Paul Pogba throws hint at Spain

Real Madrid's hopes of winning the race to sign Paul Pogba have been boosted by the revelation that the Juventus star is learning Spanish.
The France international, 21, is under contract with the Scudetto holders until 2019 but the midfielder's agent announced on Friday that Paul Pogba could leave the club at the end of his contract.

Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with a €100 million move for the midfielder but, if Pogba's latest comments are a hint towards his destination, then it looks like his future might lie in La Liga.
"I'm very happy in Turin," the 21-year-old told 'Filo Diretto' on JTV. "It's a perfect city.
"I love to live every day to the fullest. When I'm not busy with the team, I like to watch television or go out with my friends, Juve full-back Patrice Evra and forward Fernando Llorente.
"It's thanks to Llorente that I'm learning Spanish."
Pogba has gone from strength-to-strength since joining Juve from Manchester United in the summer of 2012, winning two Serie A titles as well as the award for the best young player at last year's World Cup.

Serena Williams wins the 2015 Australian Open Women's Single Title.

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova to win her sixth Australian Open and 19th Grand Slam title.

The American world number one served superbly to win a pulsating final 6-3 7-6 (7-5) after Sharapova fought back in the second set.
Williams, 33, moves past Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert with a 19th major singles title.
She has now beaten Russia's Sharapova, the world number two, 16 times in a row dating back to 2004.
"I have to congratulate Maria, she played a wonderful match and she really pushed me," said Williams.
"She played so well and gave me a great final not only for the fans, but for women's tennis. I'm really honoured to play her in the final."
Despite feeling so unwell during a rain delay in the first set that she left the court to vomit, Williams hit 18 aces and 38 winners as she won in one hour and 51 minutes.
Seemingly unsure for a moment that an ace had sealed victory, she then shook hands with Sharapova and bounded over to the corner of Rod Laver Arena towards her player box.
It was a brilliant performance in a final that exceeded many expectations, bearing in mind the players' head-to-head record.

2015 Australian Open Day 12 Results

There was only one singles match on the Day 12 slate at the 2015 Australian Open. It still provided more than enough drama for the fans at Melbourne Park as world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and reigning champion Stan Wawrinka battled for five sets before the top seed advanced.

Djokovic moves on to Sunday's final where he will meet fellow "Big Four" star Andy Murray. Both players entered the tournament with question marks. The Serb had an illness that limited his practice time while the Scot was still searching for top form after some injury woes.
Those issues are now firmly in the rear-view mirror as they get prepared to face off for the season's first Grand Slam title. Before they do, let's check out how Djokovic earned his spot in the championship match along with some reaction.

Day 12 Singles Results

2015 Australian Open - Day 12 Results

Round	Winner	Loser	Score
Semifinal	(1) Novak Djokovic	(4) Stan Wawrinka	7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

AusOpen

Day 11 of the 2015 Australian Open

Serena Williams  and Maria Sharapova booked their tickets for the 2015 Australian Open women's final with relative ease on Thursday, dispatching of Madison Keys and Ekaterina Makarova, respectively, in straight sets.

The duo entered the tournament as the top-seeded players and have lived up to expectations Down Under, including dominant showings on Thursday. Sharapova easily took the upper hand in the rallies against Makarova. Williams' service game was superb, and she took full advantage of Keys' inexperience.
Andy Murray defeated Tomas Berdych in four sets to book his spot in the men's final, taking on the winner of Friday's clash between Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka. Here are the full results of Thursday's matches:

Australian Open Results: Day 11

Women's Semi-Finals
Maria Sharapova (2)	6-3, 6-2	Ekaterina Makarova (10)
Serena Williams (1)	7-6(5), 6-2	Madison Keys
Men's Semi-Finals
Andy Murray (6)	6-7(6), 6-0, 6-3, 7-5	Tomas Berdych (7)

Ausopen.com

'Ronaldo's gesture was arrogant and ugly'

Miroslav Djukic has hit out at Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of the attacker's behaviour in Real Madrid's 2-1 win at Cordoba at the weekend.
The Portugal international made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he kicked out at Edimar before then raising his hand to the Cordoba defender's face, and the Ballon d'Or holder was consequently shown a straight red card.
The 29-year-old then further angered the home fans by pointing at the Club World Cup winners badge on his jersey and Djukic has less than impressed with the forward's antics.
"Ronaldo's behaviour was an act of desperation," the Cordoba coach was quoted as saying by Marca.
"His gesture with the Club World Cup badge was ugly and arrogant.
"A player of Ronaldo's stature should not behave like that. This is not how the best players in the world should behave, and he and Lionel Messi are the best.
"Ronaldo was not feeling comfortable, everything seemed to be going wrong for him, that's where his desperation came from."
Ronaldo has since been handed a two-match ban for his red card, meaning he will miss Madrid's upcoming Liga clashes with Real Sociedad and Sevilla

Gabriel Paulista to wear no 5 jersey at Arsenal

Gabriel Paulista will wear the number five shirt at Arsenal, the club have announced.
The centre-back completed his move to the Emirates from Villarreal earlier this week and will follow in the footsteps of such defensive luminaries as Thomas Vermaelen, Martin Keown and Steve Bould by donning the number for the club.
Gabriel has already expressed his desire to compete for titles at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger has praised his new signing.
The Frenchman concedes that the club were forced into the market due to injuries, but believes the Brazilian has the required attributes to adapt quickly to the rigours of the Premier League.
“He has good pace, he’s good in the challenge and he’s tall - so he can adapt to English football,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website. “Maybe it will take some time to adapt completely, but overall it’s very good to have him.
“He’s very ambitious, focused and serious. That’s important at a club like ours - you need to have a complete focus on your job. He has that.
“I like the players who come from nowhere and show they can adapt. From Brazil, he has [then] adapted to Spain. That means he has already made it and adapted in another country. That’s another important quality.
“We needed another centre back because we have lost Debuchy. Monreal can play centre back and we are a bit short there if something happens, especially with the Achilles [problem] of Koscielny since the start of the season.”
Source: Arsenal.com.

