F1 magnates to take over at QPR

QPR have confirmed that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have made a recommended offer for the club.

Gianni Paladini will remain as chairman but Antonio Caliendo and Franco Zanotti have agreed to resign from the board.

Briatore told the club website: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the QPR board for our bid for the club.

Paladini said: "This offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the club forward."

Source: BBC Sport

Djokovic survives Stepanek; Nadal advances

NEW YORK -- They broke out odd little dances after hitting big shots, swaying their hips and rocking their arms to music only in their heads.

They pushed their beleaguered bodies this way and that for 4 hours, 44 minutes on Friday, swatting balls from impossible angles and somehow rarely missing the mark.

Through repeated visits from trainers, through all manner of momentum shifts, No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic and former top-10 player Radek Stepanek produced as entertaining and lengthy a U.S. Open match as there's been in quite some time.

Djokovic has emerged as a potential challenger to No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal, and on this day, he emerged victorious, if only barely, beating friend and sometime-doubles-partner Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (2).

When it ended, Stepanek stepped over the net, dropped his racket and trudged over to apply a bearhug so hearty the weary Djokovic nearly toppled over.

"As much as I was running and sliding and cramping, whatever, I still had a lot of fun," Djokovic said. "There are a couple of points that are really unforgettable."

And, oh, how many points there were -- 356 in all. The match lasted 63 games, the most at the U.S. Open since 1979. That year, John Lloyd and Paul McNamee played the same number to set the tournament record for most games in a singles match since tiebreaks were introduced in 1970.

"Long day," Djokovic said. "Long match."

Rafael Nadal advanced to the third round when Janko Tipsarevic stopped because of an injury while losing 6-2, 6-3, 3-2.

The 23-year-old Tipsarevic, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, had his right side taped by a trainer early in the third set.

"I am sorry for him," Nadal said in a courtside interview. "He's having a very good season."

Nadal's bothersome knees looked much better in the second round than the first, and he now meets Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who ended six-time major semifinalist Tim Henman's Grand Slam career by beating the Brit in four sets.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic played 63 games in a 4-hour, 44-minute second-round match.

"I was a little bit better. I feel so much better today," said Nadal, who blasted in 28 winners against the Serb.

Former U.S. Open champ Marat Safin was eliminated. He's never rallied from a two-set deficit and the No. 25 Russian didn't do it this time, smacking his last shot right into the net in a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 second-round loss to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

"Everything I tried didn't work out. It was kind of a weird match," Safin said.

Safin was then reminded that Pete Sampras predicted the Russian would spend many years at No. 1 after winning the 2000 U.S. Open.

"Even the geniuses make mistakes," Safin said.

Safin has not reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal since he won the Australian Open in 2005, with a knee injury hindering his progress last year.

The 27-year-old cut a downcast figure when he faced the press after his defeat but said he was still hopeful that his best tennis was yet to come.

"Maybe, maybe it is," he said. "Maybe next year I will win a couple of Grand Slams, you never know. But just I'm sure the best moments still to come."

When he won the U.S. Open in 2000 at the age of 20, it seemed Safin was set to dominate the sport. But though he won in Melbourne in 2005 and also reached the final there in two other years, he claimed he is happy with what he has achieved so far.

"The thing is no matter how many times I explain to the people, they wonder why I didn't win five Grand Slams, 10 Grand Slams, why did I only win two and [get to] two finals," he said. "But once again, if the people look at me when I was 17 and I had no money and my mother gave me only $500 to go Roland Garros and the French Open and try to look for some money, to come from there from having nothing, to what I achieved right until now, well, it's a long way.

"I could have end up anywhere in Moscow or Russia doing God knows what. I'm sitting here and you're asking me pretty nice questions, so I think I did pretty well in my career," he said.

Wawrinka now meets 2005 semifinalist Robby Ginepri of the United States, who beat Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. Another American, Mardy Fish, led No. 8 Tommy Robredo 4-1 in the fifth set before dropping the last five games and the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4.

Fish's explanation?

"I froze," he said.

