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Argentina frets over Messi’s future

kit-sports editor — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:15:43 +0000

AFP) Argentina is gripped by debate over superstar Lionel Messi, who was devastated by losing the Copa America final and has withdrawn into a shocked isolation.
Some observers in his home country say criticism fired at Messi could force him to take a break from national duty.
The 28-year-old football genius left the pitch ashen-faced after Argentina lost the Copa America to Chile in a 4-1 penalty shootout in Santiago on Saturday.
The scenes were reminiscent of last year’s World Cup final when Germany beat Argentina in extra time. Then ‘Leo’ left in tears. Messi first tasted a major defeat in 2007 when Argentina lost 3-0 to old rivals Brazil in the Copa final.
Messi finally posted a statement on his facebook account late Monday.
“There’s nothing more painful in football than losing a final,” he said.
“But I don’t want to leave it any longer to say thank you to everyone who has always supported us and continued to during the tough moments.”
Despite his huge success with Barcelona, Messi is now going through tough moments as is a country which has not won a major title for 22 years.
Spanish media reports said Messi turned down the player of the tournament trophy. The trophy was withdrawn before the presentation ceremony in Santiago.
Messi and the other Argentine stars were criticised by the country’s media for their performance. Members of his family were also abused by Chilean fans at the match, according to Argentinian media.
Some observers have warned that Messi could walk away from the national side.
“Desolate after another lost final, and especially by the tough criticism, Messi could take a break from the national team,” the Ole sports daily reported Tuesday.
Television talk shows are now dominated by what is wrong with Messi and the national football team. Why does he not dazzle for Argentina like he does for Barcelona.
“One day this boy is going to get tired and will not want to come to play for the team,” former Argentine international Matias Almeyda, now coach of the Banfield club, told Fox Sports television.
“He was criticised for not signing the national anthem. He is always being criticised for something,” Almeyda added.
“He’s the best player in the world and he is not treated in the way he deserves.”
Argentina Football Association president Luis Segura has been shocked by the suggestions.
If Messi left, Argentina could lose out on key earnings from friendly internationals in which he is often under contract to play.
“I don’t understand the people who criticise him,” Segura said.
“Messi suffers as much as the supporters from not winning a title.”
Messi had a brilliant season with the all-conquering Barcelona but Almeyda said “it is very difficult (for Argentine players) to repeat for the national team what they do for their clubs.”
Messi has already scored more goals for Argentina than the country’s beloved Diego Maradona. But he has never won a World Cup like Maradona did in 1986.
His next chance could come in Russia in 2018. Messi will be 31 then and that could be his last chance too.
After the Santiago final, Messi took refuge at his home city of Rosario, 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Buenos Aires, as he traditionally does during Spain’s break from football.
Around him, the criticism goes on against the team and its coach Gerardo Martinez.
Some top footballers have Tweeted their support for Messi. Some Argentines are however using social media however to say that “Maradona = Messi and Javier Mascherano.”

White still not right at Wimbledon

kit-sports editor — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 01:07:28 +0000

Wimbledon’s famously strict dress code, which requires competitors to appear head-to-toe in white playing gear, has come under renewed fire for being “ridiculous” and “excessive”.

Even Roger Federer, the seven-time champion and a lifelong admirer of the All England Club’s traditions, has ramped up his criticism of the rule which demands predominantly white outfits.

“I love Wimbledon but they’ve gone too far now. The rules have become ridiculously strict,” said the Swiss legend.

It is the second time in two seasons that Federer has hit out at the rule which calls for “suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white”.

“We’re all white. White, white, full-on white. I think it’s very strict,” Federer said 12 months ago.

“My personal opinion, I think it’s too strict. If you look at the pictures of Edberg, Becker, there was some colours, you know, but it was ‘all white’.”

The colour code at Wimbledon is often controversial.

Last year Caroline Wozniacki said reports that officials would check the colour of women’s underwear as “a little creepy”.

This week, Canadian poster girl Eugenie Bouchard fell foul of the rules after wearing a black bra.

Flamboyant American player Bethanie Mattek-Sands said she supported Federer’s complaints.

“I didn’t even get married in white,” she said.

Mattek-Sands once appeared on Wimbledon Centre Court wearing a coat made of tennis balls and has also taken to a court with warpaint beneath her eyes.

She claims a Nike-designed white playing bra was judged to be unsuitable at Wimbledon because it had a yellow stripe.

