Champion jockey seeks further success at the highest level on board Conduit, left, in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.
In many ways, Britain's two champion jockeys are uncannily alike - not just supremely gifted but so driven and single-minded they tend to look miserable even when inwardly content. Impossible, though, to imagine Tony McCoy uttering the phrases that tumbled from Ryan Moore's mouth this week.
Moore dismissed his three Royal Ascot winners as “not big races”, described the type of challenges so key to McCoy's mentality as “only numbers” and indicated that he was not unhappy to be starting a suspension today. “It's good to have a break,” he said.
It was a rare unburdening by a man as famous for buttoning up his feelings as for being the most prolific and coveted rider of his generation. And it might hint at a change in his personality and approach.
Moore was talking at Brighton, on the track where he grew up, cutting his teeth with morning gallops on horses from his father's yard across the road. He still feels at ease here, no matter that home is now Suffolk, with a partner and child to care for. This, like the demands of being champion, came early to Moore.
His son, Toby, will be a year old this month and Moore reflected: “It's not so much changed my outlook on the job as my outlook on life, if that makes any sense. Your priorities change.
“People say 200 winners should be my target this year but you have to be sensible - it's only numbers. You can't ride at two meetings every day and stay sharp. Overdo it and it wears you down. I'm trying hard not to do too many meetings.”
McCoy starts each year obsessed by remaining champion and pledges to retire when he loses the title. Moore admires him for it but begs to differ. “It's amazing what he does but his is an entirely different job to mine. The jumps boys ride all year round in England and have nowhere else to go. We're always off overseas.
“I love being champion but it's not my first priority. For me, it's all about the bigger races, the group ones.” Races such as the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, which he won on the recalcitrant Spanish Moon last Sunday, and the Coral-Eclipse, which he hopes to win on Conduit on Saturday.
Spanish Moon has misbehaved at the stalls often enough to find himself banned in Britain and briefly threatened to repeat his obstinacy in France. “I thought it was going to be a very bad day,” Moore recalled.
He expects no such difficulties with Conduit, who heads the older generation's challenge against the stellar three-year-olds, Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle, at Sandown. “You can't be sure about them yet,” he said. “I thought Sea The Stars looked good in the Guineas and the Derby was a great performance, but this will tell us where he stands.
“The Eclipse has been a strong race the last few years and this one is no different. My horse is very solid and I'm sure he'll run well. He got beaten a nose in the Brigadier Gerard but that was his first run of the year, he had a 7lb penalty and he wasn't tuned up at all. I rode work on him last Saturday and he's come on a lot. He won the Breeders' Cup [Turf] on quick ground, so he'll love the conditions.”
More sensitively, he also won a St Leger under Frankie Dettori, Moore having chosen to partner the other Sir Michael Stoute runner, Doctor Fremantle. It was a missed chance to clear a monkey off his back with that elusive first classic, an omission of which he attempts to make light.
“I know you guys write about it a lot but I've never felt I should have won one, other than choosing wrong in the Leger. It's just one of those things, they're not easy to win and there are plenty of other jockeys who won't have won a classic at 25.”
This touch of huffiness extended to a rebuttal of the belief that he snubbed a press conference after winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom. “I did the presentation then got called into the stewards' room - the criticism was unfair,” he said, with an expression that suggested he feels the world remains united against him.
Mellower he may be but the prickliness remains in Ryan Moore as he craves the constant palliative of his next big winner. It may not be a long wait.
Source:The times
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Diana Luna over the moon at Ladies Irish Open success
It is every professional golfer's dream to play a nearly faultless last round to win a tournament and know that no one can quibble about the manner of victory. This is what Henrik Stenson did to win The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach in May when his 66 spreadeagled the field and it is what Diana Luna of Italy did to win the AIB Ladies Irish Open at Portmarnock Links on Sunday.
For 18 holes, 18 holes that took a long time to play because fog interrupted the round, Luna did not make a mistake on a course over which mistakes were easy to make. She had no three putts, no missed greens and the firm and fast-running fairways held no fears for her. Her 68 gave her a 54-hole total of 11 under par.
Playing with a rare confidence, Luna, 26, steadily widened the one-stroke lead she had held overnight so that if the truth be told she rather cruised home, winning her first victory on the Ladies European Tour for five years by four strokes.
Tied for second on seven-under were Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera (69), English first year player Florentyna Parker (70) and Swede Sophie Gustafson (71), three-times an Irish Open winner.
Luna had arrived at this demanding links golf course just north of Dublin in good form after finishing second in a tournament in Holland earlier in the month. She had been putting in a lot of work on her technique with Roger Damiano, her coach, at Cannes Mougins golf club. As a result of this, and as a result of improved physical conditioning, she estimated she had added 20 yards to her drives since the end of last year. This is a considerable bonus and not surprisingly Luna found there were bunkers at Portmarnock that she had ended in a year ago but was now hitting the ball far enough to get over them.
The anticipated challenge from Gustafson, an expert at winning tournaments in Ireland, both north and south, did not materialise. “I had a little bit of trouble finding my rhythm after the fog delay but I came back and made a few birdies towards the end" Gustafson said. "I couldn’t really get anything going. Diana played very solid and hats off to her. I would have liked to give her a little bit more of a run for her money but it was nice to be out in the last group and be in contention again.”
