14 Wednesday 5th January, 2011

injured finger will be fully Hopman Cup recovered. Waugh reckons Ponting, who failed to weigh in with a knock of any signifi- Murray and cance in the series before Waugh: injuring his finger, won’t sim- Robson suffer ply walk back into the starting XI. narrow defeat “Usman Khawaja batted very well, he had a lot of poise, to Italy Khawaja the temperament’s good. He looks like he’s ready to bat number Great Britain’s Hopman three for Australia,” he added. Cup campaign got off “Ricky, he’s been a great to a disappointing start player at number three. That’s on Monday with Andy future of going to be a tough call for Murray and Laura selectors. There’s going to be a Robson losing to Italy lot of opinion. Ricky has been by the narrowest of a great number three and prob- margins. ably will continue to be a great Jet lag is the enemy on Australian number three but Khawaja, the the international way he played on Monday, he’s scene, even for those Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, left reacts after scoring had such poise and he’s defi- who turn left on board- against Getafe during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Coliseum nitely the future of Australian ing planes, so it was Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Monday Jan. 3, 2011. cricket going forward.” hardly surprising that (AP Photo/Paul White) cricket Andy Murray, having BY JOSEPH WILSON flown through 13 time- much more compact and concentrat- horoughly impressed zones from his training BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - ed. My team has to defend better, that by Usman Khawaja’s base in Miami to arrive Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally to 19 is its identity.” Tfirst foray into Test in Perth on New Year’s goals in 17 matches with a double in Getafe tried to take the match to cricket, former captain Day, found himself play- Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Getafe on its cross-town rivals, but Madrid’s Steve Waugh believes ing through a fug of Monday as Jose Mourinho’s side attack of Ronaldo, Oezil, Angel Di Australia face a tough tiredness. stayed within two points of Spanish Maria and Karim Benzema picked choice in returning Ricky Just a couple of days league leader Barcelona. them apart. Ponting to his position at after swapping south In an frenetic Spanish capital Ronaldo had scored a double in three in the batting order Florida for Western derby, Ronaldo and Mesut Oezil gave last season’s fixture at the Alfonso when he returns from Australia, Murray had Madrid an early 2-0 advantage before Perez stadium and was on his way to injury. difficulties with his Daniel Parejo pulled one back for the repeating the effort when he got The 24-year-old Khawaja breathing in the heat home side. Madrid’s opener from the penalty replaced Ponting for the and humidity of the Ronaldo added Madrid’s third spot 11 minutes in. Winger Di Maria ongoing fifth and final indoor stadium in Perth early in the second half and with the earned the spot-kick when he was Ashes clash in Sydney, scor- as he and Laura game apparently won, Kaka made his held up by defender Jose Manuel ing a composed 37 as Robson lost their open- first appearance for Madrid since “Mane” Jimenez. England and their hosts ing Hopman Cup match having surgery after the World Cup. Eight minutes later, Di Maria put shared the spoils on a rain- to Italy’s Potito Starace However, Madrid went down a Oezil through the centre of the affected opening day. and Francesca man when Alvaro Arbeloa was sent Getafe defence and the “Usman Khawaja batted Schiavone. playmaker used one touch to create very well, he had a lot of Better, though, to have the angle to fire past goalkeeper poise, temperament’s good, jet lag this week rather Jordi Codina. he looks like he’s ready to than next. Down two goals, Getafe react- bat number three for By playing in this ed, gaining control of possession Australia,” AAP quoted mixed-team exhibition, and probing the Madrid defense. Waugh as saying. instead of joining The reward came in the 29th when “I just like seeing some- and Roger Parejo halved Getafe’s deficit with one debuting for Australia Federer by picking up a great individual effort. The ex- and doing well because I ranking points and Ronaldo scores 2 as Madrid midfielder split two know how nervous you can petro-dollars at this defenders before firing the ball just be on the big stage. week’s sanctioned tour- inside the left post. “You’re not guaranteed nament on the Qatari Real Madrid beats Despite Getafe’s reply, Madrid success so to go out and play Peninsula, Murray has remained dangerous in attack, and so well, I was just happy for given his body a few Benzema crossed to Ronaldo, who him.” more days to adjust came within inches of tapping in The first Muslim crick- before the Australian Getafe 3-2 Madrid’s third five minutes before eter to play for Australia, Open starts at halftime. Khawaja was left to pick up Melbourne Park in off and Jorge Angel Albin made it a The pace did not wane in the sec- the pieces after Phil Hughes under a fortnight. dramatic finish by scoring Getafe’s ond half, and in the 57th Oezil inter- (31) and Shane Watson (45) When Murray flies east second in the 84th. cepted a pass for Benzema to set up threw away good starts. for the opening grand Mourinho’s team held on to win Ronaldo in the area for the Portugal After striking five fours slam of the year, he will its fourth straight game and end