“I think it’s gotten a little excessive. It was funny, because I was actually Googling some players like when John McEnroe played, Arthur Ashe, they had colour everywhere,” said Mattek-Sands who makes a mini-statement by appearing on court with knee-high white socks.

“I feel it’s actually gotten stricter. You can’t even wear off-white or cream. I was like, man, if you wash your whites too many times, they will be illegal. Better be washing it in cold water.

“I had a little mesh on my shirt today (in Wednesday’s win over Ana Ivanovic). I have like I think one legal pair of shorts that is on rotation hopefully in cold water. One skirt I think that’s legal.”

Mattek-Sands, 30, would never be one to settle for the ordinary when it comes to fashion choice.

When she married insurance executive Justin Sands in 2008, she walked down the aisle in black.

“I actually wore a black dress. When I went shopping for it, they wanted me to try some stuff on, and I said, Look, I’m not going to wear anything white, off-white, cream, light pink, I said, so just don’t even hand me those,” she recalled.

“They’re like, Well, we have this black evening gown. I’m like, Perfect. First one I tried and got that one.”

On Thursday, Wozniacki said, like it or not, players have to accept the rules.

“If they say it’s all white, it’s all white. You try and be creative,” said the Dane after reaching the third round.

“We’ve tried to do that with my dress. But I think every tennis player enjoys to play with a tiny bit of colour. It’s fun to try to be creative even though you have to wear white.”

Recharged Djokovic ready to switch back on

kit-sports editor — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 07:03:26 +0000

The world number one has not played a competitive match since a gut-wrenching defeat by Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open final at the start of the month, opting out of the Wimbledon warmup events in what has been an extended grasscourt swing.

Djokovic even posted a photograph of himself apparently asleep on one of the All England Club lawns this week but do not be deceived.

Once the Serb walks on to Centre Court on Monday to begin his quest for a third Wimbledon title he will flick the switch and the warrior instincts are sure to return.

Djokovic made it a mission this year to complete his career grand slam at Roland Garros and after back-to-back wins against Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray in the quarter-finals and semi-finals his moment seemed to have arrived.

An inspired Wawrinka slammed the door shut though.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for Djokovic but a fortnight in the English country garden setting of the All England Club, with some expected warm weather too, will provide the perfect antedote for any lingering disappointment.

“He was very close to achieving something that very few players have done … he probably needed some time away to rest and relax and get his head right,” said Wimbledon third seed Andy Murray.

Djokovic’s most likely title rivals, Murray and 17-times grand slam champion Roger Federer, have been busy sharpening their grasscourt tools.

Murray breezed to a fourth Queen’s Club title while Federer’s eighth Halle crown inGermany backed up the belief that, even at 33, the second seed could win an eighth Wimbledon crown to move past American Pete Sampras in the all-time list.

‘Murray Mania’ will pump up to full volume over the next couple of weeks with the in-form Briton being tipped to win his first slam since beating Djokovic on Centre Court in 2013.

He has lost eight in a row to Djokovic since then and such is Djokovic’s reliability that it is likely Murray will have to solve that conundrum if he is to triumph.

“He has put himself back in the mix,” triple Wimbledon champion John McEnroe said of the Scot’s resurgence after a lacklustre 2014.

“I think overall he is 10 to 15 percent better and that is a significant amount at his level.”

Twice champion Nadal will arrive under the radar.

Seeded 10th after a mediocre year, dethroned French Open king Nadal won his first grasscourt title for five years in Stuttgart a few days later and then lost to Alexandr Dolgopolov at Queen’s but no one will want to face him.

“I think in certain ways it’s not about the shots, it’s more about what’s inside his head, how healthy he is,” said McEnroe.

Last year’s tournament saw Grigor Dimitrov oust defending champion Murray, Australian trailblazer Nick Kyrgios hammered Nadal and Milos Raonic fell to Federer in the semi-finals and that trio will return with high expectations.

The unpredictable Kyrgios, 20, has the ‘wow’ factor to shake up the establishment, according to fellow Aussie Darren Cahill who once coached former champion Lleyton Hewitt.

“There are going to be highs and lows with Nick because he’s so young and goes for broke but he clearly likes the biggest stages and that makes him dangerous,” said Cahill.

