Back heel of the net: Showboating footballer scores 'best penalty ever' with brave trick shot

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Heely good: United Arab Emirates star Awana Diab back heels the ball past the goalkeeper in what fans are calling the 'best penalty ever'


This is one 'heel' remember for a while.

Arab footballer Awana Diab amazed fans by tucking away 'the best penalty ever' with a nifty back heel.

The 21-year-old ran up like any other spot-kick but moments before he was about to make contact he quickly spun and round took the penalty backwards.


Tricky: Diab calms his nerves moments before the penalty, and right, an angle from behind the goal shows how the keeper guessed the wrong way and was wrong-footed


Diab's unorthodox shot wrong-footed the goalkeeper who could only look on as the ball rolled into the net.

But Diab's celebrations were cut short when he was booked for showboating and substituted by his manager - who had only brought him on three minutes earlier - for showing a 'lack of respect'.


Back heel to basics: Awana quickly spun round moments before kicking the ball to put his side 6-2 up against Lebanon in the international friendly


The impressive show of nerve and skill has become an internet sensation after the international friendly between the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

UAE were leading 5-2 when Diab stepped up to take the penalty. His successful conversion put his side 6-2 in front.


Run up: The showboating sub, who had only been on the field for three minutes, runs up to the spot-kick


But manager UAE coach Srecko Katanec was so incensed that he substituted hauled him off the field to give him a dressing down.

Katanec said: ‘This penalty, I didn’t like it. We must respect players from other teams. In future, you don’t know what football will give you back.

'This is not respect. He’s a young guy and he knows he made a mistake immediately.

I just want him to show respect, not just on the field but off it as well.’

But the opposition manager did not have a problem with the spot-kick.
'I didn’t feel it was an insult,' Lebanon’s coach Emile Rustom said.


Is he mad? The other players look on in disbelief as the 21-year-old goes for the back heel


'This is a personal decision the player made and it has nothing to do with the way the UAE plays its football.'

The bizarre goal has become an internet hit - with legions of football fans heralding it as the 'best penalty ever'.

One internet user wrote: 'What a classic goal. He was pretty brave to attempt such an extravagant penalty.'

Another added: 'This was a courageous trick and the goalkeeper froze completely. Respect to the player.'

One said: 'How many times had he practised this one in training?'


Back of the net: The wrong-footed goalkeeper is left standing as the ball rolls over the line in the 7-2 drumming on Sunday




source: dailymail

Look out, he's a cycle-path: Driver rams rider into barbed wire during Tour de France

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Caught up: Johnny Hoogerland, right, is tangled in barbed-wire after he crashed at the side of the road with Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha, left


Their hopes of cycling victory were left in tatters - just like their ripped jerseys.

Two Tour de France riders were knocked off their bikes yesterday with one sent hurtling into a barbed wire fence.

Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha and Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland were racing through the French countryside when the TV car came alongside them.


Painful: Deep lacerations on Hoogerland's leg and buttock from the barbed wire fence. His cycling costume was shredded but thankfully he was able to change into a new one


The vehicle, belonging to TV station France 2, veered suddenly to its right as it passed a group of five cyclists along a narrow country road just 22 miles from the finish of a stage.

As it did so, Team Sky rider Flecha was sent tumbling to the ground, colliding with Hoogerland and catapulting him into the wire, causing ugly lacerations to his skin.

Both men eventually remounted their bikes and continued riding - with shredded jerseys and blood pouring from their cuts.


Cuts: Johnny Hoogerland grits his teeth in agony after getting tangled in the barbed wire


Wounded: Hoogerland is helped from the fence, and right, Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Belgium receives treatment for an injured collarbone after he crashed in the 9th stage of the race


It emerged that the car driver had been ordered by race control not to pass the riders. The driver and the vehicle have been thrown off the race.

That part of the race had already been littered with broken bones.

A tricky descent on a mountain road made slippery by the rain in the Massif Central caused the earlier carnage with Alexandre Vinokourov from Kazakhstan breaking his right femur after being thrown over a barrier into a tree.


