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Ivanovic prevails in Paris Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic celebrates after defeating Russia’s Dinara Safina in the French Open final match at Roland Garros in Paris on Saturday. Ivanovic won 6-4, 6-3. — AFP
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Nadal stronger than ever
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Federer can win: Borg
Bangladesh tri-series Meteoric rise Twenty20 Champions League
this year
Pak keen to keep up winning run
Time for Croatia to end goal drought
Santosh Trophy
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Ivanovic prevails in Paris
Paris, June 7 Last year’s finalist, Ivanovic, who will become world number one on Monday, was too powerful for Marat Safin’s younger sister, sealing a straightforward victory after one hour 38 minutes. “This was amazing. I still can’t believe it could happen,” Ivanovic said in a courtside interview. “I think we both played a nervous match, we both had lots of chances and I am just happy I kept my composure at the end. Last year’s final was a great learning experience for me, so I am just so thrilled”. Safina, who was playing her first grand slam final, added: “It was a great experience, I hope I can come back here next year”. With just-retired, four-times champion Justine Henin watching from the stands, the Serbian pushed Safina far behind her baseline and the Russian found herself trailing 4-1 in the opening set. Safina, however, pulled a break back in the sixth game then held serve to love under threatening skies. In the eighth game, she rallied from 0-40, winning five points in a row to level the contest but the 20-year-old Serbian went another break up. After saving a break point with a flat forehand, Ivanovic bagged the set after 45 minutes on her second opportunity when Safina put a backhand long. Ivanovic won a 26-stroke rally in the third game of the second set, taking the game on Safina’s serve. She watched her opponent smash a racket on the red dirt and held serve. Safina, who came from match point down in her fourth-round and quarterfinal matches against compatriots Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva, could not fight back this time, bowing out with a missed forehand. — Reuters
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Paris, June 7 Bjorn Borg prevailed on the Paris clay from 1978 to 1981 and it would take a mighty effort from Federer to prevent Nadal from joining the Swede in the tournament’s hall of fame. Nadal dropped only 25 games en route to the last four this year — the fewest number dropped by a man reaching the semifinal of a grand slam.
However, the 12-times grand slam champion believes he has improved and will have his chances on Centre Court against Nadal, who has a 27-0 record at Roland Garros since making his debut in 2005 when he beat Argentine Mariano Puerta in the final. “It’s going to be a different match. Because Rafa is a lefty, that changes the whole dynamics of the match,” said Federer. The only victory for Federer came last year in the final of the Hamburg Masters, which Nadal won this year against the Swiss 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 after trailing 5-1 in the opening set. In the Monte Carlo final in April, Federer lost 7-5 7-5 after leading 4-0 in the second set, suggesting he could suffer from a complex against the clay-court machine. — Reuters
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Federer can win: Borg
Paris, June 7 “A lot of people say no one can beat Nadal tomorrow, the way he’s been playing. But I think Roger has a really, really good chance tomorrow,” said Borg, the winner of six French Open and five Wimbledon titles. “It’s the best I’ve seen Roger play on clay-court for the last three years. He’s made a few changes this year. He’s slightly more patient when he plays. He’s slightly more aggressive. He’s using his forehand more in a different way and I think he’s feeling more comfortable and more confident on the clay when he plays.So that’s why the final tomorrow is going to be very interesting.” “It’s one more match to go for Roger. For him, it’s a huge match tomorrow,” said Borg. “He never won Paris and that’s his biggest goal. If you win Paris, no doubt he’s the greatest player who ever played the game.” Borg said as Nadal was also chasing a record -- to become only the second man after the great Swede to win four in a row in Paris since the event went international in 1925 -- the Spaniard would be a formidable obstacle in Federer’s path.
— Reuters |
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Sverkos sinks Switzerland Basel, June 7 The 24-year-old striker, who only made his international debut last week, beat the Swiss offside trap in the 70th minute to score his first goal for his country and complete what turned out to be a miserable afternoon for the home side. Though they largely dominated a lively Group A game, the Swiss not only lost but suffered a huge blow just before halftime when Alex Frei, who last week became their all-time top scorer with his 35th goal, limped off in tears with a knee injury. He left the field with his left knee heavily bandaged and did not return for the second half, but went to the dugout on crutches 25 minutes before the end of the game. The Swiss felt his absence too, because none of their enterprising approach work paid dividends and the nearest they came to scoring was when substitute Johan Vonlanthen hit the bar 10 minutes from time. After a short quirky, opening ceremony featuring a snow queen, cows and skiers in an Alpine-themed show, Switzerland’s footballers were quick to rise to the occasion when the match began. They made the brighter start with Frei shooting wide and Valon Behrami firing straight at Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech in the opening 16 minutes. Frei was on target in the 36th minute when Cech could only parry a powerful 30-metre drive and he was lucky to see Marco Streller flagged for offside just as he was about to unleash a shot. Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio was rarely tested throughout the match, but they now have a mountain to climb if they are to qualify from a group which also includes Portugal and Turkey, who were meeting in Geneva later.