forward’s 27th goal in 25 matches. in his 95-ball vigil, the tal- be going through just Getafe’s club-record winning streak Kaka, who played the last 15 min- ented left-hander perished three more time-zones; at four league matches, but the utes, said he was happy with his to the last ball of the day. the big adjustment is Portuguese manager was not happy return to the pitch because “there Australia’s next Test this week. with his team’s performance. were moments during my recovery series after the Ashes is Still, Murray’s jet lag “I did not like my team,” when I didn’t know if I would ever against Sri Lanka across was not the only con- Mourinho said. “Normally we are play again.” August, when Ponting’s Usman Khawaja cern for Britain, as Robson complained of dizziness and earache Davydenko of Russia Tuesday, when two-time champion and called the doctor eased past Fabio Fognini of also on court during her sin- Tsonga makes winning of Italy 6-1, 6-4 in 63 min- plays Dutch qualifier Thomas gles defeat to utes. Schoorel. Schiavone, last sea- Playing an aggressive Nadal beat Federer in straight son’s return in baseline game, punctuated sets on Saturday at an invitational champion. with solid returns, event in Abu Dhabi. Davydenko, who beat DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Third-seeded “I’m completely fit. I Rafael Nadal of Spain in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga began his sea- maybe healthier than last year’s final, broke son with a crushing 6-2, 6-0 win before, and, you know, I Fognini in games two and over Spain’s Ruben Ramirez just enjoy every moment four to take the first set in Hidalgo in the first round of the on the court, and that’s 25 minutes. Qatar Open. it. I hope it will contin- Employing similar Tsonga had not played since ue.” Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of serves the ball to Ruben tactics, the 29-year-old October because of a knee injury, Tsonga will face Ramires Hidalgo of Spain during the Qatar ATP Open Russian wasted little time but he showed no signs of rust as Sergei Bubka in the sec- Tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Jan. 3, in taking the second set. he broke serve twice in the first set ond round after the 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Davydenko fired six aces, and three times in the second to Ukrainian wildcard and did not face a break complete a one-sided win. entry, who is the son of point in the entire match. “Yeah, I played a good match,” the former Olympic and world Gimeno-Traver 6-0, 6-3. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal plays Tsonga said. “Everybody’s friendly champion pole-vaulter of the same Also on Monday, fourth seed his first ATP match of the season with me here. I feel really good. name, upset Spain’s Daniel and defending champion Nikolay against Karol Beck of on

BY ROB HARRIS has already made clear his interest, LONDON (AP) - David Beckham is still wait- he said over the weekend that ing for the Los Angeles Galaxy to approve a Beckham waiting for “whether they will let him move I loan move to a European club, with Tottenham wouldn’t be sure - it’s probably 50- among the clubs keen to sign the former 50.” England captain. Galaxy to approve Redknapp said Beckham singled Having earlier ruled out spending a third out Spurs as the club he wanted to consecutive Major League Soccer offseason at join after the former Manchester another club, Beckham announced two weeks loan move United player talked with the man- ago that he needed to continue playing during ager’s son, Jamie, who is also a for- the winter to stay in contention for an England mer England midfielder. recall. “At the moment we are waiting on the decision But Jamie Redknapp said “there But the Galaxy responded by insisting that they of LA Galaxy with regards to a loan move,” are too many obstacles” to a deal being expect Beckham - and all their players - back at the Beckham’s management company said in a state- done. end of January ahead of the March 15 season open- ment. “The loan would be a short one until the Beckham, who is entering the final er. start of the MLS season. David would then return season of his five-year $32.5 million In this Nov. 27, 2010 file photo, LA Galaxy’s David Beckham is The team’s reluctance stems from Beckham and play a full season with the Galaxy. Galaxy contract, still hopes to return seen during a match against the Newcastle Jets at missing the first six months of the 2010 season “Tottenham are one of many clubs who are to Fabio Capello’s England side. EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle, Australia. Tottenham wants former England captain Beckham to play on loan for the after injuring an Achilles’ tendon last March while interested but as yet we have not got into any He made the last of his 115 inter- Premier League club. “It’s whether (Los Angeles) Galaxy will let playing for AC Milan. detailed conversations as we are waiting on LA national appearances against Belarus him go on loan,” Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was quoted Tottenham, though, is pursuing Beckham’s sig- Galaxy’s decision.” in October 2009 and missed last year’s as saying in British media reports on Saturday, Jan 1, 2011. nature even if he would only be available for the The Galaxy declined to comment on Monday. World Cup because of the Achilles (AP Photo/Jeremy Piper) Premier League club for two months. While Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp injury.