A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Murray camp insist he will make Paris opener
TENNIS: Andy Murray’s camp yesterday insisted the world number four was not an injury doubt for the French Open after he pulled out of an exhibition match in Paris. The Scot was scheduled to play Michael Llodra in the Masters Guinot Mary Cohr event at Paris Country Club but withdrew at the last minute after feeling pain during practice yesterday morning.With the second grand slam of the season starting on Sunday, Murray’s representative was keen to stress the move was simply a precaution and not the precursor to his withdrawal from Roland Garros.
The 24-year-old, who missed both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2007 because of a wrist problem, did make a brief appearance on court to apologise in person and explained he felt pain during practice and decided not to take any risks.
Wozniacki in semi-final
TENNIS: World number one and top seed Caroline Wozniacki moved into the semi-finals of the Brussels Open when Yanina Wickmayer retired 2-0 down in the first set with a back injury.
Wozniacki will now play French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who beat Japan’s Ayumi Morita 6-2 6-3.
In the second semi-final second seed Vera Zvonareva will meet Chinese eighth seed Peng Shuai, who beat Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-4.
Unanimous decision for Lee in US
BOXING: Andy Lee gave another all-action display when he defeated Alex Bunema by a unanimous decision in Chicago on Wednesday night. The Limerick middleweight, still waiting for a world title shot, dictated the action throughout and used his jab to devastating effect as he won all 10 rounds.
Meanwhile, newly-crowned WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly lit the touchpaper for Saturday’s grudge match with British rival Tony Bellew in an explosive press conference which saw the pair nearly come to blows. Cleverly will face Liverpudlian Bellew after Juergen Braehmer, who he had been set to challenge for the WBO belt, pulled out of the O2 Arena bout and was stripped of his title. The two are long-time rivals and sparks flew when they came face-to-face in London yesterday. Bellew arrived at the press conference late but immediately started insulting Welshman Cleverly and security guards had to intervene as the banter turned nasty.
Bowe and Kerr for hockey awards
HOCKEY: Irish rugby international Tommy Bowe and former Republic of Ireland soccer manager Brian Kerr will be the guest speakers at tomorrow night’s Irish Hockey Awards in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin, writes Mary Hannigan.
Awards will be made in 12 categories, with Mark Black (Cork Harlequins), Fran Lee (Monkstown), Shane ODonoghue (Glenanne) and Mark Raphael (Lisnagarvey) nominated in the ‘Senior Club Male Player’ section and Elaine Bromell (Catholic Institute),
Ashling Campion (Loreto), Kate Dillion (Railway Union) and Emma Stewart (Armagh) contesting the women’s award.
Four former internationals – Gwen Doherty, Mark Burns, Stephen Martin and Violet McBride – will be inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
Alonso wants to end his career with Ferrari
MOTOR SPORT: Fernando Alonso committed the rest of his Formula One career to his “second family” Ferrari yesterday after the Italian team said he would be staying until at least the end of 2016.
The Spaniard, who won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, is in his second season with the sport’s oldest and most successful outfit.
“The intention is to finish my career with Ferrari. I don’t imagine any other better place to race,” he said at his home grand prix.
“I have been lucky to arrive here last year, I felt at home from day one. In 2017 maybe another contract,” he added. “We’ll see if I am not too old, at that point, and if Ferrari are still happy with me.” The 29-year-old won on his Ferrari debut in Bahrain last year and ended the season as runner-up to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel after taking the title battle down to the wire in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who has seen greats like seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda and Nigel Mansell come and go in his time at Maranello, hailed the Spaniard.
“It is a great pleasure to have renewed our agreement with a driver who has always demonstrated a winning mentality even in the most difficult circumstances,” he said in a statement.
“Fernando has all the required qualities, both technically and personally to play a leading role in the history of Ferrari and I hope he will be enriching it with further wins very soon.”
