MONTE CARLO: Nadal & Federer win clay openers

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer opened their clay-court seasons with comfortable second-round victories at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000.
Federer, without a title since October, had originally decided to skip the famous event but accepted a late wildcard as he looks for some form.
And the world number two came through 6-4 6-4 against Seppi to reach round three of the Masters 1000 tournament.
Nadal had far too much for Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela, winning 6-2 6-3.
The Spaniard, going for his fifth straight title in Monte Carlo, stormed 4-0 ahead with some blistering play before Chela recovered to 4-2 and a 0-40 lead.
Nadal regained his focus to save all three break points and powered through the set before letting another early lead slip in the second.

After dropping two games from 3-0, the world number one again gathered himself to grab one more decisive break and see out the match.
Nadal was critical of his performance following his victory and admitted he would have to improve in certain areas to win his fifth straight title in Monte Carlo.
"I had some tough moments during the match," Nadal said.
"I played some games well, I had some terrible games... (I was) up and down during all the match.
"I have to improve my concentration in the next match. That's the important thing."
British number one Andy Murray beat Victor Hanescu on Tuesday and in the last 16 he will play Italian Fabio Fognini , who thrashed Marin Cilic 6-2 6-0.
Federer went into his opening match with a 4-0 record against Seppi, the world number 40, but potentially vulnerable after a bad loss to Novak Djokovic in Miami last time out.
But the 27-year-old, who married his long-term girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec last week, made the first breakthrough with some heavy forehands in game nine after saving two earlier break points.
Two magnificent games followed from the 13-time Grand Slam champion as he served out the set and broke at the start of the second, going on to seal a comfortable victory.

"I am very happy to have won my first match on clay," he said. "It takes some time to adjust to the surface, the rebounds and the sliding.
"We've been playing on hard court now for nine months - you never see a bad bounce.
"So all of a sudden you're a little bit worried, sometimes hitting half volleys because they can bounce onto your frame."
Federer will play compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round after the 13th seed beat Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello 2-6 7-5 6-2.
In other matches, seventh seed Fernando Verdasco defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-4, and 11th seed Nikolay Davydenko returned from an injury lay-off to beat Ivo Karlovic 6-4 6-3.
Argentina's David Nalbandian , the 12th seed, beat Spaniard Marcel Granollers 4-6 6-3 6-1, and Spanish 10th seed David Ferrer destroyed Marc Gicquel 6-1 6-0.

Bayern Munich 1-1 Barcelona (agg 1-5)

Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals after drawing their last eight second leg with Bayern Munich to seal a comprehensive aggregate victory.
Facing a 4-0 first-leg deficit, Bayern made a strong start with Luca Toni and Franck Ribery going close early on.
Ribery rounded Victor Valdes to put the hosts ahead after half-time but they did little to extend their lead.
Seydou Keita produced an emphatic first-time finish to level and set up a last-four meeting against Chelsea.
The Premier League side drew 4-4 with Liverpool in the second leg of their tie to go through 7-5 on aggregate.
Barca and Chelsea will meet for the fourth time since 1999-2000, with the first leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday 28 April and the second at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 6 May.
Josep Guardiola's men will be full of confidence going into that tie after seeing off Bayern so comfortably.
The damage was done six days earlier in Spain and under-pressure Bayern boss Jurgen Klinsmann admitted before the game it would be "unrealistic" to expect his side to progress to the semi-finals.
But the four-time champions began as if intent to do exactly that and, backed by a vociferous home crowd, they attacked Barcelona from the outset.

The orchestrator of Bayern's attacking play was Ribery, the Frenchman coming in from his position on the left to break forward at every opportunity.
But it was Jose Ernesto Sosa on the opposite flank who created the first meaningful chance as he crossed from the right to an unmarked Toni, who failed to connect sufficiently with his header from a glorious position six yards out.
Aware that an early goal was surely necessary if they were to stand any chance, the hosts continued to probe for a breakthrough and Ribery turned Barca captain Carles Puyol inside out before shooting narrowly over the bar.
Bayern had overturned seven of their previous 17 first-leg deficits in Europe's top club competition but all of those were by one goal and a four-goal first-leg deficit has never been overturned in the Champions League.
And their hopes began to fade as Barca weathered the early storm and gradually began to assert their authority.
Despite Guardiola having to watch the game from that stands after being sent off in the first leg, the visitors needed no prompting to impose their slick pass-and-move game on proceedings.

