₦airaland Forum

Fulham 1 - 2 Man Utd (Craven Cottage)
17' B McBride
29' R Giggs
88' C Ronaldo

Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Reading (The Riverside Stadium)
7' M Viduka
69' A Yakubu
87' J Oster

Charlton 4 - 0 West Ham (The Valley)
24' D Ambrose
34' J Thomas
41' D Bent
80' J Thomas

Watford 0 - 3 Everton (Vicarage Road Stadium)
23' M Fernandes
25' A Johnson (pen)
90' L Osman

Liverpool 4 - 0 Sheff Utd (Anfield)
20' R Fowler (pen)
25' R Fowler (pen)
70' S Hyypia
73' S Gerrard

Zule, that link is dead. There's no file to download.

lol,  Mauresmo's among the skillful few I love to watch, Henin, even Kuznetsova.

You still haven't said what u dislike about Mauresmo.

I was of the opinion that there are more women's tennis fans than men's but so far, that's not the case on nairaland. I prefer men's tennis too anyways but there are some women who i just love to watch.

They aint doing too badly. If not for Kim's disappointing loss in last week's final, she's been ok. Justine's bounced back too and venus, erm, i don't think she can beat Peer in tomorrow's final.

Oh! i c. Who are ur favourites? in the women's tour, that is.

thanks toptho, it's been a while.

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3861/heninek9.jpg
Winner of the Women's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Open 2007, Justine Henin

[url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007090104,00.html]Gallas: Play me in Carling final[/url]

WILLIAM GALLAS told Arsene Wenger last night: I should play in the Carling Cup final.

The Arsenal defender returned from a three-month injury absence only last week and is desperate to face former club Chelsea to step up his fitness.

But boss Wenger looks sure to stick by his youngsters.

Gallas, 29, said: “I want to be in the starting eleven. Not because we are playing Chelsea but because I’m suffering from a lack of playing time after three months out.


Do you see AW bending his rules in Gallas' favour?

ATP Buenos Aires Update:

Italy's Alessio di Mauro reached the first ATP semi-final of his career when he beat Albert Montanes at the Buenos Aires Open on Friday.

Di Mauro, 29, beat the Spaniard 1-6 6-4 6-2 for his first win at an ATP tournament since last year's US Open.

Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, seeded fourth, was the only seed to make the last four when he beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4 6-3.

Argentine pair Juan Monaco and Diego Hartfield also went through.

Monaco ended Peruvian Luis Horna's run, winning 4-6 6-2 6-3. Horna, winner in Vina del Mar this year, had eliminated top seed David Nalbandian in the round-robin stage.

Hartfield beat Frenchman Nicolas Devilder 6-4 7-5.

ATP Rotterdam Update:

Top seed Nikolay Davydenko battled to a 6-7 6-4 6-4 quarter-final win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the world indoor tournament on Friday.

The Russian's hard-fought victory sets up a semi-final with big-serving Croat Ivan Ljubicic who brushed aside another German, Florian Mayer, 6-4 6-2 with the help of 13 aces.

The other semi sees Serbian Novak Djokovic, who upset second seed Tommy Robredo 4-6 6-4 7-5, against Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who beat another Spaniard, sixth seed David Ferrer, 6-2 7-5.

Semi-Final Fixtures:
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

ATP Memphis Update:

Quarter-Final Results:
Andy Roddick (USA)  bt.  Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)  6/4  7/6
Andrew Murray (GBR)  bt.  Stefan Koubek (AUT)  6/3  6/2
Mardy Fish (USA)  bt.  Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS)  Retired
Tommy Haas (GER)  bt.  Sam Querrey (USA)    6/2  6/2 

Roddick meets Murray again. Murray beat Roddick in straight sets in the semi-finals of the San Jose Open in California last weekend on the way to winning the title.

Haas faces Fish in the other semi-final.

@iice, it's a good thing all ur hubbies are doing well in their respective tournaments.

Did u notice that ur favourites are either too old or too young?

WTA Memphis Update:

Top seed Shahar Peer beat American Meilen Tu 6/4 7/5 in a marathon battle to reach the final of the Memphis International on Friday.

The Israeli needed just over two hours to claim victory, finally breaking Tu in the 12th game of the second set to reach her first final of the year.

She will play seventh seed Venus Williams, who beat Romanian Ioana Olaru 6/3  6/2.