Pogba to leave Juventus

Paul Pogba's agent believes the coveted midfielder's future lies away from Juventus, saying: "If it does not happen this year, it will be next year."
The France international has attracted the attention of top European clubs after impressing for Juve since joining the Turin club on a free transfer from Manchester United in summer 2012.
The 21-year-old, who is under contract with the Bianconeri until June 2019, is a reported target of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris St Germain.
"I want the club that buys him to believe in him and be willing to pay for him," Pogba's agent Mino Raiola(super agent who also represents Mario Balotelli and just recently declared his desire to run for the FIFA Presidency) told Gazzetta dello Sport. "If Paul leaves Juventus, it is for the absolute top.
"If it does not happen this year, it will be next year.
"Paul is at the same level economically as the other big stars and has a similar reputation, so he could stay for another year.
"But Paul is the only major star who is available at the end of the season.
"If you cannot take Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you can only go for Paul."
Raiola has warned Pogba's suitors they will have to splash the cash if they want to prise him away, however.
"If someone wants him, the market situation could see him go for more than 100million euros," Raiola said.
Raiola revealed his client had several offers after leaving United almost three years ago.
"AC Milan wanted to sign him, together with Genoa, and then send him there on loan," he said. "Inter said they did not want to create a row with (former Manchester United boss) Sir Alex Ferguson.
"With Juve, the deal was quite simple.
"They signed him, gave him the wages of a first-team player and did not send him out on loan.
"(Former Juventus coach) Antonio Conte deserves the credit for Paul's development.
"He (Pogba) needs someone who tells him to do his thing and give him some space."
Pogba scored seven goals and set up seven more in 33 league appearances to help Juve clinch their third straight Scudetto in the 2013-14 campaign, and has bagged six goals in 17 Serie A games this term.
So where do you think he could go to? And do you really believe he is worth the amount his agent says? Please leave your comments.

Day 9 results from the 2015 Australian Open

The 2015 Australian Open has already been comprised of more twists and turns and Day 9 of the action from Melbourne only added to the tournament's unpredictability. Tuesday's conclusion sent two men and two women into the semifinals; however, the players who ultimately advanced may come as a surprise.

On the women's side, No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova continued her impressive run, defeating No. 3 Simona Halep in consecutive sets. The Russian produced an accurate serve and limited her unforced errors to force the upset. However, that wasn't the biggest shock of the day.
The men's bracket lost No. 3 Rafael Nadal, who fell to No. 7 Tomas Berdych in three sets. The Spaniard couldn't fend off his opponent's monstrous serve and was sent packing as a result. Nadal has now failed to reach the tournament's semifinal round in each of his appearances since winning the event in 2009.
Based on what we've been experiencing in Australia so far, there may be more upsets on the horizon during Day 10 action. Before things get underway once again, here's a look back at the scores from Day 9, followed by a glance into the future.

Day 9 Scores

2015 Australian Open Day 9 Results

Men's Singles	Score
No. 7 Tomas Berdych def. No. 3 Rafael Nadal	6-2, 6-0, 7-6(5)
No. 6 Andy Murray def. Nick Kyrgios	6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3
Women's Singles	Score
No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova def. No. 3 Simona Halep	6-4, 6-0
No. 2 Maria Sharapova def. No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard	6-3, 6-2

AUSOpen.com

Real Madrid set to name stadium Cepsa Santiago Bernabeu

The Spanish giants are to rename their famous ground, set to happen after the 68-year-old arena has undergone a huge expansion project, and will include the sponsor's name.
Real Madrid are set to name their stadium the Cepsa Santiago Bernabeu following its €500 million revamp.
The venue, the home of the European champions for the past 68 years, is due to undergo major expansion work - the project is currently being held up by legal proceedings - with a sponsor's name attached upon completion.
Madrid signed a deal with the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) in 2014 to enable them to fund the redevelopment of the ground and, although the club have yet to publicly announce the agreement included naming rights, president Florentino Perez has admitted the Bernabeu could be given a "surname".
It is believed IPIC proposed the Abu Dhabi Santiago Bernabeu but that was dismissed by the club. Another alternative was the IPIC Bernabeu which was again rejected and the two parties finally settled on Cepsa - an energy company owned by IPIC.
The revamp will transform the Bernabeu into a 90,000 capacity arena with the club hoping the work will be done by the end of 2017.
After a long tendering process, the final renovation contract was awarded to German architects GMP Architekten, in conjunction with Catalan company Ribas&Ribas. The stadium will have a retractable roof as part of the new design.
Building work on the site will be suspended for home matches, allowing the club to continue playing games at the Bernabeu during the course of the re-construction.

Thierry Henry set to undergo UEFA Coaching courses

Thierry Henry has begun his climb on to the managerial ladder by undergoing UEFA coaching courses in Wales.

The former Arsenal striker, who has recently embarked on a career in punditry at Sky Sports, has made no secret of his desire to become a manager in the future.

And that process has appeared to have started, with a source telling Sportsmail that Henry has been in in Wales for the ‘last few days’ ahead of undertaking a UEFA B licence course.

Should the 37-year-old pass, he is likely to complete his A licence in the summer.

The Welsh FA’s headquarters are based in Newport, where Henry will follow the likes of David Ginola in taking the courses.

Henry gave a presentation to the Wales Under 16 squad earlier this week and is set to be joined on the course by former team-mate Freddie Ljungberg.

Interestingly, the ex-France international has been backed to become Arsene Wenger’s successor at the Emirates by Robert Pires.

Who is the perfect replacement? Thierry Henry?’ Pires said. ‘He understands football and Arsenal.’

Henry certainly hasn’t been shy during his opening weeks as a pundit, either, after airing forthright views on the Gunners before their win against Manchester City earlier this month.