Lionel Messi was, predictably, at the heart of their intricate patterns and caused the home defence no shortage of problems with his nimble dribbling and incisive through-balls.
But, apart from a blistering Daniel Alves drive that sailed marginally high and wide, chances were few and far between for Barca and two minutes after half-time they were behind.
Ze Roberto sidestepped Yaya Toure to slide Ribery through on goal and he neatly took the ball past goalkeeper Valdes before coolly slotting it high into the net.
But Klinsmann's men failed to capitalise on their momentum and it was Barca who took the initiative to ensure their would be no late drama.
The impressive Andres Iniesta put Messi through on goal, only for the Argentine to be incorrectly flagged offside when one-on-one with Hans Jorg Butt, and then Samuel Eto'o was denied by Lucio's perfectly timed sliding tackle after Messi's run and cross.
An equaliser seemed inevitable and it arrived when Keita pounced at the end of a mind-boggling 17-pass move, primarily involving Eto'o, Iniesta and Xavi.
Spain midfielder Xavi curled a free-kick inches wide just before the end but by that point Barca's passage into the last four had long since been secured.
Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann: "We reacted well to the defeat in Barcelona. If we had scored early and if we had led 2-0, who knows what would have happened. Maybe they would have lost some confidence.
"We wanted an early goal, then anything could have been possible, but we have lacked the little bit of luck.
"The team gave a good account of themselves against one of the teams who are favourite to take the Champions League title."
Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanov: "We are very happy to be back in the semi-finals. We still have a lot of time before we have to think about Chelsea but they are a great team. It would not have been an easier game if we had faced Liverpool.
"We played really well in defence and did a good job keeping Ribery and Toni in check.
"We have not reached our goals yet. We have to continue working."
Bayern Munich: Butt, Lell, Lucio, Demichelis, Lahm, Sosa (Altintop 78), Van Bommel, Ottl, Ze Roberto (Borowski 78), Ribery, Toni. Subs Not Used: Rensing, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Breno.
Booked: Lucio, Demichelis, Borowski, Lell.
Goals: Ribery 47.
Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Toure Yaya, Keita, Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta (Hleb 78). Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Sylvinho, Busquets.
Booked: Dani Alves, Puyol.
Goals: Keita 73.
Agg (1-5)
Att: 65,000
Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (agg 7-5) ( BBC REPORT)

Chelsea survived a huge scare before drawing one of the most entertaining Champions League games of recent times to seal a 7-5 aggregate win over Liverpool and book a semi-final against Barcelona.
Guus Hiddink's team led 3-1 after the first leg at Anfield but Fabio Aurelio's free-kick after an awful misjudgement from Petr Cech and Xabi Alonso's penalty put Liverpool in control at the break.
Jose Reina fumbled Didier Drogba's deft touch into his own net and Alex's thunderbolt free-kick levelled the scores on the night with two goals in six dramatic second-half minutes.
The inspirational Frank Lampard put the Blues 3-2 ahead, slotting home Drogba's intelligent cross.
The tie looked finished but Liverpool were not done yet and Lucas Leiva's deflected strike was quickly followed by Dirk Kuyt's near-post header.

