No stopping Davenport and Enqvist
MELBOURNE, Jan 26 — US Open champion Lindsay Davenport romped into the Australian Open women's semifinals here Tuesday as Venus Williams went to pieces when docked a point after her hair beads flew off.
Pak team's tour to
India hailed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 — Hurdles notwithstanding, Pakistan's ongoing cricket tour of India has been hailed by the youth of the country saying it would help improve ties between the two neighbours and ease "tense" atmosphere in the region.
Emerson replaced
ADELAIDE, Jan 26 — The Australian umpire who called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidharan for throwing has been stood down, the Australian cricket board said today.

Mahesh Bhupathi (left) and Leander Paes — AP/PTI

Paes-Bhupati take another leap forward MELBOURNE, Jan 26 — In-form Indian doubles maestros Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took another giant leap today in their quest for Grand Slam glory. The number 1 seeds outlasted unseeded Americans Richy Renberg and Jonathan stark 6-4 7-6 (7/5) 6-3.

Gokhale scores sensational victory
UBEDA (Spain), Jan 26 — IM norm holder C.S. Gokhale scored a sensational victory over highly-rated Russian IM Gelba Vladimir but IM
K. Sasikiran was unable to force a win as the rest of the Indians in fray lost tamely in the sixth round of the Ubeda international chess tournament here.

No stopping Davenport and Enqvist

MELBOURNE, January 26 (AFP) — US Open champion Lindsay Davenport romped into the Australian Open women's semifinals here Tuesday as Venus Williams went to pieces when docked a point after her hair beads flew off.

The top seed won 6-4, 6-0 in 62 minutes and now plays unseeded Amelie Mauresmo of France in the semifinals.

The fifth-seeded Williams lost her concentration after a bizarre incident at break point when 2-0 down in the second set, when beads from her hair sprayed all over her side of the court and she was deducted a point.

Swedish umpire Denis Overberg docked her the point and she lost the game, under a new WTA ruling brought into play when the William sisters, with their beaded hair, started playing.

"This is not a disturbance. Nobody's causing a disturbance. This has never happened to me before," she told the umpire.

She appealed to match referee Peter Ballenger but he supported the umpire and she screeched in anguish as she turned on her heel to play the next game.

But she never recovered her composure and Davenport romped home.

Mauresmo has discovered the streak of confidence that makes the difference between winning and losing.

Marc Rosset had the best statistics going into the men's quarter-finals. Then he collided with Thomas Enqvist.

Rosset's figures made him out to be the best player under pressure. But after losing in straight sets to Enqvist on Tuesday he admitted: "He just put you under pressure on every shot, so I mean it's really tough mentally and physically."

Enqvist now looks like he will become the first unseeded player since March Edmondson in 1976 to win the Australian Open

He could not really put his finger on the reason why everything was going so swingingly, especially after missing three months at the end of last season following ankle surgery.

But a 13-match unbeaten streak, which took in the Australian Hardcourt Championships and Colonial Classic, gave his confidence the vital boost it needed. "When I step on the court I've been feeling like I could possibly beat anybody in the world," he said after his straight sets win. "I feel confident. I don't have to think about too much."

ICC postpones hearing against Ranatunga

ADELAIDE, Jan 26 (Reuters) — The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today that it had postponed hearing into the allegations of misconduct against Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

ICC match referee Peter Van der Merwe said in a statement the hearing was abandoned after two hours and would be reopened at a date to be fixed.

Ranatunga was ordered to appear before the disciplinary panel after he was cited during Saturday's controversial limited-overs match against England.

Ranatunga was charged with conduct unbecoming an international player, showing dissent, intimidating an umpire and using abusive language, local media reported. A charge was also added by Van der Merwe relating to a captain being responsible for upholding the spirit of the laws.

Ranatunga led his players off the Adeleide oval in protest after Australian umpire Ross Emerson called Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralidharan for throwing.

The play was halted for about 12 minutes and a visibly angry Ranatunga and Emerson could be seen pointing fingers at each other. Ranatunga also pointed his finger at Van der Merwe during the delay.

Sri Lanka went on to post a one-wicket win in a match that also featured several clashes between players from the two teams. Ranatunga declined to speak with local media after today's hearing was postponed. The team boarded a plane to western Australia in preparation for Sri Lanka's next match against England.

Emerson replaced

ADELAIDE, Jan 26 (Reuters) —The Australian umpire who called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidharan for throwing has been stood down, the Australian cricket board (ACB) said today.

ACB chairman Denis Rogers said the board had decided to replace Ross Emerson from Friday's limited-overs match between England and Sri Lanka after they discovered he was on stress leave from his regular job.

