Tennis: World number six Tomas Berdych (picture) will miss Czech Republic’s Davis Cup quarter-final this week when the champions take on Kazakhstan. Berdych dropped out after losing Thursday’s Sony Open quarter-final against Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-3 in Miami. “Last night’s match was the last straw for me,” he told the Czech Davis Cup Facebook page. “I woke up this morning and my shoulder hurt so much that it was clear I would not be able to play in Kazakhstan.” The Czech team will now be Radek Stepanek, Lukas Rosol, Jan Hajek and Ivo Minar.
Basketball: Former Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni produced a vintage performance to keep Caja Laboral Vitoria in the hunt for a berth in the Euroleague play-offs after a rollercoaster 86-82 win at Khimki Moscow on Friday. Six-time winners Panathinaikos Athens reached the last eight with a match to spare in the second group stage after an 82-60 rout of Germany’s Bamberg and holders Olympiakos Piraeus, their bitter rivals, stayed on course with a 78-73 success at Fenerbahce.
Cricket: New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder has regained consciousness and is talking to friends and family as he recovers from an alleged assault in Christchurch last week, his manager said yesterday. Ryder, 28, was rushed to hospital early on Thursday with serious head injuries after being involved in two altercations outside a bar and fast food restaurant in Merivale, a suburb of Christchurch. Local media reported Ryder had sustained a fractured skull and a collapsed lung in the assault. Two men have been charged with assault and will appear in court on April 4.
Golf: Unheralded American Steve Wheatcroft carded another five-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Houston Open on Friday, while major winners Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson fought hard to just make the cut at Redstone Golf Club. The 35-year-old Wheatcroft only earned a start for the event through Monday qualifying but now sits at10-under, holding the 36-hole lead over fellow Americans Jason Kokrak (69) and D.A. Points (71) who are tied second at nine-under. England’s Brian Davis (70) and former British Open winner Stewart Cink (66) are joint fourth at seven-under.
Horse Racing: Amateur Irish jockey JT McNamara has suffered paralysis as a result of his fall at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month. JT McNamara remains in the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. “Whilst he suffered a serious neck injury resulting in paralysis, he has made progress in the last week and is in a very positive frame of mind,” said a statement issued jointly by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, senior medical officer for the Irish Turf Club, and Lisa Hancock, CEO of the Injured Jockey’s Fund. McNamara fractured two vertebrae when his mount, Galaxy Rock, fell at the first fence in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup on March 14.
Basketball, NBA: LeBron James poured in 36 points as the Miami Heat started out on a brand new winning streak with a 108-89 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Dwayne Wade also scored 17 points to help the Heat recover from their loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday which ended their 27-game winning run. James’ haul came in part thanks to seven three-pointers, including six in a row in the first half.