Rob Maul
@Rob_Maul
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Associate Features Editor (Sport), The Sun. All tweets & retweets are my own views
London
Joined June 2009
Hugh McIlvanney, 82, retires after 66 years in journalism @DavidWalshST talks to UK's finest sports writer @ST_Sport
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A spectacular drone light show above the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo while John Lennon's Imagine plays
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#Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven wins a nine-darts challenge on the Ally Pally stage against retiring darts referee Russell Bray. Says he will be back to training within two weeks #spurs
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Rod Studd, the popular and respected Sky Sports darts commentator, suffered a stroke in his garden in May 2020. He is making good progress with his rehab, undergoing intense physio and fully intends to return to the TV booth. Here he tells his story.
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Proper edge between the two players at the British Open as Reanne Evans refuses the pre-match fist bump of former partner Mark Allen. From ITV4
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Peter Wright, the world no.2, will auction off one of his three match shirts that he wore during the 3-1 win over Diogo Portela. Proceeds go to @ParkinsonsUK @DaveClarkTV
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Hazel Irvine is the best sports broadcaster on TV in my opinion. Knowledgeable of her subject. Always asks the right questions. Never shies away from covering the big topics. Treats the job like a journalist. Does an impressive amount of research/homework behind the scenes.
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These are some dropouts of the women's marathon. These are elite athletes. Not fun runners. Unacceptable conditions to hold an event like this
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Two-time world darts champion Gary Anderson wanted to play in the PDC Home Tour, which starts tonight for 32 consecutive evenings, but doesn't have strong enough WiFi in his home. Story by @lannomedia .
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Keegan Brown ditches the darts to work flat out in hospital during the coronavirus crisis. The world No 30 took on extra shifts as an NHS employee at his Carisbrooke base on Isle of Wight. "I couldn't be prouder to be part of such a team." By @lannomedia.
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The BBC say more than one million people stayed up past midnight to watch Neil Robertson's epic UK Championship victory over Judd Trump. The Aussie reckons it was more dramatic than the famous 1985 Black Ball final
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Passing of the baton?.1990 BDO World Darts final: Phil Taylor beats his idol Eric Bristow 6-1 to win the title on his debut (at 125-1).2018 PDC World Darts final: Rob Cross beats his idol Phil Taylor 7-2 to win the title on his debut (a 125-1 outsider in Feb 2017).#lovethedarts.
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To illustrate Denise Lewis's point this is the 'crowd' 15 minutes before the headline act starts, the women's 100m final. Many fans have gone home. There is a lack interest here for athletics. You have to feel for the elite athletes involved given the lack of atmosphere
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On this disgraceful 'Super League': it's worth remembering it was Football Leaks that revealed documents with information on the shoddy plans in November 2018. The Premier League clubs involved declined to comment at the time
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It is now 1-1 between Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a best-of-five set QF. Two hours 18 minutes have passed. It is close to 11.30pm here in Paris on a cool evening. The madness of having night-time matches at Roland Garros & then starting them at 8.45pm local time. Ridiculous.
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The guy on Wednesday who wore the controversial Z T-shirt - this is a pro-Putin, pro-war symbol - is on the Rod Laver Arena tonight for the second men's semi-final. A failure by Tennis Australia to allow him to return to Melbourne Park
👀 And just like that … we believe this is the 1st display of the Z symbol of Russia’s war on Ukraine at the international tennis tournament. 🤔 Looks like he was hiding it under the white t-shirt huh?
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Putting it out there. Has there been a lower crowd for a men's 100m world championship final than this one in Doha? Probably not. This is supposed to *the* event of the 10 days
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Nick Kyrgios, who has played just one tennis match over the past two seasons due to injury, will form part of the BBC #Wimbledon TV coverage at the Championships in July. The Australian is only 29 and has not retired yet but is moving more into broadcasting and podcast work.
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Belarus team carry a Russian flag into #rio2016 #paralympics opening ceremony in support of banned Russian squad
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Rob Cross has revealed for the first time his heartache at losing his grandad Colin Miles, 68, to COVID-19. The funeral is next month. The 2018 world darts champion has launched a British Heart Foundation fundraiser in Colin's honour. Story by @lannomedia .
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Gary Anderson, the two-time world champion, has got his WiFi sorted after being bombarded by offers from Virgin, BT and Sky and will finally play in the PDC Home Tour next week.
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Fallon Sherrock beats Ted Evetts 3-2 to become the first woman to beat a man at a world darts championship. Whenever a troll says women cannot play darts or compete on an even keel, then show them a copy of this match. High standard. Excellent composure from Sherrock.
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To Tokyo 🇯🇵 It has only taken six Activity Plans, countless health apps, four Covid tests and one cancelled flight. Next up, three-day hotel quarantine
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The @WilliamHill PDC world darts championships will undergo a revamp for the 2019 tournament. The field increases from 72 to 96 players. The prize fund increases to £2.5m (£500k to the champion). And more importantly there will be two women involved for the first time.
