which takes place on July 8.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki has announced her intention to return to tennis after a three-year retirement.
Wozniacki, who won the 2018 Australian Open and was runner-up in two US Open finals in 2009 and 2014, is targeting her grand slam return at Flushing Meadows later this year.
The 32-year-old Dane wrote on Twitter: “Over these past three years away from the game I got to make up for lost time with my family, I became a mother and now have two beautiful children I am so grateful for.
“But I still have goals I want to accomplish. I want to show my kids that you can pursue your dreams no matter your age or role. We decided as a family it’s time. I’m coming back to play and I can’t wait!”
Wozniacki won 30 tour-level titles and played her last match in the third round of the 2020 Australian Open, where she was beaten by Ons Jabeur.
Wozniacki told Vogue: “I’m going to play the US Open. There’s just an electric atmosphere in New York that I can’t get enough of.
“I’ll start out playing in (the Canadian Open in) Montreal just to get back into the groove, and then we’ll all head to New York.
“After that, I’ll have a couple of months to prepare for Australia, and we’ll take it from there. The Paris Olympics are definitely a goal too.”
Culture secretary Lucy Frazer is confident Russian and Belarusian players will abide by strict neutrality rules allowing them to return to Wimbledon.
Players from the two countries were banned from competing at the All England Club in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.
They are permitted to take part in this year’s Championship, which begins on Monday, but must follow a series of guidelines outlined by the government.
Frazer, who is in charge of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, believes it would have been “totally inappropriate” to not impose conditions in relation to the ongoing war.
“We’re really looking forward to Wimbledon, it’s one of the most important competitions in the calendar,” she told the PA news agency.
“We’ve made our position very clear: there are certain circumstances in which it would be totally inappropriate for Russian and Belarussian tennis players to take part.
“We put that in our guidance and that is being followed by Wimbledon.
“There are procedures in place to ensure that they don’t (breach the rules) and I’m confident that those will be followed appropriately.”
Wimbledon will fall in line with the other three Grand Slams by allowing Russian and Belarusian players to compete.
Men’s world number three Daniil Medvedev and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, ranked second by the WTA, are among those set to return.
Participation was dependent on players signing a personal declaration of neutrality, meaning they cannot express support for the invasion of Ukraine, or for the leadership of Russian president Vladimir Putin or his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
Players may also not be in receipt of state sponsorship, while they cannot be seen with any item containing a symbol which might indicate support for the war, or the Russian and Belarusian regimes.
With the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on the horizon, Frazer believes it is important there is a unified international stance on the situation.
“As a country we are working with other countries in relation to, for example, the Olympics,” she said, speaking in Eastbourne as part of a £30million investment by the government and LTA to refurbish 1,000 public tennis courts across the UK.
“I held a summit with around 35 other countries to set our position in relation to the Olympics because we need to ensure that across the world we’re taking the same international stance.”
LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd says guidelines for Russian and Belarusian players have been respected at warm-up competitions for Wimbledon, such as Queen’s and the ongoing Rothesay International at Eastbourne.
“We’ve worked extremely closely with the government and indeed the international tennis tours – the ATP, the WTA, the ITF – to ensure that there is a process in place that follows the UK government guidance and makes sure that players are able to play on the specific terms that that lays out,” he said.
“It’s worked well so far over the last few weeks of grass court tournaments here in Britain and I’m certain that will continue into the Championships next week.
“Those relationships with the tours are extremely strong and we are all aligned in making sure that the tournaments go according to plan.”
Gareth Davies is enjoying the grind of Warren Gatland’s Rugby World Cup training camp as the Wales scrum-half turned heads with photos posted on social media.
The 32-year-old has been working to get into peak physical shape since the end of the season with Scarlets.
Gatland’s approach to World Cup warm-ups have become famous in recent times for how hard he likes to push his players to prepare them for the challenge ahead.
Wales face Fiji on September 10 in their first game of Pool C, with Davies and his team-mates aiming to be at their best for the clash in Bordeaux.
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The official Welsh Rugby Union Instagram accounts have been posting images from training sessions, with Davies’ physique catching the eye.
“I’m not on Twitter or anything like that, so I’ve not seen too many comments,” he said.
“But the boys have given me a bit of stick. They think there’s a few filters on the pictures. Maybe the cameraman has put some filter on it!
“I’m feeling pretty good. We’re only four or five weeks in, but from day one, I’m feeling fitter than where I was. I’m working really hard and hopefully I can keep improving.”
In a change to routine training sessions, the squad spent a day at ‘The Green Mile’ – a health and wellness centre where the players were also subjected to other, psychological challenges – something Gatland has since defended.
“It was a good day,” Davies said of the different approach as he explained the activities undertaken.
“We really enjoyed getting off site. We didn’t really know what we were in for to be honest before we got there. It was a tough couple of hours physically – running up a steep hill with a log and jumping in a pool trying to do a lap under the pool without breathing.
“There was a lot of breathing work – trying to recover quicker and stuff like that. We did that for a couple of hours with some power endurance and some wrestling and some circuits and stuff like that.
“That was the first block and then we had a mental challenge where they put us in some stressful positions. We weren’t allowed to talk for an hour. They put a bag over our head so we couldn’t see where we were and they moved us around the camp.
“There were some weird stressful noises in the background. It was good, quite challenging. We knew it was going to be around the hour mark but it felt like we were there for three or four hours.
“We felt really good after it. We bonded well as a team and got some good positives from it.”
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