Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

UN suspend Sharapova as goodwill ambassador

Former tennis world number one Maria Sharapova has been suspended as a goodwill ambassador by the United Nations after admitting she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at this year's Australian Open.

Tennis • 15 Mar 16

Maria Sharapova: 'I hope I will be allowed to play again'

Sharapova comes out fighting over doping reports

Maria Sharapova is "determined to fight back" against what she deems misreporting after denying she missed five warnings that meldonium was becoming a banned drug.

Tennis • 12 Mar 16

Novak Djokovic has shared his sympathy for Maria Sharapova

Djokovic: I hope Maria gets out of this stronger

World number one Novak Djokovic has given his support to Maria Sharapova and said he hopes she "gets out of this stronger".

Tennis • 09 Mar 16

The closing ceremony of the European Games in Baku, 2015

490 athletes may have been using meldonium in Baku

Up to 490 athletes may have been taking meldonium during the 2015 European Games in Baku, according to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Athletics • 09 Mar 16

Dick Pound: 'All the tennis players were given notification of it and she has a medical team somewhere.'

WADA chief criticises 'reckless' Sharapova

Maria Sharapova has been "reckless beyond description" in failing a drugs test, according to former World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound.

Tennis • 08 Mar 16

Serena Williams: 'As Maria says, she's ready to take responsibility, and that takes a lot of courage and heart.'

Serena Williams praises Sharapova 'courage'

Serena Williams has praised the "courage" of Maria Sharapova after the Russian announced at a press conference on Monday night that she had failed a drugs test for meldonium.

Tennis • 08 Mar 16

Sharapova hopes to return following drugs ban

Maria Sharapova hopes she still has a future in tennis despite being provisionally suspended following a failed drugs test, while Nike have suspended their ties with her.

Tennis • 08 Mar 16

Maria Sharapova is a five-time major winner

Sharapova provisionally suspended over failed test

Maria Sharapova will be provisionally suspended with effect from 12 March after failing a drug test at the Australian Open in January, the International Tennis Federation has been announced.

Tennis • 08 Mar 16

Maria Sharapova served 21 aces, the most in her career, and hit 58 winners

Williams won't take Sharapova for granted

Serena Williams is taking nothing for granted against Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open quarter-finals despite her dominant record against the Russian.

Tennis • 24 Jan 16

Maria Sharapova: 'I might be rusty, make a few more unforced errors than I would like, but I'm ready to go'

Sharapova not in a twist over knickers mix-up

Maria Sharapova says her Australian Open preparations have gone smoothly despite her lack of recent on-court action, all barring a mix-up over a pair of leopard print underwear.

Tennis • 16 Jan 16

Maria Sharapova has overcome a forearm injury

Sharapova fully fit for Australian Open mission

Multiple Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has declared herself fully fit and ready for next week's Australian Open after having her preparations hampered by a forearm injury.

Tennis • 13 Jan 16

Maria Sharapova overcame Karolina Pliskova for Russia

Czechs and Russia all square in Fed Cup

The Czech Republic and Russia were tied at 1-1 after the opening matches in the Fed Cup final on Saturday as Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova each notched victories.

Tennis • 14 Nov 15

Maria Sharapova hasn't played since Wimbledon

Maria Sharapova pulls out of US Open

Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the US Open on the eve of the tournament.

Tennis • 31 Aug 15

28-year-old Sharapova, who won the French Open last year, collected $6.7 million in prize money

Maria Sharapova is highest earning female athlete

Tennis star Maria Sharapova again tops the list of highest earning female athletes over the past year, according to Forbes.

Tennis • 12 Aug 15

Serena Williams moves into Saturday's final

Williams eases past Sharapova to book final spot

American top seed Serena Williams has reached her eighth Wimbledon final after beating Russian fourth seed Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-4 in their semi-final and will now meet Spain's Garbine Muguruza.

Tennis • 09 Jul 15

Sharapova has not beaten Williams since the Wimbledon final in 2004

Williams: Sharapova brings out the best in me

Serena Williams has flexed her Wimbledon authority by firing an early mind-games salvo ahead of her grudge semi-final with Maria Sharapova.

Tennis • 08 Jul 15

Maria Sharapova react after beating Coco Vandeweghe to reach the Wimbledon semi-final

Sharapova to face Williams in Wimbledon semi-final

Top seed Serena Williams overpowered Victoria Azarenka in an absorbing Wimbledon quarter-final, recovering from a set down to win 3-6 6-2 6-3 and book a semi-final clash with Maria Sharapova.

Tennis • 08 Jul 15

Heather Watson fell just short against Serena Williams

Williams survives scare from Watson at Wimbledon

World number one Serena Williams survived an almighty scare at Wimbledon, battling back to beat Britain's Heather Watson in three sets and stay on course for a 21st grand slam title.

Tennis • 03 Jul 15

Maria Sharapova overcame sickness to beat Estonia's Kaia Kanepi

Champion Sharapova progresses at French Open

Defending French Open champion Maria Sharapova came through her first round match at Roland Garros unscathed after she beat Spain's Kaia Kanepi 6-2 6-4.

Tennis • 25 May 15

Serena Williams is favourite to take title in Paris

Preview: Williams could serve up French treat

The women's competition at the French Open gets under way on Sunday and John O'Donovan runs the rule over the main contenders.

Tennis • 21 May 15

Serena Williams crushed Maria Sharapova to claim the title Down Under

Serena Williams victorious in Australian Open

Maria Sharapova was no match for Serena Williams as the American swept aside the Russian in straight sets to claim her 19th Grand Slam title.

Tennis • 31 Jan 15

Maria Sharapova must overcome a wretched record against Serena Williams to prevail at Rod Laver Arena

History against Sharapova in Australian Open final

An Australian Open which has seen the end of some notable losing streaks will need to see another for Maria Sharapova to prevent Serena Williams creating more history in Melbourne.

Tennis • 30 Jan 15

Serena Williams has lost just two of her 18 encounters against Maria Sharapova, with both those defeats coming way back in 2004, and since 2010 the American has dropped just a single set in 11 matches against the Russian

Williams and Sharapova into Australian Open final

Serena Williams will face Maria Sharapova in Saturday's Australian Open final after the top two seeds recorded straight-set victories in Melbourne.

Tennis • 29 Jan 15

Eugenie Bouchard beat Caroline Garcia 7-5 6-0

Bouchard and Sharapova advance in Melbourne

Eugenie Bouchard was spared any more controversial questions after booking her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 7-5 6-0 win over France's Caroline Garcia.

Tennis • 23 Jan 15

Maria Sharapova: 'I'm just happy to get through'

Maria Sharapova scrapes through in Australia

Maria Sharapova saved two match points on the way to a dramatic victory over her little-known fellow Russian Alexandra Panova at the Australian Open.

Tennis • 21 Jan 15