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TRIBUTE SunSport’s Vikki Orvice, the respected athletics correspondent, to be honoured at London Marathon on Sunday for her outstanding work covering the race. Organisers will name the media centre after her on race day.
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Devastating news that Vikki Orvice has passed away. A trailblazer for female reporters in Fleet Street. A tenacious, diligent journalist, who covered football & athletics with distinction. A @SunSport stalwart for more than two decades. Thoughts with her family & husband Ian.
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Andy Murray is out of the tennis singles. Waiting for confirmation and the reason. Felix AA is now playing Max Purcell in the first round.
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Wenger: "There's a difference between criticism & being treated like no human being deserves. Behaviour of some people has hurt me the most".
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Rob Cross admits he is “stunned and appalled” at the negativity aimed at young protégé Leighton Bennett. The 2018 World Champion acts as a mentor to the 14-year-old, who is the youngest-ever BDO World Championship star.
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Many congratulations to the @BobbyMooreFund which has announced tonight that it has raised £25m over the past 25 years in its battle to fight bowel cancer. Well done to its incredible staff and fundraisers #bobbymoore.
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Phil Taylor, the retired 16-time world champion was beaten by a 13-year-old schoolboy in an exhibition match in Frankfurt. Leighton Bennett is the next big thing in the sport. "I feel like a kid on Christmas morning, I never believed this was possible.".
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Sensational Phil Taylor, who beats Michael van Gerwen 10-4 in Champions League of Darts. Don't waste time talking of his retirement just yet.
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Off to Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Officials in hazmat suits will be waiting at the airport. Then it's a 3-week Covid isolation bubble/daily testing. Little wonder the Eagles' Hotel California song is on my mind: "You can check-out any time you like but you can never leave.".
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Emma Raducanu sensationally wins the #USOpen on her debut. Aged 18. As a qualifer. Without dropping a set. Weeks after A Level results. Unprecedented. One extraordinary athlete. Undoubtedly the first of many Slams. To think some had the audacity to question her mental fragility.
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World No.75 snooker player @ABOFLONDON explains why he took a knee before his Championship League match yesterday, saying: There is no place for racism in society.
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Fred Kerley, athletics’ new Popeye, has capped a remarkable journey from a Texan adoption home and sleeping on a PALLET with 12 other children crammed into one small bedroom as he won world 100m gold on Saturday night for the US here in Eugene
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Attended tonight a special writers' presentation at Queen's for Sue Barker, who retired last year after almost 30 years as the BBC TV anchor for Wimbledon. What a lovely, humble, down-to-earth person. No wonder players & public loved her. Not everyone at top of TV is like that.
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Paul Jiggins was the best among us. Cleverest intro writer. Wittiest guy on the desk. Top company when putting the world to rights. Red-top journalism was in his DNA. He'd have smiled at adulation on Twitter given his opinion of the platform. RIP Jiggo. Condolences to his family.
Millwall Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of a dear friend and colleague, Paul Jiggins, aged 50.
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End of a Fleet Street era today as Alex Butler edits his last Sunday Times sports section after more than two decades. At its peak, about 15 years ago, it was 32 pages of sport a week to produce. Best of luck for your future endeavours.
England storm into Rugby World Cup semi-final after beating the Wallabies. next up. the All Blacks; FA Cup abandoned after keeper faces race abuse #sundaytimessport
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PDC world darts final preview: Gary Anderson eyes revenge over Adrian Lewis tonight after "hurtful" 2011 defeat.
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Steve Simon, the WTA chairman and CEO, has tonight "announced the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments (in 2022) in China, including Hong Kong. In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely".
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Phil Taylor, the retired 16-time world champ, beats Fallon Sherrock, the First Lady of Darts, 4-3 in Modus A Night at the Darts. Sherrock impresses with 104 & 122 checkouts, pushing The Power all the way. Worth checking out the event esp clear definition of boards, in-game stats.
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At the Tower of London tonight where Phil 'The Power' Taylor has beaten 13yo Leighton Bennett 10-7 in their battle of the generations exhibition. An impressive display from the Lincolnshire teenager, hailed as the future of #darts Bennett came from 4-1 down to lead 5-4 & drew 7-7
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Top female darts players can compete in both PDC & BDO world championships. New chairman Derek Jacklin has relaxed BDO's rules to allow world champion Lisa Ashton to attempt to qualify for Ally Pally. Restrictions have also been lifted on PDC Tour card holders entering BDO events.
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Tomorrow's BDO World Darts final will be an all-Welsh shootout between Wayne Warren and Jim Williams. A new name will be engraved on the famous trophy. And it could be the final BDO world pro winner. Incompetent chiefs still won't reveal how much prize money the pair will get.
