Flemenstar takes dominant Fortria Chase victory at Navan

Pre-race 10-11 favourite Flemenstar powered to victory at the Fortria Chase at Navan to deny Big Zeb a fourth consecutive success in the event. The Peter Casey-trained seven-year-old took the lead from the start and finished seven lengths clear. Colm Murphy's veteran 9-2 shot Big Zeb exhibited his enduring class to claim second from Foildubh (7-1) at the end. Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Flemenstar's win came on his seasonal debut. The Andrew Lynch-ridden colt won five of his six starts over fences last season, and he showcased that form from the off as he left his 11-year-old opponent struggling at the back of the pack. When Foildubh and Big Zeb attempted to close as the horses reached the finish line, he had plenty in the tank to burst clear in the Grade Two meet. The win saw Flemenstar's odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup cut with some bookmakers, although others feel he still has to prove himself over a distance of more than two-and-a-half miles.

Women's rankings in Tennis

WTA singles rankings as of Monday 5 November 2012: 1. Victoria Azarenka (Blr) 2. Maria Sharapova (Rus) 3. Serena Williams (US) 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) 5. Angelique Kerber (Ger) 6. Sara Errani (Ita) 7. Li Na (Chn) 8. Petra Kvitova (Cze) 9. Samantha Stosur (Aus) 10. Caroline Wozniacki (Den) 11. Marion Bartoli (Fra) 12. Nadia Petrova (Rus) 13. Ana Ivanovic (Ser) 14. Maria Kirilenko (Rus) 15. Dominika Cibulkova (Svk) 16. Roberta Vinci (Ita) 17. Lucie Safarova (Cze) 18. Julia Goerges (Ger) 19. Kaia Kanepi (Est) 20. Ekaterina Makarova (Rus) Britons in top 250: 49. Heather Watson 53. Laura Robson 137. Anne Keothavong 153. Johanna Konta 172. Elena Baltacha 249. Tara Moore

Laura Robson wins first-round match at Japan Open

Britain's Laura Robson is through to the second round of the Japan Open after she beat Greek opponent Eleni Daniilidou 6-4 6-2 in Osaka. The 18-year-old, ranked 56th in the world and seeded in a WTA tournament for the first time, saw Daniilidou recover from 3-0 in the second set. But Robson held a tough service game, re-established her double break at 5-2 and served out at the first attempt. She will face China's Yi-miao Zhou in the next round. Robson is bidding to break into the top 50 after recent successes including winning Olympic silver in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray and reaching the final of China's Guangzhou Open. Number two seed Zheng Jie appeared on the verge of becoming the tournament's first major casualty when she trailed Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez by a set and 5-2. But the Chinese player reeled off 20 of the next 26 points to take the set before completing a 4-6 7-5 6-4 victory. British number two Heather Watson, already through to the second round of the singles, teamed up with veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm to progress to the second round of the women's doubles. The 20-year-old and her 42-year-old partner, who are the fourth seeds, beat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and American Alexa Glatch 6-3 6-2.(BBC)

NEW YORK: Maria Sharapova, back in the US Open s last eight for the first time since she won the title six years ago, sent fellow Russian Nadia Petrova packing with vigor and passion on Sunday.Not only did she rally after twice losing four games in a row against 19th seed Petrova but third seed Sharapova won six of the last eight games in the match after a 73-minute rain delay to take a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory.The Russian third seed, clearly the fan favorite in the Arthur Ashe Stadium night match, was pumping her fist with evry point in the seventh game of the last set when she broke Petrova to seize the lead for the first time since the opening set.Sharapova, who completed a career Grand Slam by capturing the French Open title last June, rolled through the first set in 31 minutes but Petrova broke her in the second and fourth games of the second set on the way to a 4-0 lead.Sharapova broke back twice to level the set at 4-4, only to have Petrova break her again in the 10th game to capture the set and in the second game of the third set for a 2-0 lead before rain began falling to halt the match.Petrova, who fell to 1-9 all-time against Sharapova, surrendered a break in the first game after the delay and Sharapova broke again four games later then held twice for the victory.Sharapova will next face French 11th seed Marion Bartoli, who beat Czech fifth seeded left-hander Petra Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon winner, 1-6, 6-2, 6-0, to book her first trip to the US Open quarter-finals in her 11th attempt. (AFP)

Stosur ousts Robson to reach Open s last eight

NEW YORK: Defending champion Samantha Stosur squandered eight match points but finally subdued stubborn British teen prodigy Laura Robson 6-4, 6-4 in 98 minutes on Sunday to reach the US Open quarter-finals.The Australian seventh seed advanced to a last-eight meeting with either World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus or Georgia s Anna Tatishvili, who were set to meet in a later night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.Robson broke Stosur in the third game of the match but the Aussie broke back in the next game and seized command, breaking again to take the first set and jumping ahead 5-2 in the second before struggling to close out the triumph.Robson held and broke and threatened to hold again to level the match before Stosur struck, firing a forehand winner that Robson sent wide to end the fight.Stosur has lost all six career meetings with top seed Azarenka, never taking a set off the reigning Australian Open champion. Azarenka s most recent victory over Stosur came in last February s Doha final.Russian third seed Maria Sharapova, the 2006 winner, faced 19th-seeded compatriot Nadia Petrova for a quarter-final berth. The winner would meet either Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova or French 11th seed Marion Bartoli. (AFP)

Why doesn’t sand stick to beach volleyball players?

Look closely at the picture above. What do you notice? Better yet, what don't you notice?

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are sprawled out in the sand, a position they find themselves in more than a dozen times per match. They're surrounded by their sport's playing surface and it's kicked up all around them. But look at Kerri's legs. Check out Misty's arms and take special notice of her feet. There's no sand anywhere.(Yahoo News)

Gymnastics: Jordyn Wieber Qulification in Olympic 2012

Jordyn Wieber of the U.S. competes in the balance beam during the women's gymnastics qualification in the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Maria Sharapova win the England Lawn Tennis Club

Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates after winning her women's singles tennis match against Israel's Shahar Peer at the All England Lawn Tennis Club during the London 2012 Olympics Games July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Celebrate Women's Volleyball Preliminary Match

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin of Great Britain celebrate during the Women's Beach Volleyball Preliminary match between Great Britain and Canada on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Horse Guards

Olympic opening ceremony

London Olympic spectacle kicks off

The eagerly awaited opening ceremony to the Olympic games kicked off on Friday with a mass countdown and the chime of a giant bell, ushering in an eccentric and exuberant celebration of British history, art and culture.

Heather Watson earns first-round win at Stanford

Heather Watson backed up her run to the Wimbledon third round by reaching round two at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, United States.

The 20-year-old, up to a career-high ranking of 79, beat world number 49 Sloane Stephens of the United States 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-1.

Watson was broken three times in the first set and twice in the second, but recovered to take the third with ease.

She will now face Belgian fifth seed Yanina Wickmayer.

Watson was beaten at Wimbledon 6-0 6-2 by eventual women's singles finalist Agnieszka Radwanska but became the first British woman to reach the third round for 10 years. (BBC)

Netherlands and Russia qualify for beach volleyball

The Netherlands and Russia have taken the final two Olympic women's beach volleyball places after wining through a qualification tournament in Moscow.

