Novak Djokovic ends seven year Roger Federer- Rafael Nadal domination at the top

Novak Djokovic ends seven year Roger Federer- Rafael Nadal domination at the top

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal reach Sunday's Wimbledon final

There is no end in sight to Britain's wait at Wimbledon, not with Rafael Nadal of Spain smothering Andy Murray on his home turf once more.

But Novak Djokovic's wait to get to No. 1 in the world is certain to end when next week's computer rankings are released.

Djokovic's deeply convincing, deeply entertaining victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday's first semifinal means that for the first time in more than seven years, someone other than Nadal or Roger Federer of Switzerland will hold the top spot.

"They don't give you a lot of chances to become number one," said Djokovic, a 24-year-old from Serbia who is 47-1 this season. "So I guess you need to lose only one match in seven months to get there. If you can do that, then well done."

Well done then to Djokovic for absorbing all of Tsonga's power, showmanship and momentum on Centre Court and answering with plenty of his own to win 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 6-3.

"I can beat everybody today, but not Djokovic," No. 12 seed Tsonga said. "He was everywhere."

Djokovic and Nadal will meet in Sunday's final.

Djokovic has defeated Nadal four straight times, but top-ranked Nadal has won 20 consecutive matches at Wimbledon.

Though they have not met each other on grass since 2008, Djokovic is 0-2 on the surface against Nadal, who has won two Wimbledon titles.

Djokovic is playing in his first Wimbledon final.

"I think every child has a dream to become something in his life," he said. "We live from those dreams. Obviously I had a big support of my family and people around me that allowed me to have the opportunity to reach that dream, to reach the life goal."

Murray has yet to reach his major goals. Although he seems increasingly comfortable as the annual focal point of Wimbledon — cracking wry comments — he has not been able to give Britain its first men's finalist here since 1938, let alone its first men's champion since 1936.

Nadal beat No. 4 seed Murray 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

Nadal said he was even feeling for Murray during the match.

"I'm not a robot when I'm playing; I think," Nadal said.

"He's the best player without a title of Grand Slam that I ever see."

Rafael Nadal wins sixth consecutive Monte Carlo title

Rafael Nadal produced a devastating display to beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco and secure a sixth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters title.

Nadal won 6-0 6-1 in just one hour and 26 minutes - his 32nd straight victory at the Monte Carlo Country Club.

It is his first tournament win since Rome last May and he has struggled with knee injuries in the meantime.

But the former world number one showed he is back to his best as he dropped 14 games in five matches in Monte Carlo.

The victory also served notice of Nadal's intent to regain the French Open crown he surrendered to Roger Federer last year after four straight titles.

"Last year I did not play well [here] but I won. This year my level is completely different," he said.

"This year is really special for me because I had a little bit of a hard time for the last year.

"I was back to my best level on 1 January. I was ready to win before this tournament."

The 23-year-old becomes the first player to win six consecutive titles at the same tournament since tennis turned professional in 1968, and moves level with Federer on 16 Masters titles - one behind Andre Agassi's record of 17.

"If he plays like this, no one can beat him," said Verdasco. "He beat everyone in six years here and I'm just one of them."

Nadal began in blistering fashion, reeling off the first seven points on the Verdasco serve on his way to a double-break.

One breathtaking backhand cross-court winner left an advancing Verdasco helpless at the net, and there was no let-up from the four-time French Open champion.

After a third break of serve was secured for 5-0, a shell-shocked Verdasco called for assistance and lay flat out at the changeover as the trainer massaged his neck.

The world number 12 was on the ropes early in the second set and did well to hang on, fending off four more break points - one with a huge backhand winner - to finally get a game on the board.

A tortuous afternoon took another bad turn for Verdasco at 1-1 when he made two double-faults in succession and, after gamely saving another two break points, Nadal whipped a mighty forehand across him at the net for the crucial breakthrough.