‘They have gone backwards, it looks like they are a team who looks to finish fourth,’ he said. ‘When you look at Arsenal they should be trying to win the title.

'I’m sure Arsene, the fans and the board want more. You can be upset at Arsenal losing to Stoke City but it is the way they went after Arsene and the words they used.

'They are not far but they are missing a big piece. They are missing a (Patrick) Vieira and a Gilberto Silva.’ 

Source: Dailymail

Arsenal complete Gabriel Paulista signing

Gabriel Paulista's move from Villareal to Arsenal has been confirmed, with Joel Campbell moving in the opposite direction on loan after agreeing a new long-term deal with the Premier League club.
Villarreal stated on Saturday that a deal to take centre-back Gabriel to Arsenal had been agreed in principle, and Arsene Wenger revealed on Sunday that the move would likely be sealed in the next 24 hours.
Gabriel, who can also play as a full-back, has now been granted a work permit and his move to the London club was confirmed on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Brazilian told the club's official website: "I came from a club that is not that big in Brazilian football. I went to Spanish football and that was another dream come true, to play in Europe.
"A while ago I had a really huge desire to play in the Premier League, so since that point I put it in my head that I really wanted to do it.
"I had a talk with my family and I told them that it was my dream to play in the Premier League. Getting here to such a big club is so gratifying.
"I am arriving at a big club and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important.
"I care more about helping the team and my team-mates. I want to help everyone, so the fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things."
Costa Rica striker Campbell will join Villarreal on loan for the rest of the season after agreeing terms on a new contract with the London club.
Source: Arsenal.com

Diego Costa charged by FA

Diego Costa has been charged by The FA for violent conduct following an on-field incident which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

The charge is in relation to an incident involving the Chelsea forward and Liverpool’s Emre Can which occurred in the 12th minute of the League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge last night [Tuesday 27 January 2015].
The player has until 6pm on Thursday 29 January 2015 to respond to the charge.
Following a review of an incident during the game involving Costa and Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, The FA will not be taking any further action.
Source: The FA

Luis Figo to run for FIFA Presidency

The former Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan forward, 42, joins David Ginola in the race to replace Sepp Blatter as boss of world football's governing body.
Prince Ali of Jordan, Dutchman Michael van Praag and Jerome Champagne are also would-be presidential challengers.
Blatter has been Fifa boss since 1998 and intends to run for a fifth term.
"Football has given me so much during my life and I want to give something back to the game," said Figo.
"I look at the reputation of Fifa right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better.
"In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of Fifa deteriorate.
"As I speak to many people in football - to players, managers and association presidents - so many of those people have told me that something has to be done."
All potential candidates have to register their interest in standing before Thursday's deadline.
According to Fifa electoral committee member Dominico Scala, all confirmed challengers must pass an anti-corruption test.
Figo played 127 times for Portugal and won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002.
He also won the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and was Fifa World Player of the Year in 2001.
The race for the seat of the Fifa President is indeed getting hot, but we can only wait until May 29th when the 209 members will vote to know who will head football's top governing body.

Mikel Arteta Agrees contract extension with Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has signed a one-year contract extension with Arsenal, according to his agent.
Arteta's representative Inaki Ibanez told footmercato.net: "Mikel is no longer free next June, because he now has an extra year on his contract."
The contract extension talks was rumoured to have began in November, and it means Arteta will stay at the Emirates until the end of 2015-16, when he will be 34 years old.
The Spaniard joined the club from Everton in 2011, and last summer it had appeared that an exit was on the cards.
But he has elected to stay with the Gunners for another season, despite struggling with a calf problem which has restricted him to just seven Premier League appearances in the current campaign.

Ronaldo handed two-game ban

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a two-game suspension following his red card in the 2-1 win over Cordoba at the weekend.
The Portugal international lost his temper in the closing stages of the game after failing to make an impact, kicking out and raising a hand to strike Cordoba defender Edimar in the face, leaving referee Alejandro Hernandez no other choice but to dismiss him.
Ronaldo was quick to apologise after the incident, while Edimar the player who Ronaldo fouled has called for the La Liga's disciplinary committee to show leniency and the Portugal captain has escaped a lengthy ban.
The 29-year-old will miss the Primera Division games against Real Sociedad and Sevilla as a result of his suspension but he will be present for the game against Arch-rivals Atletico Madrid.
Ronaldo has been in sublime form for Madrid in 2014-15, netting 36 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions.

West Bromwich Albion sign Callum McManaman

Winger Callum McManaman has become Tony Pulis' first signing as West Brom head coach after finalising his move from Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee.
McManaman has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal and joins an Albion side rejuvenated under the guidance of Pulis, who took charge at the start of the month.
The 23-year-old made 109 appearances in total for Wigan, helping the Lancashire club win the FA Cup in 2013 following a stunning Wembley upset against Manchester City.
"I'm really made up to have joined," said McManaman.
"When the chance came to move to West Bromwich Albion, and return to the Premier League, I couldn't turn it down.
"This is a great move for me and I hope the Albion fans will get to see the best of me.
"Albion are a great club, with a good tradition. I can't wait to get going."
McManaman is the latest high-profile player to leave beleaguered Championship club Wigan, who are eight points from safety and rooted in the relegation zone.
Ben Watson, Shaun Maloney and Adam Forshaw have also departed the DW Stadium this month.