Russia beat China in both matches at the Vodny Stadium to secure their place in the 24-team event, while Netherlands also defeated Italy two games to nil.

The men's and women's finals will be played in a temporary stadium at the Horse Guards Parade in central London.

Austria and Russia earned the final two men's places.

Team GB qualified as hosts for the event, which starts on 28 July.

Netherlands's Madelein Meppelink and Sophie van Gestel won their match against Italy's Daniela Gioria and Giulia Momoli 13-21, 21-14, 15-10.

The Dutch pair of Rimke Braakman and Michelle Stiekema made it a double win over the Italians with a 21-19, 21-19 victory against Laura Giombini and Viktoria Orsi Toth.

In the other play-off, Russia's first win over China was secured when Anastasia Vasina and Anna Vozakova beat Yuanyuan Ma and Changning Zhang 17-21, 21-16 and 15-10.

The second came with Maria Bratkova and Svetlana Popova's 21-18, 17-21, 15-11 victory against Fan Wang and Yuan Yue.

In the men's event, the Austrians defeated Mexico to complete an unblemished 6-0 record in the Moscow tournament, while the hosts beat Poland 2-0 for their fifth victory from six matches.(BBC)

Sharapova & Clijsters says goodbye to wimbledon

Top seed Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters were knocked out of Wimbledon in straight sets in the fourth round.

Sharapova had been bidding to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2002 to win the French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year.

But the Russian world number one was beaten 6-4 6-3 by German 15th seed Sabine Lisicki on a chilly Court One.

Clijsters, due to retire after the US Open later this year, lost 6-1 6-1 to German eighth seed Angelique Kerber.

Lisicki, 22, secured victory with her third match point, an ace on her second serve, and will face her compatriot Kerber in the quarter-finals.

Lisicki broke Sharapova's serve three times in the first set and, following a rain delay, once early in the second to clinch victory by the same score she lost to the Russian in last year's semi-finals.

"It's unbelievable. I've beaten Maria Sharapova for the first time," Lisicki told BBC Sport. "I just went for my shots from the first point on.

"She is a fighter but I am a fighter too. I fought to the last point. The last game was tough but I fought it out.

"I'm getting better with each match. This is my favourite tournament. I love it here."

The Russian completed a career Grand Slam by winning at Roland Garros last month, but will lose her number one ranking to either Victoria Azarenka or Agnieszka Radwanska when the new list comes out on Monday.

Sharapova said: "She [Lisicki] did many things better than I did and you have to hand it to her. She played very well. I could have done things differently but not on this particular day."

Clijsters , who has won four Grand Slams but never reached a Wimbledon final, struggled to get her serve into gear and committed a string of unforced errors.

The Belgian survived two match points at 5-0 down in the second set but Eastbourne finalist Kerber soon served out for a comprehensive victory.

Clijsters, who made her Wimbledon debut as a 16-year-old and was a semi-finalist in 2003 and 2006, said the fact it was her last match at the Championships had not entered her thoughts.

"I just had the feeling that there was absolutely nothing I could have done to have won that match," said the former world number one.

"My opponent was better on every level. That was all I was thinking about."

The 29-year-old will play in the Olympics at Wimbledon and then the US Open before retiring for the second and final time, having previously taken two years out to start a family.

"I know that every time I've played here I've given my best, and that's the only thing that I can do," she added.

"I'll never say that I didn't work hard enough or I didn't practise hard enough. I don't think I'll feel sorry about anything when I leave."

In the two other matches in this half of the draw, Polish third seed Radwanska beat Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-3 and will face 17th seed Maria Kirilenko in the quarter-finals.

Russia's Kirilenko broke twice in the final set to win 6-1 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes against China's Shuai Peng. (BBC)

Great Victory of Spain in Euro Football 2012

Coach Vicente del Bosque has hailed Spain's "great generation of footballers" after their historic win over Italy in the final of Euro 2012.

La Roja's 4-0 victory in Kiev made them the first team to win three successive major international tournaments.

"We're talking about a great generation of footballers," said Del Bosque.

"They know how to play together because they come from a country where they learn to play properly. This is a great era for Spanish football."

The 61-year-old added: "We have some great lads who play abroad, which was impossible before. We didn't really have players abroad and now foreign clubs want our players.

"To win three titles is almost impossible. Congratulations to the players.

"It's true we were lucky enough to play a great match. Everything worked for us. It was an extraordinary performance against a difficult opponent.

"We played our own game. There were no real external influences - we were faithful to what we've done in recent years.

"I didn't really want to be the coach who wins but the coach who educates. I want to keep preparing them for the future."

Spain were at their scintillating best as goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres - who became the first player to score in two Euros finals - and Juan Mata helped them overpower the Italians by the biggest winning margin in a Euros final. They also retained the crown they first won in Vienna four years ago.

Between these two, La Roja have also claimed their first World title in South Africa and have now constructed a compelling case to be classed as the best team in history.

Sunday's victory was also the perfect riposte to the critics who have suggested that Spain have abandoned attacking principles and are not entertaining to watch.

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas told BBC Sport: "It feels really, really amazing. It's one of the best days of my life.

"I don't think we realise what we've done. In time we'll see. Are we boring? People who think we are boring, I don't think they understand the game."

Spain captain Iker Casillas, for whom Sunday's win was his 100th from 137 caps said: "There will always be some criticism as we have set the bar so high. That's what happens when you come down a step. It's been four marvellous years.

"You might think that a 4-0 margin against Italy means it was easy - but we have been gradually stepping up as the tournament went along.

"We did a really good job in defence, but not only defence. We know we have a lot of quality up front. If you can have a clean sheet then it's easier to score.

"It was really important for Fernando [Torres]. I know he hasn't had his best season. He had some problems and then didn't play for Chelsea. He scored against Ireland and then he scored again in the final.

"Are we the best ever? I don't know. I think we have to keep winning and win more trophies. When we're retired in 10 or 15 years then may be we can look back and say we were really good."

Andres Iniesta was named man of the match and is one of four players - along with Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xavi - to have started all three final triumphs.

"It's very nice to have this man-of-the-match trophy but it's especially great to be champions again," the Barcelona midfielder said.

"The team played a great match and all the players were at their top level."

Centre-back Gerard Pique added: "It's a really special feeling. I think we have to enjoy this moment. This team is making history but we have to keep going and keep working hard.

"There is a World Cup in two years. We're going to enjoy this moment and then keep going." (BBC)

Italy win the semi final of Euro 2012

Mario Balotelli has described his match-winning performance in Italy's Euro 2012 semi-final victory over Germany as "the best night of my life".

The 21-year-old Manchester City striker scored two first-half goals to set the platform for the 2-1 win, dedicating the victory to his adopted mum Silvia.

The Azzurri will now play favourites Spain in Sunday's final.

"This was the greatest night of my life and I hope Sunday will be better," Balotelli said.

At the final whistle, Balotelli sought out his family and embraced them in the stands. "At the end of the game I went to my mother - that was the best moment," he added.

"I told her these goals were for her. I waited a long time for this moment, especially as my mother is not young anymore and can't travel far, so I had to make her happy when she came all the way here. My father will be in Kiev for the final too."

Balotelli's two goals took him joint top of the Euro 2012 scoring charts with three. "I will try to win the top scorer award," he said.

