Murray vying to break clay hold of Ferrer June 1, 2015 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray admits his French Open title bid is dependent on breaking the clay-court spell which Spain’s David Ferrer currently exerts over him when the duo meet in tomorrow’s quarter-final. Third seed Murray secured his 17th consecutive appearance in the last eight of a grand slam with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over [...]
Rabbatts resigns from Fifa role in protest at Blatter June 1, 2015 FOOTBALL Association (FA) board member Heather Rabbatts yesterday quit her role on Fifa’s anti-discrimination task force in protest at Sepp Blatter’s re-election as president. The anti-discrimination task force was chaired by Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, who is one of seven serving officials of the embattled world governing body to be arrested [...]
Spotlight falls on Rodgers but Klopp rules out new job offers June 1, 2015 LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to meet the club’s hierarchy for make-or-break talks over his future this week. Rodgers, who endured a turbulent third consecutive barren campaign at Anfield, is poised to undergo an end-of-season review with Reds co-owner Tom Werner tomorrow. The Northern Irishman is just 12 months into a four-year contract and [...]
Bees go Dutch for new coach June 1, 2015 BRENTFORD chairman Matthew Benham has hailed the appointment of Dutchman Marinus Dijkhuizen as the Championship club’s head coach. Dijkhuizen arrives after a successful 18 months with modest Eredivisie outfit Excelsior and replaces former Bees boss and one-time City trader Mark Warburton, whose contract expired at the end of the season. Benham said: “There was a [...]
Sharapova out but Williams edges through June 1, 2015 DEFENDING champion Maria Sharapova crashed out of the French Open yesterday after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Czech Lucie Safarova in the fourth round. Russia’s Sharapova had reached three consecutive Roland Garros finals and recorded two victories, but was eclipsed by 13th seed Safarova, who produced the biggest shock of this year’s tournament with a [...]
Root plots world record run chase to confirm series win June 1, 2015 VICE-CAPTAIN Joe Root has urged England to re-write history and complete a world record fourth-innings chase as the second Investec Test against New Zealand at Headingley reaches its climax today. England were 44-0, having been set 455 for victory as New Zealand advanced their overnight score to 454-8 declared, when rain arrived shortly after the [...]
Gleneagles and Found absence dent O’Brien Investec Derby bid June 1, 2015 DUAL 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles and stablemate Found will both miss this week’s Investec Derby meeting at Epsom and instead be aimed at Royal Ascot later this month. It means that trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has won the Derby for three successive years, will have a trio of runners the Saturday showpiece: Hans Holbein, Giovanni [...]
Golf Comment: Nice guys do prosper, and why Jack’s course is so special to me June 1, 2015 IT’S BEEN a good week for golf’s nice guys, with popular winners on both the European Tour, as Soren Kjeldsen scooped his biggest victory yet, and on the PGA Tour, where Steven Bowditch triumphed in Texas again. Kjeldsen capped a fine display in difficult conditions at the Irish Open on Sunday with a magnificent three [...]
North: My recovery took a long time but I’ve only got one head June 1, 2015 WALES wing George North has declared himself fit to play in this year’s World Cup following a series of head injuries that threatened to derail the 23-year-old’s career. North has been included in head coach Warren Gatland’s 47-man training squad for the tournament in England and Wales, which starts in September, despite being sidelined since [...]
Strettle joins Clermont as Wasps vice-captain Bell forced to retire June 1, 2015 SARACENS wing David Strettle has agreed a summer switch to French side Clermont Auvergne in a move that could jeopardise his hopes of making England’s World Cup squad. Strettle, 31, has signed a three-year contract with the European Rugby Champions Cup runners-up after a five-season spell at Saracens in which he became the club’s leading [...]