SPORTS DIGEST:TENNIS: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga claimed his second ATP title of the year by beating fellow Frenchman Michael Llodra 7-5 7-6 in the final of the Marseille Open yesterday.
Fourth-seeded Tsonga, who won the South African Open two weeks ago, kept his cool under pressure from Llodra at the net to seal victory in one hour 43 minutes.
"He puts you under a lot of pressure," Tsonga said. "It's quite hard to stay focused."
Tsonga, who now has four ATP titles under his belt, broke decisively in the 11th game to snatch the opening set with a stunning forehand passing shot.
On Saturday, Venus Williams won her 40th singles title by defeating the unseeded Virginie Razzano 6-4 6-2 to win the Dubai Championships.
Pistorius injured in boating accident
PARALYMPICS: South Africa's double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery for facial injuries sustained in a boating accident, his manager Peet van Zyl has said.
Pistorius (22), was flung from the speedboat he was steering on the Vaal River south of Johannesburg on Saturday night, local media reports said.
“Oscar was in surgery for most of the afternoon to fix fractures in his jaw and nose region. He was then transferred to the ICU for normal post-operative observation.
“The doctors are quite happy with how the operation went and he is expected to make a full recovery,” van Zyl said.
ECB head says he won't resign
CRICKET: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David Collier has said he would not resign over the Allen Stanford scandal.
Collier and ECB chairman Giles Clarke have come under fire in the media and from within the game over English cricket’s association with Texas billionaire Stanford, who has been accused of involvement in a €7 billion securities fraud.
Collier told BBC Radio Five he “had discussed his position” but would not resign.
“We went through all the correct procedures and we correctly signed off the procedures,” Collier said.
“I feel we couldn’t have done more. I feel I have more to offer the game and I want to see that through.”
Honda turned down buy-out
MOTOR SPORT: Honda Formula One team bosses turned down Bernie Ecclestone's offer to help with a planned management buy-out, the sport's commercial head was quoted as saying yesterday.
“I tried to help with the management buy-out,” the 78-year-old told a British tabloid. “They should have taken what I offered. It was a very good offer for everybody.”
Swail sunk by Carter comeback
SNOOKER: England's Ali Carter produced a brilliant fightback to win his first ranking title in the Welsh Open.
Carter trailed Northern Ireland’s Joe Swail 5-2 in the afternoon session, but won the next seven frames in a row to secure a 9-5 victory in Newport.
During one five-frame stretch Carter outscored Swail 476-17, clearly benefiting hugely from the interval between sessions.
“I learnt a lot from getting to the World Championship final last year but it was a really tough match today,” a delighted Carter said.
Swail, appearing in the first ranking final of his 18-year career, said: “It means a lot to reach the final. I was 5-2 up but let it go a wee bit, but fair play to Ali, he played brilliantly tonight and there was not a lot I could do.
“It’s a nice feeling to get to a final but it’s disappointing and frustrating to go all the way and lose.”
Young Drain proves unbeatable
EQUESTRIAN SPORT: Antrim teenager Conor Drain proved unbeatable in the first round of the Horse Sport Ireland Guidam spring tour, taking first and second places in yesterday's opening round of the series at the Connolly family's Ravendale Lodge Equestrian Centre north of Dundalk, writes Margie McLoone.
Fifteen of the 48 starters made it to the jump-off round, and Drain (16), was fastest over Tom Holden’s course on Anthony Smyth’s mare Shanroe Penny, stopping the clock on 32.63. He claimed the runner-up spot in 34.22 on Judith Sossick’s Irish-bred Loughvew Lou-Lou, a seven-year-old mare by Limmerick.
“It has been a fantastic two days here at Ravensdale and I’ve won a few classes,” Drain said. “However, to take first and second in the HSI Guidam Grand Prix was the icing on the cake and I’m really delighted.”
