Simona Halep Wins Madrid Open Title

Simona Halep beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-4 to win the Madrid Open.

The Romanian world number seven, 24, took both her break point opportunities in the first set while Slovakia’s Cibulkova missed all three of hers.

One break was enough in the second set as Halep sealed victory with her third ace after one hour and 20 minutes.

Cibulkova had won three of their four previous encounters but was unable to make an impression on the 24 year old, who has now won 12 WTA Tour titles.

Cibulkova, the world number 38, had spent over four hours longer on court than Halep in reaching the final.

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Simona Halep Wins Madrid Open Title

Doyle Wins Diamond League Opener

Great Britain’s Eilidh Doyle ran the fastest time in the world this year as she won the women’s 400m hurdles at the first Diamond League meeting of the season in Doha.

Doyle clocked 54.53 seconds to beat Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya into second.

Reigning Commonwealth champion Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica finished third.

Doyle, 29, is hoping to compete at her second Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer, having failed to make the final in London.

The European champion, formerly known as Eilidh Child, was competing under her married name for the first time.

In the women’s 800m, South Africa’s Caster Semenya was victorious in a time of 1 minute 58.26 seconds – the fastest in the world this year.

It was a first Diamond League victory since 2011 for Semenya, who was subjected to gender testing after winning gold at the 2009 World Championships.

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Doyle Wins Diamond League Opener

Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth Monte Carlo Masters Title

Rafael Nadal claimed a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title with victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nadal, who beat Andy Murray in the last four, won 7-5, 5-7, 6-0, his 68th win from 100 finals on the ATP World Tour.

A double fault from Monfils, 29, closed out the first set in Nadal’s favour and the Spaniard recovered from losing the second to see off the 13th seed in two hours 46 minutes.

The 29-year-old has now won clay-court titles in each of the past 13 years.

Nadal won eight consecutive titles before losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic and called his first Masters honour since Madrid two years ago “so special”.

“I had a tough season last year, but I’ve had better preparation this year – even with a tough start to the season,” added Nadal, who withdrew from last month’s Miami Open with a virus.

“It’s great to win a Masters title again. I hope this week will help me a lot.”

It is a record-equaling 28th Masters title for Nadal, bringing him alongside top-ranked Djokovic, but a third Masters final defeat for Monfils.

They conceded 34 break points between them with Nadal converting eight of his 21 chances to edge his opponent, who managed five from 13.

Monfils, a runner-up in the Rotterdam Open in February, earned the backing of the Monte Carlo Country Club crowd as he tested Nadal throughout.

But having earlier saved set point, the pressure told on the Frenchman and he double-faulted to hand fifth seed Nadal a close-fought opening set.

The pair traded five breaks of serve in a grueling second, but it was Monfils who edged the former world number one to level.

Nadal then took control of the decider and raced into a 5-0 lead before landing a forehand winner at match point to win for the ninth time in Monte Carlo as he builds to next month’s French Open, which he will be seeking to win for a 10th time.

Credit: BBC

Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth Monte Carlo Masters Title

Golden State Warriors Close In On NBA Wins Record

The Golden State Warriors became only the second NBA team to win 70 games in a regular season when the reigning champions beat the San Antonio Spurs.

Steph Curry scored 27 points in a 112-101 win as the Warriors hit back from their second loss in three home games.

The victory secured them home-court advantage throughout the play-offs.

The California-based team can break the Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins – set in the 1995-96 campaign – by winning their remaining three games.

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Golden State Warriors Close In On NBA Wins Record

Victoria Azarenka Wins Miami Open Title

Victoria Azarenka secured back-to-back WTA titles with a straight-set victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Miami Open final.

The Belarusian won 6-3, 6-2 in 77 minutes to add a third Miami title to her victories in 2009 and 2011.

The 26-year-old, who won in Indian Wells two week ago, will return to the world’s top five in the latest women’s rankings.

Russian Kuznetsova, 30, was bidding for her second title of the year after her victory in Sydney in January.

Azarenka becomes just the third woman to achieve the Indian Wells-Miami double after Steffi Graf (1994, 1996) and Kim Clijsters (2005).

“I’ve been reminded of this since the quarter-finals on social media – ‘She’s going for the Sunshine Double,"” Azarenka said.

“I’ve done really well not to get distracted by the future and concentrate on the present.”

Form returns with fitness for Azarenka

Azarenka, a former world number one and twice winner of the Australian Open, has rediscovered her best form this season after failing to win a WTA title as injuries hampered her in 2014 and 2015.

She began the year with victory in Brisbane in January and last month overcame Serena Williams to win at Indian Wells.

“Being fit and being prepared helps a lot,” she said. “I definitely have a different approach and perspective from a couple of years ago.

“I worked a lot on myself outside the court to understand how to be present and make better priorities. That helps me to be in a relaxed way. I know I’m prepared and I don’t focus on the result.”

Keen to prove people wrong on clay

With just one defeat this year heading to the clay-court season, Azarenka, who has now won 20 career WTA titles, is hopeful that she can keep up her form on what is perceived to be her weakest surface.

“I’m definitely very motivated for the clay season,” she said. “I’ve always been a favourite of proving people wrong. That’s what motivates me a lot.

“When people say it’s not my favourite surface, I’m going to work really hard to make sure it’s my favourite surface.”

And with world number one Williams yet to win a title in 2016, the Belarusian does not rule out challenging her at the top of the rankings later in the year.

“We’ll see what happens,” said added. “Serena is one of the players who makes me push myself to the limit.

“She’s the toughest competitor there is and for me it’s a great challenge to have her, because it will always push me to improve.”

Credit: BBC

Victoria Azarenka Wins Miami Open Title