Djokovic, Murray, Nadal Through, Federer Out Of Italian Open

Andy Murray defeated Jeremy Chardy to reach the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.

The world number three raced through the first set – but had to come from a break down in the second before sealing a 6-0 6-4 victory over a Frenchman.

Britain’s Murray, 28, will meet David Goffin, who thrashed Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-0, for a place in the last four.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both won, but Roger Federer was beaten by world number 15 Dominic Thiem.

Murray, the number two seed, has had his path to the final cleared after Stan Wawrinka – the number four seed and in the same half of the draw as the Scot – was beaten in three sets by Juan Monaco.

The victory over the world number 32 Chardy continues his build-up to the French Open, which begins on 22 May, and follows a run to the semi-finals in Madrid last week.

Asked about Goffin’s one-sided win over Berdych, Murray told BBC Sport: “The scoreline was the big surprise.

“Goffin’s a top quality player so it was a match that could go either way, but a very surprising scoreline – you don’t see results like that much nowadays, at this top level anyway.”

Murray is now guaranteed to return to number two in the rankings next week, following Federer’s defeat.

“It’s not incredibly important but it’s positive,” he said. “Being seeded two is a little bit better than being seeded three or four in the major events, it can help the draw a little bit for sure. It’s a positive thing.”

On court for an hour and 17 minutes, Murray won 87% of points when he landed his first serve and only gave Chardy a sniff when mistakes in the second set followed a virtually error-free first.

But from 3-4 down, three consecutive games, including two breaks, confirmed a passage to the semi-finals.

Federer, who has struggled with a back injury, lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 to Austrian Thiem, who moves on to face Kei Nishikori.

The 34-year-old Swiss, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, made 34 unforced errors and said he fears for his chances at Roland Garros.

“I see my chances as not great to have the most unbelievable run,” said Federer.

“But if maybe in three, four days I can practise 100% for next week, then I believe that something is possible again.”

Djokovic bounces back from bagel

World number one Djokovic, who will reach $100m (£69m) in career prize money if he defends his title at the Foro Italico, battled past world number 37 Tomaz Belluci in three sets in strange circumstances.

The Serb was ‘bagelled’ for only the ninth time in his career, winning only eight points in the first set.

He then offered animated celebrations when he scraped a hold of serve in the first game of the second.

From there, though, he moved to a 0-6 6-3 6-2 victory and a quarter-final meeting with Nadal, who defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios in three sets.

BBC

Djokovic, Murray, Nadal Through, Federer Out Of Italian Open

Alvarez Knocks Out Khan To Retain Title

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez knocked out Britain’s Amir Khan in the sixth round in Las Vegas to retain his WBC middleweight title.

Until the brutal ending, Khan had used his superior speed and movement to frustrate the champion and appeared to be well ahead on points.

However, when Khan lost concentration for a split second the champion knocked him cold with a huge right hand.

Afterwards, Alvarez said he wanted a unification bout with Gennady Golovkin.

Khan, 29, jumped two weight divisions to challenge Alvarez and was bidding to become only the third former light-welterweight world champion to win a middleweight world title.

The match was made at a catchweight of 155lb, five pounds under the normal middleweight limit. However, Alvarez came into the ring at approximately 175lb and was noticeably bigger than his opponent.

The fight was the first at the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena, which was vociferously pro-Alvarez on the Mexican festival of Cinco de Mayo.

But the booing and jeering that rained down upon Khan did nothing to cloud his focus.

Khan probably edged a cagey first round courtesy of a couple of flurries and one well-aimed right cross, although Alvarez did land with a flashing left hook.

Khan repeatedly made the champion look clumsy in round two, landing with rapier-like combinations before darting out of range. And when Alvarez landed with a juddering left hook, Khan stood up to it and returned fire.

It was more of the same in the third, with Alvarez, 25, stalking his prey and finding himself confounded by Khan’s blinding hand-speed and volume of punches.

