FIA probes McLaren's Monaco win

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Formula One's governing body said on Monday it was investigating McLaren for a possible breach of the rules in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.
"The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code," the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.
"The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course."
Double world champion Fernando Alonso won the showcase race for the second year in a row, ahead of British rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
The two are now level on 38 points but Spaniard Alonso leads the championship on race wins.
Hamilton revealed afterwards that he had been told to ease off rather than put pressure on Alonso and possibly jeopardise the one-two.
Team orders, effectively manipulating the outcome of a race, have been banned in Formula One since the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix where Ferrari ordered Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win.
However, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis denied any such manipulation on Sunday.
"We don't have team orders, we had a strategy to win this race," he said.
"I make no excuses for instructing the racing drivers to slow their pace after the first stop and to effect our strategy."
A FIA spokesman declined to say what possible sanction might be faced by the team, who lead Ferrari by 20 points in the championship after winning two of the season's five races so far.
"You can all give whatever twist or headline you want on it, my job is sometimes difficult and today was one of those times," Dennis added on Sunday.
"There will be places where they will be absolutely free to race, but this isn't one of them."
"This is a place where one driver pushing another driver... is the way to induce a mistake," he continued.
"Everyone in the pit lane would be saying what an idiot the team principal of McLaren is for allowing their cars to compete to a level where one of their cars and maybe two of them are in the barrier."
Hamilton had qualified with a far heavier fuel load than Alonso -- a tactical move that would have won him the race had the safety car come out and given an advantage to those able to make only one stop. In the end, the safety car stayed in.
Timely boost
The 22-year-old Hamilton celebrated his fifth podium in five races, but victory gave Spaniard Alonso a timely boost after being beaten by his team-mate in his last two races.
"It means a lot, psychologically and also for the championship battle," said Alonso after securing McLaren's 150th grand prix win and second one-two of the season.
"I enjoyed today and that's probably the best thing about today."
Despite winning two of the season's five races so far, the 25-year-old is facing his toughest team-mate yet in Hamilton.
Alonso has yet to gel fully with his new team after switching from Renault while Hamilton has been a McLaren protege for more than a decade.
There have been rumors of discord, speculation stamped on by team boss Ron Dennis at the weekend.
"Our personal relationship is absolutely perfect. We talk between races, we eat together, he comes to my home when he comes to England," Dennis told reporters.
"He is still going up a curve of getting to know people, to trust people and feel comfortable with everybody and that is not something Lewis has had to do.
"But Fernando is a wonderful chap. He is quiet, thoughtful, worries endlessly about everything, but just loves being in a racing car."
Alonso particularly enjoyed his second straight win at Monaco. "I never won with more than a minute to the third guy. For sure, this is the easiest and probably the nicest victory so far," he said.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Final fans held for forged tickets

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- Greek police on Wednesday arrested 65 people for possessing or selling forged tickets for the Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool.
A group of 56 fans -- mostly British -- attempted to pass the security perimeters around the Olympic Stadium hours before the start of the match but were found to hold forged tickets and were arrested on the spot, police said.
Another six people -- four Norwegians, a Pole and a Greek -- were caught in central Athens trying to sell some of the 43 tickets stolen from a UEFA hotel room earlier in the week.
Police said hotel cameras had also recorded them during the theft.
European soccer's governing body had said the tickets were marked for VIPs and could not be sold on.
More than 50,000 Italian and English fans have arrived in Athens for the final, many of them without tickets.
Black-market prices for match tickets have soared to more than 5,000 euros ($6,727) for a single ticket.
Police had earlier arrested a 28-year-old Briton for selling 50 forged final tickets to an Italian travel agent for 58,000 euros.
Two French men were also caught as they tried to sell two tickets to a group of British fans on a central Athens street. Police said they were charging 600 euros for each 140-euro ticket.
"The British man (who had sold the 50 tickets) was arrested yesterday in Athens," police spokesman Panagiotis Stathis said.
The man had sold 50 forged tickets over two days on Monday and Tuesday before being arrested in central Syntagma Square and was now facing charges of forgery and fraud, police said in a statement.
Greek Football Federation officials were called in to examine the tickets and ruled that they were fakes.
"He will be taken to an Athens prosecutor today," the statement said.
Liverpool play AC Milan in the final of European soccer's biggest club competition later on Wednesday.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Romario nets 1000th goal of career