Source:The times
For 18 holes, 18 holes that took a long time to play because fog interrupted the round, Luna did not make a mistake on a course over which mistakes were easy to make. She had no three putts, no missed greens and the firm and fast-running fairways held no fears for her. Her 68 gave her a 54-hole total of 11 under par.
Playing with a rare confidence, Luna, 26, steadily widened the one-stroke lead she had held overnight so that if the truth be told she rather cruised home, winning her first victory on the Ladies European Tour for five years by four strokes.
Tied for second on seven-under were Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera (69), English first year player Florentyna Parker (70) and Swede Sophie Gustafson (71), three-times an Irish Open winner.
Luna had arrived at this demanding links golf course just north of Dublin in good form after finishing second in a tournament in Holland earlier in the month. She had been putting in a lot of work on her technique with Roger Damiano, her coach, at Cannes Mougins golf club. As a result of this, and as a result of improved physical conditioning, she estimated she had added 20 yards to her drives since the end of last year. This is a considerable bonus and not surprisingly Luna found there were bunkers at Portmarnock that she had ended in a year ago but was now hitting the ball far enough to get over them.
The anticipated challenge from Gustafson, an expert at winning tournaments in Ireland, both north and south, did not materialise. “I had a little bit of trouble finding my rhythm after the fog delay but I came back and made a few birdies towards the end" Gustafson said. "I couldn’t really get anything going. Diana played very solid and hats off to her. I would have liked to give her a little bit more of a run for her money but it was nice to be out in the last group and be in contention again.”
Source:The times
Max Mosley about-turn clears path for Jean Todt
MAX MOSLEY is preparing the ground for former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt to replace him as president of motor sport’s governing body, the FIA. That, at least, is the belief of the F1 teams as to why he made his dramatic about-turn a day after agreeing a peace deal with them.
On Wednesday the FIA world council had voted in favour of a resolution that included Mosley not seeking re-election and not pushing through earlier proposed F1 regulations against the teams’ wishes. The “dissident” eight teams duly called off their breakaway championship and indicated they would now commit to F1 until the end of 2012. It seemed that Mosley had finally run out of ammunition against a body of teams that had remained unified. When even his long-time ally, Bernie Ecclestone, switched his support from Mosley to the teams it appeared the game was up.
The revelation a day later that Mosley was “considering his options” and intimating he might, after all, stand for re-election in October has left the teams nonplussed. “As far as we are concerned we have an agreement,” said one team. “We expect him to respect his side of it. If he doesn’t, then we’ll see what our options are, but at this stage we are treating what he has said as polemics. We have an agreement — to compete in F1 until the end of 2012.”
The “polemics” refers to the belief that Mosley is simply laying the ground for his succession plan, one that involves Todt, a man who would be an unpopular choice with the teams — but not as unpopular as Mosley himself.
Toyota’s John Howett, a leading light in the team association Fota, said on Wednesday: “From the teams’ point of view, we would like to see someone who actually is independent , perhaps independent from any of us currently or historically.” This was taken as a clear hint that Todt, as an ex-Ferrari man, would not find favour among them.
This quote angered Mosley and is believed to have been the trigger for his current position. He was angered further by quotes attributed to Fota chief and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo regarding Mosley’s role within the FIA between now and the end of his term in October and apparent references to Mosley as “a dictator”. In a leaked Thursday letter to Montezemolo, Mosley said: “If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival you and Fota must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology.” No such apology was forthcoming. Mosley signed off with what, to the teams, was an ominous final paragraph: “Given your and Fota’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office. After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA.” Mosley followed that up with a letter to the member clubs of the FIA in which he said: “The question of FIA president is a matter exclusively for you, the member clubs of the FIA, and most definitely not for the vehicle manufacturers who make up Fota.”
One team insider said: “Mosley wants someone to continue his work. Someone that can be manipulated by him — and we all know who that is.”
Todt is working with the FIA as president of eSafetyAware, a non-profit organisation promoting the use of safety technologies in cars that is supported by the FIA.
Di Montezemolo recruited Todt to Ferrari in 1993, but the Frenchman resigned as CEO in March, and their parting is said to have been less than cordial.
Todt and Mosley have had a close working relationship ever since Todt was made Ferrari team principal. For instance, last year after revelations about Mosley’s private life in the News of the World, there was a campaign among the teams to take action at the Canadian Grand Prix in an attempt to force him to resign. The plan foundered on one team refusing to go along with it — Ferrari, represented by Todt.
So F1 continues in a crisis limbo, fuelled by its Byzantine politics, just a few days after apparently securing its future. It took Mosley just over 24 hours to turn around what looked to be a humiliating political defeat into something that might not yet be termed a victory, but which makes it very clear the war is far from over. There are as yet no winners. But F1 is surely the loser.
- Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
On Wednesday the FIA world council had voted in favour of a resolution that included Mosley not seeking re-election and not pushing through earlier proposed F1 regulations against the teams’ wishes. The “dissident” eight teams duly called off their breakaway championship and indicated they would now commit to F1 until the end of 2012. It seemed that Mosley had finally run out of ammunition against a body of teams that had remained unified. When even his long-time ally, Bernie Ecclestone, switched his support from Mosley to the teams it appeared the game was up.
