Roddick books Shanghai tennis spot

Paris, Oct. 30: U.S. star Andy Roddick reached the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters on Thursday and, in doing so, to clinch their season-end Shanghai Masters Cup berth, beating Gilles Simon of France 6-3, 7-5.

Simon was eighth in the ATP entry into the race on Thursday match, but realistically needed to win as James Blake of the United States and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are breathing down the neck.

For Roddick, his sixth victory of cement spot and facing it, either near or third seed Novak Djokovic Tsonga, faced off in a repeat of the Australia Open final won by the Serbs.

Argentine eighth seed David Nalbandian and former owner thrash its ninth seeded team in Davis Cup Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-0 to become the first quarter-finalist at the Paris Masters.

Nalbandian, who took the pair in the series at 3-1 in their favor in their third meeting within a month, or next faces fourth seeded Andy Murray British or Spanish 15th seed Fernando Verdasco.

A missed break point - one of four in total - in the seventh game of the second set was the closest Simon troublesome reached. In a high-wire act that saved four points of the match in game 12 before succumbing.

With his loss to Nalbandian, Del Potro, suffering a broken nail, must now unite in sweat Roddick in China.

The Rising Star is the seventh in the ATP race, but could slide out of the eight men on the ground, depending on other results here.

"I do not like playing against friends or Argentine players - is difficult," said a crestfallen Del Potro.

"David did a great match. I do not know if I will play Shanghai - I'm not qualified yet.

"At least if I do not have the Davis Cup for sure - and that gives me a lot of motivation."

Nalbandian, who told reporters the Spanish Argentine crowd will give them a warm welcome to the Davis Cup in Mar del Plata, said Murray would be a huge obstacle.

"He is doing great - he won a lot of major titles. He is a talent."

Murray is seeking this week to become the first man to win three straight Masters event after victories in Cincinnati and Madrid.

Nalbandian remains theoretically could benefit from China - "I'll see if and when the time comes," he insisted - but focuses on teamwork with Del Potro of Argentina after an initial objective of the Davis Cup final against Rafael Nadal of Spain on November 21-23 in Mar del Plata.

After winning Roddick, two slots Shanghai remained in suspense on a day when nine of the world's top ten are still in action.

In the night game, world number one Federer is taking hope in French Gaël Monfils, while the second ranked Roger Federer meets Croatian Marin Cilic.

Sixth-seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia was playing Tomas Berdych in the final match in a battle of former champions.

Ronaldo heads Fifa nominees

FIFA has announced a 23-man list of candidates for the World Player of the Year award.

Far from Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo, again picking up the top gong at the awards FIFPro, is the favorite to take the title.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas are also among the rank at the forefront as the couple have been short-listed after his success with Spain at Euro 2008.

2007 winner Kaka is also in the hunt, as is Barcelona's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

The winner, voted by the captains and coaches, was released in a star ceremony in Zurich opera house on January 12.
FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:

Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, Togo), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg, Russia), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan, Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich, France), Cristiano Ronaldo ( Manchester United, Portugal), John Terry (Chelsea, England), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Netherlands), David Villa (Valencia, Spain), Xavi (Barcelona, Spain)

Hayden backs aggressive approach to counter Zaheer

Matthew Hayden of Australia out of form opener, wants to continue to test the temperament of Zaheer Khan in the third test starting Wednesday despite its own struggles against India fast player. Hayden said it was "method behind my madness," in the second inning in Mohali, where he attacked a 29 from 20 balls, as a way of getting on top of Zaheer, who has dismissed him three times in the series.

Australians feel the aggressive approach, which included Hayden burden of the first ball of the entrances of Zaheer, has already worked. Zaheer was fined 80% of his match fee for its conclusion and wild dance around when the batsman Hayden was dismissed by Harbhajan Singh in the second inning.

"His temperament, as we have seen, it became apparent the other day by sending her off," said Hayden. "You lose consistency and control when not to. It's something that, even if I do [play aggressively at the start] to the rest of the series, is something that is in the back of his mind. And that I can use to my advantage. "

Hayden has been able to muscle out Zaheer on a limited number of tournaments credits, including the 2003 World Cup finals, but has been unable to assert himself on this trip. Zaheer removed Hayden 0, 13 and 0 in his first three innings of the tour shortly before the explosion last week.

"Zaheer Khan has been subjected to a lot of pressure for me and [Adam Gilchrist] in all the tournaments we've played in a-dayers," said Hayden. "I have also tried to emulate that when we played evidence. I feel as though when vulnerable as that."