— Reuters
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Gony replaces Sreesanth
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 7 Gony had claimed 17 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 26.05 for IPL runners-up Chennai Super Kings in the Twenty20 Tournament, and had impressed with his big hitting display too. Sreesanth was ruled out due to a side strain he had sustained in the IPL semi-final match between Kings Lion Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in which he had bowled just one over, conceding seven runs. BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a media release here today that Sreesanth, after being assessed by Dr. Kinja at Bangalore to find out the extent of his injury, needed about two more weeks to fully recover from his side strain, and therefore it was decided to include Gony in the team for Bangladesh. Shah said the two-week rehabilitation programme for Sreesanth in Bangalore will help him get fit for the Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan next month. Gony, who has played just five-first class matches, is the third player to gain an India cap because of the display in the IPL, to follow Baroda all-rounder Yousuf Pathan and Hyderabad left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
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Meteoric rise Chandigarh, June 7 Gony edged out more fancied and experienced rivals VRV Singh and Munaf Patel, to gain a berth in the week-long one-day series, which gets under with opening match betwen Pakistan and Bangladesh at Dhaka tomorrow. Gony’s selection is the culmination of a dream run which started with his unexpected selection to the Punjab Ranji Trophy nearly six months ago. Unexpected because he got a look-in in the Punjab squad only because of the sudden exodus of regular seamers to the ICL. It was his sterling show in the Deodhar Trophy for North Zone early this year after his non-too-impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy matches that made one take notice of the bowler. It was the Deodhar Trophy matches, which gave Gony a number of wickets as well as the confidence to excel at that level. His performance in the IPL, where he played for the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings and shared new ball bowlers like Makhaya Ntini and Albie Morkel, was an eye-opener. The performance thrust the well built seamer on to the centrestage. Gony scalped 17 wickets from 16 games, the highest from his side, helping Chennai Super Kings finish runners-up to Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition of the IPL. What is remarkable about Gony is that he remains unflustered at crunch moments. Bowling with a lot of heart and sticking to basics, Gony came out triumphant on most of the occasions. Blessed with good height (6’4’’), strong bowling action and ability to hit the deck hard while maintaining good line and length, the 24-year-old displayed all ingredients that a successful fast bowler needed. “The biggest plus about the seamer is that he is not overawed by the occasion. A fighter to the core, Gony has the ability to give his best irrespective of the enormity of the occasion,” Sukhwinder Tinku, Gony’s coach, said. During the IPL matches, he was lucky to bowl under someone as cool as Mohinder Singh Dhoni, who never put any pressure on the bowler. He told the seamer to stick to his basics and not to bother much about the reputation of the batsman, Tinku, who has been Gony’s coach ever since he was eleven years old, said. Tinku said Gony was a keen student of the game and easily grasped whatever was told to him. After Yusuf Pathan and Pragyan Ojha, Gony is the third player from the IPL to make it to the Indian squad. Having been selected to represent so early in his career, it is now up to Gony to keep up the good work and make a mark for himself.
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Twenty20 Champions League
this year
London, June 7 The competition, which follows the successful launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, will feature two teams each from India, England, Australia and
South Africa. An ECB statement said the winners of the tournament, to be played over 10 days in late September and early October, would receive $5 million. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings from India, the Titans from Pretoria and KwaZulu Natal Dolphins representing South Africa and Western Australian and Victoria from Australia will take part. The finalists of England's T20 competition will complete the lineup.
