DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Wimbledon champion Andy Murray warned of “bumps along the road” during his comeback from injury and his words proved prophetic as he began the new year with a stunning second-round loss in the Qatar Open.

Murray led by a set and 3-0 and yet lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Florian Mayer, the world number 40 from Germany, who seemed more surprised than anyone at how the contest turned around.

It was only Murray’s second match on the tour after a back operation and a four-month absence, but for about an hour his lack of match practice had hardly seemed a problem as he took charge.

Then Mayer attacked more, Murray tired, and everything changed.

Murray, however, admitted to no injuries during the one hour 51-minute encounter, and whatever his physical discomfort it did not prevent him playing doubles later in the day.

Mayer, a former top 20 player, slowly imposed himself on the match as Murray became more defensive, and after letting slip two break points for a 4-2 second-set lead, the Scot hurled down his racket and flung away his sweat bands.

He then served a double fault and dropped serve at the start of the third set and was never close to breaking Mayer after that.

However, the loss of court time in preparation for the Australian Open, which starts in little more than two weeks, may prove to be the most significant aspect of the setback for Murray.

Anelka returns to action amidst investigation

WEST BROMWICH, England (AFP) — French striker Nicolas Anelka returned to action for West Bromwich Albion against Newcastle United yesterday, despite being under investigation over his controversial ‘quenelle’ goal celebration.

Anelka, 34, sparked a media storm on Saturday when he celebrated the first of his two goals in the 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham United by putting one arm across his chest and straightening the other.

The gesture, popularised by French comedian Dieudonne, has been described by critics in France as an anti-Semitic ‘inverted Nazi salute’, but Anelka has insisted that it was merely “a dedication” to the comic.

He also insisted that he was “neither anti-Semite nor racist”.

With England’s Football Association having launched an investigation into the matter, West Brom subsequently announced that Anelka had agreed not to repeat the gesture.

However, West Brom said that the former France international would “remain under consideration for first-team selection” until both the club and the FA have completed their investigations.

Under new anti-discrimination rules introduced last May, Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban if the FA decides that he is guilty of discrimination.

Having made his first appearance since October at West Ham, Anelka kept his place in the starting line-up for the New Year’s Day visit of Newcastle to The Hawthorns.

CONCACAF mourns passing of Trinidadian player

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CMC) — President of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb has expressed sadness on the death of Trinidad and Tobago defender Akeem Adams.

Adams, 22, died in Budapest, Hungary on Monday after being hospitalised following a heart attack in September and subsequently undergoing several operations. He fell into a coma on Saturday after suffering a massive stroke.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they grieve this loss,” said Webb, a Caymanian.

“We also extend our support to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and those in the football community who are affected by this tragic loss of a talented player, and much loved and respected young man.”

Adams represented his country at every level, including at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in South Korea in 2007 and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009.

He made his senior international debut in a friendly against Finland in January 2011 and at domestic club level he played for W Connection, United Petrotrin and Central.

A promising young player who had represented Trinidad and Tobago’s national teams at youth and senior levels, Adams had joined Hungarian club Ferencvaros in August.

Diethart wins ski jumping event

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AFP) — Austria’s Thomas Diethart won the second event of ski jumping’s Four Hills World Cup event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany yesterday to take the overall lead in the competition.

Diethart, 21, finished third at Oberstdorf on Sunday and improved on that performance here to claim the first World Cup victory of his career.

With 296.1 points, he finished ahead of compatriot Thomas Morgenstern and Switzerland’s Simon Ammann.

Ammann, the four-time Olympic champion, lost his overall Four Hills lead as a result, slipping to third place.

The next Four Hills event will be in Innsbruck in Austria on Friday, January 3.