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Wiser Soderling ready for Nadal battle

June 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Robin Soderling hopes his experience of playing Roger Federer in last year’s final will help him come out with all guns blazing when he takes on Rafael Nadal in the French Open men’s singles final later on Sunday.

The Swede stunned Nadal in last year’s fourth round on the way to his first grand slam final but never really got going against Federer, losing in three sets.

“Hopefully I can handle it a little bit better this year than I did last year because last year everything was so new for me,” Soderling told reporters.

“Now I’ve got used to it a little bit more. I played matches against Roger in both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open last year and against Rafa in the World Tour Finals.”

Sunday’s final is being billed as a revenge match for Nadal as he aims to become only the second man to win the French Open five times or more.

The Spaniard, though, is only concerned with taking back his claycourt crown.

“I never believe in revenge, I believe in trying my best in every moment. If I lose, I lose and I’ll congratulate Robin because he did better than me,” said Nadal.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: french open, guns, little bit, match, open men, rafa, rafael nadal, revenge, robin soderling, roger federer, Second Man, spaniard, Swede, Tony Jimenez, wimbledon

Montgomerie loses cool at disco beat

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie blew his top in inimitable style when a burst of disco music spoiled his Spanish Open first round on Thursday.

Montgomerie had put together a solid opening round and needed a birdie on his last hole to lie only four shots off the lead when he three-putted for a bogey to the accompaniment of loud disco music from a nearly tent.

“Is this a ****ing party or a golf tournament?,” the 46-year-old Briton fumed after signing for a one-under-par 71 which left him six strokes behind early leader Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina.

Montgomerie, seeking a tour victory before he leads Europe into battle against the United States in October, received support from playing partner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

“I felt sorry for Monty,” the Spaniard told reporters. “The music was a bit much. He’d played really well.”

Montgomerie had described Fernandez-Castano as a possible candidate for his Ryder Cup team, but the Spaniard could only muster a 73, rescuing his day with four birdies in the last five holes.

Gonzalez continued his love affair with Spain and the Real Club course, where he won the 2004 Seville Open the year after claiming the Madrid Open title.

“I love the country, the people, the food, everything, it’s like being home,” he told reporters after carding a seven-under 65.

“Today I loved the course again. The rough is sometimes like the U.S. Open rough and the key to my round was only going in it three times.”

Gonzalez, who birdied five of the last six holes in the Scandinavian Masters final round to win his fourth European Tour title last year, leads by a stroke from Briton Paul Waring.

Argentine Rafa Echenique held third place after a 68.

(Editing by Ed Osmond; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Federer forced to dig deep

March 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Roger Federer escaped being blown off course during an uncharacteristically haphazard 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3) third round win over Florent Serra at a blustery Miami Masters in Miami.

After a four-hour rain delay that had fans scurrying out of the small island of Key Biscayne, Florida, Federer stepped on to a half-empty stadium court to play the unseeded Frenchman, who has never advanced past the last 32 in Miami.

Federer will take on 16th seed Tomas Berdych in the fourth round after the Czech defeated Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 7-5.

Federer struggled to find his rhythm with his backhand early in the match. After breaking Serra to go up 4-2 in the first set, Federer allowed the Frenchman to rally and level the contest at 5-5.

In the end, the Swiss won three of eight break points and made 35 unforced errors while rival Rafa Nadal watched from the stands.

“It’s nice to have won two breakers because that doesn’t happen every match you play,” said Federer.

“I still have to tidy up my game a bit, having had one break up in the first and two breaks up in the second, it’s normally something that doesn’t get away from me.”

Serra has now lost 12 straight matches against top-10 players.

American Mardy Fish also advanced by beating Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 6-3.

Meanwhile, a right shoulder strain scuppered top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova’s chances of going further in the tournament.

The Russian was up 5-3 in the first set but the injury curtailed her movement and from then on she failed to win another game in a 6-3, 6-0 defeat to France’s Marion Bartoli.

“It was so painful I almost had stars in my eyes,” said Kuznetsova, who had a trainer check her shoulder three times during the match.

“I think I should have pulled out earlier. It’s impossible… I cannot return. Then I cannot serve, but that was my choice to play.”

- Reuters

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Ljubicic into final after dumping Nadal

March 22, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Croatian veteran Ivan Ljubicic has rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/1) triumph over world number three Rafael Nadal to reach the final of the Indian Wells Masters 1000.

