Super 14 rookie Joe Pietersen scored two tries to help the Stormers to a hard-fought 28-22 win over the Cheetahs in a South African derby here on Saturday.

Getting an opportunity in the absence of injured Springbok Conrad Jantjes, Pietersen scored either side of halftime to ensure the Stormers finished a disappointing season on a high.

The four points earned mean the Stormers end their season in 10th position with 27 points, while the Cheetahs, winners on just two occasions this year, finish bottom.

The Cheetahs dominated the early exchanges and it came as no surprise when scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, thanks to hard work by centres Meyer Bosman and Corne Uys, scored a try after only five minutes.

Fly-half Naas Olivier added the conversion to give his side a deserved 7-0 lead but, impressive though the hosts were in the opening 10 minutes, they struggled to make much of an impact over the next half hour.

On the 15-minute mark, Cheetahs flanker Juan Smith and hooker Adriaan Strauss lost possession on the halfway line, allowing the Stormers to grab the ball and launch a telling counter-attack.

Outside centre Dylan Des Fountain had the simplest of runs for his team’s opening try and the extra points were added by flyhalf Willem de Waal.

The Stormers No.10 soon struck a further three points via a penalty, but just a minute before the interval the Cheetahs were level at 10-10 after a penalty by Olivier.

But it would be the visitors who went into the change-rooms in the ascendancy when fullback Pietersen, who beat the tackle attempt of Jongi Nokwe, scored a try converted by De Waal after the hooter sounded.

Two further De Waal penalties and a second try by Pietersen inside the first 20 minutes of the second stanza saw the Stormers hold a commanding 28-10 lead.

Cheetahs never gave up and enjoyed some good periods in the final quarter, with flanker Heinrich Brussow coming close to getting his side back into the contest, but his lunge to the tryline in the 68th minute was deemed to be short by the television match official.

But with five minutes left Cheetahs got their second try, scored from close range by replacement forward Nico Breedt. Olivier converted from in front of the posts and in the dying moments lock David de Villiers went over for his team’s third try to earn the home team a bonus point.

STORMERS 28 (Joe Pietersen 2, Dylan Des Fountain tries Willem de Waal 2 cons 3 pens) bt CHEETAHS 22 (Nico Breedt, David de Villiers, Sarel Pretorius tries Naas Olivier 2 cons pen) at Vodacom Park. Referee: Garratt Williamson (NZL).
Sourced via rugbyheaven.com.au

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Miranda, the two talented fighters participated in a media conference call along with promoter Dan Goossen. In the featured bout, the undefeated and No. 2- ranked Ward will fulfill his dream of staging a pro fight in his hometown when he takes a big step up in class to face Miranda, a Colombian knockout artist who has fought top-notch competition throughout his career, on Saturday, May 16 in Oakland, Calif. The 12-round fight for Ward’s North American Boxing Organization (NABO) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight titles will be the featured bout on a special Saturday primetime edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

The event will originate from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, and will be promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with Leonard Productions. The Ward-Miranda bout will be presented in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing. Tickets are on sale NOW, starting at just $25. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. PT. The first non-televised fight is 5 p.m. PT. Fight week (next week) activities in Oakland include an open workout on Tuesday, possibly at the City Center, a final press conference at the City Center and the weigh in at the Plaza at City Center. ALL FIGHT WEEK ACTIVITES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC..

Ward, a highly touted and talented 25-year-old, is 18-0 (12 KOs) and was the only boxer from the United States to capture a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and remains the last American to win gold. Miranda is 32-3 with 28 knockouts.

DAN GOOSSEN:

“We’re looking at this as Andre’s coming out party, not only in Oakland, but to the world for 168-pound supremacy.

“Let’s face it; he’s taking on a tough nut to make his statement. But that’s what it’s all about. No risk, no reward. That’s the way that Andre has always conquered everything in his life, even leading up to the Gold Medal. I believe he’s going to be the preeminent 168-pounder in the world.”

EDISON MIRANDA:

“I’ve prepared well for this fight. I’ve trained very hard. I know that Andre is going to be a very tough opponent, but I know I am going to walk away victorious after this fight.’’

ANDRE WARD:

“I want to thank my hometown and everybody that is involved and working really hard to put this together.

“I’m preparing like I always do, I’m staying focused like I always am. I’m going to win on May 16 for my hometown fans.”