It was 4-3 to Liverpool with seven minutes of normal time remaining and Stamford Bridge was stunned, while the Reds required just one more goal to complete a sensational victory on away goals.
But Lampard converted Nicolas Anelka's pass to level at 4-4 in the final dramatic action of a truly memorable game of football.
Liverpool were without their skipper Steven Gerrard because of an injury but came close to pulling off a memorable victory without their inspirational leader.
Liverpool gave the hosts an early warning when a delightful touch from Yossi Benayoun after 13 minutes created a clear opening for Fernando Torres, who failed to hit the target with his left-foot strike.
It was a poor miss and Liverpool's slim hopes were almost completely extinguished a minute later but Lampard narrowly missed the target with a free-kick.
Then came the moment that embarrassed Cech and handed Liverpool a lifeline, as Aurelio smashed his free-kick into the bottom corner.
Chelsea had only bothered to put one man in the wall and Cech was so focused on dealing with a floated ball into the congested area that he neglected the possibility of a low shot at goal.
Even so, it was a terrible error as the Czech keeper was caught completely out of position and scrambled across goal in vain.
Buoyed by their goal, Liverpool suddenly found an incisiveness and rhythm to their play, while Chelsea, with suspended skipper John Terry watching from the stands, looked uncharacteristically brittle.
Terry will be back for the semi-final first leg tie against 2006 champions Barcelona at the Nou Camp in two weeks, but left-back Ashley Cole will be absent after picking up a yellow card for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Blues defensive unit struggled to cope with the passing and movement of an attacking line that had struggled so manifestly at Anfield eight days earlier.
And the Reds doubled their lead through Alonso's unstoppable penalty after the Spaniard had been fouled by Chelsea's first-leg hero Branislav Ivanovic.
Chelsea boss Hiddink withdrew Salomon Kalou and brought on Anelka after 35 minutes.
And his bold decision was vindicated when the Frenchman's low cross from the right shortly after the restart was deflected by Drogba past Liverpool keeper Reina, who could only parry the ball into his own net.
Drogba was inches away with a free-kick as Chelsea found the attacking menace that had almost completely eluded them in the first-half and it came as no huge surprise when they did draw level, Alex drilling home his long-range free-kick.
Liverpool now needed to score twice more but Michael Ballack should have put the result beyond doubt after Drogba broke down the right and picked out the unmarked German with a precise low cross. Ballack, however, shot tamely and Reina dived to his left to save.
Torres, an increasingly marginal figure, went close from distance but it was Chelsea who were in control now and Lampard put his team ahead with a close-range finish from Drogba's cross.
The tie seemed to be dead and buried before Lucas' deflected strike after 81 minutes was quickly followed by Kuyt's bullet header from substitute Albert Riera's cross.
Suddenly it was only the visiting supporters who could be heard but the final goal of a pulsating match fell to Lampard, whose strike went in off both posts.
There was hardly any time remaining but the fragile Cech still managed to fumble a cross that David N'Gog drilled towards goal, forcing a superb headed clearance from Michael Essien.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Anelka 36), Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Di Santo 90). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Mikel, Deco, Belletti, Mancienne.
Booked: Ivanovic, Carvalho, Ashley Cole.
Goals: Drogba 52, Alex 57, Lampard 76, 89.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Babel 85), Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Mascherano (Riera 69), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres (Ngog 80), Benayoun. Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger.
Booked: Benayoun, Arbeloa.
Goals: Aurelio 19, Alonso 28 pen, Lucas 81, Kuyt 82.
Agg (7-5)
Att: 38,286
Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).

MONTECARLO MASTERS: Murray opens clay season with win

British number one Andy Murray began his clay-court season with a fine win over Romanian Victor Hanescu in round two of the Monte Carlo Masters.
The 21-year-old Scot, who had a bye in the first round as the fourth seed, overcame a tentative start to win 6-3 6-2 in one hour 25 minutes.
Murray faces Croatia's Marin Cilic or Italian Fabio Fognini in round three.
Novak Djokovic, whose world number three ranking Murray is closing in on, beat Oscar Hernandez of Spain 6-1 6-2.
When asked about his performance Murray said: "I'm very happy with it.

"The start was tough, he played a few good shots and broke me a couple of times but I'm happy with the way I moved.
"I was getting good shape on my shots and didn't make too many mistakes. I could have served a little better but apart from that I'm very happy."
Murray made a cautious start, playing conservatively from the baseline and struggling to take the initiative as the first four games went against serve.
But despite a few clever drop shots, Hanescu did not have enough to worry the Briton and from the moment Murray broke to lead 4-2 he remained in control.
A Hanescu double-fault in game three of the second set saw Murray take charge again and a couple of heavy cross-court forehand winners earned the double-break in game seven.

Murray let a 40-15 lead slip when serving for the match and saved another break point, before match point three slipped away after the umpire overturned a call when checking a mark.
The drama was not to last long, however, and a forehand error from Hanescu gave Murray victory at the fourth attempt.
There were two surprise results early on Tuesday as sixth seed Gilles Simon and ninth seed Gael Monfils went out.
Monfils lost 6-3 6-1 to Janko Tipsarevic before fellow Frenchman Simon went down 7-5 6-1 to Andreas Beck.
"I don't remember ever playing so badly," said Simon. "Nothing was right. Nothing was working. My forehand, my backhand, my serve, nothing. I believe this match is a record."
And 12th seed David Nalbandian heaped further misery on the French as he beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 3-6 6-3.