Ljubicic, a former world number three now ranked 26th in the world, denied Nadal a shot at a repeat title and a third in four years.

The Croatian, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday, had surprised world number two and second seed Novak Djokovic in the fourth round en route to his first semi-final since he won the ATP title in Lyon last October.

Ljubicic will contest the final with seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick, who stumbled in the second set but recovered to beat Spain’s Robin Soderling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Roddick reached the final at Indian Wells after holding off sixth-seeded Soderling in one hour and 46 minutes.

The powerful-serving American, who had lost to the Swede in their two previous meetings, broke Soderling in the seventh game to sweep through the opening set in 37 minutes.

Although the Swede levelled the match by twice breaking his opponent in the second, Roddick returned the favour in the third and clinched victory when Soderling hit a backhand long.

Drought breaker

It was Ljubicic’s first victory over Nadal since 2005 as he stopped a five-match skid against the Spaniard that included defeats last year in the quarter-finals of Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo and Shanghai.

Nadal was playing his first tournament since a knee injury forced him to retire from the Australian Open while trailing Andy Murray in a tight quarter-final match.

“I was serving great,” said Ljubicic, whose 17 aces took his total for the tournament to 66. He said he needed them against Nadal.

“Rafa, off the baseline he was fantastic, there was not much I could do really.”

The two had traded breaks of serve to open the third set, Nadal missing with two forehands to give up the first game and Ljubicic double-faulting on break point to surrender the next.

Ljubicic, who served eight of his aces in the final set, faced one more break point – after a double-fault in the eighth game – but got out of the jam as the set went to the tiebreaker.

He took a 2-1 lead with a 138 mph ace, and a 3-1 lead with a backhand winner.

Three Nadal miscues saw the Spaniard facing a 6-1 deficit, and Ljubicic gave him no time to climb out of the hole as he blasted his forehand winner on his first match point.

Ljubicic now has a chance to become the first 30-something since 30-year-old Andre Agassi in 2001 to capture the title.

Ljubicic had looked sluggish as he surrendered a break in the opening game of the match.

He mustered only one break point against Nadal’s serve in the opening frame, and was broken to love in the ninth game to surrender the set.

But after saving four break points in the sixth game of the second set, Ljubicic seemed energised and he got the break he needed to extend the match when Nadal double-faulted on break point in the ninth game.

The defeat did not spell the end of Nadal’s Indian Wells campaign. With compatriot Marc Lopez he was due to play the men’s doubles final against Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serbian Nenad Zimonjic.

- AFP

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‘Battered’ Torres vows to beat the bullies with his sharp shooters

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 18 (ANI): Europe’s No.1 striker Fernando Torres has insisted that he will beat the bullies who have subjected him to the most vicious of attention this season.

The Liverpool striker has paid a heavy price for being ranked the number one striker in Europe, and has taken as many black eyes as he has scored goals in the Premier League so far.

He said that he has come to terms with his status as the most marked man in Europe, and now wants to learn how to overcome it by scoring even more goals.

“Yes, another week, another black eye for me. The latest one I got with the national team, not in England, but football is like this. This type of thing happens,” The Mirror quoted Torres, as saying.

“I have to learn, I have to adapt and protect myself because I think I understand now the referees don’t have to protect just three or four players, they have to protect all of them. England is a physical league and we have to learn and try to be safe.

“Of course, it gets harder for me, because I am targeted, but half-way through my first season, the defenders knew me as well. I cannot use that as an excuse. I have to be ready. I have to be aware of defenders paying more attention to me, and I have to improve and try to be stronger and better,” he added.

The Spanish star admitted that in the past it has bothered him, but after a heart to heart with manager Rafa Benitez, he has decided to let his feet do the talking.

“If you get frustrated then you cannot win the game. I know for the good of the team I have to be aware and beat the defenders. That is my job,” he said. (ANI)

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Extremely tough to win a Grand Slams now, says Murray

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep.17 (ANI): World Number three Andy Murray is of the view that winning a Grand Slam title in the present day and age is far more tougher than it was before, given the kind of talent on show in the tennis circuit.

He said that when players are competing against the likes of Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal and now Juan Martin Del Potro, winning a title was not easy.