Is Ward the best fighter you have faced in your career?

MIRANDA: “No, Andre is not the toughest fighter I’ve ever fought. Howard Eastman is.”

How will you beat Andre Ward?

MIRANDA: “I’m going to knock him out in the 10th round.”

Is Edison Miranda the toughest fighter that you’ve faced in your pro career?

WARD: “Absolutely, on paper. I put emphasis on paper. We won’t know until I get in the ring on May 16. I think I’m going to be a lot tougher than he thinks I’m going to be. I don’t have any predictions, but I can guarantee you this: I’m coming into this fight, even though I’m in my hometown, I’m the underdog in my mind. I’m always like that. Gold Medal aside, everything else aside, I’m coming in as the underdog. That’s how I prepared, that’s how my focus is. I’m going to shock a lot of people in this fight”

Could Miranda derail Ward’s momentum?

GOOSSEN: “Look, you’ve got two world class fighters fighting one another, so nothing is ever a foregone conclusion. But, we’ve got a lot of confidence in Andre Ward. Edison Miranda is a tough challenge, but I believe it’s going to bring out the best in Andre Ward. Saturday night, May 16 is when it’s all answered. We can sit here and talk until we’re blue in the face, but it doesn’t matter when that bell rings. We’ve got a lot of confidence in Andre. We believe he is going to win and win in an exciting fashion from the standpoint of showing his prominence in this division, but let’s get to Saturday, May 16.”

With this step up against Miranda, is there is a title shot coming soon?

WARD: “People are going to have opinions about my opponents and how tough they think they are. The bottom line is, we’ve take a steady climb up. I don’t think we’ve regressed anywhere in my career. We haven’t been fighting tomato cans. We’re fighting guys that have had ample time to prepare. They’re coming to win. I understand that each and every fight, guys are going to bring their ‘A’ game because they want that win on their resume.”

“Yeah, this is a step up, but at the same time this is right where we need to be. These are the kind of fights that bring the best out of great, and potentially great, fighters. You have to go through the Edison Mirandas of the division to prove that.”

Have you watched his fights?

WARD: If you’ve seen one of Miranda’s fights, you’ve seen them all. Miranda is going to be Miranda and I’m going to be Andre Ward. At the end of the night, May 16, we’ll see what happens.”

Are you excited to fight in your hometown?

WARD: “This is an event. This is bigger than a fight. This is what my team was talking about when we were trying to figure out when was the right time to fight in Oakland and against what opponent.”

“I think this is absolutely the right time and the right opponent. This is a guy that a lot of people are afraid of based on his tactics that he tries to give outside of the ring and even his style inside the ring. But we’re focused and we’ll do it in my backyard. In terms of excitement, we’re very excited, but I can’t be distracted and put the carpet before the horse. We’ll take care of business and then we’ll enjoy everything else when it’s all said and done.”

Is fighting in Oakland an advantage?

WARD: “Fighting in your backyard could either be a gift of a curse. I’ve never been one to get caught up in the lights, camera, action and that whole deal. I don’t really get caught up in the hoopla before the fight. I’m just a steady kind of person. I’m steady and I’m consistent in terms of the way I approach each fight. Whether I’m fighting in the Olympics or I’m fighting at Tachi Palace, it doesn’t matter. I have a job to do.”

“I’ve been preparing for nights like this since I was nine years old. I can’t let fighting in my hometown detour me in terms of my focus. Trust me, there’s going to be a lot of energy in the building. I think a lot of people in Oakland are excited about this and I’m going to deliver on May 16.”

Does Miranda’s tactics bother you?

WARD: “I don’t fear anything in that ring. Miranda is going to be Miranda inside and outside that ring and, I’m going to be Andre Ward. At the end of the night we’ll see who is standing and who’s talking the loudest.”

“In terms of his tactics, I’ve said it before, Miranda is a bully and I don’t like when people try to bully people. He’s going to find out that I’m a whole lot tougher and a whole lot nastier inside that ring than he’s anticipating. It’s going to be a different type of fight than he’s anticipating. I’ve been on that canvas and I’ve gotten back up and come back to win. Whatever he wants to bring, bring it, and I’m going to be ready on May 16.”

How has your difficult (situation with your mother) impacted you as a fighter?

MIRANDA: “No, it hasn’t affected me at all, my past with my mother. What I can say is that anytime that I had a loss in the ring it made me more determined to win my next fight. That’s exactly what I’m going to do on May 16.”

