Sharing the love: Jenson Button celebrates his 200th Grand Prix with girlfriend Jessica Michibata and teammate Lewis Hamilton

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Group hug: Jenson Button celebrates his Hungarian Grand Prix win with teammate Lewis Hamilton and girlfriend Jessica Michibata at the Hungaroring race track in Mogyorod

After winning the Hungary Grand Prix and driving in his 200th Grand Prix, Jenson Button was on top of the world today.

And after clinching pole position in Budapest, the 31-year-old was certainly sharing the love as he joined his girlfriend and teammate Lewis Hamilton for a group hug.

As he joined the McLaren team for a group celebration, Button and Michibata were pulled together by an over-enthusiastic Hamilton.


One big happy McLaren family: Button was joined by his father John (front left) while Hamilton was accompanied by his brother Nicholas (back left)

With Button still in his white driving uniform, he was surrounded by the McLaren team, Michibata and his father John all wearing the familiar red McLaren T-shirts.

Despite being surrounded by dozens of people, affectionate Button was spotted sharing a few kissing with his stunning Japanese model girlfriend.

After pipping Germany's Sebastian Vettel to the post, Button's win is his second of the season.

He wrote on his Twitter page: 'Woohoo!! I think that win deserves a little celebration! What do u think!?

'Big love to the whole of #TeamButton for all there support. #winners ;-))


Team effort: Button celebrates with the whole McLaren Mercedes team after his victory

'My fans rock!! Thanks for all your lovely congrats messages. Enjoy the summer break and we'll come back and do the same at Spa! ;-).'

Hamilton himself didn't too badly, ending up in fourth place, but was clearly still feeling high from winning the Spanish Grand Prix the previous weekend.

He said today: 'Jenson was pushing me hard the whole race and the better man won today.

'I was struggling a lot with the graining on my left front tyres. I don't know whether that was my fault by pushing too hard....


Not very intimate: Michibata pulls Button in for a kiss, despite being surrounded by his teammates



My favourite people: Button poses for a photo with his father John and Michibata after his win


Still going strong: The couple have been dating for two and a half years, despite living in different countries


Winners circle: Button celebrates winning the Grand Prix with second place Sebastian Vettel (left) and Fernando Alonso (right)


Get some friends: Button urged his hacker to get a life and do something more exciting on a Saturday night on his Twitter page


Feeling nervous: The couple arriving at the paddock before the big race



Candid camera: Jessica posted a photo of Jenson-themed biscuits made to celebrate his 200th Grand Prix on her Twitter page

source: dailymail

Back to the day job: Tom Daley puts on a Shanghai spectacular in breathtaking display with diving partner

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Bombs away! Pete Waterfield and Tom Daley are competing in Shanghai

These spectacular pictures of diving ace Tom Daley come from the world championships in Shanghai, where Tom and his partner have just qualified for the synchronised diving final.

They were taken against the backdrop of the city's harbours, and show the skills and fitness needed for Tom and Pete Waterfield to progress past the first round of the FINA World Championships.

But it nearly didn't happen, after 30-year-old Waterfield fell ill with flu-like symptoms on arriving in Shanghai.



Tense: Waterfield and Daley prepare to dive in the first round of the World Championships



Launching: The pair made it into the final of the 10m synchronised diving


However, at the last minute he was passed fit and was able to join Tom, 17, who was the individual winner at the last world championships in 2009.

The pair have been diving together since the beginning of the year, in an attempt by diving bosses to find the best pairing for the synchronised dives in time for the London Olympics.


The pair have been put together in preparation for the London Olympics



Tumbling: Tom will be hoping to replicate his success at the last World Championships



Competition: This is Tom's first contest since his father died


The current competition is Tom's first major event since the loss of his father, Rob, who died of cancer in May, aged 40.

Last week Tom paid tribute to his father's influence, saying: 'Without my dad I wouldn't have come as far as I have.



Teamwork: But the pair were nearly broken up when Waterfield fell ill



Splash! The divers were watched by a largely hostile Chinese crowd


'It's not been easy, but I'm just trying to focus all my attention on the upcoming world championships as this is what dad would have wanted.'