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) -- Former Brazil striker Romario scored what he said was the 1,000th goal of his career by converting a penalty in Vasco da Gama's 3-1 win over Sport Recife on Sunday.
The 41-year-old sent Sport goalkeeper Magrao the wrong way to spark extraordinary scenes at Vasco's Sao Januario stadium, where celebrations held up the Brazilian championship match for 16 minutes.
Dozens of people, including friends, relatives and a horde of radio and television reporters ran onto the pitch to hug, congratulate and interview the 1994 World Cup winner after his 48th minute goal.
Romario admits that his tally includes goals scored in youth team, friendly and testimonial games but this failed to dampen the celebrations.
The former PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona player was presented with a special shirt with the number 1,000 on the back by club president Eurico Miranda and completed a lap of honor.
He then went back onto the pitch and played for another 15 minutes, before being substituted to a standing ovation.
"I dedicate this to my family, my children, I'm really emotional, this is an extraordinary moment in my life," he said immediately after the goal.
"It's a great pleasure to reach this target, which only one other player has managed," he added. Pele also scored his 1,000th goal from a penalty for Santos against Vasco da Gama in 1969.
"There are always some who don't like it, but only one other person has done it and I'm proud."
Asked about Sport goalkeeper Magrao, who was on the receiving end, he said: "He has gone down in history when he wants to or not. This could be good or bad for him, depending on how he looks at it."
Romario's striking partner Andre Dias scored twice in the first half to put Vasco in control. Romario, who always said he would have preferred to score the goal at the Maracana stadium, had two chances to score in the first half.
The first effort was cleared off the line by Du Lopes and the second went begging as he was tackled when about to shoot.
But there was no mistake when Vasco were awarded a penalty for handball three minutes after the break.
Vasco went off the boil after the goal and Luciano Henrique pulled one back for the visitors with seven minutes left.
Romario, playing his first game for nearly six weeks, had been stuck on 999 goals for three matches, during which Vasco were knocked out of two competitions and coach Renato Portaluppi was fired.
Magrao said the defeat hurt more than being on the wrong end of history.
"I would have preferred a win for Sport Recife. Nobody likes to lose and I'm no different," he said.
Vasco coach Celso Roth said: "It's a great honor. I'm very grateful to be here at this historic moment for Brazilian and world football."
The win left Vasco as one of six teams who have taken maximum points from their opening two games alongside Palmeiras, Corinthians, Botafogo, Atletico Paranaense and Parana.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Federer overcomes a mid-game slump

HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) -- Roger Federer came through a worrying second-set slump to beat Spain's David Ferrer 6-3 4-6 6-3 and reach the semifinals of the Hamburg Masters on Friday.
The world number one was in dazzling form at the start of the quarterfinal as he broke the Spanish 12th seed in his first and last service games.
He edged into a 4-2 lead in the second only to throw that commanding position away, losing his next two service games as he suddenly seemed unable to get his forehand on target.
The Swiss, who had never lost so much as a set in six previous meetings with Ferrer, pulled his service game together for the decider but, with his opponent gaining in confidence, he had few chances to break.
The turning point came when Federer, serving at 3-3 and 30-30, saw a scooped forehand hit the top of the net and dribble over. It brought a relieved smile from Federer, while Ferrer threw his racket down in frustration on the red clay.
Federer duly held and took a decisive 5-3 lead when he converted a fifth break point in Ferrer's next service game.
Federer will continue his preparation for the French Open, the only grand slam he has never won, with a semifinal against fourth seeded Serb Novak Djokovic or Spain's Carlos Moya.
The favorite, Rafael Nadal, will look to extend his clay-court winning streak to 80 matches when he takes on fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
The reward for the winner of that match will be a semifinal against Nicolas Almagro or 16th seed Lleyton Hewitt.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Nadal settles score with 79th win

HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) -- Rafael Nadal settled an old score against Igor Andreev on Thursday, while Roger Federer was back to his best to beat Juan Carlos Ferrero and join him in the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters.
Nadal's 6-4 6-1 victory over the Andreev took his winning streak on clay to 79 matches, dating back to a quarterfinal defeat by the Russian in the Valencia Open in April 2005.
Federer, the world number one, followed him out on court and needed just an hour to rack up a ruthless 6-2 6-3 win over Ferrero, a former French Open champion.
Nadal had not played Andreev on clay since the Valencia defeat. With the sun out and roof open, the Spaniard overcame a few early difficulties with Andreev's dynamite forehand to seize control.
He broke early in the first set and saved two break points on his own serve to consolidate. The second set was more one-sided, with the double French Open champion taking it at a canter to complete victory in 87 minutes.
"I'm very happy with my game at the moment," Nadal said at a news conference. "I played a serious match and I feel confident."
Two other Spaniards joined Nadal in the last eight. Twelfth seed David Ferrer beat seventh-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 6-3 6-3 and Carlos Moya, another former French Open champion, recovered from a bad start to beat eighth-seeded American James Blake 1-6 6-3 6-3 in an entertaining battle
Ferrero could not join his countrymen, as he was expertly beaten by Federer.
It was a far more impressive performance from the Swiss than his scratchy victory over Juan Monaco in the second round and should give him more confidence as he approaches Roland Garros, starting later this month.
He now faces Ferrer in the last eight.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Warnock leaves Sheffield United

SHEFFIELD, England -- Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock left the club on Wednesday following their relegation from the Premier League after one season in the top flight.
In a news conference at Bramall Lane club chairman Kevin McCabe said Warnock was leaving by mutual consent after seven years in charge.
United were condemned to the drop on Sunday when, needing to avoid defeat at home to Wigan Athletic, they lost 2-1.
Sheffield-born Warnock had been in charge since 1999 and guided the side through 388 games.
In the 2002-03 season he led the Yorkshire club to the semifinals of the FA Cup and League Cup and reached the second division playoff final.
He eventually restored United to the top flight after more than 10 years when they finished as second division runners-up in 2006.
They seemed set to retain their status in the Premier League this season when they moved 10 points above the bottom three in mid-February. However, they picked up just eight points in their last 11 games before their final-day relegation.
Warnock said that the club had come a long way since he took over. "The pride has come back to Sheffield United," he declared.
He dismissed reports that he was leaving because he was displeased with new financial terms for next season. "Never has money come into this situation," he said.
"This is one of the best jobs going for a manager but we feel it's time for a new face."
He was emphatic that he did not have another job lined up but said that he wanted one more challenge as a manager, preferably in the Premiership.
Legal action
McCabe is still pursuing possible legal action against the Premier League after relegation rivals West Ham United were handed a £5.5 million ($10.93 million) fine, rather than a points deduction, for breaching ownership rules over Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
"We are doing everything we can to undo the wrong," McCabe told reporters, adding that he had written to every member of parliament about the controversy that has clouded the finale to the English season.
McCabe said that the club was in no hurry to apoint Warnock's successor.
"We want to take a considered view as part of the transformation and shaping one of the best clubs in the land," he said.
"Exciting times and further challenges lie ahead on and off the field for United and the new manager will have a full part to play."
Warnock's departure continues a flurry of managerial changes at the end of the season.
Wigan's Paul Jewell resigned on Monday, a day after the club clinched Premier League survival, saying he needed a break from football and was replaced by assistant Chris Hutchings.
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce was sacked on Monday, and Sam Allardyce, who quit Bolton Wanderers with two games of the season remaining, took over at Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Australia bans cricket tour to Zimbabwe