Back in the saddle: Flecha made a recovery to rejoin the race but suffered cuts to his legs


In the same incident, one of the pre-race favourites, Jurgen van den Broeck, fractured ribs and his shoulder blade, while Omega-Lotto team-mate and fellow Belgian Frederik Willems suffered a broken collar bone and David Zabriskie a suspected broken wrist.

Saxobank rider Stuart O'Grady, whose team-mate Nicki Sorensen was clipped by a photographer's motorbike and crashed into a ditch in Brittany on Stage 5, fiercely criticised the Tour organisers.

He said: 'Crashes are always going be part of the game. It just seems that this year we are going down goat tracks.


Casualties: Frederik Willems of Belgium, left, and David Zabriskie of the U.S., right, are treated by doctors after crashing out of the race on a mountain road in the Massif Central


Seeing the sights: The leaders ride past the castle of Alleuze in their breakaway on stage nine


Where's Wally? The tightly-bunched pack climbs on the way to Saint Flour


'It's one thing to say it's all for the spectacle, but we don't want to see more people lose their life.'

While Luis Leon Sanchez won the stage and Thomas Voeckler took over the yellow jersey, seven riders abandoned the race with injuries.

The competition quickly appears to becoming the Tour of attrition.


Tour de France 2011 Crash - Flecha & Hoogerland hit by a car



source: dailymail

What a racket: Tennis star’s embarrassment as mobile phone starts ringing – as she faces match point

By TED THORNHILL

Not ace: Caroline Wozniacki laughs as she realises where the mobile ring is coming from


We all know that letting your mobile phone ring during a tense tennis match is not such smashing behaviour, but in the Swedish Open a tennis star was left red-faced when her own handset went off.

World No1 Caroline Wozniacki was about to serve for the match against French No3 Alize Cornet when a distinct mobile phone ring broke the silence.

The ring was just too off-putting for Wozniacki, who stopped and looked around for the perpetrator– but it turned out that the guilty party was her opponent.


Courting trouble: The TV camera zooms in on Cornet's kit bag, where the noise is coming from


The faux pas occurred in the first-round match in Bastad while the Danish ace was one set to the good, 5-3 up in the second set and winning the game 40-30.

A somewhat crucial moment, then.

At first she just tries to ignore the ring, but it had clearly broken her concentration, so she waits for it to be silenced.

Then she breaks into a huge grin and the TV camera swings around onto Cornet’s kit bag, where the noise is coming from.


Guilty: Cornet rummages through her bag to stop the handset ringing


Net a to-do: Cornet apologises for the disruption


Embarrassed: Cornet puts her head down in shame as she scurries back to the baseline


The 21-year-old scampers over to it and turns off her handset. Laughing, she holds her hand up in apology and takes up her place at the baseline once more.

The break in play did her a favour – because she broke serve. But her luck didn’t last, with Wozniacki taking the final set 6-4 and winning the game.

Wozniacki is World No1 despite not having won a grand slam yet.

She went out in the fourth round to Dominika Cibulkova at Wimbledon and also ended up taking an early exit in Bastad after retiring from the tournament mid-way through a second-round clash against Sofia Arvidsson with a shoulder injury.

Alize Cornet was beaten in the first round of Wimbledon by Kateryna Bondarenko from Ukraine.




source :dailymail

Dripping jewellery, daring outfits and Wimbledon's biggest entourage: But Venus and Serena Williams are dumped out of Wimbledon in shock fourth-round

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Not this year: Both the Williams sisters - Wimbledon's greatest ladies' singles champions - have been knocked out before reaching the quarter final stage.


One took to the court dripping with jewellery, the other wore a daring outfit, and together they had the biggest entourage at Wimbledon.

But nothing could stop the end of an era at SW19 as both Venus and Serena Williams were dumped out of the championship in straight sets on only its seventh day.

For 11 years the Williams sisters have dominated Wimbledon, notching up nine singles titles between them. Both going out in the fourth round is their worst-ever result.

Serena, 29, was thrashed by Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli. And for 31-year-old Venus, history repeated itself as she was beaten by Tsvetana Pironkova, the beautiful young Bulgarian.

