Rafael Nadal ready to battle against rivals at Madrid Masters 2013

World number five Rafael Nadal is raring to battle against his rivals at the upcoming Madrid Masters 2013 tournament which begins on May 5. The Spaniard is a two-time champion at this event.

The 26-year old has been posting photos in his official Facebook page that he's been preparing for the Madrid Masters. Nadal won his fourth title of the 2013 season at the Barcelona Open, a nice rebound after losing his eight-year reign at Monte Carlo Masters where he lost in the final to Novak Djokovic.

Nadal was on the verge of boycotting the Madrid Masters together with Djokovic with both players airing out their displeasure over the implementation of blue claycourts in the event in 2012. Swiss star Roger Federer went on to win the tournament after beating Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. Now that the courts are back to red clay, Nadal is once again raring to chase glory at La Caja Magica.

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FC Barcelona-Panathinaikos: The YouTube record (starring Gallis, Dominique, Obradovic, Saras, Pekovic, Diamantidis, Tomic)

Those in the find out about European baseball (or sport, really) require no introduction to either of these storied businesses who add another page to the real history tonight: Panathinaikos Athens would go to Barcelona to take on the Blaugrana in a critical game five Euroleague quarterfinal fit a after one heck of a series to date. Hyperbolization of the teamsa record a' not to mention the nail-biting, cliffhanging suspense of the very playoff collection a' would be difficult and doing so would be boring. So BallinEurope only will say that the series between those two clubs has Panathinaikos with a 15-12 general advantage historically, and letas reach the YouTubes. Appreciate quite a fascinating assortment of a personal Whoas Who of highlights; yet again, YouTube policies. (Incidentally, if this selection appears slightly PAO-biased, apologies. Perhaps the Greek sideas fans are forward in the video-sharing field as wella) Panathinaikos and Barcelona met under the correct Euroleague banner at the very tail end of the 1993-94 season. In the third-place game, Nikos Gallis assigned still another EL scoring- and assist-leading period (23.8 and 4.7 per game, respectively) by primary PAO to a 100-83 win in the first game between the clubs in 12 years a' back to the Champions Cup times. Barca was offended many years later by PAO, now falling in the 1996 Euroleague title sport in Paris a' after topping the Greens twice in the eighth-final round of play. And obviously this also marked Panathinaikosa first European championshipa aand also the highest-level club title taken by Dominique Wilkins, an great who performed before his time (i.e. the YouTube Era). Helming the Panathinaikos area this year has been certain Euroleague instructor of the year customer Argiris Pedoulakis a' but game one of this series represented the very first time in 16 conferences that Zeljko Obradovic wasnat occupying that space in the huddle. Although the list of equipment the rumored likely NBA coach ran up in Greece is substantial, but Barca regularly stymied the man in their conferences between 2003-2011: Obradovicas record contrary to the Blaugrana was only 7-8. And thereas one man renowned in both circles: Sarunas Jasikevicius, having gained titles with both Panathinaikos and Barcelona (the sole player apart from Dejan Bodiroga, no?) and just one of the all-time great champions in Euroleague record with four titles for three teams a including both these groups a on his CV. Can this in reality be Sarasa ultimate work, particularly when Barca wins the big prizea? Amid his massive 2006-07 and the very first of three brands in the decade, Dimitris Diamantidis used the Juan Carlos Navarro-led Barca in the top 16 round, working up an amazing 102 details on aem. All DD would end up with that time was a Final Four MVP, an All-Euroleague first group nod, a Euroleague Most useful Defender trophy and the Greek League MVP subject. In November 2007, the defending champions held household court in the EL regular season, managing Barca, 76-66. This could function as the last time Panathinaikos won against Barcelona in Greece for 3A years. Incidentally, remember when Euroleague game spotlight clips used to look such as this? BiE somewhat digs the design, actuallya Through the 2009-10 campaign, Barca caused it to be four Euroleague wins in a row by leading the Greens in the Top 16 round twice. In the 2nd go-around had the Blaugrana nipping the Greens, 70-67. Considering the show of the game, nevertheless, BiE wonders exactly how anyone in Europe except the team physician ever stopped Nikola Pekovica Once again traveling to the concept, Panathinaikos met with the Spanish side in 2011 in a quarterfinal collection about as hard-fought, gritty and nervewracking for each fanbase as this yearas. Game three saw PAO just take the 2-1 lead within the ballyhooed Barcelona part that seasona abefore eventually advancing to the Final Four and the top of the podium. Hereas a pleasant encapsulation of the complete collection, performed up with *that* course from aRequiem for a Dreama that quickly makes any basketball highlight clip on YouTube better (supreme evidence here) Atmosphere is wanted by you? Hereas what the closing of game four in these 2010-11 Euroleague quarterfinals appeared to be. As for in 2013, youave probably seen in all, so just a couple more. Barcelonaas nail-biting game one get, where the old Saras fieldgeneralmanship (warning, non-native speakers: not just a true expression) was on full display, Juan Carlos was kingly, and week MVP Ante Tomic continued his steady rise up BallinEuropeas Euroleague MVP ballota Eventually, hereas the last outcome of another Diamantidis-Navarro tete-a-tete, culminating in DD striking what would function as the game-winning three in game three, followed closely by a tad bit more of the sweltering protection therefore characteristic with this entire collection. Whoas ready for anothera? Tags: Ante Tomic, basketball features, Dimitris Diamantidis, Dominique Wilkins, Euroleague, Euroleague 2012-13, Hamilton Academical Barcelona, Juan Carlos Navarro, Nikola Pekovic, Nikos Gallis, Panathinaikos Athens, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Facebook, Zeljko Obradovic

