Teams take it easy waiting for wind

VALENCIA, Spain: Alinghi and Team New Zealand took it easy yesterday, enjoying their last day off before they run into the final straight of the America's Cup.

Tour needs smooth ride after trauma

LONDON: Never mind who wins, Tour de France organisers just want their sport to emerge scandal-free from the three-week race which starts from London on Saturday.

Sports

Morales forces FIFA to rethink altitude ban

ZURICH: FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to reconsider a ban on high altitude soccer matches following a meeting yesterday with Bolivian President Evo Morales.

Real Madrid sack title-winning coach Capello

MADRID: Real Madrid sacked coach Fabio Capello yesterday, 11 days after he led them to their first Primera Liga title in four years.

Gebrselassie defies age to break more records

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic: Twice Olympic 10,000 meters champion Haile Gebrselassie broke the world one-hour and 20 kilometers marks at the "Golden Spike" grand prix athletics meeting on Wednesday.

IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Serena, Roddick keep American flag flying

LONDON: Muttering and mumbling throughout, Serena Williams looked a tortured soul at Wimbledon on Wednesday before finally reaching the third round.

Sports

Cup designer sees sunny Spanish future

VALENCIA: Although Marcelino Botin may have helped eliminate his compatriots on Desafio Espanol from the America's Cup he still sees a bright future for Spanish sailing.

Rising Pickering develops ruthless streak

MUNICH, Germany: The new kid on the blocks has the look of a school boy, but British sprinter Craig Pickering is cultivating a ruthlessness he hopes will take him to gold in the world championships later this year in Osaka and next year's Olympics in Beijing.

Thompson, 12, youngest qualifier ever at women's Open

SOUTHERN PINES, North Carolina: At 12 years and not quite five months old, American Alexis Thompson on Thursday will become the youngest qualifier ever to compete at the women's US Open.