At this stage Khan’s prediction that speed and movement would trump power looked like it might come true, while he was certainly confounding those critics who said a year of inactivity would blunt his edge.

Khan unleashed more flashy combinations in the fourth and while none of his punches appeared to be hurting Alvarez, the Englishman appeared to be well ahead on points a third of the way through the contest.

There were signs in the fifth Alvarez was beginning to find his range and at the start of the sixth he connected with a hurtful left-right combination.

And when Khan left his left hand dangling soon after, Alvarez exploded an overhand right on his chin, rendering him unconscious before he hit the canvas. Khan was counted out with 23 seconds remaining in the round.

No regrets from Khan

Khan took a while to come round but finally clambered to his feet minutes later.

“I wanted to go out there as a champion, but unfortunately I didn’t make it to the end,” he said. “This challenge came and it was hard to turn down.”

Alvarez improved to 47 wins (33 knockouts), one draw and a sole defeat – by the great American Floyd Mayweather in 2013. Khan now has four defeats from 35 fights, including three by way of knockout.

What next?

Boxing has been searching for new superstars since last year’s much-hyped but ultimately disappointing clash between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, since when both men have announced their retirements.

And Alvarez-Khan was widely viewed as an opportunity for one or both of them to become the new face of the sport.

Alvarez having prevailed, there will be a huge clamour for him to fight WBA and IBF title-holder Golovkin, who was invited into the ring after Saturday’s fight.

The unbeaten Golovkin, 34, has 32 knockouts from 35 fights but would most likely have to come down in weight to make a fight against Alvarez happen.

Whether that fight can be made this year or not, Alvarez has already proved himself a worthy successor to Mexican greats such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

As for Khan, he should be applauded for his willingness to take a risk and still has options, the most obvious being a fight against fellow Briton Kell Brook.

The cross-Pennine rivals have been circling each other for years, with Khan always claiming Brook does not belong in his company, despite being the IBF welterweight champion.

But given the devastating nature of his latest defeat, that is probably not a claim he can continue to make with any credibility.

‘One of the knockouts of the year’

“Amir was boxing beautiful; it was a very cerebral fight from him.

“Canelo knew he was getting scored on and it was a beautiful performance up until that point. It was a shame that punch came.

“It was one of the knockouts of the year. A sensational one-punch knockout.

“You almost feel bad for Amir though as he was making you wonder how Canelo was going to break him down.”

BBC

Alvarez Knocks Out Khan To Retain Title

Verratti Ruled Out Of EURO 2016

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti will undergo surgery on a groin injury that will rule him out of Euro 2016, Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed.

The 23-year-old returned from two months on the sidelines in the French League Cup final a fortnight ago, but has struggled to fully shake off the problem he first sustained in February.

And the Ligue 1 champions have now revealed that Verratti will play no part in this summer’s European Championship.

A PSG statement reads: “In agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, Marco Verratti has decided to undergo surgery to heal the groin problem that has he has been suffering from for several weeks.

“The operation will take place in Doha on May 16 at the Aspetar Centre – the club’s official medical partner. The midfielder, who recently extended his contract with the capital club until 2020, is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.

“As a result, Marco Verratti will play no part in Paris Saint-Germain’s final matches of the season, or Euro 2016, to be held in France between June 10 and July 10. Paris Saint-Germain wishes the player a speedy recovery and hopes he will soon be fully fit and back to his best for both club and country.”

Italy’s opening game at the Euros is against Belgium on June 13, with the Azzurri also set to take on Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.

Goal

Verratti Ruled Out Of EURO 2016

Brazil Name Copa America Squad, Kaka And Oscar Out

Santos starlet Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa and Liverpool’s Coutinho were among those named in Brazil coach Dunga’s final 23-man squad for June’s Copa America Centenario.

Orlando City’s Kaka, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, PSG’s Lucas Moura and Cheslea’s Oscar were were among 17 players to be cut from the preliminary 40-man squad announced last week.

