Caroline Wozniacki & Petra Kvitova head Eastbourne field

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will head the field for the Aegon International. The event, held at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne, begins on 16 June. Tournament director Gavin Fletcher told BBC Sussex: "Our cut-off for the women's main draw is 46 in the world. We've got five players in the top 10. "It's very strong throughout. There's a strong men's draw as well which I'm very happy about." Marion Bartoli is set to defend her title and 2008 winner Agnieszka Radwanska, the world number three, will also return. France's Richard Gasquet is the top seed in the men's draw while one-time Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis will take part in the Sussex tournament for the first time in his career. Wildcard entries for Brit

ish players will be announced in the coming weeks.

Boost Olympic 2012 hopes Helen Jenkins wins San Diego title

World champion Helen Jenkins consolidated her position as favourite for Olympic gold by winning the San Diego World Triathlon Series on Friday. The Welsh athlete, 28, ran away from Australian Erin Densham in the closing 10km run after being part of an eight-woman breakaway on the 40km bike ride. "It was a good race, I had to work hard for that," Jenkins said. Jonny Brownlee is favourite for the men's race, which is live on the BBC Red Button at 22:30 BST on Saturday. "I really pushed the swim and we really worked hard on the bike and that was hard all the way," added Jenkins, who won silver behind Densham in the opening race of the series in Sydney. "I really enjoyed the run course. It was really cool. There was so many people out there supporting - it was awesome." Jenkins won in a time of one hour, 58 minutes, 21 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Densham. Vicky Holland was the next best-placed Briton in fifth, behind America's Laura Bennett and France's Jessica Harrison Liz Blatchford came home in 16th, with fellow British athletes Non Stanford (21) Lois Rosindale (30), Vanessa Raw (37) and Jodie Stimpson (45) further down the field. Jenkins and world number two Jonny Brownlee have already qualified for the Games. Brownlee's elder brother Alistair, who is the world number one, is recovering from an Achilles injury. British men Will Clarke and Tim Don are among those looking to meet the qualification criteria ahead of next month's Team GB announcement. "There is an opportunity this weekend for British athletes to demonstrate that they have the form to fight for medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games," said Malcolm Brown, British Triathlon Olympic performance manager. "The selection policy is focused on podium performances in the ITU World Triathlon Series, and the door is open to anyone who can achieve this standard." Jonny Brownlee will make his World Triathlon Series debut in Saturday's men's race, and the 22-year-old Yorkshireman said: "It will be an interesting race with some people aiming at Olympic selection. "For me it's about the build-up to the summer now, and a good result here will confirm that I'm on track."

We can still win the title, Patrice Evra says

United, second on goal difference, require either City to slip up at home to QPR or an improbable landslide win over Sunderland to edge back in front. "Maybe people will say I'm crazy, but I still believe," said Evra. "I know destiny is not in our hands. If we want to keep believing in the miracle, we have to beat Sunderland." Manchester City have collected 52 from a possible 54 points at Etihad Stadium this season, while QPR have lost 13 times on the road this season - more than any other side in the top flight. But, after United's 2-0 win over Swansea on Sunday, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told fans at Old Trafford this weekend could mark "the biggest celebration of our lives". He also suggested relegation-threatened Rangers, managed by former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, would not lack motivation to ruin the leaders' party plans. Evra believes the dynamics of the season's final day - with all matches kicking off at 15:00 BST on Sunday - will allow Manchester United to heap extra pressure on their rivals. "If we score first, maybe the City fans in the stadium will start to be nervous," he added. "When you are nervous, you rush things and you don't do the things you want to do. That's why I still believe, but we must make sure we are ready against Sunderland." In their own game at home to QPR on 8 April, United won 2-0 to move eight points clear with six matches remaining. Evra believes United's late collapse in the 4-4 draw against Everton three weeks later, a game in which he headed against the post with his side leading 4-2, marked the point the title race tipped back in City's favour. "If you play for Manchester United, you have to accept the pressure," he said. "You have to win every year no matter what you do. People don't care, you have to win. "It's going to hurt a lot. If we see City celebrate, people will say it's the end of the Manchester United empire."

Hottest Female Athletes You Want To See In Olympics 2012

Sophie Horn

Caroline Wozniacki.

Natalie Coughlin.

Lolo Jones.

Jessica Ennis.

Melanie Adams.

Kelly Sotherton.

Eastbound & Doubt

Natasha Henstridge

Earning Her Doll-Hairs

Sunny Delight

GB hockey team face Olympic selection dilemma

GB women's hockey coach faces problems naming his Olympic squad following injuries to two key players at the London 2012 test event.


Crista Cullen and Alex Danson, both 26, were injured in GB's 2-1 victory over Argentina in Sunday's final.

Cullen's injury is not thought serious but Danson's may be longer-term.


"It puts a bit of a spanner in the works," said coach Danny Kerry. "I can't make final decisions until I know what the medical team says."

Kerry will select his 16-woman line-up for the Olympics, plus two reserves, from a squad of 28, with an announcement expected on 18 May, but the injuries hampered his ability to begin finalising his squad.