He is expected to be one of the major faces of next year's Olympics, and has recently signed up to front an ad campaign from Nestle.



Training: Tom is expected to be one of the stars of the 2012 Games

source: dailymail

Look out, he's a cycle-path: Driver rams rider into barbed wire during Tour de France

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Caught up: Johnny Hoogerland, right, is tangled in barbed-wire after he crashed at the side of the road with Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha, left


Their hopes of cycling victory were left in tatters - just like their ripped jerseys.

Two Tour de France riders were knocked off their bikes yesterday with one sent hurtling into a barbed wire fence.

Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha and Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland were racing through the French countryside when the TV car came alongside them.


Painful: Deep lacerations on Hoogerland's leg and buttock from the barbed wire fence. His cycling costume was shredded but thankfully he was able to change into a new one


The vehicle, belonging to TV station France 2, veered suddenly to its right as it passed a group of five cyclists along a narrow country road just 22 miles from the finish of a stage.

As it did so, Team Sky rider Flecha was sent tumbling to the ground, colliding with Hoogerland and catapulting him into the wire, causing ugly lacerations to his skin.

Both men eventually remounted their bikes and continued riding - with shredded jerseys and blood pouring from their cuts.


Cuts: Johnny Hoogerland grits his teeth in agony after getting tangled in the barbed wire


Wounded: Hoogerland is helped from the fence, and right, Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Belgium receives treatment for an injured collarbone after he crashed in the 9th stage of the race


It emerged that the car driver had been ordered by race control not to pass the riders. The driver and the vehicle have been thrown off the race.

That part of the race had already been littered with broken bones.

A tricky descent on a mountain road made slippery by the rain in the Massif Central caused the earlier carnage with Alexandre Vinokourov from Kazakhstan breaking his right femur after being thrown over a barrier into a tree.


Back in the saddle: Flecha made a recovery to rejoin the race but suffered cuts to his legs


In the same incident, one of the pre-race favourites, Jurgen van den Broeck, fractured ribs and his shoulder blade, while Omega-Lotto team-mate and fellow Belgian Frederik Willems suffered a broken collar bone and David Zabriskie a suspected broken wrist.

Saxobank rider Stuart O'Grady, whose team-mate Nicki Sorensen was clipped by a photographer's motorbike and crashed into a ditch in Brittany on Stage 5, fiercely criticised the Tour organisers.

He said: 'Crashes are always going be part of the game. It just seems that this year we are going down goat tracks.


Casualties: Frederik Willems of Belgium, left, and David Zabriskie of the U.S., right, are treated by doctors after crashing out of the race on a mountain road in the Massif Central


Seeing the sights: The leaders ride past the castle of Alleuze in their breakaway on stage nine


Where's Wally? The tightly-bunched pack climbs on the way to Saint Flour


'It's one thing to say it's all for the spectacle, but we don't want to see more people lose their life.'

While Luis Leon Sanchez won the stage and Thomas Voeckler took over the yellow jersey, seven riders abandoned the race with injuries.

The competition quickly appears to becoming the Tour of attrition.


Tour de France 2011 Crash - Flecha & Hoogerland hit by a car



source: dailymail

What a racket: Tennis star’s embarrassment as mobile phone starts ringing – as she faces match point

By TED THORNHILL

Not ace: Caroline Wozniacki laughs as she realises where the mobile ring is coming from


We all know that letting your mobile phone ring during a tense tennis match is not such smashing behaviour, but in the Swedish Open a tennis star was left red-faced when her own handset went off.

World No1 Caroline Wozniacki was about to serve for the match against French No3 Alize Cornet when a distinct mobile phone ring broke the silence.

The ring was just too off-putting for Wozniacki, who stopped and looked around for the perpetrator– but it turned out that the guilty party was her opponent.


Courting trouble: The TV camera zooms in on Cornet's kit bag, where the noise is coming from


The faux pas occurred in the first-round match in Bastad while the Danish ace was one set to the good, 5-3 up in the second set and winning the game 40-30.

