Sania out of women's doubles

Sania Mirza's run in Wimbledon women's doubles ended when she and Chia-Jung Chuang of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) went down 2-6, 3-6 to Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva and Monica Niculescu of Romania in the second round on Saturday. The 15th-seeded Indo-Taiwanese pair frittered away opportunities and could convert only one of their seven break points. They in return were broken four times in the 87-minute match.

Sania and Chuang dropped their serve twice in the first set while wasting five chances to break their opponents. The two, however, with an early break in the second set showed signs of a fightback, but Kudryavtseva and Niculescu broke back in the fourth game to make it 2-2.

Another break in the sixth game put Kudryavtseva and Niculescu 4-2 ahead and they soon made it 5-2 with an easy hold in the next game before serving out the set and the match in the ninth. Sania with American Bethanie Mattek reached the doubles quarter-final here last year where they lost to eventual winners Venus and Serena Williams.

Sania's challenge in the singles is already over, losing in the second round to good friend Sorana Cirstea of Romania. The Hyderabadi is still alive in the mixed doubles event where she is partnering compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.

Spain beat South Africa for new world record

David Villa and Fernando Llorente scored the goals that gave Spain a 2-0 win over South Africa on Saturday for a world record 15th straight victory. Valencia's Villa broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute and substitute Llorente sealed the game with 18 minutes left to ensure the European champions finished top of their group at the Confederations Cup.

It means they play the runner-up in Group B, likely Italy or Egypt, in the semi-finals next Wednesday. Despite losing, South Africa still make the last four and a potential clash with Brazil after Iraq failed to beat New Zealand in the other group game being played simultaneously. The win meant Spain have now posted 15 consecutive victories, surpassing the old record of 14 held by Australia, Brazil and France.

They also matched the 35-match unbeaten streak held by Brazil between 1993 and 1996, with Spain's run stretching back to November 2006 when they lost to Romania. "I'm very happy with way things have gone, we have an excellent team," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. "Winning 15 matches in a row is a huge success by this team and we want to go on like this. "I think we controlled the match well, passed well and had most of the possession."

South Africa came into the game with expectations around the country high and the match was played in front of a sell-out and deafening crowd at the 40,000-capacity Free State Stadium. South Africa coach Joel Santana was pleased his team stayed in the competition, saying it was good for the country which hosts the World Cup next year.

"Today the team was not good but Bafana Bafana have qualified. It's good for the people, good for the players and good for our preparations for the World Cup," he said. "I'm very happy. This experience is crucial for the World Cup." With their semi-final berth assured before the game even started, Del Bosque, who was now won all 13 matches since he took over, rested seven players.

He gave Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina a start and brought back Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, but retained the formidable Fernando Torres and Villa up front. Liverpool midfielder Albert Reira nearly got them off to a flyer with a 40-yard freekick spectacularly turned around the post by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in the fourth minute.

Villa, a transfer target of Real Madrid, sent a header just over the bar a minute later as Spain made their intentions clear. They were keeping possession well and creating opportunities with South Africa on the back foot. It was not until the 18th minute that the hosts had their first sniff of goal when Teko Modise blasted a freekick over the bar.

Spain kept up the pressure and Matthew Booth was forced to clear off the line before South Africa wasted a glorious chance when Everton's Steven Pienaar put Bernard Parker in the clear only for the striker to send his shot wide. It wasn't just the home side wasting opportunities with an unmarked Villa blasting his shot high after a darting run by Torres as they went to the break all square.

The fireworks began six minutes into the second half when Fabregas was brought down by South African captain Aaron Mokoena and the referee rightly pointed to the spot. Villa stepped up but Khune saved and then dealt with the rebound from Carlos Puyol.

The crowd went crazy but they were silenced barely a minute later when Villa beautifully controlled a lob by Reira and buried the ball in the net. Llorente made sure of three points when he met a Xavi corner to slot the ball home from the six yard line and South Africa were fortunate not to concede more.