Chelsea beat Liverpool to book a place at Wembley

Branislav Ivanovic's thumping extra-time header sealed Chelsea's spot in the League Cup final after an incident-packed 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Neither side could be separated after 90 minutes in the semi-final second leg before Ivanovic leapt highest to meet Willian's free-kick in the 94th minute to wrap up a 2-1 aggregate win and a trip to Wembley in March.
However, the match was noteworthy for a series of flashpoints involving Diego Costa, including a stamping incident in each half on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel.
The Spain international was at the heart of more contention when he was denied a penalty by referee Michael Oliver after going to ground under a challenge from Skrtel just after the 20 minute mark.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also made two brilliant one-on-one saves from Alberto Moreno and Philippe Coutinho in the first half that ultimately proved crucial.
Victory over Liverpool represents an ideal response for Chelsea after Saturday's 4-2 FA Cup defeat to League One side Bradford City that left manager Jose Mourinho fuming.
The Portuguese - who was involved in a touchline exchange with Brendan Rodgers - now has his sights set on a third League Cup title, the first of which came against Liverpool in 2005 and was his first trophy in English football during his first stint at the club.
Chelsea had shouts for a penalty waved away in an end-to-end opening when Willian's low shot struck the arm of the sliding Lucas Leiva.
Can and Costa were then involved a brief altercation after the latter was lucky to escape punishment for seemingly stamping on the Liverpool midfielder's shin.
Costa was in the spotlight again in the 22nd minute as he went to ground when Skrtel looked to have stood on his foot, but referee Oliver was uninterested.
At the other end, Steven Gerrard's superb pass picked out the run of Moreno on the left of the area, with the full-back's subsequent shot well parried by Courtois, before the Belgium international saved Coutinho's drive with his foot after the Brazilian waltzed through the Chelsea defence.
The home side were dealt a blow when Cesc Fabregas had to be replaced following an accidental collision with team-mate John Terry shortly after the restart.
Tempers then threatened to boil over when Costa appeared to tread on Skrtel, leading to an angry coming together between the two players.
Eden Hazard, scorer of Chelsea's goal in the first leg, gave a timely reminder of his brilliance with a mazy run that led to him fizzing a shot just wide from 20 yards, before Simon Mignolet made a terrific block with his feet to keep out Costa's deflected half-volley.
Liverpool were then fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when Jordan Henderson avoided a second yellow card for a deliberate hand ball, before Chelsea's Filipe Luis hobbled off after taking a knock.
The breakthrough finally came four minutes into extra time, as Willian's teasing free-kick was headed home emphatically by Ivanovic.
Henderson could have forced penalties when he put a free header wide from 10 yards, but ultimately Chelsea safely saw out extra time to reach their first final since Mourinho's return in June 2013.

Sampdoria complete Eto'o move

Everton have confirmed that striker Samuel Eto'o has completed his move to Sampdoria.

The Serie A side announced they were to sign the experienced striker on Saturday.

Eto'o moved to Goodison Park on a short-term deal in the summer having left Chelsea following the expiration of his one-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

But the Toffees have allowed the striker to make his return to Italy during the January transfer window after four goals in 20 games in all competitions

"We thank Samuel for his efforts and for bringing his know-how to the team and to Finch Farm where he passed on some of his terrific experience to all of the young players in particular," Everton boss Roberto Martinez told the club's official website.

"The memory of his performances in Europe stand out especially. On behalf of all Evertonians, we wish him well for the next chapter in his career."

Eto'o previously spent two years at Inter between 2009 and 2011, and has also played for Real Madrid, Mallorca, Barcelona, Chelsea and Anzhi.

The FA Cup Fifth round draw

Manchester United will face another match against lower league opposition, if they get past Cambridge in their replay at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils toppled third tier Yeovil in the third round, before drawing 0-0 with Cambridge United at the Abbey on Friday.
If they win their replay, they will travel to either Sheffield United or Preston North End, both League One outfits, who also face a replay.
Other standout ties see Arsenal host Manchester City's conquerors Middlesbrough, while Bradford City are rewarded for beating Chelsea with a home tie against Sunderland or Fulham.
Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool will head to Selhurst Park, scene of their late-season collapse last term and a 3-1 defeat this season, if they can see off Neil Lennon's Bolton in a replay.
The draw in full:
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool/Bolton
Arsenal vs Middlesbrough
Aston Villa vs Leicester
West Bromwich vs West Ham
Bradford vs Sunderland/Fulham
Blackburn vs Stoke
Derby vs Reading
Preston/Sheffield United vs Cambridge/Manchester United
Ties to be played on the weekend of 14-15 February.

Day 2 results of the NPFL Super 6 competition

Nigeria's under-20s and under-23s have put themselves in pole position at the 2015 Super-4 Invitational Tournament in Abuja after Match Day 2 on Monday.
The Flying Eagles and the Under-23 team are the only teams with 100% start to the tournament. The under-20s defeated Kano Pillars 2-1 while the under-23s edged Dolphins 1-0.
But the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Kano Pillars did not make it an easy ride for the physically-strong under-20s.
Pillars made just a change to the team that defeated Dolphins 2-0 while the Flying Eagles made three changes to their starting 11 that overcame Enyimba 2-0 on Day 1.
The under-20s took the lead through a sweeping counter-attacking move through Suleiman Abdullahi from a Taiwo Awoniyi cross in the 22nd minute.
That lead lasted 10 minutes when Flying Eagles captain Musa Muhammed headed into his own net in a bid to make a backpass to goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke.
Within two minutes, the Flying Eagles restored their lead. Awoniyi received the ball on the edge of Kano Pillars' box and shook off Reuben Ogbonnaya's challenge by cutting inside of him before hitting the ball into the right-hand corner of goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.
Awoniyi then started off the second half like he did in the first and it was his pass to Wasiu Jimoh in the 63rd minute that led to Afelokhai upended his teammate for a spot kick.
But Afelokhai redeemed himself by stopping Chidera Eze's penalty and followed up with another save from Muhammed from the rebound.
In a game that was not in the class of Kano Pillars versus Flying Eagles, the under-23s just edged Dolphins by a goal from Newman Doubra just on the hour mark.
Doubra benefited from a blunder from Dolphins goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi's failure to catch a cross though on television replay he looked to have been bumped into by Austin Amutu.
The Flying Eagles and the Under-23 team are now tied on six points after two games apiece but the former lead by superior goal difference.
In the early kickoff of Match Day 2, Enyimba defeated Warri Wolves 1-0 through a first half spot kick converted by one of their new players, Ifeanyi George.
The Super 4 Invitational Tournament continues on Wednesday with Dolphins and Enyimba set to go up in a 2014 Cup final rematch on Match Day 3.

