MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Brief biographies of the women’s finalists at the 2013 Australian Open on Saturday (prefix denotes seeding): – - – - Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) Age: 23 Seeded: One Grand Slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2012) The previously hot-headed Belarusian has spent a year at world number one after capturing her maiden major title at Melbourne Park last year, but a loss to Li in Saturday’s final would see her lose the top ranking to American great Serena Williams. Left home in Minsk at the age of 14 to train in Arizona. …
Preview -Tennis-Azarenka faces headwinds in back-to-back bid
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Accused of gamesmanship and dogged by injury, Victoria Azarenka’s bid for successive Australian Open titles on Saturday will pit her against an opponent in the form of her life and a center-court crowd wary of any hint of bad sportsmanship. The Belarusian will take on sixth seed Li Na, who has not dropped a set all tournament and boosted her sky-high confidence further by demolishing last year’s finalist Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 in the semi-finals. …
Agassi amazed by quality in ''golden age'' of men's game
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Eight-times grand slam champion Andre Agassi has been amazed by the soaring quality of men’s tennis since he retired and believes he would struggle to compete in what he believes is a golden age of men’s tennis. On his first visit to Melbourne Park since calling time on his career, Agassi said Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic were arguably the three greatest players of all time and Andy Murray had shown he was capable of competing with them. …
Agassi shocked, saddened by Armstrong confession
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Andre Agassi was shocked and saddened by disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong's confession to using performance-enhancing drugs and the eight-times grand slam champion said tighter, more frequent dope testing procedures in tennis would be good for the sport. The American, who co-founded a philanthropic organization with Armstrong and other athletes like Muhammad Ali, women's World Cup winner Mia Hamm and NBA champion Alonzo Mourning, said he had been convinced of Armstrong's innocence. "Well, my reaction to it is the same as everybody. … Tennis-Agassi amazed by quality in 'golden age' of men's game
MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Eight-times grand slam champion Andre Agassi has been amazed by the soaring quality of men’s tennis since he retired and believes he would struggle to compete in what he believes is a golden age of men’s tennis. On his first visit to Melbourne Park since calling time on his career, Agassi said Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic were arguably the three greatest players of all time and Andy Murray had shown he was capable of competing with them. …
Tennis-Agassi shocked, saddened by Armstrong confession
MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Andre Agassi was shocked and saddened by disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong’s confession to using performance-enhancing drugs and the eight-times grand slam champion said tighter, more frequent dope testing procedures in tennis would be good for the sport. The American, who co-founded a philanthropic organisation with Armstrong and other athletes like Muhammad Ali, women’s World Cup winner Mia Hamm and NBA champion Alonzo Mourning, said he had been convinced of Armstrong’s innocence. “Well, my reaction to it is the same as everybody. …
Tennis-Errani and Vinci win Australian Open doubles for Italy
MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci wore down local hopes Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua 6-2 3-6 6-2 to become the first Italian pair to win the women’s doubles at the Australian Open on Friday. It was a case of second time lucky at Melbourne Park for the Italians, who were denied a maiden grand slam doubles title by Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva in the final last year. …
Tennis-China's Li says wouldn't 'use' medical timeout
MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – China’s Li Na declined to pass judgement on Victoria Azarenka’s controversial medical time-out during her Australian Open semi-final match, but said she would not do it herself when match points were at stake. Defending champion Azarenka was accused of gamesmanship by former players and pundits for taking a nearly 10-minute medical time-out after blowing five match-points in her 6-1 6-4 defeat of American Sloane Stephens. The Belarusian top seed denied the charge, however, saying a rib injury had led to breathing difficulties during the tense phase of the match. …
UPDATE 2-NBA results
Jan 25 (Infostrada Sports) – Results from the NBA games on Thursday (home team in CAPS) Toronto 97 ORLANDO 95 NY Knicks 89 BOSTON 86 PHOENIX 93 LA Clippers 88
Tennis-Bridging gap to 'Big Four' proving too tough for the rest
MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – David Ferrer has won 19 titles and reached the semi-finals in three of the last five grand slams, yet for all his success, the Spaniard seems further away than ever from claiming one of the sport’s major prizes. “I am trying to do my best every match,” the world number five lamented. “But I know they are better than me. What can I do?” Ferrer’s honest assessment came after a 6-2 6-2 6-1 demolition at the hands of world number one Novak Djokovic led to his latest grand slam semi-final failure at the Australian Open on Thursday. …