"In football sometimes you can try so many times and it doesn't go in, or try few and it does all the time. It was a fantastic assist, the kind only Antonio Cassano can provide, while Riccardo Montolivo's pass was great too."

He celebrated his second goal by taking off his shirt and striking a typically defiant pose. "They didn't get angry because I was booked for taking my shirt off, but they saw my physique and got jealous," he joked.

Balotelli, who was substituted midway through the second half, dismissed any injury worries and declared himself fit for Sunday's final. "I had cramp and was a little tired, but I told the coach to wait five minutes and by that point the substitution was already in progress. It's fine."

Italy now meet Spain for the second time in the tournament, having played out a 1-1 draw in the group stages. And Balotelli believes that, despite Germany's lacklustre performance, the Azzurri are in the final on merit.

"When Italy win it is because the other team played bad," he said. "I think we won because we were better and we deserved it.

"We are with Spain, we are the two best teams in the tournament," he added.

"I hope to win, I don't care if I play badly as long as we give our all. We have to relax, mustn't get frustrated with Spain's possession and keep playing our football.

"We are the only side to have scored against Spain so far. We proved that we are equal to them, if not more, and we want to win."

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said Balotelli's performance had proved he had developed into a team player and not just an individual.

"Mario is rather unique, he's atypical. He's very strong and fights for the team. He's always been there when called upon and he fights in the penalty area," he said.

"The career of Mario Balotelli has only just begun."

Not all the Italians were as content, however. Captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stormed off the field at the final whistle, furious at Italy's failure to convert a host of second-half chances that would have put the result beyond doubt.

"I was annoyed because I don't celebrate second place and I was angry with us because we could have avoided the difficult final five minutes," Buffon said.

"When you can score seven goals against Germany, you have to score seven because if they come back to 2-2 they'll beat you 10-2 in extra-time. We need to be more mature and to know that even if football is a game, when you reach the European Championship final, it's no longer a game."

Andrea Pirlo, who was named man-of-the-match, also sounded a note of caution for Sunday's final. "We haven't done anything yet," he said. "There's no use going to Rome and not seeing the Pope. We want to go home with this cup." (BBC)

Another Great Victory of Spain in Euro 2012

The Barcelona midfielder put Spain into Sunday's Euro 2012 final, drilling his penalty in off the left-hand post to spark scenes of jubilation.

Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves missed for Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo a frustrated, unused fifth penalty-taker.

The match finished 0-0 after extra-time with neither side doing enough to win.

It took until half past midnight local time to get there, but Fabregas, who had scored the winning penalty in the Euro 2008 quarter-final win over Italy, ensured Spain proceeded to a final against Germany or Italy on Sunday and remain on course for an unprecedented third successive tournament victory.

The world champions have now won their past nine knockout games at major tournaments without conceding a goal, and their past 19 competitive matches.

Neither side had produced their fluent best during only the second 0-0 draw of the tournament. At times it was a bad-tempered affair and the apparently inevitable shootout made a nervy start as goalkeepers Rui Patricio and Iker Casillas denied Xabi Alonso and Moutinho respectively in the first round.

Andres Iniesta calmly put Spain in front, only for Pepe to keep Portugal on terms with a clinical low finish. Spain defender Gerard Pique found the bottom left-hand corner of the net, but Nani responded by firing his spot-kick high into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.

But when Spain's Sergio Ramos nonchalantly chipped his penalty beyond Patricio and Alves hit the bar for Portugal, it was left to Fabregas to send Spain into the final and spark memories of 2008 when their footballing history changed forever as a nation remembered how to win.

It had been billed as a clash of Ronaldo, the ultimate individualist, and Vicente Del Bosque's finely tuned orchestra - Ronaldo against Spain, Real Madrid against Barcelona, individual brilliance against the collective mastery of the defending world and European champions.

What nobody had accounted for, however, was Spain playing out of tune for long periods - Portugal were the conductors as inspiration gave way to perspiration in Donetsk.

Ronaldo was a constant danger. But at no stage did Spain man-mark him, subject him to rough-house treatment or even cut off the supply from the excellent Moutinho.

Spain's plan simply was to use the ball to mark Ronaldo, controlling the match through possession in an attempt to render him impotent.

Portugal had other ideas. Their physicality and unswerving desire in midfield prevented Spain settling into their familiar rhythm. At every turn, Xavi and Iniesta found a willing opponent, pressing Spain high up the field and forcing mistake after frustrating mistake.

There were warning signs that Spain might find their rhythm when Iniesta linked up with Jordi Alba down the left flank after eight minutes. The Barcelona midfielder collected Alba's pass, drifted beyond two defenders and cut the ball back only for Alvaro Arbeloa to thump a first-time shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

Opportunities such as that soon became the exception rather than the rule, however. Tempers flared at times, passes were misplaced and Portugal grew in confidence.

Ronaldo's confidence was never in question. After 12 minutes, he reduced Gerard Pique to vain pursuit, surging beyond the Barcelona defender with that remarkable power steering only for his delicate cross to be picked off Nani's head by goalkeeper Casillas.

A left-foot snap-shot found the side netting and, with half-time approaching, he spun away from Sergio Ramos, winning a free-kick and responding with that chest-out, hands-on-hips pose he has trademarked. Ronaldo was in the mood.

Spain were out of their comfort zone but their individual brilliance made them a danger on the rare occasions they did attack. Iniesta and Xavi combined well midway through the first half only for the former to curl his shot agonisingly over the crossbar.

After an hour Del Bosque had seen enough, abandoning his original plan to use a traditional centre forward in Alvaro Negredo by introducing Fabregas. The ineffective David Silva also made way for Jesus Navas as Spain sought width.

Briefly, Xavi began receiving the ball in advanced positions more regularly, showing the poise and the grace to dribble into dangerous areas.

At the other end, Ronaldo thumped a dipping free-kick over the bar after 73 minutes but Portugal's raids were growing more infrequent as they were forced to rely on set-pieces. Ten minutes later, Ronaldo repeated the trick and, as the game ticked into injury time, the Real Madrid man had a chance to win it.

Portugal broke like a sprint-relay team as a Spain free-kick was cleared. The tireless Miguel Veloso found Raul Meireles, but the Chelsea man's pass forced Ronaldo to check his run down the left flank, and his shot was dragged wide.

Fatigue was beginning to show in Portugal's play and it was Spain who revived in extra-time to come as close as at any point to breaking the deadlock.

Navas might have done better with a shot, from which Alba collected and picked out Iniesta's surging run only for the midfielder to see his close-range shot pushed round the post.

Ramos thundered a free-kick inches over the bar from 30 yards moments later, before Patricio was forced into action again, turning Navas's fierce low shot away.

It was all Spain now, and Fabregas put Pedro through on goal with a delightful touch on the half-way line but Portugal flooded back before the Barcelona forward could pull the trigger.

It was a moment that encapsulated the contest - Spain pushed for a winner, desperate to avoid penalties but Fabregas ensured they need not have worried.(BBC)

Is Serena Williams’ purple headband against Wimbledon rules?

Serena Williams' first-round match at Wimbledon was far less eventful than the one she played at the French Open. The four-time tournament champion didn't show any ill effects from her upset loss at Roland Garros and defeated Barbara Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-4.