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Prime Minister John Howard said Sunday the Australian government has banned the country's cricket team from touring Zimbabwe in September because he does not want to support the regime of a "grubby dictator."
Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television that his foreign minister has written to the Cricket Australia organization, calling off the tour for the World-Cup champions.
"We don't do this lightly, but we are convinced that for the tour to go ahead, there would be an enormous propaganda boost to the Mugabe regime," he said of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
"The Mugabe regime is behaving like the Gestapo toward its political opponents. The living standards in the country are probably the lowest of any in the world, you have an absolutely unbelievable rate of inflation. I have no doubt that if this tour goes ahead, it will be an enormous boost to this grubby dictator."
Mugabe, 83, has ruled Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980. He has been criticized by the West and domestic opponents for repression, corruption, acute food shortages and gross economic mismanagement that has driven inflation above 2,000 percent -- the highest in the world. Mugabe has acknowledged that police used violent methods against opposition supporters.
Critics say Mugabe drove the agriculture-based economy into ruin since the government violently seized white-owned commercial farms in 2000 as part of a program to redistribute land to poor blacks.
On Friday, Howard called for the International Cricket Council to cancel the tour, reiterating that the three one-day matches planned would give Mugabe a moral victory. The Australian government then said it was investigating legal ways to cancel the tour without Australia incurring a $2 million fine from international cricket authorities.
Cricket Australia said it might try to play the three matches at a neutral venue.
Howard said the legal basis of the government's decision was solid.
"We do have power over people's passports," he said. "We have made our position very clear."
He said it was better for the Australian government to take the blame for the ban, and not cricket authorities.
"It's pretty obvious to me that the players and the body wanted to act in conformity with public opinion but in the end, not surprisingly, they wanted a situation where the decision was taken by the government and not the players," Howard said.
"I don't think it's fair to leave a foreign policy decision of this magnitude on the shoulders of young sportsmen. It's much better, in the end, for the government to take the rap."
The team likely would have spent less than two weeks in the country.
In August 2005, the ICC rejected a request from the British government to ban Zimbabwe as punishment for increasing human rights abuses. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said then that the ICC's policy was that international matches proceed unless blocked by a government ban.
"We accept that the Australian government has the responsibility for making decisions about our nation's international relationships," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Sunday.
"Given our commitment to help Zimbabwe cricket develop, we will now explore the possibility of playing the three ODIs [one-day internationals] we are due to play against Zimbabwe in September at a neutral venue outside Zimbabwe."
On Thursday, Sutherland said that while there was "strong sentiment" against the tour, Australia remained contractually bound and obliged to tour as a full ICC member.
Australian team captain Ricky Ponting said he was "comfortable" with the government decision.
"As captain of Australia, I've never had a problem playing against international cricketers from Zimbabwe," Ponting said in a statement. "The Australian squad understands its responsibility to spread the word of cricket throughout the world."
There was no immediate Zimbabwean reaction to the ban. Calls to the Zimbabwe embassy in Canberra were not answered.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Nadal heading for third Rome title

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Rafael Nadal swept towards a third consecutive Rome Masters title, beating fifth seed Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
The world number two, whose victory took his winning streak on clay to 75 matches, went through to a semifinal against fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who beat Tommy Robredo 1-6 6-3 6-3 in an earlier match.
In the other half of the draw, wild card Filippo Volandri swept past 12th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-3 to become the first Italian player to reach the last four since Adriano Panatta in 1978.
Volandri will next face the winner of the later quarterfinal between sixth seed Fernando Gonzalez and Juan Ignacio Chela.
Djokovic had beaten Nadal on the way to winning the Miami Masters in April. That result, along with the 19-year-old Serb's victory at last week's claycourt event in Estoril, had raised expectations he might pull off an upset.
Instead, Nadal dominated the early stages of the match, bludgeoning Djokovic with heavy groundstrokes to break in the opening game of the match.
Djokovic saved seven break points in his next two service games but when Nadal whipped a crosscourt winner past him to create another break point in the seventh game he cracked, putting a drop-volley into the tramlines to go 5-2 down.
Typical aplomb
Nadal served out for the first set with typical aplomb. Midway through the game he looped a crosscourt pass on to the baseline with Djokovic stranded at the net.
Djokovic walked slowly back, looked at the mark the ball had made on the baseline and crossed himself.
The intensity of the contest dipped slightly at the start of the second set as errors crept into both players' games but a pair of long forehands in the seventh game gave Nadal a crucial break.
In the ninth game Djokovic netted a routine volley and a backhand to lose serve again and with it the match.
World number 53 Volandri had caused the shock of the tournament by beating Roger Federer in the last 16.
He kept up his momentum against Berdych, losing just five points on his serve on the way to a comfortable victory.
"This win was just as important as yesterday's. Berdych might not be Federer but he's still an excellent player," Volandri said.
"I played another perfect match today -- another fairly easy win. I feel really solid, really confident at the moment."
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