“It’s really, really tough to win the slams now so Del Potro’s effort was pretty good. There’s no question that Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal) are two of the best ever. Roger’s people say he’s the best of all time; that’s not really up for debate. And Rafa, providing he stays healthy, I’d expect to get to double figures on slam wins,” The Telegraph quoted Murray, as saying.

“That’s better than any two rivals have managed together and then behind them the standard is very high. There are guys like (Andy) Roddick who’s only managed to win one slam right at the start of that career and he’s a great player,” he added.

Murray, who exited from the US Open in the fourth-round, also said that he wanted to take his mind off his disappointment and move on.

For the moment, he is only concerned about defeating a couple of Polish journeymen to provide Britain with the platform for a victory which would ensure they do not get demoted to the Davis Cup’s third tier for the first time in 13 years. (ANI)

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Nadal can’t win US Open carrying serious abdominal injury: Rusedski

September 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 8 (ANI): World No.3 Rafa Nadal cannot win the US Open carrying a serious abdominal injury, according to former British No.1 Greg Rusedski.

“At this stage of a Grand Slam, if you are not at the top of your game and firing on all cylinders, the other stars will jump all over your serve and hurt you even more,” he said.

The athletic Gael Monfils will be a challenge for the No.3 seed in the fourth round. And Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated him at the Australian Open two years ago when Nadal was fully fit, can do the same again if he gets to the last eight, The Mirror quoted Rusedski, as saying.

“The margins are so small in top-class tennis and so much of his game is based on his physical strength and his never say-die attitude. At the French Open he was not the same player when he was suffering from tendinitis in his knees and had to take two months out.

“I wasn’t concerned about the Spaniard’s lack of match fitness before Flushing Meadows even though he had only played two tournaments since Roland Garros. He was building that up nicely. But a tear in his stomach muscle is a major problem and he will pull out of the tournament if his medical people think he will do permanent damage to his body.

“I can’t see him getting through to his scheduled semi-final meeting with Andy Murray, who looks in great form though he has not really been pushed,” Rusedski said. (ANI)

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Alonso reveals real reason behind his decision to quit Liverpool

September 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 3 (ANI): Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso, who knew that his time at Liverpool was up a year ago, has now revealed the full details behind a dramatic 28 million pounds Anfield exit.

Alonso admits the decision to skip a Champions League match for the birth of his son almost three years ago caused a rift with manager Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

And the midfielder admits he found it hard to accept being classed as a cash cow when Benitez tried to sell him a year ago, The Sun reports.

Alonso, 27, is now one of the next generation of Real Madrid ‘Galacticos’ after his switch last month. But only now has he spoken out about his relationship with fellow Spaniard Benitez – and the joy of feeling wanted at Real.

“It was a tough call and a very difficult decision to make after five years at the club. I have always said that it has been a professional relationship. I have always tried to do what he asked me to do, to try to deliver on the pitch, to do the talking on the pitch,” he said.

Benitez made no secret of wanting to bring Gareth Barry to the club from Aston Villa last year.

Alonso was identified as the valuable asset to fund the move. The deal did not materialise and Barry ended up joining Manchester City in the most recent transfer window.

“Last summer when the club proposed I had to be sold to get funds to sign new players. It was difficult to accept that. I accept it as a professional but that moment probably changed my mind – and I thought, maybe, from that moment it was maybe time for a change,” Alonso said.

Benitez did little to disguise his displeasure with playmaker Alonso when he opted out of a Champions League last-16 second leg at Inter Milan with Liverpool leading 2-0 to be with his pregnant wife.

Alonso said: “When the birth of my child happened, I had to make a decision. I had to be with my family as it was a very important moment.” (ANI)

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Babel accuses Benitez of breaking promises

September 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 3 (ANI): Dutch winger Ryan Babel has accused Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez of breaking promises which could wreck his World Cup dream.

Babel now wants to join Ajax on loan after claiming he was made a scapegoat for last month’s 2-1 defeat at Spurs.

“There were all sorts of assurances and promises from the club but they have not kept them. I should get more playing time but after the first defeat of the season I was the only one who was singled out – and I lost my place,” The Sun quoted Babel, as saying.

Babel bought by Benitez for 11.5 million pounds from Ajax two years ago, has played just 14 minutes as a sub since that defeat.

He lost his place in the Holland squad for Saturday’s friendly against Japan and the midweek World Cup qualifier in Scotland – until Ibrahim Afellay’s injury saw him recalled.

