Rossi gunning for six in a row at lucky Mugello

ROME: Valentino Rossi has been imperious at the Italian Grand Prix since 2002 and the Italian goes for a sixth successive victory at Mugello on Sunday.

Bonds shrugs off Selig conundrum

NEW YORK: Barry Bonds simply shrugged when asked about one of the season's hot topics - whether Major League commissioner Bud Selig should be in attendance if the Giants slugger surpasses Hank Aaron as home run king.

Hustler Hewitt stages great escape

PARIS: His back creaks these days and his shots lack bite but Lleyton Hewitt proved again yesterday the value of guts when he hit back from two sets down to crush former champion Gaston Gaudio at the French Open.

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Former Bayern coach Magath takes over at Wolfsburg

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Sharapova leads Russian charge

PARIS: Second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia showed no signs of the shoulder injury that has dogged her for most of this year as she made a winning start to her French Open campaign yesterday.

DVDs let stars watch themseves

PARIS: French Open players tired of watching their favorite movies on their laptops to relax between matches now have another option.

WTA Tour's tallest woman stretches to second round

PARIS: She's 1.90 meters (6-foot-3), so the coach of Uzbekistan's national basketball team keeps trying to recruit her. Akgul Amanmuradova is sticking with tennis instead, and the tallest woman on the WTA Tour is in the French Open's second round.

Beijing taekwondo competition wide open

SEOUL: Skilled fighters are emerging from so many countries that the taekwondo tournament at next year's Beijing Olympics could be the most open ever, the head of the sport's world governing body said.

Woods juggles own event with birth of first child

WASHINGTON: Tiger Woods, a master of time management, accepts he may have to sacrifice playing in his own tournament because of the impending arrival of his first child.

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Asafa Powell clocks under 10 seconds in 2007 debut

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