Athletic Bilbao beat Manchester United 2-1 at home to complete their aggregate victory, Manchester City were knocked out by Sporting CP on away goals, while Schalke thrashed FC Twente 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
de Villiers, seamers set up South Africa
New Zealand closed out day two in a state similar to their position the previous evening, struggling to compete with an opponent they had dominated in passages of play, but allowed to charge back emphatically in others
Masha on hindrance: Kirilenko forgot the sport
Maria Sharapova agrees with chair umpire Marija Cicak's hindrance call against childhood friend Maria Kirilenko during her 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
Cicak made the call with Kirilenko serving at 4-5, 15-30 in the second set, when Kirilenko rapidly banged her racket on the ground three times from behind the baseline during a point. Cicak stopped the point and awarded it to Sharapova. Kirilenko complained, telling Cicak that she should not be making that kind of call during a crucial time in the match, but the umpire stuck with the call. Kirilenko ended up winning the game anyway.
Sharapova said she saw and heard the racket tapping.
"Unless you're deaf, of course you notice it," Sharapova said. "The whole stadium was quiet. So, yeah, it's not something I've ever come across. Maybe in the 12-and-unders, but not very recently. It's very rare…It's one thing if you do it once, but I think she did it three or four times. That's a whole 'nother story. It's not like a hockey puck or something. She forgot, I think, the sport."
Kirilenko is dating NHL hockey star Alexander Ovechkin. She and Sharapova no longer hang out off court like they used to.â€"Matt Cronin
Cicak made the call with Kirilenko serving at 4-5, 15-30 in the second set, when Kirilenko rapidly banged her racket on the ground three times from behind the baseline during a point. Cicak stopped the point and awarded it to Sharapova. Kirilenko complained, telling Cicak that she should not be making that kind of call during a crucial time in the match, but the umpire stuck with the call. Kirilenko ended up winning the game anyway.
Sharapova said she saw and heard the racket tapping.
"Unless you're deaf, of course you notice it," Sharapova said. "The whole stadium was quiet. So, yeah, it's not something I've ever come across. Maybe in the 12-and-unders, but not very recently. It's very rare…It's one thing if you do it once, but I think she did it three or four times. That's a whole 'nother story. It's not like a hockey puck or something. She forgot, I think, the sport."
Kirilenko is dating NHL hockey star Alexander Ovechkin. She and Sharapova no longer hang out off court like they used to.â€"Matt Cronin
Practice One - McLaren set the Melbourne standard
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton led the way for McLaren in Australia as the 2012 Formula One season officially got underway at Albert Park on Friday afternoon. Button pipped Hamilton by 0.245s with a lap of 1m 27.560s to 1m 27.805s, leaving the silver cars 0.6s ahead of another one, Michael Schumacher's Mercedes. The F1 W03's passive nasal F-duct had been cleared as legal by the FIA, and Schumacher was right on the pace to set the fastest time of 1m 28.235s, once the track dried after a heavy rain shower minutes before the session began at 12.30 local time.
Australia FP1 Recap: McLarens on top of damp, drying Albert Park circuit
The first session of 2012 began with a drizzle at Albert Park for the Australian Grand Prix, but ended with a handful of Ferrari, and two McLarens leading the timesheets. Jenson Button drew first blood with a fastest lap of 1:27.560, leading a top five of teammate Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Mark
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• Facebook • Twitter • Delicious • Digg • StumbleUpon • Add to favorites • Email • RSS • LinkedInMourinho eyes Chelsea reunion in final
After watching his side ease past CSKA Moscow and into the UEFA Champions League last eight, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said he would love to face former club Chelsea in the continental decider.
Ivanovic, Sharapova reach semis at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, California (AP)â€"Top-ranked Novak Djokovic defeated Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4, winning the final three games of the match to reach the BNP Paribas Open semifinals on Thursday.
Ana Ivanovic earned a spot in the women’s semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Marion Bartoli, the 16th-ranked Serb’s second straight win over a top-10 player.
She will play Maria Sharapova, who needed more than three hours to subdue fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Kirilenko had won eight of nine 3-setters this year, but six double faults, including on match point, and weak second serves did her in.
Sharapova broke Kirilenko three times in the final set, when Kirilenko’s father-coach came on court with her trailing 4-0. The chair umpire turned him away because she didn’t first ask permission. Kirilenko also was penalized a point for hindrance in the second set after she tapped her racket on the court three times during a point.