Anthony fires Knicks to win over Celtics
(Reuters) – Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett showed no signs of any lingering bad blood between them as the New York Knicks snapped their 11-game losing str eak in Boston with a 89-86 win over the Celtics on Thursday. New York's Anthony and Boston's Garnett had jawed at each other throughout a testy contest earlier this month, which continued after the game when Anthony tried to confront Garnett at the Boston team bus. Anthony received a one-game suspension for his role in the incident. On Thursday, the pair exchanged a fist bump before the tipoff and were all about business. … NBA-Anthony fires Knicks to win over Celtics
Jan 24 (Reuters) – Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett showed no signs of any lingering bad blood between them as the New York Knicks snapped their 11-game losing streak in Boston with a 89-86 win over the Celtics on Thursday. New York’s Anthony and Boston’s Garnett had jawed at each other throughout a testy contest earlier this month, which continued after the game when Anthony tried to confront Garnett at the Boston team bus. Anthony received a one-game suspension for his role in the incident. On Thursday, the pair exchanged a fist bump before the tipoff and were all about business. …
Tennis-Murray can overcome Fed factor, says Cahill
MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – On paper, Roger Federer should have little to fear from Andy Murray in Friday’s Australian Open semi-final, holding a 3-0 record over the Scot in grand slams. But respected coach Darren Cahill says Murray has been galvanised by Olympic gold and has his best chance yet of grand slam success over the Swiss. Australian Cahill, who helped Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi reach world No. 1, said Murray had shown massive improvement over the past 12 months. …
Torrey specialist Tiger happy with opening 68
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Not even two bogeys in his last four holes could spoi l Tiger Woods's day at the Farmers Insurance Open, the six-times champion declaring himself happy with a four-under-par 68 in the opening round on Thursday. Back at one of his favorite venues, the former world number one thrilled the huge galleries watching his every move as he got to six under with a storming seven-under run from the fifth to the 13th before ending the day three strokes off the pace. … Snedeker, Choi share lead as Tiger lurks
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – While most eyes were on six-times champion Tiger Woods as he briefly moved within a stroke of the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday, Brandt Snedeker launched his title defense in barnstorming style. Snedeker, who has posted four top-10s in his previous six appearances in the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, charged into a tie for the lead with South Korean KJ Choi after carding a flawless seven-under-par 65 in the opening round. … Golf-Torrey specialist Tiger happy with opening 68
SAN DIEGO, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Not even two bogeys in his last four holes could spoil Tiger Woods’s day at the Farmers Insurance Open, the six-times champion declaring himself happy with a four-under-par 68 in the opening round on Thursday. Back at one of his favorite venues, the former world number one thrilled the huge galleries watching his every move as he got to six under with a storming seven-under run from the fifth to the 13th before ending the day three strokes off the pace. …
Martinez returns to Red Sox as assistant to GM
BOSTON (AP) -- Former Boston manager Terry Francona gave Pedro Martinez a big hug along with some advice to help him in his new job as a special assistant to the Red Sox general manager.
UPDATE 1-Golf-Snedeker, Choi share lead as Tiger lurks
* Snedeker fires a bogey-free 65 on North Course * Is joined at the top late in the day by Korean Choi (Adds further quotes, detail) SAN DIEGO, Jan 24 (Reuters) – While most eyes were on six-times champion Tiger Woods as he briefly moved within a stroke of the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday, Brandt Snedeker launched his title defence in barnstorming style. …
49ers Kaepernick a picture of tattoos and touchdowns
(Reuters) – San Francisco 49ers quarterbac k Colin Kaepernick doesn't need to look far to remind himself about the wild contrasts of life as an elite player in the NFL. There is a permanent message inked on the inside of his powerful arms that signifies the two sides to the double life he leads. It reads: "My gift is my curse." "Being an NFL quarterback, there's a lot of advantages that come with it," he told reporters on Thursday as he prepares for next week's Super Bowl. "There are a lot of doors that open when you're a quarterback, but at the same time you're under a lot of scrutiny. … NFL-49ers Kaepernick a picture of tattoos and touchdowns
Jan 24 (Reuters) – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick doesn’t need to look far to remind himself about the wild contrasts of life as an elite player in the NFL. There is a permanent message inked on the inside of his powerful arms that signifies the two sides to the double life he leads. It reads: “My gift is my curse.” “Being an NFL quarterback, there’s a lot of advantages that come with it,” he told reporters on Thursday as he prepares for next week’s Super Bowl. “There are a lot of doors that open when you’re a quarterback, but at the same time you’re under a lot of scrutiny. …
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