IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Tennis

Murray: I need to grow up

LONDON: Andy Murray admits he needs to improve his on-court attitude after branding himself immature.

The British No 1 was recently described as a "miserable git" by Tim Henman, who insisted Murray must address his temperament if he is to win Wimbledon.

The 21-year-old conceded he can often seem miserable on court, but the Scot is determined to improve that aspect of his game as he bids for a first Grand Slam at the French Open and then Wimbledon.

"I personally think that off the court I'm pretty happy and don't get too down about things," Murray said. "But on the court, for sure, I could be more bubbly, if that's what everybody thinks.

"I've watched matches of myself and sometimes I think the way I act on court is great, and at other times I don't like it. Sometimes I'm immature on court and that's not really acceptable."

Davenport out of Open

PARIS: Former US world No 1 Lindsay Davenport, as well as compatriots Meilen Tu and Meghann Shaughnessy, on Tuesday pulled out of the French Open starting on May 25, the French Tennis Federation said.

Davenport, 31 and a mother since last June, said she had pulled out for "personal reasons". Tu says she is "insufficiently recovered" from a hip injury and Shaughnessy has a left knee injury.

They will be replaced in the women's draw by Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, Taiwan's Su-Wei Hsieh and Colombia's Catalina Castano.

The Federation also confirmed the absence of US star Andy Roddick, announced on Monday by his brother, with a shoulder injury.

Argentine Guillermo Coria, a 2004 Roland Garros finalist, replaces him.

Baseball

Catcher Piazza retires

NEW YORK: Mike Piazza, a 62nd-round draft choice who became one of baseball's best hitting catchers, formally announced his retirement on Tuesday.

"It has been an amazing journey," Piazza, 39, said in a statement. "So today, I walk away with no regrets."

Piazza had held open the possibility he might play this season if the right opportunity came up.

Piazza set the major league record for home runs by a catcher with 396 of the 427 round-trippers he slugged during a 16-year career coming as a catcher.

A career .308 hitter despite being slow afoot, Piazza was selected in the 1988 draft as a favor to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, his godfather through a friendship with the family.

Soccer

Donovan set for 100th cap

CHICAGO: Striker Landon Donovan is poised to make his 100th appearance for the United States in next week's friendly against England at Wembley Stadium.

The Los Angeles Galaxy striker has been named in a 22-man squad, one of just three domestic-based players to make the trip for the game on May 28.

Midfielder Ricardo Clark of Houston Dynamo and goalkeeper Brad Guzan of Chivas USA are the other players from Major League Soccer in the squad.

Eight players from English clubs are in coach Bob Bradley's squad while Benfica's Freddy Adu is also included.

"We're excited about the challenge of playing England in Wembley Stadium," said Bradley, whose team is unbeaten in its last five games.

The game against Fabio Capello's side is the first of three high-profile friendlies for the US. It faces Spain on June 4 in Santander and four days later takes on Argentina at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

(China Daily 05/22/2008 page24)