TENNIS: Top seed Angelique Kerber fended off a determined Alla Kudryavtseva to complete the quarter-final line-up at the Monterrey Open. German left-hander Kerber, who reached Wimbledon’s semi-finals last year, took the opening set against her Russian opponent but was reeled in and taken to a decider. When it mattered, she produced a performance befitting of her status at the tournament to seal a 6-4 4-6 6-2 victory and clinch a last-eight clash with Japanese eighth seed Ayumi Morita.

HORSE RACING: A second horse in two days died at the Aintree Grand National meeting yesterday despite officials making changes to fences after criticism of deaths last year. Little Josh was put down after a fall while Battlefront collapsed and died on Thursday. The English Grand National, widely regarded as the world’s best known steeple-chase, takes place today. “We are sad to confirm that is has been necessary to humanely put down Little Josh on welfare grounds, as a result of his fall at the 15th fence in the Topham Chase,” a statement said.

CRICKET: Former test captain Daniel Vettori and top order batsman Martin Guptill have been recalled for New Zealand’s tour of England in May and June after recovering from injury. Vettori, who has been battling a long-term Achilles injury, was included in the one-day squad that will also contest the one-day Champions Trophy in June but not the test side. The 34-year-old retired from limited-overs cricket following the 2011 World Cup in a bid to prolong his test career but made himself available for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka last year.