A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Serena Williams fined but avoids ban
TENNIS: Serena Williams has been fined €1,500 but avoided a ban from the game after tournament officials decided her US Open final outburst did not constitute a major offence.
The 29-year-old was given a code violation for verbal abuse during the women’s singles final, which she lost to Sam Stosur, when she harangued umpire Eva Asderaki and then continued to insult the official at the next change of ends, calling her “out of control”, a “hater” and “unattractive inside”.
Williams was playing under a suspended ban from the 2009 tournament, when her infamous verbal attack on a lineswoman cost her a point penalty in the semi-final against Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, which could have seen her barred from the 2012 US Open for another major offence.
Williams was battling to hang on to her serve at the start of the second and thought she had saved a second break point when she let out a huge cry of “come on”.
But the ball had not yet reached Stosur and, under Grand Slam rules, a deliberate hindrance, such as an intentional shout during a point, sees the perpetrator lose the point.
The decision was greeted with an angry response by the American, who went on to lose 6-2 6-3 to hand Australia’s Stosur her first Grand Slam title.
Gannon makes return to Connacht
RUGBY: Connacht coach Eric Elwood has re-signed former Irish under-21 captain David Gannon to deal with a mounting secondrow injury crisis.
Gannon made 68 appearances in four seasons with Connacht, departing in 2008 and spending six months with Southland in New Zealand before signing for Exeter Chiefs. The 28-year old left Exeter at the end of last season and had returned to university in Dublin when Elwood came calling.
Gannon will provide cover for lock David Nolan, who is set to miss most of the campaign having suffered a broken leg in a pre-season game against Exeter.
Andrew Browne has also picked up an injury, leaving Elwood short on options in the secondrow.
ICC announce twin-track qualifying for World Cup
CRICKET: Ireland will have two opportunities to earn a place at the next 50-over World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday confirmed their plans on how the four spots available to the non-Test playing nations will be decided, writes Emmet Riordan.
The top two teams from the eight-team 50-over league competition that commenced earlier in the summer will automatically qualify for the event in Australia in 2015.
The remaining six teams will be joined by Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea, who finished third and fourth in division two of the World Cricket League, and the two sides that finish first and second in the division three competition, which will be held in 2013. The 10 teams will then take part in a qualifier, with the top two sides earning the final places in the World Cup.
Ireland won their two opening games against Namibia at the beginning of July and have named a full-strength squad, including a fit-again Trent Johnston, for their two games against Canada next Monday and Tuesday in Clontarf.
The two sides open their four-day Intercontinental Cup clash at Rathmines today (10.30am), with Ireland looking to continue their fine opening to the competition after a five-wicket win over Namibia in Stormont last week.
Jones ruled out until next year
RUGBY:Munster and Ireland's Felix Jones will not play rugby again before Christmas, writes Johnny Watterson.
The talented young back, who was forced out of contention for Ireland’s World Cup squad with a foot injury picked up in the home game against France, saw a specialist in London on Friday, who said a return before the New Year was unlikely.
Mike Sherry, Denis Hurley and BJ Botha return to full training and may feature in Munster’s game against Llanelli at the weekend in Musgrave Park.
Frontrow Peter Borlase is out for five weeks, while Troy Smith undergoes surgery today for a cruciate ligament injury.
Meanwhile, Leinster’s Kiwi outhalf Mat Berquist is out for four months with a knee injury. Coach Joe Schmidt expects to have Luke Fitzgerald back for this week’s match against Glasgow, also after a knee injury.
Jets complete great comeback
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: A late interception by New York Jets' Darrelle Revis of a pass from Dallas quaterback Tony Romo helped the home side complete a remarkable turnaround as they won 27-24 at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey.
Revis’s pick led to Nick Folk’s game-winning 50-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining, as the Jets scored the final 17 points to stun the Cowboys in the season opener.
The Philadelphia Eagles overpowered the St Louis Rams 31-13 as Michael Vick threw for two touchdowns and 187 yards, and ran for 98 more.
Rookie quarterback Cam Newton made a record-breaking debut for the Carolina Panthers in their 21-18 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the first quarterback to throw over 400 yards on debut.
The Indianapolis Colts could be in for a long season without Peyton Manning as they suffered a blowout 34-7 loss to the Houston Texans.
Bolt seeks redemption in Zagreb
ATHLETICS: Usain Bolt is seeking redemption for his world championship 100 metres final disqualification in tonight's Grand Prix meeting in Zagreb.
“I look at this as an opportunity to make up for the world championship, I am looking forward to this,” the Jamaican, who holds the 100 metres world record, told a news conference in the Croatian capital yesterday.
The Zagreb Grand Prix will be Bolt’s first 100 metres race since his controversial disqualification for a false start in the final in Daegu, South Korea last month.
“I am coming here to do my best, to try to run fast. I missed out on the world championship, so I want to see how fast I could have gone. I am still feeling good. I am pretty confident and am just looking forward to it,” Bolt added.
“I am focused, determined to be the best at what I do, so I am just looking forward to the rest of my season and the rest of my career.”
