Snooker: Doherty shines in Shanghai play-off
Ken Doherty opened the first world ranking tournament of the new snooker season with a confident display in China yesterday.
Doherty, who has dropped to 55th on the provisional world list after the worst slump of his career, continued his recovery with an untroubled 5-0 victory over India's Aditya Mehta in the wild-card play-off round of the Shanghai Masters.
"I've got my tail up at the moment and my confidence is definitely coming back," said Doherty.
Doherty, who stepped onto the flight east having won a Pro Challenge satellite event last week, overwhelmed Mehta, compiling breaks of 63 and 129 in the process. Next up for Doherty is the No 10 seed, Australia's Neil Robertson.
Mercedes and the Brawn GP team declined to be drawn yesterday on reports that the German carmaker planned to buy a stake in the Formula One championship leaders.
"Our cooperation with various Formula One teams obviously gives rise to various rumours," said a Mercedes motorsport spokesman.
"Nevertheless, we would like to ask for your understanding that our company in principle is not in a position to comment on rumours."
Mercedes already provide engines to Brawn, who emerged from the remains of the Honda team after the Japanese manufacturer pulled out at the end of last year for financial reasons, as well as Force India.
Brawn have won seven of the season's 12 races so far, with Britain's Jenson Button top of the standings going into Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
Alejandro Valverde took the overall lead of the Tour of Spain yesterday as unfancied Gustavo Cesar Veloso took victory in the ninth stage in Xorret del Cati.
Veloso, winner of the Volta a Catalunya last year, took his place in a seven-strong breakaway group that came together in the early stages of the 188.8km stage and pulled away gradually to cross the line 21 seconds ahead of Lampre's Marco Marzano.
Valverde came in third as he sprinted to the line, taking the gold jersey from Cadel Evans in the process, the latter finishing sixth.
Ireland's Philip Deignan finished two minutes 16 seconds behind the stage winner in 33rd place, while Daniel Martin was over a minute further back in 51st.
Deignan lies 22nd overall, just over six minutes behind Valverde, with Martin a further four minutes back in 33rd.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has announced his retirement from international Twenty20 cricket.
Ponting (34) will remain as captain of the Australian Test and one-day sides but will step away from the shortest format in a bid to prolong his career.
- SNOOKER FORMULA One CYCLING CRICKET