There was a half-chance for Verdasco at 30-30 in the following game but Nadal found the perfect angle with a sliced backhand to get past him at the net and consolidate his advantage.

A forlorn Verdasco gave up a fifth break as he frustratingly thumped a forehand into the net to fall 4-1 behind moments later.

Verdasco did win the rally of the match in an entertaining game six that included drop shots, lobs, scrambling and smashes, and ended with the challenger falling to his knees in mock celebration as he at last enjoyed a victory of sorts.

But even in such a commanding position, and with the title within his grasp, Nadal battled fiercely to save six break points before using his forehand to dismantle the Verdasco serve yet again - confirming that he remains very much the man to beat on clay.

"I think he had an unbelievable day and he played really good," said Verdasco. "He played really good during the whole week, not only today."

Nadal added: "It was emotional for me. It was my best week for a long time. It's unbelievable, Monte Carlo is my favourite tournament."

Nadal Ensnared in Tennis' Silly Season

Rafael Nadal is weak. His mind is mush. He can't run. What else can we conclude from his performance at the ATP Tour finals?

In three matches, he didn't win a set. Maybe he's finished as a dominant player?

Well, there is one other possibility. The tournament was a disaster.

Great, new sold-out indoor facility. Great to have just the select top players together. But the tournament was not a gathering of the best as much as a sign of a serious problem on tour, one that is costing Nadal.

That's what I'm going with. But the truth is, there are plenty of questions about Nadal, too. It's shocking when a guy known as a warrior says that in decisive moments, he didn't have the "necessary calm.''

But whatever the reason, this tournament was billed as the decider in the great Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal debate. Which will be No. 1 for 2009? Yet we ended up nowhere near a Federer-Nadal final.

We never do. Since their classic Wimbledon final in July of 2008, they have played each other just twice. The sport had a breakthrough moment with that final. And tennis has some momentum, as a recent survey shows. But in trying to milk that momentum, the tour has made demands with a schedule that endangers its best players, its best rivalry.

"Finish(ed) battery,'' Nadal said. "I need to charge a lot.''

This time last year, Nadal owned Federer and was tennis' dominant force, storming the court on every match. Now, he has lost four matches in a row. Storming the court? He isn't even a spring shower anymore.

"Not very disappointing, no,'' he said. "It's disappointing if you arrive here with the feeling that you have a big chance to win. But I didn't arrive here with that feeling ...

"The goal (for next year) is try to play hard and arrive generally in perfect condition. Have the feeling that when you are playing a point, you're not going to have a mistake.''

Nadal looks dangerously spent. The question is whether it's temporary.

You can say it's the result of his excessive work ethic or his throw-everything-into-every-shot style. Those are real issues.


But it's not just him. Andy Roddick didn't come to the tournament because his knee hurts. Federer, who did finish the year No. 1, lost his last two matches, couldn't find the court with his forehand and ran out of steam against Juan Martin del Potro. No. 3 Novak Djokovic was cranky all week, mentally worn out.

In the final Sunday, Del Potro looked like he could he barely find the energy to say "Uncle,'' against Nikolay Davydenko, who won 6-3, 6-4.

Davydenko is the last man standing on the ATP Tour. A short, skinny guy, winning because of his ability to stay consistent and because the top players were unable to find the patience or muscle to put him away.

The tour schedule is far too long and unrelenting. It is an 11-month season.

"I don't think it's coincidental that you see (Andy) Murray and Roger a little bit hurt now, or Rafa missing four months in the middle of the year, or maybe some odd results from del Potro and myself last week,''

Roddick seemed to agree in October, when he called the tour schedule, "ridiculous.''

"I just hope that the short-sightedness doesn't affect the length of players' careers. In tennis you definitely want your stars around as long as possible."

After years in dormancy, tennis has something going here. A survey showed that 30 million Americans played in 2009, up 12 percent from last year and more than 40 percent from 2004.

