Who's saying what at the World Cup semi-finals

Who's saying what at the World Cup semi-finals

SYDNEY: Who's saying what about the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday:

"David will be fine. He knows the rules, as we all do, and his rules are no different than the rest of ours."

- Australia captain Michael Clarke backs temperamental opener David Warner to behave himself in Thursday's semi-final against India in Sydney.

"I heard Davey (Warner) say he was not going to get involved in all that stuff. Someone has got to do it and I think I might put my hand up. It’s part of the game."

- Australia fast bowler Mitch Johnson offers to step in on Warner's behalf for sledging duties.

"Look a bit of sledging is okay as long as boundaries are not crossed. The Indian team will not cross the line, but we will not back down either."

- India batsman Rohit Sharma

"I talked to Dale Steyn today in Auckland and must say that my respect for him is enormous. True cricketing gentleman."

- Former England spinner Graeme Swann on encountering the South African fast bowler, whose side were knocked out of the World Cup by New Zealand.

"He did say when I saw him at the end 'does this mean I get to come to Melbourne?' There's a bit of irony there, I suppose. He's shown how he important he is to us so I'm sure he is looking forward to Melbourne."

- New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum on semi-final star Grant Elliott, who was not selected for a 20-man group which visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a scouting mission in October as his chances of being picked in the World Cup squad were considered to be slim.

"Hopefully we've got one more game, one more big fairytale finish for him and then we'll have a few beers."

- McCullum on aiming to give veteran spinner Daniel Vettori a winning send-off on Sunday.

"The bigger the expectation, the more that's asked, the bigger they stand up. I honestly don't think this World Cup final is going to daunt these guys."

- Former New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram (AFP)

IHC judge refuses to hear plea against appointment of PCB chief

IHC judge refuses to hear plea against appointment of PCB chief

ISLAMABAD: Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court (IHC) has refused to hear plea against appointment of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) interim chairman Najam Sethi, Media reported.

 

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, while refusing to hear the plea, said as the same court had given verdict for the dismissal of Zaka Ashraf, therefore, it would refer the case to Chief Justice IHC Justice Anwar Kasi.

 

A man, namely Abdullah Tahir, had filed plea against appointment of Najam Sethi as PCB chairman.

 

In his petition, the applicant had pleaded that Sethi should be stopped from performing his duties as cricket board chief and that the PCB chairman be appointed through election.

New Zealand beats India by 40 runs in 1st test

New Zealand beats India by 40 runs in 1st test

AUCKLAND: New Zealand beat India by 40 runs Sunday in the first cricket Test at Eden Park to lead the two-Test series 1-0.

New Zealand 1st Innings 503 (Brendon McCullum 224, Kane Williamson 113, Corey Anderson 77; Ishant Sharma 6-134).

India 1st Innings 202 (Rohit Sharma 76; Neil Wagner 4-64, Trent Boult 3-38, Tim Southee 3-38).

New Zealand 2nd Innings 105 (Ross Taylor 41; Ishant Sharma 3-28, Mohammed Shami 3-37, Zaheer Khan 2-23).

India 2nd Innings 366 (Shikhar Dhawan 115, Virat Kohli 67, MS Dhoni 39; Neil Wagner 4-62, Tim Southee 3-81.

International Cricket Council may favour Big Three' today

International Cricket Council may favour Big Three' today

SINGAPORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet in Singapore today (Saturday) to discuss and possibly vote on a plan to give the sport's most financially powerful nations -- India, England and Australia -- a greater say in running the world game

 

South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have strongly opposed the idea.

 

A day earlier, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf, said he would fight Pakistan’s case in utmost good faith at ICC meeting.

 

"No matter how strong India maybe, we will have our say in the strongest of words:, said he talking to media before leaving for Singapore to attend the ICC meeting.

 

Ashraf had also said that would take Sri Lankan and South African cricket boards in confidence by holding one-on-one meetings with their chiefs, that too before the ICC meeting.

 

He was of the view that it would help them take a firm unified stand against this injustice.

 

“I will try to convince them that as we all are in the same boat then we must stand united and fight for what is fair for all the members”, said he.

 

Commenting on the controversy, former ICC president Ehsan Mani said it would be “sheer madness” for the governing body to effectively hand over control of the sport to India, Australia and England.

