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Indian Wells champion Nadal was the first break, but couldn’t do the same in of former Manchester United afael Nadal and Roger Federer through, defeating fellow Spaniard the second. eicester City goalkeeper Kasper goalkeeper Peter, was overly booked a mouthwatering Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-5. In the third, however, he raced LSchmeichel has spoken of the concerned by Leicester’s next fourth-roundR clash at the ATP Despite two “horrible” games, away with it, winning the last “relief” the team felt after they European opponent after giving Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday, Nadal was pleased with his five games with what he called reached the quarter-finals of the away a second-half penalty for a where five-time champion Novak overall effort against Verdasco, a “probably the best tennis I’ve Champions League. foul on Vitolo. Djokovic also advanced from the left-hander like himself who has played this year”. Goals from club captain Wes But he made amends by saving “group of death”. pushed him in the past. Kyrgios defeated Germany’s Morgan and saw Nzonzi’s poor spot-kick -- his With the three superstars “I played a good match -- very Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 in a Leicester to a 2-0 win at the King second penalty save of the tie after drawn in the same quarter, only aggressive with my serve, serving battle of two of the ATP Tour’s Schmeichel Power Stadium on Tuesday, with he denied Joaquin Correa in Spain. Federer one - at most - can make it to the well, hitting good forehands, good most exciting young talents. Schmeichel making a key penalty “I can’t see how it’s a penalty but semi-finals. backhands. With the loaded bottom quarter save on the night as they sealed a 3-2 it was given and you have to move The weeding out will start “I think I played much better the focus of attention, fourth- aggregate win over Sevilla following on and try to save it,” he said. “It in earnest, when Federer meets today than the first day. I played seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan a 2-1 first-leg loss in Spain. (the clean sheet) is a testament to Nadal in the round of 16 in a two horrible games, terrible. quietly advanced to the fourth An incident-packed match saw the boys, we played really well in reprise of the Australian Open That’s it. For the rest of the match round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Sevilla’s Samir Nasri sent off after the first half and it was always going final in January that saw the Swiss I think I played very well.” Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. clashing with before to be tough to keep that intensity. star claim an 18th Grand Slam The blip came after Nadal had Nishikori booked a date with Schmeichel saved Steven N’Zonzi’s “We should have shut he game crown. broken for a 2-1 lead in the second unseeded American Donald reveals penalty and the visitors’ manager out but it was a great performance sets up “I think it’s a great thing for set. He was promptly broken to Young, who ousted 14th-seeded Jorge Sampaoli sent to the stands. all round.” tennis, and it’s exciting for Rafa love himself, then Verdasco held Lucas Pouille of France 6-4, 1-6, “There was so much relief when Morgan opened the scoring in and me,” said Federer, a four-time with a love game. 6-3. the final whistle went,” Schmeichel the 27th minute before Albrighton Indian Wells winner. “It’s a tough But Nadal gained the break he American Jack Sock saved four told Leicester’s website. added a second goal nine minutes draw, but rankings are not the needed for a 6-5 lead in a game match points in a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 “It was an amazing evening, I’m into the second half. priority for both of us. Verdasco book-ended with double (9/7) win over Bulgarian Grigor proud of all the boys. The fans were England striker Vardy missed “Anything else but a finals, faults, and served it out without Dimitrov. Sock, winner of ATP absolutely magnificent and it was a several chances to finish the game it almost doesn’t matter which a hitch. titles in Auckland and ‘relief’ great atmosphere,” he added. but an elated Morgan was delighted round it would be,” he Federer edged American Delray Beach Leicester, who had been 5,000/1 by Leicester’s achievement in Nadal added of what will be the Steve Johnson 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 this year, outsiders, stunned he world of getting through to the quarter- 36th meeting between (7/4) in a match in which next faces football by winning the Premier finals. the two -- their first neither player was able to Tunisia’s League last season. “Incredible, I can’t quite believe before the quarter- break. Malek Leicester But a collapse in form this term it,” he told BT Sport. “We’re finals since they Federer failed to convert Jaziri, a 6-4, left them facing the prospect of newcomers in the Champions launched their rivalry his four break chances, but 3-6, 6-3 winner relegation from the English top League, we didn’t expect to get this in 2004. was pleased enough at not over 19-year-old maintain and led the Midlands club to sack far and here we are. Three- facing a break point himself. American Taylor manager . “I’m not sure this is ever going to time “I was very happy how I played