SPORTS DIGEST:TENNIS: World number four Andy Murray made a shock exit from the $2 million Dubai championships yesterday after Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic defeated the Scot 7-6 4-6 6-4 in a thrilling second round contest. .
Murray, playing only his second match since losing the Australian Open final to Roger Federer, rallied from 2-5 down in the final set to serve to square the contest, but Tipsarevic earned a deserved third career victory over the two-time Grand Slam finalist with a confident smash.
The Scot, 22, said he was not too disappointed after using the event to try a more aggressive serve and volley approach.
The first set I played a very different game, trying to get forward and work on some different things, said Murray.
"I think it was a good learning experience – if it was a slam, my tactics would have been different. I wasn't coming in as well prepared as I have done in previous tournaments."
Ireland suffer third defeat
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Britain made it three wins out of three against Ireland at Bisham Abbey yesterday but, as on Tuesday, Gene Muller's side produced an encouraging defensive display, conceding just one goal in the 70 minutes
Goals for Ireland, though, are still proving hard to come by.
Muller’s charges have now scoring just once in their last five games, their last goal coming against Belgium earlier this month.
Baseball to extend doping tests
DOPING: Major League Baseball is planning to begin blood testing of minor league players for the banned substance human growth hormone (HGH) later this year, anti-doping sources said yesterday.
Major League Baseball (MLB) said it was consulting experts on the issue “concerning immediate steps for our minor league drug program” but a source familiar with the plans said he understood the tests would definitely be implemented.
“The commissioner remains committed to the position that we must act aggressively to deal with the issue of HGH, MLB said in a statement adding that it was also considering the next steps for our major league drug program.
The decision to pursue the testing follows this week’s announcement that a British rugby league player had been suspended for testing positive for HGH, which athletes use to boost their performance.
Although the blood test has been used at the Olympic Games and elsewhere since 2004, the British announcement marked the first positive test for HGH in any sport from a blood sample.
“We are well aware of the important news with respect to the HGH blood test in England,” MLB said in its statement.
Tendulkar scores double century
CRICKET: Sachin Tendulkar scored one-day international crickets first double century to set up a 153-run win and a series victory for India over South Africa yesterday. Tendulkar, who opens in one-dayers, smashed 200 not out off 147 balls to help India post 401-3 and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
South Africa were bowled out for 248 with AB de Villiers hitting a defiant 114 not out in the day-night match at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium. Tendulkar hit 25 fours and three sixes in a spectacular innings that combined power, timing and enthusiasm with stunning strokeplay.
The 36-year-old batsman reached 200 with a single off Charl Langeveldt in the final over and the capacity crowd erupted.
Brady claims senior boys title
ATHLETICS: An outstanding run by Liam Brady of St Brendan's Birr saw him take the senior boys title at yesterday's Leinster Schools' Cross Country Championships at a wet St Claire's park in DCU. Máire Áine Ní Shuilleabháin, of Gael Coláiste Ceatharlach was equally impressive in winning the senior girls race from Niamh Denny and Fiona McKenna.
Stephen Attride of Knockbridge College dominated the intermediate boys race, while Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner of Coláiste Íosagáin took the junior girls title, just after a winning performance last Sunday in the Celtic Schools’ Indoor International.
Lee calls a halt to his Test career
CRICKET: Veteran Australia paceman Brett Lee insists he still has plenty to offer in the shorter forms of the game after announcing his decision to retire from Test cricket. Flanked by Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland, a composed Lee called time on his 76-match Test career at a packed media conference yesterday following a bad run of injuries.
Lee, who is currently recovering from elbow surgery, has not featured in the Test arena since breaking down with a foot injury in December 2008.
But while he admits the decision to stand down from his favourite form of the game wasn’t easy, the 33-year-old expressed his desire to play a role in Australia’s ICC Twenty20 campaign in April as well as the 2011 limited-overs World Cup.
“It’s with mixed emotions today that I will announce that I’m standing down from Test cricket,” said Lee, who with 310 Test wickets finishes as Australia’s fourth-highest wicket taker.