Hayden is a goal for the Indians and their lean spell is one of the main reasons for Australia is to start from a 1-0 deficit in Delhi. He will continue to use "positive intent" with his batting, mainly due to the influence of India in the second trial, that part of the house won by 320 runs, weakened slightly in the second inning before Australia recovered and sank to 58 for 5.

"We saw immediately that when it happened, there were guys in each direction in the outfield," he said. "I think the challenge is then put in me how to handle? If I passed that stage, I have to handle the next phase, and then mark it as an opportunity to work and handle the ball around."

Hayden has devised a strategy to get out of their bad patch and cope with the changing nature of an entry in India. He stayed at the team hotel in Delhi instead of traveling during the three days of rest and focused on their determination to "bat for long."

"There are three stages of the singular game I've had a bit more of a thinking," he said. "If you look at the way Virender Sehwag goes about his cricket, or any of them go about their cricket, the new ball is there to be beaten. With the ball flat, from 15 credits to 50 credits, there's a lot of the use of rhythm, a lot of nudging into gaps, and not so many large areas of scores on the ground and in front of the wicket.

"So the ball is softer and turning the ball, which is the stage I really want to participate in. I know it's a stage where I have great strength, being able to manipulate the spin and manipulate the ball even though it is soft."

Hayden did not restructure its overall picture, but he has thought about the changes needed to cope with the ball moving back into it. Zaheer and Ishant Sharma have troubled all of Australia Batsman with his reverse-swing and major domestic supremacy of the party is due to the execution of the attack.

"[In India] use of the hands and eyes to hit the ball © Getty Images


"Technically there are some things you need to do differently," he said. "The traditional Batsman like me and Ricky [Ponting], who took the head and feet to the line of the ball, they are vulnerable if they really get a ball or swinging closure again in the stumps.

"The ball is not going over the stumps here. The reason we do that in Australia is to cover the rebound. If you stay inside the line of the ball with his feet down the wicket, you just get nick free for fun. Here only cover their bets a bit with the way your feet are going to go, then use your hands and eyes to hit the ball. That's the subtle difference in playing cricket non-stop Rebound. "

What is more important to Australia is the top of the men contribute as a unit. Hayden and Brett Lee have not been able to do that in the series, while Ponting also had a quiet game in Mohali. "When you look at it, myself and Binga need to make good game of cricket," he said. "We are a vital part of that leadership group."

Three nations plan joint IPL spin-off

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have confirmed they are planning a nationwide multi-franchise-owned Twenty20 tournament on the basis of the IPL, which we expect to launch in 2011. Although the competition is still in the planning stages, the idea is that the city-based teams and timetable at a time that would allow India stars to take part.

The concept will include two conferences - an Eastern Division based in West Africa and Australasia in one division - the top and sides of each of them progress to the final. It will not replace the current domestic Twenty20 competitions, but they are more likely to be held in October of each nation with freedom to maintain their state or provincial-based tournaments.

The organizers want the competition to feed the teams in the Champions League Twenty20. The southern hemisphere-based tournament, which still has no name, is another indication of the increasing dominance of Twenty20.

The first season of IPL was massively popular this year in India, where there is also competition unauthorized ICL, while England will soon be playing for U.S. $ 20 million in the Stanford Super Series. Peter Young, Cricket Australia's spokesman, acknowledged that it will be a challenge to squeeze the new tournament, but organizers were confident that could be achieved.

"It will be short, sharp and very focused, but the exact number of games has not yet been determined," said Young. "Strategically, we see that there is a finite amount of Twenty20 cricket that the probability of being ideal, with a series of major world blocs."

There is still a way to go before the details can be finalized, including the number of teams. There is also potential for the African conference feature on the parties not based in South Africa and Australasia for the division to have teams from outside Australia and New Zealand. Domestic players are likely to feature highly, but the three boards are willing to guarantee international stars, from India or England, for example, taking part.

"Gathering a large number of the world's marquee players in a single jurisdiction over a compressed timetable can capture the imagination of the public and create new audiences to cricket," Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket chief executive, said. "The challenge for the three southern hemisphere boards is to create the conditions so that the chance of being caught in a way that complements international cricket."

Cricket Australia has been considering a franchise system based Twenty20 for some time. James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, said it had become clear that to reach a critical mass, a regional approach is needed.

"The idea developed from blue-sky thinking Twenty20 in the past 18 months," said Sutherland. "At the regional level Twenty20 cricket played at the level immediately below international cricket has shown that it can capture the imagination of the public and create new audiences to cricket.