Emerson, 44, is employed by the West Australian Ministry of Fair Trading. The ministry's chief executive, pat walker, told the Australian broadcasting corporation that he was surprised that Emerson was able to continue umpiring while he was on sick leave.

"Mr Emerson's doctor, while indicating that he's not able to work, has indicated that he believes that cricket umpiring is within his present capabilities," he said.

The Sri Lankans had complained at his appointment after Emerson no-balled Muralidharan during a match in Adelaide last weekend. Captain Arjuna Ranatunga threatened to abandon the game after he was involved in a heated argument with Emerson.

He agreed to continue after a 12- minute delay but was later charged with breaching the ICC's code of conduct on player discipline.

Pak team's tour to India hailed

ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (PTI) — Hurdles notwithstanding, Pakistan's ongoing cricket tour of India has been hailed by the youth of the country saying it would help improve ties between the two neighbours and ease "tense" atmosphere in the region.

An overwhelming 55 percent of youths were in favour of the tour while remaining opposed Pakistan team's visit across the border, a survey conducted by a private agency 'News Network International' said.

The supporters of the tour appreciated Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to allow the team to visit India and appealed to the Indian authorities to take all possible measures for Pakistan players' security.

About the psychological pressure on the players, a student of Karachi university said every country had some fanatic elements, but they do not necessarily represent the majority.

"These threats are part of the game and even while touring England, Pakistan had to face such threats," he pointed out.

Those opposing the tour cited the pitch-digging incident at Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla ground and of the Shiv Sena threats.

The opponents of Pakistan first full-tour in 12 years said the players would be under tremendous pressure which might have an adverse impact on their performance.

The survey was conducted in different educational institutions.

Gokhale scores sensational victory

UBEDA (Spain), Jan 26 (PTI) — IM norm holder C.S. Gokhale scored a sensational victory over highly-rated Russian IM Gelba Vladimir but IM
K. Sasikiran was unable to force a win as the rest of the Indians in fray lost tamely in the sixth round of the Ubeda international chess tournament here.

Gokhale won a pawn in an irregular opening and converted this advantage into a superb win to take his points tally to four from six games even as rest of the Indian team members had a highly forgettable outing here yesterday.

Sasikiran failed to capitalise on his advantage against J. Morano of Argentina and was forced to share the point. The top Indian junior opted for Samiesch variation against Morano's kings' Indian defence and was having queen for two rooks but missed a simple win to share the point.

Russian grandmaster Konstantin Landa (5.5) maintained his slender lead over the field with a victory against GM K Asrian. Fellow Russian GM Alexey Dreev, S Tiviakov and Malvodia's H Hamdouchi were following half-a-point behind.

GM norm holder Abhijit Kunte also committed simple errors in the opening and lost to Rashkovsky. Kunte opted for his usual alapine variation against Rashkovsky but made mistakes in the opening to lose a pawn and the game in 38 moves.

Paes-Bhupati take another leap forward

MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (AFP) — In-form Indian doubles maestros Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took another giant leap today in their quest for Grand Slam glory.

The number 1 seeds outlasted unseeded Americans Richy Renberg and Jonathan stark 6-4 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 in one hour 53 minutes to set up a semifinal clash with either Wayne Ferreira and Rick leach or Patrick Galbriath and Paul Haarhuis.

"We've worked really hard for the past three years and really believe a Grand Slam is within us," said Paes.

"We know what we are capable of and if we play the best we can, it'll come."

They looked comfortable in front of a packed court one, holding serve throughout, hustling the Americans off court with strong net play.

And their antics on-court have been a hit, with their chest bumping going down a storm. Paes says he does it to fire his partner.

It worked today with Bhupathi saying he had never volleyed better.

An outstanding 1998 brought the pair six titles, doubling their career total to 12, with a win-loss ratio of 52-14 and propelling them to number.2 in the world rankings.

Paes said he had recovered from foot and stomach problems that had troubled him for some time and attributed the pairing's success to camaraderie.

"We are the only two Indians on tour so we help each other improve. We are friends who understand each other, have a talent and use it together," he said.

With a potential final showdown against doubles greats Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde at stake in front of a partisan crowd, the Indian duo say they are focused but taking one game at a time.

"We have great support here, there's a strong Indian contingent and it brings out the best in us," said Bhupathi.

"There are a few things he does well and a few I do well. If we can put them together on the day, we make a hell of doubles combination."

Bhupathi says if they make the final it will be a proud day for India.

"The whole of India is expecting and willing us to win," he said.

"If we do make the final, I'm sure we're going to have 900 million people praying for us to go all the way.