Gäste-Forum » e! Also See: Durham down after ECB sancti

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Fabio Fognini defeated Juan Monaco in straight sets to rally Italy to a 1-1 draw with Argentina in their first round tie in the Davis Cup World Group on Friday. Dallas Stars Store . Fognini won 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 after Argentinas Carlos Berlocq had beaten Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 on the outdoor clay surface. Doubles are set for Saturday with reverse singles on Sunday to decide which team reaches the quarterfinals. "I played really well," Fognini said. "Monaco never give in, but playing at the top was the key for me." Argentina is playing without its top player Juan Martin del Potro, who has chosen to skip Davis Cup and focus on tour events. Berlocq gave Argentina a perfect start. "I felt like you have to feel in a Davis Cup match -- with determination and dedication," Berlocq said. "When I was on the court and fans screamed gladiator, it gave me a lift." Argentina is a four-time runner-up in the Davis Cup but has yet to win tennis top team event. Italy has won once. The winner faces either Britain or the United States in the quarterfinals. Stars Jerseys China . Top-seeded Djokovic, who is making only his second appearance this year after reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over 54th-ranked Istomin of Uzbekistan. "It wasnt as easy as the scoreline indicates," said Djokovic, who has won in Dubai on four occasions. Cheap Stars Jerseys . Their 9-19 record remains identical to the crosstown rivals in Brooklyn and trails both Toronto and Boston in the Atlantic Division. Raymond Felton, their declining point guard, is back on the sideline nursing his third injury of the season. https://www.cheapstarsonline.com/ . -- Two out of three aint bad.Michael Atherton says the punishment from the England and Wales Cricket Boards to relegate Durham from Division One of the County Championship is harsh. Durham have accepted financial aid of £3.8m from the ECB - but the price for that is relegation, and a points deduction in all three competitions next year. Durham down after ECB sanction Durham relegated to second division after ECBs points deduction While Atherton believes the punishment looks harsh on paper, he says it serves as proof that the ECB dont wish to make a habit of bailing out counties struggling financially. There are a lot of clubs for whom debt has been spiralling out of control, said Atherton. Some are even in more debt than Durham, but have greater revenue streams coming in to help. Durham were unable to provide further revenue streams at Emirates Riverside to boost funds For Durham, without this bailout, it would have been difficult for them to survive.When you look at things in black and white, a points deduction and relegation does look a pretty harsh penalty, but the ECB dont want to be seen as a lender of last resort. Durham have been relegated to County Championship Division Two after accepting a £3.8m rescue payment from the ECB Plus, if the ECB were going to hand out sanctions in return for the money - which they decided they must do - its difficult to know what else they could do. They clearly couldnt give Durham a financial penalty obviously, because that would be self-defeating. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6. Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys. 99. No contract. Sadly, its the players who are being penalised here with relegation, but Durham have got good young players - they won the second XI championship last year - and some players have re-signed, like Keaton Jennings. England hopeful Keaton Jennings will have to play in Division Two with Durham next year While they have lost one or two - Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick both going to Surrey, shortly after the players had been told about the seriousness of the financial situation - theyve got a very able and experienced captain in Paul Collingwood.Durham were very competitive this year, as indeed they have been for a long time. Theyre an unbelievable success story from a cricketing perspective. Sir Ian Botham says he will assist Durham in their recovery following their relegation to County Championship Division Two. Theyve won plenty of trophies, produced more young England cricketers of late by virtually every other county than Yorkshire, I suspect.On a pure cricketing basis, theyre a success story, but theyll now have to haul themselves off the floor after this decision.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Durham down after ECB sanction Fixtures/results Live cricket on Sky Get Sky Sports ' ' '