Venus Williams claimed her maiden Billie Jean King Cup title with victory over both Svetlana Kuznetsova and Kim Clijsters at Madison Square Garden.
The world number five edged a tense semi-final with Kuznetsova 6-4 before battling past Belgian Clijsters 6-4 3-6 7-5 in the final of the four-player event.
Williams, who came into the exhibition tournament in fine form having just retained her Acapulco crown, broke Clijsters in the first game of the final and then held all of her serves to win the first set.
A straight-sets victory looked on the cards when Williams broke early in the second, however former world number one Clijsters produced an inspired fightback to claim the set 6-3 and force a decider.
Roared on by the near-12,000 strong crowd, Venus then claimed a decisive break in game 12 of the final set to claim the $400,000 prize.
"I always feel really confident on match point, so I love getting to that match point," Williams said. "At quadruple match point I felt nice."
Earlier, Clijsters beat Serbian beauty Ana Ivanovic 7-6 in the first of the one-set semi-finals, outscoring the 22-year-old and 2008 French Open champion 7-2 in the tiebreaker.
Williams came from a break down to beat third-ranked Kuznetsova, the 2009 French Open winner, in the second semi-final 6-4. Kuznetsova took a 2-0 lead but struggled with her serve.
Down 15-40 in the final game, the 24-year-old Russian double-faulted on her to hand Williams the match.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Chief to Miss Triumph
Mille Chief has been ruled out of the JCB Triumph Hurdle by trainer Alan King.
One of the ante-post favourites for the race, the juvenile missed his intended warm-up at Kempton at the weekend through lameness.
King had hoped the youngster would still make the Festival but although he has reported some improvement, he needs more time to recover.
"Mille Chief is getting better and we can see improvement, but we have basically run out of time to make the Triumph.
"You can't go half-cocked to Cheltenham - even 90% is not good enough.
"But I remain very hopeful that we will be able to get him ready in time for Aintree and Punchestown.
"Mille Chief is a very good horse and I still have a lot of faith in him and I am not prepared to take any risks and feel it best we make an early decision so as to keep the betting public fully informed.
"He'll miss Cheltenham and we'll monitor the situation, but I'd be optimistic we'll make Liverpool."
One of the ante-post favourites for the race, the juvenile missed his intended warm-up at Kempton at the weekend through lameness.
King had hoped the youngster would still make the Festival but although he has reported some improvement, he needs more time to recover.
"Mille Chief is getting better and we can see improvement, but we have basically run out of time to make the Triumph.
"You can't go half-cocked to Cheltenham - even 90% is not good enough.
"But I remain very hopeful that we will be able to get him ready in time for Aintree and Punchestown.
"Mille Chief is a very good horse and I still have a lot of faith in him and I am not prepared to take any risks and feel it best we make an early decision so as to keep the betting public fully informed.
"He'll miss Cheltenham and we'll monitor the situation, but I'd be optimistic we'll make Liverpool."
Whiteoak Retired to Paddocks
Former Cheltenham Festival winner Whiteoak has been retired after suffering a minor setback.
The mare, trained by Donald McCain, landed the inaugural running of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival and finished 12th in the Champion Hurdle 12 months later.
But after suffering an injury connections have decided to err on the side of caution with a career in the paddocks now beckoning.
"Unfortunately Whiteoak has picked up a minor injury," said the trainer. "We had her scanned late yesterday evening and have just received the results.
"I wanted to let everybody know that she will not run again this year. Having spoken to the owners, it has been decided that she should go to stud to be covered in the spring.
"She has been a fantastic servant to the yard but I have never known a horse put so much into her work and her niggles have finally caught up with her."
Whiteoak won five of her 18 career starts and was placed on a further eight occasions, amassing over £140,000 in her racing career.
The mare, trained by Donald McCain, landed the inaugural running of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival and finished 12th in the Champion Hurdle 12 months later.
