Even before his condition deteriorated, he was experiencing difficulty dealing with Draper’s brilliant shot-making, particularly his backhand down the line.Times have changed for Muster, whose two titles this year have been won on the concrete courts of Dubai and Key Biscayne, Florida. His record on clay-court matches over the previous two years was 115-5. Richard Krajicek, the fifth seed, was another second-round victim, the Wimbledon champion losing to Germany’s Marc Goellner, 7-6, 7-6.Draper is one of the most talented young players on the ATP Tour, a prospect who, during his formative years, dealt with comparisons to the great Rod Laver by pointing out that, flattered though he was, the only similarity he could think of was that they were both left-handers.Muster is also a left-hander, which made yesterday’s contest all the more fascinating. Having had a stomach upset before the start of the match, Muster ended it in a state of severe dehydration.The organisers of the Italian championships were nonplussed by a chain of results that has seen them lose the top three seeds in the opening two rounds, Muster, the No 3, having fallen in the second round 24 hours after the first-round eliminations of Pete Sampras and Michael Chang. The exhausted 29-year-old defending champion cancelled his media interview and returned to his hotel to rest on the instructions of the tournament doctor. Tony Banks is certainly livening things up,” a spokesman said.And if the Prime Minister is entertaining any second thoughts about his new Sports Minister, the man himself would certainly understand. “I know one thing,” Banks said as he concluded his latest controversial interview “If I’d been Tony Blair I wouldn’t have appointed me.”.

Scott Draper could scarcely believe what he had achieved after trading shots with Thomas Muster, the master of clay courts, for nearly three hours in temperatures of more than 100F on the Centre Court at the Italian Open yesterday. Why shouldn’t we discuss it? My role here is to be a bit challenging and controversial and to act as a catalyst.”Banks’ capacity to be “a bit challenging” has already seen him removed by Downing Street from his weekly slot on a radio phone-in, on the grounds that its was too wide-ranging for a Sports Minister.His latest outburst, clearly within his brief, hardly received a ringing endorsement from Downing Street yesterday “Picking the England side is a matter for Glenn Hoddle. I’m sure the four British associations have similar views, and indeed I think I would say the same for Uefa and Fifa.”Cesare Maldini, the coach to the Italian national side, was more forthright. Describing the idea as “ridiculous”, he said: “If you follow through what this man is saying, then Paul Ince ought to play for Italy.”This minister has probably only been in his post for a short period of time and doesn’t know anything about sport yet. On certain subjects it’s better to think before you speak.”Banks admitted his ideas were not Government policy, but added: “Let’s discuss it Why don’t we talk about it? We’re in Europe, we’re involved. Tony Blair said to me, ‘Get in there and liven it up’, and I’m going to do precisely that These are things worth discussing It’s no good saying it’s rubbish, we can’t do it. “In other words the right to play is not one of birth but one of residence Think about it.

Freedom of movement within the European Union, able to vote, let’s start thinking the unthinkable. If people are playing over here and want to play for England and Scotland, why not play?”For good measure Banks added that what he was really in favour of was a combined United Kingdom team, comprising the best of the English, Scottish and Northern Irish teams – as well, presumably, as the best foreigners.Mr Banks’ extraordinary suggestions drew a guarded response from the Football Association. Take a handful of Italians, a couple of Frenchman, the odd Dutchman – and maybe even a few Englishmen. Within hours of his much-criticised Commons performance, the maverick Minister demonstrated that his talent for controversy was as developed as ever when he suggested to the man from the Press Association that the rules be changed so that overseas footballers playing for English clubs become eligible to play for Glenn Hoddle’s national side.
This immediately conjured the mouth-watering, if far-fetched, image of Alan Shearer forming a dynamic World Cup partnership with Gianfranco Zola, with the two being supported by the likes of Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp. Banks insisted, however, that he was not simply indulging in fantasy international football.”We ought to think about, if you play in this country for one of the league teams, you can play for the country as well,” he said. And to be in the Brazil squad you have to play in good teams.”. After the crossed fingers, the cross foreigners.