“Being left out was a real shock and very worrying. I didn’t expect not to be named, I’d already booked my ticket! We will have to review the situation again in January,” he said.

“But I think half a season back at Ajax, with a World Cup coming up next summer, wouldn’t be a bad option at all. I see the current situation at Liverpool as a signal I have to be playing more,” Babel added. (ANI)

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Murray desperate to wipe out memories of Rafa’s 2008 Wimbledon KO

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 1 (ANI): British tennis star Andy Murray has said that he is desperate to wipe away the memory of a straight-sets thrashing by Rafael Nadal in the last eight at Wimbledon 12 months ago.

Murray will face third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in today’s Wimbledon quarterfinals.

The Sun quoted Murray as saying: “I’ve got the chance to go further than I did last year and to win the tournament – and that’s my goal.”

Murray beat Swiss star Stanislas Wawrinka in a five-set thriller on Monday.e needed three hours fifty-seven minutes to beat 19th-seed Wawrinka. (ANI)

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Murray reveals fear of losing is the key to his Wimbledon title bid

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 25 (ANI): British tennis player Andy Murray has revealed that the fear of losing is the key to his Wimbledon title bid.

“The thing that is important is having an understanding that you can lose each match you play. You have to expect tough matches so, like my first round, when there are tough situations, you expect them and find a way through,” The Sun quoted Murray, as saying.

Earlier, Murray had tense opening match against American Robert Kendrick, eventually winning it 7-5 6-7 6-3 6-4.

“If you are not expecting tough games and it gets close, you can panic and do things you shouldn’t. Mentally, I’ve been good since I was young. But the physically stronger you get, the calmer you are and you have fewer excuses,” he added.

Murray has his second round match with Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, but his performance in the first round has raised few doubts and also lowered few expectations.

Meanwhile, Murray has accessed his Latvian opponent, and is confident of giving a good show.

“Gulbis has given a lot of top guys tough matches in Grand Slams. Djokovic at the French Open, Rafa Nadal here last year and Andy Roddick at the US Open. All of those matches were four sets. He takes risks,” Murray said.

“He has a big serve and will hit aces and win some points off his serve but I just need to play very solid,” he added. (ANI)

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I feel I can win Wimbledon this year, says Murray

June 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 23 (ANI): Britain’s No.1 tennis player Andy Murray has said that he is good enough to lift the Wimbledon title this year.

The World No.3 bid for glory begins on Centre Court today against American Robby Kendrick.

Murray, who lost in the quarterfinals to Rafa Nadal last year, said: “I now feel I can win the tournament. I am a much better player than when I was last at Wimbledon. I’ve had some good results with the highlight reaching the US Open final.”

“Now, I am looking to go one better. I have a lot more confidence in myself. When the big points and important moments come in matches, I feel like I am going to win them. I am just going into every match feeling and thinking exactly the same, not worrying about my opponents too much,” he added.

And the Scot says he won’t be underestimating World No.76 Kendrick, who he said was a tough grass court player, The Sun reports.

Murray said: “I’ve played him three times so I know a lot about him. He’s a tough grass-court player so there is no chance of me under- estimating him.” (ANI)

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Murray’s defeat at the hands of Nadal in Wimbledon 2008 secret behind his fitness

June 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 22 (ANI): World No. 3 Andy Murray has revealed how his Wimbledon exit in 2008 at the hands of Rafael Nadal turned him into one of the fittest players in the world.

Murray said his loss to Nadal in last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinal was the moment he stepped up his fitness training.

The British ace had already made great strides with his fitness by the time he faced Nadal in the quarter-finals 12 months ago, but was left in no doubt there was still more hard work to be done.

Nadal powered his way to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Murray on Centre Court in 2008, The Telegraph reported.

That decision paid huge dividends, with Murray going on to win his first Masters series title in Cincinnati and reach his first grand slam final at the US Open.

“Beating Richard Gasquet in the fourth round last year was a great match to be involved in, but I lost to Nadal comfortably in the next round. I actually went away for three or four weeks after that and trained really, really hard over in the States, down in Miami in really warm conditions,” Murray said.

“I realised that I was in good shape then, but I lost to someone like Rafa, who’s probably one of the best athletes to ever play tennis (and) I needed to improve that side of my game.

