Djokovic’s on the march as Open hots up September 1, 2009 WORLD No4 Novak Djokovic made light work of a predicted banana skin last night as he enjoyed an easy passage into the second round of the US Open. The Serbian was up against former world No3 Ivan Lubicic but proved to be a class apart as he strolled past the 30-year-old Croatian 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 [...]
Twenty20 is hit by the rain again September 1, 2009 HEAVY rain yesterday accounted for the Twenty20 series between England and Australia with the Old Trafford pitch deemed unplayable for the second time in three days. Sunday’s first Twenty20 game was ended prematurely by rain while yesterday’s second and final match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to problems with the wet outfield. [...]
Fallon given green light to end three-year exile September 1, 2009 SIX-TIME champion jockey Kieren Fallon admits he cannot wait to get back in the saddle after being cleared to make his comeback following a three-year absence. Fallon was yesterday granted a riding licence by the British Horseracing Authority in London, after completing an 18-month drugs suspension. However, he has not competed since July 2006, when [...]
Resilient Massa is back on the recovery road September 1, 2009 FELIPE MASSA is eyeing a fast-track return to Formula One after latest medical tests revealed he is recovering well from his horrifying crash in Hungary. The Ferrari driver suffered extensive head injuries after being hit by a flying car part during qualifying. He will undergo minor surgery this week after neurological and vision tests showed [...]
Ennis concern over burnout September 1, 2009 ATHLETICS: World heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis has hinted that she may miss next year’s Commonwealth Games to avoid the risk of burnout. Ennis, 23, has her sights set on the European Championships in Barcelona from 26 July to 1 August, while the Commonwealth event gets underway in Delhi on 3 October. “I’ll sit down with [...]
Richards to referee Quins September 1, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Harlequins’ bid to put the embarrassing “bloodgate” scandal behind them suffered an unlikely setback yesterday when a familiar name was selected to referee their first game of the new season. Quins’ game against Wasps at Twickenham will be overseen by Dean Richards – not the club’s disgraced former director of rugby, but the [...]
Big spending days of top flight are finished September 1, 2009 SPENDING by top-flight clubs shrank by 10 per cent this year – and experts say a more “risk-averse” climate means Premier League outlays will fall again in 2010. Teams in England’s top tier spent an estimated total of £450m before the summer transfer window closed yesterday evening, a reduction of around £50m on 2008’s record [...]
Villa land Collins but Dunne deal delayed September 1, 2009 ASTON VILLA boss Martin O’Neill will have to wait until this morning to parade his deadline-day defensive pair after the Premier League requested more time to ratify Richard Dunne’s move from Manchester City last night. O’Neill is confident Dunne will be confirmed as a Villa player today with the ex-City captain having already completed a [...]
SUMMER SALES Round-up of the day’s activity September 1, 2009 AS largely expected, Portsmouth boss Paul Hart was the busiest Premier League manager of the day, securing three new faces for the major loss of midfielder Niko Kranjcar to Tottenham. Hart began to day by securing the capture of midfielder Hassan Yebda on a season-long loan deal from Benfica before completing a double swoop by [...]
Harry gets his man as Niko completes Spurs switch September 1, 2009 TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp was last night revelling in the capture of Niko Kranjcar despite suffering mixed fortunes on a modest day of activity to end the summer transfer window. The Spurs chief secured the signing of Portsmouth ace Kranjcar, who will join fellow Croatian internationals Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka at White Hart Lane [...]