Djokovic downs Murray to win third Miami Masters
World number one Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) on Sunday to win his second straight ATP Miami Masters title and third overall.Djokovic, who won here for the first time in 2007, became just the third man to win the title three or more times, along with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.
Agassi won six Miami titles and Sampras three.
For his third straight match, Djokovic cruised through the first set before finding himself in a tense tussle in the second.
However, even though the second set went with serve until the tie-breaker, it was Murray who was under pressure most, fighting off break points in three of his service games.
"I thought I played a great match from start to end," Djokovic said. "There was a couple of service games I had a chance to break him in the second set. He's such a quality player, you never know."
Murray had beaten Australian Open champion Djokovic in the semi-finals at Dubai in February, and Djokovic was upset by American John Isner in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters last week.
Djokovic said that made this win, which made him the first man since Roger Federer in 2006 to successfully defend the Miami crown, all the sweeter.
"I had a great tournament after that tough loss in the semi-finals at Indian Wells," he said.
Murray, who beat Djokovic in the 2009 Miami final, was playing his first match since Wednesday, when he downed Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals.
He advanced to the title match on a walkover when world number two Rafael Nadal withdrew before their semi-final with a left knee injury.
Oddly, that was Murray's second walkover of the tournament, after Canadian Milos Raonic pulled out of their scheduled third-round clash with an ankle injury
Messi fires Barca past Milan into semifinals
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates scoring during the second half of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg football match against AC Milan at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcoumore photos » Lionel Messi scored twice from the penalty spot to help put holders Barcelona into the Champions League semifinals after a thrilling 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.
The World Player of the Year put Barca ahead with his first penalty after only 11 minutes, setting the competition scoring record for a season with his 13th goal of the campaign.
Antonio Nocerino pulled one back for Milan, who had held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in last week's first leg, but Messi restored the lead again from the spot just before the end of a breathless first half.
The majestic Argentine helped set up the third goal for Andres Iniesta after the restart and Barca closed the game down from then on to become only the second team to reach five consecutive Champions League semifinals.
Ronaldo double helps Real thrash APOEL
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates his goal against APOEL Nicosia with teammate Kaka during a second leg Champions League quarterfinal soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid. AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olzamore photos » Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid enjoyed one of their most comfortable passages into the Champions League semifinals with a 5-2 victory over APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday, progressing 8-2 on aggregate.
Ronaldo and Kaka, two of the world's most expensive players, scored before the break, the second from the Brazilian a wonderful curling effort from outside the area.
Gustavo Manduca had the noisy travelling support in full song after he broke away to pull one back for APOEL in the 67th minute, but Ronaldo with a freekick and Jose Callejon quickly restored order at the Bernabeu. Photos
Esteban Solari netted a penalty for the visitors but Angel Di Maria immediately lobbed a fifth for Real who eased into a semi-final meeting with Bayern Munich.
Messi’s 13th goal sets Champions League scoring record
FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after scoring against AC Milan during the 2nd leg, quarterfinal Champions League soccer match at the Camp Nou, in Barcelona, Spain. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez Barcelona's Lionel Messi scored his 13th Champions League goal of the campaign to set a competition season scoring record when he netted an 11th-minute penalty against AC Milan in their quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday.
The three-times World Player of the Year passed the previous best of 12 goals established by himself last season and Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy with Manchester United in 2003, to notch his 50th goal in the competition.
Messi reaches 50-goal landmark
Lionel Messi scored the 50th Champions League goal of his career on Tuesday in his side's quarterfinal second-leg clash with AC Milan.
The Argentinian became, at the age of 24, the youngest player to reach the landmark when he converted a penalty in the 11th minute of the game to put Barca 1-0 ahead on aggregate.
Nervy Chelsea sink Benfica to set up Barca clash
Chelsea's Frank Lampard (C) scores a penalty against Benfica during their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal football match at Stamford Bridge, West London in England. AFP Photo/Ian Kington Chelsea survived a nervous finale against 10-man Benfica to earn a 2-1 win in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg and set up a last-four showdown with holders Barcelona.
Roberto Di Matteo's side were firm favourites to reach the semifinals after a 1-0 first-leg win in Lisbon, but they were made to sweat before clinching a 3-1 aggregate success at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Frank Lampard's first half penalty and a red card for Benfica captain Maxi Pereira just before the break should have put Chelsea firmly in control.
But this was a far from convincing performance from the Blues and Javi Garcia's late header made for a few anxious moments before Raul Meireles sealed the victory in stoppage time. Photos
Chelsea can now look further to another grudge match with old rivals Barca, who claimed a controversial victory over the Blues at the semi-final stage of Europe's elite club competition in 2009.
That was the most recent in a long line of explosive encounters between the two clubs and Chelsea's sixth semi-final appearance in the last nine years looks certain to reignite the feud.
