Rome: Six-time champion Rafael Nadal overcame one of the worst opening sets of his career to edge Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 Thursday and reach the Italian Open quarter-finals. Nadal's performance, and sometimes sluggish movement on the court, raises questions about whether he will be able to successfully defend his title at the French Open. The year's second Grand Slam starts in 10 days.
Nadal will next face fourth-seeded David Ferrer, who advanced when Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany withdrew because of dizziness. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic had a far easier time than Nadal, beating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-4 to improve his clay-court record this season to 8-1. Serena Williams routed 14th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-1 for her 21st consecutive win, matching the best streak of her career.
Nadal, however, was far from his best, especially in the first set, in which Gulbis jumped to a 5-0 lead and even had a point to close out the set at love. But Nadal, who has reached the final in all seven tournaments he has played since returning to the circuit in February from a seven-month break because of a left knee injury, eventually began to win the longer points while the carefree Gulbis started to commit more errors.
Nadal won last week's Madrid Open but his run of eight consecutive titles in the Monte Carlo Masters ended last month with a straight-set loss to Djokovic in the final. Nadal said this week he now trains for about 50
11:29 PM, May 16, 2013
New Delhi: AR Rahman pays homage to the Bharat Ratna awardee Ustad Bismillah Khan through the songs of 'Raanjhanaa', which is directed by Aanand L Rai. Since the film starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor is based in the heartland of Benaras, the music composer looked no further than Bismillah Khan, who hailed from Benaras itself. Rahman who has previously worked with Ustad Khan on a south film a few years...
03:52 PM, May 10, 2013
New Delhi: A Parliamentary panel on Thursday "deplored" the non-expenditure of huge funds allocated to the Minority Affairs Ministry, saying it could result in entire range of minority schemes becoming "exercises in futility". In its 37th report on the Ministry, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment -- headed by Congress MP Hemanand Biswal -- also noted that despite marked improvement in the development indices of Muslims, the community...
01:58 AM, May 03, 2013
Chennai: The last time Kolkata Knight Riders travelled to Chennai they took home the IPL trophy with a thrilling last-over win over the home team. On Sunday, however, the home team ended up on top after Michael Hussey led the charge to 200 and the bowlers defied another fearless innings from the hero of the 2012 final, Manvinder Bisla. Like last time, Bisla compiled a superb half-century but unlike last...
07:46 PM, Apr 28, 2013
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders opener Manvinder Bisla has urged his team's misfiring batsmen to get their act together and take some pressure off skipper Gautam Gambhir as the side gears up for a couple of back-to-back away ties. "As a batting unit, I think we have created a bit of pressure for Gambhir who has been consistent through out. We have not been able to bat well this tournament "Bisla...
02:16 PM, Apr 27, 2013
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper, Gautam Gambhir, praised Manvinder Bisla, Jacues Kallis and Eoin Morgan for their efforts in the team's six wickets victory over Kings XI Punjab at the Eden Gardens on Friday. "I think it was a fantastic effort from our bowlers to restrict them to 149. A lot of credit needs to go to Kallis, Bisla and Morgan. The way they played was just amazing. I have...
01:17 PM, Apr 27, 2013
They have finally snapped the three-match losing streak and although they still have to travel a long and arduous path, Kolkata Knight Riders believe that they can turn the tide. The six-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab on Friday gave them that confidence that all is not lost. When the team lost the wicket of in-form captain Gautam Gambhir and woefully out-of-form Yusuf Pathan in the second over of their...
09:17 AM, Apr 27, 2013
Kolkata: Manvinder Bisla struck a magnificent 51 not out off 44 balls to keep Kolkata Knight Riders in contention for the play-offs as they beat Kings XI Punjab by six wickets here at the Eden Gardens on Friday. This was Kolkata's third win in eight matches, while Punjab suffered their fourth loss in eight matches. In pursuit of 150, Kolkata got their chase off on the wrong foot with former...
11:19 PM, Apr 26, 2013
New Delhi: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma on Thursday denied all allegations against him in the West Bengal chit fund scam and said that he was ready for a probe. Sharma had been named by Saradha group promoter Sudipta Sen in his 18-page letter to the CBI dated April 6. In his letter, Sudipta had mentioned Sharma as having received money from him. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has...
04:36 PM, Apr 25, 2013
Bismarck: A North Dakota news anchor whose profanity-laced television debut got him fired after one broadcast is already getting job offers. AJ Clemente's first stint as an anchor at KFYR-TV in Bismarck on Sunday night was also his last after he uttered two obscenities just as cameras began to roll. Clemente was fired Monday. By Wednesday, he was making appearances on national talk shows as a bit of a celebrity....
12:12 PM, Apr 25, 2013
Guwahati: The Saradha chit fund scam also stretches to Assam. Saradha promoter Sudipta Sen's explosive letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) brings Assam Health and Education Minister and a former DGP under scrutiny. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has hinted at a CBI enquiry, but says his minister will not quit till proven guilty. The 18-page letter written by Sudipta Sen alleges a prominent Assam cabinet minister Himanta...
10:27 AM, Apr 25, 2013
A news anchor began his television career with the rather unfortunate incident of swearing during a live bulletin. He dropped the F-word into his microphone in a live gaffe, leading to his suspension after viewers complained. KFYR news anchor AJ Clemente began his broadcast in Bismarck by saying "F****** s***". The footage has gone viral. "To all of you who are writing in...I want to apologise for an incident that...
10:46 AM, Apr 23, 2013
Indore: A special CBI court on Monday rejected the bail plea of two accused in the murder of RTI activist Shehla Masood. Saquib Ali `Danger' and Tabish Khan, the alleged shooters accused of executing the murder in 2011, were refused bail by Judge Anupam Srivastava. The accused had filed the bail applications in December 2012 and the court completed hearing the arguments on them by defence lawyer and CBI prosecutor...
12:35 AM, Apr 16, 2013
Ahmedabad: Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's valuable unbeaten half-century and left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht grabbed three wickets as India beat Bangladesh by five wickets in the first women's ODI played on Monday. Opting to bat, Bangladesh scored 194 for nine in 50 overs with skipper Salma Khatun remaining not out on 75. For the Indian eves, Bisht scalped three for 27 while pacer Subhalakshmi Sharma got two wickets. In reply, an 83-run...
06:38 PM, Apr 08, 2013
Rome: Pope Francis was formally installed as bishop of Rome on Sunday and he urged lapsed Catholics not to be afraid to return to God. Francis celebrated a Mass before thousands of people in the Rome Basilica of St John in Lateran to formally take possession of the cathedral in his capacity as bishop of the Italian capital, his other major role along with the papacy. Francis, the former archbishop...
07:14 AM, Apr 08, 2013
Vatican City: Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to "act decisively" to root out sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure the perpetrators are punished, the Vatican said on Friday. Francis, in a meeting with the Holy See's doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, had declared that combating sexual abuse was important "for the Church and its credibility", a statement said. Francis inherited a Church mired in problems and a...
06:35 AM, Apr 06, 2013
Rasool, who claimed 7 for 45 for Board President's XI against visiting Australians, will be representing Pune Warriors India in IPL 6. ...
04:00 PM, Mar 31, 2013
Gambhir also said that it is an honour to lead the Kolkata franchise in the IPL. ...
04:49 PM, Mar 28, 2013
Haas defeated three-time champion Djokovic in the fourth round of the Sony Open 6-2, 6-4. ...
09:34 AM, Mar 27, 2013