Djokovic, the defending champion, improved to 16-1 against Spanish opponents since the start of 2011, although Almagro made him work for it on another 80-degree (27 C) day at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Almagro held with a backhand winner down the line to go up 4-3 in the second set. Djokovic served at 40-love in the next game before Almagro rallied to reach deuce. Djokovic held, then broke Almagro in the next game and served out the match with a 40-love game that ended with his own backhand down the line.
Ivanovic knocked off defending champion and fourth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets in the fourth round. Ivanovic is trying to regain the form that made her No. 1 in 2008, when she won her only Grand Slam title at the French Open and won at Indian Wells.
American John Isner took on Gilles Simon of France late Thursday.
Bartoli, runner-up here last year, requested a doctor on court early in the second set. She said she began feeling sick on Wednesday and suspected she has the same viral illness that derailed several players during the two-week tournament.
“Even though we didn’t have very long rallies, I was feeling really out of breath,†she said. “Then I was having a lot of joint pains and feeling shaky and very cold. It was quite hot, so I knew I was not in a good shape. Even though I lost it, I just felt like I needed to stay there until the end.â€
Bartoli broke Ivanovic to open the match, then Ivanovic took control and broke to start the second set before finishing it off in less than 1 1/2 hours.
Ivanovic moved into her first semifinal of the season, having reached the quarterfinals in Dubai and losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open. She won one title late last year at Bali. After her big year in 2008, Ivanovic dropped out of the top 20 in October 2009, falling as low as No. 65, before returning to the top 20 at the end of 2010.
“When you’re young and upcoming you don’t have these experiences. You don’t know what to expect or what the consequences are,†she said. “Then with so many experiences and everything, it does help you at some points, but also it sometimes creates a doubt because you analyze and think too much. But I’m just very happy that the work I put in is paying off and I’m starting to put it together in matches, in the big matches, too.â€
Ana Ivanovic earned a spot in the women’s semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Marion Bartoli, the 16th-ranked Serb’s second straight win over a top-10 player.
She will play Maria Sharapova, who needed more than three hours to subdue fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Kirilenko had won eight of nine 3-setters this year, but six double faults, including on match point, and weak second serves did her in.
Sharapova broke Kirilenko three times in the final set, when Kirilenko’s father-coach came on court with her trailing 4-0. The chair umpire turned him away because she didn’t first ask permission. Kirilenko also was penalized a point for hindrance in the second set after she tapped her racket on the court three times during a point.
Djokovic, the defending champion, improved to 16-1 against Spanish opponents since the start of 2011, although Almagro made him work for it on another 80-degree (27 C) day at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Almagro held with a backhand winner down the line to go up 4-3 in the second set. Djokovic served at 40-love in the next game before Almagro rallied to reach deuce. Djokovic held, then broke Almagro in the next game and served out the match with a 40-love game that ended with his own backhand down the line.
Ivanovic knocked off defending champion and fourth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets in the fourth round. Ivanovic is trying to regain the form that made her No. 1 in 2008, when she won her only Grand Slam title at the French Open and won at Indian Wells.
American John Isner took on Gilles Simon of France late Thursday.
Bartoli, runner-up here last year, requested a doctor on court early in the second set. She said she began feeling sick on Wednesday and suspected she has the same viral illness that derailed several players during the two-week tournament.
“Even though we didn’t have very long rallies, I was feeling really out of breath,†she said. “Then I was having a lot of joint pains and feeling shaky and very cold. It was quite hot, so I knew I was not in a good shape. Even though I lost it, I just felt like I needed to stay there until the end.â€
Bartoli broke Ivanovic to open the match, then Ivanovic took control and broke to start the second set before finishing it off in less than 1 1/2 hours.
Ivanovic moved into her first semifinal of the season, having reached the quarterfinals in Dubai and losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open. She won one title late last year at Bali. After her big year in 2008, Ivanovic dropped out of the top 20 in October 2009, falling as low as No. 65, before returning to the top 20 at the end of 2010.
