Caroline Wozniacki has appointed a family friend, Sweden’s Thomas Hogstedt, as her new coach – a wise move say pundits – to replace her father, Piotr. Following a run of no grand slam finals in three years, Hogstedt coached Maria Sharapova to four finals in three years before parting company with the Russian following Wimbledon this year. He has also previously coached Li Na and Tommy Haas.
Blood bins of my father
Temperatures have been running high ahead of the publication of ‘Gul feber’ (‘Yellow Fever’), the autobiography of cheating cyclist Michael Rasmussen. Among those implicated are Ryder Hesjedal, the Canadian winner of the 2012 Giro d’Italia, team manager Bjarne Riis, who Rasmussen accuses of doping his riders, and Rasmussen’s dad, who was apparently asked to lend his son some blood.
Who will be the Daddy?
MMA fighter Mikkel Parlo last Friday advanced to a Bellator middleweight final in the US, putting him within one fight of a title shot against a reigning Bellator champion – the pinnacle of the sport. The 23-year-old Dane will need to beat Brennan Ward on Friday November 8 in the final of the eight-fighter tournament to earn a clash against current champ Alexander Shlemenko.
Like father, like son
Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph reports that Kevin Magnussen might be promoted within McLaren, where he has been a junior driver since 2010, and race alongside Jenson Button in Formula One next season. The Formula Renault 3.5 champion would replace Mexico’s Sergio Perez, who has only scored 35 points this season and is 12th in the standings. With Button ninth, it has been McLaren’s worst season since 1966.
Sons of Israel deliver
The rugby union national side failed to hang onto a 13-0 halftime lead against group leaders Israel in Odense last Saturday, losing 13-15 to a team that has not lost a European group game since 2010. While the game leaves Denmark with an uphill challenge to avoid relegation, they will take some confidence from a strong performance into their next game, which is away in Andorra on November 23.
Padres of Parken
FC Copenhagen beat Galatasaray 1-0 at Parken on Tuesday night in the Champions League to reignite their hopes of making the last 16, or the last 32 of the Europa League if they finish third. They are tied on four points with the Turks, who have a better head-to-head record, a point ahead of Juventus, their next opponents on November 27, before a home tie against Real Madrid on December 10.