The most interesting part of her opener, as usual, was the clothing. When you hear "warmup jacket" you think of zipped-up nylon or hoodies. Serena's white, double-breasted Nike number is a bit of a genre bender. I can't tell whether the jacket looks like it belongs to a waiter at a party thrown by a James Bond villain or someone portraying a nurse in a Cinemax movie.

In recent years, Serena has opted for cardigans and shawls but wore the same style coat in 2008 and 2009.

The headband is even more interesting. Wimbledon has let players subtly flout the "almost entirely white" rule for years. Colored stripes, details on sleeves and bandanas are prevalent despite the seven rules forbidding such pigmentation. We detailed the trend during last year's tournament. But that purple headband is pretty blatant. Even the official Wimbledon site wondered whether it was crossing a line.

Maybe it's a nod to royalty. Either way, I wonder if that white swoosh on it has anything to do with officials at the All England Club looking the other way.(Yahoo News)

Eastbourne: Robson & Watson win as Wozniacki, Kvitova, Radwanska exit

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova's preparations for her title defence were hit by a surprise defeat as the top three women's seeds lost at Eastbourne.

Kvitova lost 7-5 6-4 to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the first round.

Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska was beaten 6-2 6-4 by Tsvetana Pironkova.

Caroline Wozniacki, the third seed, was also knocked out by Christina McHale 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 but there were victories for British pair Laura Robson and Heather Watson.

Teenager Robson saw off Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 3-6 6-2 6-2, while Watson went through with a 6-3 6-4 win over Greta Arn of Hungary.

Kvitova's conqueror Makarova is the next opponent for 18-year-old Robson, who produced one of the best wins of her career in beating world no 49 Sanchez.

Robson said: "I was really happy with how I played in the second and third set.

"You know, I didn't necessarily play badly in the first set. It's just that I wasn't patient enough in the rally, and I let her [Sanchez] dictate points."

Victory for Watson set up a second-round match with the Czech number seven seed Lucie Safarova, who beat Hungary's Timea Babos 3-6 6-3 7-6 (8-6).

Asked if it was a good day for the British contenders, Watson said: "Yeah, brilliant day. I didn't see any of Laura's match, but she did really well to come through. That's a tough first-round win.

"I'm also very pleased with myself to get through there."

After her defeat, Kvitova admitted she needed to improve ahead of the start of Wimbledon on 25 June.

"It's not good preparation but I have more days for getting ready for Wimbledon," she said. "I have to work hard now to improve my game."

World number seven Wozniacki was watched by her boyfriend Rory McIlroy as she lost to American McHale despite saving three match points.

Wozniacki said: "I would have liked to have won that match, but at least I got some points in. I'm just trying to work on a few things before Wimbledon."

Meanwhile, 2011 champion Marion Bartoli enjoyed a smooth passage into the second round, the French player easing past Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-2.

The top seed also fell in the men's event, with Frenchman Richard Gasquet losing 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) to Australia's world number 82 Marinko Matosevic in the second round.

In the first round, Andy Roddick claimed his first win in seven matches as fellow American Sam Querrey retired with an injury when trailing 5-2.

Britain's Jamie Murray teamed up again with American Eric Butorac, his early-career partner, in the men's doubles, but they were beaten 7-6 (12-10) 6-2 by the Italian pair Daniele Bracciali and Andreas Seppi.

But Dominic Inglot and Jonathan Marray did better for Britain, beating Spanish second seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-3 6-3.

Fellow Britons Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins, the number three seeds, beat Australia's Paul Hanley and Austria's Julian Knowle 6-3 6-4. (BBC News)

Diver Tonia Couch given leave to appeal her non-selection

Tonia Couch has been granted leave to appeal against her non-selection for Team GB in the individual 10-metre platform event at this summer's Games.

Couch, 23, was picked alongside Sarah Barrow in the platform synchro but left out of the individual event in favour of Monique Gladding.

That prompted Couch's coach Andy Banks to launch an appeal.

British Swimming has now confirmed her case will be heard by an independent panel.

The governing body said in a statement: "British Swimming can confirm an appeal by Tonia Couch for non-selection in the 10m individual platform event at the London 2012 Olympic Games has been granted leave to appeal.

"A hearing by an independent panel will be held in due course," it added.

Banks thinks the original decision to omit Plymouth-based Couch in favour of Gladding was unfair.

Gladding, 30, would go to her first Olympics if selected.

Team GB says it wants Couch, who won gold at the European Championships, to concentrate solely on the synchro.

Stacie Powell, who won the recent British trials, and Gladding, whose appearance in the semi-finals at the test event for the London Games in February earned an extra place for Britain at the Olympics, are set to dive in the individual event.

Banks last week told BBC Radio Devon: "If I'm honest I don't expect it to make a difference because the appeal procedure will look at the selection policy and the selection policy does ultimately say that the performance director can do whatever he wants within that selection process.

"I feel, quite strongly, that she [Couch] has demonstrated over the course of this year that she is still the UK's premier platform diver - she has been since 2008 when she made the Olympic final.

"She's been a world finalist ever since and I think it's a little unfair for her not to be able to demonstrate her ability as the UK's premier diver at the London Olympic Games."

The individual and synchro diving events are a week apart in the diving schedule for the Games.

Banks also thinks Couch's omission was handled poorly by those responsible for selecting the team.

"I know she's absolutely gutted, but upset also that she has not been spoken to, so the communication around this has been very poor from the management down," he said.

"There is an opinion in management that concentrating on the synchronised event would possibly be better for the outcome of a medal.

"I've watched Tonia dive both synchro and individual competitions internationally and domestically.

"At the trials she got a personal best score and a British record in the synchro event and went on to get a personal best score in the individual event, so I disagree with the reasoning behind her non-selection."

Euro Footbal 2012: Hottiest Female Fans

PETKOVICE TO MISS WIMBLEDON

Andrea Petkovic was forced out of Wimbledon on wednesday after failing to recover from a serious right ankle injury.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to return in time for Wimbledon this year. While this is another setback in my return, I will continue to work hard on getting back on court as soon as possible," said Petkovic.

Petkovic finished 2011 at No. 10 in the world, her biggest achievement being reaching her first three Grand Slam quarter-finals at the Australian, French and US opens.

Maria Sharapova Hottiest Images

Heather Watson beats Elena Baltacha

Heather Watson upset compatriot Elena Baltacha at the Aegon Classic, overcoming the domestic number two 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in their all-British clash.

The 20-year-old British number three continually piled pressure on Baltacha's serve, breaking her higher-ranked opponent five times.

Earlier in the day Baltacha had scraped past Taiwanese Kai-Chen Chang 4-6 6-4 7-5, after resuming 4-6 3-2 down.

Anne Keothavong, Laura Robson and Mel South were all beaten in Birmingham.

It was the first time Baltacha had lost to a British opponent in four years.

The 15th seed led 4-1 in the first set when the players were forced off by rain but when they returned Watson was a different player, battling back to take the first set on a tie-break.

The youngster, who came through qualifying to reach the second round of this year's French Open, then broke Baltacha three times in the second set.

"I had a rough start to the year," said Watson, who lost her first four WTA Tour matches of the season. "And it's made me appreciate going onto the court and having the opportunity and taking it when I have it.

