Henin gets wild card for Open

Melbourne: Former champion Justine Henin, making a return to top-level tennis, has been granted a wild card for the 2010 Australian Open, organisers said Monday.

“I spoke to Justine’s team over the weekend and was happy to grant her request for a wildcard into the Australian Open,” tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement. The 27-year-old former world No.1 announced her comeback after 18 months out of the game, saying she had been inspired by fellow-Belgian Kim Clijsters's own stunning return after leaving the game to start a family.

Open loss

Surprise (US): Todd Martin beat Andre Agassi 6-3, 7-5 Sunday in the final of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships, the 39-year-old Agassi’s first tournament on the 30-and-older Outback Champions Series.

Martin wins

Florence: The doping case against defender Fabio Cannavaro was dropped by the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) Monday and the Italy captain said he did nothing wrong and was bothered by the public outrage his positive test sparked. Juventus and club physician Bartolomeo Goitre could still be sanctioned by Coni.

Milan view

Harare: MoM Hamilton Masakadza hit a career-best 156 Monday to set up Zimbabwe’s 91 run victory over Kenya in the first of five one-day matches.

Zimbabwe amassed 313 for four at the Harare Sports Club. In reply, Kenya were bowled out for 222 in 49.5 overs.

Fabio cleared

Florence: The doping case against defender Fabio Cannavaro was dropped by the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) Monday and the Italy captain said he did nothing wrong and was bothered by the public outrage his positive test sparked. Juventus and club physician Bartolomeo Goitre could still be sanctioned by Coni.

Zimbabwe win

Harare: MoM Hamilton Masakadza hit a career-best 156 Monday to set up Zimbabwe’s 91 run victory over Kenya in the first of five one-day matches.
Zimbabwe amassed 313 for four at the Harare Sports Club. In reply, Kenya were bowled out for 222 in 49.5 overs.

BRIEF SCORES
Zimbabwe 313/4 (H. Masakadza 156). Kenya 222 all out in 49.5 ovs (S. Tikolo 49; K. Jarvis 3/36, P. Utseya 3/36). Zimbabwe won by 89 runs.

Sreevats’ 53

Calcutta: Bengal skipper Sreevats Goswami scored 53 as Bengal amassed 251 for nine against Punjab on the opening day of their under-22 CK Nayudu cricket match Monday. Electing to bat, Bengal kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Shreevats built the foundation for Bengal but the wicketkeeper-batsman could not consolidate his innings.