Stage 1 winner: Alejandro Valverde

Stage 2 winner: Thor Hushovd
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Stage 3 winner: Samuel Dumoulin

Stage 4 winner: Stefan Schumacher

With the defending champion and recent Wimbledon winner, Rafael Nadal out of the way with an injury, 19-year-old Juan Martin Del-Porto clinched his first ATP title at the Mercedes Cup. His opponent in the finals was none other than Richard Gasquet who can add this to his list of frustrations this year, having lost to Andy Murray at Wimbledon in a close five set match. The 6-4, 7-5 win granted Del Porto a new Mercedes luxury convertible along with an ego boost, Del Porto claimed: “This is incredible, I’ve dreamed of winning a tournament since I was a kid.”

Here is a brief look into the nation that will host the 2010 world cup, its past struggles, hopes for the future and the role sports can play in its development.

Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One British Grand Prix this weekend, this much needed triumph comes after of his title at the Monaco Grand Prix in late May. The McLaren-Mercedes driver claimed that this was the most memorable win of his career, having failed to score in the previous two races. The winning time was one hour 39 minutes and 09.440s seconds, Nick Heidfer of Germany for BMW Sauber came in second at +01:08.577 and third was Rubens Barrichello of Brazil for Honda with 01:22.273. Tied along with Hamilton on points at the top of the championship are Ferrari drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa who finished 4th and 13th respectively.
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Rafael Nadal has fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning the Wimbledon and has toppled five time defending champion Roger Federer in an epic five set game, 6-4,6-4,6-7,6-7,9-7. This has been the cherry on top for Spain who just won the Euro 2008 last Sunday and it is yet again another Spaniard that carries away the honours in another arena this sunday. Due credit must be given to Roger Federer who fought valiantly till the very end and stunned the audience with an amazing comeback to win the third and fourth sets after being down in the first two. Nadal had several opportunities to close the match within the third and fourth sets but he had to give every ounce of his resolve to finally capture the title, a commendable feat for any athlete to play under such pressure in one of the most renown grounds in the world.

Venus Williams has conquered her fifth consecutive Wimbledon title at the expense of her little sister Serina, in a two straight set game, 7-5, 6-4. The girls also won the doubles title later in the night against Raymond and Stosur 6-2, 6-2.
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I don’t know about you, I never bought the old adage that someone could “dance their way into your hearts” but for inmates in the Philippines, this phrase seems to take on a whole new meaning. To reduce the risk of having to deal with recurring crimes once prisoners have been released, the Philippine authorities have implemented a new “physical fitness” program that is literally making waves. By promoting positive emotions through the expressive medium of dance, the program hopes to discharge reformed individuals into society. Will the western world consider this type of mass “counseling” efforts in the near future, I am not so sure about that one.
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Roger Federer is through to the finals for a 6th time at Wimbledon after defeating Marat Safin in three sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-4. After an impressive comeback in the second set, Rainer Schuettler ultimately fell prey to the sheer force and willpower of Rafael Nadal in three sets, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4. If last year’s epic final between Nadal and Federer was any indication, with Federer being pushed to five sets for the first time at Wimbledon, this year seems to promise no less drama. History will be in the making for both men if they were to win the title; Federer will have surpassed Bjorn Borg’s record of five Wimbledon wins and Nadal can become the first man after Borg to win the French Open and the Wimbledon in the same year. The Williams sisters are through to the finals of both the singles and the doubles, win or lose, they are sure to rake up some pretty cash in prize money this year.