That one was played in Arthur Ashe Stadium and lasted 3½ hours, which seemed like nothing in comparison to what went on over at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"I am totally exhausted. No energy. I smell my shoes -- they are so stinky," Djokovic said and then noted that he was fighting cramps "in both of the legs and an arm and back and head."

He got his upper legs massaged a few times. During one break, he plopped down on his stomach so a trainer could knead Djokovic's lower back. Stepanek, too, needed help at changeovers.

Yet both just kept going, remarkably combining for only 88 unforced errors despite the number of shots they hit.

Somehow, both found the strength to play to the crowd, waving their palms or cupping a hand to an ear to ask for louder cheering. Djokovic celebrated a couple big points by leaping high with a scissor-kick and an uppercut.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Former U.S. Open champ Marat Safin has never rallied from a two-set deficit.

On one marvelous exchange, Djokovic's shot clipped the net and barely went over, but Stepanek raced to get the ball and slap it across his body. Djokovic got to that, forcing Stepanek to race back to the baseline for a defensive lob that Djokovic simply tapped in for a winner. Djokovic then let his racket fall so he could do a quick jig.

At 4-4 in the fifth set, Stepanek flubbed a shot and mocked himself -- and, perhaps, Djokovic -- with his own two-step.

Spectators regaled Djokovic and Stepanek with standing ovations during changeovers, before the fifth-set tiebreak and, of course, at the finish.

Stepanek might be best known for having recently been engaged to five-time major champion Martina Hingis -- and for having a tour spokesman announce the wedding was off.

The 20-year-old Djokovic, on the other hand, is quickly gaining popularity, thanks to his engaging personality and his YouTube-posted impersonations of other players.

Ah, yes, and his results. He reached the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon and beat then-No. 3 Andy Roddick, Nadal and Federer at Montreal, the first player in 13 years to defeat the top three men at a single tournament.

"I had some impressive results this year," Djokovic said. "Of course, the people expect me to do well."

He didn't disappoint Friday.

The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam tournament that uses a tiebreak to end fifth sets, and Stepanek compared it to playing the lottery.

"You know," he lamented, "I didn't have the right ticket today."

Henman's Grand Slam tennis career is over, but he said he would be leaving the sport content that he had made the most of his potential.

Henman, a six-time major semifinalist who is retiring next month, lost 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.

"I've had a fantastic career," Henman said. "Playing in front of crowds like this make it so special to the players and that's something I'll miss."

He turns 33 next month and has struggled with knee and back problems in 2007, when he is 6-12. Henman announced before the U.S. Open that he would retire following this tournament and Britain's Davis Cup match in September.

"I've got one more tournament -- the Davis Cup, at Wimbledon, so a couple of nice wins there would be good," Henman told the crowd.

Though he admitted that he would have liked to have won Wimbledon, having reached the semifinals four times, Henman said he had few regrets about his career.

"When I reflect on my career, I think I maximized my potential," he said. "This is as good as I could have been."

Henman reached the semifinals at two of the other three Grand Slam events -- the French Open and U.S. Open, both in 2004 -- and reached a career-high ranking of fourth in 2002. He won 11 titles.

The back injury that had troubled him for the past three years flared up earlier this month when he arrived in the United States for the ATP event in Washington. Playing in pain, Henman said, was what convinced him to quit.

U.S. Open scores

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"I feel that with the level of tennis I've played and the things I've been able to achieve in tennis, I didn't want to just keep plugging away and get the limited rewards I was going to get," he said. "That was the time when I sat down with [coach] Paul [Annacone] and knew that I wanted to stop.

"It's not something I actually planned, that Davis Cup was going to be my last event, but given the circumstances of it being at Wimbledon, it seemed to fit extremely well with me," he said. "It's always been an honor and a privilege to play any event at the All England Club so I'm really excited about playing there."

The closest Henman came to reaching a Grand Slam final came at Wimbledon in 2001, when he was two points away from beating Goran Ivanisevic in the fourth-set tiebreak of their semifinal, having led by two sets to one when the match was interrupted by rain.

