Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

Melbourne, Jan 8 (DPA) The Australian Open tennis tournament has lost injured world No.5 five Nikolay Davydenko as the Russian withdrew due to a nagging heel injury.The opening Grand Slam of the season suffered its first high-profile defection through the pullout. Also on the possible danger list are Maria Sharapova and world No.2 Serena Williams. Neither have played for months - Sharapova has missed six months ... Full story

Sydney, Jan 7 (IANS) South African captain Graeme Smith supported an out-of-form Matthew Hayden saying the 37-year-old opener is still considered a potent force by the opponents.Smith said he’d prefer that Hayden wasn’t in the Australian team but also felt confident in the way the Proteas had shut him down in their 2-1 Test series win. “I know what he can do and what he is ... Full story

Dubai, Jan 7 (IANS) Australia retained their No.1 ranking by winning the Sydney Test but South Africa will go top if they win the return series starting next month.Australia, however, lost the three-match Test series 2-1 against South Africa and the pressure is still on Ricky Ponting’s team as the gap at the top has been closed to just five ratings points. It is the first ... Full story

Perth, Jan 7 (DPA) Unbeaten Germany moved into a Thursday showdown with the equally spotless Slovak Republic for a place in the Hopman Cup tennis final after defeating the US 2-1 Wednesday.The defeat leaves defending champion America with early plane tickets out of town after losing both of its ties. Germany with veteran Nicolas Kiefer and teenaged talent Sabine Lisicki fought to down the seeds, wrapping ... Full story

Sydney, Jan 6 (IANS) Scoreboard on the fourth day of the third and final cricket Test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground here Tuesday.Australia (1st innings) 445 South Africa (1st innings) 327 Australia (2nd innings, overnight 33/0) Matthew Hayden b Morkel 39 Simon Katich lbw b Steyn 61 Ricky Ponting b Morkel 53 Michael Hussey not out 45 Michael Clarke c Amla b Harris 41 Extras (b 8, lb ... Full story

Brisbane, Jan 6 (DPA) Novak Djokovic’s upcoming defence of his Australian Open title was plunged into chaos Tuesday as the Serb crashed out 4-6, 4-6 against Latvia’s Ernests Gublisin in his opening match at the Brisbane International tennis.The world number three was upset in his first match of the season and now has no chance this week of gaining ranking ground on Roger Federer, who ... Full story

Madrid, Jan 5 (DPA) Real Madrid and Sevilla now share third place in the Spanish Liga.Real beat Villarreal 1-0 at home, and Sevilla were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by bottom team Osasuna Sunday. These results leave both Real and Sevilla with 32 points from 17 games, one point less than second-placed Valencia, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 Saturday, and 12 less than record-breaking Barcelona, ... Full story

Sydney, Jan 3 (IANS) Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels that debutant fast bowler Doug Bollinger will prove Graeme Smith’s wrong after the South African captain criticised his selection in the Sydney Test.Smith termed Australia’s selection policy as “lacking in clarity” and also questioned the selection of Bollinger for the third and final Test here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Smith claimed the choice of ... Full story

Sydney, Jan 3 (IANS) Scoreboard on the opening day of the third and final cricket Test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground here Saturday.Australia 1st innings Mathew Hayden b Steyn 31 Simon Katich c de Villiers b Kallis 47 Ricky Ponting c Boucher b Morkel 0 Michael Hussey c Kallis b Harris 30 Michael Clarke batting 73 AB McDonald c Boucher b Ntini 15 Brad Haddin b Steyn ... Full story

Johannesburg, Jan 3 (IANS) The South African cricket squad will reap big financial benefits following its historic victory over Australia in their own back yard.Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola confirmed that as shareholders of CSA the players would share in the profits of the body. “In a way, the players are now each writing out their own cheques with their performances,” Majola told ... Full story