However, Di Matteo's men will need to improve on some wasteful finishing and careless defending here if they are to stun Barca and book a place in the final in Munich.
Salomon Kalou's late winner last week had put Chelsea in charge and they received a further boost as injuries to Benfica's first-choice centre-halves Jardel and Luisao forced boss Jorge Jesus to deploy midfielder Garcia as a makeshift defender.
Yet Di Matteo had warned Chelsea to guard against complacency as the Portuguese team had scored in all of their European away matches this season.
And that looked sound advice as Benfica, showing more urgency than in the entire first-leg, poured forward in the opening minutes and forced blocks from Lampard and John Terry on the edge of the penalty area.
Chelsea had the ball in the net when Juan Mata fired low past Artur, but the Spaniard's strike was correctly ruled out for offside.
Benfica had been warned but their under-strength defence was creaking and Ashley Cole took full advantage in the 21st minute.
Cole made a perfectly timed run into the penalty area and, although his first touch was a little heavy, the left-back's surge panicked Garcia into a crude block that sent the Chelsea left-back crashing to the turf.
Referee Damir Skomina pointed to the spot and Lampard, making his 550th Chelsea appearance, stepped up to drill the penalty under Artur's dive.
Benfica went close to drawing level on the night when Terry scrambled Oscar Cardozo's goalbound shot off the line after a well-worked free-kick.
But Benfica's hopes of a miraculous comeback suffered a hammer blow when Pereira, already booked for dissent following the penalty, earned a second yellow card for a studs-up lunge on John Obi Mikel in the 40th minute.
Benfica needed an early goal in the second half to have any chance and they almost got it when Cardozo's curling effort brought a brilliant stop from Cech.
Di Matteo's team should have been further ahead when Ramires, producing an unwanted candidate for miss of the season, somehow failed to convert Kalou's cross-shot from barely two yards out.
Torres and Mata had chances to kill off Benfica but couldn't finish, yet there was a moment of concern for the hosts as skipper Terry was forced off.
Terry's departure unhinged Chelsea's defence and substitute Yannick Djalo twice went close with a shot and then a header.
When Kalou was denied by Artur it seemed of little consequence, but Garcia set up a tense finale when he rose unmarked to glance a close-range header past Cech from an 85th minute corner.
Chelsea's nerves were showing now, but substitute Meireles finally ended Benfica's spirited show when he broke away and lashed past Artur.
El Niño storm brewing?
A revitalised Fernando Torres is expected to lead Chelsea's attack on Wednesday when they try to sweep Benfica aside to claim their sixth Champions League semifinal appearance in nine years.
Torres, 28, who scored his first Premier League goal since September in Saturday's 4-2 triumph at Aston Villa, has netted three times in the last four starts and is set to continue at the expense of the injured Didier Drogba.
The Spain striker's renewed sharpness has helped boost Chelsea's team spirit in recent weeks as he has provided a series of key assists including one for Salomon Kalou in the 1-0 quarter-final first leg victory at Benfica last week.
"Strikers feed off goals but apart from that Fernando's been playing very well, even without the goals, by assisting on other goals," interim manager Roberto Di Matteo told reporters.
Ivorian Drogba, 34, who picked up a toe injury in training on Friday, is fighting to prove his fitness for Wednesday's game, as is Brazil centre half David Luiz. 
Former Benfica player Luiz limped off at Villa Park with an ankle ligament injury and is likely to be replaced by England international Gary Cahill.
Chelsea have lost just once in eight matches since Italian Di Matteo replaced the sacked Andre Villas-Boas last month.
The Londoners have won six of those games to rekindle ambitions in the Champions League, the FA Cup - they face Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals of that competition later this month - and the Premier League where they occupy fifth place.
Chelsea will attempt to extend a 100 percent home record of four wins in the Champions League this season against Jorge Jesus's team who knocked Braga off the top of the Portuguese league at the weekend.
No lack of potential
Twice European Cup winners Benfica demonstrated their potential for an upset when they drew 2-2 at Manchester United in the group stages in November.
Coveted Argentine winger Nicolas Gaitan will be out to repeat his outstanding performance in the 2-1 win over Braga on Saturday and further impress the scouts from Europe's biggest clubs.
Compatriot Pablo Aimar, suspended against Braga, is also available to return with his vision and pinpoint passing skills. Jesus said Benfica's first-leg defeat should galvanise his side at Stamford Bridge.
"I think Benfica were the better team in the first leg - even much of the English press recognised Chelsea were lucky to go away with the win," said the coach. "The Champions League is really making us sweat. We keep playing with great intensity but we don't have a lot of time to recover and we can already notice some fatigue."
Jesus's main concerns are in central defence where Ezequiel Garay, Jardel and Miguel Vitor are all out injured.