WTA Bogota Update:

Italy will be heavily represented in Saturday's semis as Tathiana Garbin, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci are all still in contention. Garbin, seeded No.1 at a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event for the first time in her career, took out unseeded Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 62 75.

Semi Final Fixtures:

Tathiana Garbin (ITA)  vs.  Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP)
Roberta Vinci (ITA)  vs.  Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

SF Results:
Tathiana Garbin  bt Dominguez Lino  6/3  6/1
Roberta Vinci bt Pennetta  3/6  7/6  6/2

Final Result:

Roberta Vinci won the Copa Colsanitas on Sunday when top-seeded Tathiana Garbin retired in the third set because of a digestive problem.

Garbin, also the 2000 runner-up, led 7-6 (5), 4-6, 3-0 in the all-Italian final when she withdrew on the advice of a doctor after her second medical consultation of the day.

"I felt sick since Saturday night," Garbin said. "I got better on Sunday morning but in the second set, when I was winning 3-0, the problem came back. I fought to try and finish the match but it was impossible."

Vinci earned $25,850 for her first WTA Tour title.

"I achieved my first title in the WTA, but with what happened to Tathiana, it is not something I can fully enjoy," Vinci said. "I would have liked it if we were playing under the same conditions."

WTA Dubai Update:

Justine Henin overcame third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 1-6 6-4 6-0 to reach the Dubai Open final, boosting her record against the Russian to 13 wins in 14 meetings.

Amelie Mauresmo also advanced to the final of the Dubai Open on Friday when an injured Jelena Jankovic retired after conceding the opening set 6-2.

The second seed from France will next face defending champion Justine Henin.

WTA Memphis Update:

Shahar Peer, Venus Williams progress to the semis.

Semi-Final Fixtures:
Shahar Peer (ISR)  vs.  Meilen Tu (USA)

Ioana Olaru (ROM)  vs.  Venus Williams (USA)

WTA Bogota Update:

Quarter-Final Fixtures
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) vs. Barbora Strycova (CZE)
Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) vs. Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
Roberta Vinci (ITA) vs. Emilie Loit (FRA)
Nathalie Vierin (ITA) vs. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

Haha, nice one. This model of Nokia will def disconnect 'em.

ATP Rotterdam:

Quarter-Final Fixtures:
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) vs. Florian Mayer (GER)
David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Tommy Robredo (ESP)

WTA Dubai Update:

Top seed Justine Henin crushed Greece's Eleni Daniilidou 6-0 6-2 while number two Amelie Mauresmo struggled to a 6-3 3-6 6-4 victory over Slovak Daniela Hantuchova in the Dubai Open quarter-finals.

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic put out fourth seed Martina Hingis 7-6 6-2 and third-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova eased past Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-3 6-4.

Henin faces Kuznetsova, and Jankovic plays Mauresmo in the semis.

WTA Memphis Update:

Quarter-Final Fixtures:
Shahar Peer (ISR) vs. Bethanie Mattek (USA)
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) vs. Meilen Tu (USA)
Ioana Olaru (ROM) vs. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Venus Williams (USA) vs. Laura Granville (USA)

Peer won her second round match over Milagros Sequera (VEN) 6/0 6/0

ATP Dubai Update:

Quarter-Final Fixtures:

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Eleni Daniilidou (GRE)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Patty Schnyder (SUI)
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Martina Hingis (SUI)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

Watford  1 - 1  Wigan (Vicarage Road Stadium)
                    20' F Hall (red card)
24' D Henderson
                    40' C Folan

Everton  1 - 2  Tottenham (Goodison Park)
                    35' D Berbatov
42' M Arteta
                    89' J Jenas

I'm so happy to see Mikel play again; the lad has really improved. He moves so well with the ball.

Barca are in trouble.

WTA Bogota:

Seeds: Tathiana Garbin (ITA), Flavia Pennetta (ITA), Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP), Emilie Loit (FRA), Anastasia Yakimova (BLR), Roberta Vinci (ITA), Klara Zakopalova (CZE), Hana Sromova (CZE)

Others: Kathrin Woerle (GER), Jorgelina Cravero (ARG), Qualifier Qualifier (AFG), Barbora Strycova (CZE), Marta Marrero (ESP), Sara Errani (ITA), Qualifier Qualifier (AFG), Julie Ditty (USA), Pauline Parmentier (FRA), Ivana Abramovic (CRO), Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP), Katerina Bohmova (CZE), Kyra Nagy (HUN), Paola Suarez (ARG), Zsofia Gubacsi (HUN), Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP), Nathalie Vierin (ITA), Conchita Martinez Granados (ESP), Sandra Zahlavova (CZE), Mariana Duque Marino (COL), Viky Nunez Fuentes (COL), Tatjana Malek (GER)

All seeds progressed to the second round except Yakimova who lost to Nathalie Vierin 2/6 4/6.

