The Sport Matrix: Saturday 11 October 2014

Flying Fragapane 10th in world

British hopes Claudia Fragapane (above) and Ruby Harrold finished 10th and 11th respectively as American Simone Biles took the women’s all-around title at the World Championships in Nanning, China.

Biles won gold with a score of 60.231 across the four apparatus – the floor, vault, beam and bars – to claim the world title ahead of Romania’s Larisa Andreea Iordache, who took silver with 59.765. Olympic team gold medallist Kyla Ross of the United States took bronze with 58.232.

Four-time Commonwealth Games champion Fragapane, 16, amassed a total of 56.098 while Harrold scored 55.615.

Hayes confident of title for Chelsea

Chelsea Ladies coach Emma Hayes is confident her side can secure the final victory tomorrow that will see them clinch the WSL title. “It’s in our hands,” she said ahead of the trip to Manchester City. “Any manager will tell you that’s the best position to be in. I don’t want any team to do us a favour – we’ll do ourselves one. I’ve never cared about what any other team has been doing during the season.”

Djokovic ready for Federer ‘thriller’

Novak Djokovic believes there is no clear favourite when he takes on Roger Federer in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals today. “Every time we play against each other, it’s a thriller,” the Serb said after overcoming David Ferrer yesterday. “It’s really a big challenge for both of us.”

In-form pair give U21s the advantage

England under-21s will take a 2-1 lead into Tuesday’s second leg of the European Championship play-off after beating Croatia at Molineux last night. Harry Kane, of Tottenham Hotspur, and West Bromwich’s Saido Berahino, with a penalty, turned the tie around for Gareth Southgate’s side after the break following Marko Livaja’s opner for the hosts after 13 minutes. Luke Shaw also hit the post for England.

Burgess key to Wigan final chances

Joe Burgess has been backed to inspire Wigan to victory in tonight’s Super League Grand Final against St Helens. “He has surprised me,” head coach Shaun Wane said of the winger, who starting the season on the fringes. “I never expected him to play so many games. But he’s a mature kid. He has that cockiness and attitude. He’s an absolute athlete and a credit to the coaches who brought him through.”