 

It was announced after a board meeting in Dubai last month that a new five-member ICC executive committee would be established to include representatives from the ECB, Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. However, the plan has received widespread criticism.

 

The current executive committee includes representatives from all 10 test-playing countries, and some suggest the new proposals will allow the ‘Big Three’ to take over at the expense of other cricketing nations.

 

“If these proposals are accepted then the Big Three will decide how the ICC runs and what it does,” Mani told a foreign news agency.

 

“The board of the ICC cricket council will effectively have no powers apart from approving whatever India, Australia and England do,” Mani said.

 

“If these proposals are accepted they are going to be doing severe damage to world cricket. It would seriously affect the credibility of the ICC as the governing body.”

 

Mani believes three of the 10 test-playing nations will reject the new proposals.

 

“As far as I know, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will not vote for it and without those three this cannot go through,” said the 68-year-old businessman who presided over the ICC between 2003 and 2006.

 

“Do you really want to run World Cups and such like without these countries and without South Africa who are the number one-ranked test team in the world? That would be sheer madness,” Mani exclaimed.

 

India have long been regarded as the traditional powerhouse among the test-playing nations and the Pakistani says England and Australia might think again about the new proposals if they are rejected.

 

“What will be interesting is what the Big Three will do if the plan is blocked,” said Mani.

 

Bangladesh and West Indies have only supported the Big Three because they’ve been given the incentive that they will get more tours from these countries, hence more money from television rights.

 

“I question the morality of that but if this move is blocked, then it will be a serious time for England and Australia to think about how much damage they might be doing to the game just to fall into line with something that India wants,” he further said.

Ashraf vows to fight Pakistan's case in utmost good faith at ICC meet

Ashraf vows to fight Pakistan's case in utmost good faith at ICC meet

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf, says that he will fight Pakistan’s case in utmost good faith at International Cricket Council’s (ICC) meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday), Media reported Friday night.

 

“No matter how strong India maybe, we will have our say in the strongest of words”, said he talking to media before leaving for Singapore to attend the ICC meeting.

 

Sources say that a decision regarding the draft proposed by so-called Big 3, namely England, Australia, and India for virtually assuming the control of the ICC is going to take center stage at the meeting. The ICC had delayed a decision on reforms in Dubai last month.

 

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa, which have smaller cricket economies, have sought time to consider radical changes to the International Cricket Council proposed by the rich boards of Big 3, which the “Opposing 3” had officially rejected in January 28 conference in Dubai.

 

Ashraf says he has plans to take the Sri Lankan and South African boards in confidence in one-on-one meetings, that too before the ICC meeting.

 

He was on the view that it would help them take a harmonious stand.

 

“I will try to convince them that as we all are in the same boat then we must stand united”, said he.

NZ 179-3 at tea on day 1, 1st test vs. India

NZ 179-3 at tea on day 1, 1st test vs. India

AUCKLAND: Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum made half centuries in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership that lifted New Zealand to 179-3 at tea Thursday on the first day of the first cricket test against India.

 

Williamson was 79 not out and unbeaten on McCullum 71 at the end of the second session after combining to revive New Zealand, which had been 30-3 in the 18th over.

 

India was still in charge at 54-3 at lunch, but Williamson and McCullum swung the first day in New Zealand´s favor by adding 125 in the 27 overs in the middle session.

 

Williamson made the best of a reprieve shortly after lunch when he was dropped at slip with New Zealand at 76-1.

 

He now has a century and five half centuries in his last seven innings.

 

India gained a valuable early advantage when they won the toss and, with it, the chance to bowl first on a heavily-grassed wicket which promised lavish assistance to fast bowlers.

 

It seemed to deliver that promise when Ishant Sharma, bowling first change, captured two wickets in his opening spell as New Zealand tumbled to 30-3.

 

Sharma dismissed Hamish Rutherford for 6 with the fifth ball of his first over and returned to claim the vital wicket of Ross Taylor for 3 in the 18th over.

 

Taylor, who scored centuries in each of New Zealand´s three tests against the West Indies in December, had loomed as the danger man for India.

 

In between those dismissals, Zaheer Khan trapped Peter Fulton lbw for 13 and New Zealand was lurching toward disaster when Williamson came to the wicket, quickly followed by McCullum.

 

The New Zealand captain had hoped to give his bowlers the chance to bowl first and his worst fears about the opposing scenario seemed to have been realized when he was asked to bat, at No. 5, half an hour before lunch.

