Djokovic beats his demons to return to top July 6, 2014 AT WIMBLEDON NEW world No1 Novak Djokovic believes that securing his seventh grand slam title with a five-set victory over Wimbledon king Roger Federer yesterday represents the finest achievement of his career. The 27-year-old, who was runner-up to Britain’s Andy Murray last year, held his nerve after surrendering a match point in the fourth set [...]
Home comforts help Hamilton to reignite challenge for second title July 6, 2014 AT SILVERSTONE BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory in front of a jubilant home crowd at Silverstone yesterday, a result that he believes can mark a turning point in the battle for the Formula One world title. The British Grand Prix began with a dramatic first-lap crash involving Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari, though the Finn escaped [...]
Mature Kvitova savours second Wimbledon win July 6, 2014 LADIES’ champion Petra Kvitova says winning Wimbledon tasted even sweeter the second time around, after she curtailed Eugenie Bouchard’s rapid ascent in brutal fashion on Sunday. Kvitova thrashed the 20-year-old Canadian 6-3, 6-0 in just 55 minutes to repeat her 2011 success. Back then, that looked set to be the first of many grand slam [...]
Sport Comment: Cycling’s boom makes need for planning urgent July 6, 2014 THE BRITISH sporting landscape is changing fast. There will be a surge, albeit a limited one, in usage of public tennis courts for the next few days, sparked by events at SW19 over the past fortnight. A few more people are kicking a football around on summer evenings imagining they are on the Copacabana. Office [...]
Neymar thought Colombia tackle had crippled him July 6, 2014 BRAZIL forward Neymar believed he had been left paralysed by the challenge that broke a bone in his back and prematurely ended his World Cup, the team’s coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed. The inspirational Barcelona star told team-mate Marcelo that he felt numb from the waist down after being sent sprawling by Juan Zuniga [...]
Nibali to wear yellow in London as Cavendish forced to quit Tour July 6, 2014 GIRO d’Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali struck late to beat the Tour de France favourites to victory on the second stage in Sheffield. Nibali escaped reigning champion Chris Froome and two-time winner Alberto Contador during the final two kilometres to claim the first Tour stage win of his career yesterday. The Astana rider also took over [...]
Penalty exploits not enough to earn Krul a starting place July 6, 2014 NEWCASTLE goalkeeper Tim Krul will start on the bench for Holland’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday despite his penalty shoot-out heroics against Costa Rica. Krul justified coach Louis van Gaal’s decision to send him on specifically for the spot-kicks with two crucial saves, but remains behind first-choice Jasper Cillessen in the pecking order. [...]
Kvitova crushes Bouchard in fifth quickest Wimbledon title victory July 5, 2014 Petra Kvitova has just won her second Wimbledon title in four years, barely breaking sweat as she disposed of challenger Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets. Kvitova, seeded sixth ahead of the tournament, becomes the fourth woman to be crowned champion at the All England Club more than once since 1990, thrashing her 20-year-old Canadian opponent [...]
Tory tennis match sells for £160,000 July 3, 2014 A BRITISH banker – and wife of a former Putin government minister – splashed out £160,000 for a game of tennis with PM David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson, it emerged yesterday. Lubov Chernukhin bought the top lot in the auction at the Tory party fundraiser on Wednesday. City A.M. revealed that a bottle of champagne sold [...]
I feel ready to claim my first grand slam, says Bouchard July 3, 2014 FEARLESS 20-year-old Eugenie Bouchard insists reaching the Wimbledon final in just the sixth grand slam appearance of her fledging career should not be considered a surprise. In a drama-drenched semi-final yesterday against No3 seed Simona Halep – including a medical time-out while the Romanian had treatment on an ankle injury, a stoppage while a spectator [...]