“When you’re young and upcoming you don’t have these experiences. You don’t know what to expect or what the consequences are,†she said. “Then with so many experiences and everything, it does help you at some points, but also it sometimes creates a doubt because you analyze and think too much. But I’m just very happy that the work I put in is paying off and I’m starting to put it together in matches, in the big matches, too.â€
Arnel and Gillespie picked; South Africa field
South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to field on a Seddon Park pitch that had retained some of the green tinge that had surprised both sides in the lead-up to the Test
De Jong: Tevez is an asset
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has said he has no problems with Carlos Tevez returning to the side, confirming that the entire squad is keen on his return as they seek the Premier League title.
De Jong: Tevez is an asset for City
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has said he has no problems with Carlos Tevez returning to the side, confirming that the entire squad is keen on his return as they seek the Premier League title.
Injury sidelines Anderson again
Manchester United midfielder Anderson could be out for four to five weeks due to a hamstring injury, and as a result, has not travelled to Spain for the Red Devils' last-16 second-leg tie against Athletic Bilbao.
Rafa doesn't expect easy French win over Nole
Asked if he thinks he could beat Novak Djokovic at this year's French Open without dropping a set, Rafael Nadal, who has lost to the Serb in their last seven meetingsâ€"all finalsâ€"says he wouldn't expect another easy win. The Spaniard did not drop a set to Djokovic in their previous three French Open meetings. Djokovic, who toppled Nadal in clay-court finals in Rome and Madrid last year, lost to Roger Federer in last year's French Open semifinals.
"I don't expect winning straight sets in the third round, so I not gonna expect a win against Djokovic in three sets, especially when he beat me in, I don't know, seven times in a row," Nadal said. "That's the real thing today."
"I don't expect winning straight sets in the third round, so I not gonna expect a win against Djokovic in three sets, especially when he beat me in, I don't know, seven times in a row," Nadal said. "That's the real thing today."
Djokovic downs Almagro to reach final four
INDIAN WELLS, Calif.â€"It was the matador versus the bull today in the first Indian Wells men's quarterfinal, and the matador got gored. With elan and style, Nicolas Almagro plays like a cape-puller, striking out-of-nowhere winners from seemingly troublesome positions. His opponent on the day, Novak Djokovic, is the tour's bull, an in-your-face aggressor who hugs the baseline like its his lifeline. Engaging in riveting probes and parries, the rallies featured some of the best shot-making of the tournament. In the end, Djokovic played his best match of the event, breaking the 12th-ranked Spaniard twice in the first set and once again in the second, scoring a 6-3, 6-4 win in one hour and 26 minutes.
The 26-year-old Almagro has a big game for a little guy. He's listed at six feet and 185 pounds, and while the weight might be right, he looked far smaller than Djokovic, who stands 6'2" but weighs 176 pounds. In the match's first game, Almagro struck two aces, the second one traveling 130 mph. But in his second service game, Almagro was broken at 15. Djokovic broke again when Almagro contributed his second double fault of the set, which the Serb wrapped up in a tidy 31 minutes,
Djokovic does not take points off, even when down love-40. In the first game of the second set, he climbed back from this precipice to square the game at deuce. Suddenly, it looked like Almagro was ready to fold. But not unlike Djokovic's opponent yesterday, Pablo Andujar, Almagro rallied to make this a compelling battle. A clay-court star, Almagro can also play on hard courts, as his semifinal showing at Chennai and fourth-round run at this year's Australian Open indicate. Unlike another Spanish rival of Djokovic's, he plays to a fast pace and eschews all form of accoutrements, although he could have used a hat, headband, or wristbands during this hot afternoon, with the sun high.
The crowd here in the desert was decidedly on Almagro's side. There were many chants of "Nico" and "Nicolai," and one of the only times a fan in the upper levels called out for Djokovic, she did so alone. In the seventh game of the second set, Almagro hit seven unforced errors (six off his dynamic backhand wing) and one double fault, but he escaped two break points with big service winners out wide, winning an eight-deuce game with a 126 mph ace (out wide). Buoyed, Almagro was ready to pounce. He took a love-40 lead in the next game, but like so many times in this match, Djokovic served himself out of trouble. (For the second straight match, the Serb didn't double fault.)
Djokovic doesn't lose to players with one-handed backhands not named Roger Federer very often. The last time was two years ago here in Indian Wells against Ivan Ljubicic, in the round of 16. He promptly broke Almagro, who hit too many unforced errors to upset a player of Djokovic's constant and accurate assault, and served out the match at love with an ace and a bullet, down-the-line backhand winner, struck like a slap shot. Next up for the Serb is the winner of tonight's John Isner-Gilles Simon match.
