The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Murray stands up to diving Tsonga in Queen’s win Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:21 AM PDT  Andy Murray of Britain (right) shakes hands with Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (left) of France after winning their singles final match at the Queen's Club Championships on June 13, 2011. — Reuters pic The climax of the Wimbledon warm-up event was being held a day late after rain washed out play yesterday and, while conditions stayed dry, Murray weathered the storm of Tsonga's fast groundstrokes, diving volleys and energetic charges. "He was playing a different sport to me in the first two sets. I've never seen anyone dive so much," the world number four grinned in a courtside interview. Murray, who picked up his second Queen's trophy after also triumphing in 2009, goes into next week's grasscourt grand slam at the All England Club having given the British public and media even more reason than usual to set expectations high. Having dished out a grasscourt masterclass to American Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, Murray was forced to play a different game against Tsonga who hurled every imaginable shot at the Briton while also throwing his body across the court. The Frenchman's high-risk strategy of attack had looked like paying off before an unlucky net cord in the 11th game of the second set prevented him from breaking to serve for the match. The ball bounced off the top of the net and had looked like it would make it over the net before dropping down on the wrong side in what was a major turning point in the match. "I remember only this ball," Tsonga said on court. "Today I had only one chance, it was this one but I missed it. But today Andy was just too good and I will try to beat him next time." Outlandish shots Fifth seed Tsonga had lost to Murray in the quarter-finals at last year's Wimbledon and he found himself lacking once again as the Scot drew on his experience of three grand slam final appearances, as well as his passing shots, to see him through. His mouth often caught somewhere between a grimace and a look of mild amusement as Tsonga reached the most impossible shots, Murray gave the Frenchman a taste of his own medicine with some outlandish shots of his own. His first between-the-legs forehand was unbelievably batted back by a diving Tsonga in the second set but the second time he tried the trick, he won the point at the net to go 5-3 up in the final set. "I got my feet a bit messed up and I wasn't planning on doing that when I went forward, I do it sometimes in practice but I've never tried it at the net but I'll give it a few more goes," said Murray. Having won the second-set tiebreak with ease 7-2, Murray carried his momentum through the third set where he dominated and he wrapped up the title with a seemingly heart-felt smash as Tsonga's tenacious challenge came to an end. "He's so much fun to watch, I enjoy watching him myself but he wasn't fun to play today," Murray said of his opponent. "It's been great preparation this week (for Wimbledon) and I'll work hard for the next five or six days to get ready." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Forest name ex-England boss McClaren as manager Posted: 13 Jun 2011 02:30 AM PDT  England football manager Steve McClaren attends a team training session in London Colney, north of London in this November 14, 2007 file photo. — Reuters pic It will be the first time he has managed in England since his spell in charge of the national team ended in humiliation with the country failing to qualify for Euro 2008. He signed a three-year deal at Forest, who came close to promotion to the Premier League this season but lost in the playoff semi-finals. He succeeds Billy Davies, who was sacked yesterday. "The club moved quickly to secure his services as it is rare for a manager and coach of his undoubted calibre to be available," Forest Chief Executive Mark Arthur said in a statement on the club website (http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk). The 50-year-old McClaren has been keen to repair his tarnished reputation in England after his ill-fated spell in charge of the national team, when he was dubbed "The Wally with the Brolly" after putting up a big umbrella to shield himself from the rain during a match. After being sacked by England in 2007 he took up a post at Twente Enschede and steered the club to their maiden Dutch title in 2010. Last year he became the first English coach at the helm of a Bundesliga club when he took over at VfL Wolfsburg but lasted just nine months in the job as the 2009 German champions became involved in the battle to avoid relegation. He was sacked in February. Before his stint as England boss he had been viewed as a promising manager having worked as an assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 1999-2001 before being appointed manager at Middlesbrough, with whom he won the 2004 League Cup. He also took Middlesbrough to the 2006 Uefa Cup final, where they lost to Sevilla, and Forest will be hoping McClaren can have a similar impact at the club as they seek a return to the top flight. "Steve has a proven track record of coaching and managing at club level, having played a key role in helping Manchester United secure the Champions League trophy, three Premier League titles and an FA Cup," Arthur said. "We are delighted to have him on board at the City ground." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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