Tennis : Raonic parts ways with coach Krajicek

Milos Raonic and coach Richard Krajicek have decided to part ways after less than six months working together, the Canadian said in the wake of his exit from the French Open.
The world number six did not win a title under the former Wimbledon champion, who was appointed in December, and progressed to the final in two of nine tournaments.
Raonic lost to Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth round at Roland Garros on Sunday.
"My coach, Richard Krajicek, and I have decided to part ways. This decision has been a mutual one," Raonic said on his official Twitter account.
"I would like to thank Richard for his help with my game, his dedication and professionalism. I wish him all the best."
Raonic, who has continued to work with long-time coach Riccardo Piatti, will aim to get his season back on track at the Aegon Championships in Birmingham, later this month.

© Thomson Reuters

Tennis : Memory fails Nishikori ahead of Murray reunion

Memory fails Nishikori ahead of Murray reunionKei Nishikori admitted he couldn't remember last year's US Open upset of Andy Murray after booking a quarterfinal rematch with the world No 1 at Roland Garros on Monday.

The Japanese star recovered from a dreadful start to beat veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in the French Open fourth round to reach a seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Nishikori surpassed Jiro Satoh for the most quarterfinal appearances by a Japanese man, as he made the last eight for the second time in three years in Paris.
He will take on Murray for a place in the semifinals, with the Briton prevailing in eight of their 10 previous meetings.
But Nishikori famously dumped the 2012 US Open champion out in New York last year after rallying from sets to one down.
"Sorry that I don't remember much," Nishikori responded when asked of the confidence he could draw from that five-set victory.
"You know when we play it's always a battle," he added. "Yeah, for sure, it's gonna be a tough one.
"We have been playing so many times. He's great player. Very smart tennis player. It's never easy, and I think this week he's been playing well."
Verdasco knocked out German ninth seed Alexander Zverev in the first round and looked like claiming another top-10 scalp when he raced through the opening set.
"I lost my mind, after 6-0 down I knew I had to change something," said Nishikori.
"I couldn't do anything first set but I tried to play deeper and more aggressive, and little by little I got better today.
"But still it was really, really tough battle. There was so many long rallies, second and third sets. I don't know how I got the second and third.
"The fourth, I think it was perfect tennis I played. So, yeah, very tough battle but very happy to win today."
Nishikori was playing for the third day running after his last-32 clash with South Korea's Hyeon Chung was held up by rain.
"I'm a little bit sore. Three days in a row. Not easy. Long matches. But I'm sure it's going to be okay. I have one day rest tomorrow (Tuesday)."
Murray, who coasted into the last eight with a straight-sets win over Russia's Karen Khachanov, knows Nishikori will represent his biggest test so far.
"Kei, you know, obviously lost against him at the US Open. He plays well on the clay. You know, very solid off both wings. Moves well, quick," said Murray.

© AFP

Tennis: Murray Open third round with straight sets victory

World number one Andy Murray beat Romanian Marius Copil 6-4 6-3 to reach the third round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.
The Briton made a slow start against an opponent 103 places below him in the world rankings but he broke Copil's serve in the 10th game to take the set and found his feet in the second after breaking at 3-2.
He finished off the big-serving Romanian in 83 minutes without having faced a break point.
Murray, runner up in Madrid last year to Novak Djokovic, is likely to face a real test of his number one status at the tournament where anything less than a final berth will reduce his overall ranking points.
Crowd favorite Rafael Nadal will make his first appearance at the tournament he has won a record four times when he meets Italian Fabio Fognini on Wednesday.
Nadal has made a flying start to the claycourt season by winning the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open for a record-extending 10th time.
World number two Djokovic will meet Nicolas Almagro, who won an all-Spanish affair against Tommy Robredo 6-3 3-6 6-1.