"Yeah, if I could change one match, it would be that one, but if am asked do I want to go back and play Wimbledon? Really the simple answer is no," he said. "I played there so much over the years and have had some fantastic memories, some of the best memories of my career.

"But I've always felt like when I've been competing I've had the chance of winning any tournament, including Wimbledon. It's obviously getting more and more difficult to win it and I am not going to just hang around for the next nine months, just to play Wimbledon for the sake of it," he said.

Henman, who has two young children with a third due next month, said the biggest thing he will miss is the competition but said he expects to be involved in tennis at some stage in the not-too-distant future.

"That's the biggest upside, playing in stadium courts like this one. That's the final piece in the puzzle," he said. "In the short term I'm looking forward to stepping away from it but I don't envisage not being involved in tennis in the future."

Tsonga won the 2003 U.S. Open junior title.

"He played too good for me," Henman said.

In other action, Philipp Kohlschreiber upset No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3; No. 12 Ivan Ljubicic beat Andrei Pavel 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (6); No. 15 David Ferrer defeated Florent Serra 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2; No. 17 Carlos Moya of Spain beat Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 6-4, 6-4, 7-5; No. 24 David Nalbandian beat Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; No. 20 Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina defeated Wayne Odesnik 6-3, 6-1, 7-5; No. 23 Juan Monaco defeated Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-0, 6-7 (1), 6-4; and Ernests Gulbis defeated Michael Berrer 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1.

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.

Source: ESPN.com

Live - Premier League

Bolton 0-1 Everton
Fulham 0-1 Tottenham
Liverpool 0-0 Derby
Middlesbrough 1-0 Birmingham
Newcastle 0-0 Wigan
Reading 0-1 West Ham

LATER GAME:
Manchester Utd v Sunderland, 17:15

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

Send us your views, comments and opinions on Saturday's games - text us on 81111 or use 606

1519: Panic at the back for Tottenham. Paul Robinson makes a hash of a low cross from Hameur Bouazza's cross and Steven Davis thumps the rebound high and over.

1516: Newcastle's Michael Owen has the ball in the net - but it won't count. He was offside, although there was more than a glimpse of that old predatory instinct in the box.

1515: Cheers for the shouts about the scores at the top and apologies to Newcastle fans who found themselves 1-0 down to an invisible goal. All got a bit hectic.

1513: GOAL Middlesbrough 1-0 Birmingham
The Blues half clear a corner which is run back into the box on the left. His cclipped cross into the box is met by a thundering header from David Wheater .

"They've started very very brightly, nothing more than they deserve - they've been the better side."
Carlton Palmer, BBC Score pundit

1512: GOAL Fulham 0-1 Tottenham
Younes Kabul scores his first goal for Tottenham - and he'll never have a simpler one. Fulham keeper Tony Warner has made a few clangers this season, and now his replacement Antti Niemi is in on the act. He fumbles Gareth Bale's corner and the French defender is in the right place at the right time to tap in.

1511: GOAL Bolton 0-1 Everton
A debut goal for Yakubu . Andrew Johnson races down the right and bides his time before picking out Everton's new number 22. Yakubu peels off at the back post to side foot in an accurate square pass.

1510: Injured Liverpool duo Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have a watching brief high in the stands at Anfield. Both chewing gum. Not much chat. The Reds are on top.

1508: Mark Viduka flicks on a long ball and Michael Owen is free on the left. The Newcastle striker bears down on the area, but his low shot is tipped round the post by Chris Kirkland.

1507: GOAL Reading 0-1 West Ham
On their last visit to the Madejski the Hammers were, well, hammered. It won't be 6-0 this time. Lee Bowyer pounces on poor Reading play in midfield and releases Craig Bellamy who shoots across Marcus Hahnemann from the right.

1504: Referee Rob Styles has had an immaculate first 90 seconds in the game between Middlesbrough and Birmingham. Just the next 90 minutes or thereabouts to negotiate.

1503: The London derby has started and former Tottenham player and present day Score pundit Garth Crooks puts the mockers on the visitors: "They won't lose today."

