Jankovic stands firm September 30, 2009 TENNIS: Seventh seed Jelena Jankovic continued to take advantage of shock early exits suffered by other top-ranked players after cruising into the quarter-finals of the $2m Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The Serb was leading 6-1, 3-0 when opponent Elena Vesnina withdrew with a thigh muscle strain. She now takes on 14th seed Marion Bartoli [...]
Four get England call-ups September 30, 2009 RUGBY LEAGUE: Four players from Huddersfield and Hull KR have been added to the England train-on squad for the end-of-season internationals. Giants hooker Scott Moore and prop Eorl Crabtree, as well as Hull KR full-back Shaun Briscoe and winger Peter Fox, have been called up by coach Tony Smith after their clubs were eliminated from [...]
Arsenal late show as Van Persie breaks Greek resolve September 29, 2009 ARSENAL (2) vs OLYMPIACOS (0) ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger enjoyed the luxury of shrugging off his side’s wastefulness after late strikes from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin maintained their 100 per cent start in Europe. The Gunners allowed a host of chances to pass them by until the 78th minute, when Van Persie converted [...]
Liverpool stunned by Jovetic brace September 29, 2009 FIORENTINA (2) vs LIVERPOOL (0) LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez blamed a shambolic first half showing for his side’s first away defeat in the Champions League for almost 18 months. Teenager Stevan Jovetic struck a quick-fire brace to hand Fiorentina a shock victory over the Reds, who had not lost on the road since their semi-final [...]
Black Caps end England’s purple patch September 29, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss shrugged off his side’s emphatic defeat to New Zealand, insisting it would have no bearing on their Champions Trophy chances. The Black Caps’ four-wicket victory in Johannesburg ensured they reached the semi-finals by winning Group B and consigned England to their first loss of the tournament. Already assured of a last-four [...]
Massa targeting comeback at season’s final grand prix September 29, 2009 FERRARI’S Felipe Massa hopes to race for the first time since his life-threatening crash in little more than four weeks’ time at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Brazilian, who spent days in a coma following the horror smash in July, had not been expected to return to F1 before next season. But Massa has [...]
Ancelotti urges Blues to fix Wigan mistakes September 29, 2009 CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti insists his side will bounce back from a shock defeat at Wigan against Apoel Nicosia tonight. The Blues lost their 100 per cent start to the season in convincing fashion, losing 3-1 to the Latics at the DW Stadium on Saturday. But Ancelotti says that setback is behind them, and expects [...]
Star Vainikolo’s relief as GBH charge is dropped September 29, 2009 ENGLAND winger Lesley Vainikolo has admitted his relief after charges of causing grievous bodily harm were dropped yesterday. The former rugby league star, 30, was accused of punching Jake Aliker outside a Bath nightclub in the early hours of 26 October 2008. But a jury failed to reach a verdict at the Gloucester player’s trial [...]
Ferguson: Rooney as good as Kaka, Ronaldo and Messi September 29, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes striker Wayne Rooney has the ingredients to rival the biggest megastars in the world game. The 23-year-old is set to make his 50th appearance in the Champions League tonight when United host German title winners Wolfsburg. Rooney was electric on his European debut, hitting a hat-trick in a [...]
Pietersen vows he’ll be fit for SA Tests September 29, 2009 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen is refusing to take no for an answer as he races to be fit to board the plane for South Africa. The 29-year-old has been frustrated by setbacks in his recovery from Achilles surgery and has not played since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in July. But he is hoping [...]