While he is still around Rodger Federer, will always be the favourite and it’s no difference at the US Open this year. Rafael Nadal is second favourite to win the tournament with Andy Murray in close third.

Federer had poor showing at the French Open and Wimbledon, but he is now playing some of his best tennis of the year after recently winning the Cincinnati masters title.

The draw for both Federer and Nadal seems kind with no real tough challenges before the last eight.

Andy Murray has been showing some good form recently. He beat both Federer and Nadal in the Rogers Cup, but was clearly tired in the Cincinnati Masters when he lost to Mardy Fish. If the right Murray shows up to the US Open, then he can make the final, where he will probably face either Federer or Nadal.

Novak Djokovic, fourth favourite for the US Open, is not quite up to the standard of the top three and does face a tough battle after round three, having a potential meeting between either Marcos Baghdatis or Mardy Fish. It’s hard to see him having much impact in the later stages of this tournament.

Can Andy Murray win his first Grand Slam title at the 2010 US Open? Only time will tell.

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The ICC confirmed the decision this afternoon following an executive meeting that was supposed to formalise Howard’s election. No vote was taken and Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket were asked to re-nominate a candidate by August 31.

The ICC said in a statement: “Following lengthy consideration it was recognised that the nomination put forward by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket did not have sufficient support within the ICC board.”

Cricket Australia’s chairman Jack Clarke and his New Zealand Cricket counterpart Alan Isaac said in a joint statement they were “deeply disappointed” after supplying “the best possible candidate”. “We jointly nominated Mr Howard as he possesses significant leadership and administrative skills,” they said. “We believe cricket needs to continue to seek excellence and dispassionate independence in the game’s global governance.

“We were delighted that the most senior world figure ever considered for this role agreed to accept the nomination. We remain convinced it is reasonable for his nomination to be supported by the ICC executive board and we are deeply disappointed by the position taken.”

Initial rumblings from Zimbabwe and South Africa in April became an all-conquering alliance when India signed up along with their subcontinent neighbours this week. It leaves the ICC without a deputy to be paraded alongside India’s Sharad Pawar when he takes over the presidency from David Morgan this week.

The position taken by the six board members on Tuesday night was believed to be an attempt to force Howard to withdraw his nomination before the meeting. Howard remained in the race but lost the one-man raffle at the Raffles convention centre, ending the 70-year-old’s cricket administration career before it was allowed to begin. source: cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content

Thousands of people rocked Orlando Stadium in South Africa’s biggest township Thursday, to sing at the first World Cup concert on the eve of the world’s most watched sporting event.

The concert was broadcast live around the world, and stars included Alicia Keys, Angelique Kidjo and Vusi Mahlasela. Colombian pop star Shakira sang the official World Cup anthem “Waka Waka (This time for Africa)” with South African group Freshly Ground.

“Data showed that peak viewing for the concert topped out at just under 8.5 million South African viewers, with an average of just over 6.7 million viewers on (national broadcaster) SABC 1 and (private TV station) SuperSport 3 combined,” research company Nielsen said in a statement.

“Few events in recent years have managed to achieve these kinds of local audience figures,” Nielsen managing director Chris Eyre said.

The statement said the only special event broadcasts to come close to the viewing of the concert on the eve of the first World Cup match included the 2008 South African Music Awards (SAMA) with almost five million viewers.

source www.reuters.com/article/

So far this tour has been a misadventure for India. The experiment with rotation went awry during the tri-series, with the selectors sending a squad unbalanced in both experience and skill. The manner in which they lost their games, especially against the hosts, has led to doubts over the quality of India’s next line of cricketers.

The visitors have two games to salvage the tour, and build some confidence for the players headed to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup. Can their batsmen shrug away their inhibitions and hit out in IPL-like conditions that won’t test their vulnerability against the short ball? Can their inexperienced fast bowlers pull one back on the Zimbabwe top order that bullied them in the ODIs?

The hosts go into the series with fewer doubts. In the Twenty20 format, against this second-string India outfit, they will believe they are favourites. From the time they shocked Australia in the inaugural World Twenty20, Zimbabwe have been regarded with caution in the shortest format.

source www.cricinfo.com

The World Cup is the biggest event in global sports, bigger even than the
Olympics, and Sports Interaction is making live betting the cornerstone of its
coverage in this, the fourth World Cup since the establishment of the company thirteen years ago.

source www.reuters.com/article

Malik then took 4 for 25 as Northants only made 137 for 9 in reply, with Mal Loye making 39 as they collapsed from 106 for 3 in their last five overs. Leicestershire won the toss and chose to bat first, but the heavens opened 25 minutes before the scheduled start forcing a 50-minute delay and the loss of two overs per side.

When the players did emerge, the Foxes got off to a disastrous start when Jacques Du Toit was run out with the very first ball by the bowler Vaas. Former Australia all-rounder Brad Hodge (16) was then stumped by Northants wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien off the bowling of Nicky Boje.

source www.cricinfo.com

Zimbabwe have taken major steps towards regaining their position in the cricketing hierarchy, of challengers capable of toppling the best sides on their day, and Brendan Taylor who has been at the forefront of the turnaround, has reaffirmed his loyalty to the Zimbabwean cause.

“Zimbabwe is my home and it is good place to be in right now,” Taylor told DNA. “I want to support Zimbabwe cricket as much as I can. We’re training hard and trying to give our best to play against Australia, India and Sri Lanka. Hopefully by next year, we will get our Test status back and things here will be normal soon.

“We feel the first class structure in Zimbabwe is heading in the right direction. It’s run professionally and we just hope it continues the same way. We have got five teams at the moment and we’re trying to give exposure to the youngsters,” he said.

source www.cricinfo.com

Sri Lankan allrounder Sanath Jayasuriya has signed with Worcestershire as their overseas player for five Twenty20 matches this summer. He will replace allrounder Steve Smith, who was called-up to Australia’s limited-overs squads for the forthcoming tour of England.

“Sanath will bring a wealth of experience to the squad during a critical part of the forthcoming T20 campaign gained from playing all around the world, including the IPL and the recent World Twenty20 in the West Indies,” Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, said. “His left-arm spin and powerful batting can only benefit our efforts in this competition and there is no doubt he is still one of the most exciting cricketers in world cricket. He is a proven match-winner and I have no doubt he will prove to be a great entertainer for our supporters.”

source www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/news.html