The revelation a day later that Mosley was “considering his options” and intimating he might, after all, stand for re-election in October has left the teams nonplussed. “As far as we are concerned we have an agreement,” said one team. “We expect him to respect his side of it. If he doesn’t, then we’ll see what our options are, but at this stage we are treating what he has said as polemics. We have an agreement — to compete in F1 until the end of 2012.”
The “polemics” refers to the belief that Mosley is simply laying the ground for his succession plan, one that involves Todt, a man who would be an unpopular choice with the teams — but not as unpopular as Mosley himself.
Toyota’s John Howett, a leading light in the team association Fota, said on Wednesday: “From the teams’ point of view, we would like to see someone who actually is independent , perhaps independent from any of us currently or historically.” This was taken as a clear hint that Todt, as an ex-Ferrari man, would not find favour among them.
This quote angered Mosley and is believed to have been the trigger for his current position. He was angered further by quotes attributed to Fota chief and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo regarding Mosley’s role within the FIA between now and the end of his term in October and apparent references to Mosley as “a dictator”. In a leaked Thursday letter to Montezemolo, Mosley said: “If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival you and Fota must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology.” No such apology was forthcoming. Mosley signed off with what, to the teams, was an ominous final paragraph: “Given your and Fota’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office. After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA.” Mosley followed that up with a letter to the member clubs of the FIA in which he said: “The question of FIA president is a matter exclusively for you, the member clubs of the FIA, and most definitely not for the vehicle manufacturers who make up Fota.”
One team insider said: “Mosley wants someone to continue his work. Someone that can be manipulated by him — and we all know who that is.”
Todt is working with the FIA as president of eSafetyAware, a non-profit organisation promoting the use of safety technologies in cars that is supported by the FIA.
Di Montezemolo recruited Todt to Ferrari in 1993, but the Frenchman resigned as CEO in March, and their parting is said to have been less than cordial.
Todt and Mosley have had a close working relationship ever since Todt was made Ferrari team principal. For instance, last year after revelations about Mosley’s private life in the News of the World, there was a campaign among the teams to take action at the Canadian Grand Prix in an attempt to force him to resign. The plan foundered on one team refusing to go along with it — Ferrari, represented by Todt.
So F1 continues in a crisis limbo, fuelled by its Byzantine politics, just a few days after apparently securing its future. It took Mosley just over 24 hours to turn around what looked to be a humiliating political defeat into something that might not yet be termed a victory, but which makes it very clear the war is far from over. There are as yet no winners. But F1 is surely the loser.
- Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
Karim Benzema joins Real Madrid
Karim Benzema, the France forward, has joined Real Madrid from Lyons, the Ligue 1 club have confirmed. The fee is estimated to be an initial €35 million (about £30 million) rising to €41 million (around £35 million).
Benzema, 21, who had also been a target for Manchester United, becomes Real's third major signing after Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo joined from AC Milan and Manchester United respectively.
A statement on the Lyons website read: "Lyon announce they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid on the details of the transfer of their international attacker Karim Benzema.
"A few days ago Karim Benzema informed the club president Jean Michel Aulas of his desire to move to the Madrid club, which had always been his favourite club after Lyon, earlier than he had foreseen.
"The player wanted to seize the opportunity which Real Madrid offered him to be one of the major elements in their new ambitious project based around the greatest players of the world.
"Lyon accepted Karim Benzema's decision and negotiated the conditions of a transfer which satisfies all the different parties.
"The club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid."
Source:The times
Benzema, 21, who had also been a target for Manchester United, becomes Real's third major signing after Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo joined from AC Milan and Manchester United respectively.
A statement on the Lyons website read: "Lyon announce they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid on the details of the transfer of their international attacker Karim Benzema.
"A few days ago Karim Benzema informed the club president Jean Michel Aulas of his desire to move to the Madrid club, which had always been his favourite club after Lyon, earlier than he had foreseen.
"The player wanted to seize the opportunity which Real Madrid offered him to be one of the major elements in their new ambitious project based around the greatest players of the world.
"Lyon accepted Karim Benzema's decision and negotiated the conditions of a transfer which satisfies all the different parties.
"The club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid."
Source:The times
Alastair Cook hits hundred for England as Lions fight back against Australia
Alastair Cook warmed up for the first Ashes Test with a determined hundred as England dominated the opening day of their warm-up match against Warwickshire.
The Essex left-hander hit a timely 124 at Edgbaston to help England reach 217 for four at tea in their three-day match.
Cook hit 21 boundaries in an innings spanning nearly four hours to ensure he will report for duty against Australia in Cardiff next week in prime form having also hit 160 on his previous England appearance in the second Test against West Indies in May.
Put into bat by a Warwickshire side missing Ian Bell, who is captaining England Lions against Australia at Worcester, Neil Carter and injured overseas player Jeetan Patel, England made a solid start with Cook and captain Andrew Strauss forging a 61-run opening stand.
That partnership was broken by seamer Naqaash Tahir, who tempted Strauss into driving at a full-length ball which flew to Rikki Clarke at second slip. Strauss had already been given one reprieve when he was dropped by Tony Frost at second slip after edging left-arm seamer Keith Barker on 20.
But Strauss failed to exploit that escape and added just 11 more runs before falling, only for Cook to team up with Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara in a 101-run partnership which guided England into mid-afternoon.
