Becker sympathises with Tiger

Sports digest:Former tennis champion Boris Becker says he sympathises with Tiger Woods, whose life is in turmoil after he admitted cheating on his wife.

Becker, 42, who fathered a child with a Russian model after a brief sexual encounter in a cupboard at a London restaurant while his wife was pregnant, said he could identify with the golf star.

“I experienced exactly the same and I can sympathise with him,” the German newspaper Bild quoted Becker, winner of six grand slam titles, as telling a TV show to be aired later on Monday.

Becker, who had a messy divorce and became the butt of jokes for his flings, said he believed it would be “damned hard” for father-of-two Woods to save his marriage to Swede Elin Nordegren.

Woods, 33, has announced he is taking an indefinite break from golf to try to save his marriage.

Delaney passes qualifying test

GOLF: Tara Delaney secured her LET Tour card for 2010 after a final round of 71 left her inside the top-30 on one-over-par 293 as German amateur Caroline Masson outplayed 165 other entrants to win the Tour's Final Qualifying School at La Manga Club in Murcia, Spain, yesterday.

Delaney had rounds of 73, 76, 73 and 71 to finish in 24th place as Galway-born US based Alison Walshe also made the top-30 despite a final round of 75 for a level-par total of 292.

Masson signed for a closing round of 66, seven under par, to finish on 14-under-par, 278. She survived seven gruelling rounds, having graduated from the pre-qualifying stage played over the previous three days. Rising Australian starlet Kristie Smith, 21, from Perth, shot a final round of 70 to finish at 12 under in second place.

Holly Aitchison, Antonella Cvitan, Julie Tvede, Cassandra Kirkland and Mollie Fankhauser will play-off today for the final two places.

Mercedes sign deal with Petronas

MOTOR SPORT: Malaysian state oil and gas company Petronas will be title sponsor of the Mercedes Formula One team next season, Mercedes announced yesterday.

The team, formerly champions Brawn GP, will become Mercedes GP Petronas with the oil companys branding across the car and team liveries in what they said was a long-term agreement.

“The new title partnership also paves the way for future collaborations between the two companies,” Mercedes added in a statement.

Mercedes said their 2010 car would be presented in its new livery for the first test of the new season at the Valencia circuit in Spain on February 1st. Petronas will continue to be the title backer of the Malaysian Grand Prix - the third of the season at Sepang on April 4th.

Tendulkar and Jadeja give India well earned 2-1 lead

CRICKET: Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 96 to set up Indias seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international yesterday. India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Opener Tendulkar shared in three half-century partnerships to help India chase down their target of 240 in the eastern Indian city of Cuttack.

India left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took a career-best four for 32 to restrict the tourists to 239 all out after they had opted to bat first.

Openers Upul Tharanga (73) and Tillakaratane Dilshan (41) gave Sri Lanka a spectacular start before the Indian spinners, led by Jadeja, took charge.

Jadeja finished his spell of 10 consecutive overs with the wickets of Nuwan Kulasekasra (10) and Ajantha Mendis (6). Tendulkar put on 55 for the opening wicket with Virender Sehwag (44) and 72 for the next with Gautam Gambhir (32).

Sydney wildcard for Justine Henin

TENNIS: Former world number one Justine Henin has been handed a wildcard for the Sydney International tournament which starts on January 10th.

The Sydney event will feature nine of the top 10 women players in the world. “The women’s draw is very impressive and it will be great to get some tough matches in before heading to Melbourne,” said 27-year-old Henin. Henin retired in May 2008 but announced a comeback in September.