‘Empty tank’: Katie Boulter outgunned by Diana Shnaider in Hong Kong final

  • British No 1 beaten 6-1, 6-2 by 20-year-old Russian
  • Boulter excited after reaching career-high ranking of 23

Katie Boulter’s strong run in Hong Kong came to a brutal end on Sunday as she was thoroughly outplayed in the final by top seed Diana Shnaider, who dismantled the British No 1 6-1, 6-2 to win her fourth WTA title of the season.

Boulter, the second seed, was outgunned from the beginning by a brilliant Shnaider, a strong left-hander with a vicious, heavy forehand. As Shnaider continually took the first strike and forced Boulter into uncomfortable positions around the court, she exposed the vulnerable points of Boulter’s game. Boulter overpressed, she lost confidence in her serve and she had no alternative plan against a relentless opponent.

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‘I’m done’: Joe Marler retires from international rugby to focus on family

  • Prop calls time on England career after 95 caps
  • ‘I don’t want to leave my house with my kids crying’

Joe Marler has retired from international rugby and will play no part in the rest of England’s autumn nations campaign, citing the need to prioritise his family saying: “I can’t do what I used to do as well as I once could”.

As exclusively revealed by the Guardian, Marler left the England camp at the start of last week, citing personal reasons, and made himself unavailable for Saturday’s agonising defeat by the All Blacks. It is understood the prop arrived in camp last Sunday but informed Steve Borthwick and a group of senior players of his decision and returned to his family home. While he was keen to stress that he was taking a “day-by-day” approach last week, the writing was on the wall and he brings the curtain down on his England career with 95 caps.

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