Tall Order
‘WHAT’S 6ft 10in high and likes to beat Australians? No, it’s not Martin Johnson – he is a bit smaller than that.
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| Daniela Hantuchova also won yesterday |
The answer is Croatian tennis player Ivo Karlovic, who yesterday knocked defending Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt out of the tournament.
The Times salutes the lofty one, showing him taking the acclaim for his historic win. Ranked as the world’s 203rd best player, Karlovic was given no chance against the world’s No.2.
But sport can throw up the unexpected, and yesterday it did just that.
Hewitt, as the Independent says, has become only the second defending men’s singles champion and top seed ever to lose in the first round.
The first was Manuel Santana of Spain, who in 1967 lost to American Charlie Pasarell.
History lesson over, the Telegraph returns to current matters, revealing that Juan Sebastian Veron is eyeing a move from Manchester United to Italy – anywhere in Italy.
”I’m flattered that a few teams are looking at me,” says the man who arrived with much hype and pomp for £28 million in 2001.
But the real shock move is the Real shock move – the news that Real Madrid have released their manager Vincente Del Bosque from his job.
The Guardian says that the man who has just led the whites to a league title, and a total of seven trophies in just over three years in charge, is out of a job.
But the search for the man to take over from him has the paper pointing the finger at Manchester United.
No, not Alex Ferguson – the thought of his gruff manners taking charge of the Madrid finery is too ridiculous. No, the man in the frame is Carlos Queirox, Fergie’s number two.
Looking at the scurry to the United exit is all very interesting, but it should not be allowed to deflect our attention away from the fact that Australia has suffered something of a sporting double whammy.
First the rugby, now the tennis. Next minute they’ll be losing their grip on the one world sport that puts them on the map: rugby league.
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Posted: 24th, June 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
