SPORTS DIGEST Tennis:World number one Novak Djokovic raised his eyes and arms to the sky after beating Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals yesterday just hours after learning of the death of his grandfather.
The Serb fought back to overcome his emotions and move past Dolgopolov 2-6 6-1 6-4. He was crying as he left the court to thunderous applause from a packed crowd.
Djokovic learned of his grandfather's death while he was practising yesterday morning. He had said how close he was to his grandfather, to whom he dedicated his victory in the recent Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
World number four Andy Murray moved into the quarter-finals after France's Julien Benneteau retired from their third-round match.
Murray was leading a fiercely contested opening set 6-5 when Benneteau quit, having fallen in the previous game when sliding to a wide ball.
Trumpet Major earns crack at 2,000 Guineas
Horse RacingNewmarket's second day of Classic trials finally produced a worthy candidate as Richard Hannon's Trumpet Major came five lengths ahead of his stable companion Crius in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes.
Trumpet Major was cut from 25 to 1 to just 6 to 1 by Coral (10s with Betfred and Paddy Power) for the 2,000 Guineas after hurtling clear under Ryan Moore. Once given the hurry-up by Moore, Trumpet Major’s response was immediate.
Hannon’s assistant, Richard junior, said: “He did it very well with a 3lb penalty. I wasn’t sure he’d handle the ground and he’ll have needed it – he only had one racecourse gallop. We’ll have to take our chance in the Guineas.”
Moynihan lifts McEvoy Trophy
GolfThe Island's teenage star Gavin Moynihan led from start to finish as he lifted the Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath in the West Midlands yesterday.
Moynihan fired a nerveless 70 to finish the prestigious event with a four-round total of 275, five shots clear of Max Orrin and Nick Marsh. The champion carded 68 in Wednesday’s first round to put him top of the leaderboard which is where he stayed with further scores of 68 and 69.
Sixth at the same tournament 12 months ago, the winner of the Tom Montgomery Award for 2011 follows in the footsteps of Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, who also won the trophy as amateurs.
Whitehead’s Ross Galbraith was 15 strokes off the lead while Irish Boys’ champion Jordan Hood of Galgorm Castle finished well down the field.
Matt Every shot a flawless nine-under-par 63 to take the early clubhouse lead at the Texas Open in San Antonio. Hunter Haas was in second place, three shots back.
Overall leader gets all-clear
SailingThe overall Volvo Ocean Race leader was yesterday cleared of wrong-doing in the fourth leg when the International Jury dismissed its own protest against Team Telefonica for allegedly breaching rules governing sail inventories permitted on board during racing, writes David Branigan.
The jury’s ruling found the race rules were ambiguous and that an interpretation effectively allowed Iker Martinez’ team to carry one more headsail than was previously thought permitted.
For most of the teams in Itajai, Brazil, where the race restarts on Sunday, the priority is to be ready for racing. Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing arrived by ship from Chile yesterday and was craned out to the dockside for a four-day repair job that will be attempted in just 48 hours.
Second overall Groupama has had a new mast and rigging fitted, while the Camper team has repairs on-going. Meanwhile, team Sanya is en route to the US for repairs to be ready for Leg Seven next month.
Howley appointed caretaker coach for injured Gatland
RugbyRob Howley has been appointed as Wales' caretaker head coach for the summer internationals against the Barbarians and Australia to allow Warren Gatland to recuperate from injuries suffered in a domestic accident.
Gatland, who led Wales to the Six Nations title earlier this year and is the overwhelming favourite to lead the British and Irish Lions in their tour of Australia in the summer of 2013, suffered a foot injury after falling from a ladder at his home in New Zealand and will temporarily hand control of the team to assistant coach Howley.
Connacht have announced an extended squad to face Aironi in the Pro12 tomorrow at the Sportsground (5pm).
CONNACHT(squad v Aironi): Forwards: Ronan Loughney, Stewart Maguire, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You, Ethienne Reynecke, Dermot Murphy, Adrian Flavin, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Mick Kearney, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, Johnny O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, George Naoupu. Backs: Frank Murphy, Paul O'Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Matthew Jarvis, Eoin Griffin, Henry Fa'afili, Kyle Tonetti, Tiernan O'Halloran, Fetu'u Vainikolo, James Loxton, Gavin Duffy (capt).