Source: Supersport.com

Day 8 Results of the 2015 Australian Open

The 2015 Australian Open hasn't exactly been predictable to this point. After all, we witnessed the early departures of top stars like Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic, John Isner and Petra Kvitova before the round of 16 began. As it turned out, Day 8 would be no exception. While the majority of favorites emerged victorious, several were heavily tested. No. 1 Serena Williams was forced to fight her way back after dropping the first set to Garbine Muguruza, No. 4 Stan Wawrinka needed an impressive tiebreak to take down Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and No. 8 Milos Raonic was pushed to the brink by No. 12 Feliciano Lopez.
After all of that,the big news of the day is that American Venus Williams forged the lone upset of the day, taking down No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets to advance to the quarterfinal along with her sister for the first time since 2010.
A thrilling Day 8 only paves the way to what is poised to be an epic Day 9, as four compelling showdowns comprise a captivating slate. Before the action begins once again, here's a glance back at the Day 8 results and a look ahead to Day 9.

Day 8 Scores

2015 Australian Open Day 8 Results

Men's Singles	Score
No. 8 Milos Raonic def. No. 12 Feliciano Lopez	6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3
No. 4 Stan Wawrinka def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez	7-6(2), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(8)
No. 5 Kei Nishikori def. No. 9 David Ferrer	6-3, 6-3, 6-3
No. 1 Novak Djokovic def. Gilles Muller	6-4, 7-5, 7-5
Women's Singles	Score
No. 11 Dominika Cibulkova def. Victoria Azarenka	6-2, 3-6, 6-3
No. 1 Serena Williams def. No. 24 Gabrine Muguruza	2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Madison Keys def. Madison Brengle	6-2, 6-4
No. 18 Venus Williams def. No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska	6-3, 2-6, 6-1

ausopen.com

DAY 9 PREVIEW 

(7) Tomas Berdych vs (3) Rafael Nadal

 Following a bit of a scare in Round 2, Nadal has been lights-out, winning his next two matches in consecutive sets. The Spaniard has been extremely efficient of late, as a combination of accurate serves, aggressiveness and limited errors have translated to victories.
Nadal's round of 16 win over Kevin Anderson combined all of these elements. He won 78 percent of his first-serve points, an impressive 16 of his 18 net points and hung tough, winning four of his six break points while accumulating 25 unforced errors.
The No. 3 seed's ability to adapt to his opponent is the biggest reason for his success. After a sluggish start in the return game against Anderson, Nadal was able to figure out his opponent's serve and finish the match winning 33 percent of his receiving points.
Nadal will need to continue that trend if he is to take down the red-hot Berdych on Day 9.
The Czech has been on fire in Melbourne, winning in straight sets in each of his four matches. A hard-hitting, aggressive player, Berdych flourishes by applying constant pressure and wearing down his opponent throughout the match. That was exactly the case when he defeated Bernard Tomic in Round 4.
 Berdych's stellar serve was well on display, as he tallied 17 aces and won 85 percent of his first-serve points. Adding to his fierce playing style is his ability to approach the net with authority. He picked his spots well against Tomic, and winning 13 of his 15 net points was the end result.
While Berdych has been playing very well, he simply hasn't been able to keep up with the smart play of Nadal in recent years. In fact, the Spaniard has won every meeting since they faced off in Madrid back in 2006. Expect Berdych to give Nadal a run for his money, but the versatility of the No. 3 seed could prevail.

This promises to be one of the games of the tournament.

Results from the on-going NPFL Super 6

The competition which is played every year before the beginning of every year is used to usher in a new season. It is usually played by the top 4 teams from the previous season, but this year, the national U-20 and U-23 Teams where included to prepare them for their up-coming competitions.

FLYING EAGLES 2-0 ENYIMBA FC
Despite playing with 10 men for over 30 minutes in the second half, the national U-20 team showed they were really prepared as dispatched tournament’s reigning champions Enyimba 2-0 with goals coming off the boots captain Musa Mohammed and substitute Musa Yahaya in the 62th and 90th minutes.
Coach Manu Garba tutored lads were the better side and even dictated the pace of the game. Enyimba’s undoing was having their players not willing to resume to camp on time due to last season’s unpaid wages.
Enyimba will face Warri Wolves on Monday as the two teams will be out to record their first win of the tournament while Flying Eagles will be hoping to extend their lead with a tough tie against Kano Pillars also on Monday.
KANO PILLARS 2-0 DOLPHINS
Sai Masugida kicked off the Super Four with a mission statement to prove critics wrong as they overpowered Dolphins 2-0 in the first game of the competition.
The Port Harcourt based side had issues with assembling their players on time for the tournament with their old players too insisting on getting their pay for last season but they had a rethink and travelled with the team for a brief camping in the outskirt of Port Harcourt.
Pillars scored two quick fire goals inside the opening ten minutes through two of their newly acquired players, Samuel Tswanya who Christian Obiozor and the tie ended that way despite the attacking forays of Dolphins in the second half.
Pillars will have their hands full on Monday when they face the rampaging Flying Eagles while Dolphins will hope to seek a facelift against the U23s on the same day.
DREAM TEAM VI 2-1 WARRI WOLVES
Decimated national U-23 side still managed to record their first win of the Super 6 after they piped Warri Wolves 2-1 in the third match of the day at the Abuja National Stadium.
The Seasiders tried all the tricks in their armory but they were unable to match the flair of the national U-23 team. Augustine Amutu went ahead to hurt the club that pays his wages when he netted the opener for the Dream Team in the third minute but Gift Atulewa evened the tie in the 49th minute before the back breaker from Baker Ebiabowei in the 52nd minute restored the lead of the U-23 national team.
Wolves will however seek redemption on Monday when they clash against Enyimba while Dream Team V1 will tackle Dolphins hoping to extend their impressive start.

