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Mon05202013
Last update08:56:19 AM GMT
Britain's Heather Watson produced one of the best performances of her short career in the opening round in Miami.
The 19-year-old wildcard from Guernsey recovered from 5-0 down in the final set to beat Sorana Cirstea 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-4) at the Sony Ericsson Open
Master Minded just held on by a short head under Tony McCoy to win the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot from Somersby.
The dual champion chaser, trained by Paul Nicholls, was sent off 4-7 favourite and looked relatively untroubled until the latter stages.
India took a 2-0 series lead against Australia as the tourists slumped to an innings and 135-run defeat in the second Test in Hyderabad with close to two days to spare.
Australia had begun the fourth day hoping to make a good fist of holding out for a draw but lost eight wickets for just 57 runs.
Main man: Ravichandran Ashwin took five wickets in India's win
The tourists had begun the day on 74 for two, trailing by 192 runs, but they were bowled out for 131.
Australia had made 237 for nine declared in their first innings but when India replied with 503 they faced an uphill task.
Ravichandran Ashwin finished the second innings with five for 63 and Ravindra Jadeja three for 33 as India built on their eight-wicket win in Chennai to lead the series 2-0 with two Tests remaining.
Struggling: Michael Clarke
Only Ed Cowan, with a patient 44 from 150 balls, offered any real resistance to the home side’s slow bowling attack.
Australia lost Shane Watson, caught by captain MS Dhoni off Ishant Sharma for nine, and skipper Michael Clarke when he was bowled by Jadeja for 16.
But when Cowan was the fifth wicket to fall and the third of the morning, Virender Sehwag taking the catch off Jadeja, Australia were in serious trouble at 111 for five.
Moises Henriques was run out without further addition to the scoreboard as Australia added to their troubles.
Glenn Maxwell (8), Peter Siddle (4), Matthew Wade (10) and James Pattinson (0) ensured Australia struggled to 131, leaving Xavier Doherty unbeaten on one.
But their combined efforts could not prevent a defeat of an innings and 135 runs, leaving Clarke to regret his decision to declare on day one.
The tourists had looked to make inroads into India’s innings but found the home side in determined mood as they went on to eventually pass 500 runs, Cheteshwar Pujara scoring 204 and Murali Vijay 167.
That meant Australia had become the first team to declare on first innings and then lose by an innings in Test cricket.
With two matches remaining in Mohali and Delhi all Clarke can hope for is to salvage a draw from the series, but after two convincing defeats those hopes look slim.
Daily Mail
Amir Khan is the larger fighter with the bigger reputation and a growing belief that he is now mature man enough never again to do anything stupid like throwing his strategy to the wind and getting knocked out.
Mike Tyson found himself up against champions like that as he came into his first really major fights.
So it was to the iron man himself that Carlos Molina turned for inspiration as he braced himself for Saturday night’s fight, remembering: ‘Mike said that everyone has a game plan until they get smashed in the face. That is going to be the story here.
Scroll down to watch the video
Stare down: Amir Khan (left) and Carlos Molina during a press conference ahead of their fight
Mission: Carlos Molina in action during his media work-out ahead of his fight with Amir Khan on Saturday
‘He will start the rounds cautious but once I put on the pressure and land some punches it will be back to the same old Amir Khan of the last few fights. He will get wild and that will benefit me. When he starts opening up he will find out that I do have power.’
Khan knows that if that happens he will be in deep career trouble at worst, embarrassed at the very least. Molina is undefeated as a late cross-over from the amateur to professional game but is markedly shorter than Britain’s former world champion, lighter as he comes up a division and not a renowned puncher.
This Mexican-American knows he has been hand-picked for Khan to get his career back on track but says: ‘I took this fight in a shot. As soon as the call came through with the offer I dropped the phone and went out to start running. I haven’t stopped training since. This is my opportunity.’