But after suffering an injury connections have decided to err on the side of caution with a career in the paddocks now beckoning.
"Unfortunately Whiteoak has picked up a minor injury," said the trainer. "We had her scanned late yesterday evening and have just received the results.
"I wanted to let everybody know that she will not run again this year. Having spoken to the owners, it has been decided that she should go to stud to be covered in the spring.
"She has been a fantastic servant to the yard but I have never known a horse put so much into her work and her niggles have finally caught up with her."
Whiteoak won five of her 18 career starts and was placed on a further eight occasions, amassing over £140,000 in her racing career.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Injury Blow For Sidebottom
England left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom is a doubt for the Test series against Bangladesh after suffering a thigh injury.
The Nottinghamshire bowler was ruled out of the rest of the one-day series having picked up the injury in the opening victory against the hosts on Sunday.
The England medical team will now reassess the injury after Friday's final ODI in Chittagong, with the tourists scheduled to play two Test matches.
An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: "Ryan sustained an injury to his right thigh in Sunday's game which led him to be ruled out for the one-day series.
"He will be reassessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the Test series."
Kent spinner James Tredwell replaced Sidebottom for the second ODI, although Liam Plunkett and Ajmal Shahzad could come into contention for the series finale.
Durham paceman Graham Onions will then team up with the squad ahead of the two Tests.
The Nottinghamshire bowler was ruled out of the rest of the one-day series having picked up the injury in the opening victory against the hosts on Sunday.
The England medical team will now reassess the injury after Friday's final ODI in Chittagong, with the tourists scheduled to play two Test matches.
An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: "Ryan sustained an injury to his right thigh in Sunday's game which led him to be ruled out for the one-day series.
"He will be reassessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the Test series."
Kent spinner James Tredwell replaced Sidebottom for the second ODI, although Liam Plunkett and Ajmal Shahzad could come into contention for the series finale.
Durham paceman Graham Onions will then team up with the squad ahead of the two Tests.
Kiwis Target One Day Upset
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has his sights firmly set on ending Australia's one-day dominance when the Chappell-Hadlee series gets underway in Napier on Wednesday.
The Black Caps dramatically wrecked Australia's unbeaten summer run with a thrilling Twenty20 eliminator-over victory in Christchurch on Sunday night, and are looking to repeat the feat in the 50-over format.
However, Vettori's men head into the five-match series as underdogs after the Aussies have avoided one-day international defeat since losing out to India back in October.
Since then the world number one ranked nation won three games on the trot against the Indians before sweeping aside Pakistan (5-0) and the West Indies (4-0) on home soil.
But the Black Caps will take plenty of confidence into the forthcoming series after Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten 116 and Tim Southee produced a nerveless sudden-death over in the recent T20 win.
Great win
Australian all-rounder Cameron White admitted he had little answer to Southee, who conceded just six runs in his super over.
"It felt like unbelievable bowling to be honest," he said. "He didn't miss too many yorkers and the pressure was on him as well. I thought it was amazing."
The onus is on Southee to perform to such high standards on a more consistent basis.
"It gives me a little bit of confidence but it is a one-off and I can't rest on that," Southee said.
"It's another day on Wednesday. It was a great win (on Sunday) but now I've got to push forward and block it out. I can't rest on one good performance.
"Backing up with another good performance will be pretty satisfying."
Vettori believes any win against Australia is a confidence-booster. "Anytime you win against a great team you start believing," he said.
"The guys that performed (in the Twenty20) will think they can continue to do it and just hope that we get other guys to step up along the way.
"They have played exceptionally well winning as many one-dayers as they have in a row."
Marsh out
Once again New Zealand success will rest on the shoulders of the experienced players in the side, particularly Vettori, McCullum, Shane Bond, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris, who joins the squad along with Neil Broom.
"If those guys get going then it's going to bode well for us in the series," added Vettori.
Australia's one-day squad has a more experienced look to it compared to the specialist Twenty20 side led by Michael Clarke.