Day 7 Of the 2015 Australian Open

To say action is heating up at the 2015 Australian Open would be putting it lightly.

Throughout the opening week of play in Melbourne, viewers have been sent for a constant curveball. Right when it appears that the favorites are all peaking, one or two seem to fall by the wayside.
The fourth round of play got underway with a thrilling slate of matches on Day 7, but all eight quarterfinalists won't be decided until Day 8 of action is over. That means from here on out, star-studded matchups should be the norm and high-quality play will be on display.
Let's look at everything you need to know about Day 7.

2015 Australian Open Day 7 Scores

Men's Singles	Score
No. 3 Rafael Nadal def. No. 14 Kevin Anderson	7-5, 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 Andy Murray def. No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov	6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5
No. 7 Tomas Berdych def. Bernard Tomic	6-2, 7-6(3), 6-2
Nick Kyrgios def. Andreas Seppi	5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 8-6
Women's Singles	Score
No. 2 Maria Sharapova def. No. 21 Shuai Peng	6-3, 6-0
No. 3 Simona Halep def. Yanina Wickmayer	6-4, 6-2
No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard def. Irina-Camelia Begu	6-1, 5-7, 6-2
No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova def. Julia Goerges	6-3, 6-2

AusOpen.com

Day 5 results of the 2015 Australia Open

The first upset of a top-four seed in the 2015 Australian Open happened on Friday, and the victim was No. 2 Roger Federer. Andreas Seppi took advantage of some uncharacteristic sloppiness from Federer to pull off the four-set victory, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Federer had nine double faults in the match and a whopping 55 unforced errors.
Seppi was able to capitalize by breaking the future Hall of Famer on three of five opportunities. He advances to the fourth round where he will take on Nick Kyrgios. The latter beat Malek Jaziri in straight sets to advance.
While Seppi and Federer have had some tough matches in the past, this win was still very unexpected. ESPN Stats and Info puts it further into perspective.

Loss to Andreas Seppi was 1st time Federer has lost to an unseeded opponent while seeded 1st or 2nd at a Grand Slam.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 23, 2015.

 While Federer experienced a major letdown, Rafael Nadal has seemingly shaken off some early-round issues and is now looking as dominant as many expected. On Friday, he beat Dudi Sela in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5, to advance the fourth round.

 Nadal will face his first seeded opponent of the tournament on Sunday when he takes on No. 10 Kevin Anderson. Anderson defeated No. 24 Richard Gasquet in a tough straight-sets win, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (8-6).

Notable Day 5 Scores

Arena	Result
Rod Laver Arena	No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard def. Caroline Garcia, 7-5, 6-0
Rod Laver Arena	Andreas Seppi def. No. 2 Roger Federer, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Rod Laver Arena	No. 2 Maria Sharapova def. No. 31 Zarina Diyas, 6-1, 6-1
Rod Laver Arena	No. 3 Rafael Nadal def. Dudi Sela, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5
Margaret Court Arena	No. 3 Simona Halep def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 6-4, 7-5
Hisense Arena	No. 6 Andy Murray def. Joao Sousa, 6-1, 6-1, 7-5

AusOpen.com

Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala signs for Liverpool

African Woman Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala has joined Liverpool Ladies.
The FA Women’s Super League champions fended off the challenge of rivals Chelsea to secure the service of the 20-year-old Nigerian international.
“Liverpool Ladies are delighted to annnounce the signing of recently crowned African Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala,” Liverpool stated on their official website.
Oshoala has described joining the Liverpool Ladies as “absolutely fantastic.”
The striker, who joins from Rivers Angels, recognises that she has pitched tent with “a massive club” that can help her take her game to the next level.
“Since I began my football career I have always dreamt of being a professional footballer, so to be able to join the reigning Women’s Super League champions is absolutely fantastic.
“Liverpool Ladies are a massive club, who have some fantastic players who I believe can help to develop my game to the next level. It was also a big incentive to be able to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which is a huge competition and one I’m confident we can do well in,” Oshoala told liverpoolfc.com.
Oshoala is currently regarded as Nigeria’s biggest football talent in the women’s game after claiming the most valuable player and top scorer’s awards at last year’s Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Federer crashes out of the Australia Open

For the first time in eight years, the Australian Open semifinals will not feature Roger Federer.
For the first time in 14 years, the Australian Open fourth round will not feature Roger Federer.
The great man was felled on Friday, in the third round of Australian Open 2015, by a display of brilliance, some brawn, and a lot of honest-to-goodness-bottle from Andreas Seppi. The perfect combination of a willing challenger and a challenged champion, ending 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(5).
“Just a bad day,” Federer said frankly. “It had things to do with Andreas' game and with my game as well. You put those things together, all of a sudden you're playing a match you don't want to play.”
For Federer, it was rather reminiscent of the US Open in 2013. A resurgent opponent showing no mercy on his backhand, leaving him to mis-time the forehand, and then pick him off in the open space.  
Seppi had also not beaten Federer in 10 previous meetings before Friday. He had won just one set, in Doha three years ago. He had also beaten just one member of the top 10 on 26 occasions. And yet on Friday at Melbourne Park, he showed up believing he could win.
“You don't play every day on a centre court, in front of a full stadium, against Roger Federer,” Seppi said. “But I was very calm. Is a special moment for me. I guess it was just an overall feeling I had today out on the court that I couldn't, you know, really get the whole game flowing. You know, was it backhand? Was it forehand? Was it serve? It was a bit of everything."
And Federer? He won’t be playing Nick Kyrgios in a dream fourth-round encounter. But he’s not going anywhere just yet.
“It's not like I'm playing shocking or I'm feeling shocking,” he said. “It's like one of those things you look back and maybe, yeah, I didn't feel so good. If I were you, I wouldn't read very much into that.
It was just a bad day. That’s life."
 Indeed that's life, but he will be greatly missed and he was considered one of the contenders for the title.

