Button loses battle to join Williams

Sports Digest/Motor Sport: Jenson Button will drive for BAR in 2005 after he lost his battle yesterday to join Williams, writes Justin Hynes.

The Englishman signed a deal with Williams in August but his case went before Formula One's contract recognition board (CRB) when current team BAR disputed the move.

The CRB ruling yesterday in favour of BAR is embarrassing both for Williams, who now have to find a new driver, and for Button who will be forced to race for BAR, despite having insisted that he does not wish to work with the team beyond this weekend's season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix.

The CRB's ruling is final, with super licences necessary to compete in Formula One given out only to drivers whose contracts are adjudged to be acceptable.

Last night, Button said: "Naturally, I am disappointed by the ruling, but as a matter of principle, I firmly believe in standing by the decision the CRB have reached today".

TENNIS: The top seed Tim Henman finally won a match at the Madrid Masters yesterday, producing a classy display to beat Spain's Albert Costa 6-4 6-2 and reach the third round.

The Briton, who had lost his two previous contests in the Spanish capital, moved 5-1 ahead in the first set and took it after a minor wobble.

Costa held his opening service game in the second set but Henman's greater consistency took him to victory in one hour 25 minutes.

"I don't think I was particularly focused on each and every point but I managed to close out that first set and I felt like my confidence grew after that," said Henman, who had a bye through to the second round.

Henman will face Ivan Ljubicic, who defeated Germany's Rainer Schuettler 6-3 6-0. The Briton has only beaten the big-serving Croatian once in three matches.

"These will be conditions that suit him (Ljubicic) well," Henman said. "He's got a huge, huge serve. I think that emphasises the point that I have to take care of my serve because there probably won't be too many opportunities."

Henman broke Costa twice early in the match to move 3-0 ahead as the former French Open champion's weak serve offered easy pickings.

Henman extended his lead to 5-1 before his concentration wavered and, boosted by an enthusiastic home crowd, Costa regained his nerve to claw back three games.

Serving for the set for the second time, Henman regained his focus, and after saving a break point produced an elegant forehand winner which wrong-footed his opponent.

The Briton, who is ranked fifth in the world but has been out for nearly a month with back and shoulder injuries, started the second set in attacking mood.

Costa netted a simple volley in game three to hand Henman his first break and the British number one broke again before serving out for the match.

DARTS: The World number seven Kevin Painter improved on his first-round performance to clinch a place in the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix at the Citywest Hotel last night.

He looked assured against Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan and clinched a 3-1. Dolan started well, opening with a 65 check-out to move ahead, but Painter reeled off the next three legs to take the set. Painter had found his range and he also claimed the second set 3-0, which included a 97 check-out.