"I'm using it to learn and get stronger."

Watson will face Italy's Roberta Vinci on Centre Court on Thursday before joining forces with Robson in the doubles to take on Timea Babos and Su-wei Hsieh.

Keothavong , who took over from Baltacha as British number one last week, was unable to sustain the form that saw her beat 12th seed Tamira Paszek in the first round. , as she went down 6-3 6-4 to Zheng Jie.

The 28-year-old broke her opponent twice in their 81-minute match but was broken three times in the second set by the 2008 Wimbledon semi-finalist.

Guernsey's Watson is the only remaining home player in the draw after defeats for the three other Britons in action.

Laura Robson fought hard but was eventually overwhelmed by ninth seed Marina Erakovic 6-4 3-6 6-4 in a shade under two hours.

Mel South fell to former world number one Jelena Jankovic as a gritty second-set showing ended in 6-1 7-6 (7-3) defeat.

South, ranked sixth domestically, had two set points to take the match to a decider, but was undone in the tie-break.

Jankovic, 22nd in the world, will now play Casey Dellacqua after she beat British number seven Tara Moore 4-6 6-4 6-1.

The top two seeds - Italy's Francesca Schiavone and Germany's Sabine Lisicki - both lost their opening matches.

Schiavone, a clay-court specialist, was edged out 7-5 6-4 by Japan's Misaki Doi, while Sabine Lisicki, who enjoyed a surprise run to the semi-finals last year at Wimbledon, was overcome 6-3 6-4 by Poland's Urszula Radwanska.

How Zara Phillips reached the Olympics - again

Zara Phillips is in line for her Olympic debut at long last, representing Great Britain from a room in the Olympic village - not representing the Royal Family from exclusive lodgings.

"Zara is absolutely a team player," continues Will Connell, performance director for British equestrian sport.

"She doesn't seek the limelight - it's never Zara stirring up the media frenzy, she lets her results do the talking. There's no denying who her mother and grandmother are but she is, first and foremost, an elite equestrian athlete."

Phillips, now 31, has spent a decade proving her talent. A former world champion, she has twice been in contention for the Olympic Games and twice missed out through injury to her horse, Toytown.

This week, she earned nomination to the British Olympic Association as one of five riders in the eventing team for London 2012.

Her third Olympic nomination in succession caps a resurgent 12 months. For a time, it had looked as though carrying the Olympic torch at Cheltenham racecourse was as close to the Games as she might get.

Phillips spent her twenties enjoying remarkable success with Toytown, winning eventing's world title in 2006 and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award later that year.

But after missing Beijing 2008, Toytown's age began to show. A horse can only go on at the top level for so long and Phillips, tears in her eyes, gave Toytown a public retirement at Gatcombe last year.

"In our sport you're very lucky to find a horse of a lifetime and I found mine relatively early," she told the Daily Telegraph in 2010. "[Toytown] has done everything for me and I owe him the world. Even talking about that horse makes me well up."

With Toytown out of the picture, Phillips had to prove she was no one-horse wonder by finding another challenger and getting them to the top level in time for Olympic selection.

She managed it, in the nick of time, with a horse named High Kingdom - taking him from the most basic of introductory events in Wiltshire five years ago to third place at last week's Bramham horse trials, her last chance to prove the pair had what it takes for the Olympic Games.

"She's been with High Kingdom a long time," says Connell. "She's always been diligent in working hard when it isn't necessarily going right with a horse - she perseveres. She plugged away with him and has done a fantastic job to bring him all the way up through the grades.

"Together, they finished 10th at Burghley last autumn and perhaps that's when he really burst onto the scene. Burghley was probably the result that, to the wider audience, said Zara has a horse that could go to London.

"This is an up-and-coming horse, a horse whose star is in the ascendancy, and [in terms of Olympic selection] that's probably what tipped it over the edge."

After Bramham, Phillips told BBC Sport: "Last year was a big year. He improved massively and came up with the goods [at Burghley]. He's still improving this year and he's a great, fun horse."

Phillips still faces the formality of having the British Olympic Association rubber-stamp her selection to Team GB but, once that happens, she can expect unique challenges as an Olympic team member.

Alongside all the usual pressures athletes place on themselves, the phenomenon of a British Royal competing at a London Olympic Games will inevitably draw intense scrutiny from the media at home and abroad.

"Zara attracts a massive amount of media attention and the challenge will come around that," says Connell.

"The media could impact on Zara's medal-winning chances. It really wouldn't be fair if every time Zara trained, there were a hundred cameramen, and when [German eventing star] Michael Jung's training, there aren't. But that's something Zara's had to cope with throughout her career.

"Part of what makes her successful is her ability to ignore all that. When she won the individual world title, she had to go into an arena with over 50,000 spectators and jump after the Germans had clinched team gold. The pressure and noise were incredible, but she's very cool under pressure. She has a proven championship record."

Asked if her Royal status was a help or hindrance, Phillips once told ITV: "It's a hindrance. People think it was all given to me on a plate and it definitely wasn't.

"But everyone in the sport is good to me. Everyone gets on with it."

Phillips' parents, both Olympic eventers themselves, must know how their daughter feels. The Princess Royal competed at Montreal 1976 and Captain Mark Phillips won team gold at Munich 1972 before returning to win team silver 16 years later in Seoul.

"They very much support me," said Phillips in the same interview. "They've never pushed me but when I started they very much backed me up.

"They're both very knowledgeable, unfortunately. They give me lots of advice - and criticism. But our sport is very different now to when they were competing, which I keep telling them."

There is now an anxious wait to see if Phillips can finally follow in the family footsteps. Will injury strike a third time?

"This is a great challenge we face in equestrian sport," explains Connell. "If a human athlete wakes up one morning and say they're feeling tight in a tendon or whatever, you can tweak the training programme.

"The horse doesn't know the most important competition of its life is coming up, and that introduces a different dynamic. It can't tell you the same things.

"But if they are to win medals in London, the horses have to be very fit and competition-aware. They can't just be put away in a stable now and pulled out at the Games. They will all compete again and that brings the inevitable risk of a slight injury."

As Phillips said ahead of Beijing 2008, before Toytown's second injury nightmare: "To go with all the other sports would be a great dream, but you still have to get there. One step at a time."

Point apiece as England, France draw cagey opener

DONETSK: France came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with England on Monday as a cagey Euro 2012 opener between the Group D rivals ended in a stalemate.

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott headed England into a 30th-minute lead to leave Roy Hodgson’s men dreaming of the perfect start to their campaign on a sweltering night at the Donbass Arena.

But Lescott’s City team-mate Samir Nasri struck back with a 39th-minute equaliser, lashing a low shot from outside the area to give France a share of the points and extend Les Bleus unbeaten run to 22 games.

A cagey opening period saw both sides begin cautiously, and it was 11 minutes before anyone got a shot on goal with Nasri’s low shot flying just wide of Manchester City team-mate Hart’s post.

Yet England seemed far from cowed by the occasion, and should have taken the lead four minutes later after Ashley Young slipped in James Milner with a lovely through pass that caught France square.

The Manchester City midfielder rounded Hugo Lloris with his first touch but then failed to find the net from a tight angle.