 

But Williamson had begun an unflappable resistance to the India bowlers and McCullum, heartened, joined him in a stand which steadily wrested the initiative in the match to the home team.

 

It was not only that the pair resolved to sell their wickets dearly but that they scored steadily, then quickly on a wicket which should have favored the bowlers.

 

They caused first surprise, then bemusement among the India bowlers, some of whom lost their lengths and provided the Kiwi batsmen with easy scoring opportunities.

 

The Indian seamers either bowled too short, allowing Williamson to play his array of scoring shots square of the wicket, or too full and were driven down the ground. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had been on the offensive throughout the first session, was forced in the second to scatter his field to save runs.

 

Williamson reached his half century from 79 balls with three fours and two sixes and McCullum from 86 balls with nine boundaries. (AP)

Aamir Sohail appointed as chief selector

Aamir Sohail appointed as chief selector

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Aamir Sohail Pakistan´s chief cricket selector for a second time on Tuesday.

 

The post had been vacant for more than seven months, since Iqbal Qasim didn´t renew his contract last July.

 

PCB interim chairman Najam Sethi briefly appointed Moin Khan as chief selector soon after Qasim quit, but the Islamabad High Court overruled all major decisions by Sethi, and last month restored Zaka Ashraf as PCB chairman.

 

Sohail, who played for Pakistan from 1992 to 2000, will also serve as director of game development.

 

Former international players Azhar Khan, Salim Jaffar and Farrukh Zaman will continue on the selection committee.

 

Sohail also served as chief selector in 2003, soon after the World Cup, a tournament in which he spearheaded Pakistan´s victory in 1992 and also featured in 1996.

 

"Aamir´s vision and experience will help build a strong team for the World Cup 2015," the PCB said in a statement.

 

Sohail said his main challenge will be to strengthen the number of backup players.

 

"We have to increase the pool of players and also improve the fitness of players," he said.

 

He said he discussed in detail what needs to be done to improve the national team with outgoing coach Dav Whatmore, who quit after Pakistan drew the home Test series with Sri Lanka 1-1 last month.

 

"He (Whatmore) has given me a lot of input and I, too, have a few things in my mind," Sohail said. "But I think you have to look at the comfort level of others, too, and you can´t simply do what you want to do."

 

Pakistan was still to appoint a new coach and assistants for fielding and batting.

 

Sohail said he would prefer the new coach was Pakistani. His immediate task will be to select limited-overs teams for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh this month and the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next month.

Sohail played 47 Tests and 156 One-day Internationals. (AP)

Sri Lanka elects to bat in 2nd test vs. Bangladesh

Sri Lanka elects to bat in 2nd test vs. Bangladesh

CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to bat first in the second test against Bangladesh at Chittagong on Tuesday.

 

Sri Lanka made two changes, with Ajantha Mendis and Nuwan Pradeep taking the places of bowlers Rangana Herath and Shaminda Eranga. Herath has a knee injury while Eranga has a thigh strain, with both flying back to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

 

Bangladesh made three changes to its team, with Imrul Kayes returning after a long absence from the team, and Mahmud Ullah and Abdur Razzak also coming in to replace Marshall Ayub, Robiul Islam, and Rubel Hossain.

 

Sri Lanka won the first test by an innings and 248 runs.

 

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Mahmud Ullah, Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi, Al-Amin Hossain.

 

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Praddep, Ajantha Mendis.

Umar Akmal released on bail

Umar Akmal released on bail

LAHORE: Test cricketer Umar Akmal, who was charged for allegedly assaulting a traffic warden following a heated argument, has been released on bail, Media reported.

Umar Akmal was produced before the duty magistrate on Sunday morning. The magistrate accepted the cricketer’s bail plea after payment of bond worth Rs 1 lakh.

Police said the incident happened near Firdous Market when Umar Akmal violated a traffic signal and then not only had a heated argument with the traffic warden but also threatened him.

Talking to media, Umar Akmal’s counsel said that all invoked provisions in the FIR are bailable, adding that it was all done as per plan.

He said that when Akmal went to police station for having a FIR registered against the traffic warden, he was forced to remain in the police station for five hours.

According to Umar Akmal he told the traffic warden that he had to get to a function and was already late, after which the warden not only abused him but also assaulted him. Akmal added that his face had been injured in the altercation.

