Top seeds John Isner and Samantha Stosur were ousted from the ATP and WTA Washington Open in Friday’s quarter-finals, each paying the price for squandering leads in tie-breakers.

Top-seeded Venus Williams booked her semi-final berth at the WTA hardcourt tournament in Stanford, California, on Friday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over 17-year-old wild card CiCi Bellis.

‘We managed to put points on the board and leave them chasing the game’

The roar from the stands in Florence could not have been louder if it had been stars Usain Bolt or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on the track.

‘I just wanted to go for it. It was my last chance to run quick before Rio. This track has so much meaning for me and I got amazing support from the crowd. Rio is right around the corner and I’m in good shape. I just have to keep my feet on the ground and stay patient’

‘Whilst it’s really nice to have the mark, it’s no guarantee of what’s going to happen at the Games. Winning a gold medal comes down to one moment in time and not only do you need great preparation, you do sometimes need a little bit of luck on your side’

When Michael Phelps says he sees a bit of his young self in Katie Ledecky, you know you are dealing with a very special swimmer.

One world record is not enough for Keni Harrison. Hours after breaking the 28-year-old 100 metres hurdles record on Friday to avenge her failure to make the US Olympic team, the young American revealed there is another race she wants to conquer.

Usain Bolt has reignited his rivalry with fellow sprinter Justin Gatlin, accusing the American of “disrespect”, just two weeks before the Rio Olympics.

American hurdler obliterates Bulgarian Yordanka Donkova’s 100m hurdles world record which had stood for 28 years

Wayne Rooney has compared José Mourinho to Sir Alex Ferguson, with Manchester United’s captain relishing working under the Portuguese as he did when the Scot managed the club.

Steve Bruce has resigned as Hull City manager after becoming increasingly frustrated by a lack of transfer activity at the newly promoted Premier League club.