"But as we have seen in India, you need critical mass to generate great excitement. The notion that regional development have been accused of providing the critical mass."

Cricket Australia is also ready to increase international attention from its state-based Twenty20 tournament. From 2009-10 will encourage the six-state teams to recruit star players from abroad.

Knicks cut Houston, hope to keep him within organization

The Knicks have cut Allan Houston, but I hope to keep him in the organization in a yet to be determined role. It is the second consecutive year that the return to Houston before the court has ruled.

"Although I was very excited about potentially joining my team this year in uniform, I believe that the circumstances suggest that suits me better serve the team in a different role," said Houston as part of a statement.

Houston does not appear in any of the Knicks' preseason games because of an injured quad. Last year, appeared in an exhibition game. Houston last played in the NBA in the 2004-05 season. He was forced to withdraw to because of arthritic knees.

"It was difficult," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "And then a lot of times you have to have breaks in our league in the sense of things had to open and maybe something went on a few key strokes or whatever. Because nothing open, and then he's not playing, just kind of not doing so at that time. "

Knicks president Donnie Walsh said the thought of Houston could be a good liaison between the players and office, so that a newly created position of player development is a strong possibility.

The Knicks also gave up Dan Grunfeld, who is the son of former Knicks and current Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld. The Knicks are now 16 players on its roster. All teams must be at 15 the season before opening.

Andrew Marchand is the managing editor of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Khan to make comeback in December

Amir Khan will return to the ring on 6 December for the first time since his knockout defeat by Breidis Prescott last month.

Khan is hoping to secure a place on the undercard of the Oscar de la Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas.

Romford's Nicky Cook will Defend his WBO super-featherweight crown on the same night at the ExCeL London.

Not Rated's tilt for the WBC Super Middleweight crown in Nottingham also takes place on the same night.

After his defeat to Prescott in September, Bolton star Khan dismissed his trainer Jorge Rubio and has since linked up with venerable American, Freddie Roach, at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

"It's been great out here, I'm not Distracted with anything outside of boxing and all I do is train and learn," said the 21-year-old.

"I'm working on so much stuff with Freddie that I'm going home more mentally tired than physically tired.

"Although the loss to Prescott was a big blow, it was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to me because it made me REALIZE I had to change things and I've made the right move to Freddie.

"I'm really looking forward to my comeback fight and showing everyone that I am back and have even more determination to reach the top."

If Khan can not secure a place on the undercard of de la Hoya-Pacquiao then I will fight on the same bill as Cook.

Cook last month put in a fine performance to Dethroned Edinburgh's Alex Arthur, winning a world title at his second attempt.

And as the only currently Britain to own a world title belt, the 29-year-old feels under pressure to retain his title.

"It means so much to me to Defend my title for the first time in London, in my backyard, and as I'm the only British boxer to hold a world title for the heat is on me to deliver," said Cook.

"This time last year there were seven British Boxers who held world titles and now I'm the only one out there so whoever the challenger is I'm telling them now - there is now way that belt is leaving me."
Not Rated's fight against Canada's Jean Pascal will be broadcast by terrestrial channel ITV1. Khan recently Penne a 20-fight deal with Sky after ending his association with ITV.

Phillies top Rays 3-2 to take World Series lead

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-Cole Hamels, Chase Utley and the Philadelphia Phillies have the upper hand in the World Series. Hamels worked seven entrances and Utley homer as Philadelphia beat off the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Game 1 in St. Petersburg.

Hamels became the 12 pitcher to win four games in a single post-season, the celebration of the rays to two runs and five hits in seven innings. Hamels has gone at least seven entries in each of his four post-season starts.

Utley put the Phillies ahead to stay on becoming the 34th player to Homer in his first career World Series at-bat, two cheeks explosion within just three batters into the game. Carlos Ruiz added an RBI Grounder which scored Shane Victorino, who was one of four Phillies with two hits.

The Rays trailed 3-0 in the fourth until Carl Crawford smashed a single homer off Hamels. Akinori Iwamura was 3-2 with his third hit of the game, an RBI double in the fifth. But lightning has not been able to obtain a success in the rest of the way.

BJ Upton was held in check after entering the game with seven homers and 15 RBIs in the playoffs. Upton hit into two double plays and was 0-for-4, leaving five men on base.

Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge each fired a perfect entry of relief to close the victory. Lidge has picked up saves in six of the Phillies' eight post-season wins.

Loser Scott Kazmir was reached three runs and six hits in six innings.

Game 2 on Thursday in St Pete as Brett Myers will start for the Phillies against James Shields.