Coventry 0-0 Charlton

Charlton's Championship status was left hanging by a thread after they could only secure a dogged goalless draw against Coventry at the Ricoh Arena.
Decent results for drop rivals Norwich and Nottingham Forest mean the Addicks are 12 points off safety with four games left and a dire goal difference.
But it was a brave display, with Jonjo Shelvey seeing a 'goal' disallowed and Nick Bailey firing against the post.
Coventry's best chance fell to Ashley Cain, but he shot wide late on.

Coventry City boss Chris Coleman: "We have been in an FA Cup quarter-final and if we finish in the top half that will be a good season after what happened last year when it went to the last day of the season.
"Charlton have chased the dream and tried to come back and look what has happened to them. The likes of Coventry City have to look at that and say it is an example.
"With Norwich and Southampton down near the bottom, there are some big clubs in trouble."
Charlton Athletic manager Phil Parkinson: "It is not looking good. We are not mathematically down but it does not take a genius to realise that it is a tall order.
"The attitude and the application of the players was excellent today and the football we played in the first half was good, but that final ball let us down and in football that is the most important thing.
"I felt fairly comfortable defensively for most of the game and we did create a threat going forward, but that lack of quality was key."

Coventry: Westwood, Hall, Ward, Dann, Fox, Osbourne, Beuzelin (Walker 75), Doyle, Thornton (Cain 65), Eastwood, Morrison. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Turner, Grandison.
Charlton: Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga, Sam (Dickson 76), Shelvey (Ambrose 68), Racon, Zhi, Bailey, Kandol (Burton 85). Subs Not Used: Randolph, Holland.
Booked: Sam.
Att: 16,121
Ref: Carl Boyeson (E Yorkshire).

MANCHESTER CITY must be braver - IRELAND (BBC NOTES)

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland said some of his team-mates were not "brave" enough in Thursday's Uefa Cup first-leg defeat in Hamburg.
The Premier League side lost 3-1 after Ireland had put them ahead early on.
"We've got more quality, but at home we need to show it and be braver," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I think at times tonight some people were hiding and when we had our backs against the wall some people were not brave enough to come out and fight."
City were beaten despite having taken a first-minute lead and face an uphill task in the second leg on 16 April.
But boss Mark Hughes says his side are still capable of reaching the Uefa Cup semi-finals.
"It will be difficult to claw back but we are not out of it," Hughes insisted.
"We have shown time and again we can score goals at Eastlands. We have players capable of causing Hamburg problems, as we showed."
Ireland gave City a dream start by scoring after 35 seconds but the joint leaders of the Bundesliga dominated after that and took control with goals from Joris Mathijsen, Piotr Trochowski and Jose Pablo Guerrero.
"We are still in this tie and we are not going to concede it now," added Hughes. "We have got to be positive.

"We are fully committed to the second leg and will give it a real go."
City had keeper Shay Given to thank for not conceding more goals after he made a string of crucial saves.
"He is an outstanding goalkeeper, who is there to make crucial saves," said Hughes.
"When you are up against a quality side like Hamburg, who are at home, they will have chances.
"We have to defend them and Shay to save them but that situation happens in every game."
Hughes brought Benjani Mwaruwari on as a late substitute but suffered a recurrence of a ruptured thigh muscle.

Striker Craig Bellamy also picked up a knee injury, while Shaun Wright-Phillips has a ankle problem.
"That made it difficult for us and we did not have that extra energy needed in a game like this," said Hughes.
Hamburg coach Martin Jol rued the fact his side had not capitalised more on their superiority.
"I would have preferred it if we had got another goal, " said the former Tottenham boss.
"We know it will be difficult if they score first next week but overall I am very happy."

