Masterful Djokovic ends Federer’s London reign November 12, 2012 WORLD No1 Novak Djokovic brought the curtain down on another vintage year last night by beating Roger Federer 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 in an enthralling encounter to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena. Djokovic had lost their last two matches but came back from a break down in each set to [...]
Don’t rely on spinners to beat India, Harmison tells England November 12, 2012 FORMER England bowler Steve Harmison insists that seamers must contribute wickets if England are to be successful in India, when the first Test begins on Thursday in Ahmedabad. England have not won a series since 1985 on Indian soil, where seamers have struggled to make an impact in conditions widely suited to spin bowlers. “They [...]
McIlroy’s a one-off, sit back and enjoy him November 12, 2012 HE’S world No1, a multiple Major champion and now winner of the European and American tours money list double. Rory McIlroy has become a megastar and he’s improving in front of our eyes. People should sit back and enjoy watching the Northern Irishman in his pomp, because players as talented as the 23-year-old only come [...]
Palace youngster gets Sturridge thumbs-up November 12, 2012 CHELSEA striker Daniel Sturridge has given Crystal Palace youngster Wilfried Zaha a glowing reference after seeing England’s latest call-up in training with the national team for the first time. Versatile forward Zaha, 20, was a late addition to the squad for Wednesday’s trip to Sweden, after the withdrawal through injury of Wayne Rooney and Theo [...]
Murray: I doubted I could win a grand slam until US Open November 12, 2012 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray admits he doubted whether he would ever win a grand slam, before winning the US Open in September. Murray’s bid to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals ended with defeat to Roger Federer in the final four on Sunday, but the Olympic men’s singles champion is convinced that his breakthrough year [...]
Chelsea boost as Terry only out for weeks November 12, 2012 CHELSEA captain John Terry faces a race to be fit for their inaugural appearance at the Club World Cup next month, despite positive test results on his knee injury yesterday. Terry is expected to be sidelined for “weeks rather than months”, the club said, adding that scans had detected “no significant damage” to his cruciate [...]
Beware Australia smarting from France defeat, warns Lancaster November 12, 2012 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has warned his team to prepare to face Australia at their best on Saturday, despite the Wallabies’ crushing defeat in France at the weekend. Lancaster is wary of England underestimating the task of beating a team who held New Zealand to a draw just weeks ago, regardless of the 33-6 [...]
Hosts honing mystery ball November 12, 2012 THE ENGLAND camp has shrugged off Indian hopes that they could be undone by an innovative type of spin when the Test series begins this week. India bowler Ravichandran Ashwin is honing a carrom ball similar to that used by Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis, in which the thumb and middle flinger flick the ball to [...]
Coach Sutton going back to work November 12, 2012 CYCLING: British head coach Shane Sutton could return to work at this week’s Track World Cup in Glasgow. Sutton suffered bleeding on the brain and a broken cheekbone in a bike accident last week, just hours after Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins broke a rib in a crash with a van while training in [...]
HRT owners’ green light to sale November 12, 2012 FORMULA ONE: Struggling team HRT have been put up for sale by their owners, Spanish private equity group Thesan Capital. The outfit, which boasts drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan, is bottom of the constructors’ championship. The owners said they were in talks with a number of potential buyers and hoped for a [...]