The Sport Review: “Top seeds Djokovic, Federer & Berdych reach Dubai quarters” plus 4 more

Top seeds Djokovic, Federer & Berdych reach Dubai quarters
Premier League needs more English stars, says Brooking
Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez strikes late to sink Inter
Vincenzo Montella gets off to winning start as Roma boss
Kenny Dalglish won’t rush Steven Gerrard back to action

Top seeds Djokovic, Federer & Berdych reach Dubai quarters

Posted: 23 Feb 2011 05:36 PM PST

roger federer

One more seed from the original eight has bitten the Dubai dust to leave just three standing. But those three—to the relief of the organisers of the top ATP 500 tournament on the tour—are the best.

It was the No3 seed, Tomas Berdych, who had to step up first in what was potentially the toughest match-up of the day against Nikolay Davydenko.

Both men are class acts but both struggled with their form in the latter half of last year. For Berdych, though, things have been starting to improve.

In Rotterdam a fortnight ago, his first-round demolition of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez—dropping just six points on serve—was outstanding, but his run was brought to an abrupt halt by a dose of flu.

Then he reached the quarters in Marseille last week and he sailed through his first match in Dubai against Jeremy Chardy.

Davydenko, who pulled out of the tour with a wrist fracture at this very tournament last year, started 2011 with a final placing in Doha, but then lost three opening-round matches—until Dubai.

It was as if the intervening year had been a dream as he lost just two games against Garcia-Lopez. He also came into his second-round match with a 9-1 advantage over Berdych in a rivalry that has seen them meet in seven consecutive years.

So the scene was set for a no-holds-barred contest. In the opening set, Davydenko struggled to find his timing under the weight of the Berdych shots, and fell behind 1-5 before pulling back to a rather more respectable 3-6.

The second set was a much more competitive affair, as Davydenko started to play more of the zippy, flat shots that have won him such a fan-base—and the Dubai crowd cheered every play from the Russian as he began to find both side lines with his sharp, angled drives.

The set was nip and tuck through to 5-5, but Berdych chose that moment to break serve and it took all of Davydenko's tactical brilliance, aided and abetted by a couple of woeful errors on the Berdych forehand, to break back.

Now in a tie-breaker, Berdych started to vary his own tactics, venturing to the net a little more and keeping the ball low. It paid off, and despite a poor 55% first serve percentage, he ran out the winner, 7-6.

It was this time last year that Berdych made his surge to the upper ranks from 25 in February to eight by July. He has not dropped below that since, and he could be just as big a contender at Indian Wells and Miami as he was last year, when he reached the quarters in one and the final of the other.

The No2 seed Djokovic extended his Dubai winning streak to 12 matches after beating the No41-ranked Spaniard, Feliciano Lopez.

Djokovic was the hot favourite, having won both their previous matches, but Lopez had twice reached the Dubai finals before, in 2004 and 2008. He also has the right serve-and-volley game for the desert's hot, hard courts.

So while Djokovic dominated the first set to lead 6-3, a loss of concentration at the start of the second allowed his opponent to take an early break and then dominate with his big left-handed ground strokes and one of the smoothest, most effortless service motions in the game.

Lopez swept the set 6-2, but Djokovic regained his focus and his range to break the first game of the decider. Although Lopez managed to draw level at 3-3, the Serb broke again to take the third set, 6-3.

The match may have looked close, but the superiority of Djokovic still stood out, most particularly in his movement. Lopez eats up the ground when he attacks the net, but he looked almost ponderous alongside the fleet and flexible Djokovic. That is what separates the Serb from most of the rest and helps him retain control of a match even when it is littered with errors.

Djokovic's chief rival for the Dubai title can claim the same advantage. Federer's win over another Spaniard, Marcel Granollers, looked even more effortless than the 6-3, 6-4 score suggested.

Playing in his 930th match on the tour, he looked fluid and confident, and was super-fast in picking up drop volleys and retrieving lobs. This was a match to showcase the variety in the Federer game, so serve-and-volley tactics were mixed up with the occasional drop shot and a high backhand lob off the baseline that left even his opponent gasping.

Federer's buttercup yellow shirt brought a real glow of sunshine to the chilly end of the Dubai evening. He will have to work up some more heat in his quarter-final match against Sergiy Stakhovsky—the man responsible for taking out the eighth seed, Ernests Gulbis—which is also an evening fixture.