The others were Marcelo Grohe, Fagner, Alex Sandro, Jemerson, Gabriel Paulista, Wallace, Fernandinho, Ganso, Felipe Anderson, Luan, Jonas, Alex Teixeira and Gabriel Jesus.

Captain Neymar will be absent after an agreement was reached with Barcelona that will see the forward play the Rio Olympic games instead.

Inter defender Miranda and Chelsea midfielder Willian, Dunga’s first choices for his remaining two overage slots at the games, were named in the final 23 which appears to have ruled them out of the Olympics.

Real Madrid’s Casemiro returns to the squad following an impressive season with Spanish giants, as does Barcelona’s Rafinha who had been missing since suffering a serious knee injury in September.

Elias of Corinthians, Dunga’s most-capped midfielder after Willian, also returns after overcoming injury problems.

Any late replacements to the squad must be selected from the remaining 17 from Dunga’s preliminary squad.

Brazil have been drawn in Group B of the centenary version of the competition, set to be played in USA, alongside Ecuador, Haiti and Peru.

The Copa America Centenario has been organized to celebrate 100-years of the South American football championships. It will be played outside of the continent for the first time and feature six teams from North American Confederation CONCACAF

Brazil’s Copa America Centenario squad

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Internacional), Diego Alves (Valencia), Ederson (Benfica)

Defenders: Miranda (Inter), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fabinho (Monaco), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro)

Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Coutinho (Liverpool), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Rafinha (Barcelona)

Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Hulk (Zenit), Gabigol (Santos), Ricardo Oliveira (Santos)

Goal

Brazil Name Copa America Squad, Kaka And Oscar Out

David Luiz and Thiago Silva Out Of Brazil Copa América Squad

Brazil Coach Dunga has announced a preliminary squad for the Copa América with the Paris Saint-Germain duo of David Luiz and Thiago Silva being left out.

The good performances of Paulo Henrique Ganso in recent games for São Paulo seems to have convinced Dunga to include him.

In the preliminary list of 40 players released for the Copa América Centenário, the coach included the number 10 of São Paulo, who’s been absent from the national team since 2012.

Other new names on the list by Dunga are Fágner [Corinthians], Rodrigo Caio [São Paulo], Casemiro [Real Madrid] and Walace [Grêmio].

The squad also includes Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus and Grêmio attacker Luan. As expected, Neymar was left out, as Barcelona would only release the player for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The final list of 23 players for the tournament will be released on Thursday.

Goalkeepers: Álisson (Inter), Diego Alves (Valencia), Marcelo Gröhe (Grêmio) and Éderson (Benfica).

Full-backs: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Fagner (Corinthians), Fabinho (Monaco), Luis Filipe (Atletico Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus) and Douglas Santos (Atlético-MG).

Defenders: Miranda (Inter Milan), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (PSG), Jemerson (Monaco) and Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal).

Defensive-midfielders: Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Walace (Grêmio), Elias (Corinthians) and Fernandinho (Machester City).

Attacking-midfielders: Ganso (São Paulo), Rafinha (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Kaká (Orlando City), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Oscar (Chelsea), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea) and Felipe Anderson (Lazio).

Forwards: Lucas (PSG), Douglas Costa (Bayern), Luan (Grêmio), Hulk (Zenit), Firmino (Liverpool), Jonas (Benfica), Alex Teixeira (Jiangsu Suning) Gabigol (Santos), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras) and Ricardo Oliveira (Santos).

David Luiz and Thiago Silva Out Of Brazil Copa América Squad

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Madrid Open because of flu organizers have said.

Agnieszka Radwanska takes over as top seed for the tournament, which starts on Saturday, while Williams is now due to start her clay-court season in Rome.

The 34-year-old world number one has only played four tournaments since August, failing to win any of them.

She lost in the US Open semi-finals in September, before defeats this year in the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals and a round-four loss in Miami.

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Mahrez Rules Out PSG Move

Riyad Mahrez has ruled out a summer transfer to home-town club and Ligue 1 champions PSG because he loves playing in the Premier League.