Federer survives tie-break to advance in Halle

kit-sports editor — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 02:46:13 +0000

Seven-time champion Roger Federer survived a nervous first round challenge on Monday before prevailing at the ATP Halle Open 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) over home hope Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The 33-year-old 17-time Grand Slam winner was pushed all the way by the 2011 Halle champion before clinching a second round match-up against either Ernests Gulbis or Sergiy Stakhovsky after just over two hours on centre-court.
Federer has reached the final of the last nine editions of the grasscourt Wimbledon tune-up, winning seven, but was given an almighty scare by the 31-year-old world number 28 who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2012.
There was more luck for German players elsewhere in the draw, as Florian Mayer, Alexander Zeverev and Dustin Brown all advanced.
Mayer is now one match away from reaching the Halle quarter-finals for a fifth time following a 6-2, 0-6, 7-6 (7/4) win over German wildcard Jan-Lennard Struff.
“On grass, it’s all about one or two points,” said Mayer.
“I could have won 6-3 in the third, then he played a few amazing points and suddenly it’s 5-4, 15-30 on my serve.
“He hit a return with the frame right on the line and almost had match point. I could also have lost 6-4.” he added.

Anika dominates with 4 titles – SSC A Grade Tennis Championship

kit-sports editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 01:23:01 +0000

Anika Seneviratne dominated the SSC A Grade tennis Championships with a scintillating display to annex all four titles on offer in the under 14 and 16 girls categories.

She beat No.1 seeded Janali Manamperi in straight sets in the 16’s semi final 6/2 7/6 (7/2) and then went on to beat Promodha Jayasekere (seeded No.2) 6/2 6/1 in the final.
In the under 14 singles, Anika beat Probodhi Perera 6/3 6/1 in the final.
In the doubles final Anika and sister Alana beat Sathi Silva and Anjalika Kurera 6/3 7/6 to be crowned champions.
In the under 16’s doubles Anika and Probodhi Perera beat top seeds Janali Manamperi and Tara Greig 6/3 6/2.

Serena Williams into Paris final

kit-sports editor — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 01:26:57 +0000

(AFP) Serena Williams battled illness and fierce heat to reach a third French Open final Thursday, defeating Timea Bacsinszky to move one win away from a 20th Grand Slam title.

The world number one and Paris champion in 2002 and 2013 was clearly distressed for large parts of her semi-final.
She trailed by a set and a break in the second before racing to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win, reeling off the last 10 games.
The 33-year-old American goes on to face Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova, who beat Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 7-5, in Saturday’s final where victory will put her just two Grand Slam titles behind Steffi Graf’s Open record of 22.
Friday’s result was tough on Swiss 23rd seed Bacsinszky who was making a living washing dishes and working in hotels just two years ago during an injury-enforced absence from the tour.
“I have never felt so sick,” Williams told US broadcaster ESPN.
“I caught the flu after my third round match and have been struggling ever since. I never thought I could win and I didn’t want to go to a third set.
“But I thought that if I was going to lose I had better go for winners. I was so tired and the next thing I knew I was in a third set. I don’t know what happened.”
On her prospects for Saturday’s final, she added: “I just hope I can get better from here.”
Williams has now reached a 24th major final, having come back from a first-set deficit four times at the tournament.
She was all business as usual in her first two service games, giving up just a single point.
But Bacsinszky wasn’t intimidated and broke for 3-2 with a searing crosscourt backhand off a Williams’ second serve which could have been lifted from the American’s playbook.
Williams, who went into the tie having lost just three of her 26 Grand Slam semi-finals, was clearly suffering in the 29-degree heat.
Her breathing was laboured, she wearily demanded more and more ice-towels during changeovers and was looking increasingly disorientated.
The blonde Swiss outsider had nothing to lose and played like it.
Having started a college course in hotel management during her absence from the tour, Bacsinszky was revelling in her moment in the sun, as fierce as it was on Court Philippe Chatrier.
She saw two set points disappear and then face down a break point in the 10th game but wrapped up the opener when Williams overhit an easy forehand drive.
Bacsinszky’s 16 winners were twice as many as her opponent, perfectly illustrating the requirement that attack is the only option against the American superstar whatever her state of mind.
Williams fought off five break points in the fifth game of the second set but was broken when she fired a desperate backhand wide.
At the changeover, Williams’s coughing spurts became so loud that they echoed around the arena courtesy of the courtside microphones.
But somehow she dug deep, retrieved the break and then raced away with the second set having won four straight games.
Rejuvenated, the top seed broke for 1-0 in the decider, backed it up with a double break for 3-0 and again for 5-0 as Bacsinszky wilted.
The contest was over when the Swiss fired a loose backhand having won just 12 points in the entire final set.