Alonso open to Real Madrid move June 29, 2009 FOOTBALL: Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has welcomed reports of interest from Real Madrid. Real have been linked with a £25m move for the Spain international, although Liverpool are reluctant to sell. Alonso said: “I have not closed any door and we will just have to wait and see what happens. I do not think a [...]
Aussie back Carraro joins Bath June 29, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Bath have signed versatile Australian back Matt Carraro from New South Wales Waratahs. The 24-year-old, who can play at centre or on the wing, has signed a two-year contract at the Premiership club. Head coach Steve Meehan: “He has a reputation as a hard worker and good bloke off the field and these [...]
England women rout Australia June 29, 2009 CRICKET: England’s women thrashed Australia by nine wickets in the opening one-day international in Chelmsford. Spinner Holly Colvin took 3-27 and Katherine Brunt 2-22 as England skittled out the tourists for a paltry 133. Openers Sarah Taylor (68) and Caroline Atkins (48no) got the chase off to a great start, and victory was clinched after [...]
Brave Murray forced to dig deep to win late-night epic June 29, 2009 ANDY MURRAY hailed his 15,000-strong army of fans after battling his way through a record-breaking five-set thriller with Stanislas Wawrinka. Playing under the new Centre Court roof for the first time, the British No1 recovered from a disastrous opening set to clinch an epic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory in a match which finished [...]
Safina tames Mauresmo after scare June 29, 2009 WORLD No1 Dinara Safina became the first player ever to win under the Centre Court roof after surviving an epic battle with 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo. The top seed was a set down but 4-1 up in the second when the first rain of the Wimbledon week forced play to be suspended for 30 minutes. [...]
Take up ballet and get tutus, SA coach taunts ‘soft’ Lions June 29, 2009 SOUTH AFRICA head coach Peter de Villiers yesterday further inflamed the eye-gouging row with the British and Irish Lions, accusing them of being soft and suggesting they swap rugby for ballet. De Villiers also reiterated his defence of Schalk Burger after the flanker escaped with an eight-week ban for clawing at Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald’s [...]
Vaughan will be sorely missed, says Trescothick June 29, 2009 FORMER opener Marcus Trescothick believes England will miss the experience of Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan when Australia visit again this summer. Vaughan, the former England captain, is expected to announce his retirement at an ECB-convened press conference this morning, thus ending any suggestion of a recall for the forthcoming Ashes series. Since stepping down as [...]
Ruthless Murray ready to bury best friend Wawrinka June 28, 2009 LAST week they were allies, pinging balls back and forth in an atmosphere of camaraderie. But today Andy Murray and Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, one of the British No1’s best friends on the tour, will be bitter adversaries. Murray resumes his Wimbledon quest on Centre Court with a fourth-round contest against 19th seed and regular practice [...]
Vaughan poised to confirm retirement after Ashes snub June 28, 2009 FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan looks to have played his last first class match after a press conference was called for tomorrow at which he is widely expected to confirm his retirement. Speculation Vaughan would retire has snowballed since the 34-year-old was left out of England’s initial squad for the Ashes last week. The Yorkshire [...]
World record wages entice Eto’o to City June 28, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY are on the brink of signing striker Samuel Eto’o in a blockbusting £25m deal after Barcelona admitted being unable to compete with the Premier League club’s gargantuan spending power. City are willing to make Eto’o, 28, the highest paid player on the planet in order to pull off the grandest in a series [...]