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Gasquet says he's a potential grand slam winner

MUMBAI: Wimbledon semifinalist and world No 14 Richard Gasquet believes he is a potential grand slam champion.

"I was in the semifinals in Wimbledon at 21, so why not (winning a grand slam title) in two or three years," he said on Sunday.

The Frenchman was among six players under the age of 22 to finish inside the top 20 last year when he won three titles.

However, he will be hoping to end this year's title-drought at the Mumbai Open starting on Monday where he is the top seed.

"My goal is to finish in the top 10 at the end of the year," he said.

Gasquet lost to Swiss world No 1 Roger Federer in the semifinals at Wimbledon after downing big-serving American Andy Roddick in five-sets. "I am young. I need to get stronger physically. I think mentally I'm strong," he said.

Nadal to join Federer, Sampras in Malaysia exhibitions

BANGKOK: Spain's Rafael Nadal will join world No 1 Roger Federer and 14-times grand slam winner Pete Sampras in a series of exhibition matches in Malaysia in November.

Nadal, the world No 2, will face France's Richard Gasquet in Kuala Lumpur on November 20, two days before Federer and Sampras play each other for the first time, organisers said on Monday.

The exhibition matches are part of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence.

The one-off contest will be Nadal's first event in Southeast Asia following his withdrawal from this week's Thailand Open because of a knee injury.

Edwards wins crash-filled NASCAR race at Dover

NEW YORK: Carl Edwards steered clear of danger in a crash-filled NASCAR race to claim victory and jump five spots in the Chase standings at Dover International Speedway in Delaware on Sunday.

Edwards's path to victory was made easier after a massive pile-up with 14 laps left in the 400-mile race wrecked the chances of contenders Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. on the concrete, Monster Mile track.

Greg Biffle finished second and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, followed by Mark Martin and Kyle Busch.

Edwards, who won for the third time this season, moved from eighth to third place in the standings for the season-ending championship.

"This is a big win," Edwards told reporters after a race that had 13 cautions. "A lot of guys had bad luck out there."

Juventus defender Andrade may be out for season

ROME: Juventus's Portugal defender Jorge Andrade looks likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury during his side's 2-2 draw at AS Roma on Sunday.

"The worst news today is that Andrade has torn a knee tendon and I think we'll lose him for the whole season," Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri told Sky.

The centre back, who joined Juventus from Deportive La Coruna in the close season, was carried off the field on a stretcher at the start of the second half of the Serie A match.

Westwood eclipses British Masters field

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England: Former European No 1 Lee Westwood claimed his second title of the season when he won the British Masters on Sunday by five strokes from fellow-Briton Ian Poulter.

An exhilarating closing seven-under 65 from Westwood for a 15-under par 273 total, earned the 34-year-old his 18th European Tour success.

Westwood began the final round at the Belfry former Ryder Cup venue two strokes behind compatriot Mark Foster but as the overnight leader stumbled, the 2000 European money-list winner took over.

Poulter stayed on Westwood's shoulder until the last three holes. Then two huge putts, from 30 feet for a birdie on 16 and 35 feet to eagle the long 17th, swept Westwood well clear of, by then, his only rival.

Australia calls up Voges as cover for injured Ponting

SYDNEY: Australia have called up batsman Adam Voges as cover for injured captain Ricky Ponting on its one-day tour of India, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Ponting suffered a hamstring injury at the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last week and Brad Haddin was originally added to the squad to travel to India.

Following a another hamstring injury to batsman Mike Hussey, however, Haddin has now been named a full member of the squad and Voges will join the party as cover for Ponting. Hussey is returning to Australia.

(China Daily 09/25/2007 page23)