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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Albasini wins in Switzerland Michael Albasini won the 50th GP Kanton Aargau-Gippingen. It was a home victory for the Orica-GreenEdge rider in the one-day race in Switzerland, beating Jonathan Hivert (Sojasun) and Marco Frapporti (Androni). Albasini, who also won the event in 2011, prevailed at...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Froome puts down Tour marker with Dauphiné victory Chris Froome produced a devastating turn of speed to win stage five of the Criterium du Dauphiné at the ski resort of Valmorel. The Team Sky rider, who started the day just five seconds behind Rohan Dennis, took the lead on general...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Hradecka, Cermak win mixed doubles The Czech Republic's recent run of tennis success continued at the French Open on Thursday when Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak claimed the mixed doubles title. The country already holds the Davis Cup and Fed Cup team trophies and Hradecka/Cermak gave the...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Evans gets Queen’s wild card Britain’s Dan Evans has been awarded a wild card for next week's Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club. The 23-year-old from Solihull will line up alongside Andy Murray and other top 10 players Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin del Potro and Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the London...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Evans to meet Klein in Aegon second round Dan Evans set up an all-British second round battle with Brydan Klein at the Aegon Trophy in Nottingham with a hard-fought win over fifth seed Ryan Harrison. Just one Brit will stand in the men’s singles event after Thursday’s match as Jamie Baker, Ed...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Nadal dismisses Wawrinka to set up Djokovic clash It was the same old story as seven-times champion Rafa Nadal turned claycourt machine once again with a 6-2 6-3 6-1 demolition of Swiss ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open quarter-finals. After huffing and puffing through the...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Djokovic ousts Haas to set up Nadal semi Novak Djokovic kept calm, cool and collected to subdue the challenge of 35-year-old Tommy Haas with a 6-3 7-6(5) 7-5 win in the quarter-finals of the French Open. If the world number one still had nightmares about his mauling by Haas just over two...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Jankovic proves she has the passion back Ask Marko Jankovic whether his ****** Jelena has got the passion back for tennis and the answer would be a resounding yes. Marko, her interim coach, took his place in Chatrier Court at the French Open on Wednesday and was in the firing line as the...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Azarenka beats Kirilenko Victoria Azarenka's love affair with clay continued after she reached her maiden French Open semi-final with a 7-6(3) 6-2 defeat of former doubles partner Maria Kirilenko. The former world number one from Belarus, seeded third at Roland Garros, put her friendship with...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Sharapova overcomes Jankovic Maria Sharapova kept alive her hopes of retaining the French Open title with a 0-6 6-4 6-3 win over Jelena Jankovic in the quarter-finals despite a hail of unforced errors. Sharapova's ****** is so confident about his ********'s French Open credentials that he has...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Murray set sights on Queen's Club return Andy Murray will be fit to play at the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen's Club after missing the French Open due to a back injury, the world number two said on Wednesday. Murray, the US Open champion and last year's beaten Wimbledon finalist, was ******...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Paszek beats Keothavong, Konta wins opener British number three Johanna Konta cruised into the second round of the Aegon Trophy in Nottingham as Anne Keothavong went out to top seed Tamira Paszek. World number 33 Paszek, who chose to play on despite obviously struggling with illness, produced...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Martin storms to TT win at Dauphine German Tony Martin won the individual time trial at the Criterium du Dauphiné. The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider clocked a time of 36:55 on the flat 32.5km fourth stage from Villars-les-Dombes to Parc des Oiseaux. The world individual time trial champion was...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Tsonga routs Federer in Paris There will be no Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open for only the second time in nine years after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga produced a rip-roaring performance to beat the Swiss 7-5 6-3 6-3 in the quarter-finals. Twelve months after blowing four match...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Ruthless Ferrer crushes Robredo to reach semi-finals There was no escape this time for comeback king Tommy Robredo as he lost an all-Spanish French Open quarter-final against ruthless fourth seed David Ferrer 6-2 6-1 6-1. The 31-year-old had recovered two-set deficits in all three of his...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Errani battles past Radwanska Sara Errani proved her run to last year's French Open final was no fluke as she toppled Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 7-6 (6) to reach the semi-finals. The Italian fifth seed secured her first ever win over a top-five player to book a semi-final date...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Serena extends winning streak to reach semis Serena Williams extended her winning streak to 29 matches when she beat Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the French Open quarter-finals. The world number one, the first American woman in the last four on the Paris clay since Jennifer...