Moments later Yohan Cabaye tested Hart from long range, the City keeper diving to his left to stop his low strike.

Meanwhile Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a surprise starter on the left side of midfield ahead of Stewart Downing, enjoyed a confident start, dispossessing Adil Rami early on and producing one memorable jinking run.

England’s bright opening yielded its reward on 30 minutes with the breakthrough coming from a set-piece.

Captain Steven Gerrard swung in a pinpoint free-kick from the right flank and Lescott took advantage of acres of space afforded him by Alou Diarra to head past Lloris from close range.

Yet the England goal was the cue for a period of dominance from France which lasted until the half-time whistle.

Diarra almost made immediate amends with a header of his own, Hart parrying high after the defensive midfielder met Nasri’s pinpoint freekick.

In the ensuing scramble Franck Ribery headed back across goal but Diarra’s second effort went wide.

A French equaliser seemed on though and it arrived through Nasri six minutes from half-time, the forward taking advantage of an English side standing too deep to squeeze a ferocious shot just inside Hart’s post.

England seemed content to slow the pace of the game in the second half, and passed confident without ever threatening France.

Gradually however France’s superior technique began to tell, and England spent long periods of the closing minutes on the back foot.

Real Madrid Karim Benzema, well shackled by Scott Parker for much of the match, forced a fine low save from Hart on 65 minutes.

Benzema, who had drawn a booking for Ashley Young on 71 minutes then went close again, curling a shot goalwards which Gerrard headed behind for a corner.

But though England seemed to be tiring rapidly in the final stages, France were unable to find the winner as the match wound down, with Benzema’s late strike parried by Joe Hart.

England will face Sweden in Kiev on Friday in their second game while France face Sweden in Donetsk.

Nadal wins record seventh French Open

PARIS: Rafael Nadal clinched a record seventh French Open title on Monday, defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and shattering the Serb’s dream of Grand Slam history.

In a fractious final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of Sunday’s rain, the Spanish world number two, playing in his 16th Grand Slam final, also took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.

Victory, which was achieved on a Djokovic double fault, allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.

It was the 26-year-old’s 11th Grand Slam title, taking him one behind Roy Emerson, three off Pete Sampras and five away from the record of 16 held by Roger Federer.

For five-time major winner Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion, it was the end of his dream of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all the Grand Slams at once.

He was left to regret his unforced error count of 53 which undermined his challenge.

After Sunday’s suspension, the players, meeting in a fourth successive Grand Slam final, resumed with Nadal leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, but with Djokovic in the ascendancy and serving for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set.

But a forehand error from Djokovic, with the court at his mercy, gave Nadal a break point and the Spaniard seized it when the Serb had been left flat-footed by a net cord which allowed his opponent to push through a winner.

The set remained tight as would be expected with the pair meeting for a 33rd time.

Nadal moved to 5-4 as the umbrellas went up all around Philippe Chatrier Court and the players sat courtside to wait out a passing, heavy shower and complained to tournament referee Stefan Fransen about the slippery conditions.

Djokovic finally buckled when a monster forehand from Nadal set up championship point which he converted when the top seed tamely served up a fourth double fault.

The celebrations were ecstatic as Nadal fell to his knees and consoled Djokovic before the champion climbed into the player’s box to embrace his family.

On Sunday, Djokovic had looked down and out at one stage, even picking up a warning for destroying his courtside chair box with his racquet.

After slipping two sets down, he was also a break behind at 0-2 in the third before he reeled off eight games in succession to take the third set — the first lost by Nadal in this year’s event — and lead 2-0 in the fourth.

The first game of the fourth set had featured a gruelling 44-shot rally.

But Nadal had raged at tournament referee Stefan Fransen for having to keep playing as the court became increasingly treacherous.

As he stormed, Djokovic, who had been two sets to love down to Andreas Seppi in the fourth round, and saved four match points in his quarter-final victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seized his chance to get back into the match.

The last time a French Open men’s final failed to be completed on the last Sunday was 1973 when it was played on the Tuesday with Ilie Nastase beating Niki Pilic.

Monday finishes have become common at the US Open in New York with the last four finals taking place on the extra day while the 2001 Wimbledon final was also completed on a Monday.

Roland Garros will eventually avoid late finishes as a main court with a retractable roof is to be built in 2017.

French Open win beats Wimbledon: Sharapova

PARIS: Maria Sharapova said her French Open triumph was a greater achievement than her teenage 2004 Wimbledon breakthrough which launched her on the road to international fame and fortune.

The Russian, one of the few genuine stars in the women’s game, completed a career Grand Slam by beating Italy’s Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday.

It was the 25-year-old’s first Roland Garros title and fourth major of her career, but first since she recovered from a potentially career-ending shoulder injury.

“It’s the most unique, surreal moment. I never thought I would have it. When I won Wimbledon at 17, I thought that would be the most cherished moment of my career,” she said.

“But when I fell to me knees today on the court I realised that winning here was extremely special, even more so.”

Sharapova added the 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open titles to her 2004 win at Wimbledon before the shoulder injury sidelined her for 10 months, sending her ranking spiralling to 126 in the world.

She has endured numerous false starts since that time and losses in the 2011 Wimbledon final to Petra Kvitova and this year’s Australian Open title match at the hands of Victoria Azarenka led many to ponder whether she had been overtaken by a new generation of big-hitters.

But titles on clay in Stuttgart and Rome in the run-up to Paris transformed her into one of the favourites for the Paris title which she achieved with a 6-3, 6-2 win over the out-gunned Errani in just 90 minutes.

With the Williams sisters on the wane, Kim Clijsters about to retire and the likes of Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki struggling for consistent levels of success, Sharapova believes there are many more majors coming her way.

“It’s been a long journey, I started from such a young age, but I’m not done yet, far from it,” she said.

“I have a lot more to achieve, I always believed in my game and that I could get better on grass, clay, cement.”

Sharapova said she was increasingly motivated by the people who wrote her off, never doubting her own powers or the influence of those around her.

“No matter how tough it was or if people didn’t believe in me, I never listened. I only listened to my own voice which told me that I would succeed again and I did.

“No matter how many punches I took, I didn’t care. I always got back up again. There were no excuses. I love this work of playing tennis. I could have said I have had enough when I was injured.

“I could have said I have enough money and fame, but when your love for the sport is bigger than those things, then you still get up to practice when it’s freezing or when others have no belief.”

