IF you’ve ever wondered just how liberating retirement can be, all you need to do is spend a while chatting to Tim Henman. Throughout his long career, the Englishman looked like he was auditioning for the diplomatic corps.

ANDY Murray hit out at Sky Sports commentator and former British player Barry Cowan on Twitter yesterday.

Mauro Santambrogio took the victory on stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia but overall leader Vincenzo Nibali was the big winner as the poor weather dominated the day.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will play for both the No. 1 ranking and the Madrid Open title today after both won their semi-finals in straight sets.

ANDY Murray complained he has been failing to take his chances but said his clay season was “going in the right direction” following the failure of his latest bid for a maiden title on his least-favoured surface.

British time-trial champion Alex Dowsett claimed stage eight of the Giro D’Italia yesterday as Sir Bradley Wiggins closed the gap on his general classification rivals.

RONNIE O’Sullivan rocketed to his fifth Betfair World Championship final as he brushed aside the challenge of Judd Trump at Sheffield’s Crucible yesterday.

BRITAIN’S Mark Cavendish won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in a sprint that was marred by a crash shortly before the finish.

Seven-time winner Rafael Nadal beat Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-0 last night to reach the final of the Barcelona Open.

BRADLEY Wiggins has a large shed in his garden, where he spends long hours training on a stationary bike. Admittedly, it is to sheds what Windsor Castle is to houses, and inside is a cycling shrine, the walls covered with memorabilia. But pride of place is a signed shirt belonging to Robert Millar.

GRAEME Dott fears Scotland’s era of snooker dominance may finally be coming to an end.