CHARLOTTE (North Carolina): Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reclaimed golf's world number-one ranking on Sunday despite falling to Rickie Fowler in a playoff at the US PGA Tour's Wells Fargo Championship.
McIlroy, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, regained the summit a week after he was supplanted by England's Luke Donald.
The two have exchanged the top spot for the past two months, and McIlroy needed only a top-seven finish at Quail Hollow to return to number one.
"It's a little consolation," McIlroy said. "I would rather win the tournament, but it's good.
"You know, I want to try and play well for the next few weeks and try and solidify my spot there at No. 1 and hopefully start by doing that next week and giving myself another chance to win."
McIlroy, who will defend his US Open title in June, will tee it up in the US tour's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday after skipping the event last year.
McIlroy, who won his first US title on the same Quail Hollow course in 2010, finished tied for second Sunday with DA Points, both parring the first playoff hole as Fowler birdied for the victory.
"Overall it's been a decent week," McIlroy said. "To come back after three weeks off and get myself in the mix -- I gave myself a chance to win -- was nice."
McIlroy said he was delighted for Fowler, another 23-year-old who has been touted as a rising star but who had been unable to land that first US Tour win until Sunday.
"It's great to see," McIlroy said. "He probably went through a lot of scrutiny and a lot of pressure trying to get that first win out of the way.
"Hopefully that'll ease the pressure a little bit."
Showing posts with label Day To Day Sports News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Day To Day Sports News. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Novak Djokovic Tested, Testy In Tight Madrid Opener
MADRID: Top seed Novak Djokovic failed to get to grips with the controversial blue clay of the Madrid Masters but still survived a struggle to reach the third round 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 over Daniel Gimeno-Traver on Tuesday.
World number one Djokovic, originally cautious in his comments about the experimental surface which has drawn fire but little praise so far from players, was unable to stay in check after playing his match.
"It's impossible to move. I hit maybe five balls, the rest went just trying to put the ball into the court. I was relying on serve and getting free points from his unforced errors.
"That was not tennis, either I need football shoes or some advice on how to play on this court.
"I cannot find the words to describe this court. It's really tough to play like this on a centre court. We cannot change anything this year, but my first impressions are not good. I don't want to be the one complaining, but I say honestly what I feel.
"We need serious discussion about the future of this blue clay."
The Serb is playing for the first time since losing the Monte Carlo final to Rafael Nadal, the second seed here who has so far led the criticism against the blue look.
Djokovic beat the Spaniard for the Madrid title a year ago, backing up that win with another for the trophy in Rome.
Djokovic advanced after a struggle from seven aces and 20 winners after losing the second set on a double-break against the number 137 ranked Spaniard.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych advanced over South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-3, paving the way for a trio of French seeds.
Number nine Gilles Simon beat Fabio Fognini 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-3 after playing his last match eight days ago in the Bucharest final against the Italian.
But Simon was scathing about the blue clay.
"I see no difference from last year, these have always been the worst court of the clay season. I could have sprained something practising," complained the Frenchman.
"There are other priorities ahead of making it blue - it should be better."
Gael Monfils, the number 12, returned after six weeks out with an abdominal injury and put out German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.
Estoril finalist Richard Gasquet won a marathon in two and three-quarter hours against Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Estoril champion Juan Martin del Potro eased past Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-2.
The two leading women both reached the third round, with top seed Victoria Azarenka made to struggle by Czech Andrea Hlavackova before emerging 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) winner.
The Belarus player was serving for a quick straight-set result but was broken as her opponent pulled level at 5-5 in the second set.
The seed had to save a set point in the 12th game to bring on a tie-breaker, which finally saw her through with 32 winners in one and three-quarter hours.
"The surface is a bit slippery, but it's the same for all of us," she said of the blue clay court surface.
"I don't like to complain - it is what it is and it won't change now."
Second seed Maria Sharapova defeated another Czech in Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-3, firing 18 winners and breaking five times.
The Russian, whose match was started before 11:00 am (0900 GMT) due to the demands of television, said that a few days of training on the blue clay surface last week paid dividends.
"It's not so much about the colour. It does look good on television. But it plays a bit different. It's about the amount of clay on the court and the way it bounces," she said.
"You have to get used to it but I came here after winning Stuttgart and got in four or five days on it. I got settled in so it's just a matter of adjusting. It's also the same for everyone."