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This is a marathon starting at midnight at 32 degrees and 73% humidity. It is a joke the event is being held here in Doha at this time of the year. Several runners, including Britain's Charlotte Purdue, have pulled out. For the IAAF this is a farce
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Comrades in Tokyo. Good news this morning. @pbarkersport is free of his 14-day close-contact self-isolation and ready to hit the Olympics. First the flame, then dressage this evening #philisfree
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The evolution of the @SunSport tennis correspondent (Mark Irwin declined to be snapped) through the years. #NumberOnesForTennis #LoveTheLawns @DanKing_1974 @SBrennerNews @CharlieWyett @deathirwin
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The experienced and excellent @nigelpearson will be fronting the Betfred World Matchplay coverage on Sky Sports from tomorrow until next weekend in Milton Keynes. This follows the decision by Dave Clark to stand down after 18 years covering the sport for the satellite channel.
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A sickening injury for Cesar Azpilicueta who's accidentally kicked flush in the face by Southampton sub Sekou Mara. The Chelsea captain fell to the ground. Play was immediately stopped. Mateo Kovacic was alert to the situation, making sure his teammate hadn't swallowed his tongue.
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Exclusive: Ahead of 8pm final, gymnast Max Whitlock says he is relishing the pressure of delivering Team GB success.
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DUTCH legend Raymond van Barneveld has performed a sensational U-turn on his decision to quit the oche @lannomedia
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Palace princess Fallon Sherrock will skip the Queen’s speech & practise for FOUR HOURS on Christmas Day. The Bucks star has become a worldwide sensation and Santa will guarantee her a £35,000 purse if she wins on Friday. William Hill will lose £1m if she lifts the PDC World title
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To St Andrew's where former England captain Wayne Rooney is being unveiled as the new #Birmingham City boss. At the age of 37, this is his third managerial post and he joins a club in a healthy spot in the Championship thanks to the sacked John Eustace #bcfc
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Liam Broady, a late call-up for the Tokyo #OlympicGames produces the best win of his career, .knocking out the Wimbledon semi-finalist and No.7 seed Hubert Hurkacz 7-5 3-6 6-3. More than five hours on court in two matches though conditions much cooler today in Tokyo.
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Judd Trump is auctioning off the Louis Vuitton shoes he wore during three seasons in which he won a maiden world title and banked more than £2million. Money raised will go to the @jessiemaytrust charity which provides specialist palliative/respite for terminally ill kids #snooker
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Controversial Christian Coleman is the world's fastest man – just weeks after escaping a doping ban. The American runs the 6th fastest time in history and is the 1st male sprint champion post-Bolt. Zharnel Hughes disappoints, failing to break 10 seconds.
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It was a pleasure & a privilege to work with Hugh McIlvanney every week for 10 years on his @st_sport column. Every conversation, on the phone or over a glass or two, was an education. His obsession with detail and accuracy was astonishing. What a man, what a life led. He was 84.
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King of the Oche Phil Taylor has seen the future of darts – and fully expects the young Prince to sit on Eric Bristow’s throne. The Power is tipping 13-year-old Leighton Bennett, the reigning BDO world youth champion, to rewrite the history books one day.
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Jack Charlton: 1966 World Cup winner, an icon, a giant of British and Irish sport. As well as a Leeds legend. I'm gobsmacked by the appalling BBC Radio 5 Live editorial judgement not to clear the decks, honour his life properly. Yet they persist with this awful Scott Mills show.
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Playing @OfficialPDC world champion Michael van Gerwen tonight. Had darts to win against the world no.1. Yet crumbled under the pressure
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Furious Wayne Warren has told BDO bosses who slashed his 2020 prize money: I’m keeping your trophy as my compensation. The Welshman accused darts chiefs of ‘disgusting treatment’ after he was paid £23,000 for winning the world title, £77,000 less than Glen Durrant earned in 2019
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Brave Andy Fordham has been told he may need a life-saving bowel op but vowed: “I’ll keep fighting until I can’t fight any more.” The 2004 BDO World Darts Champion has endured a nightmare 12 months but hopes he won't need more surgery next month.
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Sam Allardyce always gets results. He prides himself in turning round struggling clubs. Yet his overbearing personality & style of play on the pitch tend to rub football fans up the wrong way. Don't cry over his departure today. £6m for 6 months' work will soften the blow.
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Dutch Master Michael van Gerwen gave close pal Robin van Persie a night to remember as he once again lifted the Unibet Premier League crown following a 11-4 win over Michael Smith. Ex-Arsenal and MU star Van Persie came wearing a TRAFFIC CONE on his head.