It is likely that Federer, should he beat the Ukrainian—and it's hard to see him not doing so—will be scheduled for the night crowds for the rest of the tournament: he is, after all, as close as they have to a home favourite.

However, that could suit his semi-final opponent, Gilles Simon, should the Frenchman continue his impressive run. Federer commented on how the cooling conditions in their Australian Open meeting last month made it harder to break through the Frenchman's stone wall of a defence. And Simon also has a 2-0 winning record against Federer in best-of-three matches.

Before that, though, Simon is lined up for what is potentially the most fascinating match of the third round against countryman Richard Gasquet.

Simon has never beaten the man who he will join in Davis Cup competition next week, but his form suggests this could be the first time. He sailed through the No4 seed Mikhail Youzhny and took just 53 minutes to beat qualifier Lukas Rosol. A weary-looking Gasquet will need to get the spring back in his step if he's to break down the seemingly impregnable defence of Simon.

So despite the survival of just three seeds, there is still plenty to enjoy as Dubai reaches its halfway point.

Premier League needs more English stars, says Brooking

Posted: 23 Feb 2011 05:15 PM PST

premier league transfers

Sir Trevor Brooking is hopeful English players will soon retake centre stage in the Premier League following the influx of foreign talent in recent years.

The FA's director of football believes England's top clubs are now more likely to focus on nurturing their own home-grown players as it becomes more difficult to lure foreign stars to the top flight due to unfavourable currency exchange rates and high tax charges.

"The strength of the Euro over the last three or four years has meant it's tougher for clubs to bring in overseas talent," Brooking told The Sport Review.

"The second big thing is that the players want to know what their tax net is, because 50p from £1 is not great. So it's harder for the big clubs to get the better overseas players."

Rather than looking to foreign shores, Brooking, 62, wants to see clubs turn their attentions towards developing their own home-grown stars by giving them regular run-outs in the Premier League.

"Over the next few years I'd like to feel some home-grown talent will get more of an opportunity," he continued. "We're at about 35 per cent at the moment whereas Spain and Italy are really at 70 or 75 per cent.

"We need to increase the number of English players playing in the Premier League every week.

"It should be done on quality but I'd like to feel that gradually clubs will start to do it."

Meanwhile, Brooking believes there are still 10 clubs fighting for Premier League survival this season.

The former West Ham midfielder, who was caretaker manager when the Hammers were relegated in 2003 despite managing a record points total of 42, is expecting teams to need a similar tally to secure safety this term.

"At the moment there are probably 10 clubs who are still looking over their shoulder," he said. "Any of the three that go down are probably going to feel unlucky because they might go down with 37 or 38 points this year."

And Brooking says West Ham must pick up points in crucial clashes with the Premier League's top clubs—starting with Liverpool on Sunday—if they are to avoid the drop.

"I was thinking Blackpool had hit a bit of a wall and were going to struggle. Then suddenly they go and beat Spurs 3-1 and they end up going up to 12th. Suddenly with two wins they'd be safe.

"West Ham have got Liverpool on Sunday at home and most people will say: 'you're not going to get anything there', but you never know, and to be honest if they’re going to survive they’ve got to win one or two of the tough games."

He added: "We've been leaking a lot of goals and that's been our main concern. We've had a little boost with the last couple of results but the league games are the important ones."

Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez strikes late to sink Inter

Posted: 23 Feb 2011 04:01 PM PST

leonardo

Mario Gomez struck in the 89th minute as Bayern Munich seized a crucial away goal to take a 1-0 lead into the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Inter Milan.

Inter goalkeeper Júlio César spilled Arjen Robben's effort into the path of Gomez before the prolific German striker, who had already scored 27 goals this season, stroked home to give Bayern the edge over the defending champions.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, whose side lost to Inter in last season’s final, refused to get carried away with the result following an open encounter in San Siro.

“There were so many opportunities from both sides,” the 59-year-old told Sky Sports. “Bayern were lucky enough to score in the final moments of the game.

“I am very satisfied. I really enjoyed the second half, the offensive attitude and the fact that we did run a vacuum Inter.

