| Rain causes postponement of men's final • Torrential rain rules out play in New York• Final will now take place at 9pm (BST) todayRain wiped out the men's final of the US Open yesterday, giving Novak Djokovic an extra day's rest for his battle with Rafael Nadal. The final has been scheduled for around 4pm local time in New York today.The Serb Djokovic had the later and more gruelling semi-final on Saturday, a five-setter against Roger Federer lasting three hours and 36 minutes, while Nadal's earlier straight-sets win over the Russian Mikhail Youzhny took a mere two hours 13 minutes. Djokovic said: "I was ready to play in the locker-room but obviously the extra day's rest is good for me."It is the second year in a row the final has been held over until the Monday. The US Open is the only grand slam that has back-to-back semis and final in the men's event.Rain set in over Flushing Meadows in early afternoon and refused to budge from windless skies.The women's doubles final was deep in the third set when play was suspended and was initially switched to another court in the hope that the weather would improve.That match – with the sixth seeds Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova serving at 0-15 and 4-5 down in the third set against the second seeds Liezel Huber and Nadia Petrova – is now scheduled to resume at 3pm local time today with the men's final to follow.US Open tennisTennisRafael NadalKevin Mitchellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Arizona Diamondbacks likely to retain Gibson, Towers promises turnaround Arizona Diamondbacks new GM Kevin Towers didn’t set a timetable for deciding the fate of interim manager Kirk Gibson, but voiced confidence in the manager who took the job mid season after the firing of A.J. Hinch. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Liverpool call upon Torres in Utrecht • Striker expected to make first Europa League start of season• Hodgson: I learned a lot last week against NorthamptonRoy Hodgson has declared Fernando Torres free of the injury problems that have plagued the Liverpool striker throughout 2010 and admitted the scar of Northampton Town influenced his decision to recall the Spain international for the Europa League.Torres is available to make his first start in the competition this season against Utrecht tomorrow as Liverpool seek their first win in four matches. Steven Gerrard has been rested in readiness for Sunday's league game against Blackpool and may require an injection for a troublesome back problem after that match but Hodgson believes Torres's improving fitness and confidence warrant the forward's inclusion in Holland.A 45-minute appearance against Trabzonspor represents Torres's only European football since he scored twice against Benfica in the Europa League quarter-final in April, with Liverpool keen to nurse their record signing back to full fitness after a series of hernia, knee and groin problems. But Hodgson said: "The injury problems are behind him now and we can't bring those up any more. They were supposedly cleared up when he went to the World Cup. Because then he didn't meet up to some people's expectations then there were theories about him being injured. But really he was recovered from injury and the injury he picked up in the final was very minor and had cleared up when he got back to us. We have been trying to keep a close eye on him but I wouldn't dream of playing him if he wasn't right."Torres, despite struggling to rediscover top form this season, has been involved in Liverpool's last four goals in the Premier League and Hodgson believes the 26‑year‑old's confidence is also restored. "I don't think there's anything wrong with his confidence but, yeah, he'd like to have that goal," the Liverpool manager said. "The thing with top, proven goalscorers is that you know it will come again."Hodgson admitted Torres's inclusion was an insurance policy after the embarrassment of going out of the Carling Cup to Northampton on penalties with a second string last week."One of the benefits of having him here is that when you are drawing or losing to Northampton and you have left all your best players out to prepare for the weekend, then you would like to have your best players to change things," he said. "Maybe that's one of the things I learnt from last week – but I learnt lots of things last week."Daniel Agger is absent with a groin injury that required the Danish defender to undergo an MRI scan today and Hodgson said Gerrard was left behind because "I have plenty of options in central midfield".Utrecht (4-4-2, probable): Vorm; Cornelisse, Schut, Wuytens, Nesu; Duplan, Lensky, Silberbauer, Mertens; Mulenga, Van Wolfswinkel.Liverpool (4-4-2, probable): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Kelly; Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles, Cole; Ngog, Torres.Referee D Gomes (Portugal). LiverpoolUtrechtEuropa LeagueAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Favre won't address allegations after loss to Jets By RICHARD ROSENBLATT 2010-10-12T16:46:53ZEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Brett Favre stepped up to the podium after a discouraging loss to the New York Jets and spent about 20 minutes evading questions the same way he tried to avoid tacklers.... hosted.ap.org |
Upset Harrison excused from Steelers practice By ALAN ROBINSON 2010-10-20T21:43:58ZPITTSBURGH (AP) -- This time, James Harrison sacked himself.... hosted.ap.org |