On top of that, there's a great rivalry to push, and, also, suddenly an American, Roddick, who is resurgent. So it has to be tempting to keep pushing for more.

But it's on the game's governing bodies to put the players in position to be on the court at their best, not their most vulnerable.

Nadal missed time this year with tendinitis in his knees, a wear-and-tear injury. Some people are asking whether he's done, at 23.

The truth is, you can't draw conclusions from this tournament. These weren't really the top players, but shells of them. They were on fumes.

Italians win by one stroke over Sweden, Ireland : Golf

Francesco and Edoardo Molinari became the first brother combination to win the World Cup of Golf, giving Italy its first title in the team event with a one-stroke victory over Sweden and Ireland in Shenzhen, China.

The Molinaris closed with a 4-under-par 68 in the alternate-shot final round on Mission Hills' Olazabal Course. They finished at 29 under and earned $875,000 each in the tournament that featured two rounds of better ball and two of alternate shot.

Francesco, 27, hit a long greenside bunker shot to 3 feet on the 18th to set up a winning par putt by Edoardo, 28.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, the winners last year, shot a 69 to tie for second with Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell (70).

Americans Nick Watney and John Merrick had the best round of the day, a 62 that gave them a seventh-place tie at 20 under.

Spain and Czechs through to final

Spain will host the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final in December after both countries won their semi-finals.

Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez beat Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 to put Cup holders Spain 3-0 up against Israel in the best-of-five tie.

Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych sealed the Czech Republic's win over Croatia with a 6-1 6-3 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko on Saturday.

And Roger Federer helped Switzerland beat Italy in the World Group play-off.

Stepanek and Berdych's triumph came on the back of singles victories for the pair on Friday when the Czech Republic opened up a 2-0 first-day lead in the semi-final, despite Ivo Karlovic firing a record 78 aces.

Karlovic broke his previous ATP record, but still lost in a gruelling five-set match to Stepanek.

In the second singles rubber, Berdych beat Cilic in four sets.

Earlier, champions Spain had secured a 2-0 lead over Israel thanks to convincing singles wins by Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer.

Ferrero thumped Dudi Sela 6-4 6-2 6-0 after Ferrer thrashed Harel Levy.

Spain went into their semi-final without injured top-10 pair Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco but that mattered little with Ferrer and Ferrero both impressing.

"It certainly wasn't as comfortable a win as it might have looked," said Ferrer, a 6-1 6-4 6-3 winner.

While Spain eased to a 2-0 lead, the Czech Republic only opened up their lead after a marathon day's play.

In total, Stepanek and Karlovic played out 81 games before the first break of serve at 14-14 in the decider.

During that time, Karlovic had sent down 78 aces, 23 more than his previous record in losing in this year's French Open first round to Lleyton Hewitt.

"I did my best, but Stepanek was there all the way," Karlovic said.m "After the loss, the serve record means little."

After sealing the decisive break and serving out for a match that lasted just six minutes shy of six hours, Stepanek said: "Everything is known about Karlovic. He really has a phenomenal serve."

In the second rubber, Cilic - who beat Andy Murray in the US Open - went down 6-3 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-3 to world number 18 Berdych.

Meanwhile, Federer helped Switzerland to a 3-2 win over Italy in Genoa to ensure World Group status for another year.

Federer had only just flown back to Europe following his five-set defeat by Juan Martin Del Potro in Monday's US Open final, but beat Simone Bolelli on Friday and then secured the decisive third point with a 6-3 6-0 6-4 win over Potito Starace on Sunday.

"It was a tough weekend for us and I'm happy I could help Switzerland win," said Federer. "I was able to play very well.

"I have to go on holiday badly. I have a problem with my leg, I have a problem with my arm - everything is hurting."

Other World Group play-off winners were Belgium, Chile, Ecuador, France, India, Serbia and Sweden.

Andy Murray sees off Bolelli in Madrid

Andy Murray battled his way into the third round of the Madrid Open with a 7-6 (11-9) 6-4 win over Simone Bolelli.

