 |
|
|
Top seeds advance
IPL-II fireworks
‘VVS was told he isn’t required’
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amarinder, Kapil win medals
Early lapse cost me: Fisichella
|
|
The win bettered the mark held by Bjorn Borg, who won 28 straight from 1978-81. Nadal also equaled the overall tournament record, matching the 29 straight that Chris Evert won between 1974-75 and 1979-81. Evert did not play at the French Open from 1976-78. Roger Federer would have preferred to have got even more hot and bothered but that did not stop him from hotfooting into the last 64 with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spaniard Alberto Martin. “In America and Australia we play at 40, 45 degrees so it's still pretty mild for my liking,” said the Swiss referring to the court temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius. Twelve months after Sharapova competed in Paris as the world number one, the Russian turned up ranked 102nd as she is on a comeback trail following a nine-month injury layoff. Some things, however, never change as Sharapova shrieked and screeched her way to a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus. Roddick reached the second round for the first time since 2005 by smothering French wildcard Romain Jouan 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Asia enjoyed a successful day at the expense of French hopes. Wimbledon semi-finalist Zheng Jie of China beat Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1, 6-3 and Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn cast aside Camille Pin 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. Nadal was broken three times by Daniel, but the top-seeded Spaniard remained perfect on the French Open’s red clay as he tries to become the first player to win five straight titles at Roland Garros. “You always start with some nerves,” Nadal said before walking off center court. “I’m very happy with the win and to advance to the second round.” Dinara Safina, the top-seeded player in the women’s draw, and No 3 Venus Williams also advanced. Safina routed Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-0, 6-0 by spraying shots to all parts of the court. “I was just playing point by point, game by game, and it ended up like this,” said Safina, half of the only brother-sister combination alongside Marat Safin to have served as the No 1-ranked player in the world. Keothavong had a couple of chances against Safina on center court, but she wasted two break points in the third game of the first set, and led 40-0 in the fourth game of the second but couldn’t hold on. “When that’s happening to you all you want to do is get on the scoreboard, but I wasn’t able to do that,” Keothavong said. “It just kept getting harder and harder.” During the changeover for the final game, Keothavong sat in her chair with a French Open towel draped over her head. She emerged from the short break and quickly trailed 0-40, giving Safina three match points. But Keothavong saved them all, on unforced errors from Safina, and even held two game points. Safina wasted a fourth match point by hitting long and converted the fifth with a forehand winner down the line. “After I (shook) her hand, she said: ‘At least you could give me one game’,” Safina said. “I could imagine it’s not nice to feel (like that) on the court, but I was just so into myself.” Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, survived a sudden second-set slump to beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. She won the match’s first five games, while Mattek asked for a medical time-out during the first set so a trainer could look at her right wrist. Williams has never won the French Open, but she did reach the final in 2002 when she lost to little sister Serena. Overall, Williams holds a 36-12 record at Roland Garros, giving her the most wins of any player in the women’s draw at the tournament. Williams was upset in the third round in three of the last four years. In 2006, she reached the quarterfinals. No 22 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain and No 29 Agnes Szavay of Hungary also advanced to the second round of the women’s tournament, but No 23 Alisa Kleybanova of Russia was upset by Polona Hercoq of Slovenia 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. — AP
|
|
IPL-II fireworks
|
|
‘VVS was told he isn’t required’
Johannesburg, May 25 Adam Gilchrist, who took over the captaincy from Laxman midway through the first edition of the IPL when the Indian Test star was injured, revealed that Laxman did not fit into the scheme of things this time around. Laxman, who only played five matches, was not even seen in the dug-out towards the later stages of the league. He surfaced during the presentation to receive his winner's medal and was part of a happy, beaming Chargers squad with the trophy. "VVS Laxman went through a lot obviously emotionally as he had the captaincy taken away from him and he has been here and played just five games. We told him that we did not need him in the end of the tournament. "But we wanted him to contribute - his vast knowledge, experience and another thing that is a wonderful example that not only Twenty 20 players but also a senior player like him wants to learn how to play Twenty20 format. He has worked with our fitness trainer, fielding coach and head coach Darren Lehmann. So, that is exciting to see that VVS epitomises what the franchise has been this year," Gilchrist was quoted as saying Monday on the official IPL website. Asked what he thought was the turnaround for the team this year after finishing last in the inaugural season, Gilchrist said: "I think we had a team which was strong on paper. We had individual players who played well for their respective countries. "But Shane Warne’s team which was the least favourite to win the tournament changed that and they won it. May be, the same can be said about us. By seeing the record of the last year we came here as one of the least favourites to win. We were happy with not many expectations from us. We had to start again and rebuild the team." — IANS |
||
|
Amarinder, Kapil win medals
Patiala, May 25
Amarinder Singh and Kapil Kumar were selected during the second set of trials which were held at Netaji Subhash Eastern Centre, Kolkata, from April 9 to 12. A student of BA-I at Malwa College, Bathinda, Amarinder Singh, had been selected in the compound category and B.PEd student of the Akal Academy of Physical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Kapil represented India in the recurve roundhad. They recently participated in some international competitions where they put in credible performances. The players returned to India today and Amarinder directly reached the university where the sports department accorded him a warm welcome. Kapil had to rush home for an important family function. Director sports Dr Rajkumar Sharma was all praise for the players. He said, Amarinder had again proved his potential. “At a very young age, this child has achieved what other players just dream of. I wish him all the best for his future,” he added. Sharma also congratulated Kapil on his achievement. Kapil had recently participated in the first stage of the World Cup that was held at Santo Domingo, USA. On being asked about the kind of reward these players would be given, the director said the players have always been given whatever they demanded and assured that they would be suitably rewarded. On the other hand his coach Jiwanjot Singh was equally excited about the results. He said, “I have the most disciplined students and it is this discipline and sincerity that has brought them this far. I hope many more will soon make a place in the national squad.” Amarinder, who belongs to Chhatiana village in Punjab, was delighted with his performance. He gave the credit of his performance to his coach Jiwanjot Singh and father Sardar Gurmeet Singh. He said, “Inspite of being from a small village, my father provided me with the best possible facilities. My coach, too, would slog with me so that I could make it to the Indian squad and I finally did it. I am glad that I could fufill their dreams so early.” Talking about the celebrations back home he said when he called his father from Iran he was overwhelmed. Within few hours he had informed the entire village. “I have received calls from my friends from all parts of India and I am looking forward to a great celebration at our village.”
|
|
Early lapse cost me: Fisichella
Monte Carlo, May 25 Fisichella ran a near-flawless race and briefly held the eighth place to be in the points bracket. But the veteran soon dropped down a place and could not improve his position in the remainder of the race. “I just lost a position at the start and perhaps it was this that cost me the point in the end,” Fisichella said. But instead of crying over split milk, the Roman sought to see the sunny side of the race and felt the team returned with its head held high. “We have to be happy about it. It was a great step forward, to get two cars into Q2 and then to get within two seconds of a point.” he said. —
PTI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Paris, May 25
Paris, May 25
The IPL has revitalised our economy with over one billion rand being spent. Our country has benefited from advertising spend, tourism spend, and global exposure that the month long tournament has
brough. — Jacob Zuma
Test star V.V.S Laxman was conspicuous by his absence for most part of the Deccan Chargers' charge towards victory in the Indian Premier League
(IPL). It now transpires that he was told by the team management his services as a player were not required, but he would only be part of the think-tank.
