' much of the country spring day for much of the country today. the sun was out in western parts of scotland and this is where we recorded the highest temperatures. quite a bit cooler in east anglia and the south—east of england, even some showers, which will fade away this evening. it does become dry and clear overnight. later in the night we will have some patchy mist and fog forming in the south—east of england. it is going to be another cold one, with a widespread frost, like last night. may be a bit milder in northern ireland and north—west scotland, where we have got a southerly breeze. tomorrow morning it will be sunny for a while before the cloud bubbles up in land and spreads out a bit. away from the north—west of scotland, where there is a bit of rain coming into the western isles. temperatures, similar to today, could make 15 degrees again across scotland. but the pollen levels are going to be high and we are in the peak of the tree pollen season and the levels will be higher in the south—east and east anglia, where it

is going to be dry with some sunshine. there will be more sunshine. there will be more sunshine to come on saturday, a decent sort of day, breezier towards the north—west. it will be a dry day, temperatures again up to 14 or 15, near normalfor the day, temperatures again up to 14 or 15, near normal for the time of the year. forthe 15, near normal for the time of the year. for the second half of the weekend, a few changes, particularly towards the north—west, with weather fronts coming in from the atlantic bringing more cloud and a pitch of patchy, light rain. for england and wales, we will have light winds, more sunshine through the midlands, and the eastern side of england, where it will be getting a bit warmer as well. that's all from the bbc news at six so it's goodbye from me and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are.

hello, welcome along to sports day. a stunning win at the monte carlo masters — briton�*s dan evans shocks the world number one novak djokovic to register the best win of his career. a nervy night ahead for arsenal as they look to reach the semi—finals of the europa league at slavia prague, with their hopes of european football next season on the line. us owners are buying up lower level british football teams — but what's the interest? welcome along to sportsday. we'll start with the biggest win of this man, dan evans�* career.

today was the first time that the british number one came up against the 18—time grand slam winner novak djokovic — and he walked away with a straight sets victory on the clay at the monte carlo masters in the last 16. all the more remarkable when you consider that evans had previously won just four clay court matches at tour level in his entire career. our reporterjim lumsden was watching. not many gave him a chance, but evans had never played djokovic, so anything was possible. the perfect start for the british number one, an immediate break of serve. djokovic had lavished praise on evans this week, calling him "smart, explosive, and possessing a great variety in his game". the momentum had been building for evans — a first atp title injanuary, two victories on clay this week, his first in almost four years on the red stuff.

and soon, the first set was his 6—4. evans burns him with a pass. djokovic attempted to regain control, sending evans around the court. at first, the briton looked drained, but dug deep. recovering from three love down, he served for the match. evans held his nerve for the biggest win of his career, a straight sets victory over the world number one who hadn't played badly — his opponent had just been superb. jim lunsden, bbc news. well, let's get some reaction from the pair — and starting with the british number one. of course i doubted myself in those matches, in the match, you know, serving it out is not easy, you know? you've got all sorts running through your head. so i'm just happy with how it went. you know, it'll be one to savour for maybe after the tournament, to tell the kids and grandkids you beat the world number one. it's nice.

congratulations to him. i mean, he deserved _ congratulations to him. i mean, he deserved to — congratulations to him. i mean, he deserved to win, he was the better player, _ deserved to win, he was the better player, he — deserved to win, he was the better player, he was more focused, and he played _ player, he was more focused, and he played with_ player, he was more focused, and he played with a better quality and decisive — played with a better quality and decisive moments. to be honest, this is probably— decisive moments. to be honest, this is probably been one of the worst meshes— is probably been one of the worst meshes and performances from my side that i meshes and performances from my side that i can _ meshes and performances from my side that i can recall in the last years ash matches. i don't want to take anything — ash matches. i don't want to take anything away from his win. but from my side, _ anything away from his win. but from my side, i_ anything away from his win. but from my side, ijust felt awful on the court _ my side, ijust felt awful on the court. overall, nothing worked, it wasjust_ court. overall, nothing worked, it wasjust one of court. overall, nothing worked, it was just one of those court. overall, nothing worked, it wasjust one of those days. we can speak live to our tennis correspondent russell fuller now. firstly, this result for dan evans, just how did he go about un—picking novak djokovic today? it’s just how did he go about un-picking novak djokovic today?— novak djokovic today? it's the unpredictable _ novak djokovic today? it's the unpredictable nature - novak djokovic today? it's the unpredictable nature of- novak djokovic today? it's the unpredictable nature of dan i novak djokovic today? it's the - unpredictable nature of dan evans's game. he's able to produce a lot of