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Mourinho's only real hope Ronaldo is back in training ahead of mission impossible - Daily Mail

Cristiano Ronaldo has given Real Madrid a timely boost in their unlikely bid to overturn the three-goal deficit over Borussia Dortmund after the Portugal forward returned to full training this morning.

The former Manchester United star missed Real's derby win against Atletico on Saturday after picking up a thigh injury in the first-leg defeat by Dortmund.

Ronaldo was upstaged by Robert Lewandowski at the Westfalenstadion last week, as the ruthless Poland striker scored all four goals in the Germans' crushing 4-1 win.

Ronaldo, who netted Real's only goal of the game, may be Jose Mourinho's best hope of progressing to the Wembley final after Dortmund ran riot last week.

Mourinho hinted at the possibility of Ronaldo starting the cunch clash at the Santiago Bernabeu and said: 'Cristiano is fine to play tomorrow.'

'Cristiano Ronaldo exercised alone on the pitch alongside physical trainer Carlos Lalin,' a statement on the club's website said as his team-mates took part in a recuperation session after beating Atletico 2-1 at the Vicente Calderon.

The prolific striker's goals have been instrumental in Real's Champions League tilt this season. Ronaldo, who is the competitions top scorer with 12 goals, netted a goal in each leg of the last-16 tie against Manchester United to send his former club out of the tournament.

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Wigan Athletic 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 match report: Late own-goal declines... - The Independent

