Serena Williams Ate Dog Food Before Rome Win

Serena Williams made herself ill after eating dog food hours before reaching the last eight of the Italian Open.

The world number one tried “a spoonful” of food meant for her dog, Chip, before beating fellow American Christina McHale in straight sets in Rome.

“I thought ‘what the heck, I’m gonna try a piece, it looks good’,” she said.

“Fast forward two hours, I just ran to the toilet like I thought I was going to pass out. It did taste weird. It tasted kind of like house cleaner.”

In a video posted on Snapchat, Williams explained she sampled a dish of chicken and rice offered on a ‘doggy menu’ at her hotel.

“I force-swallowed it, said the 34-year-old American. “I don’t know what they put in these dog foods, but Chip liked it.

“I don’t think it’s consumable for humans. They should have wrote that! So now I feel really sick. It was just a spoonful, but I don’t feel so good.”

Williams defeated McHale 7-6, (9-7), 6-1 and set up a meeting with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat fellow Russian Daria Gavrilova, in the last eight.

Elsewhere, British number one Johanna Konta was beaten in three sets by Misaki Doi in the third round.

Konta, 24, took the opening set but went down 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to her 25-year-old Japanese opponent.

Doi, ranked 45 in the world, belied her position 22 places below the Australian Open semi-finalist to take victory.

Doi faces Swiss Timea Bacsinszky in the last eight.

Despite her defeat, Konta will arrive at the French Open as a seeded player. A year on from being ranked 143rd in the world, she is up to 23.

“I thought she played a very, very good level today and I didn’t do quite enough to get her out of her comfort zone,” Konta told BBC Sport.

BBC

Serena Williams Ate Dog Food Before Rome Win

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Madrid Open because of flu organizers have said.

Agnieszka Radwanska takes over as top seed for the tournament, which starts on Saturday, while Williams is now due to start her clay-court season in Rome.

The 34-year-old world number one has only played four tournaments since August, failing to win any of them.

She lost in the US Open semi-finals in September, before defeats this year in the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals and a round-four loss in Miami.

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Laureus Awards 2016: Djokovic, Williams, Messi, Spieth All Win

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams claimed the top accolades at this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards.

The tennis duo were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the Berlin ceremony for their 2015 achievements.

Djokovic, 28, reached all four Grand Slam finals, winning three of them, a feat emulated by Williams, 34.

Brazil’s Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias was named disabled sportsperson of the year after winning seven golds at the IPC Swimming World Championships.

Other awards

Team of the Year: New Zealand, who won the Rugby World Cup

Comeback of the Year: Rugby player Dan Carter, who helped the All Blacks become champions after missing the 2011 final because of injury

Breakthrough of the Year: US golfer Jordan Spieth, who won the Masters and US Open

Action Sportsperson of the Year: German triathlete Jan Frodeno, who became World Ironman champion

Athlete of the Year: Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi

Lifetime Achievement Award: Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda

Spirit of Sport Award: Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff

Cruyff, who died of cancer aged 68 on 24 March, was recognised for his work helping to deliver sport-related projects for underprivileged children around the world.

“He represented everything that was good about sport,” said Laureus World Sports Academy chairman Edwin Moses.

Credit: BBC

Laureus Awards 2016: Djokovic, Williams, Messi, Spieth All Win

Innaki Williams On The Brisk Of UEFA Europa League Exit.

Basque based Ghanaian attacker Innaki Williams saw his dreams of lifting the 2015/16 UEFA Europa league hit a snag after suffering a dreadful home defeat at the quarter final stages of the continent’s elite club competition.

The Spanish born Ghanaian attacker returned to the side after over one month out with an injury, but was powerless to prevent Seville from earning a first leg advantage ahead of the trip to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuain.

Ariz Aduriz opened the scoring for Ernesto Valverdo’s men but further strikes from Timotee Kolojiejzack and Vincente Ibora won the game for the reigning champions at the fully packed San Mames.

Williams enjoyed a blistering season with the Basque outfit despite his injury blighted campaign. The Ghanaian was replaced by Michael Susaeta on 63 minutes in his 29th appearance of the season.