variety on the court, he likes that low slice which travels a lot a player, but normally not the best players on clay, especially djokovic. but with all that versatility, he was very much the better player. yes, djokovic started poorly, he finished very poorly — he said afterwards he hadn't been feeling great for the past 2a hours but not wishing to take anything away from evans. but he's a man transformed on clay. he only won four matches at atp or grand slam level on clay his entire career before this week, and i won three matches including this went over djokovic. he's the first man to be the world number one in 2021. since 2019, it's only _ the world number one in 2021. since 2019, it's only rafael _ the world number one in 2021. since 2019, it's only rafael nadal - the world number one in 2021. since 2019, it's only rafael nadal in dan evans who have beaten djokovic on clay. in terms of djokovic, how much will he read into this loss today is yellow i think he was quite shocked because he had played quite nicely

in his match 2a hours earlier. he practices at the monte carlo country club, so it was a shock to the system. i think even though he was quite downbeat after the match, he said dan evans had his game and not learned anything from it. don't read anything after it, he took a long break after the australian open, this is his first week back on to her. he's playing an event in belgrade next week, and he has plenty of time to get himself in peak condition at the end of may. said dan evans may be the king of clay for one day, but we know rafael nadal was also in action today and he was pretty dominant? thea;r nadal was also in action today and he was pretty dominant?— he was pretty dominant? they are still on course _ he was pretty dominant? they are still on course to _ he was pretty dominant? they are still on course to meet _ he was pretty dominant? they are still on course to meet in - he was pretty dominant? they are still on course to meet in the - still on course to meet in the final, evans and rafael nadal, and they can dispute the title then and there perhaps. evans plays a tricky topic i fell that all beat 6—16— one is the reach is a 12 monte carlo. it

wasn't about not all, he said, and he said that became apparent when dimitrov said he'd had all sorts of problems with a tooth infection the last few days and was relieved to head out so he could go to the dentist. , , ., . ~ head out so he could go to the dentist. , , ., n ., head out so he could go to the dentist. , , ., a ., ., head out so he could go to the dentist, , ., a ., ., dentist. just a quick one on the cuick dentist. just a quick one on the quick action — dentist. just a quick one on the quick action for _ dentist. just a quick one on the quick action for britain's - dentist. just a quick one on the | quick action for britain's women tomorrow with the billiejean king cup? it tomorrow with the billie jean king cu - ? , tomorrow with the billie jean king cu . ? , ., �* g ., cup? it is now the billie jean king cu, and cup? it is now the billie jean king cup. and katie — cup? it is now the billie jean king cup, and katie voll— cup? it is now the billie jean king cup, and katie voll played - cup? it is now the billie jean king| cup, and katie voll played singles on the opening day against mexico behind closed doors at the national tennis centre in london tomorrow. if they do win and it's the best of five, they will then be able to play in the main competition in 2022, meaning they will have a crack at the trophy i2 meaning they will have a crack at the trophy 12 months from now. great stuff, the trophy 12 months from now. great stuff. russell. — the trophy 12 months from now. great stuff, russell, thanks _ the trophy 12 months from now. great stuff, russell, thanks for _ the trophy 12 months from now. great stuff, russell, thanks forjoining us. let's take a quick look at some other stories. government officials have admitted meetings took place between the foreign office and the premier league about the aborted takeover of newcastle united.

