Nadal: I’ll give 200 per cent to be fit for Wimbledon June 9, 2009 WORLD No1 Rafael Nadal admitted yesterday he faces a battle to recover from a knee injury in time to defend his Wimbledon title. Nadal pulled out of this week’s Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club because of the problem, which tests have revealed to be tendonitis in both kneecaps. The Spaniard has little more than two [...]
PAKISTAN EASE THROUGH June 9, 2009 PAKISTAN secured their place in the World Twenty20 Super Eights with a comfortable 82-run victory over England’s conquerors, the Netherlands, at Lord’s. Targeting 175-5, the Dutch collapsed to 93 all out with leg-spinner Shahid Afridi (pictured right) posting 4-11. In the later game, South Africa beat New Zealand by just one run in a low-scoring [...]
Queen’s doubles exit for Murray June 9, 2009 TENNIS: British No1 Andy Murray and Australian Lleyton Hewitt went down 6-4, 6-3 to Lucasz Kubot and Oliver Marach in the men’s doubles of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s last night. Murray opens his singles account against Andreas Seppi, of Italy, today as the No1 seed. World No2 Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Halle [...]
Exiles opener for Leinster June 9, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Heineken Cup champions Leinster will begin their title defence next season in a pool which includes London Irish, Scarlets and Brive. Runners-up and Premiership champions Leicester face Ospreys, Clermont Auvergne and Viadana in Pool 3, while Harlequins and Sale line up in Pool 5 alongside Toulouse and Cardiff Blues. Northampton are in Pool [...]
F1 civil war nears resolution June 9, 2009 FORMULA ONE: F1 teams are said to be on the verge of closing in on an agreement to end the power battle with the sport’s governing body, the FIA. The two parties have been in dispute over a proposed £40m budget cap which has forced FOTA, the teams’ umbrella group, to threaten a boycott for [...]
Woodman handed Wasps role June 9, 2009 RUGBY UNION: England World Cup winner Trevor Woodman has joined Wasps as their new forwards’ coach. Former prop Woodman, 32, said: “Personally and professionally I am hugely excited by the challenge that lies ahead.” Woodman is joined at the club by former Gaelic football coach John McCloskey, who takes on a newly-created skills coach role.
Capello: Early goal will open floodgates June 9, 2009 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello has urged his side to keep the notoriously expectant Wembley crowd off their backs by scoring an early goal against Andorra tonight. That has proved beyond England in their last two meetings with the minnows; a goalless first half famously provoked a barracking from frustrated supporters in Barcelona in 2007. [...]
Fans offered refunds over Tube strike June 9, 2009 ENGLAND face the prospect of playing in front of a half-empty Wembley tonight after fans were offered refunds because of the Tube strike. Industrial action on the London Underground will severely restrict supporters’ travel options, while road and rail networks are expected to be swollen by extra passengers. The Football Association said no additional transport [...]
McMahon group plans Newcastle bid June 9, 2009 SINGAPORE-based investment company the Profitable Group has emerged as a leading contender to buy Newcastle United from beleaguered owner Mike Ashley. The company, whose board includes former Liverpool and England midfielder Steve McMahon, is said to want to retain Alan Shearer as manager. The Profitable Group has previously been linked with buying the Magpies, who [...]
SUMMER SALES June 9, 2009 First Kaka, now Ronaldo for RealREAD MADRID president Florentino Perez began his pursuit for Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo last night insisting he would do “everything possible” to land the Portuguese star. Perez is building a new team of ‘galacticos’ after securing the £59m transfer of Kaka on Monday night, and is now set to test [...]