TENNIS: The indoor courts at Castleknock came as a blessing to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) officials yesterday as the rain seemed relentless, but the change of scene did not bother Ireland's Rachael Dillon on her way into today's semi-finals in the Women's Irish Open championship, reports Pat Roche.
The Donnybrook girl became one of two unseeded players to make it to the penultimate stage when she clinically dismantled the very useful game of Dutch entry Bibiane Schooes for a 6-3, 6-3 win.
Schooes had already shown her potential by ousting world-ranked Paula Marama of New Zealand in the opening rounds, but Dillon's serve and early well-placed returns posed problems for her opponent.
From the frying pan into the fire could be one way of describing Dillon's next outing, for she faces Australian top-seed Emily Hewson today. Hewson's form can be erratic, although she has yet to lose a set.
Suzanne van Hartings, from the Netherlands, faces unseeded Britain's Nathasa Khan in the other semi-final.
TENNIS: World number one Roger Federer has again demonstrated his power over his country's tennis association by effectively ousting Swiss Davis Cup captain Marc Rosset.
Swiss Tennis said Rosset had been sacked following a vote by team members. Federer said he personally informed Rosset of the decision. Rosset was put forward as captain by Federer in 2002, following a similar fall-out between the team and Rosset's predecessor Jakob Hlasek.
BOXING: Light-heavyweight Roy Jones Jr will return to the ring to fight top-ranked Antonio Tarver for a third time on October 1st. The pay-per-view bout between the 36-year-old Florida rivals will probably be held in Las Vegas. Jones won the first fight by majority decision in November, 2003. Tarver knocked out Jones in the second round of their rematch in May, 2004.
MOTOR RACING: The confusion surrounding the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship worsened yesterday after the British government postponed an announcement intended to clarify Formula One's position.
The ban is due to come into effect on Sunday, the day of the Hungarian grand prix, but the teams do not know what is prohibited in terms of carrying tobacco liveries and the transmission of pictures by UTV. Three British teams still carry tobacco branding - BAR-Honda, Renault and Jordan.
Meanwhile, former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert has been appointed the sporting relations manager at Jordan. The 41-year-old drove for the team in Formula 3000.
MOTOR RACING: Jos Verstappen, Formula One's most successful Dutch driver, will compete in the new Dubai-based A1 Grand Prix series starting in September.
Verstappen, world champion Michael Schumacher's team-mate at Benetton in 1994, left Formula One in 2003 after a final season with Minardi.
The 12-race series has been billed as the World Cup of motorsport, with national teams competing during the winter months in Britain, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico, the United States and China. The participating cars will all be the same.
SWIMMING: Karen Pickering has confirmed her retirement from international competition. The 33-year-old, who became Britain's first female world champion when she won the 200m freestyle in 1993, is to make her final appearance at next week's Commonwealth trials at Ponds Forge.
