A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Tired Nadal bows out at Queen's
TENNIS: A weary Rafa Nadal had his Wimbledon warm-up cut short when he was beaten 6-7 6-4 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the Queens Club championships by Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga yesterday.
The Spanish world number one, who claimed a record-equalling sixth French Open title last Sunday, looked on course for the semi-final when he took an opening set tie-break but appeared to run out of steam.Tsonga broke Wimbledon champion Nadal’s serve at the start of the deciding set and for once there was nothing left as he slumped to defeat.
Murphy through to medal race
SAILING: Ireland's Annalise Murphy secured her place in today's single medal race final for the Laser Radial class at the London Olympic venue Sail for Gold regatta. She holds third place overnight and added a fifth race win to her series tally, writes David Branigan.
In yesterday’s first race Murphy found herself victim to a right-hand wind-shift along with the other leading sailors. By the first mark, the Dun Laoghaire sailor was among the back-markers and although ahead of the first and second-placed boats, as these have a lower race discard she slipped to fourth overall.
Regaining her form, she sailed the second race – the tenth this week – in her true form by winning and bring her tally to ten wins from 20 races over the last two weeks.
Taking gold this morning isn’t possible and while silver is open to her, a fight to retain her bronze position is on the cards.
The Netherlands’ Marit Bouwmeester holds the overall lead.
Bahrain Grand Prix will not proceed
MOTOR SPORT: Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone moved to axe the Bahrain Grand Prix from the 2011 calendar yesterday after the Gulf kingdom accepted the controversial race could not go ahead. The Bahrain circuit organisers said that they accepted the race, postponed in March due to civil unrest, had to be cancelled after teams opposed a rescheduling.
“We will be back to normal,” the 80-year-old said at the Canadian Grand Prix. “We will put out a request to the World Motor Sport Council in the next few days. I sent something this morning, so it will be quick.” The process is a formality, with Bahrain technically remaining on the 2011 race calendar for October 30th until the 26-member council agrees to remove it.
The new calendar will see the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in New Delhi, whose circuit has yet to be approved, revert to its original October 30th date from December 11th.
Roche hospitalised after heavy fall at Criterium
CYCLING: Nicolas Roche's aim of chasing a top eight overall finish in the Critérium du Dauphiné went up in smoke yesterday when the Ag2r La Mondiale competitor crashed inside the final 25 kilometres, writes Shane Stokes.
He lost several minutes as a result, remounting and then limping on in to the finish, 25 minutes, six seconds behind stage winner Christophe Kern (Europcar). He dropped from 16th to 131st overall as a result.
Roche suffered a deep wound to his right elbow, as well as cuts to his chin, chest, thigh and hip. He was being assessed in hospital last night and a decision would then be made if he would continue in the race.
His biggest concern is his preparations for the Tour de France, although the fact that he didn’t suffer fractures will help his chances of making his big season target.
Meanwhile, his first cousin Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervélo) was one of the most active in the closing moments of the stage, attacking several times on the uphill climb to the finish at Les Gets.
The road was not steep enough for him to get clear, though, and he had to be content with a fine eighth. Bradley Wiggins was sixth and continues to lead overall heading into today’s penultimate leg, a tough mountain stage to the top of Le Collet d’Allevard.
The climbs are steeper and suit Martin better; if he has the same sensations as yesterday, he could well contend for the stage win.
Wiggins leads Australian Cadel Evans by one minute and 11 seconds and defending champion Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia by 1.21.
