Why not win both Roland Garros and Olympic gold, asks Djokovic
LONDON (Reuters) – The French Open title and an Olympic gold medal are the only major prizes in tennis to have eluded Novak Djokovic, and for the Serb, there is no point discussing which he would rather win this year.
“Why not both?” the confident Serb shot back when asked to choose, looking dapper in a suit and bow tie after collecting his Laureus sportsman of the year award in London on Monday.
As with most of the five-times grand slam winner’s public appearances, the 24-year-old’s swagger is tempered with a smile, suggesting he is not getting too carried away with his huge success over the past 14 months.
In December 2010, Djokovic spearheaded Serbia to their first Davis Cup triumph then went on to win three of the four major titles in 2011, before outlasting Rafa Nadal in the longest grand slam final played to defend his Australian Open crown last month.
Jokes and smiles aside, when Djokovic addressed the question seriously, his response was ominous.
“I’ve learnt how to handle my schedule, how to handle myself on and off the court and to prepare for the biggest events. That is going to be the case this year,” he said.
“I will try to set up my form for Roland Garros first of all, where I want to get the title and go all the way through, and then I’ll start thinking about Wimbledon and the Olympics.”
Tennis-Why not win both Roland Garros and Olympic gold, asks Djokovic
LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) – The French Open title and an Olympic gold medal are the only major prizes in tennis to have eluded Novak Djokovic, and for the Serb, there is no point discussing which he would rather win this year.
“Why not both?” the confident Serb shot back when asked to choose, looking dapper in a suit and bow tie after collecting his Laureus sportsman of the year award in London on Monday.
As with most of the five-times grand slam winner’s public appearances, the 24-year-old’s swagger is tempered with a smile, suggesting he is not getting too carried away with his huge success over the past 14 months.
In Dec. 2010, Djokovic spearheaded Serbia to their first Davis Cup triumph then went on to win three of the four major titles in 2011, before outlasting Rafa Nadal in the longest grand slam final played to defend his Australian Open crown last month.
Jokes and smiles aside, when Djokovic addressed the question seriously, his response was ominous.
“I’ve learnt how to handle my schedule, how to handle myself on and off the court and to prepare for the biggest events. That is going to be the case this year,” he said.
“I will try to set up my form for Roland Garros first of all, where I want to get the title and go all the way through, and then I’ll start thinking about Wimbledon and the Olympics.”
I wish I could have played Twenty20 – Steve Waugh
LONDON (Reuters) – Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, known for his risk-free batting style that brought him nearly 11,000 test runs, wishes he could have flung the bat in the Twenty20 format.
Waugh still sits seventh on the all-time test run scorers list having called it a day in 2004, aged 38, narrowly missing out on the Twenty20 revolution.
The game’s newest form was first played in England in 2003 and made its way over to Australia by early 2005 and despite his passion for grinding out long innings, Waugh says he would have loved to have chanced his arm in the fast-paced short format.
“I would have loved to have played Twenty20 cricket. That’s one we missed out on,” Waugh told Reuters on Monday at a Laureus event inside Championship (second division) soccer club Millwall’s stadium in south London.
“It would have been great to work out how to play the ramp shot, reverse sweep. All that stuff’s exciting to watch. It’s something we can do as players so it would have been great to have learnt it.”
The 46-year-old, famous for his steely approach to the game and the lucky red rag he used to mop his brow during long stays at the crease, was also a skilled medium pacer in his day and reckons his bowling could have adapted to Twenty20.
“I would have enjoyed the bowling, having to work out what you’ve gotta do, what variations to use,” said the former world number one test batsman.
I wish I could have played Twenty20 – Waugh
LONDON (Reuters) – Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, known for his risk-free batting style that brought him nearly 11,000 test runs, wishes he could have flung the bat in the Twenty20 format.
Waugh still sits seventh on the all-time test run scorers list having called it a day in 2004, aged 38, narrowly missing out on the Twenty20 revolution.
The game’s newest form was first played in England in 2003 and made its way over to Australia by early 2005 and despite his passion for grinding out long innings, Waugh says he would have loved to have chanced his arm in the fast-paced short format.
“I would have loved to have played Twenty20 cricket. That’s one we missed out on,” Waugh told Reuters on Monday at a Laureus event inside Championship (second division) soccer club Millwall’s stadium in south London.
“It would have been great to work out how to play the ramp shot, reverse sweep. All that stuff’s exciting to watch. It’s something we can do as players so it would have been great to have learnt it.”
The 46-year-old, famous for his steely approach to the game and the lucky red rag he used to mop his brow during long stays at the crease, was also a skilled medium pacer in his day and reckons his bowling could have adapted to Twenty20.
“I would have enjoyed the bowling, having to work out what you’ve gotta do, what variations to use,” said the former world number one test batsman.
Cricket-I wish I could have played Twenty20 – Waugh
LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, known for his risk-free batting style that brought him nearly 11,000 test runs, wishes he could have flung the bat in the Twenty20 format.
Waugh still sits seventh on the all-time test run scorers list having called it a day in 2004, aged 38, narrowly missing out on the Twenty20 revolution.
The game’s newest form was first played in England in 2003 and made its way over to Australia by early 2005 and despite his passion for grinding out long innings, Waugh says he would have loved to have chanced his arm in the fast-paced short format.
“I would have loved to have played Twenty20 cricket. That’s one we missed out on,” Waugh told Reuters on Monday at a Laureus event inside Championship (second division) soccer club Millwall’s stadium in south London.
“It would have been great to work out how to play the ramp shot, reverse sweep. All that stuff’s exciting to watch. It’s something we can do as players so it would have been great to have learnt it.”