Miss Pironkova, 23, created last year's biggest upset when she defeated Venus at the same stage, and was charmingly modest about her achievement, admitting that even she was surprised. This year, however, was different.


Sportsmanship: Marion Bartoli of France, right, shakes hands with Serena Williams of the U.S. after defeating her at the Wimbledon tennis championships


The willowy brunette took charge from the start and by the time Kate and Wills returned to the Royal Box after a quick bite (apparently they were too late arriving at SW19 for a full three-course lunch), Venus was already a set down.

The royal couple had the temerity to retake their seats during her service game and merited a fearsome glare from the five-times champion.
But shortly afterwards it was all over.


Wimbledon's queen of bling: Serena sported these chunky pieces of jewellery during her fourth round clash


Glamour: The sparkle on Serena's nail polish was matched only by the sparkle on her bracelet


The Centre Court crowd applauded Venus but an hour previously when her sister's result had flashed up there was loud cheering – they do not warm to Serena here.

Venus admitted they were both upset. She sniffed: 'No, definitely not our best day. Obviously it's not something planned. We rarely lose on the same day.'

And when she was reminded of the last time that happened, at the French Open in 2008, the full force of her sarcasm was unleashed.

'Thank you,' she said. 'Great to remember all these losses, right?'

Serena was asked if maybe it was a good thing for women's tennis that she had been knocked out this year.

'Yeah, I'm super happy that I lost,' she drawled. 'Go, women's tennis.'
It was the earliest exit for the four-time All England Club winner since a third-round loss in 2005.

But despite the loss, and despite the presence of royal spectators, Serena kept her crown as Wimbledon's queen of bling.

She played in huge dangling earrings, a knuckle-duster ring, a handcuff-style bracelet – and a pendant proving just how much of a star she is.


Showing the strain: Venus Williams returns a shot during her fourth round match against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria


Five-time champion Venus was playing only her second tournament since withdrawing from the Australian Open with a hip injury and she was well short of her best today.

The repeat of last year's quarter-final resulted in an identical outcome as the highly-impressive Pironkova, 23, made light work of the fourth-round match.

Venus, who has reached at least the quarter-finals on 11 of her 14 previous visits to Wimbledon, struggled to find her range and was frequently foiled by the net.

Younger sister Serena's bid to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles came to an abrupt end at the hands of French ninth seed Bartoli

The effects of a challenging year in which Serena has been restricted to less than three weeks of action due to injury and serious illness finally caught up her.


Foiled by the net: Venus looked rusty after a year in which she has hardly lifted her racket in competition


Serena looked rusty as her gutsy passage through the Wimbledon draw came to a shuddering halt in the fourth-round clash on Court One, Bartoli winning 6-3 7-6 (8/6).

Frequently her accuracy deserted her as she scooped a series of shots out of play, often because she had connected with the ball poorly.

The American's defeat means this is only the third year that the defending champion has failed to make the quarter-finals in the open era.

Fighting spirit enabled Williams to trade blows with Bartoli in an impossibly tight second set, but she was striving to stay on terms rather than dominating.


Entourage: Serena's loss came despite her bringing along the biggest entourage of any player this year


Top row: 1 Val Vogt (Serena’s PA), 2 Esther Lee (trainer), 3 family friend, 4 Sasha Bajin (Serena’s hitting partner), 5 Jessica Baron (Venus’s PA).
Middle row: 6 Richard Williams (father), 7 Lakeisha Williams (Richard’s wife), 8-9 nephew and niece (children of murdered sister Yetunde), 10 family friend.
Front row: 11 Jill Smoller (Serena’s agent), 12 Suzanne Pond (Nike representative), 13 Isha Price (sister), 14 Oracene Price (mother).


Bartoli was superb, playing with confidence, passion and poise to seal her first victory over the American in three contests.

It is the first time since 2006 that neither sister has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Together they have taken home the 'Venus Rosewater Dish', the Wimbledon ladies' singles trophy, nine times since 2000.


