Thursday 4th November, 2010 13 Murray begins Valencia Open defence with Lopez win VALENCIA, Spain (AP) - Andy Murray began his Valencia Open defence with a 6-3, 7-6 (1) win over a 4-1 deficit in the second after the Spain's Feliciano Lopez on Tuesday. Spaniard broke in the fourth game The top-seeded Briton broke Lopez when Murray netted. in the fourth game on his way to taking But Murray took advantage of one the first set. He then had to rally from of Lopez's many unforced errors to break back and take it to the tiebreak- er, where Lopez simply fell apart. David Ferrer kept alive his hopes of

Tiger Woods of the U.S., left, and Lee Westwood of Britain, right, perform the Chinese martial art of taichi together with a taichi master on stage against the Pudong Financial District as a backdrop during a photo call in Shanghai, China Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Woods has one last chance for tour win

BY DOUG FERGUSON peting and winning." The HSBC Champions, SHANGHAI (AP) - No which starts Thursday at longer No. 1 in the world, Sheshan International, is the Tiger Woods said Wednesday only World Golf that hasn't changed how he Championship he hasn't won. sees himself or what he's try- Woods will be facing a ing to do at the HSBC strong field, which features Champions. the new No. 1, Lee Westwood. "I come to the event to Also playing is defending win the event," Woods said. "I champion Phil Mickelson and haven't won an event in about PGA champion Martin a year. I've gone through peri- Kaymer, who has won three of ods like this before in the his last four tournaments. All past. In order to become No. 1 four of them have a chance to in the world, I've won golf go to No. 1 in the world this tournaments. It's something I week, as the top of the rank- haven't done, and it's a matter ing is more crowded than of going out there and com- ever. Manager: Landis French trial ridiculous WELLINGTON, New Team manager Wayne Zealand (AP) - Floyd Landis’ Hudson on Wednesday dis- team manager has dismissed missed reports that Landis and reports that the former Tour de his coach Arnie Baker face France winner must stand trial trial in France for hacking the in France for hacking the com- computer system of the puters of a French doping lab. Chatenay-Malabry lab. Landis is currently riding Huson said “the suggestion for the Orca Velo Merino team he will stand trial in France is in the six-day Tour of a ridiculous statement because Southland in New Zealand. they still have to serve him.”

Former Melbourne Cup winner banned for doping The New South Wales state disclose the substance, sus- racing authority says veteran pended the 47-year-old Cassidy Australian jockey Jim Cassidy until Feb. 3, but said the ban has been banned for three could be reduced depending on months for failing a doping his involvement in an educa- test. tion and counseling pro- Cassidy, a two-time gramme. Melbourne Cup winner, plead- Cassidy’s most recent test, ed guilty at a hearing on Oct. 26, was clear and he Wednesday. He was charged was allowed to compete until when his urine sample after an his hearing. He rode Once Oct. 4 race at Sydney’s Warwick Farm showed traces Were Wild on Tuesday in the of a banned substance. 150th running of the Racing NSW,which did not Melbourne Cup.

contract was not renewed in late July and his appointment by the Argentine Football Association was widely expected. In charge for three matches, he has won two, including a 4-1 victory over World Cup winner Spain. The only blemish was a 1-0 loss last month against Japan. Batista's first match as the permanent coach will be Nov. 17 against archrival Brazil in Doha, Qatar. The team for the Sergio Batista match was also announced Batista succeeds Maradona in

BY STEPHEN WADE Tuesday, headed by Barcelona star . , Argentina Batista, who turns 48 next (AP) - Sergio Batista was week, was Maradona's team- appointed as coach of mate on the 1986 team that Argentina on Tuesday, just won the World Cup. A youth over three months after Diego coach for the Argentine Maradona departed following Football Association, his the country's defeat by name began to take on a high- Germany in the World Cup er profile after leading quarter-finals. Argentina to the gold medal Batista had been the act- in the 2008 Olympics in ing coach since Maradona's Beijing.

India helped by spinners’ pitch for NZ Test AHMEDABAD, India (AP) - India will be a strong India Captain Mahendra Singh favourite for the three-Test Dhoni is hoping a spin-friendly series, coming off a 2-0 tri- pitch will help the home team umph over Australia. beat New Zealand in the first India also prevailed 1-0 in a Test starting Thursday. rain-hit three-match limited- After a practice session overs series against the Wednesday at the Sardar Patel Australians, while New stadium, Dhoni said “there Zealand suffered a shock 4-0 does not seem to be much grass loss in a five-match one-day on the pitch and I hope it helps series in Bangladesh last the slow bowlers.” month.