Mahrez has been one of the stand out players this season in the Premier League – he was announced PFA Player of the Year on Sunday evening after amassing 17 goals and 11 assists this season.

The 25-year-old has been linked with various clubs over the season and is sure to be a top transfer target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the summer transfer window.

“Even today I am not too excited about the prospect of PSG. It is my town, but I do not see myself going back,” Mahrez said.

“I don’t really want to go back to France. France does not really excite me, I love England.”

Leicester took a step closer to the Premier League title last night as Tottenham dropped two points against West Brom in their 1-1 draw.

Mahrez has been crucial to Leicester’s fairytale season but the Algerian international has credited the fighters among the squad for their title push.

“We are fighters. And when I say to you ‘fighters’, I have never seen anything like this in my life. The guys are hungry like crazy and they let nothing go,” Mahrez told French magazine Onze Mondial.

“You blast a shot straight into a guy’s face and he doesn’t even flinch.”

Leicester only need three points from their final three games to win the Premier League title and could win it this Sunday when they travel to Old Trafford to play fifth place Manchester United.

Sky Sports

Mahrez Rules Out PSG Move

Defending Champions Out Of CAF Champions League

Holders TP Mazembe have been knocked out of the 2016 African Champions League after a 3-1 aggregate loss to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

The Moroccans drew the return encounter 1-1 in Lubumbashi on Wednesday after winning the first leg 2-0 in front of their home fans.

Mazembe will now drop down to the Confederation Cup play-offs for a place in the group phase of the competition in an attempt to win continental silverware this year.

Eight-times record African champions Al Ahly of Egypt also progressed at the expense of Tanzania’s Young Africans.

The Egyptians’ powerhouse won their return encounter 2-1 in Cairo to advance on a 3-2 aggregate after drawing 1-1 in Dar es Salaam in the first leg.

Elsewhere in the competition, ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast also made it through on a 3-2 aggregate despite losing their second leg to Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli 2-1 on Wednesday.

AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo went through on the away goals rule after losing the second leg against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Pretoria.

The draw for the group stage will be held on 24 May in Cairo, Egypt.

Defending Champions Out Of CAF Champions League

Hearts Defender Ruled Out For 10 Weeks

Accra Hearts of Oak defender Isaac Oduro has been ruled out for 10 weeks after picking up a leg injury in the club’s MTN FA Cup match with Samartex FC last Saturday.

The defender sustained a fracture of the leg injury in the fourth minute of the club’s 2-4 penalty loss defeat to the Division One outfit in their round of 32 tie.

Oduro was playing his second game of the season after he had recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of most of their pre-season campaign.

Club physiotherapist Okyere Baffour Agyei has confirmed that the player had an injury in the early stages of the game and was quickly rushed him to the Samreboi Hospital for observation.

He said he took an X-ray and it was realized that there was a fracture to the fibula – the distal one-third – so they gave him medication and took him to the theatre to put his leg in a cast.

The player has returned to Accra and will see an orthopedic specialist who will give further details on the length of the injury.

However, Baffour Agyei said, “We know for a normal bone fracture injury, it takes six weeks to come out of the cast and also depending on how the healing goes, the rehabilitation too will take a number of weeks; so normally, and at best, by the 10^th week, if everything goes according to plan, he should return to training – so that is what we are looking at, at the moment.”

 

Hearts Defender Ruled Out For 10 Weeks

Kompany Out Of Man City-PSG Tie

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will not return from injury for his side’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris St-Germain at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “He is not 100%. It is not possible.”

Defender Kompany, 30, has not played since suffering a calf injury as City drew 0-0 draw against Dynamo Kiev in March to reach the last eight.

City and French champions PSG drew 2-2 in the first leg in Paris.

Kompany has been plagued by calf injuries in recent seasons, with the latest the 14th such problem he has sustained since joining City in 2008.

