Sports Digest

SPORTS DIGEST: TENNIS: Nadal has to work hard for passage:Rafael Nadal faced a tough fight against fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo before eventually triumphing 6-1 6-4 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters yesterday.

After making light work of the first set, the top-seeded Nadal fell 2-0 behind in the second set before eventually coming good.

Nadal is joined in the fourth round by second seed Novak Djokovic, who dispatched qualifier Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-4 6-2.

Few matches were entirely straightforward yesterday, however, and third seed Nikolay Davydenko had to work hard to beat Chile’s sixth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 7-5.

Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is out after going down 6-3 6-3 to Sweden’s Robin Soderling, the ninth seed, and 11th seed Gael Monfils is also on his way home after retiring hurt whilst trailing Ivan Ljubicic 6-2 3-0.

Stanislas Wawrinka was doing a good job of putting a scare into 13th seed Radek Stepanek, winning the opening set 6-3 then narrowly losing the second 7-6 (7/5), but the Swiss then retired hurt in the third set, trailing 4-2.

Kogei takes on Radciliffe in New York

ATHLETICS:Paula Radcliffe will face a tough challenge from Salina Kosgei when she bids to clinch a third successive New York City marathon title next month.

Meeting organisers have confirmed the participation of the world-class Kenyan, who claimed a thrilling victory at the Boston Marathon in the spring.

The 32-year-old, fourth in New York in 2005, looks the toughest rival in the field for Radcliffe as she seeks a fourth victory in the race.

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, who has won four Boston crowns, has been added to the men’s field for the race on November 1st but Ireland’s Martin Fagan will be absent due to an Achilles problem.

BOXING: The 2009/10 season will get into full swing tonight when the Irish Under-21 Championships gloves off at Dublin’s National Stadium.

Stephen O’Reilly, Patrick Ward, Daniel Coughlan and Pat Corcoran will all be targeting back-to-back titles at the South Circular Road venue.

AIBA World Youth lighweight champion Ray Moylette, ranked 21 in the world in the senior rankings, will also be between the ropes at the home of Irish boxing.

Looking ahead to the championships, IABA president Dominic O’Rourke predicted a top quality tournament. He said: “The Under-21 Championships are now matching the senior championships in terms of quality and competitiveness. The Under-21 Championships is now one of our key tournaments.

“We have received a huge entry this year and this just shows how the Under-21 Championships has grown in stature over the last few years. It promises to be a very exciting tournament.”

Big entry for U21 championships

RACING:Sizing Europe could head to Cheltenham next after making it two from two over fences with a breathtaking display in the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Henry de Bromhead’s star burst on to the scene with a similarly impressive display in last year’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle but failed to rediscover that brilliance in subsequent starts over timber.

Having made a successful transition to the larger obstacles in a minor event at this venue back in May, he faced a much sterner test this time against the smart Bobs Pride and five-time Grade One winner Harchibald.

Sent off at 8 to 11 in the hands of Andrew Lynch, the seven-year-old jumped brilliantly throughout and had all of his rivals in trouble a long way from home.

Harchibald, making his fencing debut, tried to go in pursuit from the top of the straight, but Sizing Europe was not for catching and galloped on relentlessly to score by 17 lengths.

Lynch said: “Alan and Ann (Potts, owners) would love to go to Cheltenham in November and there is a Grade Two there on the Sunday, so I think that would be our next port of call.

“There is a Grade Two here on the same day but I think the owners have a few runners earmarked for Cheltenham.

“Hopefully then we will look at Christmas but I would prefer to take every day as it comes.”

Trescothick pulls out of India events

CRICKET:Marcus Trescothick has been forced to return home from the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India following a recurrence of a stress-related illness.

The former England batsman will play no further part in Somerset’s campaign after being given permission to fly back to Britain.

The 33-year-old retired from international cricket last year after suffering problems on previous tours.