Olic brace fires Bayern into semis
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates scoring during the second half of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg football match against AC Milan at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcoumore photos » Bayern Munich reached the Champions League semifinals after Croatia striker Ivica Olic netted both goals in a 2-0 win over Marseille in Tuesday's quarterfinal second leg.
With the Bavarians having won 4-0 on aggregate, Bayern will host the first leg of their semifinal on April 17, most likely against Real Madrid, who host APOEL with a 3-0 lead in the second leg of their last-eight match on Wednesday.
Olic was back in the hero role, two years after after his hat-trick in Lyon put Bayern through to the 2010 final, where they lost 2-0 to Jose Mourinho-inspired Inter Milan in Madrid.
Bayern are now within touching distance of the final that Munich's Allianz Arena will host on May 19 as they look to win the Champions League trophy for the second time and claim their fifth European Cup title overall.
Having lost the first leg 2-0 in Marseille last Wednesday, the visitors were always facing an uphill task to win in Munich.
First-choice goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda was back from suspension and endured a busy night, while midfielder Alou Diarra was suspended.
He was replaced by Benoit Cheyrou, with Brazilian striker Brandao up front and top scorer Loic Remy on the right flank.
Bayern were missing suspended Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger and coach Jupp Heynckes opted to leave in-form pair Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben -- the goal-scorers from the first leg -- on the bench.
Germany's Thomas Mueller started on the right, with Olic in front of Toni Kroos in the attacking midfield role.
Marseille had a good early chance when Cheyrou found his way through the Bayern defence and teed up Jeremy Morel to shoot, forcing Bayern's Manuel Neuer into a low save.
The opening goal came on 13 minutes when Franck Ribery found space down the right wing and his cross was converted by Olic for his first goal for two months.
Marseille refused to lie down and Cameroon midfielder Stephane Mbia forced Neuer into another fine save on 18 minutes.
At the other end, Mandanda was kept busy as Kroos and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk both tested him, while Olic managed a shot with two defenders shadowing him.
The 32-year-old was rewarded for his hard work with a second goal on 37 minutes after some fine play by Marseille old boy Ribery allowed Austria's David Alaba to fire in a cross for Olic to convert again.
With his team 4-0 up on aggregate, Heynckes immediately brought off Mueller for Brazil's Rafinha.
The second half was mainly a dull affair with Bayern cruising into the last four and Marseille doing their best to frustrate the Germans.
Kroos also made way for Danijel Pranjic, possibly with one eye on Bayern's showdown with German league leaders Borussia Dortmund on April 11, while Gomez, who hit four against Basel in the round of 16, replaced Olic with 15 minutes left.
Govt officials go conventional to improve football
Even die-hard football fans wouldn't risk their money and board a flight to Manchester for the Soccerex Global Convention to discuss the nitty-gritties of Indian football which hasn't been able to improve its global standing in the last decade.
Hence, that there are two government officials, one each from the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), who attended the Manchester convention's last two days (March 28-29), is baffling at the moment.
A marriage between business and football, the convention had aimed to discus, among other things, the potential for emerging markets across the globe. India, being one such market that is bidding to host the 2017 U-17 World Cup, made a presentation on Thursday.
SAI was represented by Uma Dutta, administrator of the National Stadium. The Sports ministry has gone a step further and sent Omkar Kedia, a joint-secretary level official, who is on deputation with the ministry.
Scope for improvement
SAI director-general Desh Deepak Verma felt the tour would serve the purpose of generating funds for SAI as events like these would help the officials present to network with those in the field and help bring around events to India.
"Our officials would interact with other officials and try to bring in more international tournaments. The event would be held at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium and will generate funds for SAI.
It will also act as soccer feast to the Indian fans, and improve the game in the country." However, no top European club team is expected to come without a high visiting fee. And accommodating India in their busy calendar will hardly benefit the hosts in establishing a sustainable program to improve qualitatively.
Furthermore, government-funded trips abroad in the past to acquire relevant onus have yielded questionable results.
Like a Delhi-based football expert said: "A 90-minute show can't change the fate of soccer in the country. More focus should be on home-bred players and proper structuring of the professional league to develop game in the country."
Sharapova beats Wozniacki to reach Miami final
Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates a point against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during the Sony Ericsson Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP Three-time runner-up Maria Sharapova booked her second straight Miami final on Thursday, rallying for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Caroline Wozniacki - who was irked by an umpire's overrule on match point.
Sharapova clinched the semi-final victory after two hours, 34 minutes. She led 40-30 in the final game when her second serve was called long - a call overruled by the chair umpire who said it was on the line and ordered the point replayed.
Wozniacki didn't like it, but was out of challenges, unlike Sharapova who still had a challenge remaining.
Sharapova stepped up to serve again, working her way into position so she could eventually hit an easy forehand smash for the victory.
Wozniacki said it didn't matter that television replays showed the umpire was correct and the ball was in.