Tsvetana Pironkova beats Venus Williams


Serena Williams vs Marion Bartoli - Match Point - Wimbledon 2011



source :dailymail

Andy takes a bow just for Kate, the new queen of SW19... and she even gets Wills to join in Mexican wave

-Royal couple were there to watch Andy Murray beat Richard Gasquet
-The Duchess was wearing Temperley's £395 Moriah dress which is on sale
-Both Williams sisters in shock fourth round exit from tournament
-Crowds surge as temperatures soar to 33 degrees

By Lauren Paxman and Paul Harris


Never mind the Royal Wave... Kate, Duchess of Cambridge looks expectantly over at her husband as she raises her arms for the Mexican Wave on Centre Court


You couldn't really blame him for taking a curtain call.

The Duchess of Cambridge might have been queen of Centre Court but yesterday – for the moment at least – Andy Murray was king.

Having roared to victory in straight sets against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, he performed an extravagant bow towards Kate and William in the Royal Box.

Here's the Mexican One: The second in line to the throne gets in to the spirit of the occasion

Your Majesty: British number one Andy Murray bows to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge following his victory over Richard Gasquet in their fourth round match at Wimbledon


In turn, they gave him their seal of approval with a pat on the back after the match, won in 100f heat on court, and told him: 'Well done.'

Murray said: 'If I'd known they were coming, I would have shaved. I was thinking to myself as I came off I was sweaty and very hairy. I said to them, "I'm sorry, I'm a bit sweaty". But it was very nice to get to meet them.'

The bow, he said, was 'just, yeah, sort of off the cuff. Didn't think too much about it'. He added: 'I was obviously very happy after the match. I think it was the right thing to do.'

The win earns Murray a quarter-final clash tomorrow with the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

Happy couple: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat in the Royal Box on Centre Court at Wimbledon

Pretty layering: Kate followed Wimbledon's specification that players must wear white


William and Kate became the surprise stars of the Royal Box after weeks of speculation that they might attend before embarking on their tour of Canada tomorrow.

Centre Court was crammed to capacity, which equates to 15,000 bums on seats. But to widespread disappointment, none, alas, was Pippa Middleton's.

For although there were frantic rumours during the morning that Kate's little sister and former maid of honour would arrive with the royal party, Pippa-watch was stood down at 12.31pm when the celebrated rear failed to emerge from the police-escorted cavalcade.

Kate, a huge fan of the game, wore what looked to be a triple-decker tennis skirt – in fact a £795 Alice Temperley dress – teamed with LK Bennett nude court shoes.

Within half an hour of her appearance, the frock, reduced to £395 in the summer sale, had sold out on the designer's website.

Unusual detailing: The white disks on Kate's shoulders will remind Wimbledon fans of a less successful recent fashion statement... Bethanie Mattek-Sands' Lady Gaga-esque jacket which was covered in white tennis balls


The royal spectators clapped and cheered as Murray got to grips with the heat. Later, during Rafael Nadal's match, they would even join in a Mexican wave.

Murray's triumph was followed by despair from the Williams sisters who made a shock exit from the tournament in the fourth round.

Venus Williams' attempt to win a sixth Wimbledon title ended in the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

The 23-year-old Pironkova beat Williams at Wimbledon last year by the same score to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. She also won their first-round match at the Australian Open in 2006.

Williams' defeat came shortly after younger sister Serena also went out in the fourth round, losing to Marion Bartoli.

It is the first time since 2006 that neither sister has reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Expert in action: Andy Murray drew in a very A-list crowd for his match on Centre Court today

Fan club: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears and his mum, Judy, were watching his progress

Support from afar: Andy Murray's tennis racket bag is covered with tweets from his fans


Kate and William appeared happy and relaxed as they watched the day's tennis. The Duchess has been a Wimbledon fan for years - as have all the Middletons.

Pippa has attended the French Open and the Aegon Championships since her big sister's wedding earlier this year and Kate has visited the championships twice before.

In 2007 she attended with a friend to watch Rafael Nadal play Swede Robin Soderling on Court one and in 2008 she visited again.

