It has been a principal objective to give tennis fans in Europe a rational and coherent presentation of the

“It has been a principal objective to give tennis fans in Europe a rational and coherent presentation of the game,” Mark Miles, the Tour’s chief executive, said.Too many poor quality tennis events have been screened, and frequently repeated, which was one of the problems addressed by the Tour when debating its future prosperity. “We have tried to focus on quality exposure,” Miles added.Some of the Tour’s innovations designed to make tournaments “fan friendly” have failed to impress, notably musical accompaniment and the freedom of spectators to move around during matches. One of the successes, however, is the on-site “fanfest” theme park, at which specators are able to meet the players.As a logical extention of this, the Tour is introducing “kids’ days”, to be funded by the players ($1.5m will be deducted from this year’s prize-money). Players will make themselves available for clinics and demonstrations, autographs and question-and-answer sessions.

“We are then committed to co-operating with federations, clubs and teaching pros in an effort to maintain the kids’ interest in the sport,” Miles said.One of the promotions to be hosted by players is “Smash Tennis”, which will take the sport to city streets. One of these events – there will be 11 during the year – will take place around the time of the Stella Artois Championships at London’s Queen’s Club, or Wimbledon. Youngsters will be given an opportunity to compete for prizes or hit for fun on short tennis courts.Smash tennis featured prominently at the Stuttgart event yesterday, though not all was as it seemed. When Petr Korda was swept aside in the first round in 50 minutes by Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 6-2, 6-1, one could have been forgiven for imagining the Czech to be suffering from a virus. Surprisingly, it was the Russian victor who was sent to bed by the doctor.”I have a high temperature and my head is spinning,” said Kafelnikov, who is projected to play Boris Becker in the quarter-finals “I still don’t know how I managed to win the match I felt like I was going to collapse. I called the trainer on court and I decided to get the match over as quickly as possible Luckily all my shots went in. Maybe that distracted Petr.”Michael Stich opened with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Carlos Costa which enabled the former Wimbledon champion to make the first move towards a semi-final against Becker.

Costa, a top-10 performer in 1992, has won only one match this year and the Spaniard seldom looked capable of improving on four previous defeats by Stich.Martin Damm, of the Czech Republic, dispatched Martin Sinner, of Germany to earn a $30,300 (£19,000) pay-day guaranteed by advancing to the second round. Both had survived a pre-qualifying event so strong that the top eight seeds were all ranked in the world’s top 90.. BY RUPERT METCALF

Wolverhampton Wanderers have set a swift example to other English clubs by imposing a two-season ban on a season-ticket holder involved in the riot at last week’s abandoned England international in Dublin.
Stephen Sloan, 31, was photographed grappling with a steward at Lansdowne Road and was subsequently sentenced to two months in jail for provoking a breach of the peace, but was released on bail pending an appeal. After a meeting with Jonathan Hayward, the Wolves chairman, and the club secretary, Tom Finn, yesterday, he was told he was not welcome at the club until the end of the 1996/97 season.”We are delighted with the club taking a hard line with people who disgrace the country and the game,” Clare Tomlinson, a spokeswoman for the Football Association, said. The Football League also welcomed the ban.”It has always been the club’s intention to eradicate crowd misbehaviour at Molineux,” Finn said.

“The measure we have taken in banning Mr Sloan reflects our determination to take a lead and emphasise that such behaviour cannot be condoned.” If Sloan’s appeal in Dublin is successful, Wolves will reconsider their position.The delegation from the sport’s European governing body, Uefa, who are touring grounds booked to stage matches at next year’s European Championship, delivered a glowing report on Old Trafford yesterday. Scotland’s Ernie Walker, the chairman of Uefa’s stadia committee, said: “Old Trafford will be perfect for the championship. I know the stadium very well and my visit today only confirms that this is the finest stadium in the country. That includes Wembley, which may be bigger, but isn’t better. Old Trafford is just what we are looking for.”As well as Manchester United’s ground, the Uefa party also visited Elland Road, Leeds, where they heard assurances that ground improvements promised in 1993 are on schedule. “Elland Road ranks among the best,” Walker said.Manchester United’s home FA Cup sixth-round tie against Queen’s Park Rangers will now be played at 1pm on Sunday 12 March.

The game had been selected for live transmission by Sky Sports the following evening, but large numbers of complaints received from fans by the FA forced a rethink. There will now be two televised ties on the Sunday, with Everton against Newcastle live on BBC1 at 3pm.Peterborough United have parted company with their 33-year-old goalkeeper, John Keeley, who was involved in angry exchanges with his own supporters during Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Bradford City – only his third game for Posh since signing from Stockport. The Second Division strugglers have borrowed Tony Feuer from West Ham to replace Keeley.. The Crystal Palace manager, Alan Smith, is convinced his side can overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg of their Coca-Cola semi-final against Liverpool to qualify for an appearance at Wembley. “We have a great chance of reaching the final,” said Smith “I have the feeling the players are in the right mood. Everything is in our own hands, but if we’re going to do it we must be mentally tough.”
Chris Armstrong, banned for the first leg, is back for Palace, and Ricky Newman could be fit to resume in midfield. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Ian Rush hunts the two goals he needs to equal Geoff Hurst’s 49-goal competition record, while Phil Babb returns from suspension to replace Neil Ruddock, who is banned.Stig Inge Bjrnebye may play through the pain of a broken nose, and Jan Molby could make an unexpected comeback for Liverpool.