The Briton was pushed hard by the world number 61 in the first set, coming through several mini-breaks in the tie-break, but one break took the second.

Murray, the world number three, will play Tommy Robredo in the last 16.

There were opening wins for second seed Roger Federer and seventh seed Fernando Verdasco, but ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lost to Ivan Ljubicic.

The only time Murray and Bolelli had met before this encounter was indoors on hard courts at the Madrid Masters in October, with the Scot leading 6-0 2-1 when the Italian retired.

But it was a different experience this time for Murray, who turns 22 on Friday, now that the event has moved to his least-favoured surface of clay.

Having lost on clay in the second round of the Rome Masters two weeks ago, the signs were not always good in a first set that lasted over an hour and went to a gruelling tie-break.

Murray grabbed a 4-2 lead before Bolelli fought back and earned two set points, but the third seed stayed calm and came through thanks to a long forehand from the 23-year-old Italian.

The second set followed a similar pattern, although Bolelli did have a break point on the seventh game that he failed to convert.

And went it came to the crunch 10th game experience was the difference, with Bolelli surviving one break point by firing down an ace but failing to save the next when he struck his effort into the net.

"I felt fairly good on the court, I hardly missed a ball the whole match," said Murray. "The first set was tough. I played some good points and overall was very happy with how I played."

The British number one said he had taken a leaf out of Rafael Nadal's book, having practised with the world number one earlier in the week.

"If you watch someone like Rafa at the start of matches you will see him a long way behind the baseline making a lot of balls, trying to play solid and the more confidence he gets he moves closer and closer to the baseline, and that's what I did today."

And Murray expects another tough test from the experienced Robredo.

"Tommy moves well and puts in high percentage of first serves," said Murray.

"He has a great forehand like many of the Spanish players. He rarely gives away much in a match. But I like the conditions here, they're much quicker than other clay surfaces I've played on in the last few weeks. I have to use my serve well though."

Meanwhile, Federer began his campaign with a straightforward win 6-1 7-5 over Sweden's Robin Soderling.

"It's about playing well and getting ready for Paris," said the Swiss. "It's good to get through the first match and hopefully build on this and play a bit better in my next match."

Verdasco eased into the third round, breaking the serve of fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero five times en route to a 6-3 6-2 victory.

Croatia's Ljubicic upset Frenchman Tsonga 6-4 7-5, while Spaniard Robredo beat American Mardy Fish 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 and Russian 10th seed Nikolay Davydenko beat Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-2 6-2.

Top seed Nadal faces Juergen Melzer on Wednesday after the Austrian defeated Albert Montanes 4-6 7-5 6-3.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson in front in foggy Dubai

Sweden's Henrik Stenson hit a bogey-free 65 to move 11 under and take the clubhouse lead on a weather-affected second day at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Stenson is one shot ahead of Australian Richard Green, who shot 63, and three clear of Sergio Garcia in third.

Overnight leader Rory McIlroy dropped a shot before having to abandon his second round after just three holes.

Fog delayed the start on Friday, so play will begin at 0335 GMT on Saturday in a bid to make up lost time.

The first day was also affected by fog and Stenson arrived at the course at 6am local time to complete a first-round 68.

But he recovered superbly to take the overnight lead courtesy of an eight-foot birdie putt on his 25th and final hole of the day.

"I was a little bit disappointed with the finish to the first round, I felt like I threw a couple away but I gave hardly anything away in the afternoon," said the 32-year-old.

"I had a good touch around the greens and made some good saves and chip-ins and putts.

"It was a grinding day but when I hit bad shots I recovered well and made some good birdies on the good shots."

Tournament officials will hope for a prompt start on Saturday, which should allow the third round leaders to complete nine holes before returning on Sunday morning ahead of their final rounds.

But should fog again delay the start, officials will have to decide whether to extend the tournament until Monday or opt to cut the $2.5m event to 54 holes, depending on the length of any delay.