A polite thank you letter Kate wrote to Wimbledon bosses after her most recent visit is currently on display at the All England Club.

Keen spectator: This is Kate's third time at Wimbledon and her passion for tennis was clear to see from her facial expressions

Fun day out:William and Kate's visit to SW19 is a private affair and the newlyweds will not fulfil any royal duties


More than 2,000 people queued along the grassy banks outside the club in a bid to secure places for Murray's match.

As the fans waited outside, though, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took up their prime positions on Centre Court.

There they watched a very convincing display by Britain's number one who won the first set in a tie-break, soon claimed the second too and broke early in the third set.

As well as the young royals, Murray had his slightly more personal fan club in attendance.

His pretty girlfriend Kim Sears, and his mother, Judy Murray were sitting side-by-side at his fourth round match.

Murray's support also came from further afar, his tennis racket bag was covered with tweets from his legion of fans including 'stay positive we are all behind you' and 'believe in yourself and never give up.'

The perfect guest: Kate chatted and joked with Gill Brooke, the wife of the Chairman of the All England Tennis Club who was sitting by her side

Top tips: Kate leant back to give Jane Henman, Tim's mum, who was sitting behind her, a kiss on the cheek before exchanging a few words with her too


Kate and William's visit to SW19 is a private affair and the newlyweds will not fulfill any royal duties. But they both appeared very contented to chat to the others sitting around them.

Kate looked as composed as we have come to expect from the unflappable Duchess. She chatted and joked with Gill Brooke, the wife of the Chairman of the All England Tennis Club who was sitting by her side.

The relaxed tennis fan also leant back to give Jane Henman, the mother of our last big British hopeful, Tim Henman, who was sitting behind her, a kiss on the cheek before exchanging a few words with her too.

As the Royal Box guests arrived today, thousands of sun drenched fans applauded. But the heartiest welcome was reserved for the young couple who were given a standing ovation.

The retractable roof was also partially covered to shade the royals' end of the arena.

Other Wimbledon-goers were not quite as lucky, they used umbrellas to shade themselves from the sweltering sun as they sat on other courts or watched the action on Murray Mount.

Sizzling: Fans queueing to enter the grounds at Wimbledon struggle with the heat, with one man needing to lie down and another woman using an umbrella to shelter from the sun

Soaking up the rays: With a large bottle of water by her side, this woman lies on the tarmac and covers her forehead outside Wimbledon

Defeat: Serena Williams survived three match points. But ultimately crashed out against Bartoli in the tournament's first big upset


source:dailymail

Last man standing: Murray the great British hope powers into last 16 at Wimbledon roared on by girlfriend Kim and Centre Court crowd

-Fourth seed Murray powers into fourth round after Centre Court drama
-Thousands came in the early morning to show their support
-By 10am those in the queue were told they would not get in till 5pm
-Laura Robson and Elena Baltacha both suffered defeat


By Daily Mail Reporter


Marching on: Murray salutes the Centre Court crowd after his battling four set win over Croatian Ivan Ljubicic


As the last remaining Briton at Wimbledon and the fourth seed in the men's draw, he is used to having the weight of the nation's expectations on his shoulders.

But Andy Murray produced another gutsy performance tonight to power into the fourth round at SW19, roared on by a Centre Court crowd and his girlfriend Kim Sears.

The Scot was made to battle late into the evening to overcome Croatian Ivan Ljubicic and secure his place in the second week of the tournament.

Digging deep: Murray had to graft hard against the experienced Ljubicic, but eventually overcame the Croat after a fourth set tiebreak

Showboating: Despite the battling performance, Murray still had time to throw in an exhibition shot during his third round match


Rain had meant Murray was made to wait until 7pm to start his third round match.

But he eventually prevailed in a four-set battle over Ljubicic, with girlfriend Miss Sears and his mother Judy providing their usual vocal support from the stands.

Murray found himself in the familiar role of lone Briton in Wimbledon's second week following Laura Robson's brave defeat to Maria Sharapova earlier on Friday.