Saina sets up title clash with Lin Wang in Indonesian Open

Always ready for any challenge, Saina Nehwal's entry into a Super Series final on Saturday is not a surprise at all. Badminton world's most promising player last season had remarked prior to the Asian leg of events that there was still time before she consistently made finals of Super Series events.

"There's a long way to go before I win a Super Series," the World No. 8 had said, clearly not fancying her chances in the final. On Saturday in Jakarta, the Hyderabadi teen turned things around in dramatic fashion, stunning former World No. 2 Lu Lan of China 25-23, 21-19 to storm into the final of the Indonesia Super Series, her maiden entry at this level.

"She was very, very happy and pleasantly surprised," national coach Gopi Chand told TOI. "Crossing the semifinal was becoming a hurdle for her and she was delighted to have beaten a top Chinese player." Saina will take on World No. 3 Wang Lin of China in the final on Sunday. Lin beat World No. 5 and No. 8 seeded compatriot Xie Xingfang 21-19, 21-13 in the other semifinal.

Although the sixth-seeded Indian lost in three close games to Lin in the quarterfinals of the Singapore Super Series last week, Gopi feels the loss would not play on Saina's mind. "I really think she has a very good chance of winning the title. She told me she was moving very well today. She won a lot of points at the net and on her half-smashes. If she manages to get an initial lead, I'm sure it would pep her up," said Gopi.

Saina started off well against Lu, a former World Championship bronze medallist, and led 11-9 in the first changeover. Lu, ranked just below Saina at No. 9, was forced to play catch up. Lu, seeded No 7, bounced back stronger in the second, racing to a 6-0 lead. Saina reduced the gap by attacking Lu on the backhand corner and, at 9-13, the Indian reeled off six consecutive points to surge ahead 15-13. Saina maintained the point difference and clinched the match after 39 minutes on her first match point.

Gerrard reveals 2013 retirement plan

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that he could retire from the game when his current contract expires in 2013, in an interview with France Football magazine published on Tuesday. Gerrard made his debut for the club in 1998 and has since gone on to win two FA Cups, one League Cup, one UEFA Cup and the 2005 Champions League, when he inspired his side to a memorable comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan.

"I will be 33 at the end of my contract in 2013 and I don't know if I will go any further," said Gerrard, 29, who was named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for 2008-09 after scoring 24 goals in all competitions. "If I do retire, then I will know that from the start to the end of my career I only had one club. And I don't want to think about wearing any other shirt in the future.

"I was close to leaving in the past, maybe twice, most notably in 2005. That year we were a long way off the Premier League title and Chelsea's interest turned my head. "It was a difficult moment for me. However, now when I look back I am very happy that I chose to stay here. It has given me real pride."

The only major trophy to elude Gerrard in his Liverpool career is the Premier League title, as the Merseyside giants haven't finished a season at the summit of English football since 1990. But Rafa Benitez's side pushed eventual champions Manchester United all the way last season, and Gerrard believes they will be able to mount an even stronger challenge next term.

"I think the experience of defeat will help us next season," he said. "When you're a player, it's always hell to see other players lifting trophies. "The team made huge progress last season. Today we are much closer to the title than in the past. "Manchester United have more depth in their squad than us, we have to be realistic. "But if we can add two or three quality players to what we already have, we'll be at their level. The summer recruitments will be crucial."

Sania loses in doubles, Bhupathi advances in Aegon International

India's Sania Mirza and Chia-Jung Chuang of Chinese Taipei bowed out of the Aegon International tennis with a first-round defeat against fourth-seeded Australians Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs 5-7, 4-6 on Tuesday. Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas advanced to the men's doubles second round, defeating Australian Stephen Huss and England's Ross Hutchins 4-6, 7-6 (4), 10-3.

Second seed Bhupathi and Knowles will face American Travis Parrott and Slovak Filip Polasek, who got the better of Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili and Dmitry Tursunov 4-6, 6-3, 10-4. Top seed Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy will take on Polish Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski in the first round.