“The goal in the final lens weighs a lot in qualifying. Inter? I was surprised, Inter created many scoring chances.”

In the first half Inter came close through Argentina international Esteban Cambiasso when his close-range shot was saved by Thomas Kraft following a weaving run from Samuel Eto'o on the right wing.

Inter's best opening of the match arrived when Kraft deflected Eto'o’s shot directly into the path of Cambiasso, but the tenacious midfielder failed to adjust his feet and blasted the ball over crossbar.

Holland international Robben was Bayern's danger man and early in the second half he delivered a delicious cross for Thomas Mueller, who could only head wide.

Moments later Robben drifted off the left wing and ran unchallenged across the Inter penalty area before unleashing a right-footed drive which rebounded off César's right post.

But despite Gomez’s last-gasp winner, Inter boss Leonardo still remains hopeful of reaching the quarter-finals. “A loss is a loss,” he told Sky Italia. “We’re sorry to have conceded a goal in the 90th minute.

“Let’s say that should the game would have ended in a goalless draw, it would always have been difficult in Munich.

“So nothing’s changed. Anyway, my side played in a really good way, with the exception of the first 20 minutes, in which we have been too defensive.

“Considering they have had good ball possession, we have had the clearest chances to score. For me, everything is open regarding qualification.”

Vincenzo Montella gets off to winning start as Roma boss

Posted: 23 Feb 2011 03:13 PM PST

vincenzo montella

Vincenzo Montella made a winning start to his reign as Roma boss after captain Daniel de Rossi scored the winner in a narrow 1-0 victory over Bologna to move them up to sixth in Serie A.

Roma's new 36-year-old caretaker manager had spoken of his determination to inject new life into Roma during the build-up to Wednesday’s difficult trip to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna.

And Serie A's youngest coach, who took charge of first-team affairs on Monday after Claudio Ranieri resigned in the wake of Roma's 4-3 defeat to Genoa, watched his side end their losing streak thanks to De Rossi's 45th-minute winner.

Speaking after the match, De Rossi admitted Montella's arrival had given the side a much-needed boost, with Wednesday's win highlighting a return of the battling qualities which appeared to have deserted Roma in recent weeks.

"To talk about what Vincent has changed is risky, it's been just two days since his arrival," said De Rossi after Wednesday's victory "But I can say that, knowing him already as a player, he has the desire.”

De Rossi also believes the return to a 4-2-3-1 formation was a decisive factor in sealing their first victory in four games.

He added: “It's a formation that we have already implemented in the past – it was not a problem going back to using it."

Meanwhile, Montella insists he is not merely keeping the hotseat warm following rumours linking Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti with the Roma post.

“I don’t feel like a stop-gap,” he said. “At the same time I don’t worry about the rumours or the coaches that are talked about.

“I’m not bothered that people are talking about Ancelotti, who is someone I have a lot of respect for. My goal is just to do well from now until the end of the season.”

Kenny Dalglish won’t rush Steven Gerrard back to action

Posted: 23 Feb 2011 10:11 AM PST

steven gerrard

Kenny Dalglish has revealed Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard remains a doubt for Thursday’s Europa League tie against Sparta Prague at Anfield.

Gerrard, 30, has been absent since picking up an adductor injury in the 1-0 win over Chelsea at the start of February, and Dalglish is reluctant to rush the midfielder back to first-team action.

“Steven is almost there,” said the 59-year-old. “Whether he gets there in time or not remains to be seen, but we’re not going to push somebody into a game that’s not quite ready.

“As much as Steven would love to play and we’d love to have him, I think we’ve got to think a bit longer term than just one game.

“But if he’s fit and well, he’ll come under consideration like everybody else.”

The Liverpool manager added: “I think it’s important we adopt the same philosophy as we’ve had before with the likes of Jay Spearing, who could have carried on a little bit longer with his injury but we wanted to get it done and dusted and get him looked after.

“Daniel Agger was the same, Martin Skrtel got a rest last week (against Sparta), Martin Kelly got a rest, so I think we’ve got to be consistent in our approach to things and if there is any doubt whatsoever, if we can get by without Steven then we will do.”

Liverpool battled to a 0-0 draw with Sparta Prague at the Generali Arena in Prague in the first leg of their second round Europa League last week.