A somewhat crucial moment, then.

At first she just tries to ignore the ring, but it had clearly broken her concentration, so she waits for it to be silenced.

Then she breaks into a huge grin and the TV camera swings around onto Cornet’s kit bag, where the noise is coming from.


Guilty: Cornet rummages through her bag to stop the handset ringing


Net a to-do: Cornet apologises for the disruption


Embarrassed: Cornet puts her head down in shame as she scurries back to the baseline


The 21-year-old scampers over to it and turns off her handset. Laughing, she holds her hand up in apology and takes up her place at the baseline once more.

The break in play did her a favour – because she broke serve. But her luck didn’t last, with Wozniacki taking the final set 6-4 and winning the game.

Wozniacki is World No1 despite not having won a grand slam yet.

She went out in the fourth round to Dominika Cibulkova at Wimbledon and also ended up taking an early exit in Bastad after retiring from the tournament mid-way through a second-round clash against Sofia Arvidsson with a shoulder injury.

Alize Cornet was beaten in the first round of Wimbledon by Kateryna Bondarenko from Ukraine.




source :dailymail

It should have been me: Glum Murray skips Wimbledon for a pub lunch

By PAUL HARRIS and EMILY ANDREWS

Dejected: Andy Murray is left to reflect on what might have been during his glum pub lunch with girlfriend Kim Sears


This probably wasn’t the kind of get-together he had in mind for Wimbledon finals weekend.

While Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal prepared to slug it out on Centre Court, Andy Murray sat disconsolately outside a pub dreaming of what might have been.

The 24-year-old Scot and his girlfriend Kim Sears had a quiet, two-hour lunch near his Surrey mansion, accompanied by his divorced father Willie and companion. Murray sipped a soft drink from a pint glass and buried his head in his hands from time to time.

And if the talk was of tennis then it certainly didn’t show.


Animal instinct: Novak Djokovic tucks in on Centre Court


The only stroke he demonstrated was a backhand – to swat away a wasp getting too close to Kim’s face. Meanwhile in SW19, yesterday’s was a scintillating final with all eyes fixed on the tennis. All eyes, that is, save for those of former Chancellor Nigel Lawson.

The 79-year-old appeared to nod off for the first two sets, prompting amusement in the Royal Box as his chin continually dropped on to his blue paisley tie.

But he woke up in time to see Djokovic defeat the defending champion in four sets.

After the winning shot, the 24-year-old Serb sank to his knees and, in a bizarre celebration, picked and ate some of the Centre Court grass.



Celebration: Djokovic sinks to the floor in triumph after his win over defending champion Nadal


Savouring the moment: The Serb laps up the adoration of the Centre Court crowd moments before his bizarre grass eating


Shows of support: Djokovic's beaming girlfriend Jelena Ristic was close to tears after the Serb's win, while Nadal's girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello, right, also watches on


Champion: Djokovic kisses the Wimbledon trophy
Moments after sealing his four-set triumph over defending champion Rafael Nadal, the Serb sank to his knees and raised his hands to the skies in celebration.


Then seconds later he glanced down, quickly plucked a few blades of grass from the hallowed Centre Court turf near the net, and popped them in his mouth.

The 24-year-old's surprise 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory confirmed Djokovic's place at the top of men's tennis, and he was clearly determined to enjoy the moment.

Asked why he decided to chew on the Centre Court grass to mark the win, Djokovic said it was a 'spontaneous' decision.

He said: 'I felt like an animal, I wanted to see how it tastes and it tastes good.


Dieting tips: Mrs Murray offered her own unique weight loss advice on Twitter


Success: Winner of the Men's Single's title at Wimbledon Novak Djokovic arrives with his partner for the Champions' dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane, London


Last night his girlfriend Jelena Ristic, 24, said: 'I'm very proud of him. The match was really, really exciting.'

Asked about her boyfriend's grass eating, she said: 'You know what, winning Wimbledon was his dream so it was a really big thing.'