The team are bolstered by the arrival of skipper Ricky Ponting, pace pair Doug Bollinger and Clint McKay and all-rounders James Hopes and Adam Voges.
Left-handed opening batsman Shaun Marsh has failed to recover from a back problem, while Travis Birt, Daniel Christian, David Hussey, Dirk Nannes, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait and David Warner are all making their way home.
The Black Caps dramatically wrecked Australia's unbeaten summer run with a thrilling Twenty20 eliminator-over victory in Christchurch on Sunday night, and are looking to repeat the feat in the 50-over format.
However, Vettori's men head into the five-match series as underdogs after the Aussies have avoided one-day international defeat since losing out to India back in October.
Since then the world number one ranked nation won three games on the trot against the Indians before sweeping aside Pakistan (5-0) and the West Indies (4-0) on home soil.
But the Black Caps will take plenty of confidence into the forthcoming series after Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten 116 and Tim Southee produced a nerveless sudden-death over in the recent T20 win.
Great win
Australian all-rounder Cameron White admitted he had little answer to Southee, who conceded just six runs in his super over.
"It felt like unbelievable bowling to be honest," he said. "He didn't miss too many yorkers and the pressure was on him as well. I thought it was amazing."
The onus is on Southee to perform to such high standards on a more consistent basis.
"It gives me a little bit of confidence but it is a one-off and I can't rest on that," Southee said.
"It's another day on Wednesday. It was a great win (on Sunday) but now I've got to push forward and block it out. I can't rest on one good performance.
"Backing up with another good performance will be pretty satisfying."
Vettori believes any win against Australia is a confidence-booster. "Anytime you win against a great team you start believing," he said.
"The guys that performed (in the Twenty20) will think they can continue to do it and just hope that we get other guys to step up along the way.
"They have played exceptionally well winning as many one-dayers as they have in a row."
Marsh out
Once again New Zealand success will rest on the shoulders of the experienced players in the side, particularly Vettori, McCullum, Shane Bond, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris, who joins the squad along with Neil Broom.
"If those guys get going then it's going to bode well for us in the series," added Vettori.
Australia's one-day squad has a more experienced look to it compared to the specialist Twenty20 side led by Michael Clarke.
The team are bolstered by the arrival of skipper Ricky Ponting, pace pair Doug Bollinger and Clint McKay and all-rounders James Hopes and Adam Voges.
Left-handed opening batsman Shaun Marsh has failed to recover from a back problem, while Travis Birt, Daniel Christian, David Hussey, Dirk Nannes, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait and David Warner are all making their way home.
Whelan Defends Shawcross Tackle
t believe Stoke City team-mate Ryan Shawcross deliberately set out to hurt Aaron Ramsey in Saturday's clash with Arsenal.
Shawcross saw red in the second half of the 3-1 defeat after clashing with Ramsey in a tackle that left the Wales international with a double leg fracture.
Whelan concedes Shawcross' tackle was late, but he does not believe there was any malice in the challenge or that the 22-year-old set out to hurt the Gunners' youngster.
Disappointed
"He was obviously disappointed because of what happened with the boy," explained Whelan.
"I haven't seen the tackle again, but when I first saw it I don't think it was a dirty tackle.
"I think it was maybe a little bit late but no more."
Whelan was the first man in to console Ramsey and he has revealed he just told the youngster to try not to think about the horrible injury.
"I was the next one in after the tackle and seen what's gone on," he continued. "The lad himself kept trying to look and hold his leg.
"I was just trying to take his mind off it and try not to think about it and think about something else."
Support
Meanwhile, Potters boss Tony Pulis has confirmed that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson rang him after the incident to offer his support.
Shawcross began his career at United under Ferguson and is still highly-regarded by the Scot, but was allowed to move on to Stoke before making a first-team appearance.
"Sir Alex rang Ryan after the game on Sunday to give him his support and told him that he shouldn't miss out on England duty," explained Pulis.
