Paris, June 2
Last year's finalists Francesca Schiavone and Li Na headed in opposite directions at the French Open on Saturday when the Italian was knocked out in the third round and the Chinese fought her way through to the last 16 with a tough win.

Schiavone, the Roland Garros winner in 2010 and runner-up to Li last year, was unlucky to run into battling American Varvara Lepchenko for the second time in a month. Lepchenko, who beat the world number 12 on Madrid's new blue clay four weeks ago, struck again, defeating Schiavone 3-6 6-3 8-6 in the midday sun on Court One.

Seventh seed Li had to fight hard against world number 36 Christina McHale of the United States before winning 3-6 6-2 6-1 and setting up a fourth-round match against Kazakh qualifier Yaroslava Schedova.

On a hot day at Roland Garros, Russian Mikhail Youzhny melted hearts when he scrawled the word "SORRY!" in the clay with the toe of his shoe after winning only six points in the first eight games of a three-set thrashing by Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer.

"I just wanted to say sorry to the fans because they came to see a beautiful match but I simply could not give them that," Youzhny told Russian reporters after the 6-0 6-2 6-2 defeat. Li struggled with her serve at the start and blamed herself for being too passive.

"In the first set I was always following what she did, feeling like she was the champion on the court," Li told a news conference. "She is a very dangerous player; I was happy I could win... because I had more experience."

Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion, had hoped to get a swift win on the Philippe Chatrier court after taking the first set against Nina Bratchikova in 28 minutes.

The Russian upped her game however, and Kvitova needed a third set to win 6-2 4-6 6-1 and go through to a meeting with Lepchenko.

Uzbekistan-born Lepchenko was delighted to reach the fourth round of a grand-slam event for the first time. "I was fighting all the way to the end, I was trying to stay with Francesca the whole time," she told a news conference.

Paes-Peya lose in men’s doubles

Klara Zakopalova beat Anastasia

Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 7-5.

Li Na beat Christina McHale 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Varvara Lepchenko beat Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-3, 8-6.

Yaroslava Shvedova beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 7-5.

Petra Kvitova beat Nina Bratchikova 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

Janko Tipsarevic beat Julien Benneteau 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Nicolas Almagro beat Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

David Ferrer beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 .

Melbourne, June 2
Unhappy over performance related payment issues, Australian players are planning to boycott the ODI tour of England next month but the Cricketers Association here said they have contingency plans in place in case the industrial stand-off is not resolved.

According to 'The Australian', the cricketers are mulling to go on strike during the one-day tour of England scheduled to be held from June 29-July 10 or the World Twenty20 at Sri Lanka in September-October.

"Relationships between players and management are heated and threatening to become as ugly as the stand-off surrounding the first player contract negotiations during Mark Taylor's captaincy (1994-1999)," the paper said.

"Cricket Australia is playing hardball in negotiations and has frozen all state and Big Bash (domestic T20) contract talks under the threat of a Aus$50,000 ($48,400) fine until the new agreement is in place," it added.

However, Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has made some contingency plans if in case the stand-off is not resolved before July 1 with Cricket Australia.

"There's only 29 days of negotiations left to run, so of course we are preparing for the eventuality of not having a deal in place before the end of July," Marsh said.

"We are looking at all of our different options," he added.

The paper said that the players and Cricket Australia were progressing towards an agreement on a controversial shift to performance-based pay when CA tabled a demand to change the definition of cricket revenue.

"The association considers that a Aus$30 million cash grab and there is frustration that the bid was tabled late in negotiations," The paper said.

"The players argue they are not asking for more money, but want to ensure they do not receive less at a time when the game is in reasonable financial health." The main sticking point in the negotiations has been the move to adjust the players' revenue share according to performance, it said.

"At the moment the players receive 26 percent of all cricket income but that would move to a sliding scale under a new deal," the paper said. "The pot from which the percentage is taken would shrink under the proposals." — PTI 

London, June 2
With only two months to go before the London Olympics, Usain Bolt is slowing down. Only off the track, though.

While still only 25 years old, the triple Olympic champion is realizing he doesn't have the energy levels he once enjoyed.

Late nights are out, and getting to bed by 11 p.m. is the new regime.

"When you become older it's the fact you don't have enough energy like once," Bolt said on Friday. "I could stay up all night and (then) go running, but now it's not the same. You need enough rest, and for me that's OK because you learn. You live and you learn."

The Jamaican sprinter may be known for his relaxed attitude and fun-loving antics, but he's dead serious when it comes to what actually matters — defending his three Olympic golds in London in August.

"You have to look at it seriously," he said. "I have a goal, I want to be a legend. And this Olympics, I think, will be the one to make it (so) because it's in London, it's central, it's where everyone is watching."

Track and field fans are watching every time Bolt runs these days, and they weren't too impressed with his start to the European season last month. Bolt clocked a downright slow — by his standards — 10.04 in winning a 100-meter race in Ostrava, Czech Republic. However, the world record-holder's blistering pace returned on Thursday night, when he electrified the Diamond League meet in Rome with a season's best 9.76.

"Take my eye of the ball? It was just one of those things," Bolt recalled in a London hotel, wearing a Bob Marley T-shirt. — AP

New Delhi, June 2
After announcing graded payment system for the senior team players, the Hockey India (HI) is set to provide a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month to the men and women's probables in the junior India set-up.

"The modalities of the graded payment system has already been finalised. The highest bracket will be that of Rs 8 lakh.

