Tennis: World number five David Ferrer’s poor start to the ATP’s Asian swing continued yesterday when he was dumped out of the Japan Open in the first round by fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers. Granollers, ranked 44th, fought back for a 4-6 6-4 6-4 win on the Tokyo hard courts as Ferrer’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals in November took another knock. Ferrer also lost in the first round of the Shenzen Open last week to Viktor Troicki and is currently seventh in the ATP Race standings with the top eight qualifying for a place in London.

Swimming: Australian double Olympic champion Jessica Schipper has decided to quit the pool after taking a break from competition to start a family. The 27-year-old, who held the 200 metres butterfly world record for two years from 2006-08 and again in 2009 before being eclipsed by current holder Liu Zige of China, became a mother after the London Olympics. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my wonderful husband Brett and my son Robbie,” she said in a statement. “I’m leaving the sport with some amazing friends and memories.” Schipper won Olympic 4x100 medley relay gold at Athens in 2004 and defended it at Beijing four years later.

Rugby Union: Dual international Sonny Bill Williams could make his return to New Zealand rugby as early as this weekend with provincial team Counties Manukau rolling out the welcome rug. The 29-year-old finished his second stint in Australia’s National Rugby League on Friday when the Sydney Roosters bowed out of the semi-finals and said he was keen to get back into the All Blacks’ set-up. New Zealand media have reported that Williams is in line to join Counties for their National Provincial Championship match against Southland in Invercargill on Saturday. Williams has signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union and Waikato Chiefs from 2015, but the NZRU are keen to get him back in a black jersey quickly.