it followed the saudi royal family getting in touch with prime minister boris johnson directly. despite the admission, the government deny it was involved "at any point". mark cavendish has lost the overall race lead after stage five of the tour of turkey. it wasn't going to be a day for the sprinters, with two category one climbs at the end of the stage. jose manuel diaz of spain now leads the race by four seconds. and we now know the draw for the first round of the world snooker championship, with ronnie o'sullivan bidding to win a record—equalling seventh world title. he'll begin the defence of the trophy against debutant markjoyce, who's ranked 46th in the world. there are europa league semifinal spots up for grabs for arsenal and manchester united this evening. ole gunnar solksjaer�*s side are at old trafford and have a two

goal cushion for their second leg against granada. but for the gunners, things are more precarious. they conceded a late away goal in the first leg and so are in slavia prague with the sides at one goal a piece. and with the club ninth in the premier league — defeat tonight for mikel arteta's side would likely mean no european football for arsenal for the first time in 25 years. not that their boss is contemplating that. at the end, results is only thing externally, to have the perception that we are moving forward in the right direction. n that we are moving forward in the right direction.— right direction. i know you said before you _ right direction. i know you said before you were _ right direction. i know you said before you were making - right direction. i know you said before you were making some| before you were making some difficult — before you were making some difficult plans for some of them, depending on how the season ends. have even _ depending on how the season ends. have even thought of a plan or contemplated a scenario where arsenal— contemplated a scenario where arsenal are not playing european football? — arsenal are not playing european football? ., arsenal are not playing european football? no. laughter. is that football? no. laughter. is that just _ football? iifr. laughter. is thatjust because football? iifr. laughter. is that just because you football? iifr. laughter. is thatjust because you don't football? iifr. laughter. is that just because you don't leave it's true, _ is that just because you don't leave it's true, or— is that just because you don't leave it's true, or because you don't... i

it's true, or because you don't... don't want to it's true, or because you don't... i don't want to put my mind and transmit any of that to anybody, any of the players or anybody at the club. so a big night ahead — you can listen to it all on radio 5 live from 7pm, where ian dennis is on commentary duty. i think will be a tough game. slavia prague have already knocked out glasgow rangers, and as they proved in the first leg, they are a stubborn side. they have a very good record at home. arsenal actually are undefeated in 11 games in the europa league, but i wouldn't at all be surprised if this one goes the whole hog and we going to extra time. but arsenal will be hoping, because it is such an important game as far as the season is concerned, that they can get through to the semifinals. and you mentioned that because there is so much riding on this result tonight, and if they lose, their european hopes for next season are essentially all but over? it’s

european hopes for next season are essentially all but over?— essentially all but over? it's been described as _ essentially all but over? it's been described as the _ essentially all but over? it's been described as the biggest - essentially all but over? it's been described as the biggest game i essentially all but over? it's been | described as the biggest game for mikael arteta during his time as arsenal�*s head coach. bearing in mind, he won the fa cup in his first season. but they've been in europe for 25 consecutive seasons, which is huge. but they haven't been dining at the top table for the last four seasons — so if they could win this competition, it would give them an opportunity to get back into the champions league. that's where arsenal want to be, so this campaign is absolutely vital to arsenal not just in terms of success and silverware, but also for being back in the champions league. fin silverware, but also for being back in the champions league.- silverware, but also for being back in the champions league. on the flip side of that, — in the champions league. on the flip side of that, if— in the champions league. on the flip side of that, if they _ in the champions league. on the flip side of that, if they don't _ in the champions league. on the flip side of that, if they don't have - side of that, if they don't have european football next season and mikael arteta stays on, do you think you could help the team in a way? i just think that for a club like arsenal, the need to be in europe. i know you can argue that there is no distractions, but i think with everything when you want to attract players and if they want to keep all of the better players, you want to be in europe, preferably the