1502: All matches but the London derby are up and running.

1501: A minute's silence at Craven Cottage in memory of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed.

1500: A minute's applause at the Reebok for Rhys Jones and Sevilla player Antonio Puerta.

1457: Players out everywhere and at Bolton it's a birthday party for the Reebok. It is 10 years old today and Everton were the visitors on that occasion as well. A certain Gary Speed, then a sprightly 27, was playing for the Toffees.

1455: Newcastle new boy Habib Beye gets a rousing reception as he's introduced to the Toon Army. The former Marseille man looks a bit non-plussed by all the fuss.

1454: Fans are asked to take their seats at Craven Cottage as Tottenham emerge and are kept in the ground's 'holding area'.

"Spurs to beat Cottage boys by five goals."
Sanjay via text on 81111

1450: Newcastle's St James' Park is filling up. People take their seats with Kasabian's 'Shoot the Runner' playing in the background. No running in the corridors please - and certainly not up that vertiginous climb to the away seating.

1449: Danny Murphy, Shefki Kuqi and Seol Ki-Hyeon are introduced to the Fulham fans after the club's busy day. Defender Dejan Stefanovic will have to wait for his welcome as he's in the dressing room listening to Lawrie Sanchez's team talk.

1447: Last but by no means least, over to St James' Park where Newcastle are looking to break a quite remarkbale record. They have not scored a league goal at home in 560 minutes since the now departed Nolberto Solano slotted against Liverpool in February. Wigan include former Magpies Antoine Sibierski and Titus Bramble.

1444: Bright sunshine on Teesside and fingers crossed referee Rob Styles will have a bright game in his first return to the middle since that Liverpool-Chelsea fiasco. Middlesbrough last lost at home to Birmingham in November 1980.

1441: Merseyside's other club are looking for their best start to a season since 1998. With Liverpool hosting Derby that has home banker all over it. doesn't it? Well, in that 1998 season the Reds lost twice to County so strange things can happen.

"Apparently there are no easy games to be had in the Premier League. No disrespect meant but there is and it's playing Derby at home. Good luck Derby."
Jim, in Surrey, via text on 81111

1437: We can expect goals at the Reebok. Bolton have scored in their last 19 league games, while Everton have kept only one clean sheet in their last 12.

1434: We've tipped our hat in the direction of Fulham and Tottenham, and down towards the bottom Reading and West Ham are also in need of points. The Royals have never lost at home to the Hammers and are already one up on their rivals having held on to full-back Nicky Shorey this week.

TEAM NEWS

Bolton keep Kevin Davies on the bench, despite his recovery from a hamstring injury, with Nicolas Anelka up front, and are unchanged. Everton give a debut to record �11.25m signing Yakubu alongside Andrew Johnson, but their other pre-deadline arrival Thomas Gravesen is a substitute. Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar also make their first Premiership starts for the club, with Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert making way.

Dejan Stefanovic makes his Fulham debut after signing on Friday. Hameur Bouazza and Antti Niemi also start, but there is no place for striker David Healy who is left on the bench. Antony Gardener is missing for Tottenham , but Younes Kaboul is fit to replace him. Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov start in attack and Michael Dawson is on the bench.

Liverpool make five changes from their midweek win over Toulouse with Steve Finnan, Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres all coming in. Derby , who went out of the Carling Cup on penalties to Blackpool in midweek, do the same with boss Billy Davies bringing back Andy Griffin, Claude Davis, Andy Todd, Craig Fagan and Tyrone Mears.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate names the same starting line-up that drew with Newcastle as Gary Neil's Friday move came too late in the day for him to make his debut. Birmingham makes one change from side that beat Derby 2-1, Sebastian Larsson replacing Gary McSheffrey in attack.

Newcastle make five changes to the team that defeated Barnsley in the Carling Cup, but Michael Owen keeps his place and starts alongside Mark Viduka. Wigan make seven changes to the team that lost in the Carling Cup to Hull, though new signing Marcus Bent has to be content with a place on the bench.