â€"Dan Markowitz
Djokovic Marches Into SFs
Defending champion Novak Djokovic continued his march towards the BNP Paribas Open final with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the quarter-finals Thursday afternoon in Indian Wells.
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Thursday Preview - Djokovic-Almagro, Simon-Isner Battle In Quarter-finals
Media notes for the BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]] 
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]]
All-round India seal 50-run win
The Asia Cup was a chance for India to wipe the slate clean after the horrors of Australia, and they began their campaign by playing to their strengths - batting the opposition out of the game
Your View: Mercedes rear wing gets ‘ok’ from FIA
The innovative rear wing F-duct developed by Mercedes AMG Petronas will most likely be the season’s first, most copied design up and down the paddock now that they’ve received a green light for the system by governing body, the FIA. FIA technical boss Charlie Whiting told reporters: “Some teams are questioning it on the basis that they
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• Facebook • Twitter • Delicious • Digg • StumbleUpon • Add to favorites • Email • RSS • LinkedInATP investigation of Llodra incident still open
The ATP’s investigation of Michael Llodra’s alleged racial insults of fans at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells is still ongoing, TENNIS.com has learned.
After the original investigation of the incident, the ATP fined Llodra $2,500, but apparently that fine could go higher, or other measures could be taken.
Tennis fans Daniel Lee and Alex Lee Barlow stated that Llodra got off too lightly for allegedly throwing racial taunts their way during his win over Ernests Gulbis. 

Canadian journalist Tom Tebbutt, who was at the match, reported that Llodra hit a ball out of court, threw his racket, and called Alex Lee Barlow a "f--king Chinese."


Daniel Lee told TENNIS.com in an email that he thought the ATP should come down harder on Llodra.


"I definitely don't think $2,500 is enough,†said Lee. "It's just a slap on the wrist. One thing that isn't being stressed enough is that we were paying spectatorsâ€"tennis fansâ€"essentially giving him, a professional, money to watch him play. And in exchange for that, we were abused. It is entirely a different situation than a player abusing a line judge or an official, or a spectator abusing a fellow spectator. The last thing any tennis fan expects sitting down to watch the sport they love so much and have paid to see is for a player to target them with racial slurs. Another piece of information that is being misrepresented is that we are not Chinese! We are Americans of Korean decent…I'm not giving up on tennis or on Indian Wells but I believe that ATP should issue a formal statement condemning Llodra's actions and levy harsher penalties than what amounts to a token fine."
Llodra did speak to the Chinese news site SINA.com, saying: "My words were not aimed at China," Llodra began. "I love Chineseâ€"I can totally make love with a Chinese girl."
Llodra also did try and explain his actions on his web site, saying "Above all I am of course not racist…and I really want to apologize for any hurt the Chinese community."â€"Matt Cronin
After the original investigation of the incident, the ATP fined Llodra $2,500, but apparently that fine could go higher, or other measures could be taken.
Tennis fans Daniel Lee and Alex Lee Barlow stated that Llodra got off too lightly for allegedly throwing racial taunts their way during his win over Ernests Gulbis. 

Canadian journalist Tom Tebbutt, who was at the match, reported that Llodra hit a ball out of court, threw his racket, and called Alex Lee Barlow a "f--king Chinese."


Daniel Lee told TENNIS.com in an email that he thought the ATP should come down harder on Llodra.


"I definitely don't think $2,500 is enough,†said Lee. "It's just a slap on the wrist. One thing that isn't being stressed enough is that we were paying spectatorsâ€"tennis fansâ€"essentially giving him, a professional, money to watch him play. And in exchange for that, we were abused. It is entirely a different situation than a player abusing a line judge or an official, or a spectator abusing a fellow spectator. The last thing any tennis fan expects sitting down to watch the sport they love so much and have paid to see is for a player to target them with racial slurs. Another piece of information that is being misrepresented is that we are not Chinese! We are Americans of Korean decent…I'm not giving up on tennis or on Indian Wells but I believe that ATP should issue a formal statement condemning Llodra's actions and levy harsher penalties than what amounts to a token fine."
Llodra did speak to the Chinese news site SINA.com, saying: "My words were not aimed at China," Llodra began. "I love Chineseâ€"I can totally make love with a Chinese girl."
