Sports Digest/ TENNIS: Roger Federer broke Rafael Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay to take the Hamburg Masters title with a 2-6 6-2 6-0 victory in the final yesterday.
The world number one, who had never beaten the Spaniard on his favourite surface, started dreadfully, but hit back with style to force a decider.
Federer edged ahead with a break in game two and then stormed through the rest of the set to win the Hamburg tournament for the fourth time and give himself a boost as he prepares for a crack at Nadal's French Open title, starting next week.
Nadal had won 13 consecutive clay-court titles, including the last two French Opens, during a winning run dating back to April 2005.
Arvesen best in Giro sprint
CYCLING: Kurt-Asle Arvesen of the CSC team won the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia from Barberino di Mugello to Fiorano Modenese yesterday.
The Norwegian beat world champion Paolo Bettini of Italy and Kazakhstan's Assan Bazayev in a sprint finish after being part of a 22-rider attack.
Italy's Marco Pinotti finished in the main field, four minutes and 19 seconds behind Arvesen, but retained the overall race lead.
Today's 177-km ninth stage is from Reggio Emilia to Lido di Camaiore on the Tuscan coast.
Gregan won't lead Wallabies
RUGBY: George Gregan has lost the captaincy of Australia for the Tests against Wales and the Tri-Nations.
Gregan (34), has returned to the Wallabies squad after sitting out the November tour to Europe, but Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh have been named as joint captains through to the World Cup.
The decision is a clear indication Gregan, the world's most capped player, is no longer a guaranteed selection at scrumhalf. Matt Giteau made a huge impression on the November tour and is widely tipped to be Australia's World Cup scrumhalf.
Gregan, who has led Australia since John Eales retired in 2001, plans to quit after the World Cup to take up a contract with French club Toulon.
Ryan wins at Punchestown
EQUESTRIAN: Michael Ryan came out on top at the finish of the Fáilte Ireland two-star competition at the Punchestown three-day event yesterday, writes Grania Willis.
The Cork-based Tipperary rider was in overnight second after a clear inside the time across country on Saturday with Master Mexico and, despite hitting a fence in the showjumping, the pair overhauled leader Oliver Townend when the Briton left two rails on the floor.
There was another Irish winner at the Co Kildare track when Sara Glynn and Killossery Ringwood claimed the young rider honours by a massive margin from Sharon Crosse.
Luna Rossa in final series
SAILING: Italian syndicate Luna Rossa claimed their place in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup after another emphatic victory over BMW Oracle Racing off Valencia, Spain, yesterday.
Oracle decided to ring the changes by dropping skipper Chris Dickson for the must-win race, but it was to no avail as the Italians romped home to take an unassailable 5-1 lead in the best-of-nine series against the big-budget American syndicate.
It was a surprisingly emphatic victory for the Italians who rounded every single mark in the race-offs in first place.
Luna Rossa, who won the LV Cup in 2000, will meet either Emirates Team New Zealand or Spanish outfit Desafio Espanol in the final which will begin on June 1st.
Lightweight four disappoint
ROWING: Two poor performances by Ireland's top boat, the lightweight four, at the weekend could spell the end of the crew as it stands, writes Liam Gorman.
They could finish only fourth and sixth in the early-season Huegelregatta in Essen on Saturday and Sunday, leaving national coach Harald Jahrling speaking yesterday of going "to the drawing board".
"It overall didn't work at this regatta. We have to look at making a change within the crew, or something like that. It's sort of a result where you need to sleep over it and go to the drawing board."
Ireland's heavyweight four won on both days, but single sculler Sean Jacob was well down the field in the finals on both days.
