Top shot
Philippoussis to undergo knee surgery, will miss Open
SYDNEY: Mark Philippoussis has abandoned plans of playing in next month's Australian Open after succumbing to a knee injury on Tuesday.
The former Wimbledon and US Open finalist had been hoping to earn a place in the first Grand Slam of 2008 by winning this week's wild-card playoff tournament in Melbourne.
The 31-year-old had safely made it through to the quarterfinals but was forced to pull out on Tuesday after hurting his right knee in an earlier match.
Philippoussis released a statement confirming he would undergo immediate surgery to fix a cartilage tear, but still hoped to make a comeback later in 2008.
Harrington captures Golf Writers' Trophy
LONDON: British Open champion Padraig Harrington has added the 2007 Golf Writers' Trophy to his European Tour Golfer of the Year award.
The 36-year-old Irishman won a 75 percent share of the vote in the annual poll of golf writers.
"I was thrilled to get the news I had won the golf writers' award," Harrington said in a statement on Monday.
"I have a great respect for the writers' organization and it means a lot to find myself bracketed alongside such great former winners, especially Irish players Joe Carr (1953), Harry Bradshaw (1958) and Christy O'Connor Sr (1977).
"All are great heroes of mine."
Briton Justin Rose, who won the European Order of Merit, was second in the vote ahead of Scotland's World Cup-winning duo Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren.
Leao returns for third stint as coach of Santos
RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Brazil coach and goalkeeper Emerson Leao began his third stint as coach of Santos on Monday after being named as the replacement for Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who quit last week.
Leao said he had turned down offers to coach the Iran national team and a club side in the United Arab Emirates to return to Pele's former club.
"I had a million-dollar offer to coach Iran, but nothing fascinated me as much as the Santos proposal," he told reporters.
"I accepted my return after a five-minute conversation."
The volatile Leao previously coached Santos in 1998-99, then from 2002-2004.
In his second stint, he led Santos to the Brazilian championship title with a memorable team that included Robinho (now with Real Madrid), Diego (Werder Bremen), Elano (Manchester City) and Alex Costa (Chelsea).
Valencia's Morientes out for one month with leg injury
MADRID: Valencia striker and top scorer Fernando Morientes will be sidelined for about a month after he tore a muscle in his left leg during a weekend Spanish league match, the club said Monday.
The 31-year-old Spanish international and former Liverpool player picked up the injury Saturday during Valencia's 3-0 loss at home against Barcelona.
Last month Valencia sacked manager Quique Sanchez Flores and replaced him with Ronald Koeman, but the Dutchman has failed to make the team bounce back.
The club lies in seventh place in the 20-team standings with 25 points, 13 fewer than leader and defending champion Real Madrid.
Inter Milan midfielder Vieira set for January return
LA PLAGNE, France: Injured France skipper Patrick Vieira believes he will be back in action for Italian champion Inter Milan as soon as mid-January.
The 31-year-old former Arsenal midfielder, who is nursing a calf injury, said Monday: "I am starting from scratch, it's like preseason preparation.
"If everything goes well I will start playing again for Inter around mid-January. We have to go to Dubai for ten days and then I will be back to competitive football."
Vieira, who struggled with a thigh problem prior to his calf injury, has not played since his club's Champions League win over CSKA Moscow in October.
(China Daily 12/19/2007 page23)