Asked to address his weight issues since he fought at 176 pounds in March and has to fight at 168 pounds against Ward?

MIRANDA: “I’m at 168 right now. I have no problem right now. I’m eating fine and normally, so it won’t be an issue.”

Do you have anything to prove in this fight?

WARD: “To me, this fight is totally about respect. It’s about respect from the media, respect from the entire 168-pound division and just respect in general. There’s always something to prove with each fight. The stakes are higher, absolutely.”

“I know a lot of people don’t think I’m going to win this fight. I think a lot of people get caught up in the whole Miranda hoopla. They get caught up in his punching power and stuff like that. But, I’m not buying it. I respect him for his strengths in the ring, but we’re coming to win. We’re coming to do our job each and every fight. This fight is about respect, and this fight is about proving that I not only belong but that I have aspirations to be the best in this division.

What can this fight do for you if it turns out the way you want it to?

WARD: “This fight is everything. This is going to be a major leap forward or a major leap backward. It’s going to put the winner in title contention and, I know for myself, it’s going to put me in a mandatory spot (for a title challenge). So this is a must win. It goes without saying that we have to win this fight.”

Did you see the (Carl) Froch- (Jermain) Taylor fight (April 25 on SHOWTIME)?

WARD: “I thought it was a good fight. You’ve got to give Froch respect for coming over here and putting his title on the line. He’s 30 years old so he understands that he doesn’t have much time and his window of opportunity is pretty short. I’m sure that had a lot to do with him coming over here (from England).”

“I expected a little more from Jermain Taylor. I don’t understand what’s going on with his conditioning. It was unfortunate the way he went out. I would have liked to see him hold on and get that belt back. He wasn’t able to hold on, but, once again, you’ve got to respect Carl Froch for what he did in that fight. His determination pulled it out for him.”

When asked if he had any words about Froch possibly being his next opponent:

WARD: “I’m locked in on this fight. I’m eating, sleeping and drinking the guy that’s in front of me. When it’s over, we can talk about that. But I’ve really had few to no talks about what lies next for me.”

WARD’S closing comments:

“I can’t wait to see what comes out of me May 16. It’s my time and that’s just the bottom line. As far as Oakland is concerned, let’s do something positive. Let’s buy our tickets, let’s come out and let’s show that good guys do finish first, not last.”

GOOSSEN:

“This is the future of our sport and what better people to go out there and represent us than athletes that we can look up to.”

Are you in touch with your mother now?

MIRANDA:

“I do talk to my mother; I’ve always talked to her. The question isn’t about my mother or my father, the matter at hand is Andre Ward. I can talk about my mother or my father after the fight, but right now the only thing on my mind is Andre Ward.”

Do you respect Andre Ward?

MIRANDA: “I have respect for Andre outside of the ring as a man. But inside the ring, I don’t have respect for him. In fact, I don’t have respect for any other fighters inside the ring. If I had to say I respected somebody, it would be Bernard Hopkins. He’s been such an example for me. I really can say that he’s the only boxer that I have respect for.

GOOSSEN Closing Comments:

“Andre gets into town Sunday. Monday, Miranda comes in. We’re going to have an open workout on Tuesday, I believe, at the City Center. We’ll have the final press conference on Thursday in the City Center and we’ll have the weigh in on Friday at the Plaza at City Center. We’re doing everything open to the public. We’re going to go out there and put on a great show for Oakland and all of the Bay Area.”
Sourced via eastsideboxing.com

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THIS year’s Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro at Durban’s North Beach this weekend, has adopted a man-on-man heat structure, a move which is expected to produce competitive and exciting surfing battles.

The contest, now in an impressive seventh year, has R100000 in prize money on offer, as well as 250 WQS points for the winner.

The WCT style contest format, with a three man opening round followed by man on man heats throughout the contest, “is quite a big deal and the surfers are very excited at the prospect of these close battles,” said Mike Frew, Lizzard’s marketing manager. This format should give the ex WCT surfers and the top WQS surfers, such as Brandon Jackson (Durban North), Ricky Basnett (Durban) and Roydon Bryson (East London) a distinct advantage as they have so much more experience in surfing man on man heats.

