22 sport Tuesday, January 26, 2010 D sportdigest Schueys not out to prove a point FORMULA ONE: Michael Schumacher insists he is back in F1 for the right reasons. The German, 41, has returned to the sport with Mercedes GP but was decidedly prickly yesterday when asked if he had a point to prove. Asked whether his return was to show he could win without controversy, he sarcastically replied: Ninety-one victories, seven titles, you win only in a bad way. Absolutely. Yeah, youre right, I need to prove [myself] now. When told the question referred to the manner he won, not his huge success, he added: Yeah, I know. I did win this in the manner in which youre trying to ask questions. Angry: Schumacher Roger rates his chances ROGER FEDERER serves on his way to a 15th straight win over Lleyton Hewitt and is now out to end his losing streak against Nikolay Davydenko. World No.1 Federer has been beaten the last two times he has faced his quarter-final opponent but said after beating home favourite Hewitt 6-2, 6-3, 6-4: I favour my chances in a best-of- five-set match. Davydenko beat Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 in a thriller, while Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also claimed berths in the last eight. Williams pair set for semi clash Picture: AP The possibility of an all-Williams semi- final looms after both sisters won their fourth-round matches yesterday. Defending champion and top-ranked Serena ended local hopeful Sam Stosurs campaign 6-4, 6-2 after sixth seed Venus recovered from a sluggish start to overcome Italys Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. The Americans are now just one win away from meeting each other in the last four and the chances of that were increased when fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki was beaten by Chinas Li Na 6-4, 6-3. That left the Williams as the highest seeds left and should they meet it would be their first clash at Melbourne Park since the 2003 final. Seventh seed Victoria Azarenka is also through after beating Russian Vera Zvonareva in three sets. By Paul Keane Cooney: OByrne brawl is a stain on our game GAA president Christy Cooney has denounced the behaviour of warring Kildare and Laois players as not some- thing were proud of. The Leinster Councils disciplinary arm will convene tomorrow to investi- gate Sundays OByrne Cup tie, which saw seven players sent off in Portlaoise. Five of the players, including Kildare skipper Johnny Doyle, were sent to the line after a first half mele and now face potential two-month bans while a sixth player, Denis Booth of Laois, was red- carded later on and also faces sanctions. Speaking at yesterdays launch of the Ulster Bank Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups, Cooney claimed he was not fully aware of exactly what happened because I havent even seen a report on it. But he did appear to know the basic facts surrounding the incident and said it was very unsatisfactory to finish a game 11 against 12. Seven players getting red cards is not something were proud of and Im sure the Leinster CCC will deal with it within the rules and take the necessary appro- priate action, said Cooney. The game was not screened on TV though it is understood Kildares back- room team filmed it and may present a copy to the investigation. The referees report should be able to deal with it, said Cooney. The referee has four umpires and two linesmen and it seems to be that he dealt with the situa- tion. Thats seven officials involved and they seem to have dealt with the situa- tion. Lets see what comes from the ref- erees report. A family court: Serena GAA Rocket way ahead of pack: Williams SNOOKER: Mark Williams has hailed Ronnie OSullivan as the best player in the world ahead of the Welsh Open. OSullivan lost a gripping Masters final 10-9 to Mark Selby but insisted neither player was consistent enough to become world champion this year. But Williams is having none of that and said: You have got to beat Ronnie to win [the world title]. It doesnt matter what he says, hes by far and away the best player out there. Its up to the rest of us to catch him up. Saracens recruit banned Stevens RUGBY: England prop Matt Stevens will relaunch his career with Saracens in 2011. The former Bath forward (pictured), who is currently serving a two-year drugs ban for cocaine use, will join Sarries on completion of his suspension. Capped 32 times, Stevens said: I am looking forward to launching the next phase of my career at Saracens. I have many great memories and friends in Bath, but there is something special happening at Saracens. Borthwick to lead RUGBY: Boss Martin Johnson has retained Steve Borthwick as England captain for the Six Nations. Johnson initially named his Elite squad without naming a skipper but has kept faith with the Saracens lock. Borthwick has captained England in every Test since Johnson took charge of the national team late in 2008, but the decision to delay the captaincy announcement prompted speculation that there would be a change in leadership. Dublin in dark over endgame Captain paul Griffin has admitted Dublin players were not aware that they could have beaten Meath by kicking the ball out of play in injury- time on Sunday. the Blues, leading by a point, failed to take advantage of a new rule that sees the full-time whistle blown only after the ball goes out of play. instead, they kept the ball alive and let Meath grab an equaliser. Griffin said: i think there was a little bit of confusion around that. if wed [known] we probably would have put it out. GOLF TENNIS ShANe LOWRy showed he belonged in the professional ranks with an assured display in Abu Dhabi last week and will look to prove he deserves a place in the worlds top 100 at this weeks Commercialbank Qatar Masters. The 22-year-old Irishman, who only joined the pro ranks after winning the Irish Open as an amateur last May, produced a seasoned display to claim fourth at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship behind established trio Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy. Novembers third place at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan still represents the best finish of his brief eight-month career, but last weeks result moved Lowry into the worlds top 100 and proved he has what it takes to challenge for further honours on a regular basis. I came out last week with no expectations, but got a bit of confidence early in the week and took it on from there, Lowry said. I played really well and putted nicely so it was a nice week to start the year off with. Meanwhile, McIlroy admitted his frustration with his inability to convert a string of top-five finishes into a second career title. he has finished outside the tope seven only once since August, but has yet to add to last years win at the Dubai Desert Classic. Its important to keep the run going, its nice to finish up there all the time, but it would be nice to convert some of the top threes into wins as its getting a little frustrating, he said. Lowry begins to prove his worth Lowry: Cracked top 100 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html