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Safina stays top; Dementieva back to fourth in women's rankings |
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Written by Sheetal Mehta
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Monday, 24 August 2009 15:39 |
 Hamburg - Dinara Safina continues to lead the women's tennis rankings, while fellow Russian Elena Dementieva moved back to fourth in the women's tennis rankings issued on Monday by the WTA.
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia slipped back to fifth, while Victoria Azarenka of Belarus improved to eighth.
WTA top 10 as of August 24 (previous ranking in parenthesis): <# 1. (1) Dinara Safina, Russia, 9,810 2. (2) Serena Williams, United States, 8,907 3. (3) Venus Williams, United States, 6,865 4. (5) Elena Dementieva, Russia, 6,835 5. (4) Jelena Jankovic, Serbia, 6,620 6. (6) Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, 5,960 7. (7) Vera Zvonareva, Russia,
5,300 8. (9) Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 4,612 9. (8) Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark, 4,400 10. (10) Flavia Pennetta, Italy, 3420 <# (dpa) |
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Czech player Minar tests positive for banned substance |
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Written by Reetu Sharma
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Monday, 24 August 2009 15:35 |
 Prague - Czech tennis player Ivo Minar has tested positive for a banned substance, Czech Tennis Association president Ivo Kaderka told the CTK news agency on Monday.
Minar, ranked 66th in the world, was tested positive for pseudoephedrine after last month's Davis Cup quarter-final against Argentina, it was reported.
The Czech Republic won the tie 3-2 to reach the semi-finals but Minar lost his singles rubber against Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro.
CTK quoted Minar as denying "knowingly taking a banned substance."
The case is being investigated by the International Tennis Federation, the report added. (dpa) |
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Lahm calls for patience as pressure grows on van Gaal |
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Written by Deepak Joshi
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Monday, 24 August 2009 15:29 |
 Munich - Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm called Monday for patience as Germany's record champions attempt to take on board new coach Louis van Gaal's tactical ideas.
Bayern have got off to their worst Bundesliga start for 43 years, and after sliding to a 2-1 defeat to promoted Mainz on Saturday now face champions Wolfsburg in the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
"We knew it could be a bumpy start - and that's what we've now got," acting captain Lahm said.
The Germany defender said it would take time to adjust to van Gaal's tactics.
"There is a lot of tactical work. He has clear ideas of how every position has to be played," Lahm said.
"It's a big change for each player because this wasn't the case in the last few years."
Van Gaal was particularly disappointed with the first-half performance at Mainz who were two goals up at the break.
"Normally I wouldn't make substitutions in the first half, but this time I changed two players - and it could have been more," he said after the game.
Bayern, who were runners-up last season after sacking Juergen Klinsmann shortly before the end of the campaign, have just two points from three games.
Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge reflected the management's concern after the game, saying: "There's not a lot to analyse. Two points from three games is an unsatisfactory situation.
"The situation we're in now is dangerous. We'll take it seriously, because we need to get out of it quickly."
President Franz Beckenbauer, writing in the Bild newspaper Monday, indicated the pressure was now on van Gaal to start winning.
"Louis van Gaal has to find the right answer on Saturday against Wolfsburg," he said. (dpa) |
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England needs a hero like Botham in Headingly Test: KP |
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Written by Deepak Joshi
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Sunday, 09 August 2009 07:00 |
London, Aug. 9 : England needs a hero in the form of Ian Botham to make something of the fourth Ashes Test, which they are sight of losing inside three days, said injured batsman Kevin Pietersen.
“This match may have slipped away - although while we''re still fighting I''ll be praying for a miracle - but there''s still the Fifth Test to play and that''s when we''ll need somebody to stand up and be counted. The kind of guy who won''t see this series as a lost cause just because The Oval has a reputation for drawn matches,” said KP in article for The Sun.
“Everybody talks about Ian Botham and Bob Willis back in 1981 and that''s the perfect example of what I''m talking about. This match is, sadly, slipping away. But if it''s the same situation in the last Test, I''m sure somebody will step up,” KP added.
“This is a series where you can make a name for yourself by producing an outstanding individual performance. That''s what England need now. The team that deals with the pressure best will take the glory,” he said.
Pietersen also said that from a personal point of view, his recovery is going well and that he was looking to play in the one-day internationals although it would be foolish to name a date just 48 hours after the stitches removed. (ANI) |
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Oz `Fanatics'' claim responsibility for fire prank on English team |
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Written by Ajay Gupta
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Sunday, 09 August 2009 07:00 |
Leeds (UK), Aug. 9 : Australian cricket fans have claimed responsibility for a hotel fire alarm that roused the England team from their beds the morning of their batting collapse on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.
The Fanatics – Australian supporters who follow the Test team around the world – claim they set off the fire alarm at the Radisson Hotel in Leeds about 4.30 a. m. on Friday.
England''s Test team was evacuated with other guests and staff while two fire engines from West Yorkshire Fire Service searched the premises for the source of the alarm.
Players were left standing in the street in their pyjamas for more than 20 minutes until the all clear was given for them to return to their beds.
Warren Livingston, head of the Fanatics, told The Sunday Mail one of the 100-strong group had managed to set the alarm off with the intention of disrupting the English team''s sleep, saying it was "good old fashioned Aussie high jinks".
"Yes it was one of our guys who did it as a bit of a prank. I got a text message after it happened. At first, I thought, ''good onya'', we''re just doing our bit for Australia," news. com. au quoted Livingston, as saying.
"But I can''t condone this sort of thing. I don''t want any trouble. We''ve all had a big laugh and it might have made a difference to the way they batted," he added.
If the claim is found to be true, English cricket fans and authorities will not view the situation with any humor.
Earlier, British media reports said the alarm may have been set off by a guest who had rinsed her underwear in a bathroom sink and then left it close to a light bulb to dry.
When the underwear started to smoulder, the woman was reported to have thrown it back in the sink, but not before the room had filled with smoke and the fire alarm went off.
England''s wicket-keeper Matt Prior blamed the incident for his team''s batting collapse in the first innings of the Test. (ANI) |
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