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text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} The Sport Review: “Subdued
Roger Federer hangs tough to defend Cincinnati title” plus 4 more- Subdued Roger Federer hangs tough to defend Cincinnati title - Sébastien Squillaci set for £6.5m Arsenal switch - Epsilon Euskadi may merge with Hispania Racing for 2011 - Sakon Yamamoto to race for Hispania in Belgium - Bale’s wonder goal condemns Stoke to second defeat Subdued Roger Federer hangs tough to defend Cincinnati title Posted: 22 Aug 2010 04:40 PM PDT There was a feeling of déjà vu as the two finalists took to the blue and green Centre Court for the final Masters event of the US Open Series in Cincinnati. Exactly seven days ago, the same pink-clad man emerged with his characteristic leonine gait to challenge for his 17th Masters title: Roger Federer. Alongside him in Toronto was an angular, blue-and-white figure, a fraction taller and a fraction slimmer than the sinuous Swiss. Andy Murray had demolished a resurgent David Nalbandian, the talented Gael Monfils, and the top seed Rafael Nadal. Murray, world No4 and potential pretender to the US Open title, downed Federer too to defend his Canadian title. Alongside Federer a week later was another angular, fractionally taller, and slightly slimmer man—also in blue and white—whose progress to the final was just as impressive. In his wake were Gilles Simon, No8 seed Fernando Verdasco, Murray, and the No9 seed Andy Roddick. But this man was no young pretender. The 28-year-old Mardy Fish was an unseeded wild card and unquestionably the underdog in what looked like a David-and-Goliath contest. The stats said it all. For Federer, this Cincinnati match was his 90th ATP final and his 28th Masters final. For Fish, it was his 17th final and only his third Masters final. Federer was targeting his 17th Agassi-equalling Masters title, and had already outstripped Agassi in Masters match wins—215—in Toronto. By winning Cincinnati, he would equal yet another record. Only Mats Wilander had managed four titles here before. Fish, on the other hand, was after his first Masters shield after a full 10 years on the professional tour. But Fish was taking the tour by storm. He had returned from knee surgery less than a year ago with a new urgency, a trimmer body, and a new training regime. Coming into this final, he was on a 16-1 winning streak since July and had two titles in the bag. Thus far, he had also topped the tournament for aces—70—and for first serve points won—85%. The main worry for Fish, though, was the game that Federer had launched against Nikolay Davydenko and Marcos Baghdatis, a game in which he attacked relentlessly and effectively, and to a standard rare even for Federer. In short, the fruits of his off-season activities with Paul Annacone were ripening. But the Federer who had dropped just three points on his first serve against Baghdatis, and streaked to the net at every opportunity, seemed to have stayed in the locker room for the final. It was Fish who took the initiative, much as he had throughout the tournament. Federer came close to breaking him in the third game of the match—a gut-busting 15 minutes and 9 deuces long—but the American held firm with the same resilience that had turned round his semifinal match against Roddick from a set and 5-2 down. It quickly became clear that Federer's focus was shaky as he hit error after error, especially on his crosscourt backhand. Although the match stayed on serve, the Federer of the quarters and the semis would have capitalised on at least one the four break points that came his way. Good serving from Fish saved a couple, but Federer's chip-and-charge tactic, used so effectively against Baghdatis, was in short supply. The match ground its way to a tie-break, and once more Federer conceded an early advantage. His service percentage was just 51% and that was compounded by difficulty in reading his opponent's serve. Another ace from the American sealed the set, despite Federer winning marginally more points over the 13 games. The second set progressed in a similar vein: Fish looking confident, Federer introspective. The latter found himself a break point down in the fifth game but his service percentage crept up to compensate for his continuing unforced errors, and he held. The set ended, with no breaks, in another tie-breaker. At last, Federer went on the attack to win it with 7-1 streak. His success elicited the first "come on" of the match and it looked as though the aggressive Federer had arrived. But once again, his intensity dropped and the errors came. In the opening game of the final set, Fish missed four first serves yet took the game with relative ease. It was not until 4-4 that Fish faltered, and Federer saw his moment to attack, much as he had at the end of the second set. It was the only break of the two hour 40 minute match, but it was enough. Federer held serve and looked—well, relieved rather than jubilant. This was far from an illustrious performance from the champion, and of a markedly poorer quality than last year's victory. But he managed to equal that Wilander record of four titles, and will be encouraged to have stolen the win with grit and experience. For those are the qualities that can count the most when it comes to the big stakes, and there are few bigger than the US Open. Federer will, based on the totality of his Cincinnati matches and the gamut of qualities he exhibited, still be one of the favourites for New York. Sébastien Squillaci set for £6.5m Arsenal switch Posted: 22 Aug 2010 04:26 PM PDT Defender Sébastien Squillaci is set to complete his transfer to Arsenal today after Sevilla confirmed the two clubs have agreed a £6.5m fee for the 30-year-old. The Frenchman travelled to London on Sunday night in order to undergo a medical with the Gunners on Monday and his La Liga employers informed fans of his imminent departure. “Defender Sebastien Squillaci is tonight travelling to London to have a medical at Arsenal, the club he will be transferred to after an agreement was reached by the two clubs pending the results of the medical,” read a statement on Sevilla’s website. The former Lyon centre-half will add some much-needed depth to the Gunners’ back-line following the summer departures of William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikaël Silvestre. Epsilon Euskadi may merge with Hispania Racing for 2011 Posted: 22 Aug 2010 04:04 PM PDT Formula 1 hopefuls Epsilon Euskadi could merge with current backmarkers Hispania Racing to guarantee entry into the sport for 2011. The Basque-based Epsilon team are one of three major bids to join F1's elite next year, while HRT have struggled with finances during