Reading welcome back full-backs Graeme Murty and West Ham target Nicky Shorey, while England Under-21 striker Leroy Lita makes his first league start of the season. Dean Ashton is back in the West Ham XI with Bobby Zamora the man to miss to out. Lee Bowyer replaces the injured Kieron Dyer.

1422: Injured Fulham skipper Brian McBride takes time out to talk to BBC Radio 5live about the "freak injury" that did for him against Middlesbrough. He tore the tendon in his knee but is super confident he'll be back after six months out.

1419: Despite that poor record on the road against Fulham, and their underwhelming start to the campaign, Tottenham looked in high spirits when they disembarked from their coach about 45 minutes ago. Manager Martin Jol came barrelling through the gates in a brusque, businessmanlike manner, while further down the line Steed Malbranque gave a wry smile as he walked off the bus at his former club.

"Rising Scorpio (impulsive & competitive) with Jupiter (abundance & entertainment), suggests we are on for a great afternoon's football with plenty of action and goals. Those with a greater degree of professionalism and courage should prevail. Starmen - Lennon, Torres & Viduka."
Astrologer on 606
Lennon's defnitely not going to be a star. He's injured.

1417: The team news will start rolling in very soon and when we get it you'll be the first to know. Not "you'll" as in Gordon, but all of you.

"Rafa better play Torres. I really can't be done with another season of rotation. Play your best players. United did it last season and look what happend."
Gordon, via text on 81111, gets in early

1414: As ever, get in contact with us either via 606 or text on 81111. We want to hear your thoughts on all the action.

1411: Stick Lawro's guesses - sorry, astute tips -into the BBC Sport predictor and Liverpool end the day top of the pile. Have a go yourself...

1410: Spurs have won just once in 40 years in the league at Fulham when Teddy Sheringham and Gus Poyet scored the goals in March 2002. However, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson expects them to come out on top today.

1407: That London derby at Craven Cottage is the commentary game on BBC Radio 5live. Mark Pougatch's the MC on 693 & 909 MW.

1405: In those half dozen earlier games, Wigan, Liverpool and Everton all have the opportunity to take top spot from Chelsea. Down at the other end of the table Derby are looking for a first win and Fulham and Tottenham, both in the bottom four, go head-to-head at Craven Cottage.

1404: What action have we got? Six 1500 BST games before Manchester United and Sunderland and Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane go mano-a-mano at 1715 BST.

1402: Hope you made the most of a first lazy Saturday morning of the season after last night's transfer shenanigans. Let's hope the players put on a better show in this afternoon's action than their tight-wad chairmen did on Friday.

1400: Fancy seeing you here.

Source: BBC Sport

Flintoff hit by fresh ankle worry

Headingley, 2 September 2007

Test Match Special podcast | Blog

606 debate | Mobile scorecards

NatWest series, Headingley: England v India
match starts 1015 BST Sunday

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is doubtful for Sunday's game against India after fresh problems with his troublesome left ankle.

Flintoff, who has had three operations on the ankle in the past, complained of soreness to the team's medical staff.

"It's a little bit worrying and we'll know more in the next few hours," said captain Paul Collingwood.

England lead the series 3-1 and will wrap up overall victory with two games to spare if they win at Headingley.

Interview: England one-day captain Paul Collingwood

And although confidence is high following Thursday's three-wicket win at Old Trafford, their task will be much harder without Flintoff.

He bowled a full complement of 10 overs in that game, taking 1-31, after having to miss thee previous match at Edgbaston because of a knee problem.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement said: "Andrew suffered a reaction following Thursday's match and has undergone scans on the ankle which require further review.

"The ankle discomfort Andrew is experiencing is in no way related to the knee injury he sustained earlier in the series.

"Ongoing assessment and investigation into the injury will be carried out and a decision on Andrew's availability for Sunday's match will be made following further assessment."

If Flintoff is ruled out, Hampshire paceman Chris Tremlett is the most likely replacement, although Jon Lewis is also in the squad and hoping for an opportunity.

