Player ordained as monk
Top Thai player Danai Udomchoke has shaved his head and been ordained as a monk in a Buddhist monastery in Bangkok, saying he wants calm to help improve his game, Thai media said yesterday. Speaking in a Thai radio interview before his ordination on Sunday, Danai said that he would study Buddhism and perform religious practises like meditation. "This is something I have wanted to do for a long time, and now the time is right," he told the Bangkok Post, saying he would be in a monastery for 15 days. "But who knows? I may stay longer," Danai said. "I have had more defeats than wins lately. I need calmness."
■ Tennis
Querrey wins in Vegas
Unseeded American Sam Querrey captured his first ATP title by beating South African qualifier Kevin Anderson 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Las Vegas Open final on Sunday. "This is my best five matches I have put together in a row on tour," Querrery told reporters. "It is real exciting and I've got lot of confidence right now." The 20-year-old Querrey, 66th in the world rankings, blasted 12 aces and saved nine of 10 break points to win the two-hour match. Anderson took the opening set with consistently powerful first serves, winning 20-of-24 points on his first delivery. But the South African's serve became less of a weapon as the match wore on, allowing Querrey to break him once in each of the final two sets.
■ Badminton
Dane ends PRC monopoly
Denmark's Tine Rasmussen won her first All England title in Birmingham on Sunday. The world No. 9 edged past third seed Lu Lan 21-11, 18-21, 22-20 in a enthralling contest. It was the first victory in the women's singles final at the All Englands by a non-Chinese player since 2002 when Rasmussen's compatriot Camilla Martin took the title. In the men's singles No. 4 seed Chen Jin beat top-seeded compatriot Lin Dan 22-20, 25-23. In an all-South Korean men's doubles final Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae beat Hwang Ji-man and Lee Jae-jin 20-22, 21-19, 21-18 while another South Korean pair, Lee Hyo-jung and Lee Kyung-won triumphed in the women's doubles. Zheng Bo and Gao Ling of China took the mixed doubles.
■ Tennis
Davis Cup dispute simmers
Members of India's Davis Cup squad have agreed to play under captain Leander Paes in next month's zonal tie against Japan but are still demanding his sacking. "With our only goal being playing for the country and with all other issues very much on the table, we look forward to playing Japan at home in April," the players said in a statement. "And just to reiterate, the letter still stands," it added. Mahesh Bhupathi backed a revolt against his former doubles partner by younger team mates Prakash Amritraj and Rohan Bopanna who wrote a letter threatening a boycott unless Paes was replaced. But the federation backed Cup stalwart Paes by postponing any decision at its executive committee meeting last week. The Davis Cup players accused Paes of undermining team spirit and running them down in the media. Paes' decision not to field Amritraj for the opening singles in an Asian zonal win over Uzbekistan last month sparked the controversy. Paes had accused Amritraj of lacking commitment, saying a stomach ailment before the tie was down to the player's decision to attend a party.
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