“It was after Wimbledon I pushed on. I just learnt a lot from the loss to Rafa. I realised I needed to get fitter and stronger. I went away and worked on it,” he added.

Murray comes into Wimbledon as one of the favourites for the title, especially with Nadal out through injury and after winning his first tournament on grass at Queen’s Club earlier this month. ANI)

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Murray optimistic about first grand slam win

June 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 21 (ANI): British tennis star Andy Murray is confident of a good show at this year’s Wimbledon and is optimistic about his chances of claiming the first grand slam title.

“I feel like I’m better equipped to win a grand slam this year than I was last year. And yeah, I think I have a chance of winning, but I understand how difficult that is to do,” the Telegraph quoted Murray, as saying.

However, he insists that the absence of defending champion Rafael Nadal does not guarantee an easier run to the final at the All England Club.

“It’s very easy to say, ‘Oh, Rafa’s not playing, Andy’s got a much easier route to the final.’ I don’t view it like that at all. If I got to the semi-final, I would have won five matches before playing him, so I wasn’t thinking about playing Nadal at all,” Murray said.

Being the No. 3 in the world and the first home player to win at Queen’s Club since 1938 with his victory in the AEGON Championship, Murray is being widely tipped to become the first Briton to win the men’s singles at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

“You just focus on each match at a time and try and win one best-of-five-set match every couple of days and not get ahead of yourself. I feel like I’ve got a chance, but I’ll have to play great to do it,” Murray added. (ANI)

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Chelsea to launch 50 million pound bid for Torres

June 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 21 (ANI): Chelsea is ready to test Liverpool’s resolve with a 50 million pound bid for Fernando Torres.

Carlo Ancelotti has already targeted Torres’ Spain strike partner David Villa, offering Valencia 35 million pound.

Now, the Blues boss is ready to make an audacious attempt to unite Villa and Torres at club level. iverpool manager Rafa Benitez will do all he can to block the move. But he is worried the huge sum offered by Chelsea could tempt American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Liverpool’s true financial state will be revealed over the coming weeks and Benitez is beginning to fear the worst, The Sun reports.

At the end of the season Benitez was hopeful of landing 27-year-old Villa. Now he not only has to face up to Chelsea signing Villa, but also targeting Torres.

Villa’s proposed move to Real Madrid has not gone through because Chelsea’s bid is 4 million pound higher and is preferred by debt- ridden Valencia.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to take advantage of Liverpool’s own money worries by making the sort of offer he hopes Gillett and Hicks will not be able to refuse.t is understood a tentative inquiry was made by a third party in April about how much it would cost to prise Torres away from Anfield.

The message from Liverpool at the time was that there was no chance of Torres being sold. Then in May the 25-year-old striker signed an improved deal to 2013.

If necessary, Ancelotti and Abramovich will settle for just landing Villa. But if there is even an outside chance of snatching Torres away from Anfield, they will take it. (ANI)

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Torres vows to always stay at ‘boyhood club’ Liverpool

June 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 19 (ANI): Fernando Torres has pledged his future to Liverpool, and insisted that even Real Madrid’s cash could not tempt him to leave.

Spain star Torres says he is not interested in going to the Bernabeu or even Old Trafford.

“Madrid are obviously spending lots of money and I’m sure Alex Ferguson will be looking for a big name to replace Ronaldo, but I’m very excited about what Rafa Benitez is doing here,” The Sun quoted Torres, as saying.

“Clubs might go crazy offering higher wages than anybody else, but that doesn’t interest me. To want any more money would be greedy and that’s not me.

“As long as Liverpool want me, I’ll stay. I’d only have left Atletico Madrid for Liverpool. I grew up in Spain, but Liverpool are my boyhood club,” he added. (ANI)

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Wenger feels like he has killed someone

May 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 16 (ANI): Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger feels that the amount of criticism he has copped in the recent past, makes him feel like he has killed someone!

“When you look now at people assessing the situation, it has just become ridiculous. Every year, every day you feel like you killed somebody. It is unbelievable. If you do not distance yourself from it you think, ‘What kind of world are we living in?’

“We lose to Manchester United, who have 10 times more resources than us. But they are the best in the world. If you play tennis and you lose against Rafa Nadal, you can still say you are a good player. The way we have gone is to rely on a young team which goes to the semi-finals of the Champions League and the FA Cup,” The Sun quoted Wenger, as saying.