Muddling through: The BBC were left red-faced when presenter Sue Barker's microphone failed during her interview with Novak Djokovic


There was one British victory to cheer at Wimbledon yesterday. George Morgan, 18, won the boys’ doubles with his Croatian partner Mate Pavic.

As for Murray, he is expected to take a short break to get over his disappointment.

But might he have another prize in his sights? His mother Judy is reported to be encouraging her son to marry Kim, whom he has been dating for six years. And older brother Jamie reckons tying the knot would be good for his game.


Djokovic vs Nadal Wimbledon Final 2011



source :dailymail

Roger Federer crashes out of Wimbledon in the quarter finals as tournament of upsets continues

By DEBORAH ARTHURS

Out and down: Roger Federer slumps in his chair after his surprise exit at the hands of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga


There was shock for a second day running at Wimbledon as Switzerland's Roger Federer crashed out of the tournament in the quarter finals.

The world number three was beaten in an unexpected defeat by French hope Jo-Wilifried Tsonga, who battled the six-times Wimbledon champion in a five set marathon.

It means Andy Murray now has one less challenge to overcome as he aims to win his first Wimbledon title, having breezed past Feliciano Lopez in straight sets in imperious form.

Tsonga's reward for beating Federer is a semi against Novak Djokovic. Murray's victory means he will now face another Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, who made it through to the semi-final by seeing off the challenge of Mardy Fish.


Win: Left, Tsonga celebrates his unexpected victory over six times Wimbledon champion Federer while, right, the Swiss maestro's wife Mirka can't quite believe her eyes


Federer's defeat came after the Swiss had established a strong two-set lead where it seemed he had the game in his stylish white bag.

But in an amazing comeback that stunned the crowd, Tsonga snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by beating Federer three sets to two, winning six games to four in the final set.

A delighted Tsonga performed a victory dance as Roger quietly walked from the court he has come to call his own over the past eight years.

After his match Murray said he was surprised at Federer's exit but that Tsonga had simply played too well for even the Swiss legend to cope.


In reverse: Perennial underachiever Tsonga, left, consoles one of the greatest players in history after his shock victory over Federer


A pat on the back: Federer has the class to acknowledge Tsonga on a job well done


'I don't think Roger played a bad match,' said Murray.

Sometimes other guys just play too good.'

Confident Federer fans looked jubilant as Federer easily took the first two sets.

But their smiles faded as he lost the third set and it became clear he could not push back against Tsonga's unwavering energy.


'I could get used to this': Tsonga is mobbed by fans clamouring for an autograph as he leaves the court after his shock victory


It's all a bit of a blur: Federer can't find an answer to Tsonga's onslaught as he prowls the baseline


Court appearance: Anna Wintour is jubilant early on in Federer's match, while right, Chelsy Davy looks tense in the face of reports today that on-off boyfriend Prince Harry has a new girlfriend, Florence Brudenell-Bruce


Fans: Pippa Middleton is flanked by mother Carole and boyfriend Alex Loudon as they watch Federer play

source: dailymail

Dripping jewellery, daring outfits and Wimbledon's biggest entourage: But Venus and Serena Williams are dumped out of Wimbledon in shock fourth-round

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Not this year: Both the Williams sisters - Wimbledon's greatest ladies' singles champions - have been knocked out before reaching the quarter final stage.


One took to the court dripping with jewellery, the other wore a daring outfit, and together they had the biggest entourage at Wimbledon.

But nothing could stop the end of an era at SW19 as both Venus and Serena Williams were dumped out of the championship in straight sets on only its seventh day.

For 11 years the Williams sisters have dominated Wimbledon, notching up nine singles titles between them. Both going out in the fourth round is their worst-ever result.

Serena, 29, was thrashed by Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli. And for 31-year-old Venus, history repeated itself as she was beaten by Tsvetana Pironkova, the beautiful young Bulgarian.

Miss Pironkova, 23, created last year's biggest upset when she defeated Venus at the same stage, and was charmingly modest about her achievement, admitting that even she was surprised. This year, however, was different.