Number 13 Ana Ivanovic defeated Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1.
World number one Djokovic, originally cautious in his comments about the experimental surface which has drawn fire but little praise so far from players, was unable to stay in check after playing his match.
"It's impossible to move. I hit maybe five balls, the rest went just trying to put the ball into the court. I was relying on serve and getting free points from his unforced errors.
"That was not tennis, either I need football shoes or some advice on how to play on this court.
"I cannot find the words to describe this court. It's really tough to play like this on a centre court. We cannot change anything this year, but my first impressions are not good. I don't want to be the one complaining, but I say honestly what I feel.
"We need serious discussion about the future of this blue clay."
The Serb is playing for the first time since losing the Monte Carlo final to Rafael Nadal, the second seed here who has so far led the criticism against the blue look.
Djokovic beat the Spaniard for the Madrid title a year ago, backing up that win with another for the trophy in Rome.
Djokovic advanced after a struggle from seven aces and 20 winners after losing the second set on a double-break against the number 137 ranked Spaniard.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych advanced over South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-3, paving the way for a trio of French seeds.
Number nine Gilles Simon beat Fabio Fognini 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-3 after playing his last match eight days ago in the Bucharest final against the Italian.
But Simon was scathing about the blue clay.
"I see no difference from last year, these have always been the worst court of the clay season. I could have sprained something practising," complained the Frenchman.
"There are other priorities ahead of making it blue - it should be better."
Gael Monfils, the number 12, returned after six weeks out with an abdominal injury and put out German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3.
Estoril finalist Richard Gasquet won a marathon in two and three-quarter hours against Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Estoril champion Juan Martin del Potro eased past Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-2.
The two leading women both reached the third round, with top seed Victoria Azarenka made to struggle by Czech Andrea Hlavackova before emerging 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) winner.
The Belarus player was serving for a quick straight-set result but was broken as her opponent pulled level at 5-5 in the second set.
The seed had to save a set point in the 12th game to bring on a tie-breaker, which finally saw her through with 32 winners in one and three-quarter hours.
"The surface is a bit slippery, but it's the same for all of us," she said of the blue clay court surface.
"I don't like to complain - it is what it is and it won't change now."
Second seed Maria Sharapova defeated another Czech in Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-3, firing 18 winners and breaking five times.
The Russian, whose match was started before 11:00 am (0900 GMT) due to the demands of television, said that a few days of training on the blue clay surface last week paid dividends.
"It's not so much about the colour. It does look good on television. But it plays a bit different. It's about the amount of clay on the court and the way it bounces," she said.
"You have to get used to it but I came here after winning Stuttgart and got in four or five days on it. I got settled in so it's just a matter of adjusting. It's also the same for everyone."
Number 13 Ana Ivanovic defeated Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1.
Liverpool Avenge Cup Loss To Deny Chelsea Fourth
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool scored three times in nine first-half minutes to avenge Saturday's FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea as they beat the Champions League finalists 4-1 at Anfield on Tuesday.
Michael Essien's own-goal and goals from Jordan Henderson, Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey ensured Fernando Torres endured a nightmare return to his former club since leaving for £50 million ($81 million) in January 2011.
The defeat means Chelsea must beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19 if they are to secure a place in the competition next season as they can now no longer finish fourth in the Premier League.
Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo made wholesale changes to his side, but the Italian will be concerned the FA Cup winners have now won just one of their last five league games.
Rarely have Liverpool looked forward to the end of the season so much after enduring a campaign where a League Cup final win has failed to mask their mediocre league form.
They lost their last two games at Anfield while their fans had been starved of a home league win since March 13 and even this victory left the Reds, managed by Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, in a relatively lowly eighth place.
Chelsea went into the game having secured more away points (25) than Liverpool had managed at home (24).
But di Matteo's decision to rest his key players ahead of the Champions League final back-fired spectacularly.
Chelsea made eight changes to the side that started the 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley.
Liverpool, who were without skipper Steven Gerrard, were clearly desperate to put right the wrongs from a disappointing performance at the weekend.
And they never looked back after Essien turned the ball into his own net in the 19th minute while trying to clear from Luis Suarez.
Two minutes earlier Branislav Ivanovic rattled the woodwork after a corner from six-yards when the unmarked Chelsea defender should have done better.