“This club is in a fantastic situation. Look at its shape, it’s financial situation and the quality of the squad – I’m pretty envious if I am outside of this club. What we have achieved in the past six months is amazing. For me, this is one of the best seasons considering where we were in November,” he added. (ANI)

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Liverpool’s Rafa refuses to concede Man U better

May 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 16 (ANI): Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez continues to believe that his club’s playing style is far better than what is on offer from Manchester United, notwithstanding the fact that the latter is closing on three of the five soccer titles up for grabs.

“It’s the team that has more points, that’s all. Sometimes they can be the best at the beginning, in the middle or maybe with consistency, but it just means they have more points. It depends on the time of the season. I don’t think I ever said we were playing the best out of everyone, maybe just at certain moments. I do have a lot of respect for the other teams, but to say who is the best at one moment is not easy – there are a lot of good teams in the Premier League,” The Sun quoted Rafa, as saying.

Liverpool have scored more goals, lost fewer games – just two – and rattled up a better goal difference than the rest.

Victory in their last two ties, against West Brom and Tottenham, would also earn them a club record haul of 86 points. That would beat the 82 they managed in the 2005-06 campaign.

If they avoid defeat in the last two matches, they will also become the only side to lose that few and fail to lift the title. (ANI)

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Murray becomes tennis world’s number three, and is close to mastering clay

May 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 12 (ANI): British tennis star Andy Murray has just become the world No 3, making him the highest ranked Briton ever, and believes that he is finally mastering clay courts.

Asked yesterday how proud he was to have climbed to No 3 in the world rankings behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, two of the sport’s all-time greats, The Independent quoted a smiling Murray as saying: “I’d be prouder if I was in the middle of them.”

In swapping places with Novak Djokovic in yesterday’s updated list, Murray becomes the highest-placed British player since the rankings were launched 36 years ago, beating the best mark achieved by both Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

Now Murray has Federer, the world No 2, in his sights. The Swiss, 1,180 points ahead of him in the rankings, has 3,950 points to defend between now and the end of Wimbledon, whereas the Briton has just 800. If Murray has a good run here at this week’s Madrid Masters and at the French Open beginning in 12 days’ time, he could even overtake Federer by the time he sets foot on the green grass of home at Queen’s Club next month.

“I’ve been on a very good run in the last eight or nine months and I think the ranking obviously reflects that, but to get close to Roger and Rafa, or even to get in between them, is a tough thing to do,” Murray said.

If the European clay-court season represents the most challenging part of the year for Murray, who had never won more than two matches in a row on clay until he reached the semi-finals in Monte Carlo last month, Nadal provides inspiration.

“I feel like I can get better on clay, and learn how to play on clay, and try and get into the second week and go deep into the French Open. That’s why Rafa is so good. Every weakness that he had when he came on the Tour he’s always looked to improve. Even now, when he’s No 1 in the world and so far ahead in the rankings, when you see him on the practice court he is always giving 110 per cent. That for me is a motivation: to see someone like that who has been so successful still trying to improve,” Murray said.

Murray has always said that winning a Grand Slam tournament is his main goal, his defeat in last year’s US Open final having been his best effort to date.

“I know how the rankings stand and I know that I’ve got a chance of overtaking Roger if I play very well in the next couple of months, but the most important thing is just to concentrate on playing well and not on the ranking. If you’re always thinking ‘what time’s he playing?’ and ‘what’s his draw like?’ you’re not taking care of yourself – and that’s the most important thing,” he said.

He added: “This part of the season is tough. With the grass-court season just after the French, I’ve got three tournaments before Wimbledon. It’s not a whole lot. So with the change-over to grass after the French, the time goes pretty quickly. You just need to try and focus as best as possible.” (ANI)

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Liverpool’s Torres not to play against Newcastle

May 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 3 (ANI): Spanish football star Fernando Torres will not play for Liverpool in its must-win clash against Newcastle today.

Torres is suffering from a hamstring problem which has plagued him all season, reports The Sun.lub coach Rafa Benitez has decided not to risk Torres, even though victory over Newcastle is vital if Liverpool is to keep the pressure on Manchester United.

Benitez knows that any slip at Anfield this afternoon will virtually hand the title to Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men currently six points clear. (ANI)

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