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Hamilton fears spy saga could kill his title hopes

MONZA, Italy: McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton recognised on Sunday that a spying controversy could destroy his Formula One title hopes.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) meets in Paris on Thursday to hear new evidence in a long-running saga over leaked Ferrari technical information that ended up at McLaren.

If found guilty of using the information to their advantage, something that was not proven at a first hearing in July, McLaren could be kicked out of this and next year's championship.

"If you sit down and think about it, I could have what I've worked for and what all the team have worked for, we could have it taken away from us," Hamilton told Britain's ITV television at the Italian Grand Prix.

"And when you really think about that, you think `Wow' I could be out of a job next weekend and then what happens?.

"It was just going so well and then you just get this big knife that cuts off your blood line," continued the 22-year-old British rookie, who leads double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso by three points.

Hewitt to lead Australia against Djokovic and Serbia

MELBOURNE: Lleyton Hewitt leads an Australian team named yesterday to play Serbia and US Open finalist Novak Djokovic in a Davis Cup World Group playoff from September 21-23 in Belgrade.

Joining Hewitt will be Chris Guccione, Peter Luczak, Paul Hanley, Alun Jones and Greg Jones.

Australian captain John Fitzgerald said Serbia would be the favorites on clay and in front of a home crowd.

"For Alun and Greg it is recognition of their strong performances on the circuit," said Fitzgerald. "Alun put up a strong performance against (Rafael) Nadal at the US Open and Greg has had a stellar year on the junior tour."

Australia must win to stay in the World Group for 2008 while Serbia is trying to move up into the top group for the first time.

Tennis Australia said in a statement that Belgrade's Beogradska Arena, which holds just under 20,000, has already sold out for all three days of the competition.

Croatia's Bilic eyes two wins, hopes Russia holds England

ZAGREB: Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, whose team stayed top of Group E by beating Estonia in its Euro 2008 qualifier, believes he needs two more wins to secure a berth at next year's tournament.

Croatia, who defeated Estonia 2-0 on Saturday, plays Andorra away on Wednesday and hosts Israel in October. They top the group with 20 points, ahead of Russia (18) and England (17) - who meet each other at Wembley on Wednesday.

"We are hoping for Russia and England to draw," Bilic was quoted as saying by spornet.hr, a Croatian sports website.

"But really, we only need to look at our own games. We are 90 percent secure. If we beat Andorra and Israel, I think we are definitely in.

"Likewise, one blunder and we can drop the ball completely."

(China Daily 09/11/2007 page23)