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Li Na added to Eastbourne field World number six Li Na will warm-up for Wimbledon at the Aegon International in Eastbourne. The 31-year-old is one of six of the world’s top 10 female players who will take to the courts at Devonshire Park for the tournament from June 15-22 as the game’s elite...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Solid Sharapova passes Stephens test Maria Sharapova showed fast-rising American Sloane Stephens how it was done again to reach the French Open quarter-finals with a no-nonsense 6-4 6-3 victory. The Russian was at her most clinical to seal a last-eight clash with old sparring partner Jelena...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Birthday boy Nadal reaches last eight at Roland Garros Rafael Nadal earned his second straight sets victory in succession as his challenge for an eighth French Open title gathered pace with a 6-4 6-1 6-2 defeat of Japan's Kei Nishikori to secure a quarter-final spot. Troubled in his first two...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Djokovic convinced "second ******" is with him Novak Djokovic will never hear Jelena Gencic's advice again, yet the world number one believes his second ******'s spirit will always be with him on court. Following his French Open third-round match on Saturday, the Serbian broke down to news...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    O’Grady to retire after 2014 race Veteran Stuart O’Grady will retire after the Tour de France next year. O’Grady, who turns 40 on August 6, has re-signed with ORICA-GreenEDGE for the 2014 season but plans to bow out mid-campaign. He said. “I’m quite relived to have settled it. I’ll race next...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Azarenka eases past Schiavone to reach quarter-finals Women's third seed Victoria Azarenka screeched past Italian former champion Francesca Schiavone into the quarter-finals of the French Open, winning 6-3 6-0. Neither player found any rhythm on serve with five consecutive breaks but once...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Boasson Hagen out to serve Froome In-form Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen knows his Tour de France priority remains serving Team Sky stablemate Chris Froome. Boasson Hagen won two stages in the 2011 Tour and played a key role in Bradley Wiggins’ historic success last year, but after claiming...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Djokovic loses first set before going through in Paris World number one Novak Djokovic overcame the loss of his first set of the tournament to advance to the French Open quarter-finals with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over 16th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. The top-seeded Serb opened up sluggishly...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Olympic and Giro stars set for Smithfield Market Excitement is mounting as a world-class field assembles for the IG London Nocturne at Smithfield Market on Saturday night. Movistar Team's Beñat Intxausti is the latest high-profile recruit, joining British time trial champion and Movistar...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Errani to face Radwanska in quarters at Roland Garros Last year's beaten finalist Sara Errani overcame breathing difficulties to beat Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 5-7 6-4 6-3 and book her place in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Sunday. Italy's Errani, who lost to Maria Sharapova at...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Boasson Hagen wins Dauphiné sprint Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen claimed stage three of the Criterium du Dauphiné in a sprint finish in Tarare. The Norwegian pipped Michael Matthews and Gianni Meersman to the line at the end of a relatively flat 167km stage from Ambérieu-en-Bugey. Fumiyuki...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Serena breezes through to face Kuznetsova in quarters World number one Serena Williams continued her serene progress at Roland Garros, beating Roberta Vinci 6-1 6-3 to reach the French Open quarter-finals. It was Williams' 28th straight victory and underlined her title potential as her...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Cookson to run for UCI president Briton Brian Cookson is challenging Irishman Pat McQuaid for the presidency of the International Cycling Union, pledging to restore credibility to the sport after the Lance Armstrong scandal. Cookson has been president of British Cycling since 1996, overseeing...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Ferrer into quarters to face Robredo Spain's David Ferrer cut Kevin Anderson down to size to reach the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday, outclassing the towering South African to win 6-3 6-1 6-1. The fourth seed had reached the last 16 without dropping a set for the third straight year and...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Team Sky sign Earle Team Sky have signed Australian rider Nathan Earle for the 2014 season. The 24-year-old Tasmanian has gained a reputation as a strong climber after a string of impressive results this season both in the domestic Australian National Road Series and abroad, including wins at...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Federer survives huge scare to set up Tsonga clash Second seed Roger Federer produced a thrilling riposte to Gilles Simon's gallant attempt to knock him out of the French Open, coming from behind to beat the Frenchman 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-2 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. Averting a mounting crisis...