IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Tennis

Vaidisova never huge fan of grass but learning fast

LONDON: Nicole Vaidisova was never a huge fan of grass. Beating Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo rapidly changed her mind on Tuesday.

In a match bedevilled by rain breaks, the Czech teenager held her nerve to topple the titleholder 7-6 4-6 6-1 on Wimbledon's Centre Court.

"I'm not a huge fan of grass," she admitted after one of the biggest wins of her career on the sport's greatest stage.

"Of course I like it now," she said. "It's fun to challenge yourself with the surface once in a while. We just play one, two tournaments on it a year, so make the most of it."

She felt she had nothing to lose.

"I just came out there hitting and fighting for every point. In the end it worked out for me."

Vaidisova, reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time, has found it hard to adapt because of her height.

"I'm tall so getting low of course on the ball is a challenge moving around," she said

Soccer

Swiss international Ziegler set for Sampdoria

LONDON: Swiss international midfielder Reto Ziegler is expected to sign for Sampdoria after Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal in principle to the transfer on a permanent basis, the London club said on their website on Tuesday.

Ziegler, 21, made 15 appearances and scored one goal following his loan move to the Serie A club in January.

He joined Tottenham in the summer of 2004 from Grasshoppers and scored once in 35 appearances for Spurs who also loaned him to SV Hamburg and Wigan Athletic.

Argentine government orders 20 match stadium ban

BUENOS AIRES: The Argentine government has ordered a 20-match suspension of the Nueva Chicago stadium after a soccer fan was killed in clashes between rival supporters.

Fighting between Nueva Chicago and Tigre fans broke out on June 25 after supporters of the home team invaded the pitch when the referee awarded a penalty to Tigre towards the end of the Clausura championship promotion/relegation playoff.

A 41-year-old man died from head injuries and more than 10 others were hurt as the clashes continued outside the stadium after the match was abandoned. Dozens of hooligans were arrested.

Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez "signed the sanction at midday which is for 20 matches. Tomorrow (Wednesday) it will be published in the official bulletin," said an official at the ministry who declined to be identified on Tuesday.

Golf

Jackpot of 750,000 pounds for British Open champion

LONDON: World No 1 Tiger Woods will receive a first prize of 750,000 pounds ($1.51 million) if he retains his British Open title at Carnoustie later this month, an increase of 30,000 pounds on Hoylake last year.

Total prize money has gone up 200,000 pounds to 4.2 million pounds, the Royal & Ancient (R&A) organisers said on the Open's official website on Tuesday.

"Equating to $8.4 million, this increased prize money reflects our goal of maintaining the position of the Open at the forefront of world golf," said R&A chief executive Peter Dawson.

Britain's Paul Lawrie, who won the coveted Claret Jug when the third major of the year was last played at the Scottish course in 1999, picked up a cheque for 350,000 pounds from a total prize fund of $2 million.

American Tom Watson earned 7,500 pounds when he defeated Australia's Jack Newton in a playoff in the 1975 edition at Carnoustie.

Baseball

La Russa wanted controversial Bonds on NL All Star roster

NEW YORK: Manager Tony La Russa said he would have named Barry Bonds to next week's National League All-Star Game roster if he had not been voted in because he deserved it and would improve his side's chances of winning.

Bonds, five homers from tying one of baseball's most cherished records - Hank Aaron's career mark of 755 home runs - surged in the last week of fan voting to win a spot for the game that will be played in his home park in San Francisco.

"I felt without a question, and I polled my coaches, and we all felt that Barry Bonds was an All Star National Leaguer that deserved to be there to help us try and win the game," St Louis Cardinals skipper La Russa told a conference call on Tuesday.

(China Daily 07/05/2007 page23)