Local surfers should not despair, however, as their knowledge of local conditions should assist them in what will most likely be small peaky conditions with an east swell, and not very much wind the whole weekend. These conditions should really suit the local rippers and light footed surfers such as Antonio Bortoletto, young Beyrick de Vries and Jackson.

Although the format will definitely suit the more experienced WCT and WQS surfers, the small conditions should level the playing field somewhat, and there could be some surprise upsets from a local or two. Jackson agrees with this observation.
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Goodell says the NFL and the teams that have played at Wembley over the last two seasons have been blown away by the response of UK NFL fans.

The Commissioner now says that a second regular game could be moved overseas, and could be in London or another UK venue due to the success of the Wembley games.

“The fan reaction we’ve had in London has been extraordinary. We would like to feed that passion,” Goodell said after speaking at the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

“We have a great fan base in the UK. There have been discussions of taking the second game and playing it in another market in the UK. That’s something that we’ll evaluate.

“Whether it’s two consecutive games in the same stadium, we don’t necessarily know. But we have a great foundation.”
Games

The New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins on the way to their Super Bowl success in 2007, while the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers 37-32 in an entertaining game last year.

The New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off at Wembley in October this year, and fans have already gobbled up the majority of the tickets to another sell-out.

Although reports of a possible Super Bowl in London or even a future team based in the UK still appear far fetched, a second regular season game in the UK in 2010 does seem an option.

Plans will be discussed at next week’s league meeting, as the NFL also look at extending the season from 16 to 18 games, which would give more room to include a second overseas game.

Goodell says that teams that have played at Wembley have all thought the process to be a worthwhile exercise.

Experience

“I think the teams have had a great experience that have gone over,” Goodell said.

“We’ve been able to build on that and I think teams recognize it’s an honour and a privilege to go over and play there. And it can be done without impacting the team negatively.”

This year’s game will go down as a home clash to Tampa Bay, meaning they lose a game staged at Raymond James Stadium – but that is the only negative according to Goodell.

“The negative is taking the home game away from the fans,” Goodell said.

“It’s another reason why potentially restructuring the season and changing two preseason (games) into regular-season (games) can be something that we find is beneficial to the fans.”
Sourced via skysports.com

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• It’s a step down to leave Manchester United, says Bruce
• Wigan manager tells pair to accept rotation policy

The Wigan Athletic manager, Steve Bruce, has warned Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez they would be making a huge mistake by leaving a Manchester United team that may dominate at home and in Europe for years.

Bruce, who intends to interrupt Sir Alex Ferguson’s pursuit of a third successive Premier League title tonight when the leaders visit the JJB Stadium, believes both will jeopardise their prospects by quitting Old Trafford.

‘Once you leave Old Trafford you find it very difficult. It’s a step down,’ he said. ‘Not many have gone on to do well elsewhere and that applies whether you have been a reserve or have been in the first team for 10 years. It is very, very difficult to adjust.

‘The modern player must accept that to be involved at the top – especially when they have been involved in five competitions and can win four this season – you don’t have to play 60 games a year like we did.

‘It takes about 18 games to win the Champions League so you need a squad of players capable of handling the big games.’
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In this picture taken May 11, 2009, cheerleaders perform in a mall where the Delhi Daredevils' IPL matches are being telecast live in New Delhi. A new shopping mall on the outskirts of Delhi is the closest that fans of the city's IPL cricket team get to attending a home game this year. In an open-air square between fashion shops and chain restaurants, a huge screen shows every Delhi Daredevils match live from South Africa to a few hundred cheering supporters. -AFP

A new shopping mall on the outskirts of New Delhi is the closest that fans of the city’s IPL cricket team get to attending a home game this year.

In an open-air square between fashion shops and chain restaurants, a huge screen shows every Delhi Daredevils match live from South Africa to a few hundred cheering supporters.

The loss of the Indian Premier League abroad this year has dented public support for the tournament, which in its inaugural season last year attracted massive fan loyalty to its eight city-based teams.

‘Last year was great, and everyone was watching every evening,’ Shashank Sharma, an 18-year-old student, said.

‘But this time there is less excitement.

‘It is better when there are Indian crowds in the stadium, they are very noisy.’

Sharma watched the match at the mall with six of his friends, as huge speakers blared out the commentary and loud music.

Every time the Daredevils — led by captain Gautam Gambhir — took a wicket or scored a boundary, four scantily-clad, female dancers jumped onto a stage in front of the screen to lead the celebrations.

