IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Nadal struggles on; Venus into semis

LONDON: Rafael Nadal staged a rousing comeback from two sets down to defeat gallant Russian Mikhail Youzhny yesterday and reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Sports

Borg backs Federer to break five-straight record

STOCKHOLM: Bjorn Borg hopes Roger Federer will equal his five successive Wimbledon wins this year and believes the Swiss can add further to the tally.

Sampras laments grasscourt decline

LOS ANGELES: Five years after retiring from top-level tennis, Pete Sampras is confident he can still challenge the best over three sets on his favourite grasscourt surface.

Nadal wins three-day marathon

LONDON: Rafael Nadal needed 20 minutes and five match points yesterday finally to dispose of Robin Soderling 6-4 6-4 6-7 4-6 7-5 in a rain-hit Wimbledon third round match that spanned three days.

Sports

Goran forever thankful for Wimbledon weather

LONDON: The day that the rain came down, Goran Ivanisevic knew that his days as Wimbledon's nearly man were over.

Alinghi clinch America's Cup

VALENCIA, Spain: Swiss syndicate Alinghi recovered from a last-gasp boat handling disaster yesterday to beat Emirates Team New Zealand by just one second and retain the America's Cup, sailing's most prestigious competition.

Riquelme double inspires Argentina; Paraguay beat US

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela: Argentina, helped by a brace from Juan Roman Riquelme, beat Colombia 4-2 to reach the Copa America quarterfinals on Monday and Paraguay joined with a 3-1 win over United States.

Vaidisova ends Mauresmo's reign

LONDON: Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova proved she has grit as well as glamor when she sent defending champion Amelie Mauresmo spinning out of Wimbledon yesterday.

Henin rejects 5 sets for women

LONDON: Justine Henin's stroll into the Wimbledon quarterfinals, losing just 15 games in four rounds, may not be helping the argument that women are earning their equal share of this year's prize money.