TENNIS: Sixth seed Andy Roddick and former British number one Tim Henman turned in impressive displays as they moved into the third round of the Madrid Masters yesterday.
The big American took full advantage of his powerful serve to see off Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 7-6, while wild card Tim Henman continued his fine run of recent form by upsetting 14th seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.
The 32-year-old, who lost to Roger Federer in the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo earlier this month, ripped through the first set. But a determined Ferrer, who has reached the quarter-finals or better in four Masters Series tournaments this season, used his superior ground strokes to take the second.
Henman rose to the challenge, however, racing to the net from the start of the third and gave the 24-year-old no chance as he broke four times on his way to victory.
Henman will face the winner of the match between fourth seeded Argentine David Nalbandian and Julien Benneteau of France.
Roddick, who won the Masters Series event in Cincinnati in August and lost to Federer in the final of the US Open, snapped up his only break point on his way to taking the first set.
It was level pegging in the second but Roddick used his serve to good effect to win the tie-break, wrapping up victory with an ace. He will face either Argentine Agustin Calleri or Czech Tomas Berdych in the third round.
CRICKET: All-rounder Abdul Razzaq excelled with bat and ball to haul Pakistan to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their opening Champions Trophy Group B tie in Jaipur, India yesterday.
Razzaq grabbed four wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 253 all out in 49.2 overs and then smashed 38 not out off 24 balls to steer Pakistan to 255 for six in 48.1 overs. Opener Sanath Jayasuriya blasted 48 from 35 balls with useful contributions down the order which helped Sri Lanka reach a challenging total after skipper Mahela Jayawardene elected to bat.
Pakistan opener Imran Farhat hit 53 and vice-captain Mohammad Younis contributed 49 in reply.
It was a stunning comeback for the team which was in crisis on Monday after strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were sent home after testing positive for nandrolone.
BOOK AWARD: There are 15 entries for the 2006 Boylesports Irish Sports Book of the Year Award. This is the second year of the award and the entries reflect the calibre and depth of sports writing from Gaelic Games, rugby and athletics to soccer, golf and horseracing. The winner will be announced next month.
List of entries: Back from the Brink, Paul McGrath with Vincent Hogan, Random House; Beating Them at Their Own Game, Patrick West, Liberties Press; Beyond Our Wildest Dreams, Ciarán Cronin, Tuatha Na Mumhan; Death on a Country Road, Desmond Fahy, Mercier Press; Dublin vs Kerry, Tom Humphries, Penguin Ireland; GAA: The Glory Years, Ronnie Bellew, Hodder Headline; Great GAA Moments 2006, Finbarr McCarthy, Mentor Books; Lansdowne Through the Years, Edward Newman, Hodder Headline; Munster: Our Road to Glory, Alan English with photographs by Billy Strickland, Penguin Ireland; Riding the Storm, Timmy Murphy with Donn McLean, Highdown; Rucks, Mauls and Gaelic Football, Moss Keane with Billy Keane, Merlin Publishing; Ryder Cup Ireland, Brian Cox, New Island Publishers; Staying the Distance, Ronnie Delany, O'Brien Press; The Will to Win, Seán Boylan with John Quinn, O'Brien Press; Vincent O'Brien: the Official Biography, Jacqueline O'Brien and Ivor Herbert, Bantam Press.
GOLF: On paper the Irish side swinging into action in the history-making world women's team championship for the coveted Espirito Santo Trophy in South Africa today is as strong as any.
Beaverstown's Martina Gillen, Claire Coughlan and Tricia Mangan, all Curtis Cup players, make it a formidable line-up.
For the first time the four home countries are competing as separate entities instead of being part of a Britain and Ireland line-up. "It is extremely exciting and we have three very good players who on their day are capable of beating anyone," said captain Lilian Starrett.
The championship is being played over 72 holes on two courses, Stellenbosch and De Zaize.
The two best cards count on each of the four days.
