76th Cycling World Championship Road Race to be held

On Sunday, 27 September, the 76th edition of the Cycling World Championship Road Race will be held in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Italy has won the last three editions: Paolo Bettini (2006 and 2007) and Alessandro Ballan (2008).

According to Infostrada Sports, Italy can become the first country ever to win the World Championship Road Race four times in a row.

Italy (1930-1932 and 2006-2008) and Belgium (1948-1950 and 1955-1957) are the only two countries to have won the world title in three consecutive editions.

Most successive wins by country – Men’s World Cycling Championship Road Race

# Country Years

3 Italy 2006 (Paolo Bettini), 2007 (Paolo Bettini), 2008 (Alessandro Ballan)

3 Italy 1930 (Alfredo Binda), 1931 (Learco Guerra), 1932 (Alfredo Binda)

3 Belgium 1948 (Briek Schotte), 1949 (Rik Van Steenbergen), 1950 (Briek Schotte)

3 Belgium 1955 (Stan Ockers), 1956 (Rik Van Steenbergen), 1957 (Rik Van Steenbergen)

2 Belgium 1928 (Georges Ronsse), 1929 (Georges Ronsse)

2 Belgium 1937 (Eloï Meulenberg), 1938 (Marcel King)

2 Belgium 1960 (Rik Van Looy), 1961 (Rik Van Looy)

2 Belgium 1970 (Jean-Pierre Monseré), 1971 (Eddy Merckx)

2 Italy 1972 (Marino Basso), 1973 (Felice Gimondi)

2 Netherlands 1978 (Gerrie Knetemann), 1979 (Jan Raas)

2 Italy 1991 (Gianni Bugno), 1992 (Gianni Bugno)

2 Spain 2003 (Igor Astarloa), 2004 (Óscar Freire)

Clijsters imited Serena and Chris O’Neil

On Sunday, 13 September, Kim Clijsters beat Caroline Wozniacki in the 2009 US Open final. Clijsters became the 11th unseeded player to win a Grand Slam in Open Era. According to Infostrada Sports, Serena Williams (Australian Open 2007) and Chris O’Neil (Australian Open 1978) are the only other female players to do so.

Unseeded players winning Grand Slam titles – Singles in Open Era

Edition Champion Country Gender Tournament

2009 Kim Clijsters BEL W US Open

2007 Serena Williams USA W Australian Open

2004 Gastón Gaudio ARG M Roland Garros

2001 Goran Ivaniševic CRO M Wimbledon

1997 Gustavo Kuerten BRA M Roland Garros

1996 Richard Krajicek NED M Wimbledon

1994 Andre Agassi USA M US Open

1985 Boris Becker FRG M Wimbledon

1982 Mats Wilander SWE M Roland Garros

1978 Chris O'Neil AUS W Australian Open

1974 Jimmy Connors USA M Australian Open

Mum Kim Clijsters goes for more and more history

If Kim Clijsters defeats Serena Williams in the semifinals of the US Open women’s singles she will set the best performance by a wildcard player in women’s Grand Slam history in Open Era.

According to Infostrada Sports, by reaching the final four, Clijsters already equalled Zheng Jie’s record. The Chinese tennis player reached the 2008 Wimbledon semifinals on a wildcard.

Clijsters has already outperformed the previous best wildcards at the US Open: Martina Hingis (2002), Serena Williams (2006) and Séverine Brémond (2008).

Best Wild Card result in Grand Slam - Women’s Singles Open Era
Round Name Nation Tournament Year

Semifinals Kim Clijsters BEL US Open 2009
Semifinals Zheng Jie CHN Wimbledon 2008
Quarterfinals Mary Pierce FRA Roland Garros 2002
Quarterfinals Martina Hingis SUI Australian Open 2006
Quarterfinals Jelena Dokic AUS Australian Open 2009
Round 4 Zina Garrison USA Wimbledon 1982
Round 4 Alexia Dechaume-Balleret FRA Roland Garros 1994
Round 4 Sam Smith GBR Wimbledon 1998
Round 4 Martina Hingis SUI US Open 2002
Round 4 Maria Sharapova RUS Wimbledon 2003
Round 4 Tatiana Golovin FRA Australian Open 2004
Round 4 Agnieszka Radwanska POL Wimbledon 2006
Round 4 Serena Williams USA US Open 2006
Round 4 Séverine Brémond FRA US Open 2008

Santoro retirement: Goodbye Fabrice!

Yesterday Fabrice Santoro was eliminated in the first round of his 69th and last career Men’s Singles Grand Slam appearance, an Open era record. The Frenchman leads that list ahead of Andre Agassi (61), Jimmy Connors (58) and Jonas Björkman (58). Santoro is set to retire at the end of the 2009 season.

He made his Grand Slam debut in the 1989 French Open, where he lost to David Wheaton in the first round. According to Infostrada Sports, Santoro’s best Men’s Singles Grand Slam result is reaching the quarterfinals, which he did once, at the 2006 Australian Open.

Most Grand Slam Men’s Singles participations in Open era

69 Fabrice Santoro FRA
61 Andre Agassi USA
58 Jimmy Connors USA
58 Jonas Björkman SWE
57 Ivan Lendl TCH/USA
57 Michael Chang USA
57 Wayne Ferreira RSA
55 Mark Woodforde AUS
54 Stefan Edberg SWE
54 Vince Spadea USA

Take a look at what he is / was able to do

Usain Bolt: “I can run faster in 100, 200 meters”

Fresh from setting a pair of world records, Usain Bolt is ready to go faster.

The Jamaican sprinter, who took part in a ceremonial kickoff celebrating the start of the Spanish league at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium this weekend, said he can improve on his record times of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 in the 200.

"I think I can go faster, but I leave that up to my coach," Bolt said Sunday. "We analyze each race. We try to go through the season without risking getting injured. We see what we can do to go further and achieve great things in sport."

Bolt was in the Spanish capital on Saturday to attend Real Madrid's opening match of the season. He said he has become a fan of the team since striker Ruud van Nistelrooy moved there three years ago.

"Manchester United was my favorite team when I started to watch football because he was there," said Bolt, calling the Dutchman his favorite player. "I became a Real Madrid fan because I follow Ruud van Nistelrooy wherever he goes."

Bolt said he felt nervous in front of 80,000 fans just before the season's opening match against Deportivo La Coruna, which Madrid won 3-2. He said the experience was "priceless."

While at the Bernabeu, the sprinter met Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano, whom he shook hands with and greeted in Spanish as "Mister Campeon" — Mr. Champion.

"I remember I saw Cristiano Ronaldo's presentation and thought it was amazing. It was the same for me yesterday," Bolt said. "It was overwhelming, but I enjoyed it very much. It was beautiful."

Bolt said he gave Ronaldo some advice on how to run faster when he first met him two years ago.

"Normally, when he gets up speed he leans his body forward," Bolt said of the former Manchester United winger. "I told him what to do to run longer and go faster."

However, the sprinter said he felt he could still outrun Ronaldo over 100 meters — even while running with a ball at his feet.

"Definitely, I think I can do that," Bolt said. "I don't think Cristiano can beat me. I'm the fastest man in the world, so I can do that."

Bolt, who is expected to travel to London on Monday, was set to watch a bullfight in the Madrid suburb of San Sebastián de los Reyes.

AP