De La Hoya earns record $45m purse

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- Oscar De La Hoya's WBC super welterweight bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. generated revenue of $120 million from American pay-per-view television, earning a record $45 million purse for De La Hoya.
A total of 2.15 million households in the U.S. paid $54.95 for the fight, which a person close said would be worth $45 million for De La Hoya and just over $20 million for Mayweather. That person requested anonymity because the promoters did not want official figures released.
The $45 million would be the biggest purse paid to a fighter, higher than the $35 million purses Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield reportedly were paid for their second heavyweight bout, the infamous "Bite Fight" when Tyson bit Holyfield's ear.
Mayweather beat De La Hoya on a split decision on Saturday night in an entertaining fight that drew a record live gate of $19 million at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas.
The American cable channel HBO produced the bout through its pay-per-view arm and Ross Greenburg, head of HBO Sports, credited the success of the network's "24/7" reality show that ran in a coveted Sunday night slot for three weeks leading up to the fight with helping to sell the bout.
Mayweather and his dysfunctional family, including his estranged father, Floyd Sr., and his trainer and uncle, Roger, became the stars of the show, allowing non-boxing fans a glimpse into the life of the fighter.
"The series was not only well received by the American public, who were suddenly attracted in a very human way to these two fighters, but it allowed the media to cover the fight in more depth," Greenburg said.
"They were able to dive deeper into the backgrounds of both fighters."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Roddick beats Gaudio on Rome clay

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Third seed Andy Roddick edged into the last 16 of the Rome Masters with a 6-1 7-6 win over former French Open champion Gaston Gaudio on Wednesday.
Serbian fifth seed Novak Djokovic also progressed, holding his nerve to beat Robin Soderling 3-6 6-4 6-3.
Roddick, who as playing his first tournament since pulling out of the Miami Masters with a hamstring injury in March, dominated the early stages of the contest, lashing a forehand drive down the line to go a break up in the fourth game, then breaking again in the sixth before taking the first set in 28 minutes.
The second set, however, was much tighter. Roddick created four match points with aggressive serve-volleying, but 2004 Roland Garros winner Gaudio saved them all.
Gaudio too had a chance to take the match to a deciding set at 8-7 up, but Roddick fired down an ace.
A double-fault by Gaudio, however, gave Roddick a fifth match point, which the American converted by coming into the net to put away a winning volley.
He will next play the winner of the later match between Juan Ignacio Chela and Igor Andreev.
Djokovic, 19, came into Rome full of confidence after winning last week's claycourt event in Estoril -- his third title of the season -- but was pushed all the way by Soderling.
The Swede seemed in control when he got an early break in the decider, but Djokovic leveled the scores then fended off break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay in contention.
Soderling crumbled in the eighth game, a series of unforced errors giving Djokovic the decisive break he needed to serve out for the match.
Twelfth seed Tomas Berdych also reached the last 16 with a 7-6 6-3 win over Albert Montanes.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Malaysia to cancel United fixture

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Reuters) -- Manchester United will be asked to cancel their July tour match in Malaysia after organisers bowed to mounting pressure from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the country's top football official has said.
"We have to abide by the ruling of the Asian football family. Manchester United can't come in July," said Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Abdullah was speaking just after FIFA president Sepp Blatter and AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam pleaded during the body's Congress for countries to withdraw support for Manchester United's tour of Asia during the July 7-29 Asian Cup.
United were due to play in Kuala Lumpur on July 27, two days before the Asian Cup final in Jakarta.
The AFC and Football Association of Malaysia last year signed an agreement banning the promotion of any other football event during the Asian Cup.
The English Premier League champions are also due to visit Japan, South Korea and Macau during their tour.
Alex Ferguson's side enjoy huge support in Malaysia and the region and the club sees Asia as a major market for its merchandise.
"I think this is a question of solidarity and one of respect," Blatter said. "Shall football only be about business?" Malaysian officials were clearly taken aback by the show of support from the AFC's 45 other members, who all clapped loudly after Blatter and Hammam made their requests.
FAM general secretary Ibrahim Saad criticised the AFC for interfering in Malaysia's 50th anniversary celebrations.
"I don't think it's right for other people to tell our country how we should celebrate our 50th anniversary," Saad said.
The United tour was also part of the "Visit Malaysia 2007" campaign and Abdullah said he would leave it to the organisers to inform the English club of their change of plans.
"We saw the reaction of the Asian football family and we have no choice," Abdullah said. "Malaysian fans will be disappointed. I sympathise but we know the wishes of the president and we have to support that."
Earlier, Blatter echoed Hammam's frustration at the timing of the United tour, which would steal the spotlight from the Jakarta final.
"We will be taking this case up at the FIFA Congress (at the end of this month in Zurich) and we will also contact the English FA," Blatter told delegates.
"It's not correct for European teams to play in Asia during the continent's biggest competition," he added.
Hammam had previously described the proposed tour as "immoral and unethical", accusing United of being disrespectful towards Asia.
He publicly called on Abdullah, an AFC executive council member, to cancel the tour on Tuesday.
"I would say Asia for Asians," Bin Hammam told reporters when asked what message he had for United fans disappointed by any cancellation or rescheduling.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Henin strolls to 32nd career title

