Hingis: `Je ne regrette rien'

Martina Hingis has only one regret about the French Open final - the result.

The world number one, who threw a string of tantrums during her Grand Slam final defeat to Steffi Graf, yesterday defended her hot-headed behaviour on court. "I would love to change the score not my reactions or anything else," she said.

Swiss star Hingis incurred the wrath of the French crowd for breaking her racquet, angrily disputing a line-call and for serving under-arm as she faced match-point. She admitted yesterday that the pressure of facing a legend like Graf had added to the tension. "I don't know why I reacted as I did. Maybe it was because I was playing a champion like Steffi. I didn't have a great score against her and that probably made it harder for me.

"If I'd been playing Monica (Seles) or Lindsay (Davenport), I would think less but against Steffi I thought `This is it'."

Seles, the top seed, yesterday crashed out of the Eastbourne tournament, losing 6-4 6-4 to Luxembourg's Anne Kremer while second seed Sanchez-Vicario went down 7-5 6-2 to Nathalie Dechy. Hingis is playing in the doubles.

Eastbourne details: Sports Round-Up

Motorsport: Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo paid tribute to Eddie Irvine's talents yesterday, but said it was too early to say if he'd keep the Northern Irishman in a job next year. Irvine lies third in the drivers' standings after his best ever season in Formula One.

Montezemolo said: "I was personally vilified, and I mean that, for having signed Irvine in the first place. Now, thanks partly to having a car as exceptional as the Ferrari is today, he's reached levels of performance which have amazed a lot of people - but not me.

"I'm not saying any more than that, and I'd only add that I'm not taking any decisions as president of Ferrari because it's the middle of June and there are a long series of factors to be considered."

But he added: "Irvine is doing what we have asked him to do, what we hired him to do, and we are pleased with the choice we've made."

University Games: Ireland will be represented in five sports at the World University Games which begin in Palma de Mallorca next month. The athletics, men's basketball, women's tennis and judo teams were announced yesterday to join the soccer squad that was finalised on Tuesday.

The athletics delegation are most optimistic, including a number of national record holders, including Peter Coghlan in the 110 metre hurdles and Karen Shinkins in the 400 metres. Gary Ryan, national 200 metre record holder, is also entered for both sprint events.