Bopara must have sensed his third England century of the summer having scored two against West Indies earlier this summer after easing to 43 without any great concern. Perhaps lulled into complacency by a flat-looking surface, Bopara attempted to attack Irish seamer Boyd Rankin but mis-timed a pull and was caught at deep mid-wicket prompting him to furiously stomp off towards the dressing room.
Tempted by the short boundary on offer, Kevin Pietersen must have been similarly confident of making an impression in his final opportunity before the start of the Ashes. But after struggling for 13 minutes at the crease to score one, Pietersen fell four overs later when he pushed at all-rounder Rikki Clarke and gave a catch to second slip.
Cook followed just two overs before the tea interval when he edged Jonathan Trott's medium pace behind to allow England's middle order an opportunity for important match practice on a good batting wicket.
At Worcester, Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan led an England Lions fightback as Australia lost four wickets for 32 runs during the afternoon session at New Road.
The Australians looked set to register a sizeable total in their final game before the first Ashes Test at Cardiff as Simon Katich and Mike Hussey shared a third-wicket stand of 141 in 29 overs. But then the dismissal of Katich for 95 made off 122 balls, pulling a leg-stump delivery from Steve Harmison to Onions at fine leg, sparked an upturn in the Lions fortunes.
Bresnan had looked innocuous during the morning session but his first ball back in the attack accounted for Michael Clarke (4) who drove to Adil Rashid at backward point.
Onions collected his second wicket of the innings when Marcus North chopped onto his stumps after making only a single.
Then Bresnan struck again as wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (seven) was trapped lbw although replays suggested the ball may have missed his leg stump.
The situation could have been more precarious for Australia when Hussey on 75 offered a caught-and-bowled chance to Sajid Mahmood. But the Lancashire paceman spilled the straightforward opportunity and Hussey remained undefeated at tea on 82 out of 215 for six off 55 overs.
It was a welcome return to form for Hussey who has been chronically out of touch at Test level and managed just one century in his last 31 innings.
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, had elected to bat on winning the toss and his side were given a searching examination by Harmison and Onions on a muggy morning. The Durham pair are looking to stake a late claim to be included in the England squad for the first Ashes Test which will be announced on Sunday.
Harmison made the first breakthrough when Hughes on seven fended a short ball off the handle of his bat to Joe Denly at gulley. His dismissal brought in Ponting but he struggled before he was out to Onions for only a single. He tried to force Onions off the back foot and fell to a head-high catch by Vikram Solanki at first slip.
The wicket appeared to flatten out and Katich and Hussey were relatively untroubled as they effected a recovery as their 100 partnership was completed in 23 overs. Katich had a let-off on 37 when he mistimed a pull at Mahmood and Onions at leg slip failed to get his hands onto a difficult head high chance as the ball sped away to the boundary.
The initial stages of the afternoon session produced a flurry of boundaries but then came the Lions revival.
Source:The times
The Essex left-hander hit a timely 124 at Edgbaston to help England reach 217 for four at tea in their three-day match.
Cook hit 21 boundaries in an innings spanning nearly four hours to ensure he will report for duty against Australia in Cardiff next week in prime form having also hit 160 on his previous England appearance in the second Test against West Indies in May.
Put into bat by a Warwickshire side missing Ian Bell, who is captaining England Lions against Australia at Worcester, Neil Carter and injured overseas player Jeetan Patel, England made a solid start with Cook and captain Andrew Strauss forging a 61-run opening stand.
That partnership was broken by seamer Naqaash Tahir, who tempted Strauss into driving at a full-length ball which flew to Rikki Clarke at second slip. Strauss had already been given one reprieve when he was dropped by Tony Frost at second slip after edging left-arm seamer Keith Barker on 20.
But Strauss failed to exploit that escape and added just 11 more runs before falling, only for Cook to team up with Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara in a 101-run partnership which guided England into mid-afternoon.
Bopara must have sensed his third England century of the summer having scored two against West Indies earlier this summer after easing to 43 without any great concern. Perhaps lulled into complacency by a flat-looking surface, Bopara attempted to attack Irish seamer Boyd Rankin but mis-timed a pull and was caught at deep mid-wicket prompting him to furiously stomp off towards the dressing room.
Tempted by the short boundary on offer, Kevin Pietersen must have been similarly confident of making an impression in his final opportunity before the start of the Ashes. But after struggling for 13 minutes at the crease to score one, Pietersen fell four overs later when he pushed at all-rounder Rikki Clarke and gave a catch to second slip.
Cook followed just two overs before the tea interval when he edged Jonathan Trott's medium pace behind to allow England's middle order an opportunity for important match practice on a good batting wicket.
At Worcester, Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan led an England Lions fightback as Australia lost four wickets for 32 runs during the afternoon session at New Road.
The Australians looked set to register a sizeable total in their final game before the first Ashes Test at Cardiff as Simon Katich and Mike Hussey shared a third-wicket stand of 141 in 29 overs. But then the dismissal of Katich for 95 made off 122 balls, pulling a leg-stump delivery from Steve Harmison to Onions at fine leg, sparked an upturn in the Lions fortunes.
Bresnan had looked innocuous during the morning session but his first ball back in the attack accounted for Michael Clarke (4) who drove to Adil Rashid at backward point.
Onions collected his second wicket of the innings when Marcus North chopped onto his stumps after making only a single.