Organisers were forced to move the five-week event out of India due to its clash with general elections, which meant security arrangements could not be made for the cricketers.

With the action exported to South Africa, interest among India’s massive cricket following has not matched last year’s event — even though games have been scheduled in television prime time.

Viewing figures were down in 18 of the first 27 matches compared with 2008, according to Audience Measurement and Analytics, an independent ratings company.

Last year the IPL’s blend of dramatic, short-format cricket and Bollywood glamour proved irresistible to millions of Indians for whom the games became an evening fixture and the biggest talking point in the country.

Sponsors hope the teams, including the Mumbai Indians and Bangalore Royal Challengers, will develop passionate fan bases similar to those enjoyed by British football side such as Manchester United.

S.C. Vohra, a retired diplomat, watched the Delhi Daredevils beat the struggling Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday evening at the mall with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandson.

‘The big screen makes this a good place for a family evening out, but there is not the same atmosphere with the team playing so far away,’ he said.

‘In theory it is the same on television wherever you watch it, but the IPL is about entertainment and they will have to be careful that interest doesn’t decline year after year. The novelty factor has gone already.’Also among the crowd was Nani Kapur, a 25-year-old who works in marketing.

‘I went to the stadium to see the Daredevils last year and it was fantastic. The atmosphere around the tournament is less this year,’ she said.

‘Of course people still watch it on TV but definitely the general mood is down. It can’t be same without the team playing here.’

One person counting the cost was Vicky Suri, a manager for Genesis, the official merchandise partner for the Delhi Daredevils.

‘We’ve lost a lot of sales, we can’t deny it,’ he said. ‘We sell replica shirts for 600 rupees (13 dollars) and the games going outside India has been a real blow.

‘We sell a lot of goods at the stadiums and that opportunity has just disappeared. We’ve been shipping shirts to South Africa, but that very expensive.’

I just hope there will now be a hunger when the teams finally come back home and play here next year.’
Sourced via dawn.com

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Chris Lewis, the former England all-rounder, smuggled £140,000 worth of cocaine into Britain inside his cricket bag, a court heard.

The 41-year-old ex-cricketer was stopped by customs officers at Gatwick airport and found with the drug hidden in liquid form in five tins of fruit and vegetable juice, stashed in his kit bag, jurors were told.

Mr Lewis was on his way back from the Caribbean island of St Lucia in December, where he told officials he had been visiting family.

As well as the tins, border officials discovered a cannabis grinder and a paperback book containing Rizla papers which both tested positive for traces of marijuana, it is alleged.

When questioned at Gatwick, Mr Lewis, who was also carrying a Prada “man bag”, said he had packed the luggage himself and was not carrying anything for anyone else.

But when told his luggage had tested positive for cocaine he asked: “Could there be some mistake?” before answering no questions during interviews, Croydon Crown Court heard.

The cricketer was allegedly smuggling the cocaine alongside associate Chad Kirnon, 27, who was found with three tins of dissolved cocaine in his luggage, it was claimed.

Prosecutors said that the pair knew each other well and alighted the plane at Gatwick just after five in the morning on December 8. Both claimed they had been flying alone even though Mr Lewis’s luggage had some luggage with Mr Kirnon’s name on the label, it was alleged.

Mr Kirnon had been stopped by officials on his way into St Lucia, who discovered £7,000 cash which may have been used to buy the drugs, jurors were told.

Tom Wilkins, prosecuting, said: “They were in a joint enterprise to smuggle into this country a quantity of cocaine – at 100 percent purity it weighed a little over 3.37 kilograms.

“While his luggage had Kirnon’s name on it Lewis confirmed all of the luggage was his.

“Officers went through the bag and they found a number of tins of fruit and vegetable juice which upon closer inspection were revealed to be liquids containing cocaine.

“At 100 per cent purity it is a little over 3.37 kilograms in weight – that is a retail value of something in the region of £100,000. The street value is a little over £140,000 – a very valuable consignment.”

Mr Wilkins added: “When he [Mr Lewis] was questioned rather than offer an explanation or say what he was doing in St Lucia or say what the tins were doing in his luggage he answered no comment to all the questions put to him.”

The court heard both defendants were blaming each other for the smuggling.

Mr Wilkins said: “The one-time accomplices it would seem have fallen out and are each saying their co-defendant set them up.