CHELSEA 3 - LIVERPOOL 1

Ivanovic beats a crowd of Liverpool players to head in Chelsea's first

Chelsea took command of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool as Guus Hiddink's side stunned Anfield with an exhilarating attacking exhibition.
Fernando Torres looked to have put Liverpool on course for another glorious European night when he fired Rafael Benitez's in-form European specialists ahead after only six minutes.
But Chelsea responded in style to run out emphatic winners of an enthralling encounter, in which Liverpool played a full part until they were eventually overpowered.
Branislav Ivanovic was Chelsea's unlikely hero, heading goals either side of the interval to put Chelsea ahead - twice taking advantage of Liverpool's familiar Achilles heel, wretched marking at corners.
Didier Drogba, who wasted two excellent opportunities to score before Ivanovic levelled six minutes before the interval, was on target after 67 minutes when he turned in Florent Malouda's left-wing cross from eight yards as Liverpool suddenly collapsed under the weight of Chelsea's pressure.
The only black mark on Chelsea's night was a second-half booking for captain John Terry for a challenge on Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina that rules him out of next week's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool have specialised in comebacks against the odds in the past, but it is hard to see how Benitez - who will have been left exasperated by his side's defending - can navigate a route out of this one against a Chelsea side who have been rejuvenated by the veteran Hiddink.
In the previous Champions League meetings between the sides it has been almost impossible to separate them, but Chelsea have never adopted such a positive approach before and Hiddink reaped a rich reward.

Anfield was left subdued apart from a defiant rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the final whistle - all Liverpool's hopes dashed by Chelsea after the optimism sparked by Torres' early goal.
Chelsea's fans, in contrast, celebrated wildly after a victory that was almost beyond their wildest expectations.
Liverpool's recent resurgence has been characterised by high-tempo openings that have put opponents under instant pressure - and they were at it again in the early stages at a vibrant Anfield.
Dirk Kuyt almost gave Liverpool the perfect start after two minutes when his powerful shot on the turn was deflected inches wide off Ivanovic, but the Kop did not have long to wait to celebrate.
This time Kuyt was the creator with a clever flick that released Alvaro Arbeloa on the right-flank, and when he delivered an inviting cross Torres was on hand to sweep a comprehensive finish low past Petr Cech.

Chelsea, with a chequered Champions League history at Anfield, wasted the opportunity to respond immediately when Salomon Kalou sent Drogba clear in the area, but Liverpool keeper Reina raced out to make a vital block.
Hiddink had pledged to send out his side in attacking frame of mind, and Chelsea were as good as their coach's word, with Malouda then firing inches wide with Reina beaten.
Torres was an electrifying presence once more, and he was too quick for Frank Lampard when he swooped to rob the England man after 25 minutes, only to send a curling effort just off target.
It was a remarkably open game, with both sides committed to attack, and Drogba was guilty of another miss when he should have restored equality.
The Ivory Coast striker got on the wrong side of Jamie Carragher as Michael Ballack played a ball into the area, but after stumbling and then regaining control Drogba blazed wildly over the top with only Reina to beat.
Chelsea got the equaliser, and the away goal, they deserved, six minutes before the interval when Liverpool's long-time weakness at defending set-pieces surfaced again.
Malouda's corner was a routine affair, but Ivanovic was able to escape from the attentions of three Liverpool defenders to turn a header beyond Reina.

Kuyt should have scored Liverpool's second immediately, but Cech came to Chelsea's rescue as Liverpool looked poised to regain their advantage.
The second half began as an explosive first ended, with Carragher making a desperate clearance off the line from Drogba and Torres shooting just over the top after finally breaking the shackles of Chelsea's defence.
Terry was then ruled out of next week's return leg for a clumsy challenge on Reina - but it was the last piece of bad news for Chelsea.
They swiftly delivered two deadly blows to take a stranglehold on the tie and leave Anfield, so used to success on these nights, collectively stunned.
Ivanovic could barely believe his luck when he was given time and space in the penalty area once more to head another corner, this time from Lampard, powerfully past Reina.
And five minutes later Chelsea were in dreamland when Drogba finally hit the target, sliding home Malouda's cross from close range past a badly-exposed Reina.
Chelsea continued to threaten on the break as Liverpool pressed to little or no effect - and the final whistle brought confirmation of success for Hiddink's tactical masterclass and bitter disappointment for Anfield.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Dossena 75), Kuyt, Lucas (Babel 79), Alonso, Riera (Benayoun 67), Gerrard, Torres. Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Agger, Ngog.
Booked: Aurelio.
Goals: Torres 6.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Kalou, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Anelka 79). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Belletti, Mancienne, Mikel, Deco.
Booked: Kalou, Terry.
Goals: Ivanovic 39, 62, Drogba 67.
Att: 42,543
Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).