It had been being charged as a sport for both sides using their varying dreams. Regrettably football does not accommodate such a risk and therefore, after Tottenham's late equalising target, there clearly was briefly an of anti-climax around a formerly vivid ground. Victory for just one side or the other would either have carried Wigan out of the relegation places or jumped Tottenham in to third place. Because it was, Aston Villa now have a chance to move five points before Roberto Martinez's staff by beating Sunderland tomorrow evening, while they may have played a game more; Spurs remain outsiders of three for the accessible Champions' League sites and have by far the worst goal difference. They've winnable house games against Southampton and Sunderland but will need some thing from visits to Stoke and, crucially, Chelsea. Martinez has been here before, many times, and consequently knows the value of staying hopeful even after having victory snatched away therefore close to the end. "No, it does not feel like a defeat," he said. "We had the worst start possible and gave away an objective but from this time on we were wonderful. I could maybe not become more pleased with the performance. We're experienced enough to understand we have 12 points to combat for." That knowledge does count for some thing and Martinez was wise enough both to feed a sense of injustice and put some pressure on other competitors. He thought the free-kick which led to Tottenham's scrambled late target must have been granted the other way; and that "there are other teams involved, not merely Villa." Tottenham director Andre Villas-Boas, while not even close to defeatist, was prepared to accept that his side's fate might be moving out of the hands, based on today's effects for Arsenal and Chelsea. "We did ever so well first half and had control of the game," he explained. "Their next purpose really shook our confidence and the effect was on the edge. Now this will depend on link between our rivals whether we could maintain get a grip on of our future or not." They'd get a handle on of the overall game for hardly sixty seconds, by virtue of a goal. It arrived when Maynor Figueroa, later carried off and prone to miss the FA Cup final, played two back-passes in quick succession to his goalkeeper. Jol Robles needs to have eliminated the first upfield but that is not the Wigan way. He was done no favours by getting the ball back from Figueroa at such close range and his second hasty clearance hit the on-rushing Gsareth Bale and moved on the line. This kind of target so in early stages could have done permanent emotional injury to a less tough area. Martinez's soldiers simply went along to one other end and won a large part which Shaun Maloney, exceptional as ever, floated for Emmerson Boyce to head in a unguarded post. Tottenham, with Bale straight back on the right-hand side where he'd starred in the comeback victory over Manchester City last week-end, then made the better chances until the interval; Clint Dempsey, Scott Parker (twice) and Jermain Defoe were all not able to bring them and immediately afterwards Wigan borrowed a lead. David McCarthy set up Callum McManaman, who had obtained in the Cup semi-final but never in the League before moment he accepted the pass and destroyed an excellent picture past Hugo Lloris. Bale, favorite to be named Player of the Entire Year by his friends today, wasn't at his best, McCarthy carrying out a wonderful job on him, and he moved inside when Spurs sent on Aaron Lennon with 20 minutes to play. It was Kyle Walker's spirit of adventure down that same proper flank, however, that brought the late blow to Wigan's success hopes. He tangled with Jean Beausejour and received your choice that Martinez felt should have gone another way. Ben Huddlestone drove across a free-kick and with Bale failing continually to produce a important relationship, the sad Boyce was credited with the final touch. The very fact that Tottenham's people hurried back once again to the halfway point reflected not just the own purpose but a feeling that there might yet be more in the overall game for them and therefore it almost proved. In added time, Dempsey chipped just extensive of the far post and then Robles redeemed himself by keeping from Bale before usually defiant defensive blocks held out rebounds by Huddlestone and Defoe. The home crowd, who have experienced so several destinations throughout seven years in the Premier League, easily got over their frustration to applaud their staff down. The music is always vigilantly chosen at the DW Stadium and getting a young opera singer on to the pitch for an interpretation of "The Impossible Dream" before kick-off had seemed unduly pessimistic. "I am A Believer", which followed within the tannoy, was similar to it and would later be reprised by the house support, continuing to believe in the dream of protecting their status. Wigan (4-3-3 ): Robles; Boyce, Scharner, Figueroa (Stam, 35), Beausejour; McArthur, McCarthy, Gomez (Espinoza, 79 ); McManaman (Di Santo, 63), Kone, Maloney. Tottenham (4-2-3-1 ): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton (Assou-Ekotto, 64 ); Huddlestone, Parker (Lennon, 73 ); Bale, DembAlA (Holtby, 41), Dempsey; Defoe. Referee: Martin Atkinson. Person of the match: Maloney (Wigan) Match rating: 7/10