Paying a visit: Football hard man Vinnie Jones popped in to see Khan ahead of fight night
Tough challenge: Molina is unbeaten but takes a step up in class when he takes on Khan
At 27 now and a father of two young boys with a third child on the way, this survivor from the mean streets of East LA believes his tough early life has been a preparation for this moment.
‘I’m not intimidated by anyone,’ he says. ‘Certainly not by Khan and what he has done. Not after watching film of his last two fights against Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia (both shock defeats). I grew up in the suburb of Norwalk. It’s a very hard place. Not the nicest neighbourhood.
‘There were a lot of street fights. Then the gangs came in. Then the guns. People got killed. I was lucky to have a great father (Miguel) who looked after us kids, kept us busy and kept us out of that trouble. At first I played soccer. I was a small centre-forward like Carlos Tevez and had a great time. But from where I come from I was bound to try boxing and I fell in love with the sport.
‘Of course I still follow Mexico and the USA team but no, I didn’t catch any of David Beckham while he was here in LA. I’ve got mouths to feed and I’ve been working hard towards this day.
All smiles: Khan (right) is hoping for an early Christmas present on Saturday night
Fresh start: Khan (right) has teamed up with Virgil Hunter (left) after suffering successive defeats
‘Putting on the extra few pounds of muscle has made me stronger and Khan is fooling himself if he believes I don’t have punching power. Given his suspect chin, If this fight ends early it will be to my advantage, not his. Although I’m ready to go 12 rounds.’
Molina trained on Wednesday in the Little Mexico area of south-east LA where the great Oscar De La Hoya, now the promoter, has his roots. De La Hoya , who has financed a school in this Montebllo district, arrived at the gym to an ecstatic reception from the locals and predicted a tougher fight than Khan’s fans are expecting.
Molina threatens the same and has an emotional incentive to deliver. He says: ‘My youngest boy has told me I’m the best so I have to win. I don’t want to let him down.’
Daily Mail
World number one Novak Djokovic kept up his excellent 2012 form, reaching the semi-finals in Indian Wells with a 6-3 6-4 win over Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.
The Serbian broke the 12th seed twice in the first set and in the ninth game of the second to win in 86 minutes.
Solwhit confirmed his quality as a top-class horse with victory in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The Charles Byrne-trained 5-6 favourite jumped the last in front and ran on strongly for a four-and-a-half length success under jockey Davy Russell.
Suarez bit Ivanovic on the arm midway through the second half of the match, which saw the controversial Uruguayan forward score in the 97th minute to snatch Liverpool a point.
Suarez has spoken to Ivanovic and apologised, but Ayre as well as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers have spoken out condemning their striker's actions.
Scroll down to watch footage of the incident
Horrific: Liverpool's Luis Suarez sinks his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic
Preparing to lunge: Suarez grabs Ivanovic's arm before appearing to bite it during yesterday's match
'I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea.
'I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally. I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.'
Suarez also took to his Twitter profile to say sorry to the Chelsea defender, posting: 'I'm sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I'm so sorry about it!!'
He later added: 'I've just spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him. Thanks for accepting.'
Anger: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers voiced his displeasure at Suarez, who will face a club sanction
While he is waiting on the FA's reaction to the incident and any punishment he will face from the game's governing body, he will be hit with disciplinary action from his club.
'Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today,' said managing director Ayre.
'His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.
'We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.'
Equaliser: Suarez celebrates after netting a last-gasp leveller, but all focus is on his bite on Ivanovic
Rodgers, who refused to comment on the incident after the match, also voiced his concern at his top scorer's actions.
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'Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this,' he said.
The incident came with Chelsea leading 2-1 after Eden Hazard's penalty regained the Blues' lead following Oscar's first-half opener and an equaliser from Daniel Sturridge, who also could have seen red for a late tackle on Ryan Bertrand.
I'm sorry: Suarez Tweeted to apologise for biting Ivanovic, before revealing he spoke to him (below)
Daily Mail