"These things do happen, unfortunately, and Sir Alex still thinks a lot of Ryan after having him for so long at Manchester United.
"He knows him as well as I do and knows he is not the sort of player to go out to deliberately hurt anyone. Sir Alex had obviously seen the incident and believed, like I do, that it was an accident.
Shawcross saw red in the second half of the 3-1 defeat after clashing with Ramsey in a tackle that left the Wales international with a double leg fracture.
Whelan concedes Shawcross' tackle was late, but he does not believe there was any malice in the challenge or that the 22-year-old set out to hurt the Gunners' youngster.
Disappointed
"He was obviously disappointed because of what happened with the boy," explained Whelan.
"I haven't seen the tackle again, but when I first saw it I don't think it was a dirty tackle.
"I think it was maybe a little bit late but no more."
Whelan was the first man in to console Ramsey and he has revealed he just told the youngster to try not to think about the horrible injury.
"I was the next one in after the tackle and seen what's gone on," he continued. "The lad himself kept trying to look and hold his leg.
"I was just trying to take his mind off it and try not to think about it and think about something else."
Support
Meanwhile, Potters boss Tony Pulis has confirmed that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson rang him after the incident to offer his support.
Shawcross began his career at United under Ferguson and is still highly-regarded by the Scot, but was allowed to move on to Stoke before making a first-team appearance.
"Sir Alex rang Ryan after the game on Sunday to give him his support and told him that he shouldn't miss out on England duty," explained Pulis.
"These things do happen, unfortunately, and Sir Alex still thinks a lot of Ryan after having him for so long at Manchester United.
"He knows him as well as I do and knows he is not the sort of player to go out to deliberately hurt anyone. Sir Alex had obviously seen the incident and believed, like I do, that it was an accident.
Hleb Open to Prem Return
Alexander Hleb has revealed that he would be prepared to consider a return to the Premier League.
The Belarus international currently finds himself in limbo, with a loan spell at Stuttgart not progressing as he had hoped.
Hleb rejoined the Bundesliga outfit last summer in a season-long deal from Barcelona.
Having slipped down the pecking order at Camp Nou he was keen to rediscover the form which made him one of Europe's top creative talents a few years ago.
His form during a three-year stint at Arsenal helped to raise his profile, with Barcelona splashing out £12million to take him to Spain in 2008.
Options
That move failed to work out, with opportunities at a premium, and his career has stagnated somewhat since then.
Barca are reported to be willing to do business, with £8million expected to be enough to force their hand, and Hleb is keen to move on.
He has made it clear that a prolonged stay at Stuttgart is off the cards, having grown disillusioned with life under Christian Gross, but admits he would welcome another crack at the English top-flight.
"The chances for me to stay at Stuttgart next season are zero," he said.
"Barcelona will decide my future and I am open to any option. But I have shown at Arsenal that I can play in England and enjoy the Premier League."
The Belarus international currently finds himself in limbo, with a loan spell at Stuttgart not progressing as he had hoped.
Hleb rejoined the Bundesliga outfit last summer in a season-long deal from Barcelona.
Having slipped down the pecking order at Camp Nou he was keen to rediscover the form which made him one of Europe's top creative talents a few years ago.
His form during a three-year stint at Arsenal helped to raise his profile, with Barcelona splashing out £12million to take him to Spain in 2008.
Options
That move failed to work out, with opportunities at a premium, and his career has stagnated somewhat since then.
Barca are reported to be willing to do business, with £8million expected to be enough to force their hand, and Hleb is keen to move on.
He has made it clear that a prolonged stay at Stuttgart is off the cards, having grown disillusioned with life under Christian Gross, but admits he would welcome another crack at the English top-flight.
"The chances for me to stay at Stuttgart next season are zero," he said.
"Barcelona will decide my future and I am open to any option. But I have shown at Arsenal that I can play in England and enjoy the Premier League."
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