Straight set win comes as a relief for Murray July 1, 2009 ANDY MURRAY spoke of his relief at avoiding another nail-biting five-setter after securing his place in the last four for the first time with a straight sets victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero. The third seed took just one hour, 41 minutes to post a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the former world No1 – a [...]
Federer makes Karlovic look small to set up Haas meeting July 1, 2009 FIVE-TIME champion Roger Federer admitted his sights were already trained on a sixth title after beating Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic to reach the semi-finals. Federer booked his 21st consecutive Grand Slam last four place with a comfortable 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) win over the 6ft 10in ace machine. And the world No2, who will meet [...]
Aggression the key to our domination, says Venus July 1, 2009 DEFENDING champion Venus Williams believes her and sister Serena’s monopolisation of Wimbledon is down to one trait: aggression. Between them they have won the title in seven of the last nine years and are firmly on course to improve that record this weekend. Defeat for either of the Californians in today’s semi-finals would constitute one [...]
Vaughan: I didn’t merit an Ashes call June 30, 2009 MICHAEL VAUGHAN, England’s most successful Test captain of all time, admitted he did not deserve to be selected for this year’s Ashes, after confirming his retirement from the game yesterday. The Yorkshire batsman, who led the country to glory against Australia in 2005, had pinned his hopes on earning a recall to the side in [...]
O’Driscoll joins third Test absentee list June 30, 2009 CENTRE Brian O’Driscoll has become the latest British and Irish Lions player to be ruled out of Saturday’s third and final Test through injury. O’Driscoll suffered concussion in last weekend’s series-clinching defeat in Pretoria, and doctors have decided he will not recover in time to finish the tour. Prop Adam Jones joins O’Driscoll in returning [...]
United land 16m Valencia now Benzema’s on the radar June 30, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED last night clinched the signing of Antonio Valencia – and then set their sights on completing a £51m double raid to add Karim Benzema. Ecuador winger Valencia made the switch from Wigan after putting pen-to-paper on a four-year deal believed to be worth around £16m. Now, with £80m at his disposal following the [...]
Strauss: Alcohol is not to blame June 30, 2009 CRICKET: England captain Andrew Strauss yesterday insisted all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s latest indiscretion was not alcohol-related. Flintoff, who was famously sent home from the 2007 World Cup for a drink-fuelled pedalo expedition, missed the team bus for a visit to World War I memorial sites in Belgium on Saturday. But Strauss said Flintoff’s lapse in timekeeping [...]
England World Cup bid boost June 30, 2009 RUGBY UNION: England’s bid to host the 2015 World Cup received a major boost yesterday when it was given the backing of the tournament’s organisers. Rugby World Cup Ltd recommended England ahead of South Africa, Italy and Japan, and endorsed the latter to stage the 2019 competition. The International Rugby Board, which makes the final [...]
Raikkonen swaps F1 for rally June 30, 2009 MOTORSPORT: Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen will use a break in the Formula One season to take part in a World Rally Championship stage in his native Finland next month. Former F1 champion Raikkonen, who has raced in three non-championship rallies already this year, will test himself against title favourites Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen. The race [...]
Ace Murray set to raise the roof again for Ferrero clash June 30, 2009 ANDY MURRAY will once again have the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulders this afternoon as he goes in search of a place in the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time. Less than 40 hours after his gruelling fourth round clash with Stanislas Wawrinka, the British No1 steps back onto Centre Court [...]