Nadal to face Tomas Berdych in quarter finals

Madrid, May 9 (IANS) Top seed and home favourite Rafael Nadal will face Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open Tennis tournament after both won their respective last 16 matches Thursday. Nadal swept past Finland’s Jakko Nieminen 6-1, 6-4, while number 6 seed Berdych has to fight back from a set down before defeating […]

Bhuvneshwar shines in Sunrisers much-needed win

Ahmedabad, May 9 (IANS) A fine bowling performance by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 32 runs for a much-needed win in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera here Thursday. Sunrisers Hyderabad jumped two places to fifth to keep their campaign on track while Rajasthan […]

Easy wins for Nadal, Williams in Madrid Open

Madrid, May 8 (IANS) Serena Williams swept into the last 16 with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory over China’s Peng Shuai, while Rafael Nadal began defence of his crown with a crushing 6-1, 6-0 win over Argentina’s Juan Monaco in Madrid Tennis Open Wednesday. Williams needed just over one hour and four minutes and never looked […]

Real Madrid out of title race

Madrid, May 8 (IANS) Real Madrid’s chances of winning this season’s BBVA Primera Liga title disappeared as Carlo Ancelotti’s side drew 1-1 to a struggling Valladolid Wednesday. Real Madrid started off five points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid and two behind FC Barcelona with one game in hand. Things got off to a bad start for […]

Brazil unveils World Cup squad

Rio de Janeiro, May 8 (IANS) Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has unveiled his 23-man World Cup squad. The list released Wednesday includes 16 players who were in the team that won last year’s Confederations Cup by beating world champion Spain in the final, reported Xinhua. Squad: Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico […]

Ronaldinho, Kaka out of Brazil World Cup squad

Rio de Janeiro, May 8 (IANS) Ronaldinho and Kaka were left out of Brazil’s 23-man squad for the 2014 football World Cup Wednesday as coach Luiz Felipe Scolari kept faith in his 2013 Confederations Cup-winning team. Former Barcelona star Ronaldinho has struggled with form and fitness for Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro football club and was not expected […]

Zanetti confirms retirement

Rome, May 7 (IANS) Inter captain Javier Zanetti has confirmed that he will retire from football following 19 seasons with the Milan club. The Argentine joined Inter in 1995 as Massimo Moratti’s first signing after taking over the club. After a long-time in service, he found that he could not carry on, reported Xinhua. “After suffering […]

Rohit, Pollard star in Mumbai Indians comprehensive win

Mumbai, May 7 (IANS) Riding on fine batting performances by skipper Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard, defending champions Mumbai Indians registered their second win in the India Premier League (IPL) beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs at the Wankhede Stadium here Tuesday. Put in, Rohit struck an unbeaten 59 off 35 balls, and Pollard made […]

Italy to play with Luxembourg in Perugia

Rome, May 6 (IANS) Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli confirmed Monday that his side will play a pre-World Cup friendly with Luxembourg at the Stadio Curi in Perugia June 4. The game had been planned ahead of the Azzurri’s flight to Brazil for the tournament but the venue remained to be set, Xinhua reported. The […]

Juventus beat Atalanta to move closer to 100-point mark

Turin, May 6 (IANS) Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0 at home Monday to move closer to the record-making 100-point mark. Simone Padoin scored the sole goal of the match in the 72nd minute to help the hosts score their 31st win of the season — a record in the Italian top flight, Xinhua reported. The Turin […]