Top Shot
Soccer
Italy's Materazzi doubtful for France clash
BUDAPEST: Italy defender Marco Materazzi is in doubt for the Euro 2008 qualifier with Group B leader France on September 8 after injuring his thigh in Wednesday's 3-1 friendly defeat in Hungary.
"For his recovery we are not talking about days and there is a real doubt about his presence on the field against France," Italy doctor Andrea Ferretti told reporters.
The Inter Milan defender, who looks set to miss the champions' opening Serie A match at home to Udinese on Sunday, was injured at the end of the first half after an opponent fell on him.
Materazzi scored and was headbutted by Zinedine Zidane when Italy beat France in last year's World Cup final.
Ronaldo spares Portugal blushes in Euro 2008 tie
LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo saved Portugal from an embarrassing defeat in Armenia on Wednesday while Belgium dented Serbia's hopes of reaching Euro 2008 with a 3-2 qualifying win.
David Healy, the competition's top scorer, notched two goals to help Northern Ireland go second in Group F with a 3-1 victory against Liechtenstein.
Three of the night's six qualifiers involved teams in Group A where Portugal and Serbia's dropped points enabled Finland to move above them in the table with a 2-1 win at home to Kazakhstan.
Portugal found itselves a goal down in the 10th minute when Armenia's Robert Arzumanyan headed in a corner.
Serbia suffered a worse fate in Belgium where two goals from Moussa Dembele and another from Kevin Mirallas gave the host a 3-2 victory.
Tennis
Hantuchova exits, Davydenko through in New Haven
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut: Second seed Daniela Hantuchova suffered a setback before next week's US Open when she was beaten by a Hungarian qualifier in the second round of the WTA event in New Haven on Wednesday.
The Slovakian was broken five times as Agnes Szavay, ranked 41, clinched a 7-5, 6-3 victory in one hour 53 minutes to set up a clash with Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine.
After dropping the first set, world No 10 Hantuchova looked back on track when she recovered from an early break down in the second set.
But the 18-year-old Szavay then broke again and held on for victory.
In the men's event, top seed Nikolay Davydenko was pushed all the way by American wildcard Donald Young before coming through their second-round match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
Federer, Henin to begin against qualifiers at US Open
NEW YORK: Roger Federer will begin the defence of his US Open title against a qualifier after the draw was made at New York's Empire State Building on Wednesday.
The Swiss is hoping to become the first man to win the title four times in a row since American Bill Tilden in the 1920s.
Federer could face rising American John Isner in the third round and if the seedings go to plan, he would play fifth seed and former champion Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals.
Second seed Rafael Nadal will begin against Australian qualifier Alun Jones.
In the women's event, champion Maria Sharapova will play Italian Roberta Vinci in the first round and could run into sixth seed and fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the quarterfinals.
Top seed Justine Henin, champion in 2003, will begin against a qualifier but could face eighth seed Serena Williams in the quarterfinals - as she did at the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
Golf
Langer attempts to become oldest European tour winner
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands: Twice US Masters winner Bernhard Langer aims to become the oldest European tour winner when he takes part in the Dutch Open this week.
German Langer, who lines up with his 17-year-old amateur son Stefan this week at Kennemer, is 49 and eligible for the seniors' tours when he turns 50 on Monday.
After recovering from kidney stones, which forced him to withdraw from the Players Championship in Hamburg last month, Langer said on Wednesday he was raring to go if not yet fully fit.
Langer has turned down an opportunity to take part in the lucrative Fedex Cup on the US PGA Tour this week to play in a full tour event for the first time with son Stefan.
(China Daily 08/24/2007 page23)