The Belgium international was present at City’s open training session on Monday morning before being ruled out by Pellegrini at his lunch-time press conference.

David Silva trained after missing Saturday’s 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion with an ankle injury with only Raheem Sterling joining Kompany on the injured list.

Defender Nicolas Otamendi did not train with the squad on Monday after suffering an ankle injury at the weekend but will be available as City look to qualify for the semi-finals.

Credit: BBC

Kompany Out Of Man City-PSG Tie

Raheem Sterling Out For Six To Eight Weeks

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling will miss about six to eight weeks with a groin injury, meaning he might not play again this season.

Sterling, 21, picked up the problem in City’s 1-0 Premier League defeat against Manchester United on Sunday.

Eight weeks would see him return after the final day of the Premier League – 15 May – but before the Champions League final on 28 May.

England will monitor the player’s situation in the lead up to Euro 2016.

The Three Lions squad for the tournament will be announced on 12 May and manager Roy Hodgson has until the end of that month to submit his final 23-man list.

City keeper Joe Hart should only be sidelined for about two weeks after picking up a calf injury in the United match.

Credit: BBC

Raheem Sterling Out For Six To Eight Weeks

MTN FA Cup: Cape Coast FC Protest Thrown Out

The Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) headed by lawyer Prosper Harisson Addo has dismissed the protest filed by Cape Coast Metro Youth Football Club (FC)  against Great Astronomers in their MTN FA Cup game.

Cape Coast Metro Youth Football Club (the Petitioner) on March 15, 2016 filed a protest against Great Astronomers Football Club (the Respondent) for using six (6) unqualified players who they claim did not have their players’ licenses for inspection at the match in contravention of Articles, 16(1), 16(5)(b), 26(4) and 34(1)(e) of the General Regulations of the GFA.

The Committee stated the basis for throwing out the case as; Metro Youth failing to file the protest within two (2) days after the said match as stipulated by Article 30(b) of the FA Cup Regulationsth and that the protest of Cape Coast Metro Youth FC was filed out of time.

It ruled that the match result of 2-0 in favour of Great Astronomers FC shall stand and that there shall be no order as to cost.

The DC further ruled that should any party be dissatisfied with or aggrieved by this Decision, the party has within two (2) days of being notified of this Ruling to appeal to the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association.

MTN FA Cup: Cape Coast FC Protest Thrown Out

Exclusive: Alhaji Raji Pulls Out Of GHALCA Chairmanship Race

Sportscrusader.com can exclusively reveal that Incumbent chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Alhaji Ali Braimah Raji will not be seeking re-election in next month’s polls.

He had picked his nomination form hoping to be re-elected to the position, promising to build a new Association.

However, reliable news coming from his camp has revealed to this portal that he will not return those forms as he considers other options withing the game, but, out side the GHALCA.

The GHALCA Chairmanship position is the sought after in these upcoming polls with the position held in high esteem in the corridors of Ghana football.

Alhaji Raji it is believed, has had enough at the organ that represents football clubs in Ghana and is said to be bowing out when the cheers at loudest.

He will official come out with a statement on why he is pulling out of the race soon.

The contest for his seat is been fought for by Nana Oduro Sarfo, Cudjoe Fianoo, Kofi Poku and Isaac Wilberforce Koomson who have all picked forms.

GHALCA, the mother body of all league clubs in the country will go to the polls on Thursday 21 April to elect new executives for the Association.

Exclusive: Alhaji Raji Pulls Out Of GHALCA Chairmanship Race

Primeval rounds up 2015 Accra Works Out

The Primeval Media powered Accra Works Out was held for the last time in 2015 early Saturday morning.

The work out was held on the Multi-Purpose Court of the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, January 26, 2015 from 7am to 9am, was again well patronised by people from the corporate world as it was as always free and open to all who wished to shake off the body and get in shape for the new year.

Participants were treated to good music as they were led through various training regimes by experienced instructors.

Primeval rounds up 2015 Accra Works Out