Link: [Soccer] Manchester City - West Bromwich Albion - English Premier League

Basketball panel advises rejecting Kings go

Here they stay. In an mental saga that has dragged on for nearly three years, the Sacramento Kings eventually appear to be staying place in California's capital city. The NBA's relocation committee voted all Monday to recommend that owners avoid the application for the Kings to move to Seattle, the newest a' and definitely the strongest a' in a long distinct cities that nearly landed the franchise. The committee sent the recommendation to the NBA Board of Governors and determined over a conference call. The board, which consists of all 30 owners, will meet during the week of May 13 to vote on the matter. While the advice does not ensure the Kings will stay put, it's difficult now to assume how they don't. Minutes following the league declared the committee's advice, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson wrote on Twitter: "That is what I am speaing frankly about SACRAMENTO!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!" At a pep rally at a downtown restaurant, fans serenaded Johnson with chants of "Sac-ra-mento!" He called the advice a "big day for the city of Sacramento" but stopped short of declaring victory. "We do not want to dance in the long run zone. We don't desire to celebrate prematurely," Johnson said. Excitement was also expressed by tibco software chairman Vivek Ranadive, the head of the Sacramento investor group Johnson assembled to mount a competing bid to keep the Kings,. "I am speechless. Thanks to any or all of the people who supported this great effort," tweeted Ranadive, a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors who can become the first Indian-born majority owner of an NBA team. He'd need to sell his share in the Warriors if his group's bid for the Kings is prosperous. "We made it happen, baby," said California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. The Sacramento Democrat joined Johnson and Republican state Senator Ted Gaines at the rally in a show of bi-partisan support. Barbara "Sign Lady" Rust, as she has become known by Kings supporters, waived a sign as Johnson spoke that read: "Love found a way. Now here we stay." "You should have seen me a few hours ago," she said. It was totally lost by "i. First I jumped just like a mad person for one minute. Then I cried." Who'll own the Kings next time continues to be uncertain. The Maloof household reached an agreement in January to sell a 65 per cent controlling interest in the team to a group led by entrepreneur Chris Hansen at an overall total franchise appraisal of $525 million, topping the NBA-record $450 million that Joe Lacob and Peter Guber ordered the Warriors for this season. Then Hansen increased his present to $550 million, which implies buying the 65 percent share for about $357 million. Hansen hoped to go the group to Seattle and rename it the SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City and renamed the Thunder in 2008. Instead, these plans have suddenly crumbled. The NBA Board of Governors is anticipated to follow the suggestion by the separation panel, coincidentally headed by Thunder owner Clay Bennett, already a figure in Seattle. The other owners on the committee are Miami's Micky Arison, Washington's Ted Leonsis, Utah's Greg Miller, Indiana's Herbert Simon, Minnesota's Glen Taylor and San Antonio's Peter Holt a' who's also the chairman of the panel. Even still, the Maloofs aren't bound to offer the team to the Sacramento group. Johnson said he was uncertain what the alternative is in the process or whether the NBA would a' or could a' take a part in streamlining the team's purchase. In a letter delivered to the move and finance committees last week, the Maloofs said they preferred to market to the Seattle group and expressed discontent with Sacramento's latest bid, saying it falls "significantly short." NBA Commissioner David Stern has said the presents have been in "the same ballpark." Stern said owners felt leaving Sacramento only did not seem sensible. He also reiterated his long-held position that expansion is impossible currently. "As strong as the Seattle quote was, and it was very strong, there is some advantage that should really be fond of a city that has recognized us for such a long time and has moved up to contribute as well," Stern said on NBA-TV to build a new building. Spokesmen for the Maloof family and Hansen declined to comment on the committee's recommendation. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn pledged that his city will continue steadily to fight for an NBA team. "I am pleased with how Sonics supporters have rallied together to simply help Seattle get a McGinn said in a statement. "We are going to remain dedicated to our job: making certain Seattle remains capable to obtain a group once the opportunity presents itself." The town rallied every time, while the chances frequently seemed piled against Sacramento. In before Johnson persuaded the NBA to supply the area one last opportunity to help finance an industry, 2011, the Maloofs made plans to move the Kings to Anaheim, Calif.. At one point, Johnson seemed so certain the team was gone he called the method a death" and compared the city's efforts to keep consitently the Kings to a "Hail Mary." Johnson delivered on his promise of a new industry strategy a which Stern served negotiate a' before last season. In a wonderful move, the Maloofs supported from the tentative offer for a downtown market, saying it didn't make financial sense. The city of Sacramento and the owners broke off talks, reigniting fears the team could move. Cities such as for instance Virginia Beach, Las Vegas and Kansas City surfaced as potential new houses. In January, the Maloofs grabbed Sacramento a' and to a certain degree, the NBA a' by surprise once they announced the deal with Hansen's class, including Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and people of the Nordstrom department store family. Light emitting diode by Johnson, Sacramento fought back to make the sale and separation of the Kings tough for the league to propose. He pressed a non-binding funding arrange for a $447 million downtown market through the Sacramento City Council a complete with a million public subsidy a' and set up an ownership group to attempt to compete with the strong Seattle contingent. The likely Sacramento title group also incorporates 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, former Facebook senior government Chris Kelly and the Jacobs family that owns communications large Qualcomm. Johnson has touted the party as a "California team" with people from throughout the country's most populated state. Jackson, a NBA All-Star point guard known most useful by his initials "KJ," also praised Seattle for its efforts and wrote that the Pacific Northwest area "no doubt deserves a team in the future." "Just perhaps not ours," he said. "I feel well for KJ when he is worked so hard," said interim Brooklyn Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo, who taught the Sonics inside their last period and caused Johnson at NBC. "If it decreases like that, there is no concern who deserves the credit because, after all, they could've rolled over a long time before. Kevin only really made this happen, which can be great." Dallas has become back once again to wondering when, and if, the NBA can ever return. Hansen's purchase contract with the Maloofs seemed an ideal answer for the distress that has lingered in the Puget Sound since the Sonics a and their 41 years of history a were moved to Oklahoma City. Hansen spent almost two years trying to get an arena program approved by the city and county governments and spent significantly more than $65 million buying land in Seattle's SoDo neighbor hood where in actuality the arena would be constructed. In the previous few months, since before the team was purchased by Bennett from Howard Schultz in 2006 fan interest and support seemed to be at its best. Today those same supporters are stuck waiting to see what the next move by Hansen and Ballmer will undoubtedly be, including mounting an endeavor for expansion or buying still another group. Hansen includes a five-year memorandum of understanding with the city and county on the industry program. Whether push for the NBA in Seattle will remain also is unclear. "I am disappointed, but undeterred in our quest to create NBA baseball back again to the Pacific Northwest," mentioned King County Executive Dow Constantine. "Today's choice does not mean this energy has ended. From what I found at the speech in Nyc, Chris Hansen and his team have made the superior present and the most effective natural business case for the NBA to return to Seattle. We have a documented lover and business base ready once the time comes to step forward. We are individual, but determined." Dumb AP Activities Writer Bob Unit in Dallas, AP Baseball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York and AP writer Don Thompson in Sacramento added for this report.