Then Bresnan struck again as wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (seven) was trapped lbw although replays suggested the ball may have missed his leg stump.
The situation could have been more precarious for Australia when Hussey on 75 offered a caught-and-bowled chance to Sajid Mahmood. But the Lancashire paceman spilled the straightforward opportunity and Hussey remained undefeated at tea on 82 out of 215 for six off 55 overs.
It was a welcome return to form for Hussey who has been chronically out of touch at Test level and managed just one century in his last 31 innings.
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, had elected to bat on winning the toss and his side were given a searching examination by Harmison and Onions on a muggy morning. The Durham pair are looking to stake a late claim to be included in the England squad for the first Ashes Test which will be announced on Sunday.
Harmison made the first breakthrough when Hughes on seven fended a short ball off the handle of his bat to Joe Denly at gulley. His dismissal brought in Ponting but he struggled before he was out to Onions for only a single. He tried to force Onions off the back foot and fell to a head-high catch by Vikram Solanki at first slip.
The wicket appeared to flatten out and Katich and Hussey were relatively untroubled as they effected a recovery as their 100 partnership was completed in 23 overs. Katich had a let-off on 37 when he mistimed a pull at Mahmood and Onions at leg slip failed to get his hands onto a difficult head high chance as the ball sped away to the boundary.
The initial stages of the afternoon session produced a flurry of boundaries but then came the Lions revival.
Source:The times
Wimbledon live: Lleyton Hewitt v Andy Roddick
Keep refreshing the page for live updates. Andy Murray cruises into the semi-finals with emphatic victory over Ferrero - plus the rest of the news from SW19.
Welcome to men's quarter-final day at Wimbledon. Andy Murray has won in straight sets against Juan Carlos Ferrero. Up first on Centre Court was Roger Federer, who defeated Ivo Karlovic in straight sets.
Federer will face Tommy Haas in the semi-finals after he beat Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed. On Court One, Lleyton Hewitt is meeting Andy Roddick for the right to go up against Murray on Friday.
Join us throughout the afternoon for the latest news and send your thoughts to sport@timesonline.co.uk
6.24pm: Hewitt's ninth ace brings up a second successive tiebreak.
6.20pm: Are we set for another tiebreak in this engrossing, even contest? We're on serve and it's 6-5 to Roddick. Shadows lengthening on Court One. Meanwhile, in more good news for the Murray clan, Jamie is through to the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles with his partner, Liezel Huber.
6pm: Hewitt holds his serve comfortably and it's three games all. Hard to predict the winner of this one.
5.45pm: Strewth, Lleyton's crocked. He's apparently called the trainer to have a look at his muscle injury, though it doesn't seem to be hampering his performance much. 1-1 in the third set.
5.43pm: Shock as politician in need of good news jumps on Brit sporting success bandwagon. “You could see the reaction of the crowd that they were so impressed by his determination and his performance. I wish him well,” said Gordon Brown. Thought he was more of a football fan.
5.40pm: Sensational stuff on Court One as Hewitt shows his battling qualities to save three set points during a marathon tiebreak, then wins the set as Roddick goes long. One set all. The crowd are making plenty of noise. Not only are they enjoying an excellent match, the longer these two are on court, the better for the winner's semi-final opponent, a certain A. Murray.
5pm: Would Murray prefer to face Hewitt or Roddick in the semis? "Both are tough, they've got a lot of experience, I'd just like them to have a long match," he said in his post-match TV chat. With Hewitt a set down but a break up in the second, Murray's wish may be granted. Needless to say, he's the first Brit to reach the semis at SW19 since Tim Henman.
4.58pm: Murray wins! He absolutely raced through that set - and most of the previous one - to complete an impressive, if pretty easy, victory that lacked the drama of Monday night - thank goodness. He'll face either Hewitt or Roddick in the last four. 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to the world number three.
4.55pm: This one's close to the end. Murray is 5-2 to the good and serving for a place in the semi-finals.
4.42pm: Ferrero holds his serve, just, for 2-1 in the third set. He faced a break point. Murray is working his opponent all over the court. Roddick has taken the first set against Hewitt.
4.29pm: Job two-thirds of the way done as Murray wins the game to love with some fantastic serving, taking the set 6-3. From 3-1 down in the set, Murray completely turned his fortunes around with some formidable shot-making.
4.28pm: Terrific game from Murray, who breaks to love. Ferrero is struggling to win any points at the moment. The Scot has stepped it up and is serving for the second set at 5-3.
4.25pm: Federer, who frankly looks unbeatable, reflects on his win over Karlovic: “To be in my 21st consecutive major semi-final shows how consistent I have been and injury free. I’m playing well at the moment but there are some big matches to come."
4.22pm: Murray breaks back! His opponent double-faults at 0-40. 3-3.
4.20pm: It's 3-2 to Ferrero in the second set. Judy Murray, mother of, has bailed out on her son - but only so she can take in Andy's elder brother, Jamie, in the mixed doubles on Court Four. Jamie Murray and Liezel Huber are 5-4 up on the US pair, Mike Bryan and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
4.17pm: Sparse crowd on Court One. Surely people aren't choosing to watch Murray on Henman Hill rather than some live tennis? Good start for Andy Roddick who leads Lleyton Hewitt 2-0.