The talented forward reportedly turned down overtures from Spain ahead of a place in the Black stars set up.

Innaki Williams On The Brisk Of UEFA Europa League Exit.

Venus Williams Fails To Reach Quarter Final At Volvo Car Open

Former world number one Venus Williams’ attempt to win her 50th WTA title at the Volvo Car Open ended when she lost to Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.

The 35-year-old American lost 7-6, (7-5), 2-6, 6-4 in the last 16 in Charleston.

Putintseva’s victory over the third seed, who is seventh on the WTA’s all-time wins list, set up a quarter-final with Italy’s Sara Errani.

It was the first time the 21-year-old had beaten Williams in four career meetings.

Credit:BBC

Venus Williams Fails To Reach Quarter Final At Volvo Car Open

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advance

Rafael Nadal reached the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells after winning the last five games to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 6-0 7-5.

Nadal faced a match point but the 18-year-old German missed an easy volley – admitting: “On match point I sucked.”

Three-time champion Nadal plays Japan’s Kei Nishikori next and could face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Serena Williams beat defending champion Simona Halep 6-4 6-3 to reach the last four in the women’s draw.

The world number one now plays Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 7-6 and will reclaim the world number two ranking when the new list is released on Monday.

“She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games,” Williams said of Halep.

Zverev has been widely tipped as the teenager most likely to make the breakthrough among the game’s elite and he went agonisingly close to a landmark win over Nadal.

The 6ft 6in German, the younger brother of tour player Mischa Zverev, led 5-3 and 40-30 in the final set, only to make three straight unforced errors.

Nadal, 29, battled back impressively, but had glowing praise for the teenager, who is set to rise to a career-high ranking of 52 next week.

“He is amazingly talented,” said Nadal. “He is probably going to be the number one in the world.

“With his second serve at 120mph, with a lot of spin and at 124, 123, 120mph, it was impossible. If he puts the first serve in at over 130 mph then you are in big trouble.

“So I think that I’m here, and still alive.”

Djokovic finds his form

The world number one beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Djokovic had not been at his best in the previous rounds but saw off Lopez with little trouble.

“I was very solid. I didn’t allow him to come to the net too many times,” said the Serb. “It was a good performance.”

David Goffin beat French Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5), while Milos Raonic knocked out sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-6 (9-7).

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advance

Andre Ayew To Battle Williams And Briton For Swansea January Player Of The Month

Black Stars attacking midfielder Andre Ayew has been nominated for Swansea January Player of the Month Award.

The 26 year old former Marseilles attacker has been nominated for the monthly accolade alongside club captain Ashley Williams and Leon Britton.

The summer arrival at the Liberty Stadium has seen Ayew pick three player of the month award for the Welsh side since joining on a Bossman rule.

Ayew, announced himself to English football with the August Player of the month in the division and has since gone on to win three more player of the month at the club level.

The much sort after Ghana international registered 2 goals in 4 appearances for Swansea City in the month of January to steer the Whites away from drop.

Andre is set to rival captain Ashley Williams who capped a highly productive January with an important goal in a 1-0 over Watford.

The list is completed by the experienced Leon Britton who starred prominently for the Liberty based side as they ended January 2016 with one defeat in four matches.

Andre will be gunning for his fourth Swansea player of the month when the winner is decided by the clubs fans.

Andre Ayew To Battle Williams And Briton For Swansea January Player Of The Month

Inaki Williams strikes but crushes out of Copa to Barcelona

Inaki Williams continued his impressive goal scoring run for Athletic Bilbao with his eleventh goal of the season in their Copa defeat to FC Barcelona.

The 21 year old forward celebrated his new four and half year deal with an opening goal for his Basque side in a thrilling 3-1 defeat to the reigning Spanish champions.

The much sought after Basque born Ghanaian attacker recently swerved a switch to English football to sign a contract extension that will see him stay at the San Mames till the summer of 2021.

Bilbao lost the opening leg at home 1-2 to their Pamplona based European heavy weight but Williams 12th minute strike levelled the tie earlier at the Camp Nou. The 21 year old feasted on a sumptuous ball from Aritz Aduriz to silence the roaring camp nou after a sustained pressure from Ernesto Valverdo’s men.