@ Seun, u'r welcome

@ iice, neva knew u had so much interest in tennis.

Now that Federer is spending his time with Mirka, who else do u love to watch play?

ATP Buenos Aires Round Robin

Group 1
D.Nalbandian  vs.  L.Horna   Final Result:  4- 6 |  3- 6 
D.Nalbandian  vs.  G.Canas  Final Result:  4- 6 |  4- 6
L.Horna  vs.  G.Canas           Final Result:  4- 6 |  6- 2 |  6- 2
Qualified: L.Horna

Group 2
C.Moya  vs.  J.Monaco          Final Result:  4- 6 |  7- 6 |  0- 6
C.Moya  vs.  P.Starace         Final Result:  6- 4 |  6- 4 
J.Monaco  vs.  P.Starace      Final Result:   6- 3 |  6- 4
Qualified: L.Horna

Group 3
N.Almagro  vs.  M.Vassallo Arguello    Final Result:  7- 5 |  6- 4 
N.Almagro  vs.  S.Galvani                    Final Result:  6- 4 |  7- 6
M.Vassallo Arguello  vs.  S.Galvani      Final Result:  6- 2 |  6- 4
Qualified: N.Almagro

Group 4
A.Martin  vs.  I.Andreev     Final Result:  3- 6 |  6- 2 |  1- 6 
J.Chela  vs.  A.Martin         Final Result:  6- 1 |  6- 3
J.Chela  vs.  I.Andreev      Final Result:  3- 6 |  7- 5 |  6- 3
Qualified: J.Chela

Group 5
G.Gaudio  vs.  R.Ramirez Hidalgo      Final Result:  1- 6 |  1- 6
G.Gaudio  vs.  A.Di Mauro                 Final Result:  6- 1 |  6- 4
R.Ramirez Hidalgo  vs. A.Di Mauro    Final result:  4- 6 |  6- 7
Qualified:

Group 6
A.Calleri  vs.  A.Montanes     Final Result:   7- 6 |  4- 6 |  4- 6 
A.Calleri  vs.  F.Saretta         Final Result:   6- 7 |  7- 6 |  3- 6
F.Saretta  vs.  A.Montanes   Final Result:   3- 6 |  3- 6
Qualified: A.Montanes

Group 7
J.Acasuso  vs.  S.Roitman     Final Result: 6- 7 |  1- 6
J.Acasuso  vs.  D.Hartfield    Final Result:   6- |  0
S.Roitman  vs.  D.Hartfield    Final Result:  7- 5 |  4- 6 |  6- 7
Qualified:

Group 8
N.Lapentti  vs.  N.Devilder    Final Result:  6- 3 |  2- 6 |  6- 3
J.Ferrero  vs.  N.Lapentti      Final Result:  6- 3 |  6- 3
J.Ferrero  vs.  N.Devilder      Final Result:  6- 1 |  6- 7 |  0- 6
Qualified:

ATP Memphis:

Seeds: Andy Roddick (USA), Tommy Haas (GER), Andrew Murray (GBR), Mardy Fish (USA), Xavier Malisse (BEL), Jurgen Melzer (AUT), Julien Benneteau (FRA), Robby Ginepri (USA)

Other players: Thomas Johansson (SWE), Benjamin Becker (GER), Robert Kendrick (USA), Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE), Chris Guccione (AUS), Jesse Witten (USA), Frank Dancevic (CAN), Kristian Pless (DEN), Igor Kunitsyn (RUS), Stefan Koubek (AUT), Simon Greul (GER), Evgueni Korolev (RUS), Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS), Alex Kuznetsov (USA), Kevin Kim (USA), Juan Marin Del Potro (ARG), Feliciano Lopez (ESP), Bjorn Phau (GER), Hyung-taik Lee (KOR), Ivo Karlovic (CRO), Sam Querrey (USA), Paul Goldstein (USA), Amer Delic (USA) and Vincent Spadea (USA)

Ginepri and Malisse are the early casualties at the tournament. Ginepri lost to Korolev 6/7 6/4 3/6 while Malisse had to retire in the second set of his match with Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili after injuring his right wrist. Haas, Fish and Melzer have qualified for the second round.

