Simon rolls to Metz success

Simon rolls to Metz success

Gilles Simon secured the Open de Moselle in Metz with a comfortable straight-sets win in the final.

The Frenchman savoured victory on home turf after easily seeing off the challenge of German qualifier Mischa Zverev 6-3 6-2 in just 67 minutes.

World number 41 Simon has suffered a disrupted season with a knee injury affecting his form and ranking, but his first title since the Bangkok trophy last October is set to lift him up the rankings.

Simon claimed the sole break of serve in the opening set in the sixth game before holding the rest of the way.

Zverev, at 155 the lowest ranked player to reach an ATP final this season, enjoyed a 2-0 career record against Simon coming into the match but never looked like extending that sequence as the Frenchman took charge.

Trailing 2-1 in the second set, Simon turned the screw to win five straight games and complete a one-sided victory.

Ler Mais

Doubts hover over Korean GP

Doubts hover over Korean GP

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed his doubts that the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead.

"It's not good," said Ecclestone, speaking in Singapore. "It should have been inspected maybe six weeks ago, which it was, but it wasn't passed.

"We normally have a 90-day check before a race and now we are sort of putting this off. It's quite dangerous what we've done actually.

"I mean, it's a case of 'do we cancel the race or not?' They say it is all going to be okay, so we hope they are right."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has expressed his concerns regarding the race, in particular as it would be detrimental to his drivers' chances of winning the title.

Following today's grand prix in which Jenson Button finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton retired for the second successive race, the duo are now 20 and 25 points behind championship leader Mark Webber.

"We would like 100 points and four races, but from what we hear there are a lot of concerns," said Whitmarsh.

"Bernie and the Koreans will work on that, and we will concentrate on going to Suzuka and maximising the points."

"I had a chat with him (Ecclestone) earlier, and he now seems pretty confident.

"We were there a few weeks ago and they were well on course with it, so we're pretty confident."

Ler Mais

Pique urges Torres to leave Liverpool

Pique urges Torres to leave Liverpool

Gerard Pique claims Fernando Torres will be embarrassed having to play in the Europa League for Liverpool.

"I spoke with him before he committed to Liverpool and he told me he wanted to win things with Liverpool - but if the club didn't invest and show real intent, he would be forced to leave.

"It's really embarrassing for Nando to play in a team of that quality.

"You would not see Messi or Rooney playing in the Europa League - so there is no reason why Nando should be playing there.

"Along with David Villa, he is the best striker in the world.

"He needs to be winning things domestically like he does with Spain."

"Liverpool have shown already this season they are not capable of winning things - and that's it for him now," said Pique.

"Liverpool are really testing Nando's loyalty. For the last two seasons they have promised him they will challenge.

"They haven't delivered on it at all. The ownership of the club looks completely unstable. It doesn't look like the manager or the players have any faith in the club.

"There can be no questions when Nando leaves in the summer. Players of less quality would have left last summer.

"But he is a decent guy and believed it when they told him they would invest. I am not just saying this because I want him to join Barcelona.

"The truth is I don't know if he will. It might be Chelsea, it might be Real Madrid, it might be Barcelona.

"But I know he wants to join a club where he can win league titles and European Cups. I would love us to sign Nando in the summer."

Ler Mais