WARSAW, Poland (Reuters) -- Justine Henin became the first player to win three titles this season when she eased to a 6-1 6-3 victory over unseeded Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko in the weather-delayed final of the Warsaw Cup on Monday.
The Belgian's victory in the match postponed because of persistent rain on Sunday gave Henin her 32nd career title, and followed back-to-back victories in Dubai and Doha this season.
The top seed also reached the final of her last tournament in Miami, before falling to Serena Williams.
Bondarenko, whose ranking is expected to improve from 40 to 29, was competing in her third career final with her only title victory coming in Luxembourg last year.
"To wait yesterday was pretty hard," Henin said. "But finally it was a good day today. I'm very happy to win my second title here in Warsaw and the first tournament on clay. That gives me confidence."
Henin, who needed just 61 minutes to secure victory over her far less experienced opponent, got off to a great start and always looked in control after breaking in the opening game and holding serve to love for a 2-0 lead.
Although the 22-year old rallied well, she had nothing in her game to cause Henin any great concern and the Belgian gave up only three points in the last three games of the opening set and broke the Ukrainian twice more.
Henin began the second set by winning the first two games to love, before a loss of form helped Bondarenko fight back to 2-2 and a 40-0 lead on the Belgian's serve.
However, Henin fought off the break points and regained the advantage when she broke to love with a forehand volley to move into a 5-3 lead, before serving out for the match.
"In the second set I lost a little bit of my intensity," Henin told reporters. "When I was leading 2-0 in the second, things were going a little bit too easy at that time and I lost my concentration for a few games.
"It's good I was able to keep my service game at that time. Then finally at the end of the match I was pretty aggressive again so I did a good job."
Bondarenko said the match had been a valuable experience for her.
"I wasn't hitting the ball hard enough to win today," she said. "I was very nervos in the first set, but in the second set I started playing a little better. I enjoyed the experience of playing Justine and hope next time I play better."
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Former world No.1 Clijsters quits

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) -- Former world number one Kim Clijsters announced her immediate retirement from tennis on her Web site on Sunday.
Clijsters, 23, has struggled with injury over the last few years and had said this season would be her last.
The Belgian former U.S. Open champion, who is getting married in July, had already pulled out of the French and U.S. Opens.
"It has been more than great. The rackets will be hung up," Clijsters told her web diary.
She said recurrent injuries and the need to stretch for an hour every morning, along with preparations for her forthcoming wedding, had made it harder to carry on.
"Stopping aged almost 24 is pretty young but it has been wonderful. It would be easy to go on for a few more months and take in the four big earners in tennis," Clijsters wrote, referring to the remaining grand slams and the end-of-season Masters.
Although Clijsters won only one grand slam -- the 2005 U.S. Open -- she reached four other finals and six additional semifinals.
She also won the season-ender twice in a 10-year professional career highlighted by fierce rivalry with compatriot Justine Henin.
"Money is important, but not the most important thing in my life. Health and a private life are more important."
Risk factor
Clijsters said last week she did not want to risk getting injured again and having to wear a cast at her wedding to American basketball player Brian Lynch.
But she added then she planned to play at Eastbourne and Wimbledon in June. She had even mooted competing in the doubles at what would have been her final grand slam.
Sunday's announcement means the Belgian played her last tournament in Poland last week, where she was defending the Warsaw Cup but looked short of form and lost in the second round to Ukrainian qualifier Julia Vakulenko.
Clijsters had also committed to tournaments in Luxembourg and Stuttgart in late September and early October. She said she could yet attend, albeit from the stands.
"But I'm not going away without saying farewell to you and so I'm inviting you once more to a big party in September," she told her fans.
Then she will retreat into a private life for which she is clearly yearning.
"Time to marry. Children? Time for cooking and playing with my dogs. And particularly a lot of time with my friends and family. No more travelling. No more stepping in and out of planes. No more having to read gossip or lies in the papers."
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

