Tennis: Andre Agassi tried to keep new flame Steffi Graf out of bounds as a topic of conversation after suffering a resounding 6-0, 67 (2/7), 6-4 embarrassment at the hands of Germany's Tommy Haas to go out at the first hurdle at the $6.7 million Grand Slam Cup in Munich yesterday. Agassi, the French and US Open winner, has been linked romantically to newly retired women's tennis hero Graf for several weeks.
Agassi clammed up when the Graf questions began, denying every gossip report in this week's German press. Agassi was clearly uncomfortable with both the inquisition and his level of tennis two weeks after lifting the US Open crown.
But he will exit with a $250,000 bonus for two Grand Slam titles plus $175,00 for a quarter-final. "I was lucky to have a chance today," said Agassi. "I came here to play tennis. You try to focus on what you are doing, you hope it doesn't affect you on court."
Agassi, the winner in Paris and New York and a finalist at Wimbledon this season, looked listless in a 6-0 first-set sweep, where German hope Haas won in just 17 minutes.
It was not until 20 minutes into the quarter-final contest that Agassi managed to win a game.
"The first match after a lot of intensive tennis is difficult. There's a lot of nervous energy at the risk of logging 0-0. I was really concerned about that."
In the women's first round, holder Venus Williams made a successful debut, beating Barbara Schett of Austria, 6-3, 6-4.
Golf: Veteran Irish campaigner, Valerie Hassett had to settle for runner-up spot in the senior ladies British Open amateur golf championship at Malone yesterday for the third consecutive year.
The ultra consistent Ennis campaigner won the title in Wales three years ago, was runner up the following Autumn at Frilford Heath and again last Autumn at Powfoot in Scotland.
And the one player who finished above her at Powfoot was the same one as did so yesterday - 59 year old former England captain and past Curtis Cup International, Angela Uzielli from Ascot who who was winning the crown for the second time.
Irish favourite, Mary McKenna, the nine times Curtis Cup player from Donabate and Ireland captain, Jane Allen of Royal Portrush shared third place with scores of 239.
Motor Sport: World champion Michael Schumacher believes Ferrari are still on track to lift the world title.
Schumacher (30) said that barring blunders, such as the surreal pit-stop in Sunday's European Grand Prix Ferrari could win the title on October 17th.
"They are humans and not robots, and as a result make mistakes," he said. "In Malaysia, Ferrari will be very strong and if Eddie doesn't make any mistake he has a good chance of taking the title."
Snooker: John Higgins proved that practice does make perfect on home territory last night when he demolished Ireland's Ken Doherty to reach the Regal Masters semi-finals.
Higgins took only 91 minutes to overwhelm the shell-shocked Doherty, who came close to the embarrassment of a 6-0 whitewash.
Doherty managed to prevent such ignominy by snatching frame six but otherwise it was a Motherwell masterclass for local hero Higgins.