“There s overwhelming evidence each of them knew they were smuggling cocaine when they came back into Gatwick.”

Lewis, of Brent, north London, and Kirnan, of Islington, both deny one charge of smuggling.

The case continues.

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The Northern Mystics are confident they’ll have the services of shooter Cathrine Latu for Monday nights trans-Tasman Netball Championship clash with the Steel in Auckland.

Latu has been battling an ankle injury but coach Te Aroha Keenan has confirmed that she came through Sunday’s light training well.

However Keenan conceded she’s not sure exactly how much she’ll be able to contribute but are hoping for half a game out of the shooter.

Keenan says she’s undecided whether she’ll actually start with Cathrine Latu, or Jade Topia who impressed from the bench last week.
Sourced via tvnz.co.nz

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Newcastle manager Alan Shearer predicted his club’s fight for Premier League survival would go down to the wire after they moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough at St James’ Park, their first since Shearer took over.

“It will probably go down to the last game of the season because Newcastle don’t do things the easy way,” Shearer said after Newcastle leapfrogged Hull City who are now in the relegation zone for the first time this season, one place above a seemingly doomed Boro.

“The club needed that win, the players needed it, we all needed it. They should enjoy being out of the bottom three and enjoy someone else being in there and hopefully we won’t be in there again and I don’t believe we will be.

“This will give them the confidence and belief that was lacking and hopefully we can now go on to better things.

“I don’t want to sound negative but there is a long way to go. The way this season has gone I really don’t know what will be enough but at least we gave the fans something to smile about.

“I don’t want to sound pessimistic but I have just told the players to enjoy that winning feeling in the right way and we’ll be in training tomorrow to work on a few things. We have won one game and we’ve got two to go.

“If we win the next two we will stay up. We knew it was in our own hands and what we had to do.

“I’m not so sure that we will need another six points but that will guarantee it. I don’t think this win will be enough. I think we will have to get at least another win and hopefully that will come Saturday but Fulham are on a tremendous run themselves.”

“That’s the first time we’ve gone behind and won. I knew we had some characters in the dressing room and it’s been shown tonight,” Shearer added.
Sourced via telegraph.co.uk

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• French star failed pre-tournament test in Miami
• Former world No7 is unlikely to appeal

France’s Richard Gasquet, who has been trumpeted as a future grand slam champion since the age of nine, faces a two-year ban after admitting to taking cocaine. News of a failed drugs test broke on Saturday evening and yesterday the 22-year-old, who was a Wimbledon semi-finalist two years ago and is a former world No7, issued a statement confirming his guilt.

Gasquet may still appeal, though it seems unlikely that there will be any extenuating circumstances, given the nature of the drug used. Switzerland’s Martina Hingis, a former women’s world No1 and Wimbledon champion, was banned for two years after a sample she gave during the 2007 Wimbledon tournament contained traces of cocaine.

Gasquet is young enough to make a comeback after any ban, though whether he has the will to do so is another matter. His mental strength has frequently been questioned, notably after he threw away a two-set lead in the fourth round at Wimbledon last year against Andy Murray, who is playing in the Masters event here.

The Frenchman, who is currently ranked 23rd in the world, failed a pre-tournament drugs test at the Miami Masters in March. He pulled out of that event with an injured shoulder that has troubled him for some time, though he returned recently to play in Barcelona and Rome.

Expectations have weighed heavily on his young shoulders, with many leading French commentators despairing of his extremely close relationship with his ­parents. It was felt that they stifled his development, and the fact that he has been taking cocaine might be seen by some as a form of rebellion.

Gasquet made his grand slam debut at Roland Garros as a 15-year-old in 2002, though he has never gone beyond the last 32 there in six attempts – a measure of the kind of pressure, placed upon him, which has also deeply affected Amélie Mauresmo in her home slam. The latter went on to win the Australian and Wimbledon titles, and it was felt Gasquet might also fulfil his early promise away from Paris clay.

He has the best one-handed backhand in the modern game, a shot of match-winning accuracy and power, though his five career titles have all been at small events, including two on the grass at Nottingham.

In 2007 Gasquet defeated the American Andy Roddick in an epic Wimbledon quarter-final, coming back from two sets down. He then lost to Roger Federer. However, it was not a performance that led on to greater achievements and three countrymen, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gaël Monfils, are now ahead of him.
Sourced via guardian.co.uk

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