— Reuters
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Pak keen to keep up winning run
Dhaka, June 7 Pakistan, led by young Shoaib Malik, had whitewashed Bangladesh at home 5-0 in April and look certain to assert their dominance though Malik termed the hosts as "tough customers" at home. "On home conditions they play a lot better and we got to be careful about it. I want to win the first game, which would raise our confidence levels and we would know how to play in Bangladesh since we are playing here after a long time," Malik has said. Bangladesh have not shown consistency but have put up fighting totals against both South Africa and Pakistan this year. However, they need to raise their game if they dream of upsetting their formidable rivals. The hosts' performance would depend largely on the showing of their skipper Mohammed Ashraful and the top-order, which has been strengthened by the addition of wicket-keeper batsman Mushafiqur Rahim. If their top-five batsmen could fire they can make a fight out of it. However, it would enormous task for their bowlers to contain rival batting line-up studded with reliable Salman Butt at the top and Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf in the middle apart from hard hitters in Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi. The hosts have dropped Junaid Siddque in favour of uncapped fast bowler Dolar Mahmud, who has been under the tutelage of Dennis Lille at MRF Pace academy. Pakistan have a good attack even without detained Asif and banned Shoaib Akhtar as Sohail Tanvir, highest wicket taker in the inaugural IPL, provides enough sting and potency to it. Umar Gul is equally effective and Bazid Khan and Wahab Riaz give options to skipper Malik to field a balanced attack. Looking at the strengths and weaknesses of both the teams, Pakistan undoubtedly start as favourite. Teams from: Bangladesh:
Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Mashrafe Mortaza (vice-capt), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza, Shahriar Nafees, Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehrab Hossain (jnr), Dolar Mahmud. Pakistan:
Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Sohail Khan, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Naumanullah.
— PTI |
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Time for Croatia to end goal drought
Austria, June 7 Olic and his colleagues launch their Euro 2008 campaign against co-hosts Austria in Vienna tomorrow. ''Although our (injured) top scorer Eduardo da Silva is not here I think we have enough firepower up front as all five strikers have worked hard in training and it's time we delivered,'' Olic told reporters yesterday.. Striker Olic, who netted Croatia's second goal against England, is hoping the team can reproduce the performance at Wembley that he said would always live in his memory. ''We need to repeat that tomorrow and I would gladly settle for the same scoreline,'' he said.
Coach Slaven Bilic said Croatia would have to show respect for the co-hosts, who are rank outsiders for the tournament. ''We will not underestimate them for one second because they have had two years to build a side capable of upsetting more heralded rivals,'' said Bilic. ''On the other hand we want to make a good start and we have a lot of faith in this squad because the players have never been in better physical shape than they are now.'' It will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides. Croatia have won all three friendlies against Austria, including a 4-1 drubbing the last time they clashed in Vienna in 2006. Croatia may be favourites but Austria coach Josef Hickersberger said his side was in tip-top shape. ''The attitude is excellent, most players are in absolutely great form and we are very optimistic about giving the Croats a good game,'' he said. Ballack bids to lead Germany's revival
Switzerland: Nervous Germany need a captain's performance from Michael Ballack against Poland tomorrow to revive the spirit of the 2006 World Cup and end a bleak run at the European Championship finals. Germany last won a match in these championships in the 1996 final and even their unbeaten record against Poland (11 wins and four draws in 15 games since 1933) will not stop them feeling jittery heading into their Group B opener in Klagenfurt. ''You're always nervous,'' said Ballack, who has been back to his commanding best in recent matches for Chelsea. ''But we know we've worked as hard as possible to get here. We have to show bite, will-power and positive aggression.'' Germany, three-time European champions, beat Poland in the group phase of their home World Cup two years ago and Ballack believes a win could set off another wave of euphoria back home.
— Reuters |
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Crowd trouble mars Punjab match
Srinagar, June 7 A section of the crowd, numbering around 200, crashed through the fencing and ran all over the pitch which led the players running towards the dressing room for safety and immediate stopping of the match. The match will resume from the same point tomorrow at the same venue at 8. am. The source of trouble was the clash between mediapersons and the tournament organisers, which blocked the view of the crowd when Punjab took 1-0 lead through a fabulous strike by Sukhwinder Singh in the 68th minute. The clash between the mediapersons and the organisers for alleged misbehavior by the latter distracted the crowd who started pelting stones towards the area of commotion just as Sukhwinder scored his goal. Angry at the turn of events, the crowd vented their frustration by jumping over the fence and invaded the pitch which led the match to be stopped by the referee. Several officials of Jammu and Kashmir team were roughed up by the mob who also vented their anger to the security forces posted at the stadium. Jammu and Kashmir Football Association president Zameer Ahmad Thakur at first announced that the match was abandoned. But later, the disciplinary committee held a meeting and decided to hold the remaining part of the match tomorrow at the same venue. “The match will resume for the remaining 22 minutes at 8 am tomorrow at the same venue,” Thakur said after the disciplinary committee meeting. — PTI
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Paris, June 7
New Delhi, June 7
Austria, June 7
“I was not expecting to play at this level. I was very dominant on the court. I could throw the ball anywhere I wanted. I was dominating both on my forehand and backhand and I didn’t have to think that I could make mistakes,” said Nadal. Swiss Federer, on the other hand, looked clumsy in his 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 defeat of France’s Gael Monfils on Friday, alternating brilliant shots with horrible unforced errors, spraying his forehand all over the place. 
Jeev on top at Austrian Open