TENNIS:The Hungarian-born teenager Mariyana Levova, whose express desire is to play for Ireland, coasted to victory over Alexandra Bonte of the US in the international tennis federation's junior quarter-finals at Donnybrook yesterday, reports Pat Roche.
The jaunty Levova - who covers every inch of the court with verve and imagination and will be an automatic Federation Cup pick whenever her Irish passport arrives - duly claimed her semi-final place with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over the seventh seed.
Levova had the athleticisim, ground shots and angles to beat the formidable Bonte and progress to face Britain's Laura Gilbert, the sixth seed, today.
It was, however, the end of the road in singles for Cork's Niamh Coveney.
She was beaten by Britain's Lisa Whybourn but it took the visitor over two hours to win 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.
The match hinged on the second-set tie breaker, won by Whybourn on the 18th point.
Carlow's Tommy Murphy put up a great battle against the seventh seed, Chris Harrison of Britain, only to succumb after over an hour's play.
The top-seeded Alex Bull of Britain duly went through to today's semi-finals, beating John Morrissey of the local club, 6-2, 6-4.
Bull would appear to have the equipment to go the full way but he faces a little-known challenger in today's semi-finals: Italy's Alessander Biga, the fifth seed.
Scotland lose Hall services
RUGBY:Scotland hooker Dougie Hall (26) has been ruled out of the World Cup after tearing medial ligaments in his left knee while training on Monday.
Scotland team doctor James Robson said, "The average recovery time for this type of injury is 12 to 16 weeks."
The Wallabies have been promised a cash bonus of €88,000 per player if they win the World Cup.
The Australian Rugby Union announced yesterday they had agreed each of the 30 squad members would get €6,500 for making the semi-finals, an extra €27,100 for making the final and an additional €54,400 if they win the final, taking the total to €88,000.
Andrew Farley will skipper Connacht next season, taking over from his Ireland A international colleague John Fogarty.
Cragg posts 3,000m best
ATHLETICS:Alistair Cragg produced his second fast run within five days when posting an impressive third place over 3,000 metres at the Monaco Grand Prix meeting last night, reports Ian O'Riordan.
His 7:32.49 was a six-second improvement on his best, and second in Irish terms only to Mark Carroll's 7:30.36, set on the same track in 1998.
It came on the heels of Cragg's 5,000-metre PB of 13:07.10 in Belgium last Saturday and suggests he can make the 5,000 metres final at next month's World Championships in Osaka. Victory last night went to the world-record holder Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, who clocked 7:29.35.
Cragg will have one more race before Osaka, running the two-mile event at the London Grand Prix on Friday week.
Muller names Euro squad
HOCKEY:Coach Gene Muller yesterday named his Ireland squad of 18 for the European Nations Championship in Manchester from August 18th to the 25th.
The squad is a blend experience and youth. Eimear Cregan, Linda Caulfield, Jenny McDonough, Ciara O'Brien, Cathy McKean and Jill Orbinson played in the 2005 Europeans and are expected to provide the leadership.
For seven others this will be their first exposure to a European Championship.
Emma Stewart is back in the squad after recovering form a fractured foot.
IRELAND SQUAD:Eimear Cregan, Linda Caulfield, Emma Clarke, Roisin Flinn, Mary Goode, Emer Harte, Louisa Healy, Jenny McDonagh, Shirley McCay, Cathy McKean, Bridget McKeever, Ciara O'Brien, Julia O'Halloran, Jill Orbinson, Clare Parkhill, Alex Speers, Emma Stewart, Nikki Symmons.