Llodra also did try and explain his actions on his web site, saying "Above all I am of course not racist…and I really want to apologize for any hurt the Chinese community."â€"Matt Cronin
Ivanovic reaches semifinals at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)â€"Ana Ivanovic defeated Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday, giving the 16th-ranked Serb her second straight win over a top-10 player.
Ivanovic had knocked off defending champion and fourth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets in the fourth round. Ivanovic is trying to regain the form that made her No. 1 in 2008, when she won her only Grand Slam title at the French Open and won at Indian Wells.
She will next play the winner of the all-Russian quarterfinal between Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko.
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic played Nicolas Almagro in a quarterfinal on the men's side. American John Isner took on Gilles Simon of France at night.
Pressure on Boca, test for The Strongest
The Strongest have a tough hurdle to clear to preserve their perfect record away to Internacional, whose compatriots Corinthians and Vasco da Gama are at Cruz Azul and Libertad respectively. Elsewhere, Boca Juniors simply must win.
Wigan grab vital point at Norwich
Wigan Athletic crept a little closer to their fellow relegation strugglers after they claimed a rousing 1-1 draw at Norwich City in an open game where both sides could have claimed all three points.
Eredivise shake-up keeps AZ in control
AZ Alkmaar opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie with a 2-0 win over De Graafschap as chasers PSV Eindhoven and Twente suffered 3-1 defeats at NEC Nijmegen and NAC Breda respectively.
Fergie sets 40-goal target for Rooney
Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged Wayne Rooney to break the 40-goal barrier after the in-form striker helped the Red Devils to victory over West Brom and a return to top spot.
Cocu takes command, Ajax vist ADO
The upcoming round of Eredivisie games will see Philip Cocu oversee his first game in charge of PSV Eindhoven, taking on high-flying Heerenveen, while Ajax visit ADO Den Haag as they aim to chase down leaders AZ.
FIA clears away exhaust questions, OKs Merc rear wing
Ahead of this weekend’s race, the FIA has been busy, with race director Charlie Whiting telling reporters that all the Formula 1 team’s interpretations of exhaust rules are OK and the organization OKing Mercedes rear wing concept. The exhaust ruling is noted already at the FIA’s site. You might recall that the issue centered on
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• Facebook • Twitter • Delicious • Digg • StumbleUpon • Add to favorites • Email • RSS • LinkedInMozambican clubs advance in Africa
It was a good weekend for Mozambique on the continental stage as both Liga Muculmana and Ferroviario Maputo made it to the next rounds of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup respectively.
Del Bosque wary of Germans and Dutch
Germany and the Netherlands will provide Spain with the toughest threat to their hope of defending their European crown according to Vicente del Bosque, who believes England, France, Italy and Portugal can also win UEFA EURO 2012.
Jattal: Syria will give everything to get there
Ahead of a vital meeting with Malaysia FIFA.com caught up with Haitham Jattal who is attempting to guide Syria to London 2012, with his side having already claimed the scalp of continental heavyweights Japan.
Puyol: Abidal will battle back
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has said that he is "convinced" that Eric Abidal will return from undergoing a liver transplant, although he admitted the news has come as a "rude awakening" to the European champions.
Djokovic, Federer survive; Vika now 21-0
INDIAN WELLS, California (AP)â€"Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Roger Federer each needed three sets to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday, while No. 1 Victoria Azarenka improved to 21-0 on the season with a straight-set win on the women’s side.
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal beat 21st-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine 6-3, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal against David Nalbandian, who upset sixth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
“The match started the perfect way for me, with a break, so that give me confidence,†said Nadal, who played doubles at night. “I felt confident with my serve during all the first set. Just in the last set I had trouble. He had more mistakes than usual at the beginning.â€
Djokovic, the two-time defending champion, beat Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-2, racing through the first set in 27 minutes before Andujar picked up his game. The Spaniard, who had lost his previous meeting against Djokovic in straight sets, held at love to even the second set 1-1, drawing encouraging cheers from the crowd at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Federer got by Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a fourth-round match that finished under the lights and completed a parade of the world’s highest-ranked players. It was Federer’s 12th straight win, making him 19-2 on the year. It was also his 74th consecutive victory against a player outside the top 20, and he has won 36 of 38 matches since the U.S. Open.
