WORLD OF SPORT

ANDY MURRAY hopes to play at the US Open later this month, despite spluttering on his comeback trail, by losing to Lucas Pouille 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters on Monday. ‘Hopefully each week will feel better and I can keep working on things,’ he said.

OLIVER TOWNEND has been left out of the GB team for the World Equestrian Games, three months after being given an official warning for overuse of the whip. The world No 1 said he was ‘hugely disappointed’ at the decision and noted his ‘outstanding results’ in the last year, including wins at the four-star competitions, Kentucky and Burghley, and his two top-five finishes at Badminton.

TRIPLE European champion Dina Asher-Smith admits she must improve ahead of the World Championships after winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m in Berlin with three world leading times. She said: ‘I have to get a little bit faster. I’m going to have to bring my A-game.’