Barcelona returned from recess in class as Messi teed up Luis Suarez for the equaliser eight minutes into the second department of the game. The pendulum swung away from the 2015 Copa del Rey Finalists in the last few minutes as Neymar and Pique scored late goals to end the match 3-1 as Barcelona progress to the semi finals on a 5-2 aggregate.

Williams boast of the highest scoring player in Europe top five leagues under the age of 21 years.

Inaki Williams strikes but crushes out of Copa to Barcelona

Liverpool turn to Inaki Williams

Liverpool have turned their attention to highly rated Bilbao Ghanaian forward Inaki Williams in search of attacking options upfront.

The Reds have been ravaged by injury woes with only Christian Benteke the orthodox striker to fall on.

Williams has been on the wish list of the two Madrid giants before their transfer ban ruled out any eventual switch in La Liga.

The highly rated 21 year old Spanish born Ghanaian is reportedly nagging at extending his deal with the Saint Mames side ahead of an imminent departure. The much sort after Bilbao attacker has since registered 10 odd goals despite missing the early part of the season due to injury.

German trainer for Liverpool Jurgen Klopp has been a long time admirer of the sensational forward and buy out clause of £20m would have been money well spent.

The reds have been dwarfed by options upfront with injuries to Daniel Sturridge, Danny Inngs, Divok Irigi and a plethora of other attacking players for the five times European champions.

Athletic Bilbao will however drag their feet at any potential deal in a bid to tie him down with a mammoth £100m buy out clause and a bumper pay rise.

Liverpool turn to Inaki Williams

Ernesto Valverde desperate to hold onto Inaki Williams

Head coach of Athletic Bilbao Ernesto Valverdo is desperately hoping to tie down high flying Ghanaian midfielder Inaki Williams despite interest from a number of clubs.

The veteran trainer at the Saint Mames remains confident of holding onto his prize asset but admits differences in contract extension.

Williams has since on the transfer radar of the top notch European clubs led by Real Nadrid and Liverpool.

The 21 year old Ghanaian will be free to leave in the summer of 2017 but has stalled any further contract extension.

A reported interest from the two Madrid clubs has now overshadowed by a concrete interest from Liverpool with a buy out clause of £20m appealing to the suitors.

“We are working hard to extend Williams contract. The club are trying to close the deal but it is taking longer than it should. I hope it will be resolved soon.” Valverdo revealed ahead of Sunday’s liga match.

The manager further heaped praises on his record breaking Ghanaian attacking sensation amid imminent departure from the Saint Mames.

“His talent and goals will be very difficult to replace”.

Willams has since racked in 10 goals despite his early season injury setback. Athletic Bilbao lost Kike Sola to Middlesbrough and will do everything humanly possible to tie their their Ghanaian forward

Ernesto Valverde desperate to hold onto Inaki Williams

Innaki Williams on target as Bilbao draws first blood in Copa last 8.

High flying Spanish born Ghanaian attacking midfielder Innaki Williams registered his 9th goal of the season for Athletic Bilbao as they edged out Villa Real in the Spanish Cup.

The in-form attacking midfielder capped another impressive outing for his Basque side with a goal in the five goal thriller.

Athletic Bilbao reincarnated from a 0-2 deficit to a 3-2 well deserved win in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey last 8 stages.

Villareal shot into a 16th minute lead through Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao before Samuel doubled the lead with 7 minutes to recess. The Yellow Submarines tormented their guest in a blistering opening half before collapsing in the second department of the game.

Williams capitalized on his pace to register a back to back goal in a space of 3 days after his thunderbolt at home to Las Palmas.

The basque born proficient forward made it 1-2 in the opening 9 minutes of the second half.

Further goals from Aritz Aduriz and Laporte turned the game on its head as Bilbao run out 3-2 winners.

The runners up to last season’s Copa Del Rey will however be heading to the El Madrigal with backlash from the yellow Submarines in mind.

Williams has since racked in 9 goals in just 20 appearances after a torrid time on the treatment room.

Innaki Williams on target as Bilbao draws first blood in Copa last 8.