4.15pm: Ferrero holds again to make it 3-1 in the second set. Centre Court is packed with celebs. Sir Steve Redgrave and Lawrence Dallaglio presumably didn't have to queue for 36 hours to get their seats.
4.09pm: How disappointing. Murray is broken in the first game of the second set and Ferrero holds his serve to take a 2-0 lead.
4pm: Murray takes the first set! 7-5. He had a set point but shanked his return wide when there was a little gap to pass Ferrero as he ran to the net. A great return of serve brought the Scot another chance, which he takes (well, is given) when the Spaniard double-faults. Sadly, Robson is out, beaten 8-6 in the final set.
3.55pm: Novak no more. The fourth seed has been upset by the veteran Haas, 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. Murray has been the victim of a couple of unlucky net cord bounces in the past few minutes but he's 6-5 up.
3.47pm: Haas is a break up in the fourth set. Meanwhile, Laura Robson is showing much more grit than you'd expect of a Brit tennis player as she bids to retain her girls' singles title. She's saved three match points and is a break up in the third set. Still on serve on Centre. 3.38pm: Murray holds impressively. He's served five aces already, Ferrero none.
3.36pm: Ferrero holds with relative ease and it's 3-3. Even stuff so far.
3.29pm: Murray has a break point but the Spaniard holds on to make it 2-2. Djokovic has won the third set and is 2-1 down. Kate Winslet is on Centre Court. (In the stands.)
3.23pm: We're underway in the big match on Centre and it's one game all in scorching conditions. Djokovic looking likely to win the third set in his match with Haas.
3.05pm: It's Murray in moments. Imagine the excitement of those bizarre people who started queuing on Monday night for this. Ferrero shouldn't be a pushover. He may have needed a wildcard entry, being ranked only 70th in the world, but he's a former world number one and former French Open champion. Although that was six years ago.
2.52pm: It's all over on Centre. Federer shows his class with a straight-sets win that means he'll contest his seventh successive WImbledon semi-final on Friday. The fact that Karlovic could hardly get the ball over the net and inside the baseline was obviously a large contributing factor, though much of the reason for that was the intimidating excellence of his opponent. 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), easy.
2.47pm: Big trouble for the fourth seed. Haas saves three set points in the tiebreaker and then takes the set to lead 2-0. It's also tiebreak time on Centre.
2.38pm: Hassle for the German on Court 1 as Djokovic breaks back to take the second set into a tiebreak.
2.31pm: After Federer double-faults in the first point of the sixth game, Karlovic blows an easy chance for 0-30, fluffing a simple volley at the net with most of the court open. Federer's brilliance has really got into his opponent's head, though he does make a superb passing shot down the line for 40-40. It's not enough and Federer holds to make it 3-3. Haas has just broken Djokovic for 6-5 and will serve for a 2-0 lead.
2.20pm: Going with serve in Haas v Djokovic. It's 4-3 to the Serb, who is a set down. Britain's Laura Robson is struggling with a back injury in her girls' singles match and she's a set down.
2.11pm: "Boris" Karlovic goes long with a return and in 61 minutes, Federer is two sets to the good. With his giant frame, unsmiling and unshaven demeanour, raw power and cool sunglasses, Karlovic looks a bit like The Terminator - but his one weapon, that serve, is nowhere near enough here. He won't be back on Friday.
2.07pm: Federer is a genius. When it most matters, he finds a way to return Karlovic's serve. And how. A sublime return at 15-30 brings up two break points and he takes one to lead 6-5. If the Croat isn't serving an ace, he's in trouble.
2pm: Another impeccable service game for Federer makes it 4-4. Karlovic, all serve and no trousers, would settle for a tiebreak in this set - and probably the following ones.
1.57pm: On Court One, Haas has won the first set against Djokovic, 7-5.
1.52pm: Few decent rallies on Centre, but then it's not in Karlovic's interest to start trading shots with an opponent who is clearly vastly more talented. 3-3.
1.45pm: The Williams sisters have wrapped up their doubles quarter-final in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. 1.40pm: Signs that Federer is human. He double-faults then comically loses his balance on the baseline and nudges the ball about six yards, looking like a pub player, just for a second. Still wins the game, mind you. 1-1 in the second set.
1.36pm: Times Online's roving reporter in SW19, Kaya Burgess, tells us: "Andy Murray's mum, Judy, just described watching her son as 'a cross between sea-sickness and a heart attack'". The Great British Hope is limbering up on the practice courts. He may not have long to wait for his match.
1.33pm: Game and first set Federer. All the talk has been about Karlovic's serve, but the Swiss only dropped three points on his in that set, which was wrapped up 6-3 in 23 minutes. Life is closer on Court 1, where it's 3-3 between Haas and Djokovic.
1.30pm: Karlovic has put on some cool-looking shades. To protect him from the sun, or Federer's blinding performance? The Croat has settled into a rhythm on his serve and holds to make it 5-3.
1.27pm: Karlovic has only broken Federer's serve once in their nine previous matches and it doesn't happen here, not even close, as Federer seals out the game to love. He's up 5-2 and cruising.
1.21pm: "Big serving Karlovic" is broken already! Thanks to some superb returns of serve from Federer, who holds to 15 for the third successive service game to make it 4-1.