The 46-year-old, famous for his steely approach to the game and the lucky red rag he used to mop his brow during long stays at the crease, was also a skilled medium pacer in his day and reckons his bowling could have adapted to Twenty20.
“I would have enjoyed the bowling, having to work out what you’ve gotta do, what variations to use,” said the former world number one test batsman.
Woods caught between Rock and not such a hard place
There was no first full-field event win for the first time since November 2009 for Tiger Woods despite starting the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship tied for the lead, but at long last the future seems bright for the 14-times major winner.
Englishman Robert Rock could barely believe what he had achieved in seeing off Woods in the final round to claim his second European Tour victory. It was a heart-warming triumph for the lesser known players who battle each season just to keep their tour-playing rights, galaxies away from the world Woods inhabits.
The American however seemed to return to earth during his time in the desert. Gone was his aloof, hot and cold manner of the past two years since his much-publicised sex scandal, replaced in the Middle East by friendly TV interviews and a vastly improved on-course demeanour.
Next up for the 36-year-old is the Pebble Beach Pro-Am starting on Feb. 9, another favoured location for Woods where he stormed to a record 15-shot U.S. Open win in 2000 when at the peak of his powers.
With two children to make time for, Woods’ schedule won’t be a packed one but will centre around the big events in the lead-up to the season’s defining months of April, May, June, July and August.
Another hurdle for the former world number one, now up to 17th in Monday’s rankings from 25, will be the release of former coach Hank Haney’s book on his time with the American, which provoked criticism from Woods himself given it will hit the shelves just before the first major of the year (U.S. Masters) in early April.
Nevermind. During his recent woes there were glimmers that Woods could enjoy himself and was relaxed, but they were few and far between. Those days are behind him now. As the old adage goes, form is temporary, class is permanent.
Boca put River in their place
The result of the year’s first “superclasico” was logical with first division champions Boca Juniors beating second-division River Plate 2-0.
But Wednesday night’s friendly – an unprecedented clash with one of the two giants of the Argentine game in the second tier — was also something of an anti-climax after the massive build.
Argentina’s biggest soccer rivalry, whether they are playing an off-season warm-up as in this case or a decisive Libertadores Cup clash or anything in between, puts all others in the shade.
It was played in the steamy northern city of Resistencia in the sub-tropical Chaco province with massive police control to keep the hard-core element among their fans, bitter enemies, to their word that there would be no trouble.
As it happened, one of River’s senior players, former Russia-based midfielder Alejandro Dominguez, could have sparked trouble with his insulting gestures to Boca fans as he eventually and reluctantly trudged off following a red card.
“Chori” Dominguez, who should have known better, lost his self control and reacted badly to a booking, clamouring about Boca fouls and accusing the referee of bias which earned him the dismissal.
Will “fit and happy” Woods rediscover on-course cheer?
The photos depict it, Rory McIlroy’s been saying it, now it’s up to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club to confirm that at long last, Tiger Woods is happy and fighting fit again.
That the 14-times major champion should choose the European Tour’s first big event of the season to make his 2012 debut in favour of one of his favourite courses at Torrey Pines in California is one thing.
Woods’ results at Torrey Pines have been astonishing – seven wins including his last major at the U.S. Open in 2008 – while his rare forays to the Middle East have been equally impressive, two Dubai Desert Classic wins in six attempts with only one finish outside the top five.
More noticeable however is the American’s demeanour, critics say his huge appearance fee in the UAE capital might have something to do with it, but surely money no longer lures Woods. He wants to start winning again.
Whether he can do that in Abu Dhabi, with the spotlight firmly on him and a quality field including the world’s top four players, remains to be seen.
Should he find the going tough perhaps we will see the same surly Woods stomp around the course, spitting freely and winning no fans with his attitude.
But again, just like the money, surely those days are behind him.
Roddick leads movement for ATP change
By Martyn Herman
Andy Roddick on Friday insisted that tennis players must adopt “one voice” to push through changes to the ATP Tour but that may not be as easy as it seems despite the general feeling of solidarity.
Pity Brad Drewett, the new chief executive of the men’s Tour, who has the job of trying to keep everyone happy, grand slam champions, journeymen, tournament organisers, sponsors and TV.
The moment he took over the reins the spectre of a player boycott has returned.
A meeting involving hundreds if players took place on the eve of the Australian Open and although talk of a walkout from Melbourne was aired it did not come to fruition.
But there is clearly dissent in the ranks, and Drewett is the man tasked with damping down what could become a firestorm in the men’s game.
Tottenham’s title tilt gains momentum
LONDON (Reuters) – Tottenham Hotspur continued their push for a first top flight league title since 1961 with a 2-0 win over Everton Wednesday to put them level on points with second-placed champions Manchester United and three behind Manchester City.
Goals in either half from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto lifted the north London club to 45 points from 20 games, eight clear of fourth-placed Chelsea who are a point ahead of Tottenham’s rivals Arsenal.
Though there are 18 games still to play, the way Spurs manager Harry Redknapp spoke after the match their fans will start to dream of Premier League glory come May.
“We’re in the Champions League mix, and you just don’t know. I keep saying nothing’s impossible, we’ve got to keep believing,” the Englishman told Sky Sports.
“If you can’t enjoy the way we’re moving the ball around the football pitch you shouldn’t be watching football.”
Tottenham have gifted ball players in abundance, crafty midfielder Luka Modric complimenting the explosive pace of winger Gareth Bale while the return of the lively Lennon, back for his first league match since December 18, is a boost.
After dominating the first half Assou-Ekotto’s raking pass found Lennon, whose touch was too good for Leighton Baines as he cut into the area. The England man then beat Tim Howard with a scuffed shot 10 minutes before the interval.
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