Today's other stories in brief
Djokovic wins on home soil
TENNIS:World number three Novak Djokovic triumphed on home soil when he beat Poland's Lukasz Kubot 6-3 7-6 to win the inaugural Serbia Open in Belgrade yesterday.
After losing three consecutive finals in Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome, top seed Djokovic delighted the home crowd to lift the 13th singles title of his career and it proved a good warm-up for the upcoming Madrid Open and the French Open.
Bekking shines in light winds
SAILING:Light winds dominated the In-Port Races of the Volvo Ocean Race stop-over in Boston on Saturday and played straight into the hands of skipper Bouwe Bekking on Telefonica Blue with two straight wins, writes David Branigan.
The day also marked a podium place for Team Delta Lloyd, the previous race-winning boat owned by Limerickman Ger O’Rourke who has handed over full operation of campaign to the Dutch management team.
Ireland’s Green Dragon finished last in both races. Skipper Ian Walker was typically blunt about his team’s performance.
“We were dreadful in the first race,” he said. “We sailed a good second race but still placed last.”
The Irish-Chinese-backed entry only took delivery of its sails one hour before the deadline for loading equipment following a shipping delay.
Sail-handling became an issue during the first race when Walker’s team lost a protest while holding third place.
Power takes best first timer award
EQUESTRIAN:Irish rider Elizabeth Power finished just outside the top 10 at the Mitsubishi Badminton horse trials yesterday afternoon, an otherwise perfect round of show jumping being spoiled when Kilpatrick River lowered the back pole off the final fence, writes Margie Mcloone.
Power (24), making her debut at the four-star venue, went into the final phase in ninth place following a superb cross-country round on Saturday which saw her come home clear within the time on Dermot O’Rourke’s 11-year-old thoroughbred gelding and move up from 26th position after dressage.
In finishing 11th of the 81 starters on a total penalty score of 58, Power won the best first timer award and also a silver horse trophy awarded to all those who finish in the top 12.
Sam Watson, the only other Irish rider competing at Badminton this year, finished in 35th spot.
Italy's Petacchi edges out Cavendish in thrilling sprint
CYCLING:Italy's Alessandro Petacchi edged out race leader Mark Cavendish in a thrilling sprint finish to win the second stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday. The LPR rider beat the Briton by a bike's length to complete the course in three hours 43 minutes and seven seconds.
The pair, both known for their sprinting abilities, had been the two favourites for the largely flat stage and they did not disappoint despite leaving their charges until late.
Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, racing in his first Giro having recovered from a broken collarbone, was 42nd on the stage and lies a decent 10th in the general classification with Italian favourite Ivan Basso way back in 45th.
Germany’s Matthias Russ of Team Milram suffered a fall and had to pull out of the race.
Cavendish took the pink jersey after Saturday’s first stage when his Team Columbia won the team time trial on Venice’s Lido. Today’s 198km third stage from Grado to Valdobbiadene is another sprint.
Safina peaking at just the right time
TENNIS:Her Italian Open victory has given world number one Dinara Safina confidence that she is peaking at the right time to try to win her first grand slam title at the French Open starting later this month.
The Russian thrashed compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-2 on Saturday to win the Italian title and is hoping to go one better than last year at Roland Garros when she lost in straight sets to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the final.
“I wouldn’t say that I felt under pressure,” the 23-year-old said after the victory.
“I’m just trying to go out on court and do my best so after winning Rome, winning finals and semi-finals gave me more confidence and I’m feeling really great before the slam.”
Gasquet tests positive for cocaine
TENNIS:French player Richard Gasquet tested positive for cocaine at a tournament in Miami last month, the world number 23 revealed yesterday.
“The B sample test from March 2009, during the Miami tournament, in which I did not take part, confirms the positive results from the A sample,” he said.
Gasquet said that he had a hair sample tested by an independent lab “which showed no trace of cocaine. Given the complexity of the case, I am gathering the evidence of my innocence and will later set a date to make further comments,” the 22-year-old added.
Gasquet had pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open without playing a match, citing a shoulder injury.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) said earlier it was aware of the failed test by Gasquet, who could face a two-year suspension from the sport.
