Djokovic, Murray to meet in Aussie semis

Tennis Betting Lines

01/25/2012 - Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Andy Murray will meet in a marquee semifinal Friday in a rematch of last year's final at the Australian Open.

The reigning Aussie Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titlist Djokovic tallied 35 winners and straight-setted fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, while the three-time Grand Slam runner-up Murray handled 24th-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in Wednesday's quarterfinal action at Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic got past Ferrer in 2 hours, 44 minutes by hitting 17 more winners and breaking the Spaniard five times, compared to only two breaks for the loser.

The Serbian slugger needed 76 minutes to win a grueling second set.

"I was lucky to get out of the second set, it was a big mental advantage to get two sets up," Djokovic said.

Djokovic played down the possibility that he was injured, saying: "I don't have any physical issues."

"I feel very fit and I feel mentally, as well, very fresh," he said. "It's just today I found it very difficult after a long time to breathe because I felt the whole day my nose was closed a little bit. I just wasn't able to get enough oxygen."

Djokovic is now 7-5 lifetime against the gritty Ferrer, who titled in Auckland two weeks ago and had been a perfect 8-0 in this young season.

The Serbian star Djokovic straight-setted his fellow 24-year-old Murray in last year's Aussie finale. Murray has appeared in the last two finals in Melbourne, as he lost to Roger Federer here in 2010.

The four-time major champion Djokovic has won two of the last four Aussie Open titles, with his first one coming in 2008.

He has now won 37 of his last 39 Grand Slam matches and is seeking a third straight major title. A championship this week would put him in select company, as only four players -- Laver, Pete Sampras, Federer and Rafael Nadal -- have captured three straight Grand Slam titles in the Open Era (since 1968).

The high-flying Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have combined to win seven of the last eight Aussie Open championships.

The 24th-seeded Nishikori, the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal in 17 years, provided little more than a speed bump for Murray on Wednesday although he showed a little fight in one of the match's most entertaining points.

Down 30-40 and 1-5 in the third set, Nishikori scrambled to win a long rally with Murray, who was forced to chase down a ball in the back court that he could only send harmlessly to the net.

Nishikori was there for an easy volley, forcing deuce, but Murray followed with a service winner and captured the match on the next point.

"There was quite a few good rallies. I mean, he came up with some good shots," Murray said. "A lot of the long points, the fun rallies he was winning, he came up with some great shots."

The 24-year-old Scot struck 36 winners and won nearly 80 percent of his first- serve points, while Nishikori had 39 unforced errors.

"After a couple games, I was OK," said Nishikori. "He played really well today."

Nishikori was the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam event since Shuzo Matsuoka in 1995 (Wimbledon) and he's also the first Japanese man in 80 years to reach the Aussie Open quarters.

Murray was a champion in Brisbane a few weeks ago.

The good friends Djokovic and Murray will meet for an 11th time at the ATP level, with the Serb holding a 6-4 lifetime advantage. Their lone Grand Slam meeting came in last year's final here, which Djokovic won easily, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic is 3-0 when they've met in semifinals of an event.

Murray is still looking to break through for his first major title. He said he's not feeling more relaxed on the court based on his recent history, just more experienced.

"Just more used to being in this position because of the experience," Murray said.

The biggest match of the tournament thus far will take place on Thursday night when the former world No. 1 greats Nadal and Federer do battle in the first men's semifinal at Laver.

The 25-year-old Nadal and 30-year-old Federer will meet for a 27th time, with the Spaniard leading the all-time series 17-9. Nadal is 7-2 in their Grand Slam meetings, including wins in their last four matchups. The two stalwarts have met in a men's record eight major finals, with Nadal winning six of them. They are in the same half of the draw at a major for the first time since 2005.

Nadal topped Federer in five sets in the 2009 Aussie Open finale.

The second-seeded Nadal is a 10-time major champion and the reigning French Open titlist. The third-seeded Federer, who will appear in his 30th Grand Slam semifinal, is a men's record 16-time Grand Slam champ, including a men's Open Era record-tying four Aussie titles.

Federer, who hasn't won a Grand Slam event since titling here in Melbourne two years ago, has yet to drop a set at this latest Aussie fortnight. He'll appear in his ninth straight Aussie semi on Thursday.

Wwwsportslne Tennis Betting News

<< Aldridge, Trail Blazers halt streaking Grizzlies
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points, including four during a 22-2 run that vaulted the Portland Trail Blazers to a 97-84 win over the streaking Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. The Trail Blazers held Me

<< Murray reaches semis at Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Murray is back in the Australian Open semifinals after beating Kei Nishikori in straight sets Wednesday. The fourth-seeded Murray needed just 29 minutes to win the third set at Rod Laver Arena

<< Hodgson lifts Canucks over Oilers in SO
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cody Hodgson scored the winner in the fifth- round of the shootout to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. In the fifth round, Hodgson buried a wrister between the pads of

<< McMillan helps Wild edge Avalanche
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carson McMillan's third-period goal was the difference as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2, at Pepsi Center. Justin Falk and Dany Heatley also scored for the Wild, who won bac

<< Coyotes trim Senators
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Radim Vrbata scored the deciding goal early in the third period, as Phoenix slipped by Ottawa, 3-2. Gilbert Brule and Shane Doan also lit the lamp to back a 32-save performance by Mike Smith for the Coyotes,

Italians, Russians reach women's Aussie doubles final >>
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Friday's women's doubles final at the Australian Open will pit an 11th-seeded Italian tandem of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci against a strong unseeded Russia duo of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zv

Serena, Venus will play Fed Cup next week >>
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, will play Fed Cup tennis in Massachusetts for the United States next week. The sisters will lead the U.S. against Belarus in a best-of-five Group I

Steelers' Clark added to Pro Bowl roster >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steelers safety Ryan Clark has been added to the AFC's Pro Bowl roster, the team announced Wednesday. Clark, a 10-year veteran, will make his first trip to the Pro Bowl. The 32- year-old recorded 100

Wittman's Wizards welcome Bobcats to DC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A disastrous start to their season has cost the Washington Wizards their head coach. Tonight, they try to turn things around with a new man at the helm against another underachieving team in the Charlotte Bobcats. The Wiza

Knicks visit Kyrie and the Cavs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks could have Baron Davis in the lineup this evening when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Davis has yet to suit up for the Knicks because of a balky back that led to his release

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard