guyanatimesGY.com
june 28, 2015
19
Serena under no pressure to complete Grand Slam S
uch has been Serena Williams's iron-fisted dominance of women's tennis that the American is one Wimbledon title away from achieving a 'Serena Slam' and halfway toward completing a rare calendar Grand Slam. While Wimbledon was abuzz on Saturday at the prospect of the world number one winning her fourth major in a row, Williams did not want to stress out at the prospect of pulling off a feat she last achieved as a 21-year-old in 2003. "I don't feel any pressure to win all four," said the 33-year-old U.S., Australian and French Open champion. "It doesn't make it feel any different, which I think
Serena Williams
is a good thing," added the world number one, who is being tipped to become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to pull off the calen-
dar slam. "Maybe if I would happen to win here, then maybe I might start feeling it after that.
"Ultimately, I'm taking it one day at a time and I'm not thinking that far." Dressed in a psychedelic hot-pink and blue skinny tight pants and with her mass of long crimped hair falling loosely over her shoulders, Williams certainly looked relaxed for a woman marked out as the overwhelming favorite for this year's Wimbledon title. While rival Maria Sharapova picked her out as "the one to beat" and called her achievements "incredible", men's champions Roger Federer and Andy Murray were more cautious. "She's a phenomenal athlete across all sports. The stuff that she's done is obviously incredible," said
Murray. "In terms of what she's trying to achieve this year, I think the easiest thing to do is to kind of get ahead of yourself. "I'm getting asked questions about her winning four slams in one year. She still hasn't played her first round here. "Grass is a very, very tough surface to win on, especially over three sets. Because you play badly for 30 minutes and a match can be over." Federer added: "She's a great talent. But the biggest mistake would be to think being in the final of the U.S. Open already. "To be mentally ready for the challenge when she
wants to be up for it, I think that's what's so admirable about her." Williams certainly agreed with her peers. "Being mentally tough is my biggest strength," said the top seed, who rather than playing any competitive tennis prepared for her pursuit of a 21st major on the manicured grass courts owned by golfing great Jack Nicklaus. "My dad always said growing up, 'Tennis is so mental, you have to be really mentally tough'. "I guess I really took that to heart. Also being the youngest of five really made me have to scrap and be tougher. All those things played into action." (Reuters)
Blatter tells Swiss paper 'not a Ronaldo slams 'false news' candidate for FIFA presidency' amid reports of Real rift
F
Sepp Blatter
IFA president Sepp Blatter said in a newspaper interview on Saturday that he will not stand as a candidate to remain the head of world soccer's governing body at a special elective congress of member associations which he called for earlier this month. "I am not a candidate, I am the president. And I want to hand over FIFA in good condition," the 79-yearold told Walliser Bote, a Swiss newspaper in the Valais region where Blatter is from. The comments come a day after Blatter told Swiss
daily newspaper Blick that he had not resigned, attempting to distinguish between stepping down and giving up his mandate at the as yet unscheduled special congress. A FIFA source later told Reuters that meant that Blatter still intends to stand down as FIFA president. In Saturday's interview, Blatter played down his lame-duck status and highlighted the reforms that he hopes to push through. "I will use all my strength and inspiration until my last working day to bring this ship back into safe harbour," Blatter is quoted by
Walliser Bote as saying. A spokeswoman for FIFA said the quotes were accurate. Although Blatter has said on several occasions that he will not stand again for president his comments about his intention to step down in the wake of the corruption scandal have been treated with scepticism by his critics. "While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel I have a mandate from the entire world of football - the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA," Blatter told a news conference on June 2. "This is why I will call an extraordinary congress to be held as soon as possible, for a new president to be elected to follow me," he said. Before starting his fourth mandate in 2011 Blatter said it would be his last term in office, but later changed his mind, saying that numerous federations had asked him to stand. (Reuters)
Sangakkara set to retire
S
ri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara will retire from Test cricket this summer. The 37-yearold, who had already quit one-day and Twenty20 cricket, will finish his international career on home soil, in the second of the three-match Test series against India in August. He announced his decision during the second Test match Kumar Sangakkara against Pakistan in est Test scorer of all time. Colombo and confirmed he Since his Test debut has opted out of the third in 2000, he has amassed and final match. 12,305 runs from 132 match"This is my time to call it es, with 38 centuries, 52 fifa day," he said on Saturday. ties and an average of 58.31. Left-hander Sangakkara Sangakkara played his fiis Sri Lanka's highest run nal T20 international in Sri scorer and is the fifth-high- Lanka's World T20-winning
R
eports that Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy at Real Madrid have been met with a strong rebuttal by the Portugal superstar. Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at suggestions of a rift with Real Madrid, branding speculation about his future as "false news". The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner is currently on holiday in Miami but has still been the subject of plenty of headlines in recent weeks claiming that he is unhappy with life in the Spanish capital. Ronaldo's public backing of Carlo Ancelotti just a few days before he was sacked as Real coach intensified rumours that the 30-yearold could seek an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu during the close-season. But, speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola on Saturday, he has reaffirmed his commitment to the club. "I have not spoken to any press in recent times, only now an exception and only to reaffirm that [they] are absolute-
Cristiano Ronaldo
ly false news [stories] that have sought to create conflict between me and Real Madrid," he said. "I am very happy at Real Madrid, focused and confident that the upcoming year will be full of success. "I have not spoken to any press...while on holiday. [I would] sincerely like to stop with the false news and leave me in peace. Real Madrid and I are fine with each other." Ronaldo showed his importance to Real again last season as he scored an incredible 48 goals in La Liga. However, the Portugal superstar cut a frustrated figure at times as Real
Dunga: Brazil coach apology for race comment in Copa America
Dunga
campaign last year and his last ODI in this year's World Cup. He signed for Surrey on a two-year contract in January, having previously played county cricket in England for Warwickshire and Durham. (BBC Sport)
failed to win any of the Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League titles. Ronaldo showed his emotions during a 3-0 victory over Espanyol in January when Gareth Bale opted to shoot instead of squaring to his team-mate for a simple tap-in. Since the end of the season he has been linked with a move to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, although it is said that such a deal would be unlikely until the 2016-17 season, while former club Manchester United are also rumoured to be monitoring his situation. (Digicel Sportsmax)
B
razil coach Dunga has apologised for likening criticism directed against him at the Copa America to racist abuse suffered by people of African descent. Dunga was comparing the pressure he faced as Brazil captain in winning the 1994 World Cup, to criticism from local media over his side's indifferent form in reaching the Copa quarter-finals.
"I think I'm an Afro-descendant because I get hit so much." he said on Friday. But Dunga, 51, later said: "I apologise to those who could have felt offended." In a statement on the Brazil Football Confederation website Dunga added: "The way I expressed myself does not reflect my feelings or opinions." Dunga played 91 times for his nation and is currently in his second spell as Brazil manager. He took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari following their 7-1 humiliation on home soil against Germany in the 2014 World Cup. He previously managed Brazil between 2006 and 2010. Wins over Venezuela and Paraguay meant Brazil topped their Copa America group, despite a 1-0 defeat by Colombia that saw Barcelona forward Neymar banned from the tournament after being sent-off for a headbutt. Dunga's men face Paraguay in the last eight on Saturday night and are chasing their ninth Copa America title which they last won in 2007 . (BCC Sport)