Ram advances at HoF Tennis
Kohlschreiber surpasses Stich
NEWPORT, RI, July 12, (Agencies): Defending champion Rajeev Ram beat fellow American Mackenzie McDonald, 6-2, 6-3, in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Monday.
Ram, a two-time winner on Newport’s grass courts — also in 2009 when he won his only other ATP title — needed just 65 minutes to get past the 21-yearold McDonald, making his tour debut. The 32-year-old Ram won the first set in 33 minutes on a new-look center court area in the shadows of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
He said he enjoys coming back to Newport.
“For me, yeah, I’ve won two titles, they’ve both been here,” he said. “I’ve played here every year since I’ve been a pro. A lot of things make it really special.”
After last year’s event, wooden bleachers at center court behind the south baseline were replaced by stadium seats. An electronic scoreboard was installed, which gave the players the option of challenging calls for the first time at the tournament, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Up 4-0 in the second set, Ram doubledfaulted twice in three points to lose the first of two straight games.
“That probably shouldn’t have happened from 40-love up,” he said. “Thankfully, I was up two breaks.”
He won the match when McDonald hit a forehand return wide.
Ram feels better prepared to defend his title this year.
“It feels a little bit different than it did in 2010 when I was defending it,” he said. “I feel a little bit more confident in my game and what I can do.”
McDonald captured an NCAA singles and doubles title at UCLA before turning pro.
Top seed Steve Johnson, now ranked a
Tennis player Ana Ivanovic holds hands with Germany soccer player Bastian Schweinsteiger during their wedding, in
Venice, Italy, on July 12. (AP)
Haskell faces six months out:
England flanker James Haskell could be out for six months due to a foot injury, his club Wasps said on Tuesday.
Haskell, 31, suffered the injury during England’s second test against Australia in Melbourne in June, where the visitors sealed a series win before going on to complete the 3-0 whitewash.
Wasps said the back row required reconstructive surgery to his big toe and was expected to be sidelined for four-to-six months.
England host South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia at Twickenham in the autumn internationals in November and early December.
“James’s performances with England, both in the 3-0 series win over Australia and in England’s Six Nations grand slam success, have been hugely impressive,” said director of rugby Dai Young. (RTRS)
Tongan skipper has knee op:
Tongan captain Nili Latu is to miss the opening three months of the English Premiership campaign after undergoing knee surgery, it was announced Tuesday, dealing a blow to Newcastle Falcons.
The 34-year-old backrow dynamo — who captained Tonga at last year’s World Cup — suffered the injury playing for his country at June’s Pacific Nations Cup.
“Nili suffered knee ligament damage playing in Tonga’s last Pacific Nations Cup game and was operated on yesterday,” Newcastle rugby director Dean Richards told the club’s official website. “His likely return to playing is five months from now.
“Obviously it is a disappointing blow to lose a player of Nili’s quality for that length of time, but at the same time it is an opportunity for other guys.” (AFP)
Cooper quits Toulon:
Australian playmaker Quade Cooper on Tuesday confirmed his departure from Toulon, just a year after signing from the Reds.
“Goodbye. Thank you for everything. I will miss my brothers and family that I now have in Toulon ... See you soon,” the 28-yearold Cooper said on his Twitter account. Cooper failed to settle at Toulon, struggling to nail down a starting spot and was often criticised after failing to fire.
Toulon’s outspoken club president Mourad Boudjellal notably compared the performances of the 58-times capped Wallaby to Jonny Wilkinson as going from “foie gras to pate”. (AFP)