TENNIS TASK ...
Having taken her third WTA title at the Monterrey Open and reached the fourth round of the Miami Open, Heather Watson is confident of ensuring her place at the Rio Olympics, a task she will continue, a strain to her left quad-permitting at the Katowice Open on Monday (Eurosport 2). Now British No2, behind Johanna Konta, Watson expects to be in the mid-fifties in the world rankings when the next table is published, with the cut off for the games around the No60 mark. She picked up 142 ranking points in Miami and several more good results will see her safely to Rio. She will be joined in Katowice by British No3 Naomi Broady, who has also shown good form, entering the top 100 this year
TROPHY FINAL ...
Added burst of momentum or unnecessary distraction? Well, one of each for Oxford and Barnsley after Sunday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final (Sky Sports 3, 2.30pm). Oxford are looking for promotion and second in League Two, while Barnsley are fighting for a play-off place in League One. A result here might be just the fillip they need. Win or lose it’s still a trip to Wembley, where both sides have only played twice before. The Tykes most famously when they won the FA Cup in 1912 and Oxford for their League Cup triumph in 1986. It will be a farewell too as, after 10 years, Johnstone’s Paint are ending their sponsorship, with the football league yet to announce a replacement.
EURO 2017 QUALIFIER ...
Following the highs of reaching the World Cup semi-final in Canada last year England’s women have had to settle down to the sobering business of qualifying for the 2017 European Championships in Holland. Their campaign began well with two wins but the 8-0 victory over Estonia in September was followed by only squeezing past Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0. A disappointing run, failing to win against Germany, USA and France, in last month’s SheBelieves Cup will have to be put firmly behind them as they face their toughest opponents in Group seven, Belgium, in Rotherham on Friday (BBC2, 7.30pm). Striker Ellen White, who has 55 caps, returns to the squad after being left out of the SheBelieves Cup and Mark Sampson’s side will go on to face Bosnia again in Zenica four days later.
TITLE FIGHT ...
Britain’s super heavyweight gold medallist from London 2012, Anthony Joshua, fights for his first world title against the USA’s Charles Martin on Saturday (Sky Sports Box Office, from 6pm). Joshua is unbeaten in 15 bouts, all of which he has won by a knockout and is favourite to win but faces stiff competition for the IBF heavyweight title at the O2 arena in Martin, who is also undefeated with 21 KOs from 24 fights. Martin, who took the belt in January after Tyson Fury refused a mandatory challenge, believes the fight will be decided by a knockout and is bullish about his chances. “You’re in front of me now and I’m going to step right over you,” he said. “I walk this earth like a God. That’s who I am. I’m world champion now and she’s staying right there with me.”
T20 CRICKET ...
With one of the best – in terms of cricket, pacing and genuine ebb and flow of games – World Twenty20 tournaments coming to a close on Sunday, anyone fearful of missing the unorthodox thrills, the costly spills and the uninhibited biffing, can rest easy with the return of the Indian Premier League on Saturday. The competition opens with last year’s winners the Mumbai Indians taking on the newly-formed Rising Pune Supergiants (Sky Sports 3, 3pm). England’s Jos Buttler ,who in recent weeks once again proved his worth in limited overs cricket, will be playing for Mumbai, while Pune have signed Kevin Pietersen.