1.16pm: Federer's held both his service games and leads Karlovic 2-1.
12.52pm: Serena and Venus duly win the first set, 6-2.
12.30pm: Unbroken blue skies and baking sunshine once again, so it looks like Andy Murray won't have to worry about playing under that nasty, sticky, roof. The women's quarter-finals yesterday were disappointingly one-sided, apart from Dinara Safina's hard-fought win over Sabine Lisicki, so let's hope for better today. And we should get it. First up is Federer's match against the man known as "big-serving Ivo Karlovic". The 6ft 10in Croat's gigantic serve should make it tough for the favourite to break him, but does Karlovic have enough of an all-around game to trouble Federer? Doubtful. Meanwhile, the Williams sisters aren't showing any signs of fatigue after their (admittedly brief) exertions yesterday: they're up 4-1 on Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King in the first set.
Source:The times
Welcome to men's quarter-final day at Wimbledon. Andy Murray has won in straight sets against Juan Carlos Ferrero. Up first on Centre Court was Roger Federer, who defeated Ivo Karlovic in straight sets.
Federer will face Tommy Haas in the semi-finals after he beat Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed. On Court One, Lleyton Hewitt is meeting Andy Roddick for the right to go up against Murray on Friday.
Join us throughout the afternoon for the latest news and send your thoughts to sport@timesonline.co.uk
6.24pm: Hewitt's ninth ace brings up a second successive tiebreak.
6.20pm: Are we set for another tiebreak in this engrossing, even contest? We're on serve and it's 6-5 to Roddick. Shadows lengthening on Court One. Meanwhile, in more good news for the Murray clan, Jamie is through to the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles with his partner, Liezel Huber.
6pm: Hewitt holds his serve comfortably and it's three games all. Hard to predict the winner of this one.
5.45pm: Strewth, Lleyton's crocked. He's apparently called the trainer to have a look at his muscle injury, though it doesn't seem to be hampering his performance much. 1-1 in the third set.
5.43pm: Shock as politician in need of good news jumps on Brit sporting success bandwagon. “You could see the reaction of the crowd that they were so impressed by his determination and his performance. I wish him well,” said Gordon Brown. Thought he was more of a football fan.
5.40pm: Sensational stuff on Court One as Hewitt shows his battling qualities to save three set points during a marathon tiebreak, then wins the set as Roddick goes long. One set all. The crowd are making plenty of noise. Not only are they enjoying an excellent match, the longer these two are on court, the better for the winner's semi-final opponent, a certain A. Murray.
5pm: Would Murray prefer to face Hewitt or Roddick in the semis? "Both are tough, they've got a lot of experience, I'd just like them to have a long match," he said in his post-match TV chat. With Hewitt a set down but a break up in the second, Murray's wish may be granted. Needless to say, he's the first Brit to reach the semis at SW19 since Tim Henman.
4.58pm: Murray wins! He absolutely raced through that set - and most of the previous one - to complete an impressive, if pretty easy, victory that lacked the drama of Monday night - thank goodness. He'll face either Hewitt or Roddick in the last four. 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to the world number three.
4.55pm: This one's close to the end. Murray is 5-2 to the good and serving for a place in the semi-finals.
4.42pm: Ferrero holds his serve, just, for 2-1 in the third set. He faced a break point. Murray is working his opponent all over the court. Roddick has taken the first set against Hewitt.
4.29pm: Job two-thirds of the way done as Murray wins the game to love with some fantastic serving, taking the set 6-3. From 3-1 down in the set, Murray completely turned his fortunes around with some formidable shot-making.
4.28pm: Terrific game from Murray, who breaks to love. Ferrero is struggling to win any points at the moment. The Scot has stepped it up and is serving for the second set at 5-3.
4.25pm: Federer, who frankly looks unbeatable, reflects on his win over Karlovic: “To be in my 21st consecutive major semi-final shows how consistent I have been and injury free. I’m playing well at the moment but there are some big matches to come."
4.22pm: Murray breaks back! His opponent double-faults at 0-40. 3-3.
4.20pm: It's 3-2 to Ferrero in the second set. Judy Murray, mother of, has bailed out on her son - but only so she can take in Andy's elder brother, Jamie, in the mixed doubles on Court Four. Jamie Murray and Liezel Huber are 5-4 up on the US pair, Mike Bryan and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
4.17pm: Sparse crowd on Court One. Surely people aren't choosing to watch Murray on Henman Hill rather than some live tennis? Good start for Andy Roddick who leads Lleyton Hewitt 2-0.
4.15pm: Ferrero holds again to make it 3-1 in the second set. Centre Court is packed with celebs. Sir Steve Redgrave and Lawrence Dallaglio presumably didn't have to queue for 36 hours to get their seats.
4.09pm: How disappointing. Murray is broken in the first game of the second set and Ferrero holds his serve to take a 2-0 lead.
4pm: Murray takes the first set! 7-5. He had a set point but shanked his return wide when there was a little gap to pass Ferrero as he ran to the net. A great return of serve brought the Scot another chance, which he takes (well, is given) when the Spaniard double-faults. Sadly, Robson is out, beaten 8-6 in the final set.
3.55pm: Novak no more. The fourth seed has been upset by the veteran Haas, 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. Murray has been the victim of a couple of unlucky net cord bounces in the past few minutes but he's 6-5 up.