Chelsea captain John Terry then slipped to pave the way for Henderson to double Liverpool's lead in the 25th minute, the former Sunderland player producing a delightful finish past keeper Ross Turnbull.
And Agger made it 3-0 in the 28th minute when the Dane nodded home after clever work by Andy Carroll.
Former Liverpool striker Torres, who had managed just seven goals in his previous 44 Premier League appearances for the Londoners, was denied by the woodwork before half time with an angled shot.
Liverpool's Stewart Downing, yet to score a league goal since joining from Aston Villa in pre-season, then twice hit the woodwork himself before the break.
Having struck the bar with a dipping 25-yard attempt, the winger then hit a post from the penalty spot after Ivanovic had fouled Carroll in the dying moments of a thrilling first half.
Chelsea did reduce their deficit in the 50th minute.
Ramires scored against the Reds at Wembley and the Brazilian was at it again as Florent Malouda's free-kick hit his midriff before trickling into the net.
But Chelsea's revival was short-lived thanks to Turnbull.
The keeper's attempted clearance landed at the feet of Shelvey, who rifled a first-time effort from 30-yards into the net in front of the Kop to make it 4-1 in the 61st minute.
There was time for Liverpool to bring on 17-year-old Raheem Sterling while Maxi Rodriguez appeared to wave goodbye to fans when he was substituted in the closing stages.
Michael Essien's own-goal and goals from Jordan Henderson, Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey ensured Fernando Torres endured a nightmare return to his former club since leaving for £50 million ($81 million) in January 2011.
The defeat means Chelsea must beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19 if they are to secure a place in the competition next season as they can now no longer finish fourth in the Premier League.
Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo made wholesale changes to his side, but the Italian will be concerned the FA Cup winners have now won just one of their last five league games.
Rarely have Liverpool looked forward to the end of the season so much after enduring a campaign where a League Cup final win has failed to mask their mediocre league form.
They lost their last two games at Anfield while their fans had been starved of a home league win since March 13 and even this victory left the Reds, managed by Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, in a relatively lowly eighth place.
Chelsea went into the game having secured more away points (25) than Liverpool had managed at home (24).
But di Matteo's decision to rest his key players ahead of the Champions League final back-fired spectacularly.
Chelsea made eight changes to the side that started the 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley.
Liverpool, who were without skipper Steven Gerrard, were clearly desperate to put right the wrongs from a disappointing performance at the weekend.
And they never looked back after Essien turned the ball into his own net in the 19th minute while trying to clear from Luis Suarez.
Two minutes earlier Branislav Ivanovic rattled the woodwork after a corner from six-yards when the unmarked Chelsea defender should have done better.
Chelsea captain John Terry then slipped to pave the way for Henderson to double Liverpool's lead in the 25th minute, the former Sunderland player producing a delightful finish past keeper Ross Turnbull.
And Agger made it 3-0 in the 28th minute when the Dane nodded home after clever work by Andy Carroll.
Former Liverpool striker Torres, who had managed just seven goals in his previous 44 Premier League appearances for the Londoners, was denied by the woodwork before half time with an angled shot.
Liverpool's Stewart Downing, yet to score a league goal since joining from Aston Villa in pre-season, then twice hit the woodwork himself before the break.
Having struck the bar with a dipping 25-yard attempt, the winger then hit a post from the penalty spot after Ivanovic had fouled Carroll in the dying moments of a thrilling first half.
Chelsea did reduce their deficit in the 50th minute.
Ramires scored against the Reds at Wembley and the Brazilian was at it again as Florent Malouda's free-kick hit his midriff before trickling into the net.
But Chelsea's revival was short-lived thanks to Turnbull.
The keeper's attempted clearance landed at the feet of Shelvey, who rifled a first-time effort from 30-yards into the net in front of the Kop to make it 4-1 in the 61st minute.
There was time for Liverpool to bring on 17-year-old Raheem Sterling while Maxi Rodriguez appeared to wave goodbye to fans when he was substituted in the closing stages.
On A High, Mumbai Ready For Bangalore
MUMBAI: As Team Mumbai and Team Bangalore square off in a potentially mouth-watering IPL clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night, you can't but marvel at how both teams are battling similar problems. Barring the fact that the hosts are third on the points table, compared to the men-in-red's fifth, both Mumbai and Bangalore, have an identical tale to narrate in IPL 5.