Despite further rain in the evening, Murray's match was able to go ahead once Centre Court's roof was moved into position.

By the time the 24-year-old had beaten Ljubicic 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4), the rest of the grounds were in pitch black as Centre Court glowed under the lights.

Nailbiting finish: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears and his mother Judy were among those gripped by his latest Wimbledon victory

That's my boy: Mother Judy celebrates Andy Murray winning another crucial point

Late finish: Murray's match ran well past dark thanks to the retractable, lit roof on Centre Court


Murray will now face Richard Gasquet in the last 16 on Monday after his win over world number 33 Ljubicic.

The fifth day at the All England Club had drawn huge crowds all hoping to see British hopes Laura Robson, Murray and Elena Baltacha.

But so many descended on SW19 today hoping to watch the last three home players in action that fans were told to stop queueing.

By 10am those outside the ground were told they would not get in until 5pm. Shortly afterwards late-comers to the queue were told they had no chance.

The lucky spectators who were up early enough are ushered into Wimbledon this morning

Home support: British fans on Centre Court wait for the chance to watch Andy Murray

It was a squeeze for fans even to watch games on the outside courts - but at least they gained entrance


But unfortunately those hoping to see a British treble were left disappointed as Laura Robson and Elena Baltacha both suffered defeat.

Those losses meant Andy Murray was the only British player left in either singles draw.

It was a squeeze for fans even to watch games on the outside courts - but at least they gained entrance.

Tournament officials said it was the busiest they had seen it all week, while former British number one Tim Henman said it was 'brilliant' the public were so behind the trio.

Five hundred tickets were made available for each of the main courts - Centre, One and Two.

The £68 tickets were quickly snapped up by fans desperate to see world number four Andy Murray return to Centre Court against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic after being relegated from it on Wednesday.

There were 500 tickets available this morning to see Laura Robson, left, take on former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova. Unfortunately the 17-year-old was unable to give the fans a British victory

Robson found herself outgunned by the 2004 champion Maria Sharapova


Punters were also forking out £58 for Court One tickets to experience of bit of history - teenage sensation Laura Robson's first second round Grand Slam match.

But the The 17-year-old, who was first on the court agaisnt former world number one Maria Sharapova, was defeated in straight sets by the 2004 champion.

And those hoping for home victories were also left disappointed by British women's number one Baltacha losing to China's Shuai Peng in the first game on Court 18.

But furious fans voiced their anger at 'Queen of Screams' Sharapova, claiming her excessive grunting was putting Robson off.

Robson found herself outgunned by the 2004 champion Sharapova
The world number six shrieked throughout her straight-sets win over the 17-year-old - with spectators saying the grunting gave her an unfair advantage.

Wimbledon's Murray Mount became Robson Rise as thousands watched the battle on SW19's giant screen.

Unusual headgear was the order of the day for British tennis fans

Play should start under blue skies meaning the Centre Court roof is unlikely to come into play today

Andy Murray will be back on Centre Court today after playing his last match on Court 1, while Serena Williams has accused organiser of bias towards the men after she was relegated to Court 2


A reporter's gruntometer recorded the Russian at 116.9 decibels during the second round contest.

Yvonne Nicholas, from Gloucestershire, said: 'I find it very irritating and it must be quite off-putting.'

Dave Gittings, 56, from London, said: 'I think it is ridiculous. It is just not necessary.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon organisers have managed to anger a number of top players over apparent inconsistencies in their approach to scheduling.

While Robson on Maria Sharapova on Court One, Caroline Wozniacki - the women's number one seed - will play her third round match in the relative wilderness of Court 2.

It will add fuel to the argument that there is bias in favour of home players.

Unusual headgear was the order of the day for British tennis fans
Play should start under blue skies meaning the Centre Court roof is unlikely to come into play today

Andy Murray will be back on Centre Court today after playing his last match on Court 1, while Serena Williams has accused organiser of bias towards the men after she was relegated to Court 2

The decision comes the day after Serena Williams lashed out at tournament chiefs for relegating her and sister Venus to outside courts - claiming that it was the women's game that was the target of snub.