The tourists had a great chance to level the series at Old Trafford after reducing England to 114-7, but then let their opponents off the hook as Ravi Bopara and Stuart Broad shared a match-winning partnership of 99.

"I've never really been in a run-chase situation like that with Essex, but I have with England in the World Cup [against Sri Lanka] and I used that," said Bopara.

"I didn't want to go through the disappointment of not finishing it off this time - you learn from your mistakes and I didn't want to fall short again.

"All you need to think about in that situation is let's get 10 more runs, and when you get that 10, you just have to get 10 more."

Bopara believes England must be "ruthless" at Headingley and cannot afford to let their guard down against an undoubtedly talented Indian team.

The Yorkshire ground has been a lucky one for India in the past with three wins in four previous meetings, but it was England who came out on top the last time in 1996 after dismissing the tourists for just 158.

Sachin Tendulkar failed in that match, but has two half centuries in the current series and remains the most prized wicket for England's bowlers.

His opening partnership with Sourav Ganguly has failed to sparkle so far, managing stands of 17, 35 and 15, but India are likely to keep them together.

"You want your best players facing the most number of balls and they've been the most successful opening pair for us all these years.

"They've had a lot of success and when we've tried to move them around it probably hasn't worked as well," said skipper Rahul Dravid.

India may be tempted, however, to give either Robin Uthappa or Rohit Sharma a chance, with Dinesh Karthik the players perhaps most at risk after only 49 runs in the four games so far.

Munaf Patel is likely to come into the bowling attack if Zaheer fails to recover in time.

Source: BBC Sport

Saturday's football photos

Source: BBC Sport

FA chief backs Uefa's Euro plans

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has backed Uefa's plans for domestic cup winners to qualify for the Champions League.

Uefa president Michel Platini's may be on a collision course with the Premier League, who want to keep four places.

Barwick told BBC Radio 5live: "It is important to keep as many English clubs in the Champions League as possible.

"If another route is via the FA Cup, it's a perfectly reasonable suggestion. It might get other clubs into it."

Interview: UEFA president Michel Platini Interview: Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon

In the last 10 years the FA Cup has only been won by the clubs that finished in the top four last season - Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

However, Barwick said the possibility was there to open qualification up to other clubs.

Referring to West Ham's last-gasp defeat in the 2006 FA Cup final by Liverpool, Barwick added: "West Ham were a minute away off having qualified."

Uefa's executive committee will decide on Platini's proposals in November.

His controversial proposals would also see six places in the Champions League reserved for champions of the 40 lowest leagues in Uefa's 50 member countries.

The champions of the top 12 associations will automatically qualify for the group stage.

Source: BBC Sport

Live - World Athletics day eight

25 August - 2 September

Great Britain have hopes of adding to their medal tally in the men's and women's 4x100m relays on day eight of the World Championships in Osaka.

America's double sprint champion Tyson Gay is targeting a third gold in the relay, but Asafa Powell is also intent on leading Jamaica to the title.

His compatriot Maurice Smith has maintained his decathlon lead with the javelin and 1500m still to go.

Britain's Jo Pavey contests her second final of the event in the 5,000m.

ACTION AS IT HAPPENED (ALL TIMES BST):

To get involved, text us on 81111 (UK users only) or contribute to 606

1104: Canada's Chantal Petitclerc presses on at the bell and the world record holder takes it in three minutes 37.10 seconds in controlled fashion from Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler and American Jessica Galli. Woods got trapped on the inside on the final lap and comes in last.

1101: The first action out on the track is the women's 1500m wheelchair race where Shelley Woods represents Britain in the three-and-a-half lap event, and it looks like a tactical race as no-one is wanting to set the pace early on.

1100: The penultimate day of action in Japan signals relay time, which means just about anything could happen, and probably will.

The British quartet of Christian Malcolm, Craig Pickering, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis got the baton round safely in their heat to reach the final.

But four teams qualified with faster times so the Brits now need to add some pace to their safe hands.

Five-time Olympic gold medallist and the BBC's wise pundit Michael Johnson says the only tactic they have to employ is to focus on their own race and see where they finish. But will they?

