Rose has blossomed into Open favourite in a month July 5, 2010 JUSTIN ROSE has gone from Open outcast to bookies’ favourite in the space of four days. What a month it’s been for the young Englishman. Victory in the AT&T National only just secured Justin’s place at St Andrews next week and now, all of a sudden, he’s become a major contender as the world’s most [...]
Justin’s relishing a St Andrews return after PGA triumph July 5, 2010 JUSTIN ROSE says he is relishing next week’s Open Championship at St Andrews after his US success at the weekend. The Florida-based Englishman only booked his place in the showpiece event at the Home of Golf after his triumph at the AT&T National – his second PGA Tour victory in four weeks. Rose rocketed to [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF July 5, 2010 Armstrong fall sparks protest CYCLING: Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was among a number of high-profile riders to fall in a dramatic second stage of the Tour de France. Armstrong tumbled along with last year’s top two riders, Alberto Contador and Andy Schlek, plus British hope Bradley Wiggins, as the slick Belgian roads from Brussels to [...]
Supreme Nadal thrashes Berdych to scoop second Wimbledon crown July 4, 2010 WORLD No1 Rafael Nadal joked after claiming his second Wimbledon singles title that he might fly to South Africa to watch his native Spain play in Sunday’s World Cup final. They are not there yet – they face a daunting semi-final with Germany on Wednesday – but if they can muster a performance of the [...]
Germany are ruthless once in front July 4, 2010 DIEGO MARADONA’S handball against England in 1986 was an extraordinary moment of pure drama on which that match hinged. Similarly, all four World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa had huge turning points. In Holland’s comeback win over Brazil it was the goalkeeping blunder by Julio Cesar that tipped the balance in the favour of the [...]
Pietersen and Swann miss Tigers ODIs July 4, 2010 ENGLAND selectors insist they planned to rest out-of-sorts batsman Kevin Pietersen for the forthcoming one-day series against Bangladesh even before he was struck by injury. Three meetings with one of the game’s lesser lights – the first of which takes place on Thursday at Trent Bridge – would have provided Pietersen with the perfect chance [...]
Beaten Murray goes back to the drawing board July 4, 2010 CRESTFALLEN Andy Murray is set to take a few weeks off as he tries to figure out how to avoid becoming a perennial Grand Slam nearly-man. Murray’s latest bid to end his wait for a major title died at Wimbledon on Friday when eventual winner Rafael Nadal overpowered him in straight sets. It was the [...]
Capello has been unlucky and we’d be mad to get rid of him, says Defoe July 4, 2010 ENGLAND striker Jermain Defoe insists the whole squad is unanimously behind manager Fabio Capello after national chiefs decided to spare him the axe. The Italian has taken much of the blame for a disastrous World Cup campaign and was made to wait while his Club England paymasters weighed up whether to keep him. But Capello [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF July 4, 2010 Brazil axe boss Dunga FOOTBALL: Brazil manager Dunga has been sacked after failing to lead his team beyond the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Dunga had said he planned to leave the post after the tournament, but Brazilian football chiefs made sure by dismissing him and his staff. A successor is expected to be appointed [...]
PETACCHI PREVAILS July 4, 2010 ITALIAN veteran Alessandro Petacchi survived a chaotic final 3,000m to claim the first stage of the Tour de France – but British hope Mark Cavendish crashed out. Cavendish fell in the first of three collisions – the last a huge pile-up – before Petacchi won a sprint finish into Brussels. Swiss Fabian Cancellara retained the [...]