Snooker: Defending champion Ken Doherty chalked up a handsome opening win over Maltese professional Alex Borgat at the Rothmans Malta Grand Prix on Tuesday night.

The highlight of the Irishman's 5-1 success was a break of 131 while he also compiled runs of 73, 115, 77 and 79.

It was his first match since losing to fellow Dubliner Fergal O'Brien in the quarter-finals of the Benson and Hedges Masters.

"I wasn't in the mood to practise last week after Wembley," said the former world champion.

Welsh snooker star Matthew Stevens played the toughest match of his career after opting to take his place in the starting line-up despite the recent death of his father, Morrell, whose funeral was last Thursday.

"My mind wasn't really on the job," admitted the 23-yearold World number six after an eventful opening 5-3 success over local professional Joe Grech.

Boxing: World heavyweight Lennox Lewis has agreed to fight Mike Tyson. Lewis, WBC and IBF champion, has responded to the challenge issued by Tyson's management team on Tuesday.

The fight could take place as early June, although dates have yet to be finalised.

Tennis: Tim Henman began his bid for the ABN/AMRO World Tennis Tournament title with a hardfought first round win over German Jens Knippschild in Rotterdam yesterday.

The British number one, who became Copenhagen Open champion on Sunday, lost the first set to Knippschild before fighting his way back into the match. If it was a hangover from Copenhagen, where he won the seventh ATP title of his career, it was one he fought off to come out a 4-6 6-3 6-4 winner.