LONDON: One lingering regret haunted Kim Clijsters during a 2-1/2 year maternity break from the women`s tennis circuit. Although she has long been in love with Wimbledon`s lush green courts, the 27-year-old Belgian had never gone further than the semi-finals in seven appearances.

CAPE TOWN: England face Algeria on Friday with bigger issues at stake than whether they can beat the north Africans to regain control of World Cup Group C. If Fabio Capello’s team have any ambitions of advancing beyond their usual quarter-final terminus then beating Algeria, who lost

JOHANNESBURG: When the United States faces Group C leader Slovenia on Friday, the pressure is on the Americans. Cushioned by three points from their opening win against Algeria, the Slovenes can afford to lose and still have a chance of advancing to the second round—albeit from a tough

LONDON: Champion Roger Federer will be number one seed for next week`s Wimbledon championships despite being overtaken in the world rankings by Rafael Nadal. Federer, who claimed a sixth Wimbledon title in the absence of the injured Nadal last year, has benefited from the All England

SANTIAGO: Police used tear gas and water cannons to subdue rowdy Chile fans and arrested 81 people in the capital Santiago on Wednesday after the country`s first World Cup win in nearly 50 years, officials said. Police said they detained the supporters mainly for public disorder in

PORT ELIZABETH: Serbia know there is little room for error after losing their first World Cup match and have warned Germany they will be no pushovers when they meet in their next Group D game (1130 GMT) on Friday. Germany thrashed Australia 4-0 in their opener while Serbia lost 1-0 to

RUSTENBURG, South Africa: Misfiring England striker Wayne Rooney may not have found the net for the national team in nine months, but he has retained an utter, if not blind belief, in his potential to score this week. The 24-year-old Manchester United forward told reporters on Wednesday

GENEVA (Reuters) - The Swiss, known for their reserve, exploded with joy at their World Cup team`s upset 1-0 win over Spain on Wednesday, pouring into the streets and snarling up traffic in major cities in the Alpine country. Many fans had expected the Swiss team, known affectionately as

DURBAN: Striker Fernando Torres came on as a 62nd minute double substitution with Jesus Navas for Spain after the tournament favourites went 1-0 behind to Switzerland in their opening World Cup Group H match on Wednesday. Torres was declared fit after recovering from knee surgery but the

PRETORIA: An inspired Diego Forlan scored twice as World Cup hosts South Africa`s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage suffered a heavy blow with a 3-0 loss to Uruguay Wednesday. A 24th minute strike and then a controversial 80th minute penalty from Forlan, which saw home keeper

JOHANNESBURG: Chile scored their first World Cup victory for nearly half a century on Wednesday but millions of soccer fans are likely to see more excitement when favourites Spain open their campaign against Switzerland. Chile beat Honduras 1-0 through a lucky goal from Juan Beausejour

JOHANNESBURG: Argentina`s quixotic coach Diego Maradona is to relive an old rivalry when the stylish South Americans take on a South Korea side led by the man who tried to stop him during their 1986 World Cup encounter. In Thursday`s other two games, France need their misfiring strikers

JOHANNESBURG: Argentina coach Diego Maradona will see a familiar foe in the opposing dugout when his side face South Korea in their second Group B match at Soccer City Thursday.South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo was the man assigned to stop Maradona when the countries met in their opening

PORT ELIZABETH: Ivory Coast 0 Portugal 0 World Cup Group G result:At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. TeamsIvory Coast: 1-Boubacar Barry; 21-Emmanuel Eboue (13-Ndri Romaric 89), 4-Kolo Toure, 20-Guy Demel, 17-Siaka Tiene; 10-Gervais Kouassi (18-Abdelkader Keita 82), 5-Didier Zokora, 19-Yaya

JOHANNESBURG: Bookies` favourites Spain finally begin their World Cup campaign with an easy-looking match against Switzerland on Wednesday when the vuvuzela decibel levels will soar again for hosts South Africa`s second game.The local Bafana Bafana (Boys) team face a stubborn Uruguay in

DURBAN (Reuters) - Striker Fernando Torres and influential attacking midfielder Andres Iniesta are fit to play against Switzerland in Spain`s opening World Cup match, coach Vicente Del Bosque said on Tuesday. However, Iniesta and Torres, whose goal secured Spain`s Euro 2004 triumph,

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa: Nigeria are keeping everyone guessing about their plans for the World Cup Group B match with Greece on Thursday, training in seclusion on the Indian Ocean coast since their defeat by Argentina.Both sides desperately need points from the clash in Bloemfontein`s

PORT ELIZABETH: Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz hinted on Tuesday that Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba had benefited from special treatment which allowed him to play with a protective cast on his broken arm. Drogba fractured his right arm on June 4 but was given permission to come on as a

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi narrowly failed to take his team to victory over Sri Lanka with an heroic century in the opening match of the Asia Cup Tuesday. After scoring 242 for nine, Sri Lanka reduced Pakistan to 32 for four before Afridi launched his

NEW YORK: World 100 metres silver medallist Tyson Gay did not mince his words as he strolled the streets of New York in near anonymity. "It is time for Tyson Gay to put up or shut up," the American sprinter told Reuters. Casually dressed in a white-and-blue shirt and light-coloured