Nadal continues win streak at French Open to record 30 straight
PARIS: Rafael Nadal seeking a record fifth straight title, beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. It was his 30th consecutive win on the clay courts of Roland Garros in Paris, besting the record set by Chris Evert from 1974 and 1981. Safina won 6-1, 6-1 over Vitalia Diatchenko, an 18-year-old Russian ranked 150 places below her countrywoman. Safina next faces another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Julie Coin of France today. Ivanovic beat Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1, 6-2. The Serb next meets No. 32-seeded Iveta Benesova. Sharapova beat 11th-seeded Nadia Petrova 6-2, 1-6, 8-6 in another Russian match up to reach the third round at her first Grand Slam tournament since last year’s Wimbledon. No. 9 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced, while No. 15 Jie Zheng of China lost 6-4, 6-3 to Michelle Larcher De Brito from Portugal. Men’s third seed Andy Murray struggled to beat Potito Starace in four sets. Murray equaled his best performance in Paris by reaching the third round for the second straight year, defeating Starace of Italy 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. No. 7 seed Gilles Simon of France and No. 8 Fernando Verdasco of Spain both moved on in three sets. Venus Williams trailed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7-5) when play was suspended because of darkness at 8:59PM local time in Paris. The third-seeded American, who has won seven majors, is seeking her first French Open title. Marat Safin, a former top-ranked player and Dinara Safina’s brother, played his last match at Roland Garros. The Russian, 29, lost to local favorite Josselin Ouanna 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 3-6, 10-8. Safin will retire at the end of the season, he told reporters earlier in the week.
Barcelona win Champions League final
ROME: Barcelona won the European Champions League final here on Wednesday beating holders Manchester United 2-0. Goals by Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi were enough to give the Spanish side a trophy treble in coach Pep Guardiola's first season in charge.
Pakistan may host WC matches: Salim Altaf
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Salim Altaf Wednesday said Pakistan is likely to get the matches of the World Cup in the meeting of International Cricket Council (ICC) on June 3.Salim Altaf said the decision regarding taking back the WC matches from Pakistan could not be held as finalized, as this decision would be endorsed in the annual ICC meeting.The PCB official hoped that decision regarding Pakistan getting the WC matches is quite possible.Responding to a question, he said the decision regarding return of Indian Cricket League (ICL) players to national team would be made in consultation with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt.
Murray, Safina into French Open third round
PARIS: British third seed Andy Murray battled into the French Open last 32 on Wednesday as Roland Garros prepared to acclaim yet another record for four-time champion Rafael Nadal.World number three Murray overcame a stern test from Italian world 104 Potito Starace before prevailing 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.In the women’s singles, Top seed Dinara Safina enjoyed another French Open breeze on Wednesday, defeating teenage compatriot Vitalia Diatchenko 6-1, 6-1 to set up a last-32 clash with another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.Safina, who didn't lose a game in her first round mauling of Britain's Anne Keothavong, took just 55 minutes to dispose of 18-year-old qualifier Diatchenko, the world number 151.The world number one next faces 17-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, the 27th seed, who reached the last 32 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) win over France's Julie Coin.Also progressing to the third round were Belarusian ninth seed Victoria Azarenka and Chinese 25th seed Li Na.Spanish Fernando Verdasco and France's Gilles Simon moved into last 32 in the French Open tennis championship here on Wednesday.Eighth seed Verdasco beat Germany's Philipp Petzschner 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the French Open third round. He will face Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro for a place in the last 16.Simon, the seventh seed, beat America's Robert Kendrick 7-5, 6-0, 6-1 to reach the French Open last 32. He will face Romanian 30th seed Victor Hanescu for a place in the fourth round.
PARIS: Rafael Nadal seeking a record fifth straight title, beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. It was his 30th consecutive win on the clay courts of Roland Garros in Paris, besting the record set by Chris Evert from 1974 and 1981. Safina won 6-1, 6-1 over Vitalia Diatchenko, an 18-year-old Russian ranked 150 places below her countrywoman. Safina next faces another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Julie Coin of France today. Ivanovic beat Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1, 6-2. The Serb next meets No. 32-seeded Iveta Benesova. Sharapova beat 11th-seeded Nadia Petrova 6-2, 1-6, 8-6 in another Russian match up to reach the third round at her first Grand Slam tournament since last year’s Wimbledon. No. 9 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced, while No. 15 Jie Zheng of China lost 6-4, 6-3 to Michelle Larcher De Brito from Portugal. Men’s third seed Andy Murray struggled to beat Potito Starace in four sets. Murray equaled his best performance in Paris by reaching the third round for the second straight year, defeating Starace of Italy 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. No. 7 seed Gilles Simon of France and No. 8 Fernando Verdasco of Spain both moved on in three sets. Venus Williams trailed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7-5) when play was suspended because of darkness at 8:59PM local time in Paris. The third-seeded American, who has won seven majors, is seeking her first French Open title. Marat Safin, a former top-ranked player and Dinara Safina’s brother, played his last match at Roland Garros. The Russian, 29, lost to local favorite Josselin Ouanna 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 3-6, 10-8. Safin will retire at the end of the season, he told reporters earlier in the week.
Barcelona win Champions League final
ROME: Barcelona won the European Champions League final here on Wednesday beating holders Manchester United 2-0. Goals by Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi were enough to give the Spanish side a trophy treble in coach Pep Guardiola's first season in charge.
Pakistan may host WC matches: Salim Altaf
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Salim Altaf Wednesday said Pakistan is likely to get the matches of the World Cup in the meeting of International Cricket Council (ICC) on June 3.Salim Altaf said the decision regarding taking back the WC matches from Pakistan could not be held as finalized, as this decision would be endorsed in the annual ICC meeting.The PCB official hoped that decision regarding Pakistan getting the WC matches is quite possible.Responding to a question, he said the decision regarding return of Indian Cricket League (ICL) players to national team would be made in consultation with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt.
Murray, Safina into French Open third round
PARIS: British third seed Andy Murray battled into the French Open last 32 on Wednesday as Roland Garros prepared to acclaim yet another record for four-time champion Rafael Nadal.World number three Murray overcame a stern test from Italian world 104 Potito Starace before prevailing 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.In the women’s singles, Top seed Dinara Safina enjoyed another French Open breeze on Wednesday, defeating teenage compatriot Vitalia Diatchenko 6-1, 6-1 to set up a last-32 clash with another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.Safina, who didn't lose a game in her first round mauling of Britain's Anne Keothavong, took just 55 minutes to dispose of 18-year-old qualifier Diatchenko, the world number 151.The world number one next faces 17-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, the 27th seed, who reached the last 32 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) win over France's Julie Coin.Also progressing to the third round were Belarusian ninth seed Victoria Azarenka and Chinese 25th seed Li Na.Spanish Fernando Verdasco and France's Gilles Simon moved into last 32 in the French Open tennis championship here on Wednesday.Eighth seed Verdasco beat Germany's Philipp Petzschner 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the French Open third round. He will face Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro for a place in the last 16.Simon, the seventh seed, beat America's Robert Kendrick 7-5, 6-0, 6-1 to reach the French Open last 32. He will face Romanian 30th seed Victor Hanescu for a place in the fourth round.
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