The teams have overly depended on two batsmen to either set a big score or chase down totals. While Mumbai must thank Rohit Sharma (293 runs from 11 games @29.30) and Ambati Rayudu (208 runs from 11 matches @34.66) for scripting unbelievable heists, the visitors have engineered miraculous jailbreaks through the efforts of West Indies' Chris Gayle (433 runs from 10 games) and talented South African, AB de Villiers (292 runs from 11 matches).
There's another similarity in the form of underperforming captains, but world class spinners at the international level, leading the teams. Harbhajan Singh, captain of Mumbai, may have got 406 sticks in 98 Tests, but in 11 games this IPL, he has picked up five wickets at 50.20. Meanwhile, Team Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori has also 'grabbed' five wickets at 47. He too has 359 Test scalps in 111 Tests.
Mind you, both have economy rates of 6.78 and 6.71 respectively , which for a spinner, are excellent. Vettori, though, even dropped
himself in the last game to accommodate Muralitharan and may do that again. Want more? Sample this. Both have an interesting home record against each other . Mumbai haven't beaten Bangalore at their traditional home venues, Wankhede Stadium and the CCI. (They beat them in the semifinal of IPL three, but that was held at the DY Patil ground, which is not their home venue). Bangalore too haven't beaten Mumbai at Chinnaswamy.
The two teams have also come off stunning wins over the weekend. Mumbai beat Chennai thanks to Dwayne Smith's pyrotechnics in the last over, while Bangalore mastered Hyderabad, after De Villiers showed a combination of hockey, cricket and fencing skills during his 17-ball stay.
The one thing that separates the two teams though is bowling . Mumbai have perhaps the best T20 bowler in history, Lasith Malinga. With 20 wickets from just eight games, the Sri Lankan slinger, has made a stunning return after missing three games due to a back injury . He averages a surreal 8.45 per wicket and consumes a batsman every 9.4 balls. What's more, in a format where an economy rate of seven runs per over, is considered acceptable, he concedes just 5.36 per over.
Any guesses who Harbhajan will throw the ball to if and when Gayle and De Villiers get going? With almost 60% of the matches ending in the last over, punters betting on another close finish should go home rich. PS: A word of caution for those sitting in the North and South stands. Wear a nose mask. With short straight boundaries, you're right in Gayle's zone.
The teams have overly depended on two batsmen to either set a big score or chase down totals. While Mumbai must thank Rohit Sharma (293 runs from 11 games @29.30) and Ambati Rayudu (208 runs from 11 matches @34.66) for scripting unbelievable heists, the visitors have engineered miraculous jailbreaks through the efforts of West Indies' Chris Gayle (433 runs from 10 games) and talented South African, AB de Villiers (292 runs from 11 matches).
There's another similarity in the form of underperforming captains, but world class spinners at the international level, leading the teams. Harbhajan Singh, captain of Mumbai, may have got 406 sticks in 98 Tests, but in 11 games this IPL, he has picked up five wickets at 50.20. Meanwhile, Team Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori has also 'grabbed' five wickets at 47. He too has 359 Test scalps in 111 Tests.
Mind you, both have economy rates of 6.78 and 6.71 respectively , which for a spinner, are excellent. Vettori, though, even dropped
himself in the last game to accommodate Muralitharan and may do that again. Want more? Sample this. Both have an interesting home record against each other . Mumbai haven't beaten Bangalore at their traditional home venues, Wankhede Stadium and the CCI. (They beat them in the semifinal of IPL three, but that was held at the DY Patil ground, which is not their home venue). Bangalore too haven't beaten Mumbai at Chinnaswamy.
The two teams have also come off stunning wins over the weekend. Mumbai beat Chennai thanks to Dwayne Smith's pyrotechnics in the last over, while Bangalore mastered Hyderabad, after De Villiers showed a combination of hockey, cricket and fencing skills during his 17-ball stay.
The one thing that separates the two teams though is bowling . Mumbai have perhaps the best T20 bowler in history, Lasith Malinga. With 20 wickets from just eight games, the Sri Lankan slinger, has made a stunning return after missing three games due to a back injury . He averages a surreal 8.45 per wicket and consumes a batsman every 9.4 balls. What's more, in a format where an economy rate of seven runs per over, is considered acceptable, he concedes just 5.36 per over.
