SPORTS DIGEST - TENNIS: Rafael Nadal's day-glo outfit and his ferocious forehands lit up a gloomy Queen's Club yesterday, the Spaniard marking his return to a grasscourt with a 6-2 6-2 demolition of Brazilian Marcos Daniel.
Second seed Novak Djokovic gave the fans who had sat through several rain breaks a thumbs up after he joined Nadal in the third round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi.
Nadal, the 2008 champion, was unable to defend his title 12 months ago when his creaking knees ruled him out of playing any competitive matches on the manicured lawns of Queen’s or Wimbledon.
“It’s difficult to compare (how I felt this time last year) because . . . one year ago I was injured and now I am not injured. That’s the big difference,” the 24-year-old, who lifted a fifth French Open crown at the weekend, told reporters.
Brajkovic overtakes Contador
CYCLING:Lance Armstrongs RadioShack team finally found something to cheer about when Janez Brajkovic took the overall lead in the Criterium du Dauphine with an impressive stage win yesterday.
Slovenian Brajkovic clocked one hour, one minute and 51 seconds over 49 km from Monteux to beat Briton David Millar by 26 seconds, with twice Tour de France champion Alberto Contador finishing a disappointing sixth, 1:46 behind.
It was a day to remember for RadioShack, after Spains Haimar Zubeldia fractured his wrist in a massive crash in the Dauphine on Monday.
McQuaid defends policy
CYCLING:International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid has rejected accusations by French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) chief Pierre Bordry that drug tests are too predictable to be efficient.
“This is a false statement. It is very serious from a legal point of view,” McQuaid told Reuters yesterday. “Riders are tested all day long and they are not aware of any specific times.
“In 2007, we did 1,500 out-of-competition tests. In 2009, we did 9,000 (2,500 urine, 6,500 blood). Thats an average of 25 tests a day,” he added.
Speaking to German TV channel ZDF on Tuesday, AFLD president Bordry said: “The doping controls are organised so that riders are aware before they intervene. There are not enough targeted and random checks, so it allows those who want to cheat to know the system perfectly.”
Lakers edge it
BASKETBALL:Kobe Bryant grabbed 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held sharpshooter Ray Allen without a basket in a 91-84 defeat of the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Kevin Garnett had 25 points for the Celtics, who fell behind by 17 points in the second quarter and trailed the rest of the game in Boston. Game 4 is tonight in the best-of-seven NBA championship series.
