ANA Ivanovic was still beaming about her first win of the 2009 season yesterday when she was quizzed about the men's match that followed her at the Brisbane International in Australia.
Rumours of a love match between her and Fernando Verdasco sta
rted when the 24-year-old Spanish star joined Ivanovic's entourage to watch her matches and practice at the end of last season.
Both have said they're friends, but have not elaborated much beyond that.
They were playing back-to-back night matches yesterday at the Pat Rafter Arena, with top-seeded Ivanovic beating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 to open her season in the first night match.
Third-seeded Verdasco beat local wild-card entry Bernard Tomic with the same scoreline in the subsequent match.
At a news conference under the arena while Verdasco was on court, Ivanovic was asked if she planned to go back and watch Verdasco's match: "I have a couple more things I have to do. Afterwards, maybe. But also, it's a late night so I have to do some recovery – and tennis comes first."
Espanyol fan a pain in the neckESPANYOL'S Carlos Kameni doesn't take too kindly to criticism. The goalkeeper had to be separated from a fan during training yesterday after the supporter told him not to bother renewing his contract with the club.
The 24-year-old, who was at fault for Athletic Bilbao's equaliser in Espanyol's 1-1 draw on Sunday and whose deal expires at the end of the season, grabbed the fan by the scruff of the neck before team-mates pulled him away.
"I would have probably done the same," said Espanyol defender Sergio Sanchez.
Setanta Sports are on the ballSPL managers will have been quaking in their boots if they tuned into Setanta's coverage of last night's FA Cup match between Blyth Spartans and Blackburn Rovers.
Getting right to the very heart of the action, Setanta had a roving reporter and a cameraman down at the dugout to quiz the managers while play raged on. So, you had Sam Allardyce with one eye on the game and one eye on his interviewer as his team struggled to break down a side from the Blue Square North.
Let's hope Setanta start this with their SPL coverage...
TALES FROM THE TABS
MURDO'S RECORD RANT CELTIC legend Murdo MacLeod was left to bemoan the comparison made by Gordon Strachan after the Parkhead manager explained the absence of Aiden McGeady from the squad to face Dundee United on Saturday by pointing out that Massimo Donati, below, was not included either. "Come on, Gordon. Nobody is buying that one and you know it," MacLeod told the Daily Record.
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is set for "clear-the-air talks" with manager Luiz Felipe Scolari after the player was substituted during the FA Cup draw with Southend on Saturday, according to the Daily Express. Cole was taken off for the 13th game in succession and headed straight down the tunnel before Chelsea squandered their lead in the closing minutes. A source said: "Joe was not happy. He wants a chat with the manager to see where he stands."
The same paper reports that Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is poised to increase his bid for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy.