Any guesses who Harbhajan will throw the ball to if and when Gayle and De Villiers get going? With almost 60% of the matches ending in the last over, punters betting on another close finish should go home rich. PS: A word of caution for those sitting in the North and South stands. Wear a nose mask. With short straight boundaries, you're right in Gayle's zone.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
By Retiring, Rahul Dravid Has Sent Team A Message: Sourav Ganguly
In Pics: Rahul Dravid's glorious Test career | Rahul Dravid Profile | Statistical highlights of Rahul Dravid's Test career | Dravid bids adieu
I can't say if it's a good time to quit because there is no such thing! Like other areas of life, when you do something with real passion and devotion, it's really hard to move away from it. But he has taken a really hard decision and sent a message to the team.
I believe Dravid formed one of the four pillars around which revolved India's efforts to rise to the top of world cricket. The team was going through a rebuilding phase when Dravid and me joined the team and all of us worked really hard to turn out fortunes around.
My first encounter with Dravid was way back in 1990-91 during India's Under-19 tour to England. His talent was already apparent then but we didn't stay in touch after that. The next time I really got to know him was during our debut series against England in 1996.
That Lord's Test will remain one of our fondest cricketing memories. Both of us were feeling the nerves in the middle but kept egging ourselves on. He was really unlucky not to complete a well-deserved century. Without a shadow of a doubt, he was the best No. 3 batsman in Test cricket of his generation. But to his credit he worked on improving his batting in one-day cricket.
He was also a team man to the core. He didn't blink an eyelid when the team needed his services as a wicketkeeper during the 2003 World Cup. We played as a complete unit, which proved to be one of our strengths.
He knows that once again it's time for a change and he needed to step away. I applaud him for his courage.
CA's Trophy That Was Never Handed To Tendulkar
CA planned to present the batting legend a nice little memento after he scored his 100th international hundred during the just concluded tour Down Under, the 'Australian' reported.
Cushioned in a metal box, the trophy, featuring a golden Kookaburra ball on a plinth, criss-crossed Australia and followed Tendulkar at every venue only to fail to find the intended recipient.
"Cricket Australia said the Sachin Trophy was en route from Brisbane, where India played their last tri-series league match, to Melbourne (the venue of first tri-series finals), perchance India made the finals," the newspaper said under the headline 'Sachin gives us a Godot moment'.
Tendulkar, however, received a special presentation from the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) at the Adelaide and was also presented with a sculpted bust of Don Bradman in Sydney.
Interestingly, the plaque on the bust presented to Tendulkar read "in whom Sir Donald Bradman saw something of himself", the newspaper said.
While Tendulkar raised hopes of getting to the elusive feat during the Test series against Australia, with a fluent 73 in the series opener at Melbourne and another 80-run knock during the second Test at Sydney, he looked a distant shadow of his self in the ODI tri-series that followed.
Tendulkar scored 143 runs in seven outings in the tri-series at an average 20.42 with his highest being the 48 against Sri Lanka at Perth.
India Seek Redemption At Asia Cup
Hosts Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the opening fixture of the four-nation tournament which will conclude on March 22.
Bangladesh have not won a single ODI series in the four they played last year, even losing 2-3 to Zimbabwe in a five-match rubber when they visited the African country. They lost by identical 0-3 to Australia and Pakistan and 1-2 to West Indies, all at home.
The hosts were also mired in controversies in the run-up to the tournament with young wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim in the dock after voicing his concerns about player payments in the Bangladesh Premier League and had a 24-hour wait before he was made captain.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal was dropped by the Board chief, then asked to prove his fitness -- despite being passed fit by the team doctor two days earlier -- and then picked again.
In the middle of it all, chief selector Akram Khan, who happens to be Tamim's uncle, quit over claims of interference.
The young side, however, cannot be taken lightly as Bangladesh can be giant-killers on their day and the other three established sides of world cricket can hardly afford to be complacent.
The unpredictable Pakistan, on the other hand, would want to begin their campaign with a win with a new coach Dav Whatmore taking charge. It will be Whatmore's first assignment with the team and he will be hoping to make an impression straightaway.