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| Owen Coyle holds talks with Bolton Wanderers Owen Coyle appears to be on the verge of quitting Burnley for Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers after it was confirmed today that he had held talks about filling the managerial vacancy at the Reebok Stadium. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Rafael Nadal heads for Australian Open after Qatar defeat • Defeat by Davydenko underlines Spaniard's decline• 'I am ready to win the tournament,' says world No2 Rafael Nadal travelled to Australia today for the defence of the last of the three grand slam titles which he held early in 2009, without having won a Âtournament in eight months.A 0-6, 7-6, 6-4 defeat to Nikolay ÂDavydenko in Saturday's Qatar Open final, from match-point up in the second set, indicated the crisis of confidence from which the former world No1 is suffering.Not only did it increase the feeling that Nadal's Australian Open title will go the way of the French Open and Wimbledon crowns that he relinquished in 2009, but it heightened the question of whether the 23-year-old Spaniard with the dodgy knees can ever again be a dominant Âfigure in tennis."I needed to be a bit more calm," Nadal said when asked about a startling forehand miss from inside the baseline on the second of his two match points in the second-set tie-break against Davydenko. "Probably because I have not won a Âtournament for a few months I did not win this one."That may be something he can rectify. However, there are other difficulties which may take longer to sort out. Nadal's miss at such a vital moment may have been a product of uncertainties created by efforts to adapt his violently athletic style.He had done well to insert a flatter-hitting attack into his range of options in a one-sided semi-final win over Viktor Troicki and in the first set against ÂDavydenko. As an insurance against Âfurther deterioration in his arthritic knees, this is essential. But it can also be a disruptive influence in those moments when instinct tries to take over.Nadal said his first-set display against Davydenko had been an improvement, and talked up his title defence in ÂMelbourne as best he could."I am not saying I am going to win the tournament – you never know before a tournament," he said. "I have played well enough [here] to have a positive result [at the Australian Open], but I don't know. You have to see the conditions. I am ready to win the tournament, but I am never going to say that I am going to win it. The only thing I can say is that I am playing well enough to have a positive result. I am very competitive against all the players in the world. And I am happy."Though that may just have been a case of putting a professional slant on his own chances, one positive assertion was Âprobably true. Compared with six months ago, Nadal is in a much better position. But compared with a year ago, he is in decline.It should all be of considerable Âinterest to Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, especially as the world No1, Roger Federer – who was also beaten by Davydenko in Qatar– has not won a title since August. The pair of 22-year-old friends, the world No3 and No4, may be sensing a chance to outshine the two legends above them.Rafael NadalAustralian OpenTennisRichard Jagoguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
British No2 Katie O'Brien into second round of Australian Open • Past first round of grand slam for only the second time• Will face either Jelena Jankovic or Monica Niculescu nextBritish No2 Katie O'Brien joined Elena Baltacha in the second round of the Australian Open after a straight sets win over Patricia Mayr today. The 23-year-old won 6-3 6-3 to progress past the first round of a grand slam for just the second time in her career.O'Brien's best ever result at a major was reaching the second round at Wimbledon in 2007 and a confident display, against a player ranked three places behind her in 90th, ensured she would at least match that. A difficult task could, however, await her in the next round where she will play the winner of today's match between the No8 seed Jelena Jankovic and Monica Niculescu.O'Brien, from Hull, had seen fellow Briton Baltacha win through in straight sets yesterday before her scheduled match was postponed because of the rain. That meant O'Brien was first on court four today and quickly found her stride, breaking her Austrian opponent in the fifth game to go 3-2 ahead and then, with Mayr serving to stay in the set, breaking again to take the advantage.Mayr broke early in the second set, but from there the Austrian's serve let her down. O'Brien pounced on the opportunity and broke on three consecutive occasions to surge ahead before wrapping up the match when Mayr dumped a forehand into the net.Australian OpenTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Lindsey Vonn wins fifth straight World Cup downhill Lindsey Vonn made it a perfect five wins in five World Cup downhills this season with another decisive victory Saturday. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
South Carolina's Downey pours in 30 to surprise No. 1 Kentucky Top-ranked Kentucky found out it's got some growing up to do. And college basketball will most likely find a new No. 1. Devan Downey scored 30 ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |