Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic: all signs point to a titanic clash in final of Mutua Madrid Open

That is the most likely scenario, given that Djokovic has won all 27 matches that he has played this year — including five tournaments — while Nadal’s last defeat on clay came fully 34 games and two years ago against Robin Soderling in Paris.

Unless someone pulls off a stunning feat of giant-killing, it will be the indomitable Serb against the invincible Spaniard on Sunday. Djokovic has the form, having beaten his former nemesis in five of their last six meetings, but Nadal will enjoy both the fervent support of his home crowd and the shift from hard courts to clay, the surface he has made his personal fiefdom.

Can anyone derail either of these two trains before they meet head-on? Well, Andy Murray has a shot at a semi-final against Djokovic — a potential rematch of the Australian Open final – if he can come through a quarter of the draw that includes Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych.

But this would be a lot to ask. While the Big Two have been polishing their latest trophies, Murray has only just emerged from the worst losing streak of his career — the one that started with that morale-shredding loss to Djokovic at Melbourne Park, and continued through inept performances in Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Miami.

He has been in Spain for over a week, first recovering from the sore elbow that kept him out of the Barcelona Open, and then working with Darren Cahill, the team adidas coach who will help him as a consultant until a more permanent coaching appointment can be found. There was also a 16-game practice match against Nadal himself, which ended up in an 8-8 draw.

Granted a first-round bye, Murray will enter the singles on Wednesday against either the Frenchman Gilles Simon or Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic — a demanding opener for a man with little live tournament action behind him, but one he should survive if he recovers the form he showed in Monte Carlo last month.

On Tuesday, Murray is expected to play doubles with brother Jamie, but the main attraction at the Park Manzanares will be Mikhail Youzhny’s tussle with the unseeded Juan Martin del Potro, a dangerous “floater” in the men’s draw who dominated all-comers in the Estoril Open last week.

View the original article here

Lewis Hamilton fumes as Fernando Alonso escapes without point deduction after Sepang shunt

Lewis Hamilton's 'absolutely shocking' Malaysian Grand Prix weekend took a turn for the worse after the race when stewards handed him a retrospective drive-through penalty.

Hamilton was accused of making 'more than one change of direction to defend a position', and in accordance with the FIA rules had 20 seconds added to his elapsed time.

It meant the McLaren star, who had finished seventh at the end of a difficult race at the Sepang circuit, dropped to eighth, with Kamui Kobayashi in his Sauber the beneficiary as he moved up a position.

Hamilton's problems during the race saw him hit from behind by old rival Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari as the Spaniard moved out to overtake.

Alonso, however, ran into the right-rear tyre of Hamilton's car, partly damaging the rear floor in the process, whilst at the same time breaking the left end of his own front wing.

For causing a collision, the stewards also handed Alonso the same punishment as Hamilton, a 20-second retrospective drive-through penalty.

Unlike Hamilton, however, the penalty had no effect on his sixth- placed position in the final classification.

'I knew I was going to get a penalty. I'm not surprised,' Hamilton said. 'I was in with the stewards, so I anticipated it. I always try to assume the worst-case scenario.

'It's only one spot, and it's not really made me feel any worse than how the weekend has gone anyway.'

As for the fact Alonso did not lose a position, Hamilton added: 'Then he's not had a penalty.'

Asked whether it felt fair, Hamilton said: 'It's racing. I'm not going to argue or disagree with the penalty.

'From my side I'm not allowed to move more than once. Do I class it as dangerous? No, but that's the rule. Twenty seconds is not such a bad penalty for it.

'As for Fernando, he hit me, he got a 20-second penalty, but it didn't really do anything for him. It doesn't exactly work out as a penalty, but again, that's racing.'

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh described the stewards' decision as 'disappointing and surprising.'

He added: 'I'm not a steward. They make those sort of decisions and that's how it is, but a penalty to both drivers is fairly harsh.

'For Lewis a number of things have happened this weekend, but he is strong and will take heart from other positive factors.

'The underlying fact is he was very close to being on pole, and in the race was able to match the performance of Sebastian (Vettel).

'He is the marker you either have to match or beat, so those are the positives.

'The result and the mess around it is the disappointment. That's motor racing, and it won't be the last (disappointment) in his career.

'He was obviously very disappointed at the end of the race, but if you see him now he is smiling and has recovered.

'He'll be further recovered tomorrow. He knows we're going to try hard to win in China and he'll have his energy focused on that.

'I don't think he is going to be troubled by what happened today.'

View the original article here

Tigers claim rare away point

Hull regained their pride by collecting a vital point in their bid to stay in the Barclays Premier League in a tame goalless draw at Birmingham.

Iain Dowie's side had been thumped 4-1 by fellow strugglers Burnley in their previous outing at the KC Stadium.

But they were far more resolute against Blues in picking up a rare clean sheet and only their fifth away point of the campaign.

It was all the more meritorious given that Birmingham are unbeaten at home since September and have not been beaten by any of the current top six in front of their own supporters.

Hull remain in the bottom three but will be looking to capitalise on having three of their remaining four games at home if they are to survive the drop.

Liam Ridgewell got forward to good effect down the left flank and Barry Ferguson was a calming influence in the centre of the park but clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides, particularly in the second 45 minutes.

Birmingham started in confident fashion and James McFadden cut in from the left and was only just too high with a powerful 20-yard drive. Roger Johnson's cross picked out the unmarked Bowyer but, from six yards out, he sent his header over the bar.

Blues enjoyed the bulk of possession but on-loan keeper Joe Hart again proved his worth five minutes before half-time.

Andy Dawson's overlapping run ended with a cross to the near post and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header was destined for the far corner of the net until Hart intervened with a fine reflex save.

Blues had claims for a penalty rejected when McShane appeared to shove Jerome as he challenged Duke for a high ball from Gardner's centre.

View the Original article