Black- and Whitelist » had another break to go 4-2

MADRID, Spain -- Defending champion Rafael Nadal gave his clay-court doldrums a boost by reaching the Madrid Open semifinals on Friday with a dominant performance against Thomas Berdych. In the womens tournament, two-time defending champion Serena Williams withdrew with a leg injury, while Maria Sharapova ousted Li Na in the quarterfinals. The top-ranked Nadal had lost his previous two quarterfinal matches on clay for his worst run on the surface in a decade. But buoyed on by a partisan crowd, Nadal overpowered Berdych 6-4, 6-2 to advance at the Magic Box. "I brought great energy and intensity to it and thats the best news, that its my best (on clay) yet," Nadal said. "The things that, historically, Ive done well on this surface I managed to do them again today." Nadal has been improving with every match in Madrid after losing at the quarterfinals stage in preceding tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. But he showed no sign of the nerves that had uncharacteristically crept into the game of the most successful clay-court player ever as he pushed Berdych to the corners and punished him with a powerful forehand that accounted for 16 of his winners. "My play is good when Im hitting my forehand well, especially on clay," said Nadal, who is vying for his third title in the Spanish capital. "In Monte Carlo I used my backhand more and not my forehand, and when I have to hit five or six backhands in a row it doesnt help my game." Berdych, who dropped to 3-18 against Nadal, couldnt keep up in the hot sun beating down on Manolo Santana centre court. Nadal faces countryman Roberto Bautista Agut after the 45th-ranked player beat Colombias Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-4. David Ferrer followed Bautista Aguts victory with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Ernests Gulbis to become the third Spaniard in the semis. Kei Nishikori prevented an all-Spanish lineup in the final four by beating Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4 in the late match. The win also ensures that he will become the first Japanese player to break into the top 10 when the new world rankings are released on Monday. Nishikori remained undefeated on clay this season in nine matches after winning the Barcelona Open title. The top-ranked Williams has had her left thigh heavily bandaged this week and said she injured it during a first-round victory over Belinda Bencic on Sunday. "It started to get better but, most importantly right now, I just need some time to rest and recover. Its beyond words. Its so frustrating," Williams said in a statement. "This is not the way I wanted this week to end." The withdrawal gave 2011 champion Petra Kvitova a walkover and a spot in the semifinals. The 32-year-old Williams said the injury would not keep her out of the French Open, with the defending champion tweeting she would play in Rome next week before the second Grand Slam of the season starts on May 25. Sharapova reached the semis after she rallied to beat Li 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Li was in control until she failed to convert two break points in the 11th game of the second set. Errors then began creeping into the Australian Open champions game as Sharapova evened the match. After an exchange of breaks in the third set, the ninth-ranked Russian broke again and then held serve to win on Lis 43rd unforced error. "It really could have gone her way today. You know, it was just a matter of a few points in the second set," said Sharapova, who came through despite seven doublefaults. "I was down, I didnt play a great first set, and I found a way to get myself in a position to be in the third." Sharapova faces third-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals after the Polish player beat French qualifier Caroline Garcia 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Kvitova will face fourth-seeded Simona Halep after the Romanian ousted Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-2. Custom Milwaukee Brewers Nike Jerseys .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. Custom Philadelphia Phillies Nike Jerseys . Now, he might be their hottest pitcher. Lobstein earned up his first major league victory Sunday night, allowing one run in 5 2-3 innings in the Tigers 6-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.co...es-nike-jerseys. Hazard lasted just 18 minutes in Tuesdays contest before being substituted with the calf problem, and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes he will be without his star winger for at least the next two weeks. Custom Authentic Baseball Jerseys . -- Mixed martial arts fighter Cristiane Justino Santos has been suspended and fined for testing positive for steroids. Custom Kansas City Royals Nike Jerseys . -- Arizona coach Sean Miller rose from his seat every time Roberto Nelson touched the ball and yelled "Shooter!" He could have been talking about his own team, too.VIENNA, Austria -- Canadian Daniel Nestor suffered disappointment in only his third doubles final of the season as he and first-time partner Julian Knowle of Austria lost 7-5, 6-4 to Romanian Florin Mergea and Czech Lukas Rosol at the Erste Bank Open on Sunday. The defeat added more misery to what has been a dismal season by the Toronto products world-class standards. The 41-year-old teamed with Knowle, a 2007 U.S. Open doubles winner, after Austrian Jurgen Melzer had to withdraw with a shoulder injury. Third seeds Nestor and Knowle let a 5-2 lead slip in the first set and were unable to recover as their opponents built momentum to conclude the upset win. "I came here not ever sure of playing doubles this week," said Nestor. "Asia was a frustrating trip, we (Nestor and Leander Paes) had two matches where we were up match points in Beijing and Shanghai and we lost them both. "Out team today also had chances but we couldnt convert them." Nestor and Paes won the Winston-Salem title the week before the U.S. Open, the Canadians only trophy success in 2013. He and former regular partner Robert Lindstedt of Sweden reached the spring Barcelona final. Nestor will miss the year-end World Tour Finals in London for the first time since it moved to Britain from Shanghai in 2009. In the mens singles final, Tommy Haas won his 15th career title and second of the season by defeating Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 at the Erste Bank Open on Sunday. The second-seeded German, won also won the event 12 years ago, maintained his slim chance of qualifying for next months ATP finals in London. "This victory is really something speecial," the 12th-ranked Haas said.dddddddddddd"You dont win tournaments too often and this year Ive won in my two favourite cities." The 35-year-old Haas had already become the oldest tournament winner of the season by taking the title in Munich in May. Haas, who improved to 15-12 in career finals, said he was "very proud" of what he achieved after recovering from hip surgery in 2010. "If youd seen me 3 1/2 years ago ... I was really asking myself if it made sense to continue," Haas said. "I have been paying a lot of attention to my fitness and nutrition and I am always looking to improve my tennis." Haas came back from a break down to win the opening set and appeared in control when he broke Haase again and led 1-0, 40-15 in the second set. However, Haase won that game and broke Haas again at 5-4 when the 63rd-ranked Dutchman converted his first set point with a lob. Haase had another break to go 4-2 up in the decider but immediately dropped his serve on a double fault and failed to win a game afterward. Haas closed out the victory on his first match point when Haase sent a backhand long. "I am disappointed as Ive had my chances," said Haase, who upset top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinal. "When I broke him at 1-0 in the second set, I started to feel stronger. I believed I could turn around the match. But he played all or nothing at the end and that paid off for him." It was Haases second defeat in a final this year after losing in Gstaad, Switzerland, three months ago. The Dutchman won both his career titles in Austria -- on clay in Kitzbuehel in 2011 and 12. ' ' '