United win derby to close on title

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United moved to within touching distance of clinching the English Premier League title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo's first half penalty after the Portuguese winger had been tripped by Michael Ball settled the 147th Manchester derby, but United owed their three points to a late penalty save by Dutch international Edwin van der Saar.
City were awarded an 80th minute spot kick after Ball had gone down under a challenge by Wes Brown.
Former England international Darius Vassell struck his penalty down the center but van der Saar reacted to save with his legs.
United, who move eight points clear of reigning champions Chelsea, will reclaim the title if Jose Mourinho's men fail to beat London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
United, rarely at their best after their midweek Champions League disappointment against AC Milan, might have been ahead before their 34th minute penalty as defenders Nemanja Vidic and fit-again Rio Ferdinand both hit the crossbar with headed efforts at the far post.
With Ferdinand back to give added reassurance to the United defense, City rarely threatened as their goal drought continued.
Stuart Pearce's men ended their last home game of the season without a goal in eight successive home matches since New Year's Day.
Their tally of 10 home league goals is the all-time worst record in the English top tier since league football began in 1888.
Ronaldo had been kept quiet, but his trickery drew a clumsy challenge from Ball and he easily dispatched the spot kick past Andreas Isaksson for his 23rd goal of the season.
Ball, who was lucky to punishment for an apparent stamp on Ronaldo in the opening moments, ironically gave City their best chance of salvaging a point as he burst into United's penalty area to be baulked by Brown.
United protested Rob Styles' penalty award, but Vassell could not finish the job for the disappointing home side.

Ronaldo is Footballer of the Year

LONDON, England -- Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United was named Footballer of the Year on Friday, completing an unprecedented clean sweep of England's three major individual honors this season.
The Portugal winger finished ahead of Didier Drogba of Chelsea and United team mates Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in the 60th vote organized by the Football Writers' Association (FWA).
"I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to win such an important award, it is a real honor," Ronaldo told the FWA after being informed of his victory in a poll in which an unusually high number of 12 players received votes.
FWA chairman Paul Hetherington said: "(It) completes a remarkable turnaround for the player, who was so heavily criticized during last year's World Cup for his part in the sending-off of club mate Wayne Rooney when England played Portugal in the quarter-finals.
"It shows in England we do not bear a grudge and can accept and recognize individual brilliance. He was the deserved, overwhelming winner of a poll dominated by United players which underlines their success this season."
The 22-year-old becomes the first United player to win the award since Teddy Sheringham in 2001 and the first Portuguese to land the honor.
Ronaldo was also voted Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association last month.
The winger, who joined United from Sporting Lisbon for £12.2 million ($24.31 million) in 2003, has been in inspirational form this season, scoring 22 goals for United.
Although United were knocked out of the Champions League by AC Milan on Wednesday, they can still lift a Premier League and FA Cup double.

