Irandaily | No. 4443 | Sports

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Nadal Eases Into Chile Open Final

Rafael Nadal continued his return from injury by reaching the final of the Chile Open with a 6-2 6-2 win over Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
The 26-year-old former world number one, sidelined for seven months by knee trouble, needed only 64 minutes to dispatch third seed Chardy, BBC wrote.
In the final of the clay court event in Vina del Mar, he will play world number 73 Horacio Zeballos.
The Argentine beat compatriot Carlos Berlocq, seeded eight, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Nadal, who had beaten fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-1 6-4 to reach the semi-finals, took the first set in little more than half an hour against Chardy, moving his opponent wide with a deep ball to the corner then blasting an overhead winner into the open court.
He broke to love in the third game of the second set, then saved three break points in the sixth game on the one occasion he was put under pressure.
“I played well today, better than the days before, which is important,” Nadal said. “I won’t compare myself to seven months ago--it’s just the first week of competition. It’s a great feeling to be in a final match after so much time without playing.
“Tomorrow, it will be a tough match against Horacio, who is playing great tennis. I hope to keep enjoying myself like I’ve been doing during this tournament and that my physical condition remains good.”
Zeballos has beaten three seeded opponents en route to his second ATP final, having previously finished runner-up in St Petersburg in 2009.
Nadal and Zeballos have met once, Nadal winning in straight sets at Roland Garros in 2010, one of the seven French Open titles among his 11 Grand Slam triumphs.
Nadal is playing in his first tournament since a shock second-round exit at Wimbledon to Czech journeyman Lukas Rosol in June.
A torn tendon and inflammation in his left knee kept him out of the London Olympics and the 2012 US Open, while a virus delayed his intended return at the Australian Open last month.
The Spaniard plans to compete on clay in Brazil and Mexico before playing ATP Masters hard-court events at Indian Wells and Miami and then heading to Europe for clay events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome culminating in the defense of his French Open title.

Mancini Angry With Man City Players

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said his side have a “10% chance” of retaining the Premier League title and said their defeat to Southampton was their worst performance in three years.
City remain nine points behind leaders Manchester United, who can extend their lead against Everton, BBC reported.
And Mancini believes a United win will all but end City’s title challenge.
Asked if City could still win the title, he said, “We have a 10% chance: 12 points is too much at this moment.”
Mancini’s side fell behind to Jason Puncheon’s early goal before Steven Davis made it 2-0 midway through the half.
And although Edin Dzeko pulled one back against the run of play, Saints restored their two-goal advantage shortly after the break with Gareth Barry turning the ball into his own net.
It was no more than Saints deserved against a desperately disappointing City side who Mancini admitted had performed badly.
“It was worse than poor,” said the Italian. “We didn’t play, it was 11 against two so it’s difficult.
“I think this is the worst game in the last two or three years.
“The players played really bad--without strength, without personality. We conceded a goal that I have never seen in my life.
“I was really disappointed with my players today. When we perform like today I’m very angry. The players were away on international duty--that’s not an excuse, but it is a reason.
“Some of our players came back on Friday and we played today. This made it difficult. In the end we played badly.”
City were missing Carlos Tevez, who Mancini said was absent because of personal reasons but he expects to have him back for the FA Cup fifth-round tie with Leeds United next weekend.
Mancini was also critical of keeper Joe Hart, whose mistake allowed Steve Davis to put Southampton 2-0 up.
“It was a really bad mistake,” admitted Mancini.
“But this is not strange. He has made two or three mistakes this year and this is not good for us.”
He added, “We need to work more. Because we won last year, we think we are top players but to be top players you have to work.
“It’ll be very difficult to win the league. I used to always be optimistic and want to be in this moment, but it’s difficult.”

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