their debut season after starting out as Campos Meta. Epsilon are up against strong bids from former world champion Jacques Villeneuve with former GP2 team Durango, while Stefan GP are another contender for the 13th place following the withdrawal of the much-fancied GP2 outfit ART. Bernie Ecclestone has already expressed his contentment at having just 20 cars on the grid, and has declared that two current teams do not deserve to be in the sport – understood by everyone to be HRT and Virgin Racing branded Manor GP team. Ecclestone has also said a merger with an existing team would be a good solution – and it is this option which could seem the most viable for HRT to continue and Joan Villadelprat's Epsilon outfit to enter the sport. Incredibly, HRT have yet to sign a deal with a manufacturer to build their 2011 car, after ending their relationship with Dallara. And there is a real possibility that the team, in its current situation, might not make it 2011. Talks of a deal with Toyota to provide chassis and gearbox design and support appear to have stalled because of HRT's financial problems. Villadelprat has reportedly been in contact with HRT owner Jose Ramon Carabante to establish “what Hispania needs, what Epsilon can offer and if there is the possibility of collaboration”. In Epsilon's favour is the excellent infrastructure already in place, which would rival the big teams currently in F1. With finances being the primary issue for HRT, it could be better for both teams—and the sport in general—to pool their resources, rather than having two teams lagging at the back of the grid. Initially, they may continue to rely on drivers bringing sponsorship to the team—as Bruno Senna, Karun Chandhok, and Sakon Yamamoto do—but in Villadelprat and Sergio Rinland, Epsilon have two men with plenty of F1 experience and with a sensible multi-year strategy, they should be able to attract more corporate partners to fund their efforts. With that, the new team should be able to move from buying a customer chassis to develop its own car, and push on to challenge the middle order teams. If they do not merge, it is very difficult to see how both teams could possibly make it beyond 2011. Sakon Yamamoto to race for Hispania in Belgium Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:04 AM PDT Sakon Yamamoto will continue to drive for Hispania Racing alongside Bruno Senna at the Belgian Grand Prix next week. The 28-year-old originally replaced Senna in the team back at Silverstone, but has stood in for Karun Chandhok in the last two races at Hockenheim and Budapest. Chandhok had been expected to return to the car at Spa after Formula 1's traditional summer break, but the team said on Friday that Yamamoto would continue to drive for now. Yamamoto said: "I am looking forward to be back in action after the break. We will need a good speed in the fast corners and also a good downforce on the car. We expect that the track layout suits our car and we try to do our best again." Hispania have had a torrid time in F1 in their debut season and have recently favoured Yamamoto, who is believed to bring more sponsorship to the team ahead of the Indian Chandhok. The Hispania could struggle on its first outing at the high-speed, medium-downforce Belgian circuit, and it would not be a surprise to see Senna and Yamamoto lapping some seven seconds off the lead runners. Senna said: "I always look forward to Spa-Francorchamps and I've raced there every year since 2005. It is my favourite circuit of all the ones I've raced at and my first time there in a Formula 1 car will be very special for me. "Spa is a medium downforce circuit and it demands a lot of high speed stability of the car, as the average speed of the corners is quite high. It will be very important to find a confidence-inspiring car balance to extract the best lap time possible. "The downforce levels of the track are in line with what we have in our car and I have a good relationship with the circuit as well, so I am really looking forward to driving the car for the time." Bale’s wonder goal condemns Stoke to second defeat Posted: 22 Aug 2010 03:40 AM PDT BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE, 22 August 2010 Stoke City 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2 A wonderful Gareth Bale strike condemned Stoke to their second defeat of the new season as Tottenham sealed a 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke were denied a late equaliser in controversial circumstances when a Jon Walters header appeared to have crossed the line despite Peter Crouch's block, but referee Chris Foy—who appeared to be well-positioned—did not give it. Bale had earlier opened the scoring when he bundled the ball over the line, and his splendid second sealed a hard fought victory for Harry Redknapp's side. Ricardo Fuller had pulled Stoke level but their second half rally against a tiring Spurs side amounted to nothing. Redknapp's side started brightly and Aaron Lennon, who did not feature in the midweek defeat to Young Boys, started the move that saw Spurs take the lead. A wonderful ball over the top of the Stoke defence set Bale away, and although his shot was parried by Thomas Sorensen, the Welshman was fortunate to be in the right place as Ryan Shawcross' clearance hit the Welshman and went in. It did not take long for Stoke to draw level. Their typical determination and resilience was on show as Fuller poked past Gomes after the Spurs goalkeeper had got lost under a Matthew Etherington corner. But minutes Spurs were back in front. Lennon found Bale again, who lashed a beautiful left-footed volley past Sorensen and into the top corner. Stoke were much improved in the second half and dominated the possession. Tuncay went close twice and Shawcross smashed the ball over the bar. Gomes then denied Fuller his second. The home side were then left furious as debutant Jon Walters, a £2.75m signing from Ipswich, thought he had scored, only for the referee to deny Stoke their first point of the season. After Frank Lampard's ‘ghost goal’ in the World Cup it was another moment suggesting the need for goal-line technology, although Walter's was not quite as obvious. For Stoke, there is evidence they will once again cause problems, but need to improve in front of goal, while Spurs will be buoyed by this performance ahead of their showdown with Young Boys on Wednesday at White Hart Lane. You are subscribed to email updates from The Sport Review To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 -- Posted By Mas Item Arekjowo to Bwinsport | Gila Bola at 8/23/2010 12:04:00 AM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Gugukluhayat" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gugukluhayat?hl=en.