Fritz. (AFP) However, Tuesday’s win was happen again, but we did it. Indian because I thought he played a their third in a row since Craig “We did it and we proved a clash Wells really good match,” said Federer, Champions Shakespeare stepped up from his lot of people wrong. It was a big who gave up just six points on his previous role as Ranieri’s assistant. game for us and a big night for first serve in the encounter. Now Leicester could face holders everyone involved with Leicester League bid Real Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus and we’ve pulled Djokovic downs del Potro Leicester City’s Danish goalkeeper in the last eight. off the impossible Djokovic made it past dangerous takes a drink during the UEFA Champions League Not that Schmeichel, the son again.” (AFP) Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who shocked the Serb star in the first round of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year en route to singles silver. Manohar quits Djokovic eked out the first set despite Pogba going down an early as ICC chairman New Delhi powerful nations -- India, Australia Novak Djokovic ndia’s Shashank Manohar and England. deserves of Serbia cel- resigned yesterday as chairman But the organisation now faces ebrates break- ofI the International Cricket Council a fresh bout of turmoil after the ing Juan Martin after a fallout with his own board divisions between the powerful Del Potro of Roger Rafael Nadal over efforts to reform the game’s Indian board and most of the rest Argentina in the ‘respect’ Federer of of Spain serves world governing body. of the game erupted into the open. thrid set Switzerland against Fernando Manohar took over last year as “The ICC has confirmed it has Manchester returns a Verdasco of Spain the first independent ICC chairman received an email from Chairman anchester United manager Jose Mourinho has shot to Steve in their third for a two-year term and had been Shashank Manohar tendering his Mhit back at the mounting criticism being heaped Johnson round match trying to bring in changes to the resignation,” the organisation said upon Paul Pogba, saying the France midfielder is the ICC’s governance designed to in a brief statement after news of the victim of jealousy from former professional players reduce the power of cricket’s most resignation had been leaked. now working in the media. Ranchi their efforts to broker peace between decision after Pogba has been under an understandably intense ustralian the top two-ranked Test teams. being given spotlight since his world record £89.3 million ($108.9 Askipper Steve Kohli’s accusations last week had out lbw -- a clear million, 102.4 million euros) pre-season return to Smith accused his plunged the teams’ often tense ties back breach of the DRS rules. United from Italian side Juventus. Indian counterpart into crisis mode, with Australia’s board While Smith called the In recent weeks his form has been widely criticised, Smith raps Virat Kohli of calling his comments “outrageous”, incident on the fourth and final especially after Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final loss talking “absolute rubbish” prompting an equally robust response day a one-off, Kohli said after at Chelsea where Pogba seemed to shoulder much of Wednesday despite efforts to bring from the Indian camp. Speaking to the match that it had been the blame for what was just United’s second defeat an end to the arch rivals’ bitter war reporters ahead of the third Test in going on for days. since early November. of words. After Kohli said on the Ranchi, Kohli said his focus was now Asked on Wednesday But Mourinho has launched a passionate defence of Kohli for eve of the third Test that he had on the cricket but he refused to back about Kohli’s latest Pogba, still only 24, and insists his strong personality no regrets over accusing Australia of down on his claims against Smith. comments, Smith said he means that he ‘does not give a ‘s’” about his critics. systematically abusing the decision “I don’t regret anything that I have was keen to move things on “It is not Paul’s fault that he gets 10 times the review system (DRS) in their last said but at the same time it’s very but still snapped back at his money some players did in the past,” Mourinho match in Bangalore, Smith angrily important not to be stupid and go on counterpart. told a news conference on Wednesday ahead of the denied that he was guilty of more than about the same thing on a daily basis,” “Virat obviously stuck by his second leg of United’s Europa League tie against ‘talking a momentary lapse. said Kohli. comments. From my point of Russian side Rostov at Old Trafford on Thursday. While the International Cricket India were furious when Smith was view they are completely wrong. “It is not his fault that some pundits are in real Council is set to hold clear-the-air spotted looking up at his dressing- I obviously came out of the game trouble with their lives and need every coin to survive Manchester United’s French midfielder talks between the two men, the new room for guidance in Bangalore on and said I made a mistake,” Smith Indian cricket team and Paul is a multi-millionaire. It is not his fault.” Paul Pogba takes part in a training session rubbish’ exchanges are likely to complicate whether to seek a review of the umpire’s told reporters. (AFP) captain Virat Kohli Shashank Manohar