Motor Sport, Athletics, Cricket, and Tennis
CRICKET: Michael Vaughan was yesterday named as England's new one-day captain in succession to Nasser Hussain.
The Yorkshire batsman (28), was unveiled by the England and Wales Cricket Board at a press conference at Lord's.
The role became available following Hussain's decision to step down at the end of England's disappointing World Cup campaign in March.
Vaughan was chosen to lead his country - his first assignment will be next month in a three-match series against Pakistan - ahead of opening partner Marcus Trescothick and Surrey's Adam Hollioake, who relinquished the England limited-overs captaincy five years ago.
Although Vaughan was not an automatic choice in the one-day line-up as recently as six months ago, his remarkable form in Test cricket - where he has scored seven centuries in the past 12 months - has confirmed his place in both forms of the game.
Hussain continues as the leader of the Test side this summer in series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, meaning England will have separate captains again as they did when Michael Atherton and Hollioake were in charge.
Vaughan said: "It's a great honour to captain your country and I had no hesitation in accepting when the selectors offered me the job. It's something that I have always wanted to do and I intend to enjoy it.
"Nasser is an inspirational leader and he will be a tough act to follow as one-day captain. But every captain has his own style of leadership and I want to do the job in my own way."
Former Australian Test player Rod Marsh, the ECB's national academy director, has been introduced as a new selector, joining David Graveney, coach Duncan Fletcher and Geoff Miller on the panel.
**********
TENNIS: Former world number one Pete Sampras has pulled out of next week's Hamburg Masters Series ATP tournament, organisers said yesterday.
Sampras has not played since beating fellow American Andre Agassi in the US Open final last September but the 31-year-old has not officially announced his retirement.
**********
TENNIS: Spanish number two seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, widely regarded as the favourite for the French Open later this month, was pushed all the way before defeating Mark Philippoussis in a tricky first round match at the Rome Masters yesterday.
Winner of ATP titles this year in Monaco and Valencia, Ferrero eventually tamed Philippoussis' big serve to beat the Australian 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 and set up a last 16 clash against Spaniard Alex Corretja.
Ferrero's compatriot and number three seed Carlos Moya meanwhile had a far easier time overcoming Fernando Vicente 6-2, 6-4 in an all Spanish first round match.
In earlier matches Switzerland's Roger Federer, seeded four, advanced to the second round after defeating Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 7-5.
Chile's Juan Ignacio Chela made light work of beating Belgian Olivier Rochus, and Finn Jarrko Nieminen strolled to an easy win against Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan.
Spain's Tommy Robredo, meanwhile, edged Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in three sets.
In other matches, Belarus' Max Mirnyi beat Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador and Dutchman Raemon Sluiter edge Jan-Michael Gambill in three sets.
***********
TENNIS: Justine Henin-Hardenne started the defence of her German Open title with an easy 6-4, 6-1 win over Czech Daja Bedanova.
The 20-year-old Belgian, who had a bye into the second round of the $1.2 million claycourt tournament, returned superbly to move past her unseeded opponent in 74 minutes.
World number eight Chanda Rubin, the sixth seed, became the tournament's first major casualty when Spanish baseliner Magui Serna brushed her aside 7-5, 6-3 in a second-round match.
Bulgaria's Magdalena Maleeva, seeded 11th, was also knocked out, by Czech Denisa Chladkova, who beat her 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round.
Marlene Weingaertner delighted her home fans with a 6-2, 7-5 first-round victory over Conchita Martinez of Spain, who has dropped out of the top 20 following a series of injuries.
Belgium's Kim Clijsters, who heads the draw, starts the tournament today, against France's Emilie Loit.