champions league but maybe the europa league. in order to get into the champions league, it would be success and another silverware for mikael arteta. success and another silverware for mikaelarteta. so success and another silverware for mikael arteta. so it is a vital night for the club.— mikael arteta. so it is a vital night for the club. what about manchester _ night for the club. what about manchester united? - night for the club. what about manchester united? it - night for the club. what about manchester united? it seems| night for the club. what about i manchester united? it seems an night for the club. what about - manchester united? it seems an awful lot more simple for ole gunnar solskjaer?— lot more simple for ole gunnar solsk'aer? :: ., , ., ., solsk'aer? 2-0 up against granada. old solskjaer? 2-0 up against granada. old trafford, _ solskjaer? 2-0 up against granada. old trafford. it _ solskjaer? 2-0 up against granada. old trafford, it should _ solskjaer? 2-0 up against granada. old trafford, it should be _ solskjaer? 2-0 up against granada. old trafford, it should be a - old trafford, it should be a comfortable night for manchester united. they will have a tougher time in the semifinals because the winners of that will either play ajax or roma. but who knows, we could even be talking in a few more weeks of an all english europa league final when arsenal play chelsea in 2019. but for united, i don't see any problems. build up from 7pm. staying with football here in the uk, where we know the premier league attracts huge global investment. but recently, lower league clubs have started to draw international interest with ipswich town the latest club to have new american owners.

and we of course know about how non—league wrexham now has a sprinkling of stardust, thanks to an a—list boardroom. as patrick gearey reports. one thing that ever survive this place is a sense of humour. indie one thing that ever survive this place is a sense of humour. we will see about that, _ place is a sense of humour. we will see about that, posh _ place is a sense of humour. we will see about that, posh spice. - place is a sense of humour. we will see about that, posh spice. ryan i see about that, posh spice. ryan re nolds see about that, posh spice. ryan reynolds and _ see about that, posh spice. ryan reynolds and rob _ see about that, posh spice. f—i reynolds and rob mcelhenny have made their millions from farce. the art of the ridiculous.— their millions from farce. the art of the ridiculous.- so - their millions from farce. the art i of the ridiculous.- so maybe their millions from farce. the art - of the ridiculous.- so maybe it of the ridiculous. spam. so maybe it made a strange _ of the ridiculous. spam. so maybe it made a strange sort _ of the ridiculous. spam. so maybe it made a strange sort of _ of the ridiculous. spam. so maybe it made a strange sort of sense - of the ridiculous. snn so maybe it made a strange sort of sense that two film and tv stars would buy wrexham, a football league in a town they never visited. it all started on set with an english comedy writer who converted rob mcelhenny from football sceptic to fanatic. indie who converted rob mcelhenny from football sceptic to fanatic.— football sceptic to fanatic. we “ust became owners i football sceptic to fanatic. we “ust became owners of i football sceptic to fanatic. we “ust became owners of wrexham h football sceptic to fanatic. we just - became owners of wrexham associated football. in became owners of wrexham associated football. ., , ., , ., football. in true rob fashion, he takes things _ football. in true rob fashion, he takes things and _ football. in true rob fashion, he takes things and runs _ football. in true rob fashion, he takes things and runs with - football. in true rob fashion, he| takes things and runs with them, where _ takes things and runs with them, where other people take interest in a new— where other people take interest in a new hobby like football, he

decided — a new hobby like football, he decided to buy a football club. rob and ryan— decided to buy a football club. rob and ryan are both very excited by the idea _ and ryan are both very excited by the idea that you can go from being below— the idea that you can go from being below where we are — and with good judgment. _ below where we are — and with good judgment, good resources, good luck, you can _ judgment, good resources, good luck, you can travel all the way to the too _ you can travel all the way to the to, . ., �* , you can travel all the way to the to. ., you can travel all the way to the top. wrexham's story may look exceptional. — top. wrexham's story may look exceptional, but _ top. wrexham's story may look exceptional, but in _ top. wrexham's story may look exceptional, but in many - top. wrexham's story may look exceptional, but in many ways| top. wrexham's story may look i exceptional, but in many ways it's not. ipswich town's recent takeover means america ends now either partially or fully owned 17 of the 92 league clubs. in the premier league, nearly half of the teams have some us ownership, while wrexham aren't even the only 50—year club owned by americans. in 2015, dagenham was taken over by former us goalkeeper tim howard and baseball investor tivo computer feeling. but like casilla i think the sports assets in the united states are expensive. that's part one. i think it's “ust a expensive. that's part one. i think it's just a really — expensive. that's part one. i think it'sjust a really exciting, - it's just a really exciting, exhilarating, wonderful place to invest your money if you want to be involved in sport and have that

experience that's even more