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Ballan to return in Switzerland Alessandro Ballan will race for the first time this season on Thursday at GP Kanton Aargau-Gippingen. The former world road champion makes his return to action in the one-day race in Switzerland nearly six months after a bad crash during training. The Italian...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Mature Gasquet ready for big stage - Grosjean Richard Gasquet, once crushed by the weight of expectation, has matured on and off the court and is ready to burst on to the big stage, according to coach Sebastien Grosjean. The Frenchman, dubbed the Mozart of tennis in his teenage years, has been...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Newton encouraged by qualifying start in Spain British Cycling endurance coach Chris Newton admits he was encouraged by what he saw from his team as they started the process of competing at the Track World Cup season that begins in Manchester in November. Both the men and the women headed to...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Djokovic destroys Dimitrov, Nadal sees off Fognini Novak Djokovic dished out a painful lesson to young pretender Grigor Dimitrov, beating the Bulgarian 6-2 6-2 6-3 to move into the last 16 of the French Open, where he is joined by Rafael Nadal. Djokovic then suffered the emotional blow of...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Stage 14 winner Santambrogio fails EPO test Italian Mauro Santambrogio has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the ****** ***** booster EPO at last month's Giro d'Italia. The International Cycling Union said in a statement that Santambrogio, the second Vini-Fantini rider...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Sharapova calls for Hawk-Eye after scare Maria Sharapova has called for the implementation of Hawk-Eye at Roland Garros after suffering a wrong call in her third round win. Umpires clambering off their chairs to inspect ball marks in the clay is a common sight at Roland Garros but champion...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Viviani wins Dauphiné sprint Italian sprinter Elia Viviani won stage two of the Criterium du Dauphiné in Oyonnax. The Cannondale rider beat Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Leopard) to the line at the end of a hilly 191km stage from Châtel. A rapid first...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    France's Paire docked penalty point for on-court coaching Frenchman Benoit Paire was docked a penalty point for receiving coaching from his support team during his third-round defeat by Kei Nishikori at the French Open on Saturday. The temperamental 24-year-old had already been warned for...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    BMC sign Erik Zabel’s *** The BMC Racing Team have signed Erik Zabel’s *** Rick to a contract for the 2014 season. The 19-year-old is the reigning German under-23 road champion and won the under-23 edition of the Tour of Flanders this season, as well as a stage of the Tour de Normandie. Erik...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Sharapova through after scare, Azarenka beats Cornet Defending champion Maria Sharapova was pushed for the first time at the French Open before overcoming tenacious Chinese player Zheng Jie 6-1 7-5 on Chatrier Court on Saturday. The Russian second seed, playing for the third day in succession...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Greipel sprints to win in Ronde van Zeeland Lotto-Belisol’s Andre Greipel took the sixth edition of the one-day Ronde van Zeeland in a sprint finish. Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol), Maarten van Trijp (Rabobank Development) Robert de Greef (Jo Piels) Sjors Roosen (Jo Piels), Loic Desriac...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Vulnerable Nadal needs to find form against flashy Fognini After two lacklustre performances and an out-of-character rant at organisers all eyes will be on Rafa Nadal to see if the claycourt matador or this week's vulnerable impostor shows up to face Fabio Fognini on Saturday. Seven-times...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Veilleux solos to stage one win in Criterium Europcar's David Veilleux claimed the opening stage of the Criterium de Dauphine by soloing to victory in Champery. The Canadian finished a clear 1 minute 56 seconds ahead of the peloton after leaving his rivals behind with 45km remaining of the...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Sharapova and Serena march on in Paris Maria Sharapova survived a string of unforced errors to book her place in the third round of the French Open on Friday with a 6-2 6-4 rain-delayed win against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard. The defending champion, seeded second at Roland Garros, returned to...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Joeaar takes historic Tour of Estonia win Home rider Gert Joeaar came through the final stage of the Tour of Estonia unscathed to retain his four-second advantage in the general classification and take the overall win. Bartlomiej Matysiak (CCC) took the final 150km stage of the three day event...
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    2013 Tennis Thread

    Nadal and Federer through, Isner in another marathon Defending champion Rafa Nadal stuttered for the second time so far at the French Open before moving through to the third round with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Martin Klizan. The Spaniard, looking for his eighth Roland Garros...
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    2013 Cycling Thread

    Wiggins exit clears way for Froome The health problems that will keep defending champion Bradley Wiggins out of this year's Tour de France could be good news for fellow Team Sky rider Chris Froome who finished second in the race last year. Despite Froome being chosen as the team's 2013...
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