“I struggled early on making the transition from day to night,†said Federer, a three-time champion here whose cold has kept him from practicing much during the tournament. “I thought I would see quicker improvements, but still hurting a bit. But at least I don’t have sort of a massive headache and aches and pains anymore.â€
Federer used a big serve to go up 5-4 in the third set then won on his second match point when Bellucci committed his second straight forehand error.
“These are the wins that sort of almost feel better, to be quite honest, because when you’re playing great, it’s simple, it’s easy, right?†Federer said. “But when it’s not going your way and things are difficult, that’s kind of the good wins.â€
Azarenka routed fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-2 in just over an hour to tie Serena Williams’ 2003 record of 21-0 to start a season. The Belarusian has already won three titles this year, and now has her sights on Martina Hingis’ record 37-0 start to the 1997 season.
“I was executing my shots brilliantly,†said Azarenka, who next plays 18th-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany, a 6-4, 6-2 upset winner over No. 8 Li Na.
Against Djokovic, Andujar held at 6-all to force a tiebreaker, which he won 7-5 as the Serb committed a slew of errors. Djokovic broke to open the third, then again to lead 5-2. He served out the match at 40-love, winning when Andujar’s forehand service return sailed wide.
“He surprised me with his aggressive approach. He was taking the ball early and was playing well,†Djokovic said. “Second set, I start playing a little bit more defensive, and that allowed him to come back to the match. All the credit for him to play the way he played. The second set I could have won, but I managed to stay calm mentally and just find my rhythm again.â€
Andujar fell to 1-8 against top-10 players, although he hung in for a stretch against Djokovic, keeping him on the run at the baseline with deep shots. The friendship between Djokovic and the 26-year-old Spaniard dates to when they played each other in an under-16 match in Belgium.
“I had six match points, and I lost that match 7-6 in the third set,†Djokovic said. “We joke around a bit at the times when we were growing up.â€
Radwanska won two of the final three games in the quarterfinal match to avoid a shutout in falling to 1-5 in her career against a No. 1-ranked player.
“I was (ticked), yeah, in the first set especially losing 6-love is not fun,†she said. “Especially when you expect that you’re at this kind of level that you can beat anyone. But then I was seeing that she was playing just too good.â€
All four of Radwanska’s losses this year have been to Azarenka, including a straight-set defeat last month in Doha when Azarenka injured her ankle.
She kept playing, but appeared to be in pain and was visibly distraught. Radwanska later said she “lost a lot of respect†for Azarenka because her behavior wasn’t a good image for women’s tennis.
“I hope I was a good example of women’s tennis,†Azarenka said Wednesday.
She had said earlier that she never had a problem with Radwanska, and the two women briefly clasped hands at the end of their latest match before walking away.
“It was the past, and now is a new tournament, new match,†Radwanska said. “You know, everything from the beginning.â€
Azarenka also insisted there was no carryover from the situation in Doha.
“I have to play a very good match and show excellent tennis to beat her, so that’s what I was mainly focused on,†she said.
“She’s the same person, same great player as she was before, and I have tons of respect to her game.â€
Other winners were: No. 11 seed John Isner, who defeated Australia’s Matthew Ebden 6-4, 7-5; and No. 12 Nicolas Almagro, who defeated No. 7 Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-0. No. 13 Gilles Simon outlasted young American Ryan Harrison 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal against Isner.
Al Ahli close gap, Al Hilal held
Al Ahli moved to within a point of Saudi League leaders Al Shabab by beating Al Ittifaq 4-0, but Al Hilal fell behind in third after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Al Raed.
Richards: I would love to see Tevez back
Micah Richards has discussed Manchester City’s scoring problems and expressed his belief that Carlos Tevez could solve them, while Michel Vorm reckons Swansea City should now be aiming to finish in the top half.
Your View: Australian Grand Prix winners, losers and Marussia
It’s that time again. For those new to the game, it is pretty simple. Before each grand prix weekend, we ask you to pick who is going to win the race, who will fill out the podium, who will take pole and who will be first out. The F1B staff — with one minor exception
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• Facebook • Twitter • Delicious • Digg • StumbleUpon • Add to favorites • Email • RSS • LinkedInRanieri: Inter are determined not to fail
Claudio Ranieri has said Inter Milan can’t afford to let Marseille score an away goal in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie, and explained why he feels his side will go through.