There could be a better chance of a medal in the women's 4x100m as Laura Turner, Montell Douglas, Emily Freeman and Joice Maduaka went through as the third fastest qualifiers in 42.82.

The 4x400m heats for the men and women also get under way and again Britain will expect to be strongly placed.

The medal count for today is as follows: there are five to be settled in the evening session in the women's 5,000m, men's pole vault, decathlon and those pesky sprint relays.

Professional athlete Tyson Gay says: "I am extremely tired." We hear you Tyson but come on it's day eight, we're almost on the home straight now.

Source: BBC Sport

Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Ronaldinho has agreed to join Chelsea from Barcelona - next season. (Express)

Rangers' new loan signing Amdy Faye says his former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness persuaded him to move to Ibrox. (Record)

Celtic are furious at Bobo Balde turning down a loan move to Sunderland, despite not having played a first-team game since last December. (Record)

Southend initially rejected Barnsley's second bid for Jamal Campbell-Ryce after it was smaller than their first offer. (Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Accrington Stanley are in danger of going out of business for a second time. Chairman Eric Whalley says their financial situation is the worst it has been since their Unibond League days. (Mail)

Frank Lampard's thigh injury will keep him out for six weeks. (various)

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has been told he is now the fourth-choice striker at Stamford Bridge. (various)

FA Chief executive Brian Barwick says Michel Platini's plan to award a Champions League place to the FA Cup winners is "perfectly reasonable". (Mail)

Arsene Wenger will sign a new three-year deal at Arsenal next week. (Express)

PFA chief Gordon Taylor wants annual heart checks for players to become compulsory after the number of recent health scares. (Express).

Derby boss Billy Davies says the step up from Championship to Premier League is like moving from primary school to secondary school (Guardian).

Sir Alex Ferguson says it was "amazing" no-one was killed in crowd trouble when Manchester United visited Roma last season, and he hopes lessons have been learnt for their return there this season. (Independent)

Thierry Henry will make his Barcelona debut this weekend against Athletic Bilbao as Samuel Eto'o is out for two months with a thigh injury. (Independent)

Bolton boss Sammy Lee has hit out at what he calls "malignant rumours" coming from the dressing room about player selection. (Mirror)

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he is "surprised" by the decision of his number two Pako Ayesteran to leave the club, having worked with him for 11 years. (Sun)

Aston Villa's Ashley Young says he thought it was a joke when he was told Steve McClaren had phoned up to say he was in the England squad. (Sun)

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says he offered to pay Blackburn compensation after changing his mind about taking the manager's job in 1997 - but the club said no. (Star)

Veteran Bolton midfielder Gary Speed, 37, says he could carry on playing until he is 40.�(Sun)

Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller has urged Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood to snub the chance to take over as Leicester manager. (Record)

AND FINALLY

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was refused entry to a nightclub after the Carling Cup win over Barnsley because he was wearing a football shirt. But once he was allowed in, he bought drinks for 150 fans and left a �500 tip for the bar staff. (Mail)

Source: BBC Sport

World Athletics day eight photos

25 August - 2 September

Source: BBC Sport

Classy Calleri ends Hewitt hopes

Former US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt made his earliest ever exit from the tournament after losing 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 to Agustin Calleri in round two.

The Argentine world number 58 hit 65 winners on his way to his first career victory over the Australian, who was champion here in 2001.

"Early in the second set, I didn't quite stamp my authority on the match after I'd won the first," said Hewitt.

"I could have put more pressure on. He started to play better from then on."

Calleri had 17 unforced errors in the first set but made just 20 in the rest of the match, and Hewitt admitted the better player won.

"If I hit the ball anywhere half in the middle of the court, dropped it short, he was all over it," said Hewitt, the 2001 Open titlist.

"He didn't miss a lot. And I didn't quite get enough on the ball."

Calleri was understandably delighted with his display.

"I'm feeling very happy because I played the whole match very well. I was very focused," he said.

Source: BBC Sport