A roundup of today's other sports news in brief
Niland takes title in Florida
TENNIS: Ireland’s Conor Niland ended a title drought stretching back 15 months when he came up trumps in the ITF Men’s Futures event at Niceville, Florida, on Sunday.
And additionally satisfying for the Limerick man was the fact that in the final he avenged his defeat by Australian James Lemke at the same stage of last week’s corresponding tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.
Top seed Niland seemed to be heading for his second defeat on the trot against the unseeded left-hander from Melbourne when he lost the first set.
But once he started to adopt a more aggressive approach from the onset of the second set he began to put his opponent, who had earlier dumped out two seeded players en route to the final, on the back foot, and he went on to prevail on a 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 scoreline.
Mercedes-Benz take control of Brawn GP
MOTOR SPORT: Reigning Formula One champion Jenson Button’s future remains uncertain after Mercedes-Benz secured a controlling interest in his Brawn GP team yesterday.
The German manufacturer will buy 75.1 per cent of Brawn GP in partnership with an Abu Dhabi investment company, with the team to be rebranded as Mercedes Grand Prix and based in Brackley.
Team principal Ross Brawn will remain in his role but the future of Button is less certain.
The 2009 Formula One drivers’ champion remains in contract talks with his current team over a new deal and while chief executive Nick Fry – who will also remain in his role – said he and Brawn would prefer Button to remain, he admitted financial constraints may prevent that. “We have had discussions with Jenson about what we think is a sensible salary,” Fry told Radio Five Live.
“This (takeover by Mercedes) is not going to change anything in that respect.”
India’s Dravid steadies the ship
CRICKET: Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni put Sri Lanka’s inexperienced attack to the sword by smashing centuries as India regained the advantage on the opening day of the first Test in Ahmedabad.
Sri Lanka began brightly with Chanaka Welegedara claiming three wickets in his first four overs with the new ball to leave the hosts reeling at 32 for four.
Dravid, however, led India’s revival with an excellent unbeaten 177 and put on 125 for the fifth wicket with Yuvraj Singh (68) and a 225-run stand with Dhoni (110) as India reached a commanding 385 for six at stumps.
Welegedara, playing only his second Test match, exploited the moisture in the pitch in the morning to prise out Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar cheaply.
Dravid was then joined by Yuvraj and they pieced together India’s recovery.
Pat Fenlon has been named Philips Manager of the Month for October.
Fenlon manager of the month
Fenlon guided Bohemians to their eighth league title last month. It was Fenlon’s fifth title win as a manager – he led Bohemians to the title last year, and was also successful with Shelbourne in 2003, 2004 and 2006. He also won three championships as a player – with St Patrick’s Athletic in 1990 and with Shelbourne in 2000 and 2002.
