Saudi Arabia and India agree to study feasibility of establishing power grid    Saudi Awwal Bank records SR5.9 billion net profit after Zakat and Income Tax for YTD Q3    Economy minister emphasizes global partnerships to address pressing challenges Private investments in non-oil sector soar 70%    Saudi Arabia's GDP grows 2.8% in Q3, driven by non-oil sectors    PIF, HKMA sign MoU to establish $1 billion investment fund    Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian men to take off clothes as they evacuated war-torn Jabalya    North Korea fires suspected intercontinental missile    India celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights    'It was like a tsunami': Spaniards recount horror of deadly floods    Bahrain Crown Prince receives Saudi Interior Minister    In-person classes will remain suspended in Jeddah, Rabigh and Khulais schools on Thursday    HR Ministry takes penal action against 568 violators of Domestic Workers' Regulation    Derby Week makes its debut in the Roshn Saudi League    Al Nassr eliminated from King's Cup after a defeat to Al Taawoun    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    Othman Al Omeir receives Legacy of Change Medal at the UK Parliament for advocacy in media    Neymar joins Saudi fashion trend, donning traditional attire at Al Hilal match    Indonesia Days event celebrates cultural diversity at Al Suwaidi Park    Saudi Football Federation reappoints Hervé Renard to lead national team    Tarzan star Ron Ely dies aged 86    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Murray, Nadal in semis
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 05 - 2011

ROME: Rafael Nadal will keep the No. 1 ranking for at least another three weeks following an efficient 6-1, 6-3 win over Croatia's Marin Cilic in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday.
Nadal was at risk of losing the top spot to Novak Djokovic if he failed to reach the semifinals of this clay-court tournament, which the Spaniard has won for five of the last six years.
Nadal played much sharper than in his previous two matches when he was affected by a virus. His semifinal opponent will be 16th-seeded Richard Gasquet, who rallied to beat seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 a day after eliminating Roger Federer.
Nadal didn't face any break points on another perfectly clear day at the Foro Italico.
“Yesterday all afternoon I had a fever but at the end of the day I started to feel better,” Nadal said. “I started the match with (more) intensity and I was able to move faster and play more with my legs.”
In the other half of the draw, Andy Murray overcame a slow start to beat German opponent Florian Mayer 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 and become the first British man to reach the Rome semifinals since 1932.
In women's action, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki overcame two-time Rome champion Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and will next face seventh-seeded Maria Sharapova, who advanced when Victoria Azarenka retired with an apparent right arm injury.
The third-seeded Azarenka won the first set 6-4, then called a trainer out to the court for treatment after losing the first game of the second set. She winced and bent over in pain during the next two games, then retired.
Australian Open runner-up Li Na of China beat Greta Arn of Hungary 6-3, 6-1 and will face sixth-seeded Sam Stosur for a spot in the final.
Stosur got a measure of revenge on Francesca Schiavone by beating the Italian 6-2, 6-4 in a rematch of last year's Roland Garros final. Stosur never dropped her serve and faced only one break point.
The crowd of 10,500 cheered loudly each time Schiavone held serve but Stosur's play kept the fans from becoming too much of a factor.
The fourth-ranked Murray also showed good clay-court form in Monte Carlo last month, taking a set off Nadal in the semifinals.
Murray said. “I need to improve my game on the surface and it's been better this year.” The last British man to reach the semifinals at this event was George Patrick Hughes in 1932, while the last British player to win the title was Virginia Wade in 1971. Hughes was the only British man to win the tournament in 1931.
Murray's semifinal opponent will be either Djokovic or Robin Soderling, who were playing in a night match.
This tournament is an important warmup for the French Open, which starts in nine days.


Clic here to read the story from its source.