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Lee Ryder recaps Newcastle United v Liverpool - ChronicleLive

Log chief sports author Lee Ryder recaps Newcastle United's 6-0 house defeat to Liverpool Newcastle United were killed 6-0 by Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool at St James' Park in that which was their worst home beat since 1925. Your day went from bad to worse as goal after goal flew past Rob Elliot in the NUFC and was topped by the late termination of Mathieu Debuchy following a second booking. The result leaves NUFC five points away from the relegation zone, but next base Wigan Athletic might narrow that to two points should they win their game at hand. Log main sports author Lee Ryder was at the overall game against Liverpool and has given his thoughts on the end result and what this means for Newcastle United.

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Newcastle United 0 Liverpool 6 match report: Pardew admits his career reaches risk... - The Independent

His future have been admitted by alan Pardew at Newcastle United is now dangerous after the humbling 6-0 beat against Liverpool left the club fighting for his or her Premier League standing. Pardew signed an eight-year contract as manager in September 2012 but Newcastle's slide towards the relegation zone, formulated by Saturday's mauling at St James' Park, has left fans on Tyneside wondering his tenure. The former West Ham United manager's situation is now under threat, definitely in summer time, however when asked if he feared the sack, he said: "That is out of my fingers, is not it? My job is to make sure, until I'm told usually, to raise this team and get this team just like it can be for next week and that is what I will do. "I think that is probably the heaviest defeat I have had as a manager and there were a lot of things I did not like but I will ensure we set it right, and that started right after the game in that dressing room. That's the main element. "I have no problem having the flak, I realize that. That performance wasn't certainly one of my team's. My clubs are famous for being being and ordered on the front foot and you might not say that about my staff today. Responsibility will be taken by me for that." Alan Shearer explained on Match of the Day, when asked concerning the performance: "No spirit, no hunger, no desire: an awkward time for Newcastle." Pardew denied there is a issue with the French people the club closed in January. "I don't feel the language barrier is a problem," he said. "I think maybe experience and understanding of what is required in various game situations. Lots of those participants have never lost 3-0 in the home before, never brain six, and I think that showed today whenever we were 3-0 down. A number of our play was naAve and disorganised. I think there are a large amount of people who will look at us after today, particularly on the TELEVISION, and digest that game and think that we've a fantastic potential for being directed. We've to prove that wrong. "I really feel we've enough in that dressing area and enough quality in my own staff to get the things that we need. It is a difficult time today and we've had difficult days in the past but then I will be significantly disappointed." if a response wasn't got by me from the playing team from today Henry Ashley, the Newcastle operator, was not at the overall game but managing manager Derek Llambias was and he was caught on camera, stern-faced, through the capitulation. Pardew's Liverpool version, Brendan Rodgers, but, couldn't have thought for an improved ending to a hard week. He rightly recommended his side could have gained 9-0, six days after Luis Suarez caused controversy by biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, getting a 10-match ban. "I have learned, yet again, that I am at an incredible club," said Rodgers. "I have learnt that no matter how good a new player is, you can not do what Luis did, it is as that as simple. He is got his punishment, it has been all accepted by us and we proceed. As things are simply thrown at you, a manager. When you're doing all of your instruction programs and you are coming through as a instructor from 20 years old, this isn't the sort of situation you learn about in the guides. "But as a football club we remain together. We are as a team quite strong. Our fans today were amazing, they recognized the intense scrutiny that was on us, so ahead here and produce that kind of performance reveals the smoothness that's in this club. "It was an excellent display of what we're wanting to do here. Offensively, we passed the ball very well first and foremost and goals were scored six by us, nevertheless the balance inside our game was good also. "The organisation, qualified strain on the ball and if the chances came we were ruthless. It absolutely was a superb performance." Without Suarez it had been an easy task to praise the performance of his part. Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge were remarkable. When Rodgers was questioned if the 20-year-old Coutinho was going for stardom, he said: "That is for others to state. We build up participants in the united kingdom and put them on a pedestal and then rapidly nail them down. He is had a superb performance and why we brought him in people can easily see. He is two decades of age and suits the culture of what we are wanting to do here. He is technically strong and he's an extremely simple son. He works hard, you can view the effort in his sport, the force, the power, so he ties in effectively, but there is a considerable ways to go." Daniel Agger, Jordan Henderson (twice), Sturridge (twice) and Fabio Borini scored the goals that undoubtedly moved Liverpool on from their Suarez situation. "To come here and beat Newcastle 6-0 when you know the house team is actually needing the victory, I do believe it tells you more about our performance," Rodgers added. "The people were exceptional. It's been a week for the soccer team, but we recognized Luis had done wrong, he took his punishment and we proceed. We had to maneuver on with an excellent performance and couldn't have inked more."

Via: - English Premier League