 

Day 3 results at the 2015 Australia Open

Day 3 at the 2015 Australian Open marked the start of the second round in main draws. Big names of each side, namely Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal, were seriously challenged during a highly entertaining day of tennis.

Although those two stars were able to survive thanks to strong performances in their deciding sets, there were still some upsets around Melbourne Park. That's been the theme so far in the season's first major, with the bug jumping from the women's side to the men's to open Round 2.
Let's check out the entire slate of results for the third day of action. Those are followed by some analysis and social media reaction as the field begins to get whittled down.

, Bottom Half

Round	Winner	Loser	Score
Second	(2) Roger Federer	Simone Bolelli	3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Second	(3) Rafael Nadal	Tim Smyczek	6-2, 3-6, 6-7, 6-3, 7-5
Second	(6) Andy Murray	Marinko Matosevic	6-1, 6-3, 6-2
Second	(7) Tomas Berdych	Jurgen Melzer	7-6, 6-2, 6-2
Second	(10) Grigor Dimitrov	Lukas Lacko	6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
Second	(14) Kevin Anderson	Ricardas Berankis	6-2, 6-2, 7-6
Second	Marcos Baghdatis	(20) David Goffin	6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
Second	Bernard Tomic	(22) Philipp Kohlschreiber	6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6
Second	Nick Kyrgios	(23) Ivo Karlovic	7-6, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Second	(24) Richard Gasquet	James Duckworth	6-2, 6-3, 7-5
Second	Viktor Troicki	(26) Leonardo Mayer	6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Second	Dudi Sela	(28) Lukas Rosol	7-6, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Second	Andreas Seppi	(29) Jeremy Chardy	7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Second	Joao Sousa	(32) Martin Klizan	4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 1-0 ret.
Second	Sam Groth	Thanasi Kokkinakis	3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
Second	Malek Jaziri	Edouard Roger-Vasselin	1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

AusOpen.com

Real Madrid announce capture of highly sought after Teen

Real Madrid have struck a deal to sign Norway's teenage sensation Martin Odegaard from Stromsgodset.
The 16-year-old midfielder is one of Europe's brightest prospects, having already represented his country three times after becoming the youngest player to play in the Norwegian Tippeligaen last year.   
Several big clubs were thought to be chasing Odegaard including Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Ajax, and Liverpool, but it appears Real have won the race.
"Real Madrid CF and Stromsgodset Fotball have reached an agreement for the transfer of Martin Odegaard," said a statement on the Spanish giants' official website.
"After undergoing a medical exam, the player will hold a press conference with the director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, today 22 January at 1:30pm CET in the Ciudad Real Madrid press room."
Odegaard scored five goals in 23 games for Stromsgodset to help the team finish fourth in the Tippeligaen last year.
Last October, Odegaard became the youngest player in the history of the European Championship when he came on as a substitute in Norway's 2-1 victory over Bulgaria in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Real Madrid remain richest club in the world

Reigning European Champions, Real Madrid are for the tenth-year running ranked the richest club in the world going by the club’s soaring revenues.

Interestingly also, the lucrative nature of the English Premier League also saw all 20 EPL clubs listed among the richest 40 in football.

Indeed, five of the EPL teams are in the top 10 of the football ‘Rich List’, just published world reputable accountants, Deloitte.

“In fact, every Premier League club reported record revenues in 2013/14. Between them, the eight English clubs in our top 20 achieved total broadcast revenues of £0.9bn. This is testament to the huge appeal of the Premier League globally and the equality of distribution the clubs enjoy relative to their European counterparts. Austin Houlihan, senior manager at Deloitte, told the Daily Mail as the new rankings were made public.

“The Premier League’s new broadcast deals have translated into big revenue increases across the English top flight,” Hoolihan added. 

 “Additionally, the Premier League is currently negotiating for the next cycle of media rights and further uplifts are anticipated.”

TOP 30 RICHEST FOOTBALL CLUBS BY REVENUE (FOR 2013-14)

1. Real Madrid - £459.5m

2. Manchester United - £433.2m

3. Bayern Munich - £407.7m

4. Barcelona - £405.2m

5. Paris Saint-Germain - £396.5m

6. Manchester City - £346.5m

7. Chelsea - £324.4m

8. Arsenal - £300.5m

9. Liverpool - £255.8m

10. Juventus - £233.6m

11. Borussia Dortmund - £218.7m

12. AC Milan - £208.8m

13. Tottenham - £180.5m

14. Schalke 04 - £178.9m

15. Atletico Madrid - £142.1m

16. Napoli £137.8m

17. Inter Milan - £137.1m

18. Galatasaray - £135.4m

19. Newcastle United - £129.7m

20. Everton £120.5m

21. West Ham United - £105.3m

22. Aston Villa - £101.9m

23. Marseille - £100m

24. Roma - £97.7m

25. Southampton - £97.3

26. Benfica - £96.6

27. Sunderland - £95.7m

28. Hamburg - £92.2m

29. Swansea City - £90.5m

30. Stoke City - £90.1m

Blanc on Financial Fair Play rule-Madrid should be looked at

PSG coach Laurent Blanc has claimed that UEFA should take into account debt levels under the Financial Fair Play rules, arguing that all aspects of club financing should be taken into account, in order to “limit the ability to sign of clubs with high levels of debt, like Real Madrid”.
The Spanish club had 602 million euros of gross debt , at the date of its most recent accounts.
The public demand from Blanc is backed up by a campaign from PSG in the corridors of power at UEFA. The French club, along with Manchester City, the two sides hit by FFP sanctions, are demanding the inclusion of a debt clause in the FFP rules. UEFA are studying the situation.
At the moment FFP only looks at excessive investment by owners and punishes clubs that record constant losses in their accounts.
In terms of debt therefore, the overall interest on debt is looked at (as a cost the club must be able to service), but not the total amount of money outstanding.
Source: as.com

Arsenal almost done to sign Gabriel Paulista

Villarreal coach Marcelino has admitted he could sell defender Gabriel Paulista to Arsenal during the January transfer window.

