miaowang123: 16 for his 16th World Championship and probab

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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. Authentic Patric Hornqvist Jersey . 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. Authentic Larry Murphy Jersey . a€“ All signs point to the Maple Leafs having their top offseason acquisition in the lineup on opening night. Authentic Paul Coffey Jersey . LUCIE, Fla.Phil Taylor will take on Michael van Gerwen tonight in Rotterdam, so we asked Rod Studd to recall two classic matches between the pair. The Power and Might Mike will renew their rivalry in the Netherlands on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1, with both men hoping to take top spot in the Premier League. Studd has watched plenty of their past encounters and picks out a career-defining clash and a fantastic fightback. Van Gerwen v Taylor, 2012 Grand Slam of Darts Van Gerwen headed into the match with confidence after a title win in Dublin This match was just after Michael had won the Grand Prix in Ireland, which was the beginning of his renaissance, but at the time we still werent sure whether he would re-emerge as the biggest thing in darts. Taylor had lost a group game and they ended up meeting in the first knockout phase of the competition. Phil was the defending champion and the overwhelming favourite because Van Gerwen had not beaten him for five years. Sky Live: PL Darts night 15 Michael van Gerwen will be have home support when he faces Phil Taylor in Rotterdam It was a high-quality game and went with the throw for the first eight legs, but the middle of the match would prove decisive.Taylor missed the bullseye for a 167 finish in the ninth leg, allowing Van Gerwen to break. He would miss the bull again in the 10th and then the 11th and Van Gerwen punished the latter with a 130 checkout on the bull. Michael said it was maybe the best game of his life and I remember saying: The future of darts has just become the present. Rod Studd That was pretty much it for Van Gerwen, who averaged 108 in a 10-5 win, while Taylor averaged nearly 105.Van Gerwen went on to lose the final to Raymond van Barneveld, but I think everyone knew the baton was going to be passed on from Taylor to Van Gerwen. Michael said it was maybe the best game of his life and I remember saying: The future of darts has just become the present.      Van Gerwen v Taylor, 2013 World Championship final Doubters had suggested that Taylor was on the slide ahead of 2013 final Just under two monthss later, people were starting to question whether Taylor was going to be overtaken by Van Gerwen. Cheap Pittsburgh Penguins Gear. Both men progressed to the final, where bookmakers were struggling to split the two players, but most pundits believed this was Van Gerwens time.Taylor had those shenanigans with Raymond van Barneveld in the semi-final, which had ended in pushing and shoving. He had a terrible heavy cold and everything seemed to point towards a Van Gerwen win.    It started as most thought it would, with Van Gerwen going 2-0 and then 4-2 up, but he then missed two darts at a double for a commanding 5-2 lead. Taylor fought back to 4-3 and that set turned the match in his favour. Taylor found something from somewhere at 4-2 down and still had that amazing refusal to lose. Rod Studd In the ninth set, Taylor really stepped on the gas. He had a couple of 11-dart finishes. He went in front 5-4 and pulled away to win 6-4, hitting double 16 for his 16th World Championship and probably the greatest of them all.The Sid Waddell trophy, named in honour of our late, great colleague, would be lifted for the first time. Taylor found something from somewhere at 4-2 down and still had that amazing refusal to lose. Phil Taylor faced Michael van Gerwen in the 2013 World Championship final You can never say with any certainty that Phil Taylor will lose a darts match because time and time again he has got that ability to keep winning.     Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday at 7pm, live on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Parts PL Darts predictions WATCH: MVG v Taylor 2013 Taylor: MVG is phenomenal MVG expects goosebumps Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys ChinaDiscount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '