The Sport Matrix: Tuesday 28 April 2015

Foxes’ injury fears ahead of Chelsea

Leicester have injury worries over three players ahead of tomorrow’s visit of champions-elect Chelsea. David Nugent and Jeff Schlupp are troubled by calf problems for the rearranged match, while Jamie Vardy, who scored at Burnley on Saturday, has a foot concern. Nigel Pearson’s side have won their last four matches and moved out of the bottom three at the weekend.

Hull turn down postponement plea

Hull have rejected injury-ravaged Salford’s request to postpone Friday’s Super League match at the KC Stadium. Salford missed 12 first-team players, including suspended quartet Rangi Chase, Weller Hauraki, Cory Paterson and Darrell Griffin, against Castleford on Sunday and picked up more injuries in the defeat. Assistant coach Ian Watson, 38, could be drafted in on Friday.

McIlroy braced for rough Cadillac ride

Top seed and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy has a tough draw for the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship in San Francisco, grouped with Billy Horschel, Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner. It is a group stacked with winners – Horschel took the 2014 FedEx Cup Champion, Snedeker the Fed Ex Cup in 2012, and Dufner the 2013 PGA Championship.

Lederhosen given Murray short shrift

Judging by the relaxed manner of his practice with Jonas Bjorkman here yesterday, Andy Murray is enjoying his experience at the BMW Open. Murray, who spent a considerable amount of time on his volleys with the latest recruit to his coaching team, will play his opening match of the clay-court season later this week.

The champion here will win €80,000 (£57,300) and a brand new BMWi8, not to mention a pair of lederhosen. Asked whether he liked lederhosen, Murray replied: “No. Maybe on my wife, but not on me.” When told that the traditional leather shorts were given to the winner, Murray smiled. “I’m not planning on wearing them whether I win the tournament or not,” he said.

Heather Watson yesterday suffered disappointment in the first round of the Prague Open, losing 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 to Slovenia’s Polona Hercog. The British No 1 had led the final set tie-break 3-0.

Wimbledon has become the latest sporting organisation to ban “selfie sticks”.

Second stage win for Cavendish

Mark Cavendish won a second straight stage of the Tour of Turkey despite a slow puncture to hold on to the overall race lead. He beat Sacha Modolo and Nicola Ruffoni to win the 182km (114-mile) stage for his eighth win of the season. Cavendish, of Etixx-QuickStep, said: “I went easy for the final corners. I had confidence in my team-mates.”