In the remaining first round matches, Roddick plays Johansson while Murray also faces Canadian Dancevic later today.

This week's tournaments (Feb 19 - Feb 25) are:
ATP Rotterdam (NED)
ATP Memphis (USA)
ATP Buenos Aires (ARG)

ATP Rotterdam:

Seeds: Nikolay Davydenko (RUS), Tommy Robredo (ESP),  Ivan Ljubicic (CRO), Tomas Berdych (CZE), Novak Djokovic (SRB), David Ferrer (ESP), Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Other Players: Michael Berrer (GER), Marc Gicquel (FRA), Arnaud Clement (FRA), Gilles Simon (FRA)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER), Jan Hernych (CZE), Thiemo De Bakker (NED), Olivier Rochus (BEL), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), Florian Mayer (GER), Dominik Hrbaty (SVK), Gaël Monfils (FRA), Dennis van Scheppingen (NED), Christophe Rochus (BEL), Kristof Vliegen (BEL), Jarkko Nieminen (FIN), Robin Haase (NED), Roko Karanusic (CRO), Mikhail Youzhny (RUS), Florent Serra (FRA), Andrei Pavel (ROM), Daniele Bracciali (ITA), Jonas Bjorkman (SWE), Martin Verkerk (NED), Simone Bolelli (ITA)

Youzhny beat fourth seed Berdych 6/4  6/7  6/1 in the first-round.

WTA Memphis:

Seeds: Shahar Peer (ISR), Shenay Perry (USA), Nicole Pratt (AUS), Jill Craybas (USA), Vania King (USA), Samantha Stosur (AUS), Venus Williams (USA), Marion Bartoli (FRA).

Other players are Laura Granville (USA), Eva Birnerova (CZE), Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK), Eva Birnerova (CZE), Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK), Akiko Morigami (JPN), Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN), Camille Pin (FRA), Varvara Lepchenko (UZB), Ioana Olaru (ROM), Lauren Albanese (USA), Abigail Spears (USA), Kelly Liggan (IRL), Meilen Tu (USA), Ashley Harkleroad (USA), Sofia Arvidsson (SWE), Ekaterina Bychkova (RUS), Lilia Osterloh (USA), Youlia Fedossova (FRA), Bethanie Mattek (USA), Lisa Raymond (USA), Alina Jidkova (RUS), Milagros Sequera (VEN) and Emma Laine (FIN)

Good news for Venus' fan. She made a winning comeback in four months out through injury as she beat Japan's Akiko Morigami 6/1 2/6 6/4 in the first round of the Memphis International on Monday.

Vania King and Bartoli both lost their first round matches to Abigail Spears (USA) 6/4  2/6  6/7  and Laura Granville (USA) 5/7  6/4  0/6 respectively.

This week's tournaments (Feb 19 '02 - Feb 25 '02) are:
WTA Bogota  (COL)
WTA Dubai  (UAE)
WTA Memphis  (USA)

WTA Dubai:

This tournament features top players like Justine Henin (BEL), Na Li (CHN), Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS), Patty Schnyder (SUI), Jelena Jankovic (SRB), Martina Hingis (SUI), Daniela Hantuchova (SVK), Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) as seeds.

Other players are Tamira Paszek (AUT), Katarina Srebotnik (SLO), Ai Sugiyama (JPN), Selima Sfar (TUN), Eleni Daniilidou (GRE), Meghann Shaughnessy (USA), Emmanuelle Gagliardi (SUI), Alicia Molik (AUS), Anna Lena Groenefeld (GER), Francesca Schiavone (ITA), Aravane Rezaï (FRA), Mara Santangelo (ITA). Martina Muller (GER), Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP), Anne Kremer (LUX), Elena Vesnina (RUS), Maria Kirilenko (RUS), Monica Niculescu (ROM), Vera Dushevina (RUS) and Elena Likhovtseva (RUS)

All the seeds have qualified for the second round of the competition, with the exception of Li who was upset by Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) 6/7  7/6  6/3