Roddick brings down world number one Roger Federer

Friday, April 4, 2008

Andy Roddick upset world number one Roger Federer 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 at the Sony Ericsson Open quarter-final on Thursday. It was only Roddick's second win in 17 career meetings against the Swiss.

Despite not forcing a break point until the eighth game of the third set, it was enough for Roddick, who lost to love when Federer deserted a forehand into the net. The immense striking American enclosed victory on his third match point with a blistering winning service.

Twelve-times Grand Slam winner Federer has yet to reach a final this year. Roddick will play world number four Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals after the Russian's absolute 6-2, 6-1 win over Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

Liverpool and Arsenal ends to 1-1 draw

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1 in an end-to-end Champions League quarter-final first leg match at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor initiated Arsenal in facade after 23 minutes when he rose unchallenged to power the ball past keeper Pepe Reina from close range.

Arsenal's happiness did not last for long, as Liverpool equalised in the 26th minute when captain Steven Gerrard gushed past three defenders wide on the left and crossed for Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt to slide home.Gerrard, who had an impressive game, provided a swift response with the cross for Kuyt who took a drop in between Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy to equalise.

The match developed into an absorbing clash for midfield superiority with both teams looking to drive forward although Arsenal created the better chances. Walcott went close with a searing 54th minute shot that went wide and two minutes later Arsenal appeared to have legitimate claims for a penalty denied when Kuyt seemed to pull back Aleksandr Hleb's left shoulder inside the box.

The game had all the power, speed and high pace play typical of the Premier League and while Arsenal created the better chances, Liverpool guarded fabulously. Their only slip was to leave Adebayor free to score his 24th goal of the season and his second in successive games in the Champions League.
Wednesday's match was the first of three between the teams inside seven days as they face each other again in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday before the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday.

Nadal in his tremendous form

Thursday, April 3, 2008

World number two Rafael Nadal ruled to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over James Blake on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open. Nadal defeated his American rival for the first time in his career at the Pacific Life Open quarter-finals two weeks ago and replicated the act on Wednesday.

Blake made far too many oversights during the one hour, 55 minute contest, producing 31 effortless errors compared with just 13 for second seed Nadal. The American also proffered Nadal 19 opportunities to break his serve, the triple French Open champion successfully doing so four times in total.

Nadal will play 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals after the Czech's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russia's Igor Andreev.

Stylish United sweeps away Roma to assure berth in the Champions League semi-finals.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Goal scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney notched up a 2-0 victory at Roma on Tuesday night to completely give surety Manchester United's entry in the Champions League semi-finals. Ronaldo played down his goal simply saying his 36th of the season was 'a good header' and preferred to comment on the team's overall performance.

For the first 15 minutes of the second period, Roma, who were missing talisman Francesco Totti, never looked capable of challenging the Red Devils. Even so, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti refused to accept the tie. United enjoyed a lot playing first period as Roma sat back, apparently plan on not giving anything away.

On 12 minutes, though, the visitors opened up the Roma defense but after Park Ji-Sung took the ball down on his chest he was crowded out. Christian Panucci headed just over the bar from a David Pizarro corner and Mirko Vucinic also shot over as he was falling backwards after Rio Ferdinand had slipped. United then suffered a blow as Nemanja Vidic was stretchered off with a leg injury, to be replaced by John O'Shea.

Chances were few and far between but on 39 minutes United produced a move of magnificent quality, controling the ball around the edge of the Roma box and moving it from left to right before Paul Scholes crossed for Ronaldo to come blistering in like a guide to out jump Marco Cassetti and thump home a header. Just three minutes later Roma had their best chance of the opening stanza after a mistake from Ferdinand but Vucinic dragged his shot from the left just beyond the far upright. Four minutes later, United scored a considerable second as Park headed a profound cross from Wes Brown back across goal and Rooney swabbed up the loose ball after goalkeeper Doni and Panucci slow down each other.

United showed they could still dominate the Italians following last season's 8-3 aggregate triumph at the same stage of the competition with a stylish and clinical display.

World Champions First and Second seed breeze into Miami quarter-finals

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

World number one Roger Federer rolled over unseeded Jose Acasuso 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in a fourth-round match at the $3.8 million ATP and WTA hardcourt tournament on Tuesday. The top seeded Swiss star has not given so seriously this deep into a season without winning a championship since 2000 - the last year he failed to win a title. The 26-year-old reached the fourth round here last year, but was stopped by Guillermo Canas.

Second seed Rafael Nadal, who lost to Federer in the 2005 final, also reached the quarter-finals on Tuesday by beating 15th-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniard owns a commanding 8-0 lead in the all-time series against Mathieu, who retired from their match at the Australian Open in January.

Like Federer, Nadal has yet to win on tour this season.