■TENNIS
Williams off to Paris
Roland Garros has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for Venus Williams, but the world No. 2 will get an early glimpse of the conditions in Paris when she was to headline the opening day of the French Open yesterday. Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was to kick off the action on Philippe Chatrier Court, while last year’s men’s surprise package Robin Soderling, now seeded fifth, was also to make a first day bow. In previous years, a first-round clash with wily Patty Schnyder may have looked a potential bananaskin for Williams, but the 31-year-old Swiss has struggled with injury this season and succumbed to the American for the loss of just four games in Rome earlier this month. Venus, who has won all 10 previous encounters against Schnyder, made her Roland Garros debut in 1997, a year after the Swiss, and made her only final appearance in 2002 when she lost to sister Serena.
■FORMULA ONE
Aussies charge Hamilton
British Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has been charged over a street “burnout” performed outside the Australian Grand Prix in March. In a summons served on his Australian solicitor last week, Hamilton was charged with intentionally losing control of a vehicle. A Victoria state police spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that a summons was served on a 25-year-old Swiss resident. The matter will be heard in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Aug. 24, although it is not known if Hamilton will have to appear. The Belgian Grand Prix is Aug. 29. Hamilton had his borrowed Mercedes impounded under Victoria’s so-called “hoon” laws on March 26 after he was allegedly intentionally spinning and skidding his tires at the entrance to the Grand Prix track at Albert Park.
■TENNIS
Sharapova beats Barrois
Russian top-seed Maria Sharapova beat Germany’s Kristina Barrois 7-5, 6-1 in the final of the WTA Strasbourg claycourt tournament in Strasbourg, France, on Saturday to secure her second title of this year. The former world No.1 trailed 3-5 in the first set to Barrois, who was contesting her first ever WTA final, but hit back to take it 7-5 and then cruised to victory in the second set. Sharapova had already beaten three-time Strasbourg champion and clay specialist Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in Friday’s semi-final. The 23-year-old Russian superstar, who also tasted success at Memphis in February, has been seeded 12th for the French Open that began yesterday.
■SOCCER
Verbeek says farewell
Pim Verbeek gave his informal goodbye to Australia yesterday as he prepared to take the Socceroos to South Africa for the World Cup. The 54-year-old Dutchman will lead Australia against New Zealand today in the team’s final home match ahead of leaving for South Africa on Wednesday. Verbeek will leave the Socceroos after the World Cup to coach Morocco’s national youth teams. Verbeek led Australia to both the World Cup and Asian Cup and in 27 matches coached the team to 15 wins, eight draws and four losses — and more than twice as many goals scored as conceded. Verbeek was an assistant to his Australia predecessor Guus Hiddink with South Korea at the 2002 World Cup, where the co-host country made it to the semi-finals. Verbeek said it was tough to understand his team’s underdog status involving Australia’s other football codes — Australian Rules, rugby league and rugby union.
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