News, May 2008

Sport roundup, 7th May

Top tennis players break with Tennis Federation over Davis Cup manipulation. Real Madrid proclaimed League champion. Nadal wins Godó trophy in Barcelona. Pedrosa 2nd in Shanghai Moto GP. Man United beat Barcelona in Champions' semi-final. Synchronised girls win Beijing pre-gold. Valencia wins Copa del Rey final against Getafe. Joventut wins ULEB cup. Alonso burnt out in accident filled Barcelona GP. Gasol helps Lakers' good results. Madrid heads ACB league. For more, read on!

Details.

Football (soccer): Real Madrid proclaimed winner of League... now thrashed Barça 4-1 (Rijkaard could go). Champions: Barcelona lost to Manchester United in semi-finals - BBC report. Valencia beat Getafe to win Copa del Rey. Catalan Cesc Fabregas (of Arsenal)is UK young player of the year - BBC report.
Motor: Bikes: Pedrosa 2nd in Shanghai Moto GP, Lorenzo 4th - with broken ankle. F1: Alonso's hopes dashed in burn-out at Barcelona Spanish GP - BBC report.
Basketball Joventut wins Copa del Rey (King's Cup) and now ULEB cup in Turin (final against Girona); Madrid leads ACB; Pau Gasol leaves Grizzlies for Lakers and contribues to winning results.
Tennis: Nadal (with blisters) finally stopped by Ferrero in Rome after 'gruelling' competition calendar. A row has broken out between the top nine tennis players (including Rafa Nadal) and the Spanish Tennis Federation's president Pedro Muñoz over the Davis cup and manipulation in general. Barcelona - Rafa Nadal again wins for 4th time - BBC report. Monte Carlo - Nadal wins for 4th time in succession. Nadal has won 103 out of last 105 games on clay.
Other sports Swimming Synchronised girls win 2 golds in Beijing pre-olympic championship. Mireia Belmonte breaks Spanish 200m breaststroke record twice at Manchester World shortcourse championship, also got silver (200m) and bronze (400m) in medleys. 5 new Olympic minimums in Palma National championships, with 8 new Spanish records. Spaniards did excellently in the European championships at Eindhoven: 8 swimming medals (one gold), plus 4 synchronised golds. Mireia Belmonts took the gold in the 200m medley and bronze in the 200m fly -at 17 years old; the synchronised team again swept the floor - but Gemma Mengual is starting to speak of retirement; the team has high hopes for Beijing. Athletics: Spain did poorly in Valencia indoor world championships. Sailing: Spanish double in 49er in European championship in Palma. Handball: Ciudad Real win cup.