But we always had this in mind that we need to provide financial assistance to the junior players both men and women," HI secretary general Narinder Batra informed PTI.

"After discussions, we thought that each and every junior player will be provided Rs 1.2 lakh per annum (Rs 10,000/- pm). This money will be provided so that the players can buy their individual kits. The hockey sticks are costly and you require good shoes for playing on astro-turf," Batra added.

However, the goalkeepers in the probables list don't need to spend this stipend money for buying kits as HI will bear their expenses.

"For goalkeepers, the cost of the protective gears are very high. As for the other players, Rs 1.2 lakh is good enough to buy hockey sticks and shoes but for the goalkeepers, HI will buy their gears," said Batra.

However, money will be deposited in corresponding player's bank account on quarterly basis i.e. Rs 30,000 in every three months. "We have collected the bank account details of the players as well as their parents. In case of minors (some are below 18 years), we would deposit the money in their parents' bank account." — PTI

New Delhi, June 2
Olympic-bound Indian discus thrower Krishna Poonia came up with a below-par effort of 62.11m to settle for the fourth spot in the Perfontaine Classic Diamond League Meet at Eugene in Oregon, United States.

Krishna's effort was markedly lower than the national record of 64.76m that she pulled off to qualify for the London Olympics in Hawaii earlier this month.

But it was still better than 2008 Olympics gold winner Stephanie Brown Trafton of United States who had a No Mark against her name.

The gold in the event went to Sandra Perkovic (66.92m) of Croatia, who won the Shanghai leg of Diamond League Meet in 68.24m.

Meanwhile, Kavita Raut and Preeja Sreedharan finished disappointing 13th and 14th respectively in women's 10,000m, last among those who finished rge race.

Raut clocked 33:03.54 while Sreedharan, gold winner in 2010 Asian Games, returned with a timing of 33:09.24, well below her personal best and national record of 31:50.47.

Dibaba Tirunesh of Ethiopia won the race in 30:24.39 while Kiplagat Florence of Kenya and Oljira Beleynesh, also of Ethiopia, were second and third in 30:24.85 and 30:26.70.

The duo, along with 3000m steeplechase Asian Games gold medallist Sudha Singh and O P Jaisha, were earlier training in Kenya before moving base to Brescia in Northern Italy to train under Claudio Berardelli, regarded as one of the best endurance-running coaches in the world. — PTI 

The Hague, June 2
Portugal had difficulties qualifying for Euro 2012, but will nevertheless start the forthcoming tournament in Ukraine and Poland with high expectations, thanks to Real Madrid's ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 27-year-old forward enjoyed a terrific season with Real Madrid, leading the Spanish giants to the La Liga title. He even improved on his personal record of 40 goals of the 2010/2011 season by netting 46 times in the league, still four behind his rival Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona.

For the Portuguese team Ronaldo scored seven goals in eight qualification matches, which was not enough to lead Portugal directly to Euro 2012. His team finished second behind group winners Denmark, but eventually qualified by defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-offs, reported Xinhua.

After the 0-0 draw in Zenica, Portugal outclassed the Bosnians 6-2 in Lisbon, with Ronaldo scoring twice. The Portuguese thereby ended a difficult campaign on a high note. After a poor start coach Carlos Queiroz was fired in September 2010 and Bento was named as his successor.

The 42-year-old former Portuguese international and Sporting coach Bento decided his team would play in a 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldo in a free role on the left side and Manchester United winger Nani on the right.

"We have a very clear objective, first to get to the quarter-finals, then, naturally, to try to go as far as possible," Bento said.

Two veteran names are lacking in defence, Real Madrid's Ricardo Carvalho and Chelsea right back Jose Bosingwa. Both were banned by the coach after quarrels during the Euro 2012 qualification campaign.

"We are satisfied with the choices we have made and we are going to focus on the task with these players. I don't ask you to agree with my choices, but I ask you to respect it," Bento told the media after announcing his 23-man squad.

In five previous European Championships participations Portugal finished runners-up once (2004) and reached the semi-finals twice (1984, 2000). In 1996 and 2008 the quarter-finals were the final chapter.

Eight years ago a 19-year-old Ronaldo shed tears, just like the whole nation, after losing the final of the European championships on home soil against Greece (0-1). — IANS

The Hague, June 2
As runners-up of World Cup, the Netherlands will settle for nothing less than the title at Euro 2012, but the Dutch seem defensively more vulnerable than two years ago.

In his 4-2-3-1 system, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has room for one central striker and he can choose between the top scorer of the EPL, Robin van Persie, and Bundesliga top scorer, Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04).

Van Persie scored 37 goals in 48 matches for Arsenal this season, while Huntelaar netted 48 times in 48 matches for Schalke 04. Both played six games for the Netherlands in the past season, in which Van Persie scored four times and Huntelaar scored five goals.

During the final phase of the qualifying campaign van Marwijk opted for Huntelaar as central forward when both players were available.

"Of course Huntelaar and van Persie can play together, but I'm also happy that Wesley Sneijder is fit again and Arjen Robben is doing great things at Bayern Munich," van Marwijk told Dutch magazine Voetbal International.

"However, I'm not sure if they will play together at the Euros. Van Persie is an all-round attacker, but he showed he is also a killer in the box. Klaas is a goal getter and is always getting better with the squad. I believe I will choose the squad with which I can have the most success." — IANS