Witnesses said the argument between Umar Akmal and the warden started when Umar refused to show the car documents to the warden.

According to police, Akmal had torn the uniform of the traffic warden and there was no mark on his face to support his claims of being assaulted.

Umar Akmal released on personal bound

Umar Akmal released on personal bound

LAHORE: Test cricketer Umar Akmal, who was charged for allegedly assaulting a traffic warden following a heated argument, has been released on personal bound.

 

Police said the incident happened near Firdous Market when Umar Akmal violated a traffic signal and then not only had a heated argument with the traffic warden but also threatened him.

 

According to Umar Akmal he told the traffic warden that he had to get to a function and was already late, after which the warden not only abused him but also assaulted him. Akmal added that his face had been injured in the altercation.

 

Witnesses said the argument between Umar Akmal and the warden started when Umar refused to show the car documents to the warden.

 

According to police, Akmal had torn the uniform of the traffic warden and there was no mark on his face to support his claims of being assaulted.

New Zealand beats India by 87 runs in 5th ODI

New Zealand beats India by 87 runs in 5th ODI

WELLINGTON: New Zealand´s Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson continued prolific summers with big scores and Matt Henry claimed four wickets on debut as the hosts beat India by 87 runs on Friday to complete a 4-0 win in the five-match series.

 

Taylor scored his second century in consecutive innings and Williamson his fifth half century of the series as New Zealand made 303-5 batting first.

 

Henry then took 4-38 in an impressive debut as India was all out for 216 in 49.4 overs in reply.

 

Virat Kohli fought a lone battle once again getting 82 off 78 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. Dhoni got 47 with 3 fours.

 

New Zealand won the first two matches by 24 runs and 15 runs and the last two more emphatically, by seven wickets and 87 runs, while the third game was tied.

IPC withdraws petition against Zaka Ashraf

IPC withdraws petition against Zaka Ashra

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of inter provincial co-ordination (IPC) has withdrawn its petition against chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf.

Justice Saqib Nisar in his observation mentioned that the government is permitted by law to take any action necessary.

Justice Saqib also said that if any executive has the authority to remove the PCB chairman, it can do so, the court will not interfere in the matter.

ICC backs ´principles´ behind cricket shake-up

ICC backs ´principles´ behind cricket shake-up

LONDON: World cricket was set for a shake-up after the first day of the International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting in Dubai on Tuesday gave "unanimous support" for a set of principles relating to the future structure, governance and financial models of the ICC.

Leaked draft proposals from the sport´s most financially powerful ´Big Three´ nations argued for more power to be placed in the hands of cricket boards in India, England and Australia.

"There will be an opportunity for all Members to play all formats of cricket on merit, with participation based on meritocracy; no immunity to any country, and no change to membership status," the ICC statement said.

But the statement was clear in signalling the end of the proposed World Test Championship, which never looked like getting sufficient commercial or broadcast support to become a reality. Its delayed launch was supposed to take place in England in 2017 but instead it has been replaced by the one-day Champions Trophy, the ´mini´ World Cup whose final edition was meant to have been staged in England last year.

While resistance from the other seven of the sport´s leading 10 Test nations appears to have seen some of these plans watered down, a core plan to give the ´Big Three´ a greater say in the running of the world game remains on course to take effect.

These include the formation of a new five-man executive committee, with three seats reserved for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA).

India makes 278-5 in 4th ODI vs. New Zealand

India makes 278-5 in 4th ODI vs. New Zealand

HAMILTON: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 79 in an unbroken 127-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja to lift India to 278-5 batting first in Tuesday´s fourth one-day international against New Zealand.

 

Dhoni made his runs from 73 deliveries, with six fours and three sixes, as India gradually accelerated its scoring after a slow start.

 

Jadeja played an equally important role in the sixth-wicket partnership, making an unbeaten 62 from 54 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

 

Opener Rohit Sharma made 79 for India, which trails 2-0 in the series and needs a victory.(AP)

Nadal beats Federer, reaches Australian Open final

Nadal beats Federer, reaches Australian Open final

MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal continued his dominant streak over Roger Federer to reach the Australian Open final for the third time, beating the 17-time major winner 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-3 Friday to set up a championship decider against No. 8-seeded Stan Wawrinka.

Nadal now has won 23 of his 33 matches against Federer, including nine of 11 in the majors.