Defender Cullen, a set-piece specialist, turned her ankle in scoring her second goal against Argentina and required crutches after the game, while striker Danson came off the field in agony after clattering her left arm in a collision with a defender.

Britain's coach expressed concern at Argentina's approach to Sunday's game at the Olympic Park's Riverbank Arena, saying: "There was stuff going on out there.

"For those of you who play, watch and coach hockey a lot, you know exactly what's going on. I've probably already said too much."

Argentine players were involved in both incidents, although neither warranted any action from the on-field umpires.

Danson has a case history of shoulder injuries, including one the year before the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but later tweeted that she "will be
right as rain in no time".

"We'll have to wait for the medical team to assess them," said captain Kate Walsh.

"At Bisham Abbey, where we train, we have the Olympic medical institute so all the best rehab know-how in the world is on our doorstep.

"I'm sure they are going to be fine - there's still quite a bit of time. Alex, pre-Beijing, rolled her ankle in a warm-up game
and was back for the Games. They are both quick healers and two of the fittest players in the team."

Simon Mantell is also a casualty of the test event, missing two of the GB men's games after fracturing a bone in his foot during Thursday's group game against India.

Mantell was due for treatment on Monday and the team's coach, Jason Lee, said selection might be delayed while Mantell and longer-term absentee Matt Daly are given time to return to fitness.

"We haven't got a definitive date for selection at the moment because one player in particular, Matt Daly, has a long-term injury and no predicted date for his return," said Lee.

"Matt's played at every major tournament for the last seven years and has a goalscoring record of one in three. I think he deserved the opportunity to be selected.

"The selection date has been left open to see if there's an opportunity for him to get in, and the same applies to Simon Mantell as a consequence of his injury. We're aiming to do it by mid-June.

"Simon will be back in hockey by mid-July - that might be too late."

London 2012: Olympic Stadium is officially opened

A nine-year-old girl has officially opened the 2012 Olympics stadium, at a ceremony in east London.

Niamh Clarke-Willis joined Locog head Lord Coe to hit a button which launched balloons into the sky above the venue for this summer's Games.

Around 40,000 members of the public were at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford to witness the opening, which included a laser light show.

The "2,012 hours to go" event tested the park's management and security.

Lord Coe said: "It's a fantastic feeling. The seven years have just flown by. Tonight is only the start of the story.

"We want thousands of young people to be inspired to take up sport. We hope that for a few of them it will be the start of their journey.

"I'm grateful to everyone who came here tonight to celebrate this moment in history."

Spectators had to queue to enter the venue after airport-style security checks.

Simon Levy, who came to the Olympic Park for the first time on Saturday, said: "It's not a problem, really. It's much quicker than the airport and it's good to be checked because now we know we're safe."

Police helicopters flew over the park and armed police patrolled the area.

Adrian Casy, a security guard at the Olympic Stadium, said Saturday's events were among the main rehearsals for the games, particularly in moving and managing the crowds of spectators from the park and from one venue to another.

"Honestly, so far, so good, although we're still trying hard to make it run smoother," said Mr Casy, adding that some spectators were wearing "insufficient clothing" to cope with the weather conditions.

TV presenters Vernon Kay and Gabby Logan hosted the event which saw entertainment from impressionist Jon Culshaw, actor Hugh Bonneville, singer and former Spice Girl Melanie C, rapper Chipmunk and comedian Jack Whitehall.

Some 140,000 people are expected at the Olympic site over six days.

The celebrations are part of the British Universities and Colleges Sport Outdoor Athletics Championships and the Visa London Disability Grand Prix which are test events for the venue.

London 2012 hopefuls Perri Shakes-Drayton and Holly Bleasdale are competing at the BUCS event which runs from 4-7 May.

Later in the week, the Olympic Stadium will also play host to the Sainsbury's 2012 School Games, for 1,600 school-aged elite athletes.

Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both win in Madrid

Top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova are both through to the second round of the Madrid Open.

The world number one and last year's runner up Azarenka beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-4.

Second seed Sharapova crushed Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 6-2.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also m

ade it through, but only after being pushed all the way by Ksenia Pervak . She eventually prevailed 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-4.

Another ex-world number one, Ana Ivanovic beat French qualifier Mathilde Johansson 6-4 6-1.

Of the other players fancied to do well on the new blue clay surface, the 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone crashed out 6-4 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 to American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko .

The courts have been attracting almost as much attention as the players.

Speaking before the tournament Wozniacki said: "Blue is my favourite colour, this makes things a bit different.

"The court seems a bit faster than when it was (traditional) red.

"Adding the Madrid altitude (650 metres above sea level) makes it even faster. But we will only know who handled it best when the tournament is over."

Defending champion Petra Kvitova added: "I haven't practised on them enough yet to say, but I think they are something new for us."In my opinion they look very nice, very cool.

"I like the colour, so I'm looking forward to playing on them."

Both Venus and Serena Williams are in action on Monday with ninth-seed Serena taking on Russia's Elena Vesnina while Venus, who is on a wildcard, takes on Angelique Kerber of Germany in the second round.