3.47pm: Haas is a break up in the fourth set. Meanwhile, Laura Robson is showing much more grit than you'd expect of a Brit tennis player as she bids to retain her girls' singles title. She's saved three match points and is a break up in the third set. Still on serve on Centre. 3.38pm: Murray holds impressively. He's served five aces already, Ferrero none.
3.36pm: Ferrero holds with relative ease and it's 3-3. Even stuff so far.
3.29pm: Murray has a break point but the Spaniard holds on to make it 2-2. Djokovic has won the third set and is 2-1 down. Kate Winslet is on Centre Court. (In the stands.)
3.23pm: We're underway in the big match on Centre and it's one game all in scorching conditions. Djokovic looking likely to win the third set in his match with Haas.
3.05pm: It's Murray in moments. Imagine the excitement of those bizarre people who started queuing on Monday night for this. Ferrero shouldn't be a pushover. He may have needed a wildcard entry, being ranked only 70th in the world, but he's a former world number one and former French Open champion. Although that was six years ago.
2.52pm: It's all over on Centre. Federer shows his class with a straight-sets win that means he'll contest his seventh successive WImbledon semi-final on Friday. The fact that Karlovic could hardly get the ball over the net and inside the baseline was obviously a large contributing factor, though much of the reason for that was the intimidating excellence of his opponent. 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), easy.
2.47pm: Big trouble for the fourth seed. Haas saves three set points in the tiebreaker and then takes the set to lead 2-0. It's also tiebreak time on Centre.
2.38pm: Hassle for the German on Court 1 as Djokovic breaks back to take the second set into a tiebreak.
2.31pm: After Federer double-faults in the first point of the sixth game, Karlovic blows an easy chance for 0-30, fluffing a simple volley at the net with most of the court open. Federer's brilliance has really got into his opponent's head, though he does make a superb passing shot down the line for 40-40. It's not enough and Federer holds to make it 3-3. Haas has just broken Djokovic for 6-5 and will serve for a 2-0 lead.
2.20pm: Going with serve in Haas v Djokovic. It's 4-3 to the Serb, who is a set down. Britain's Laura Robson is struggling with a back injury in her girls' singles match and she's a set down.
2.11pm: "Boris" Karlovic goes long with a return and in 61 minutes, Federer is two sets to the good. With his giant frame, unsmiling and unshaven demeanour, raw power and cool sunglasses, Karlovic looks a bit like The Terminator - but his one weapon, that serve, is nowhere near enough here. He won't be back on Friday.
2.07pm: Federer is a genius. When it most matters, he finds a way to return Karlovic's serve. And how. A sublime return at 15-30 brings up two break points and he takes one to lead 6-5. If the Croat isn't serving an ace, he's in trouble.
2pm: Another impeccable service game for Federer makes it 4-4. Karlovic, all serve and no trousers, would settle for a tiebreak in this set - and probably the following ones.
1.57pm: On Court One, Haas has won the first set against Djokovic, 7-5.
1.52pm: Few decent rallies on Centre, but then it's not in Karlovic's interest to start trading shots with an opponent who is clearly vastly more talented. 3-3.
1.45pm: The Williams sisters have wrapped up their doubles quarter-final in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. 1.40pm: Signs that Federer is human. He double-faults then comically loses his balance on the baseline and nudges the ball about six yards, looking like a pub player, just for a second. Still wins the game, mind you. 1-1 in the second set.
1.36pm: Times Online's roving reporter in SW19, Kaya Burgess, tells us: "Andy Murray's mum, Judy, just described watching her son as 'a cross between sea-sickness and a heart attack'". The Great British Hope is limbering up on the practice courts. He may not have long to wait for his match.
1.33pm: Game and first set Federer. All the talk has been about Karlovic's serve, but the Swiss only dropped three points on his in that set, which was wrapped up 6-3 in 23 minutes. Life is closer on Court 1, where it's 3-3 between Haas and Djokovic.
1.30pm: Karlovic has put on some cool-looking shades. To protect him from the sun, or Federer's blinding performance? The Croat has settled into a rhythm on his serve and holds to make it 5-3.
1.27pm: Karlovic has only broken Federer's serve once in their nine previous matches and it doesn't happen here, not even close, as Federer seals out the game to love. He's up 5-2 and cruising.
1.21pm: "Big serving Karlovic" is broken already! Thanks to some superb returns of serve from Federer, who holds to 15 for the third successive service game to make it 4-1.
1.16pm: Federer's held both his service games and leads Karlovic 2-1.
12.52pm: Serena and Venus duly win the first set, 6-2.
12.30pm: Unbroken blue skies and baking sunshine once again, so it looks like Andy Murray won't have to worry about playing under that nasty, sticky, roof. The women's quarter-finals yesterday were disappointingly one-sided, apart from Dinara Safina's hard-fought win over Sabine Lisicki, so let's hope for better today. And we should get it. First up is Federer's match against the man known as "big-serving Ivo Karlovic". The 6ft 10in Croat's gigantic serve should make it tough for the favourite to break him, but does Karlovic have enough of an all-around game to trouble Federer? Doubtful. Meanwhile, the Williams sisters aren't showing any signs of fatigue after their (admittedly brief) exertions yesterday: they're up 4-1 on Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King in the first set.
Source:The times
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