Sportsmanship: Marion Bartoli of France, right, shakes hands with Serena Williams of the U.S. after defeating her at the Wimbledon tennis championships


The willowy brunette took charge from the start and by the time Kate and Wills returned to the Royal Box after a quick bite (apparently they were too late arriving at SW19 for a full three-course lunch), Venus was already a set down.

The royal couple had the temerity to retake their seats during her service game and merited a fearsome glare from the five-times champion.
But shortly afterwards it was all over.


Wimbledon's queen of bling: Serena sported these chunky pieces of jewellery during her fourth round clash


Glamour: The sparkle on Serena's nail polish was matched only by the sparkle on her bracelet


The Centre Court crowd applauded Venus but an hour previously when her sister's result had flashed up there was loud cheering – they do not warm to Serena here.

Venus admitted they were both upset. She sniffed: 'No, definitely not our best day. Obviously it's not something planned. We rarely lose on the same day.'

And when she was reminded of the last time that happened, at the French Open in 2008, the full force of her sarcasm was unleashed.

'Thank you,' she said. 'Great to remember all these losses, right?'

Serena was asked if maybe it was a good thing for women's tennis that she had been knocked out this year.

'Yeah, I'm super happy that I lost,' she drawled. 'Go, women's tennis.'
It was the earliest exit for the four-time All England Club winner since a third-round loss in 2005.

But despite the loss, and despite the presence of royal spectators, Serena kept her crown as Wimbledon's queen of bling.

She played in huge dangling earrings, a knuckle-duster ring, a handcuff-style bracelet – and a pendant proving just how much of a star she is.


Showing the strain: Venus Williams returns a shot during her fourth round match against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria


Five-time champion Venus was playing only her second tournament since withdrawing from the Australian Open with a hip injury and she was well short of her best today.

The repeat of last year's quarter-final resulted in an identical outcome as the highly-impressive Pironkova, 23, made light work of the fourth-round match.

Venus, who has reached at least the quarter-finals on 11 of her 14 previous visits to Wimbledon, struggled to find her range and was frequently foiled by the net.

Younger sister Serena's bid to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles came to an abrupt end at the hands of French ninth seed Bartoli

The effects of a challenging year in which Serena has been restricted to less than three weeks of action due to injury and serious illness finally caught up her.


Foiled by the net: Venus looked rusty after a year in which she has hardly lifted her racket in competition


Serena looked rusty as her gutsy passage through the Wimbledon draw came to a shuddering halt in the fourth-round clash on Court One, Bartoli winning 6-3 7-6 (8/6).

Frequently her accuracy deserted her as she scooped a series of shots out of play, often because she had connected with the ball poorly.

The American's defeat means this is only the third year that the defending champion has failed to make the quarter-finals in the open era.

Fighting spirit enabled Williams to trade blows with Bartoli in an impossibly tight second set, but she was striving to stay on terms rather than dominating.


Entourage: Serena's loss came despite her bringing along the biggest entourage of any player this year


Top row: 1 Val Vogt (Serena’s PA), 2 Esther Lee (trainer), 3 family friend, 4 Sasha Bajin (Serena’s hitting partner), 5 Jessica Baron (Venus’s PA).
Middle row: 6 Richard Williams (father), 7 Lakeisha Williams (Richard’s wife), 8-9 nephew and niece (children of murdered sister Yetunde), 10 family friend.
Front row: 11 Jill Smoller (Serena’s agent), 12 Suzanne Pond (Nike representative), 13 Isha Price (sister), 14 Oracene Price (mother).


Bartoli was superb, playing with confidence, passion and poise to seal her first victory over the American in three contests.

It is the first time since 2006 that neither sister has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Together they have taken home the 'Venus Rosewater Dish', the Wimbledon ladies' singles trophy, nine times since 2000.


Tsvetana Pironkova beats Venus Williams


Serena Williams vs Marion Bartoli - Match Point - Wimbledon 2011



source :dailymail