Stenson extends lead in Sun City

Sweden's Henrik Stenson will take an eight-shot lead into the final round of the Sun City Challenge in South Africa.

Stenson had to complete his second round early after lightning stopped play on Friday and he carded a 71.

The 32-year-old added a seven-under-par 65 for 17 under overall. Fellow Swede Robert Karlsson fired a third-round 67 and is nine under for the tournament.

South Africa's Rory Sabbatini is six under, America's Kenny Perry five under and England's Lee Westwood four under.

Pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia of Spain could only manage a level-par 72 and is 15 shots adrift of Stenson.

Luke Donald carded a 71 and is three shots further back at one over par and fellow Englishman Justin Rose is two over after a third-round 72.

Stenson is now within striking distance of the tournament record of 25 under par set by Ernie Els in 1999.

"My priority tomorrow is just to win," said the world number 12. "I'm not going to focus on the record, just play hole by hole and see where it goes.

"It will be fun playing with Robert [Karlsson] tomorrow. I'm sure he will go out and try to put me under pressure early on so I just need to keep my head down."

Bolton 0-2 Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka returned to haunt his former club with the opener as Chelsea returned to winning ways in impressive fashion at the Reebok Stadium.

The Frenchman put Chelsea ahead when he headed home Jose Bosingwa's cross after nine minutes, and Deco wrapped up the points with a superb scissors-kick.

The Blues had chances for a third, but Bolton responded valiantly late on.

Gary Cahill wasted their best chance, though, as Chelsea set a new record of 11 straight top-flight away victories.

It surpassed the record set by Tottenham in 1960 and Chelsea will be encouraged by the omens as Spurs went on to win the league in the 1960-61 season.

And Luiz Felipe Scolari will know that if Chelsea can replicate their away form at Stamford Bridge they will be in with a shout come next May, for this was a fine win that keeps up the pressure on leaders Liverpool, who also won.

The hosts came into the match on the back of four wins in five matches but, with Chelsea unbeaten at Bolton since 1997, the Trotters could have done without Kevin Davies missing a header when unmarked from Gavin McCann's corner.

It was a chance the striker would normally expect to get on target and he was made to pay when, barely a minute later, Chelsea were ahead.

Bosingwa was the creator, the right-back clipping a perfect cross into the area for Anelka to head in off the post to mark his first match against Bolton since his £15m departure with a goal.

Bolton responded but, apart from a Matthew Taylor long-ranger and a series of uncharacteristic flaps at crosses from Petr Cech, rarely threatened.

And on 21 minutes Deco showed the hosts how it is done in emphatic style, the Portuguese playmaker latching on to Michael Ballack's flick with a superb scissors-kick that flew into the corner.

Given the Blues' ruthlessness away from home, the second goal was the last thing Bolton needed. Chelsea were able to soak up pressure and hit the hosts on the break, with Deco guilty of a poor miss when he shot wide when through.

However, Bolton refused to give in and, to their credit, caused the odd moment of panic in the Chelsea box.

Twice the visitors had strong appeals for a penalty waved away, first when John Terry appeared to block Johan Elmander's shot with his arm - though it was by his side - and then when the same player handled Davies's header.

Both would have been harsh, though, and it was Cahill that missed the Trotters' best chance, diving on to Davies's flick-on only for Cech to beat his header away from goal.

It proved the Trotters' final chance and their brave second-half display was, ultimately, to no avail, Chelsea seeing out their first win in three matches.
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Chelsea assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins:
"It was a great win for us. When we needed to fight, we fought, and when we could we played good football and made some very good chances, so we're delighted.

"We're not too concerned about the record, all we're worried about is silverware so this was all about three points.

"Of course our away form is exceptional but no-one here is worried about our home form. That will come, I'm sure."

