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Capello future still in doubt despite another title win
MADRID: Fabio Capello maintained his peerless record as one of the game's most successful coaches when he steered Real Madrid to the league title on Sunday but his future at the club remains in doubt.
"I've said many times before that I want to carry on as coach of Real Madrid, but it all depends on (club president Ramon) Calderon," the Italian told a news conference after his side's 3-1 comeback victory over Real Mallorca.
"I told him that when we met last week, but he didn't give me an answer."
Calderon remained tight-lipped when asked about Capello's future, even though the Italian has two years left on his contract.
"We have to enjoy this for a few more days and we will start talking within a week," he told Canal Plus television. "We will make the best decision for the club, but we haven't decided what to do yet."
Capello, who celebrates his 61st birthday on Monday, steered Real to the title in his first spell at the club a decade ago but returned to his former side AC Milan after just one season.
Stronger Sharapova confident before favorite slam
BIRMINGHAM, England: Maria Sharapova returns to her favorite tournament next week feeling stronger than ever and confident she can repeat her 2004 success.
The Russian surprised many people, including herself, by reaching the French Open semifinals earlier this month, on one of her least favourite surfaces and while still recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for two months.
"I think that definitely gives me a lot of confidence moving on to the grass season," the 20-year-old world No 2 said in an interview.
"If my shoulder holds up and goes the way it went the last two weeks then I'm definitely really confident."
On grass she is a far cry from the 'cow on ice' description she gave herself on clay in Paris and her record at Wimbledon of two semi-final appearances since her win backs up her belief that she is a top contender this year.
"Grass definitely suits my game. With the power and the big first serve I feel I can get a good start on the point," she said.
Vettel replaces Button as youngest F1 point scorer
INDIANAPOLIS: Germany's Sebastian Vettel became the youngest Formula One driver to score a point when the 19-year-old finished eighth for BMW Sauber in the US Grand Prix on Sunday.
Vettel, the team test and reserve driver, was making his race debut after Poland's Robert Kubica failed a medical examination following a big crash in the Canadian Grand Prix a week earlier.
The German will be 20 on July 3.
The previous youngest driver to score a point was Briton Jenson Button, aged 20 years and two months when he finished sixth for Williams in the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Formula One's scoring system has changed since 2001, when only the top six drivers scored. Since 2003, the top eight have been awarded points.
(China Daily 06/19/2007 page23)
