Nadal beats Djokovic, to face Raonic in Montreal final

World no.4 Spaniard Rafael Nadal crushed any hopes of world no.1 Novak Djokovic of advancing to the Montreal final when he beat him 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) in a tense semi final match. Nadal built a 6-0 lead in the deciding tie-break and went on to wrap up victory in two hours and 20 minutes.

Nadal now sets up a title decider against local favourite Milos Raonic.

The victory was Nadal's second successive over Djokovic at this stage of a tournament following his epic five-set triumph on clay at the French Open in June.

"It was a very close match," Djokovic told reporters. "There were very few points that decided the winner.

"To beat Novak on any surface is very important," Nadal said in a court side interview. "His level is always high and you have to play well ... almost perfect to beat him."

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West Indies Take Revenge of First ODI Humiiliation: Beat Pakistan in 2nd ODI by 37 Runs

DM Bravo (left) and Jamshed (right): Top scorers of the match

The humiliation at the hands of visiting Pakistan cricket team in the first ODI  at Providence Stadium, Guyana was enough for the hosts West Indians, as the rebounded and beat Pakistan in the second ODI by 37 runs at the same venue yesterday.

In fact Pakistan did the same mistake of winning the toss and electing to field as did the West Indians in the first ODI and this cost them dearly.

But this time, more than batsmen, it was the sloppy Pakistani bowlers who gave away 38 ( 21 wides ) extra runs to the West Indians to have an upper edge over them.

Pakistani's bowlers this time failed to curtail the hosts and let them score 232 for eight in 50 overs. Gayle however was dismantled for one by Irfan - but then others stood to ground and added handsomely - Charles (31), DM Braveo (54), LMP Brave (43).  Saeed Ajmal took 2/45 and Afridi2/19.

Coming to bat, Pakistan did start comfortably but the top order batsmen except for Jamshed (54) and Akmal (50) failed to leave a mark. Afridi who roared in the first ODI both as batsman and bowler was home for five. And the entire team was back to pavilion for 195. Narine was the most successful bowler for his 4/29, who sent back Hafeez, Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Riaz.

SP Narine (West Indies) was declared player of the match for his superb 4/29.

The 3rd ODI between West Indies v Pakistan will be played on 19th July at Gros Islet.  

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Marion Bartoli beats Sabine Lisicki to win her first Wimbledon title

So finally the last but one even of the singles even of Wimbledon finally ends Saturday evening today when France's Marion Bartoli won her first Grand Slam title with a dominant 6-1 6-4 victory over Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon final.

After beating Serena Williams, all eyes were set on Sabine Lisicki for the title but the French Bartoli came forward and simply outclassed her opponent in an almost one sided final, winning her first Grand Slam title.

Bartoli, 28, won the first set in 30 minutes as Lisicki failed to cope in her first Grand Slam final.

Now it is men's singles final between world no.1 Novak Djokovic and world no.2 Britain's Andy Murray tomorrow at the Centre Court - would Murray be able to bring an end to 77 years' long Wimbledon drought for his country?

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Nadal beats Wawrinka to Sail into French Open Semis

Defending champion and seven time Roland Garros titlist Rafael Nadal sailed into the French Open semis by beating Wawrinka in straight three sets.

Nadal beat 10th ranked quarter-final first-timer Stanislas Wawrinka from Switzerland at Court Philippe Chatrier  6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in the match that ended minutes from now.

Now all eyes are set on the match between Djokovic and Haas - the outcome of which will decide who plays Nadal in the semis.

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Maria Sharapova escapes first set stunner to reach the semis

Defending champion and world no. 2 Maria Sharapova from Russia would never have dreamed of such humiliation when her opponent 18th ranked Serbian Jelena Jankovic took all six games of the first set 6-0.

The quarterfinal match of Roland Garros on Court Philippe Chatrier  must have stunned Sharapova. However, she managed to take control of the game and won over Jankovic 0-6, 6-4, 6-3.

She now meets Victoria Azarenka in the semifinal. Former world no.1 Azarenka beat Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 in the quarters.

It may be added that world no.1 American Serena Williams has already qualified for the semis.

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Djokovic wins his Maiden Monte Carlo Title

Photo: Lionel Cironneau, AP

This is the news of the day: world no.1 Serbian Novak Djokovic wins his maiden Monte Carlo Masters Tennis title today at Monte Carlo.

The Serbian beat the much aspiring defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-2 and &(7)-6(1) and crashed any hopes the Spaniard had to win the Monte Carlo title for the record 9th consecutive times.

It may be added that Nadal won his 46 previous matches at Monte Carlo — beating Djokovic in last year's final — and his last defeat here was against Guillermo Coria 10 years ago. However, he won his first Monte Carlo title in 2005 and has since been the unbeaten champion for eight consecutive times - a world record in itself.

Djokovic faced Nadal for the 16th time in a championship decider, and they are now 8-8 in finals. Nadal had won the previous three, including the French Open final last year.

Nadal has reached five consecutive finals since returning from a knee injury in February — winning three, and losing two — while Australian Open champion Djokovic won his third title of the year and 37th overall.

(via USA Today) 
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Azarenka breaks Stephen's Spell - Moves to Australian Open Final to Defend Title against Li

The spell created by Sloane Stephens by knocking out the aging and injured Serena Williams in the quarter final was finally broken by Azarenka in the semi final of the women's singles today at the Rod Laver Arena.

Azarenka breaks Stephen's spell and moves to final of Australian Open to defend title against Li [Photo: AFP]

World no.1 and the defending champion from Belarus Victoria Azarenka found no difficulty to oust the 29th ranked American Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-4 to march into the finals to meet 6th ranked Chinese La Ni on Saturday.

However, the scare created by Azarenka and her being absent from the court for almost 10 minutes to have medical treatment, claimed to be neck injury, after Stephens had saved five match points, have raised many an eyebrow.

La Ni earlier today morning beat world no.2 and French Open champion Maria Sharapova from Russia in simple straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

It may be added that Sloane Stephens from America, had earlier made headlines by beating the world no.3 and five times Wimbledon champion, US Open and Istanbul champion Serena Williams, who was struggling with her injuries while playing with Stephens.

So the scare created by Stephens is over and now it is Azarenka and Li who will be facing each other in the final of the women's singles final on Saturday.

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Sharapova beats world no.1 Azarenka to face Williams in WTA Istanbul Final Sunday 28 October

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So world no.1 Victoria Azarenka finally succumb to world no.2 Maria Sharapova in the semi final of WTA Istanbul 4-6, 2-6 Saturday today.

World no.1 Azarenka and world no.4 Radwanska ousted form Istanbul

Although Azarenka secured her no.1 ranking by beating Chinese Na Li Friday  she failed to beat Sharapova despite having had an upper edge of 7-4 over the Russian in their eleven previous encounters. Azarenka had recently beat Sharapova in the Beijing final 6-3, 6-1, a score that speaks how easily Azarenka overpowered Sharapova.

But today, it was different - rather reverse and revenge match by Sharapova who simply outclassed the world no.1 in starlight and easily won sets. Perhaps this loss saved Azarenka of being mauled by Serena in the finals as she did in the US Open recently.

In the other semifinal, US and Wimbledon champion and London Olympics Gold medalist American Serena Williams beat Radwanska 6-2, 6-1.

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Serena Williams plays the WTA Istanbul final against Maria Sharapova Sunday 28 October

Serena now meets Sharapova in the finals Sunday - let us see who lifts the Istanbul trophy for 2012.

The links for the live free streaming will be provided Sunday morning in our nest post. Keep updated with Movin' Sports.