Other sports news in brief
Nadal sweeps through to quarter-finals
TENNIS:A blistering performance from Rafael Nadal saw the five-time defending champion sweep into the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday, brushing aside Michael Berrer in straight sets.
The number two seed took just 55 minutes to cruise through 6-0, 6-1 just missing out on the first double-bagel result of his career when Berrer won the sixth game of the second set.
It is the first time the Spaniard, who defeated Thiemo de Bakker 6-1, 6-0 yesterday, has dropped only one game in back-to-back tour-level matches. Nadal will face compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero, who battled to a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Ferrero was solid throughout the match against the big-serving Frenchman, who racked up eight aces.
Top seed Novak Djokovic also enjoyed routine progress to the last eight as he overcame Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-4.
Coulthard's return no surprise
MOTOR SPORT:David Coulthard is to make a return behind the wheel, ending one of the worst-kept secrets in motor sport.
The 13-times Formula One grand prix winner is to compete for Mercedes in the DTM, the German touring car series, this year.
Coulthard, who retired from F1 at the end of the 2008 season after 15 years in the sport, forms part of a nine-strong line-up for Mercedes.
The 39-year-old Scot will drive a 2008-spec C class as DTM runs old and new cars to prohibit costs. “I’m very much looking forward to returning to racing after a one- year break,” said Coulthard. “To sit behind the wheel of an AMG Mercedes C-Class at Hockenheim and not at the pit wall suits me better somehow.” The series pits Mercedes against Audi – winners of the title for the last three years.
Ideal start for Ireland in Sabina Park
CRICKET:Ireland got off to a dream start in defending a total of 219 in their One-Day International at Sabina Park in Kingston yesterday as they removed both of West Indies' opening batsmen in the first two overs, writes Emmet Riordan.
Peter Connell took the prize scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul with the last ball of the first over as Andre Botha held the catch at second slip. The left-hander had scored a brilliant century in the last meeting between the sides at the ground during the 2007 World Cup.
Four balls later Trent Johnston removed Andre Fletcher in the same fashion, with Paul Stirling this time holding the catch at second slip.
Struggling at nine for two, the weather forced the side’s off for nearly an hour. On their return the West Indies had moved on to 46 after 15 overs without any further loss.
Earlier, Ireland fell just three runs short of beating their record score at Sabina Park as they were bowled out for 219.
Ireland made 221 for nine at the ground in the thrilling tie against Zimbabwe during the World Cup, but some late wickets prevented them reaching a new milestone in their fourth ODI at the famous venue.
Kevin O’Brien (54) and Paul Stirling (51) led the way with half-centuries, while Niall O’Brien fell for 49. Opener Stirling hit five fours in his 83-ball stay at the wicket but Ireland struggled to hit boundaries, going 20 overs at one stage between fours.
Niall O’Brien hit the ropes just once in the 76 balls he faced, leaving younger brother Kevin to inflict some damage late on as he hit two sixes during a batting powerplay that yielded a valuable 45 runs from five overs. He was finally bowled for 54 by former Ireland overseas player Ravi Rampaul with the score on 216 but Ireland lost their last two wickets for just three runs.
Schiavone advances
TENNIS:Top seed Francesca Schiavone moved into the semi-finals of the Barcelona Ladies Open yesterday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.
The Italian broke three times in the first set and twice in the second to win her last-eight meeting with the seventh seed in two hours.
Suarez Navarro got 72 per cent of her first serves in, compared to Schiavone’s 60 per cent, but it was not enough to upset the top seed.
Roberta Vinci of Italy booked her place in the last four by sweeping past Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-0 in just 54 minutes.
Vinci carved out 12 break points, converting five, on her way to a comfortable victory.
Alexandra Dulgheru saw off Arantxa Parra Santonja, fighting back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours 24 minutes.
Hearn promises a hard line
SNOOKER:Snooker supremo Barry Hearn has vowed to ensure the sport is corruption-free and promised to deal "harshly" with any players who step out of line.
Hearn, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, is confident events such as the big-money Betfred.com World Championship are not vulnerable to crimes such as match-fixing.
It emerged today that Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett have been referred to prosecutors in Scotland over betting patterns during a UK Championship match.
“I have one-to-one conversations with everyone, and putting it mildly I let them know that I am not someone to mess about with on this.
“The integrity of the game comes above everything.
“If they ever – ever – give any of my sponsors an excuse not to sponsor because there’s doubts on the integrity, they will be dealt with in a most summary fashion,” said Hearn.
