Paes, Bhupathi to clash in US Open doubles final

NEW YORK: Indian tennis ace Leander Paes kept himself in line of two Grand Slam titles after entering the final of the men's doubles event of the US Open following an upset win over top seeds and local favourites Mike and Bob Bryan on Wednesday.

Third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Bahamian Mark Knowles also coasted to an easy straight set win over fifth-seed Belarussian-Israeli duo of Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram to enter the finals of US Open mixed doubles.

The Indo-Bahamian pair got the better of Belarussian-Israeli duo 6-4, 6-2 to set up title clash with fourth-seed India's Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy.

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will now fight it out for the US Open men's doubles title. Paes and his partner Cara Black have already reached the final of the mixed doubles event.

Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy, seeded fourth, overwhelmed the Bryan brothers 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) in one hour and 51 minutes in the semi-final at the Flushing Meadows.

The match had a sensational climax as Paes and Dlouhy had plenty of match points in the tie-breaker of the third and final set but Bryan brothers made a spirited comeback and saved five match points.

However, Paes and Dlouhy held their nerves and finally converted their sixth match point to clinch the issue.

It was Bryan brothers who got the first chance of a break but Paes and Dlouhy not only saved them but also converted the opportunities that came their way in the opening set.

The first set was tied 2-2 when on Paes' serve, the Americans earned two break points but the Indo-Czech combination played well to ward off the threat and held their serve.

In the next game, Paes and Dlouhy converted their second break point chance as Mike made a forehand error. Dlouhy served out the next game at love to take a 5-3 lead.

The next two games went with serve and the fourth seeds comfortably took the set to go one up.

The second set started on an ominous note for Paes and Dlouhy but they could not convert the early chance.

Dlouhy misfired an overhead volley to hand their rivals a break in the fourth game and it was enough for the Bryan brothers to claw their way back into the match.

Mike held his serve in the next game to consolidate the lead, making it 4-1. The next four games went with serve and the Americans stretched the match to the decisive third set.

The final set began with a marathon 16-point game but Dlouhy managed to hold serve after five deuces and in the process saved two break points.

The next chance of service break came in the seventh game when Paes and Dlouhy were down 0-40 on the serve of the Indian. The fourth seeds held their nerves and saved four break points in that game, making it a brilliant contest.

Bob served the 10th game to save the match and Paes hit a stunning backhand winner to earn their first match point. Bob served extremely well and made it 5-5.

No pair was willing to concede even an inch and it all boiled down to the tie-breaker.

It was a dream tie-breaker for Paes and Dlouhy as they created a 5-0 lead but Bryan brothers played exceptional tennis and saved four match points to make it 6-6.

The partisan crowd cheered for the American duo but Paes hit a backhand volley between the brothers to seal a final berth.

Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Schumacher makes sensational return to F1

The German motor racing legend, who retired in 2006, will replace injured Felipe Massa in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23, and possibly for the remainder of the season.

"The Ferrari-Marlboro team plans to give Michael Schumacher Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian returns to competition," Ferrari announced in a statement on its website.

The statement added: "Michael Schumacher says he is available and in the coming days he will pursue a specific programme of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the European Grand Prix."

Schumacher, 40, commented: "Ultimately I like challenges and this is a great challenge."

"The important thing is that Massa gets better," he continued, adding that he "just wanted to help the firm (Ferrari) when they needed it".

Schumacher's return was arranged at a meeting between him and Ferrari president Luca di Montezamolo at Ferrari's headquarters at Maranello on Wednesday morning.

News of Schumacher's comeback to the sport he virtually made his own came 24 hours after the possibility had first been raised by his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm.

"The whole thing will be considered by Ferrari. If they approach Michael, then he will consider it," Kehm had said.

She added: "Usually, I would say he's not interested because he's fine with his life and he doesn't miss anything but now the situation is so different - it's very hypothetical - and Michael doesn't want to step into that (discussion)."

Schumacher, who is on Ferrari's pay roll as an advisor, will be filling in for Massa, who is recovering from surgery following his horrific high speed crash in qualifying for last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Only this month the 40-year-old had made it clear speaking at the German Grand Prix that he was not interested in making a full time comeback.

But the offer of a temporary return to the Ferrari cockpit obviously proved too much to resist for 'Schumi' who has recovered from a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February.

Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Pakistani helicopter evacuates Sri Lankan team

A Pakistani air force helicopter on Tuesday evacuated the Sri Lankan cricket team from Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium following a deadly ambush, an AFP reporter said.

Sixteen members of the team ran towards the military aircraft on the pitch under guard of security officials, said the correspondent.

The helicopter then took off.

"The helicopter will take them straight to the Lahore airport from where they will fly home this afternoon," a Pakistan Cricket Board official told PTI.

The two injured Sri Lankan players -- Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana who were hit by gunshots -- will be taken to the airport straight from the hospital as they are out of danger.

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt and other Board officials were present at the Gaddafi stadium ground from where the helicopter airlifted the players and officials. PTI reported.

Sri Lanka’s tour to Pakistan was called off immediately after the attacks. At least six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at them killing five police personnel escorting the team to the Gaddafi stadium for the third day of the second Test.

Source from:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Srilanka lift Asia Cup 2008

IT WAS the same old story for India in the Asia Cup finals. They once again faltered at the final hurdle. Srilankan spinner Ajantha Mendis casted a web around the Indian batsmen.

The Islanders victory over India was a combination of young and old. Captain Mahela Jayawardene’s judiciousness was another factor. All this combined to rout India.

On a Sunday (July 7), the mighty Srilanka defeated India by a big margin of 100 runs in Karachi. A marvellous bowling spell by Mendis wrecked the Indian order and won the match for Lanka. The splendid innings of Jayasuriya ws exceptional. His 125 included five sixes. Mendis picked six wickets and conceded only 13 runs in his eight overs.

After being set a target of 274 runs to chase for victory, India started on a confident note. The early and unlucky dismissal of Gautam Gambhir at the score of 36 gave a possibility to Srilanka. Soon after the collapse of Gambhir’s wicket, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni sent Suresh Raina.

Even after the exit of Raina, he strategy of Indian captain did not change. That proved costly. Even at that stage, if the patient Dhoni had joined Sehwag, the result could have been different. The impatient Yuvaraj Singh was clean bowled and the hopes were shattered. The fastest Asia Cup half-century by Sehwag and the responsible innings by the captain could not save the match for India.

Pragyan Ojha did well but his spin failed to yield wickets. Had it not been for him, the Lankans might have crossed the 300-run mark. After the match, Dhoni said that his teammates could not read Mendis well and the forth coming series with Lanka would be a tough one. The Lankan captain also stated the same during the presentation ceremony.


Source:
http://www.merinews.com/