Bolton manager Gary Megson:
"You can always take positives out of a game once you sit and analyse it but at this moment in time I'm disappointed - not just with the result, but with the way we played in the first half.

"We always try to push on against teams and take the game to them - get in their face, to use a players' expression - but we just weren't intense enough in the opening half.

"Ultimately, it has cost us because you can't expect to give a team like Chelsea a two-goal lead and get away with it. Yes, we did better in the second half, but by then it was too late."
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Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel (Smolarek 80), Davies, McCann, Nolan, Muamba (Gardner 46), Taylor, Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi.

Booked: Davies, Andrew O'Brien.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ivanovic 89), Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Kalou (Ferreira 83), Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Sinclair, Mineiro, Stoch, Woods.

Booked: Ballack.

Goals: Anelka 9, Deco 21.

Att: 22,023

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Alexandre Gaydamak ready to sell Portsmouth

Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak has put the club up for sale.

The 32-year-old Franco-Russian businessman cited growing business commitments for his decision.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I have come to realise over a period of time that I can no longer invest the time required to oversee the running of the club."

However, Gaydamak said he will not sell to anyone without a guarantee they will commit to funding a new stadium and training ground for the club.

Gaydamak became co-owner of Portsmouth, alongside then-chairman Milan Mandaric, in January 2006.

He bought out Mandaric at a cost of about £32m to solely take the helm at Fratton Park in July that same year, and set out his strategy to find a new stadium and training facilities for the club.

Gaydamak insists he will now seek assurances that any potential buyer will ensure those ambitions become reality.

He said: "As regards the new stadium and training ground it is sensible to re-evaluate things in the current market, but I stress that it is imperative that they go ahead.

"And until I find a buyer who will give me cast iron assurances that this will be the case, I will remain at the club.

"I have already rejected two offers for the club because I didn't feel the buyers' motives were in the best interests of the club's long-term future.

"Making money from the sale of the club does not interest me. Finding the right buyer is far more important."

Being Bad (at Sports) Can Be Good

So you can pay $149 to be told whether your child has a gene that may or may not be linked with athletic ability. That is the news on yesterday’s front page, where Juliet Macur wrote about a newly released product from Atlas Sports Genetics, which allows parents learn whether their child carries the version of a gene, called ACTN3, that makes for physical power or the version that makes for endurance.

I will leave it to others to debate what this means for the future of sports. And let’s ignore for the purposes of this conversation the fact that the test really doesn’t predict anything with real certainty.

But let’s say that you really could gauge, with a swab inside the mouth, your child’s chances of dominating at track and being just mediocre at football. And let’s focus on what the possibility of such a test means for parenting.

What I fear it would become is one more way for parents to insure that their children never learn to fail. In her latest book, “Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: Powerful, Practical Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Resilience, Flexibility and Happiness,” the psychologist Tamar Chansky argues that this is one of the most fundamental jobs of a parent, and one we don’t tend to do very well. (Her book even includes scripts for how to walk a child through failure for those of us who need the guidance.)

If you never fail, she writes, you never learn that you can pick yourself back up again. And that’s a lesson best learned young, while your center of gravity is low and it doesn’t hurt as much to fall down.

Yesterday’s article opens with a quote from the mother of a 2 year old, who is watching her toddler struggle through a soccer lesson and who thinks a genetic test for sports aptitude would be a grand idea.

“I could see how some people might think the test would pigeonhole your child into doing fewer sports or being exposed to fewer things, but I still think it’s good to match them with the right activity,” the mother said. “I think it would prevent a lot of parental frustration.”

But isn’t that very frustration, particularly for the child, the point of sports — the point of growing up — in the first place?

I was an ice skater as a kid. Years of 5 a.m. patch sessions taught me I wasn’t a very good ice skater. It also taught me that ice skating could be fun and that I could move on.

My boys, in turn, have cycled through soccer, karate, wrestling, baseball, swimming, football, fencing, snowboarding and a few others I have probably forgotten. Along the way they found they love tennis and golf.

