TENNIS: The World number two Kim Clijsters has pulled out of the German Open in Berlin because of a recurrent wrist injury that makes her a doubtful starter for the French Open.
The Belgian, who withdrew yesterday before her scheduled third round match against Croatia's Karolina Sprem, said she would not play in Rome next week and would need further tests before knowing whether she can enter the French Open starting on May 24th.
The 20-year-old, playing her first tournament in seven weeks, struggled to move past Spanish qualifier Marta Marrero in her first match at the Berlin tournament on Wednesday.
"My wrist did not respond well to that match," the top seed said yesterday. "I'm pulling out and will not go to Rome next week".
CYCLING: Two riders were excluded from the Giro d'Italia yesterday two days before tomorrow's start in Genoa after failing pre-race blood tests.
Colombian Uberlino Mesa Estepa of the Colombia-Selle Italia team and Slovenian Jure Golcer from the Formaggi Pinzolo team were found with blood values above the limits allowed in tests carried out by the Unione Cycliste Internationale - the sport's governing body.
The UCI said yesterday that the two riders had been suspended for 15 days and would have to undergo further blood tests before being allowed to race again.
CRICKET: Marcus Trescothick smashed 82 off 57 balls as England eased to a five-wicket victory over West Indies to win the seventh and final one-day international in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Wednesday and draw the series 2-2.
Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a brilliant, unbeaten 104 as West Indies amassed 261 for six from their 50 overs.
But Trescothick got England off to a flying start before Andrew Strauss hit 66 as England reached 262 for five with 16 balls to spare. Paul Collingwood, with 46 not out and Chris Read, with an unbeaten 23, saw England home.
CRICKET: Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan became cricket's joint highest wicket-taker on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday.
On a momentous day, Muralitharan moved on to the 519 mark after taking six for 45 as Sri Lanka dismissed a second-string Zimbabwe for 199.
Muralitharan, 32, had gone into the match with 513 wickets, needing seven more to surpass the record held by former West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh.
Zimbabwe had to field a makeshift team after 15 experienced players refused to make themselves available in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.
The rebels want binding arbitration to resolve their grievances with the ZCU, who have offered mediation, which is not binding.
SKATING: French figure skating chief Didier Gailhaguet, at the centre of a judging scandal that rocked the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, has resigned.
Gailhaguet was banned for three years for misconduct by the International Skating Union after French judge Marie Reine Le Gougne said he forced her to under-mark a Canadian pair in favour of their Russian rivals at Salt Lake City.
Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the event but duplicate golds were awarded to Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier after the scandal broke.
Gailhaguet and Le Gougne were also barred from the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.