Maria Sharapova eyes career Slam in French Open final

Maria Sharapova will bid to become only the 10th woman to complete the career Grand Slam when she meets Sara Errani in Saturday's French Open final. " Sharapova has returned to the top of the world rankings with her run to the final, her first at Roland Garros. "It will be special," said the 25-year-old Russian, a former Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon champion. "To be in this situation is going to be quite new, but it's something I've dreamed of for a long time." Sharapova won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, and added the US and Australian titles by the time she was 20. However, with a shoulder injury having put her career in jeopardy, Sharapova last topped the world rankings in 2008, and ended a three-year run without a Grand Slam final appearance at last year's Wimbledon. She was beaten by Petra Kvitova, and suffered a similar fate against Victoria Azarenka at this year's Australian Open, but will start as favourite against Errani. The Italian had won only one match at the French Open before this year, but arrived at Roland Garros having reached the last eight at the Australian Open and won three Tour titles, all on clay. Sharapova said: "She's won so many titles already on clay, and these last couple of weeks she's really been improving, beating great players, and is really confident - and that's obviously a dangerous opponent." Errani left Italy at the age of 12 to join Nick Bollettieri's famous academy in Florida, staying there for 10 months before returning to Europe and training in Spain. Sharapova is also a former Bollettieri pupil, having arrived there in 1994 aged seven. However, she and Errani have never played each other. Prior to her run at Roland Garros, the 21st-seeded Italian had lost all 28 of her matches against players in the world's top 10, but changed all that with wins over Angelique Kerber and Sam Stosur. "I've never thought, 'I can't beat someone in the top 10.' I play and give my best, and if I don't win, I don't win," Errani explained. "I don't think about whether I can win the title. I just think about the next match. If I win, then I think about the next one." She attributes her good form this season to using a racquet with a longer handle to generate extra power. "It was love at first sight," said the 25-year-old. "From my first practices with it, I really felt completely different. I could control the ball better. I could hit it faster. It boosted my confidence.

England v West Indies: Rampant hosts sense series victory

England blew away the West Indies top order in the late Sunday sunshine to take an unshakeable stranglehold on the second Test and the series. James Anderson bowled Kieran Powell for just one in his second over and had Adrian Barath lbw in his third to leave the tourists reeling. Stuart Broad then took the key wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 11 before Tim Bresnan trapped Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Kirk Edwards lbw as West Indies crashed to 61-6 by the close of day three, a lead of just three. It was a desperate display of batting after hard work and perseverance from the bowlers had given West Indies a real chance in the match. But their dramatic collapse in the last session means England are almost certain to wrap up the win on Monday, and with it the three-match series. The West Indies top four has looked dreadfully vulnerable throughout the tour but this was wasteful in the extreme, undoing all the good work of Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul earlier in the day. On a pitch showing little sign of deterioration, the underdogs would have been delighted to take England's remaining eight wickets for 169 runs after Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen resumed on 102 and 72 respectively. Pietersen was the first to go, lbw for 80 playing around a full one from Rampaul that reversed a little. The crowd's disappointment was alleviated by some brisk strokeplay from Ian Bell before he was beaten for pace by a skiddy, snaking delivery from Roach and given out lbw on referral for 22. Roach, plagued by no-balls on Saturday, was working up a genuine head of steam, roughing up new batsman Jonny Bairstow and finding bounce and pace to keep Strauss watchful. Bairstow never looked comfortable against the short ball and it was no surprise when he fended another rapid one to mid-on off the leading edge to depart for just four. The young Yorkshireman had come into the Test team with a burgeoning reputation and glowing references from several sage judges, and England will hope these early frailties against short-pitched bowling can be eliminated by batting coach Graham Gooch. Darren Sammy had already enjoyed one of his better Tests after his maiden century in the first innings. It got even better before lunch when he bowled a cavalier Matt Prior via inside edge for 16 to leave England 336-6, still 34 in arrears, and after Strauss had crashed away a series of meaty drives, had his opposite number caught behind for 141. Once again England's tail came good. Bresnan cut and drove with relish - Broad by comparison was more watchful - and 53 precious runs were added for the eighth wicket. England's lead was up to 46 when Broad, on 25, top-edged a sweep from off-spinner Shane Shillingford to Sammy at slip. Although Swann and Anderson went soon after to Marlon Samuels, the West Indies capitulation began almost immediately. If the bowling was tight and aggressive, the shot selection was awful and the footwork poor. Powell aimed an expansive drive at one that he should have left to be bowled off the inside edge, Barath barely moved from his crease and Bravo for some reason threw away a referral on a lbw that was taking out middle stump. Ramdin was pinned in front by another unerring off-cutter from the rampant Bresnan, and Kirk Edwards - absent from the ground for much of the day with flu - lasted just two hapless balls before falling the same way. Bresnan will resume on Monday with 3-10 from six overs and Anderson 2-12 off seven, and it will take another near-miraculous partnership from first-innings centurions Samuels and Sammy to deny England the win that will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

French Open: Elena Baltacha falls to Sam Stosur in Paris

Elena Baltacha is out of the French Open after suffering a straight-sets defeat by US Open champion Samantha Stosur on day one at Roland Garros. "

The British number one fought well in the first set but was outclassed in the second, with sixth seed Stosur winning 6-4 6-0 in just over an hour. Baltacha, who made round two in 2011, was the first player eliminated. British hopes in the women's draw now rest with Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. Keothavong faces Melinda Czink of Hungary, Watson takes on Elena Vesnina and Robson plays Anabel Medina Garrigues. But the campaign is over for Baltacha and the world number 68's ranking will drop ahead of the Olympic cut-off on 11 June. "To be honest, it was not the draw I wanted - she is one of the best players in the world on clay, it was a big ask," said the Scot. "She played very well. I managed to get back at 5-4. It would have been interesting to see if I had made it 5-5. "In the second set she went two levels up and that was it. She was too good. It was a good lesson for me today." Baltacha, who made round two in 2011, was the first player eliminated. British hopes in the women's draw now rest with Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. Keothavong faces Melinda Czink of Hungary, Watson takes on Elena Vesnina and Robson plays Anabel Medina Garrigues. But the campaign is over for Baltacha and the world number 68's ranking will drop ahead of the Olympic cut-off on 11 June. "To be honest, it was not the draw I wanted - she is one of the best players in the world on clay, it was a big ask," said the Scot. "She played very well. I managed to get back at 5-4. It would have been interesting to see if I had made it 5-5. "In the second set she went two levels up and that was it. She was too good. It was a good lesson for me today.

Jessica Ennis sets a new British heptathlon record in Gotzis win

Jessica Ennis set a new British heptathlon record as she won the Hypo event in Austria with 6,906 points. "

Her score beat the old British best of 6,831, set by former Olympic champion Denise Lewis in 2000. Russia's Tatyana Chernova, who last year took the world title previously held by Ennis, was 132 points behind in second, with Lyudmyla Yosypenko third. "I knew I was capable of doing it. It was just a case of putting it together on the day," said Ennis. "It's something that's been at the back of my mind and I wanted to achieve, but I didn't want to put too much pressure on it." It was Ennis's third successive win at the Gotzis event, her last heptathlon before the London Olympics. The 26-year-old from Sheffield had led by more than 200 points after a first day in which she set a new personal best of 22.88secs in the 200m and produced strong performances in the shot and 100m hurdles. She finished the first day with a score of 4,113 points, 33 better than her overnight total at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona, when she set her previous best of 6,823 points. Her second-day performance had cost her the world title in Daegu last year, but in Gotzis she began by equalling her personal best of 6.51m in the long jump. She then threw a new personal best of 47.11m in the javelin, improving her previous mark by 40cm. "I brought the long jump back and proved my javelin's in a better state. I'm over the moon," added Ennis. Her efforts left her needing to complete the final event, the 800m, in two minutes and 14 seconds in order to beat Lewis's mark. She led from the gun and, despite being passed by Chernova just short of the line, finished in 2mins 9secs to set the new mark and gain a psychological edge over her leading rivals in the run-up to the Olympics. Ennis said she believes losing at the World Championships helped her refocus on the heptathlon. "I've learned from those times," she commented. "I learned what I need to do in the long jump, what I needed to do in the javelin and I've been able to rectify those events. It's been a bit of a learning curve, which is good.