If a test had clued me into that fact at birth, they might have gotten an earlier start and been more competitive for it. But they might also have been cheated of half the journey, the part where they learn what they aren’t great at, what they have to worker harder at than others — and where they also learn that that’s just fine.

FIFA satisfied with meeting of the sports ministers of the European Union

Following the meeting of the European sports ministers that took place in Biarritz, France on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 November, to which the Olympic and sporting movement was also invited, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said: "I am satisfied with the coming together of viewpoints and the strong support for the notions of specificity, autonomy and self-regulation of sport that was demonstrated by the 27 European ministers during the meeting in Biarritz. The unanimous support of the ministers and their desire for dialogue point towards a bright future for the Olympic and sporting movement."

The unity and desire for structured dialogue with the European authorities shown by the Olympic and sporting movement, led by Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, who made an impressive speech at the meeting, coupled with the backing given among others by the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, the International Ice Hockey Federation, the International Basketball Federation, the International Rugby Board and UEFA, give cause for great satisfaction at the progress of the discussions.

A private meeting between the FIFA President and the European Commissioner Jan Figel allowed both parties to allay certain doubts regarding the application of the specificity and autonomy of sport.

Blatter is equally delighted by the unanimous agreement voiced by the 27 European sports ministers on the need for dialogue and discussion of the "6+5" rule while respecting its compatibility with EU law.

The 27 European sports ministers issued the following joint statement with regard to the "6+5" rule: "... the ministers express their interest in and want to encourage further discussions on the initiatives of international federations to encourage the teams of professional clubs in each country to develop the presence of athletes capable of qualifying for national teams, in compliance with EU law, to strengthen the regional and national rules of professional clubs."

The FIFA President also spoke about the measures being taken by FIFA to protect minors and training clubs. These met with the appreciation of the European ministers.

Forum mulls enhanced EU sports role

The first European Sports Forum, held last week in the French town of Biarritz, kicked off a renewed EU-level stakeholder dialogue between the sector and the European Commission in view of a future EU competence on sport.

Around 200 representatives of European sports organisations, national sport confederations, National Olympic Committees and international sports stakeholders took stock of the implementation of the 2007 White Paper on Sport and discussed grassroots sports financing.

The Commission noted declining solidarity in sports funding as a result of increased internationalisation and competitiveness of professional sport, launching an independent study into the financing of grassroots sport in the EU 27 in early 2009.

The study will examine the sources of sports financing, covering national regulatory aspects that have an impact on funding streams related to the application of EU law, such as national monopolies on gambling.

A significant part of the forum was dedicated to the specific nature of sport. Here, the discussions mainly focused on football's disputed '6 5 rule' , proposed by FIFA to limit the number of foreign players in club competitions. The EU executive and the European Parliament argue that such a rule would constitute discrimination based on nationality and break Community law, which guarantees freedom of movement for workers.

EU sports ministers, an an informal meeting connected with the forum, asked the Commission to consider the matter of 6+5 and come up with a solution. Ministers also echoed a previous call from the European Parliament and the sports movement for EU executive to provide sports organisations clearer legal guidelines on the application of EU law.

Positions:
Several sports stakeholders told EurActiv that it was "a pity" that the forum's programme was dominated by long presentations and speeches, leaving no time for real discussion or dialogue between stakeholders.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter welcomed EU sports ministers' support for "the need for dialogue and discussion of the '6+5 rule' while respecting its compatibility with EU law".

"Sport does not aspire to put itself above the law," UEFA President Michel Platini told the ministers, "but it is specific. Sport is not an economic activity like any other. Football is a game rather than just a product or a market. It is a spectacle rather than just a business".

Platini urged Europe to change its stance, arguing "sporting equity and competition balance cannot be submitted to arbitrary market laws". Europe must "take inspiration from sport, instead of imposing on sport unsound ideological models which have been pre-manufactured elsewhere," he said, calling on the European Commission to provide more legal certainty and adopt guidelines allowing professional football to remain within European law without compromising its autonomy.

