Serena Williams nightmare may haunt Emma Raducanu as Brit risks copying Maria Sharapova

Emma Raducanu has found her bogey opponent and the future looks extremely bleak. The Brit struggled to lay a glove on Iga Swiatek at the French Open and if she is to win another Grand Slam, she'll need to avoid her in the draw altogether.

Annabel Croft called out Raducanu for her "cold and dismissive" handshake at the net but after 79 frustrating minutes of failing to find a single answer, it was bound to spill over.

This match-up has a strikingly eerie resemblance to Maria Sharapova's struggles against Serena Williams.

Sharapova lost 19 consecutive matches against her American rival, spanning 15 years. It will take a miracle for Raducanu to avoid a similar fate.

Sharapova's five Grand Slam titles came when she avoided Williams in the draw and Raducanu needs the same luck.

The 2021 US Open winner has played five, lost five against Swiatek. No matter how many coaches she burns through, this cycle looks impossible to break.

McIlroy lets Nicklaus down

RORY McIlroy has seriously let Jack Nicklaus down.

The Northern Irishman is within his own right to skip any event he wants, even the Memorial Tournament.

But to not even pick up the phone and let Nicklaus know he isn't coming, after going to him for advice before the Masters, lacks class.

Earps recognition

MARY Earps deservedly received some criticism for the timing of her international retirement, just five weeks before the European Championship.

But we can't forget the key role she played in elevating the women's game in the UK.

The England Lionesses' fixtures are now firmly on the sporting calendar and attract a much greater audience, and in large part it's down to Earp.