Paulista has been heavily linked with a move to north London, with reports suggesting boss Arsene Wenger is ready to meet the club’s £15.3 million release fee.

Wenger, has been under increased pressure to bring defensive reinforcements in to the club and has already confirmed that he will be active in the market.

And the Frenchman may get his man as Marcelino confirmed the defender could be sold this month. He told EL Larguero: “I hadn’t considered selling Gabriel, it’s bad news from a sporting point of view.

“But if both Gabriel and the club believe that his sale to Arsenal is the best for all parties, we will accept.”

Paulista has played every single game for the La Liga club this season, helping them to sixth place in the division following a run of 15 games unbeaten.

But the Brazilian defender hinted last weekend that a move to England is a definite possibility.

"Whether I go to Arsenal or stay at Villarreal, I won't lose my head,” said Paulista.

"I'm very calm. My head is at Villarreal and I'm very focused. My agent is working on making sure I continue being calm."

Could he just be the next Arsenal signing? We can only wait and see. But one thing is for sure- Arsenal fans can't wait fro this to happen.

The Results so far of the 2015 Australia open

MATCHES (1st Round)

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MEN (the no in bracket represents their ranking)
Federer (2) d. Lu	6-4, 6-2, 7-5	Troicki d. Vesely	6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Nadal (3) d. Youzhny	6-3, 6-2, 6-2	Seppi d. Istomin	5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
Murray (6) d. Bhambri	6-3, 6-4, 7-6	Bolelli d. Monaco	6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Berdych (7) d. Falla	6-3, 7-6, 6-3	Jaziri d. Kukushkin	6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
Dimitrov (10) d. D Brown	6-2, 6-3, 6-2	Kyrgios d. Delbonis	7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3
Kokkinakis d. Gulbis (11)	5-7, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6, 8-6	Sousa d. J Thompson	6-4, 7-6, 6-4
Anderson (14) d. Schwartzman	7-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4	Sela d. Struff	6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Roger-Vasselin d. Robredo (15)	2-3 ret.	Tomic d. Kamke	7-5, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
Goffin (20) d. Russell	6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-0	Baghdatis d. Gabashvili	6-2, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Kohlschreiber (22) d. Mathieu	6-2, 6-2, 6-1	J Melzer d. Estrella Burgos	6-1, 6-4, 6-2
Karlovic (23) d. Bemelmans	6-4, 6-2, 6-4	Matosevic d. Kudryavtsev	6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Gasquet (24) d. Berlocq	6-1, 6-3, 6-1	Groth d. Krajinovic	6-3, 7-6, 6-4
L Mayer (26) d. Millman	6-3, 6-3, 6-2	Berankis d. Sijsling	2-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
Rosol (28) d. K de Schepper	4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4	Lacko d. M Gonzalez	4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-7, 6-1
Chardy (29) d. Coric	3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4	Duckworth d. Kavcic	6-2, 5-7, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2
Klizan (32) d. Ito	7-6, 6-2, 6-4	Smyczek d. Saville	7-6, 7-5, 6-4

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WOMEN (View bracket)
Sharapova (2) d. Martic	6-4, 6-1	Dodin d. Riske	7-6, 3-6, 6-3
Halep (3) d. Knapp	6-3, 6-2	Vinci d. Jovanovski	7-5, 6-1
Hradecka d. Ivanovic (5)	1-6, 6-3, 6-2	Koukalova d. Sanders	7-5, 6-4
Bouchard (7) d. Friedsam	6-2, 6-4	Rybarikova d. Konjuh	6-4, 6-4
Begu d. Kerber (9)	6-4, 0-6, 6-1	McHale d. Foretz	6-4, 1-6, 12-10
Makarova (10) d. Mestach	6-2, 6-2	Soler Espinosa d. A Beck	7-5, 6-4
Errani (14) d. Min	6-1, 6-0	Puig d. Ar Rodionova	6-0, 6-3
Shvedova d. Safarova (16)	6-4, 2-6, 8-6	Siniakova d. Vesnina	6-2, 7-5
Witthoeft d. Suarez Navarro (17)	6-3, 6-1	Gajdosova d. Dulgheru	6-3, 6-4
Peng (21) d. T Maria	6-4, 7-5	Bertens d. Gavrilova	7-6, 5-7, 6-2
Ka Pliskova (22) d. Rodina	7-5, 6-1	Schmiedlova d. Scheepers	6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Wickmayer d. Pavlyuchenkova (23)	4-6, 6-3, 6-3	Voegele d. Parmentier	6-1, 3-6, 6-2
C Garcia d. Kuznetsova (27)	6-4, 6-2	Hercog d. Q Wang	3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Mladenovic d. Lisicki (28)	4-6, 6-4, 6-2	Arruabarrena d. Voracova	6-1, 6-2
Diyas (31) d. U Radwanska	3-6, 6-4, 6-2	Panova d. Cirstea	7-5, 6-0
Goerges d. Bencic (32)	6-2, 6-1	Mattek-Sands d. Duan	6-4, 3-6, 6-3

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SEEDS ELIMINATED TODAY

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MEN	WOMEN
Ernests Gulbis (11)	Ana Ivanovic (5)
Tommy Robredo (15)	Angelique Kerber (9)
	Lucie Safarova (16)
	Carla Suarez Navarro (17)
	Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (23)
	Svetlana Kuznetsova (27)
	Sabine Lisicki (28)
	Belinda Bencic (32)

The William sisters withdraw from doubles

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Serena and Vneus Williams have pulled out of women's doubles at the Australian Open, where they've won four titles.
The Williams sisters were scheduled to play their first-round match Wednesday against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.
A tournament official confirmed the Williams sisters had withdrawn, but did not specify a reason.
Both sisters won their first-round singles matches in singles on Tuesday.
Source: The Associated Press