And it seems the organisers really can't win. While home fans were angered at the decision for Andy Murray's second round game to be played on Court One, others expressed anger that it was only the second time Murray has not been given a Centre Court spot since making his debut five years ago.

The All England Club like to give each top name a match away from Centre Court to avoid accusations of favouritism.

Their regulations state they aim for 'efficient and imaginative scheduling'.

Magic view: Rupert Grint enjoys the action today on Centre Court

Laura Robson tries her hand at planking in a photo she posted on her Twitter page

Meanwhile, Serena, the defending women's champion, was sent out to Court 2 for her second-round clash with Romania's Simona Halep, which she won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. So was Williams' sister Venus, the five-time singles champion, for her opening match on Monday.

Asked if she viewed it as an insult that players such as Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic were not treated in the same way, Serena said: 'Yeah, they're never moved across.

'Venus and I have won more Wimbledons than a lot of players, even just in doubles. I don't make it a big issue - but I think at some point I should.'

Serena, who together with Venus has won 18 titles at the All England Club, added: 'But they are not going to change what they do.

'They seem to like to put us on Court 2 for whatever reason. Maybe one day we'll figure it out. I don't know.'

Serena also sarcastically pointed out that there were other disadvantages to being on Court 2 - the furthest from the players' area.

'I never have too much time to warm up,' complained the seventh seed, back playing after a year out.

'I look at the walk over there as a kind of warm-up. I say, "OK, this gets my legs moving".'

The All England Club insisted there was no agenda against the sisters, saying: 'Scheduling is a complex business and cannot be looked at in the light of just one or two matches.

'The referees team have to ensure a balanced and fair order of play from many interests, including the spectators. What a great chance it was for the 4,000 people on Court No 2 to see our ladies champion.'

Stacey Allaster, the chairman and chief executive of the WTA Tour, said in a statement: ‘Serena Williams is a four-time Wimbledon singles champion, the defending champion of Wimbledon, and a 13-time grand slam singles champion. I share her disappointment.’

And while organisers will be pleased that the rain stayed away for the day, the best weather of the fortnight is set to come on Sunday - when there is no play.

The middle of the Sunday, traditionally a rest day is only used if rain has severely disrupted the matches. And despite frequent downpours this week the schedule is unlikely to have been delayed enough to warrant the extra day being used.


British number one Elena Baltacha narrowly lost to Peng Shuai of China

THESE CHAIRS ARE ACE: THE FURNITURE MADE FROM USED TENNIS BALLS

It's a handy use for all those old balls.

Artist Hugh Hayden, 27, has designed a set of furniture made out of nothing but recycled tennis balls.

The self-described 'FUNature' includes handcrafted chairs, poufs and coffee tables.

Each item takes over 18 hours of painstaking labour to complete - depending on its size - and sells for around £1,500 each.

A hole is meticulously drilled into each of the 550 indoor tennis balls needed to make a single, normal sized chair - before they are strung together with a polyester cord and glued into place.

Hugh, from Dallas, Texas, said: 'There was a tennis club near to where I live now in Brooklyn who had a shed full of old tennis balls that were deemed too flat to play with.

'I went there thinking I could bring them back on the Subway - but I ended up getting taxi from there, filling it with balls and bringing them all back to my apartment. It has just escalated from there.'

Hugh, who produced his first tennis ball chair in 2009, has since sold over 50 of the chairs in his HEX Tennis Collection.

And they have not only proved a hit with tennis fans but big-hitting players too - with Andy Roddick buying one made from balls he used at the 2009 US Open for £1,900.

The 27-year-old designer added: 'Tennis balls are hard to work with because they are quite heavy and difficult to manipulate.

'But they are naturally resilient, which allows them to form to the unique contours of the user's body.

'And they have proved popular with tennis fans because they have a relevance to them.

'I have done special commissions for both Chris Evert and Andy Roddick.

'The Roddick chair was constructed out of balls he played with at the 2009 US Open. That was then auctioned off for his foundation, which aims to teach children a healthy lifestyle through tennis.'




source:dailymail