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Andy Murray: British tennis star hints he could retire this year | UK News

British tennis star Andy Murray has hinted he could retire this year.

Speaking in Dubai after his 500th win on hardcourt, the 36-year-old said: “I still love competing, I still love the game. It gets harder and harder the older you get to compete with the young guys.

“It’s not easy, I probably don’t have too long left but I’ll do the best that I can these last few months.”

He made the remarks during an interview on court after beating Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the Dubai Open – only his second win of the year.

Hinting again that his career could be coming to an end, Murray said: “Obviously hardcourt has been a great surface for me over the years and 500 is a lot of matches so I’m very proud of that.

“There aren’t many players that have done that, so [it is] great to get to 500 before I’m done.”

Only four players – Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal – have recorded more hardcourt wins.

'It's not easy, I probably don't have too long left but I'll do the best that I can these last few months.' Pic: Reuters
Image:
‘I probably don’t have too long left’. Pic: Reuters

Earlier in February, the former world number one lost a second round match against 18-year-old Jakub Mensik, and appeared to shout “This game is not for me anymore”.

Downplaying that remark, he said on Monday that “people read a lot into what I say on the court sometimes and it’s not always rational”.

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Murray also vowed he would not quit last month after he dropped out of the first round at both the Brisbane International and Australian Open.

Writing on X after questions were asked about if he would retire, Murray said: “Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour.

“I’m in a terrible moment right now I’ll give you that. Most people would quit and give up in my situation right now. But I’m not most people and my mind works differently.

“I won’t quit. I will keep fighting and working to produce the performances I know I’m capable of.”

It is not the first time the two-time Wimbledon winner has hinted at calling it a day. He previously announced plans to retire in 2019 after undergoing hip surgery the year before.

Murray underwent a second operation the same year but later returned to the court. He said in December 2022 that he was one “big injury” away from retirement.

Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor to retire from darts after farewell tour next year | UK News

Phil Taylor, who has won a record 16 world championships, has announced he will retire from competitive darts next year.

Nicknamed ‘The Power’, Taylor says the World Senior Darts Tour in 2024 will be his final year on the circuit, following an “unbelievable journey over the past 35 years” in the sport.

The 63-year-old star, from Stoke-on-Trent, had originally stepped away from darts after reaching the final of the PDC World Championship in 2018.

But then he returned to competition last year.

He has spent the last two seasons on the senior tour where he reached the quarter-finals in 2022 and 2023, but will aim to go out on a high in 2024.

After his retirement, he will continue to be involved in the tour as an ambassador.

Taylor, who is often named the greatest darts player of all time, said: “I’ll always love performing to the best of my ability, but time waits for no man and I know now is the right time to step away from the tour.

“It’s been an unbelievable journey over the past 35 years and I’ve loved every minute of it.

“I’m going to be working just as hard as I always have to make sure I give the fans what they want and go out on top.”

Phil Taylor
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Pic: AP

Taylor won his first world championship in 1990 when he beat five-time champion, the ‘Crafty Cockney’ Eric Bristow. His 16th and last world title was in 2013 when he defeated Michael van Gerwen.

The World Senior Darts Tour is made up of 11 events, including the World Senior Darts Championship at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex, in February.

The tour’s Billy Lovell said: “Phil is one of the greatest sports people the UK has ever produced and we would like to place on record how grateful we are that he decided to come out of retirement at the beginning of our project.

“We have absolutely loved having him around and we’re sure his final year on tour with us will be great fun.”

Stephen Tompkinson: Jurors trying DCI Banks actor retire to consider verdict | UK News

DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson’s talent made him “convincing in putting across a story”, the prosecution told jurors before they retired to consider their verdict.

Tompkinson is accused of punching a man who was drunk and making “strange noises” outside the actor’s home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, around 5.30am on 30 May, 2021.

The 57-year-old allegedly “snapped” and “lashed out” at the complainant, Karl Poole, causing him to suffer a fractured skull when he fell and hit his head on the pavement, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The Ballykissangel star came out of his home dressed in pyjamas and a dressing gown after discovering Mr Poole and his friend, Andrew Hall, drinking at the bottom of his driveway.

A neighbour who watched the incident from her bedroom window told the court she saw Tompkinson slap and punch Mr Poole.

But the actor said he simply pushed the man away in self defence.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch reminded the court how Tompkinson said punching a man would have been “career suicide”.

‘Expert playing a part’

Mr Bunch said Tompkinson’s “obvious talent makes him convincing in putting across a story,” adding: “He is an expert in playing a part – a man tormented by a pair of drunks.

“He can deliver a line,” Mr Bunch told the court.

Tompkinson said he was “disgusted” by Mr Poole and Mr Hall – describing their behaviour as “disgraceful” and “pure self-indulgence by grown men who should be behaving better”, jurors heard.

However Nicholas Lumley KC, defending Tompkinson, said he was “sought out by producers because of his calmness”.

“Why would he risk throwing away that hard-earned reputation?” he asked the jury.

Karl Poole seen outside Newcastle Crown Court
Image:
Karl Poole seen outside Newcastle Crown Court

Punch ‘not enough to knock a sober man off his feet’

Mr Poole and Mr Hall had been drinking since midnight on 30 May and had gone to the beach before passing Tompkinson’s home on the way back.

The actor, who at the time was living with his partner and her seven-year-old son, went out to challenge the “heavily intoxicated” men – one of whom was wearing nothing but his underpants.

He called 999 after the men tried and failed to stand up while drinking from a bottle of Jagermeister, the court heard.

While waiting to be connected, he went outside to tell the men he was calling the police.

Actor Stephen Tompkinson
Image:
Actor Stephen Tompkinson

The actor said the pair “took great objection” to him complaining and began to move towards him.

He said he put his hand out to stop Mr Poole coming closer, making contact with his face – but it “wasn’t enough to knock a sober man off his feet”, the actor told jurors.

The judge, Paul Sloan KC, sent the jury out to consider their verdicts at 3.20pm on Wednesday.

They were sent home for the day an hour later and will resume their deliberations on Thursday.

Tompkinson denies a single charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.

Ben Stokes: England’s World Cup hero to retire from one-day internationals | UK News

Ben Stokes will retire from one-day internationals after Tuesday’s match with South Africa.

England’s Test captain inspired his country to success in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, as they beat New Zealand in the final at Lord’s.

The 31-year-old says he wants to concentrate on his Test career.

In a post on Instagram, Stoke wrote that retiring was an “incredibly tough decision to make” but added that “I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format”.

“The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it,” he said.

“Three formats are just unsustainable for me now. Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all.

“It’s time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years.”

He added that he will continue to play T20 cricket and wished recently appointed captain, Jos Buttler, and new coach Matthew Mott “every success going forward”.

Stokes has played 101 ODIs for England, after he made his debut in August 2011 against Ireland.

He has scored 2,919 runs and taken 74 wickets in the format and was part of the team that lifted the 2019 World Cup at Lords in 2019, scoring 84 not out in the final.

In April 2022, Stokes was named as England’s Test captain after Joe Root stepped down.

In a statement, the ECB said Stokes’ ODI career would “forever be remembered” for his role in the World Cup final at Lord’s, where he scored an unbeaten 84 to help England win via a Super Over.

“I know this must have been a tough decision, but I completely understand why he has reached this conclusion,” added Rob Key, the managing director of England men’s cricket.

In June, World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan retired from international cricket, with Buttler appointed as the side’s new captain.