Mirnyi/Nestor, Lopez/Nadal Advance To Semis
Second seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor advanced to the BNP Paribas Open semi-finals on Wednesday, defeating Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6(7), 6-3 in Indian Wells.
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]] 
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]]
Marseille knock Inter out on away goals
A dramatic final few minutes saw Inter Milan beat Marseille 2-1 at the San Siro but crash out of the UEFA Champions League on away goals as the French side narrowly sealed their spot in the last eight.
Death of a Bundesliga pioneer
We reflect on the life and career of Friedhelm “Timo” Konietzka, scorer of the first goal in Bundesliga history, who passed away aged 73 yesterday after a battle with cancer of the gallbladder.
Green Hamilton pitch expected to "brown off"
The pitch at Seddon Park pitch was green two days before the start of the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa but groundsman Karl Johnson said he had not yet applied the finishing touches to it
FIA Thursday press conference - Australia
Drivers - Charles Pic (Marussia), Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso), Jenson Button (McLaren), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), Mark Webber (Red Bull). Q: Charles, it's looking like a pretty tough initiation for you into Formula One with no testing of the new car, brand new car tomorrow. Tell us what your thoughts are. Charles Pic: Yes, we have had not so much driving but we made an ad day in Silverstone for the shakedown and everything went fine
Djokovic thinks Raonic can reach top 10
Novak Djokovic, who watched Roger Federer defeat Milos Raonic in three sets on Tuesday, said the young Canadian sensation has elite potential. "We all expected Milos to serve the way he serves," Djokovic said of the 27th-ranked Raonic. "He's always serving really strong and using that as a great weapon. It was a close match. Milos has a bright future in front of him. He's a very nice man in the first place, and somebody that you could feel that is very committed to the game. He's very professional. He understands the match play, what he needs to do in important moments. That's going to be crucial for him to overcome those challenges in the future. But he has potential to be Top 10."
Nadal Rolls Into Quarters; Nalbandian Tops Tsonga
World No. 2 Rafael Nadal dismissed No. 21 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-2 at the BNP Paribas Open Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.
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[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]]
Del Potro Sets QF Showdown With Federer
Three-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer found himself down a set for the second straight match Wednesday, but rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Thomaz Bellucci in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]] 
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]]
Federer Prevails In Three Over Bellucci
Three-time Indian Wells champion Roger Federer found himself down a set for the second straight match Wednesday, but rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Thomaz Bellucci in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]] 
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]]
Istomin: "It's The Biggest Win For Me"
Denis Istomin ended a 10-match losing streak to players ranked inside the Top 10 on Tuesday, upsetting fifth-ranked David Ferrer 6-4, 6-3 to reach the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. BNPParibasOpen.com sat down with Istomin to discuss his success in California and his season goals following his victory over Ferrer.
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]] 
[[More Tennis News on ATPWorldTour.com]]
This time, Azarenka 'good example' for WTA
After her 6-0, 6-2 win over Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Victoria Azarenka alludes to the Pole's criticism of her in Dubai, when she accused the victorious Belarussian of exaggerating injuries and said: "I don't think those kind of behavior is a good image for women's tennis."
On Wednesday at Indian Wells after her quick win, Azarenka said, "I hope I was a good example of women's tennis."
Azarenka, who is now 21-0 on the year and has beaten Radwanska four times this season, then added: "I think I always give a fair competition. She's the same person, same great player as she was before, and I have tons of respect to her game. I had very good motivation because I knew she's excellent player, so I have to come up with a great match today."
Radwanska said she is over the incident and said complimented her foe, and said Azarenka is "on fire."
"It was the past, and, now is a new tournament, new match," Radwanksa said. "She was just playing for sure one of the best matches against me."
On Wednesday at Indian Wells after her quick win, Azarenka said, "I hope I was a good example of women's tennis."
Azarenka, who is now 21-0 on the year and has beaten Radwanska four times this season, then added: "I think I always give a fair competition. She's the same person, same great player as she was before, and I have tons of respect to her game. I had very good motivation because I knew she's excellent player, so I have to come up with a great match today."
Radwanska said she is over the incident and said complimented her foe, and said Azarenka is "on fire."
"It was the past, and, now is a new tournament, new match," Radwanksa said. "She was just playing for sure one of the best matches against me."
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