"I think when the ball is so close that I think he should give her a chance to challenge at least when I don't have any challenges," Wozniacki said. "She was going to challenge it, anyways. So if it shows it's good, it's good. If it shows it's out, it's out. The ball was so close that it might as well have been out."
Sharapova is now a perfect 4-0 in semi-finals in Miami and beat Wozniacki after losing the last two meetings to her on hardcourts. She will be gunning for her 25th career title.
"I was going to challenge and then he overruled it," Sharapova said. "It is a tough situation to be in because it is close to the end of the match and both of us fought so hard for over two hours and you don't want the match to end like that."
But Sharapova was pleased to have a chance to end a string of bridesmaid finishes in Miami.
The 24-year-old Russian beauty will face either Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska or Marion Bartoli of France in the final. She lost in the Miami final in 2005, 2006 and last year to Victoria Azarenka.
Sharapova is in her second consecutive tournament final after losing in straight sets to Azarenka at Indian Wells. But Azarenka is out of the picture, having lost in the quarters in straight sets to Bartoli.
"It's always disappointing to lose in the finals, but it's part of the career," Sharapova said of her near-misses in Miami. "I'm happy that I gave myself another chance to go out there and try to change that.
"It would just be meaningful to me because I have come to this tournament for so many years, ever since I was a young girl.
"I have always just dreamt of playing on this court let alone being in the finals of it. "It would just be really meaningful to me."
Sharapova said, starting when she was about 11 years old, her Florida-based family would make the annual four-hour pilgrimage to Miami where she would marvel at the skills of players like Monica Seles and Russian two-time grand slam champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
"It was pretty much the only tournament I would come to as a spectator, because I drove up from Bradenton four hours with my family and watched Marcelo Rios and Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Monica Seles. We came every year," she said.
The 21-year-old Wozniacki dropped to 13-6 on the year but she equalled her best result of 2012 by making it to the semis. She also made the final four in Dubai.
Sharapova finished with no aces, five double faults but she won 68 percent of her first-serve points.
"I started off the match so well and then I just had a concentration dropped a little bit and she started playing so much better. But I am happy I pulled it through," Sharapova said.
Sharapova broke Wozniacki in the seventh game of the third set to make it 5-2. Trailing 30-40, Wozniacki attempted a forehand drop shot that landed just short giving Sharapova the break and allowing her to serve for the match.
But Wozniacki battled hard on defence in the next game, matching Sharapova's powerful ground strokes to break right back.
Wozniacki then held serve when Sharapova hit a forehand long to cut the lead to 5-4.
"I tried to do my best, and it just wasn't enough today," Wozniacki said. "I was very close. Yeah, you know, this is tennis. One time you win; one time you lose."
Lahiri sails into lead
It was youthful exuberance that had prodded him into volunteering to walk the course as a score recorder. By the time action from Match No. 29 meandered to the 18th, the drooping shoulders narrated a tale of exhaustion. Shifting his weight from one leg to the other, the young boy stood by the edge of the green, waiting for Pariya Junhasavasdikul to finish.
After walking in tandem with the three pros for over five hours, the mind had gone blank as the focus was on the tender frame crying out for respite. Stationed at an arm's length was Anirban Lahiri, closely watching the youngster throw longing looks towards the clubhouse. The relief was palpable as the Thai made his final putt. No sooner had he finished, Lahiri walked up to the boy and offered him the ball with which he had narrowly missed making birdie on that hole. 
The youngster made his way back, looking down at the tightly clenched fist as if to ensure the surprise acquisition registered with the mind. His turning out for volunteer duty was bereft of ulterior motive, the move driven by his love for the sport. Lahiri's approach on Thursday was in some ways similar.
No edge
Defending a title for the first time in his brief pro career and taking to the Delhi Golf Club a month after winning the SAIL Open, many expected that he would have a head start over the field.
He did take a one-shot lead and spoke of “positivity”, but shot down talk of getting a hang of the conditions. “As champion, there is no different mindset. There is only one way of playing the DGC and its up to you to figure out a strategy that works for you.”
By pointing to the flags fluttering wildly by the practice green, he summed up what the players had been up against on Day I of the Panasonic Open. At 30 kmph, which picked up after he teed off around noon, the wind may have caused Lahiri to dither over the choice of clubs at the tee box, but barring those sporadic moments of indecision, the mantra was clear --- to grind it out.
It was probably Lahiri's first outing at the DGC which saw him work on a strategy dictated by the conditions. “Rather than managing different options, it was all about execution,” he said.
The pins placed awkwardly for an opening day, the regret of missed putts was there, but resting alongside was the joy of sinking some difficult ones too. Of particular satisfaction was the 12th. Going for the pin, Lahiri had no option but to aim for the bushes. Luckily, the wind caused the ball to roll back, presenting him with a birdie opportunity.