Heather Watson & Laura Robson win French Open qualifiers

British number three Heather Watson and world number 126 Laura Robson both advanced to the second round of French Open qualifying on Wednesday.

Watson's 6-1 6-2 win over Canada's Sharon Fichman sets up a meeting with Tunisia's Ons Jabeur on Thursday. Robson overcame Spanish opponent Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-2 7-6 (7-4). Jamie Baker lost 6-4 6-3 to Spain's Daniel Munoz-De La Nava in round two to follow James Ward, Josh Goodall and Naomi Broady in being knocked out. Guernsey's Watson, 20, is aiming to make the main draw at Roland Garros for the second successive year. In 2011 Watson beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon to become the first British woman to win a main draw match at Roland Garros since 1994. Ranked 109th in the world, Watson needs a strong performance in Paris to come into contention for Olympic qualification. Robson, meanwhile, is seeking to make the main draw at a fourth successive Grand Slam having been given a wildcard at Wimbledon and come through qualifying at both the US Open and the Australian Open. Broady, ranked 195 in the world, was beaten in the first round, going down 6-0 6-1 to Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan.

Two Saudi Olympic horsemen banned for eight months

Two members of Saudi Arabia's Olympic equestrian team have been banned from competing for eight months, and are now likely to miss the London Games. Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid and Abdullah Waleed Sharbatly were punished after their horses tested positive for prohibited medical substances. Mr Eid won bronze in Sydney in 2000, while Mr Sharbatly finished second at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. The two riders have until 22 June to appeal against the ban. It was announced on Wednesday by a three-member tribunal of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Their statement said Mr Eid's horse Vanhoeve tested positive for phenylbutazone during an event in Riyadh in December, while Mr Sharbatly's Lobster 43 was found to contain oxyphenbutazone during an event in the United Arab Emirates. It said Mr Eid had failed to prove that his horse was exposed to an allegedly contaminated stable environment. Mr Sharbatly, the FEI ruled, had failed to explain how the prohibited substance "entered the horse's system". Anti-inflammatory substances phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone are prohibited in competition, but are allowed for treatment use outside sporting events.

Olympics: Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid to compete for 2020

Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid will compete to host the 2020 Olympics after Qatar's Doha and Azerbaijan's Baku were cut from the list on Wednesday. The shortlist was announced at the International Olympic Committee's executive meeting in Quebec City. Doha and Baku were rejected for a second time in a row after failing to make the final list for the 2016 Games. The remaining cities will now embark on a lobbying period with the winner named on 7 September 2014 in Buenos Aires. The 15-member executive board, headed by IOC president Jacques Rogge, chose the finalists after examining a technical evaluation report compiled by a panel of Olympic experts. Japan's Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964, while neither Istanbul in Turkey nor Spain's Madrid have held the Games. Madrid is bidding for a third consecutive time, Tokyo a second time in a row and Istanbul a fifth time overall. Doha, which was proposing to hold the 2020 Olympics in October rather than the usual July/August schedule to avoid the Gulf Arab state's searing summer heat, is already hosting the 2022 World Cup football tournament. "This is a great disappointment for the Doha team," said Noora Al Mannai, chief executive of Doha 2020. "With so many sports venues already in place and budgeted for, we felt that we offered the IOC great certainty and a low cost Games plan as well as an exciting legacy vision, especially around developing women's sport in the Middle East. "However for Doha, it will always be a question of when not if." Rome pulled out of the running in February because of the country's efforts to head off a debt crisis. London will host the 2012 Summer Games from 27 July - 12 August, while the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro will stage the 2016 Olympics.

Steven Shingler tied to Wales not Scotland after losing IRB appeal

World rugby chiefs have ruled that Steven Shingler is ineligible to play for Scotland and his international future is tied to Wales. The International Rugby Board heard Shingler's appeal in Dublin on Tuesday. The London Irish fly-half had claimed he was not aware an appearance for Wales Under-20s had decided his international eligibility. "The council therefore determined that Steven Shingler is tied to Wales," said the IRB in a statement. Former Scarlet Shingler, 20, found himself at the centre of an eligibility row after he was named in Andy Robinson's Scotland squad for the 2012 Six Nations campaign. A few weeks later, Shingler's elder brother, Aaron, 24, made his debut at openside flanker in Wales' 27-13 win over Scotland in February. Wales objected to Steven Shingler's inclusion in Scotland's tournament squad because he had played for Wales Under-20s, the nation's designated "second team". An International Rugby Board panel had ruled that Shingler could play only for Wales and not for Scotland, having played for Wales Under-20s against France Under-20s in 2011. Shingler appealed against the decision and the IRB agreed at a special meeting to rule on the issue of what is a country's second team. The IRB released a statement that confirmed Shingler had lost his appeal, it read: "Under the regulations committee decision, Shingler was deemed to have been captured by Wales having represented the Wales Under-20s team against the France Under-20s team in a 2011 Six Nations fixture. "Both Wales and France had individually designated their under-20 teams as their next senior national representative teams. "In accordance with IRB Regulation 2, the IRB Council has the power to endorse or overturn the decision of the regulations committee. "Following the Scottish Rugby Union's appeal of the Shingler decision, the IRB Council considered and determined the matter during its annual meeting in Dublin. "Council, having considered all the facts and having heard submissions from the SRU and WRU legal representatives, dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the IRB Regulations Committee. "The council therefore determined that Steven Shingler is tied to Wales in accordance with IRB Regulation 8 and therefore is ineligible to represent another Union." Scotland coach Andy Robinson expressed his disappointment at the decision as the Scottish Rugby Union hinted that it had not yet given up the battle. "The Scottish Rugby Union have backed Steven and backed myself in the decision that we made and it's unfortunate that we lost the case," said the Englishman. "I really feel for the player, because he made what was probably a difficult decision at the time to choose to play for Scotland. "He believed he was qualified to do that and put all his eggs in that basket and it's been taken away from him. That's disappointing." Asked whether the SRU and Shingler will take the case further, Robinson replied: "That will be for Steven to now consider what he wants to do." The WRU has welcomed the IRB ruling, which ruled that it had complied fully with all regulations and acted properly when informing players of their eligibility for Wales. WRU head of rugby Joe Lydon was satisfied that the issue of Wales Under-20's now being Wales' second designated team had been cleared up. "It was vitally important that the WRU defended its stance over this issue," said Lydon. "It was certainly not just about the individual player concerned but a case of needing total clarity on the situation, both retrospectively and going forward. "The key factor for us was determining that we have acted properly, and continue to act properly as a governing body over this issue. "If we had left any doubt over this debate then many players, across many Unions, would have been left in a state of confusion over their international status. "The IRB ruling has now been confirmed and the WRU will continue to follow the operational policy we already have in place which ensures all players are fully informed of the IRB regulations and their status within them." An initial informal assessment by the IRB had determined that the player appeared to be tied to Wales but the SRU formally asked the IRB regulations committee to review the case. However, the panel also pointed out that the full IRB council had the right to overturn the decision and recommended that the issue of players being tied to countries while playing at Under-20 level should be reviewed.