Milan thrash United to reach final

MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -- AC Milan set up a repeat Champions League final showdown against Liverpool when they brushed aside Manchester United 3-0 on Wednesday to complete a 5-3 win on aggregate.
First-half goals by playmaker Kaka and midfielder Clarence Seedorf, and a second-half strike by substitute Alberto Gilardino rewarded a commanding display by the six-times European champions, who will dispute their third final in five years and the 11th in their history in Athens on May 23.
The game against Liverpool will also give them a chance to avenge the defeat they suffered against the English club in the 2005 final in Istanbul, when they squandered a 3-0 half-time lead before losing 3-2 on penalties.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "None of the coaches could imagine a match like this. We played perfect football. It is like a dream. Manchester United are a very strong team but we played well in the first leg so it gave us strength to play well today."
Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso added: "The end of the season has been very good because it began very badly for Milan this year.
"In the first leg we both played very well and nobody could bet on us, but working hard we have pulled ourselves up."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards: "We were on the back foot all night and we gave the goals away cheaply.
"They were better prepared physically tonight, they've been resting players and that can make a difference at this level while we've been playing the same players for a few weeks now.
"They were sharper and quicker to the ball and pressed really well and they were good winners. We needed a goal to get back into it and in fairness we didn't look like we were going to score."
The game and pre-match preparations in the city passed off peacefully despite fears of violence after Roma and United fans clashed in the last round.
Outclassed
But United were outclassed from the moment they stepped out at the San Siro where lashing rain, lightning and thunder resembled a wet winter's night in Manchester rather than Milan in spring.
But it was the Italian side that looked more comfortable on the greasy pitch and Kaka needed less than a minute to show why Alex Ferguson had identified him as Milan's most dangerous player.
The Brazilian international, who scored both Milan's goals in the first leg, effortlessly accelerated round Wes Brown to send in a low cross that flashed invitingly in front of Filippo Inzaghi and Clarence Seedorf.
He didn't take long to find the target, latching on to a Seedorf nod-on before dispatching a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner of Edwin can der Sar's net after 11 minutes.
United jerked briefly into life. Giggs forced Dida to make his first save of the match after 20 minutes, but the Premier League leaders continued to lack their usual bite.
Cristiano Ronaldo, in particular, looked isolated on the left, where Gennaro Gattuso, who had an outstanding match, and Massimo Oddo snapped at his heels every time he received the ball.
Milan struck again on the half hour. The move began when defender Nemanja Vidic slipped over on the edge of the area to concede possession to Andrea Pirlo.
The midfielder's cross was cleared only as far as Seedorf on the edge of the area, and the Dutchman jinked to his right before beating van der Sar with another low drive.
Milan began the second half as they finished the first, with Kaka bursting into the box and angling in a shot that the goalkeeper did well to keep out.
United were more industrious than they had been before the break, though they seemed no closer to scoring.
With 12 minutes remaining, Ferguson sent on Louis Saha as an additional striker in place of defender John O'Shea.
It was a gamble that backfired on him. With United team pushed upfield, Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini picked out Inzaghi's replacement, Gilardino, with a long crossfield ball, and the striker dashed into the area and fired past Van der Sar.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Injured Maldini to miss United tie

MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -- AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini will miss the Champions League semifinal second leg match against Manchester United after failing to recover from a knee injury.
"I've got a swollen knee and I'm not going to recover in time. I'm getting old," the 38-year-old defender told radio station VivaRadioDue on Wednesday, just hours before the teams were due to meet at Milan's San Siro stadium.
Milan need to overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit against the Premier League leaders to reach the final of Europe's top club competition for the 10th time in their history.
Maldini, who picked up the injury in last week's match at Old Trafford, has represented the club in seven of their previous nine finals.
His place in the starting line-up is likely to be taken by Daniele Bonera.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Shevchenko denies row with Chelsea

LONDON, England (AP) -- Andriy Shevchenko and Chelsea denied on Tuesday that he had refused to travel to Liverpool for the second leg of the Champions League semifinal in a dispute over his playing status.
"He suffered an injury during training on Sunday and it was decided after training that he was not fit to play against Liverpool and therefore, like other injured players, did not travel," Chelsea said in a statement.
Shevchenko said he aggravated a groin injury in Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Bolton on Saturday, a result which virtually ended the Blues' Premier League title hopes.
"I am really sorry to miss the match and can't be with the team to help and support them in what must be one of the most important games in Chelsea's history," Shevchenko said on his official Web site.
"I will remain in London and work hard on my rehabilitation to ensure I can make myself available as soon as possible."
British newspapers reported on Tuesday that Shevchenko refused to join the team in Liverpool when he learned he would not start Tuesday night's game.
Shevchenko has scored 14 goals in 51 games for Chelsea. He played in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League first leg semifinal on Wednesday, and was substituted at halftime in Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Bolton on Saturday.
That draw virtually ended Chelsea's hopes of winning its third straight Premier League title.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.