Henin stands between Serena and 12th Slam title January 28, 2010 DEFENDING champion Serena Williams admitted she was “shocked” to earn an Australian Open showdown with Justine Henin following a hard-fought semi-final against Li Na. The world No1 was made to fight all the way by the Chinese 16th seed before eventually reaching a fifth Melbourne final with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-1) win. But while [...]
Verminator could be back to face United January 28, 2010 ARSENAL have received a huge fillip ahead of Sunday’s crunch visit from Manchester United after it emerged defender Thomas Vermaelen has not broken his leg, as first feared. Belgium centre-back Vermaelen – known as the Verminator to the Emirates faithful – looked in grave danger of missing the rest of the season when he left [...]
Mutu fails another drug test January 28, 2010 FORMER Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu is facing career ruin after failing another drug test, this time for sibutramine, a banned appetite suppressant. The 31-year-old, who served a seven-month worldwide ban for using cocaine while at Stamford Bridge, tested positive after playing for Fiorentina earlier this month. Mutu could be banned for four years if the [...]
Spurs beat Hammers to net Gudjohnsen January 28, 2010 TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp has stolen a march on former club West Ham to clinch the loan signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen. The former Chelsea striker looked all set to join the Hammers on a short-term loan and even underwent a medical at Upton Park. But Redknapp hijacked the deal with an 11th hour offer before [...]
Disgruntled Robinho completes January 28, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY striker Robinho last night ended his unhappy spell at Eastlands by completing a six-month loan move to former club Santos. The 26-year-old, who cost a British transfer record £32.5m when he arrived from Real Madrid in 2008, has started just eight games in all competitions for City this season and spoke of his [...]
Website taken down as Pompey reach new low January 28, 2010 PORTSMOUTH’S season of crisis took another farcical turn yesterday when their official website was taken offline because of an unpaid bill. Juicy, the company that runs the site, only made the site available again later in the day after Pompey had made them a payment. The club’s latest shambolic episode came as it emerged they [...]
New boy Matt is looking as sharp as ever January 28, 2010 MANY heads have been turned with our four big signings at Saracens this week, but it’s only reaffirmed what we’ve known for a long time: that this club is going places. England internationals Matt Stevens and Richard Wigglesworth, Scotland’s Kelly Brown and Tongan powerhouse Soane Tonga’uiha will all be joining us at Vicarage Road next [...]
Cipriani out of Saxons after bereavement January 28, 2010 DANNY CIPRIANI has pulled out of the England Saxons squad for Sunday’s game with Ireland A after suffering a family bereavement. The Wasps fly-half was looking to kick-start his international career with a run-out in the Bath friendly but has been granted leave by Rugby Football Union chiefs after losing a close relative. Northampton’s Shane [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF January 28, 2010 Dredge and Wilson lead in Qatar GOLF: England’s Oliver Wilson and Bradley Dredge, of Wales, fired opening rounds of 67 to take a share of the lead at the Qatar Open. Both defied windy conditions to post five-under-par rounds, Dredge joining Wilson at the top of the leaderboard after a run of four birdies in the [...]
Rooney’s late winner gives City deja vu January 27, 2010 MANCHESTER UTD [Man Utd win 4-3 on agg] (3) vs MANCHESTER CITY (1) SIR ALEX FERGUSON heaped praise on his Manchester United troops after they silenced ‘noisy neighbours’ City and clinched a place in the Carling Cup final. Wayne Rooney’s injury-time winner earned the defending champions a Wembley date with Aston Villa on 28 February, [...]