In brief: Federer finds feet on clay
Tennis
World No 1 Roger Federer began the defence of his Madrid Masters crown with a 6-2 7-6 dismissal of Benjamin Becker in the second round yesterday.
The Swiss barely broke sweat against the German world No 46, who mounted a mini fightback to save two match points at 6-5 down in the second set and one more in the tiebreak but sent a backhand wide on the next point to hand Federer victory.
The 28-year-old has made the final in three of the past four years, also winning in 2006, but has not claimed a title since lifting his 16th grand slam at the Australian Open in January. Federer's clay court season has failed to spark in to life ahead of this month's French Open, where he is the champion.
- CONOR NILAND has created a piece of tennis history by becoming the first Irish-born player to achieve a place in the top 200 of the singles world rankings -- either in men's or women's competition.
Niland rocketed up from his previous career-high position of 222 to 165, after netting 100 ranking points for winning the Israel Open title at the weekend. Two players who represented Ireland in the respective Davis Cup and Fed Cup events -- Matt Doyle and Kelly Liggan -- peaked at 65 and 181, in 1982 and 2003.
But Doyle was born in California, while Liggan, whose father hails from Dublin, was born in Spain.
Niland now takes over the national No 1 position from his Davis Cup team-mate Louk Sorensen.
American rider Christian Vande Velde was slated to undergo surgery on his broken right clavicle in Antwerp yesterday after crashing in the Giro d'Italia.
The crash occurred during Monday's third stage in the Netherlands. Vande Velde also crashed in last year's Giro, sustaining five broken vertebrae, a broken pelvis and ribs. He came back to finish eighth in the Tour de France.
Vande Velde said he "will do everything I can to be on the start line at the Tour de France".
Pregnant marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe will be back in action next month in New York, but as a fun runner, not a racer.
Britain's Radcliffe (36) is due to give birth to her second child in September and while she will not compete professionally until after her pregnancy, she will appear on June 12 at the 39th NYRR New York Mini 10K as a special guest at the women-only road race.
Irish Independent