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#MVGvCROSS -- That was one of the most astonishing matches I have covered in 15 years of sports journalism. An exceptional game, full of quality and drama. Rookie Rob Cross gave up his job as a sparky 15 months ago. Now he faces Phil Taylor in the PDC world final.
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BDO darts world champion Wayne Warren still doesn't know how much money he's won after prize fund is slashed. Warren, 57, reckons he will have to return to roofing in the Rhondda and might give PDC Q School a miss until 2021. Story with @lannomedia .
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GAME ON! Eight-page darts pullout in @SunSport today ahead of the 2022 William Hill PDC World #Darts Championship. Interviews with Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Scott Mitchell (plus his prize Bull) & Ted Evetts on losing to Fallon Sherrock. Credit to the brilliance of @davefirth
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Very proud of my brother Andy. Quit his full-time job last year. Took a gamble. Opened a wine & cheese bar in Salisbury. Trade has gone through the roof in just six months. And now he’s being recognised for excellent customer service @MaulsWineBar #SWBOYA18
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Sat down with Fabio Capello in Paris the morning after the Champions League Final to talk about England's World Cup chances in Qatar. The Italian believes the Three Lions have their best chance of winning the event since 1966 because they'll finally travel with fresh legs & minds
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.@DaveClarkTV is entered into the @OfficialPDC Hall of Fame tonight. Clark has raised more than £200,000 for Parkinson's, a condition he is battling with great bravery and dignity #lovethedarts
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Andy Murray falls to the ground and screams out in pain. Possibly cramp. He is set to continue. He is on the cusp of winning the third set. As he went down someone shouted: "New balls, please "
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A lovely tribute by John Goodbody to the late Andrew Longmore in today's @ST_Sport. I wasn't aware Andrew toured India as a wicketkeeper with the England U19s & played 2 first-class games for Oxford University. Cricket's loss was thankfully sports journalism's gain. Andrew was 65
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Interview with Novak Djokovic in which he says he'll be striving for perfection when he defends his Wimbledon crown. “It’s normal, it’s logical, you can always strive to get better. I don’t believe in stagnation, it’s either progression or regression. It’s a philosophy of life."
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Argentina captain Lionel Messi woke up with the World Cup in his bed. Michael Smith did the same with the Sid Waddell Trophy after his 9dart exploits. He now plays to use his £500k World Champ winnings towards buying a bull for his ever-expanding farmyard. Pix by @taylanningpix
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Give David Wagner the @premierleague Manager of the Year award in my opinion. To keep Huddersfield in the top flight, when you consider their budget, size and wage bill, is an incredible achievement. They were odds-on to be relegated before a ball was even kicked in August #htfc.
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To Crystal Palace v Fulham today. The visitors are wearing tracksuits which honour the late England 1966 World Cup winner George Cohen, who played his whole career at Fulham. Palace have just walked out to Faithless Insomnia as tribute to musician Maxi Jazz who died before Xmas
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Terrible news this. Andrew Longmore was a great journalist, a wonderful writer, and able to cover several sports with ease and with reassuring authority. Fantastic company, too, on the road especially at London, Sochi, Glasgow and Rio Games. Sympathies with his family.
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In this job you meet lots of sportspeople, some who act like prima donnas behind the scenes, aided by their PRs/agents. Then you meet someone like Alan Soutar, a part-time #darts player & Dundee firefighter. Over Xmas he was called out to save lives. Now he's in the worlds last16.
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In tennis news, Amazon Prime Video will show coverage of 37 ATP Tour events from 2019 to 2023, including all Masters 1000 events and the US Open (until 2022). The package also includes the ATP Finals and Queen’s. A significant deal as we move into an Online sports TV future.
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Heartbroken Martin Adams has declared the BDO “dead” as it becomes the first major sporting casualty of the global Covid-19 crisis. The BDO’s commercial arm (BDO Enterprises Ltd) has gone into liquidation, throwing the pro side of the sport into doubt.
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Barry Davies on the death of BBC commentating rival John Moston: “John's extraordinary record - he covered 29 FA Cup finals, ten World Cups, ten European Championships - will never be surpassed. It will be his claim and justifiably so. His team sheets were the plan of an artist”
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Jack Draper has pulled out of the Miami Open draw. The Brit hurt his abdominal (a small tear in his oblique) at Indian Wells. Despite a couple of hits on site in Florida his team say he doesn't want to play this week and potentially risk the making the injury worse.
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Dave Clark: One of the best in the business of presenting live sport on TV. An accomplished broadcaster for Sky Sports over the past two decades. A credit to the profession, particularly his courage and frankness in dealing with Parkinson's.
It’s been an AMAZING journey, but now it’s time to bow out of @SkySportsDarts.22 years on Sky, nearly 10 years with #Parkinsons .Brilliant memories, brilliant people. Just stopping doing the live darts . NOT giving up on life. 100% my decision x
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