Djokovic eyes French Open final January 30, 2012 HE MAY have proven himself the undisputed king of the men’s game with his gruelling Australian Open triumph, but Novak Djokovic has already identified his next target. The world No1, who beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s six-hour epic, has set his sights on reaching the final of the French Open, the only grand slam he [...]
Monty blames himself January 30, 2012 ENGLAND spinner Monty Panesar has attempted to deflect criticism from his side’s struggling batsmen by claiming he could have done more to avert Saturday’s embarrassing 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan. England were dismissed for 72 and conceded the series, but Panesar, who took seven wickets in the match, felt he could have better restricted Pakistan in [...]
New England captain Robshaw eager to make up for lost time January 30, 2012 NEW England captain Chris Robshaw doubted he would ever represent his country again following his omission from last year’s World Cup squad. The 25-year-old Harlequins skipper was yesterday installed as England captain for the first two matches of the Six Nations by interim head coach Stuart Lancaster. Robshaw was snubbed by previous head coach Martin [...]
Armitage axed following arrest January 30, 2012 LONDON IRISH full-back Delon Armitage yesterday became the latest victim of the Rugby Football Union’s new hardline approach to dealing with off-field indiscretions after he was axed from the England Saxons squad. The 28-year-old was arrested and detained overnight in Torquay following allegations of a nightclub altercation after Armitage featured in the Saxons’ victory over [...]
Terry to miss Swansea clash January 30, 2012 FOOTBALL: Chelsea defender John Terry will miss tonight’s Premier League match at Swansea City – just hours before his court case for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand is due to begin. Chelsea are adamant that their captain’s absence is due to a knee injury and in no way connected to the hearing, which starts tomorrow.
Van Persie avoids FA sanction January 30, 2012 FOOTBALL: The Football Association has ingored Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish’s plea to investigate Arsenal captain Robin van Persie’s alleged elbow on defender Carlos Cuellar during Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at Emirates Stadium.
The greatest: Djokovic hails best win after slaying Nadal January 29, 2012 World No1 beats Spaniard in longest ever grand slam final to underline status as pre-eminent force ECSTATIC, exhilarated and exhausted, Novak Djokovic hailed his finest hour after he conjured a Herculean effort to defeat Rafael Nadal in a record-breaking Australian Open final and take his extraordinary career to a new pinnacle. Djokovic claimed his third [...]
Van Persie digs Arsenal out of spot of FA Cup bother January 29, 2012 ARSENAL (3) vs ASTON VILLA (2) THE rousing nature of a classic FA Cup comeback should be enough to convince Arsenal’s confidence starved players they are capable of ending a seven-year wait for silverware, according to their manager Arsene Wenger. Booed off at half time having trailed to Richard Dunne’s header and a Darren Bent [...]
Wenger in transfer hint as Arsenal fight back to progress January 29, 2012 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger hinted at another late transfer window foray after seeing his side summon a stirring comeback to secure their place in the FA Cup fifth round. The Gunners roared back from two goals behind at half-time to beat Aston Villa 3-2 and set up an away tie against Sunderland or Middlesbrough, who [...]
Spin vulnerability lends hollow ring to England’s No1 ranking January 29, 2012 OUT of their comfort zone and their depth, the ability to talk a good game has rarely been mirrored out in the middle this last fortnight, where a failure to combat Pakistan’s battery of spinners has already rendered England’s status as the world’s premier Test force tenuous at best. Should their batsmen fail to discover [...]