Sports Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Djokovic is not getting carried away by early form

TENNIS: Nobody has been able to stop Novak Djokovic all year but the Serbian world number two, fresh from his latest triumph, said it is too soon to entertain any talk of him as the world’s best.

Djokovic beat world number one Rafa Nadal in a third set tiebreak at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Sunday to win his fourth title of the year, following wins in the Australian Open, in Dubai and at Indian Wells. The Serb’s winning streak now stands at 26 matches, dating back to December, yet he remains behind Nadal, who he beat in the Indian Wells final, in the official world rankings.

“I know I had the best start of the season, no question about it. It’s the best four months in my life,” Djokovic said.

“But it’s only the start of the season. I think it’s a bit early to talk about getting that top spot in the rankings. It’s still quite a big difference. Rafa is definitely the best player in the world now.”

For Djokovic to get that top ranking he knows he needs to carry his early-season hard court form over to the European clay court season and beyond.

Rodriguez takes opening stage

CYCLING: Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez sprinted to victory in the opening stage of the Tour of the Basque Country yesterday.

The Katusha rider was the fastest of a group of four riders that broke away on the hilly stage starting and finishing in Zumarraga.

Samuel Sanchez of Spain was second in the small group sprint that decided the stage.

The Tour of the Basque Country finishes on Sunday in Zalla.

Gender guidelines to be announced

ATHLETICS: New guidelines over athletes’ gender at the London 2012 Olympics will be announced by the International Olympic Committee today. In an attempt to avoid any embarrassing repetition of the Caster Semenya case, the IOC’s executive board, who are meeting in London, will agree on the new guidelines and the testing regime for determining gender.

Prof Arne Ljunqvist, head of the IOC’s medical commission, is expected to appear at a news conference to explain the new rules following the meeting. Semenya, the South African who won the women’s 800 metres at the world athletics championships in 2009, suffered an agonising year while waiting for the IAAF to verify her gender.

The handling of the affair by the IAAF, the international athletics body, was strongly criticised and the IOC believe their guidelines will be clear and unambiguous.

Leicester prop to miss Leinster game

RUGBY: The Leicester Tigers have been dealt a heavy blow ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium as prop Marcos Ayerza received a two-week suspension for fighting, writes Gavin Cummiskey.

The Argentinian loosehead was involved in an altercation with Harlequins prop Joe Marler in Saturday’s 17-13 victory at The Stoop.

Both players were red-carded by referee Wayne Barnes but the concern is Ayerza could be cited for head-butting, which carries a minimum six week ban, was allayed.

The two props pleaded guilty at an RFU disciplinary hearing yesterday but neither can return until April 19th, meaning one of the most destructive scrums in world rugby goes up against Leinster this weekend without the man capped 32 times by the Pumas.

The Tigers can also boast the England and Italy starting tighthead props in Marco Castrogiovanni and Dan Cole, while the old warhorse Julian White, 37, is still part of the squad but he too is a tighthead by trade.

Webber gets back up to speed 

MOTOR SPORT: Formula One champions Red Bull expect Mark Webber to be back up to speed in Malaysia this weekend after modifications to his car.

While champion Sebastian Vettel was dominant from pole position in the Australian season-opener on March 27th, his team-mate Webber qualified only third and came home fifth overall, with a considerable gap in performance between the two.

“We’ve found, on a post-mortem of the event, a few things on Mark’s car, a few things set-up wise, that certainly wouldn’t have helped,” team principal Christian Horner said after a visit to see Silverstone circuit’s new pit and paddock complex yesterday.

“All those elements have been changed for Malaysia.There’s elements that weren’t right, and the difference that we’ve seen between the drivers during the course of the weekend was bigger than it’s ever been and not right, so for sure they would have contributed.”

Hughes sparks Wesley revival

RUGBY: Left wing Gavin Hughes sparked an unlikely Wesley College revival that eventually earned the Leinster Fr Godfrey Junior Cup Plate 20-12 win over CUS at Templeogue yesterday.

CUS looked to have done the hard work when holding Wes’ to an 8-5 lead with the benefit of an extreme wind to come after the break. Then, their number eight, Luke Trench, stormed to the posts for wing Evan McGovern to convert for a 12-8 lead.

But Hughes took off on a weaving run from the left touchline for a tonic try, converted by centre Sam Tully. Right wing Young Chae Soon then went over in the 65th minute.

WESLEY: A McDonnell; Y-C Soon, C Burrell, S Tully, G Hughes; L Madeley, J O'Donovan; E Stephens, S Rice, L Gray, J Brownlow, J Pratt, D Kelly, J Woods, A Garvey (capt). Replacements: J Kennedy for Brownlow (ht); J Mathews for Burrell (51 mins); K Fitzmaurice for Kelly (67 mins)s.

CUS: G Power; H Murray, M Lacken, S Tarpey, E McGovern; T Newman, C O'Curry; D Choi, R Macari, A Craven, D Ó hUllacháin, B Darcy, C Piquet, M Crean-Bolster, L Trench. Replacements: E Kelly for Ó hUllacháin, M Butler for Newman (both ht); L Bates for Choi (61 mins).

Referee: B Armstrong (Leinster Branch).