Mogens Kirkeby, president of the International Sport and Culture Association, warned that general economic stagnation would lead to a decrease in the overall financial resources available for sport. "A strong international and national focus on the elite sport after the Olympic Games, will create a competition on the available resources within the sport sector and it will put grassroots sport under economic pressure," he said.

Kirkeby thinks that more sectors must be inspired and encouraged to contribute financial resources to grassroots sport. "The starting point for such involvement of other public and private financial partners is the instrumental abilities [such as contribution to health or social integration] of grassroots sport," he added.

Echoing Kirkeby's concerns about the imbalance in attention and funding given to elite and grassroot sport, Enrique Sanchez-Guijo Acevedo, president of the European Paralympic Committee, said there was no doubt that competitive sport was "a very complex reality and that it merits profound analysis".

However, he underlined that elite sport is nourished by grassroot sports. "We cannot take the risk of over-talking about elite sports while losing sight of its essential backbone: base sports," he said.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Golden Ball award

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the fourth Manchester United player to take the honour and the first since fellow winger George Best in 1968.

Ronaldo's brilliant scoring form helped him beat Barcelona striker Lionel Messi into second place, while Liverpool forward Fernando Torres was third in the poll results announced overnight by France Football magazine.

Ronaldo dominated the voting, tallying 446 points. Messi had 281 points and Torres had 179.

That gave Ronaldo two points more than Kaka won last year's award with.

Ronaldo was second last year with 277, while Messi was third with 255. Kaka, Milan's Brazilian playmaker, was eighth this time with only 31 points.

Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions last season as United won the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo adds the Ballon d'Or award to the FIFA Pro World Player of the Year trophy he won in October, and the Professional Footballers Association and the Football Writers awards.

He also becomes the first Premier League player to win since former Liverpool forward Michael Owen in 2001, and the first Portuguese player since winger Luis Figo won it with Real Madrid in 2000.

France Football's award was decided by an annual poll of football journalists with a short list of 30 players.

Following Portugal's disappointing showing at the European Championship in June, Ronaldo underwent an operation to his troublesome right ankle injury in July that then kept him sidelined until September 17.

Sweden in stunning World Cup win-Golf

Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson overturned a three-shot deficit to seal a dramatic World Cup victory for Sweden at Mission Hills in China.

The Swedes scored a nine-under 63 to see off Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal.

Japan and Australia tied for third, while England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher carded 67 to end in sixth, 12 shots off the pace.

Defending champions Scotland, led by Colin Montgomerie, were 20 shots back.

Sweden, pre-tournament favourites, started the final day four behind Spain, but five early birdies fired them up the leaderboard.

Karlsson and Stenson, the two highest-ranked players in the event, were in blistering form and pulled into the outright lead with four more birdies on the back nine to finish on 27-under.

Joint overnight leaders Australia carded a disappointing 76 to finish eight shots behind the winners, level with Japanese pairing Ryuji Imada and Toru Taniguchi.

It was the second World Cup win for Sweden after Per-Ulrik Johansson and Anders Forsbrand's 1991 triumph in Rome.

Stenson, who despite enjoying a fine season in 2008 failed to secure any victories, said: "I thought it was our turn today.

"I was starting to run out of tournaments, so it was nice to win this one. It has been a while.

"This is my third last. So I've got two more to go in South Africa. But winning for Sweden is nice."

After a strong finish by England, Poulter was left to rue missed opportunities, after being unable to match their third-round 63.

"We should have had a chance to win this golf tournament. That's what we come here for," Poulter said.

"It didn't happen on Thursday and Friday and that's just such a shame to be so far out of the picture."

Ireland's Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell suffered their worst round of the tournament with a five-over 77 to drop to 16th.

Scotland's Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth were unable to defend the World Cup to finish seven-under-par, tied for 19th place.