The 27-year-old Spaniard is one victory away from being the first man in the Open era to win all four majors at least twice, and from joining Pete Sampras in second place on the list of all-time Grand Slam winners with 14.

At the end of the night, Federer knew he wouldn´t even be the No. 1-ranked player in Switzerland next week.

Wawrinka will replace Federer as their country´s highest-ranked player. (AP)

Li ends Bouchard dream to make Aussie final

Li ends Bouchard dream to make Aussie final

MELBOURNE: China´s Li Na swept into her second consecutive Australian Open final on Thursday, using her all experience to brush aside Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets.

 

The fourth seed ended the 19-year-old´s inspiring run at Melbourne Park 6-2, 6-4 and will play either fifth seed Agniezska Radwanska or 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova in Saturday´s final.

 

Li, 31, has consistently been a solid performer on Melbourne´s plexicushion courts over the last five years, now reaching three finals, as well as another semi-final and the fourth round.

 

But Li has never taken the next step, beaten by Kim Clijsters in 2011 and agonisingly by Victoria Azarenka in the final last year, when she dramatically twice rolled her ankle and briefly blacked out.

 

She now has a golden opportunity to win her second Grand Slam after overcoming Bouchard, who has turned heads and won plaudits from the tennis community with her composure and all-court game here. But in her first Grand Slam semi-final -- at only her fourth attempt -- Bouchard seemed overawed at the outset on Rod Laver Arena, losing her first three service games to love.

 

In a dispiriting start, it took the Canadian 13 attempts before she finally won a point on her own serve, as Li gave the 2013 newcomer a chastening welcome to the big stage.

Three sizzling Li winners gave Bouchard no chance in her opening service game, and the Chinese star stayed firmly in control to go 2-0 in front.

The experienced Chinese player rammed home the advantage with some unstoppable winners to break Bouchard again to love.

The rattled Bouchard was not competing in the rallies and she again lost her serve to love before a string of Li errors gifted her three break points in the sixth game.

 

A double fault from the Chinese number one allowed Bouchard to claw a game back at 5-1, and another Li mistake -- a backhand that dropped long -- gave her her very first point on her own serve.

 

The 19-year-old held serve for the first time as she started to find her feet, but she could not prevent Li serving out for the set in 28 minutes.

 

Bouchard´s shots and serve began to find their mark as the crowd, including her "Genie´s Army" cheering squad, got behind her, and she took a 1-0 lead in the second set.

 

Her game lifted a level as she got into the rallies and caused problems, and she came through a pivotal second game to go 2-0 up on a third break point. But poor serving cost her dearly as Li broke back and then held, with a fierce crosscourt backhand securing the Chinese star her third game in a row.

 

Undeterred, Bouchard continued to battle and a straightforward volley into an open court got her back to 3-3 before yet another service break put Li on top at 4-3 and there was no way back.Despite the loss, Bouchard is forecast to break into the world´s top 20 when the new rankings are released on Monday. (AFP)

New Zealand beat India by 15 runs in 2nd ODI

New Zealand beat India by 15 runs in 2nd ODI

HAMILTON: New Zealand beat India by 15 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method in the rain-shortened second one-day cricket international on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

 

Tim Southee claimed four wickets, including the critical scalp of Virat Kohli for 78.Kane Williamson top-scored with 77 as New Zealand made 271-7 batting first in a match reduced to 42 overs per side, and India, set a revised target of 293, was held to 277-9 in reply.

 

The second international mirrored the first as New Zealand reached a competitive total after being sent in and India´s chance of winning seemed strong until Kohli fell at a crucial stage.

 

India´s second straight loss means it forfeits the No. 1 ranking in one-day internationals to Australia. (AP)

Pakistan praised for thrilling run chase

Pakistan praised for thrilling run chase

KARACHI: Former Pakistan players Tuesday heaped praise on the national team for its thrilling run chase to grab an unlikely victory in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.

 

Pakistan, currently placed fifth in the Test rankings, chased down 302 in 57.3 overs in fading light on Monday to level the three-Test series, after losing the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets.

 

Azhar Ali notched up his fifth Test hundred with 103, captain Misbah-ul Haq hit an unbeaten 68 and Sarfraz Ahmed scored 48 as Pakistan achieved their second-best run chase, bettered only by their 314 against Australia in Karachi in 1994.

 

Former captain Aamir Sohail praised the batting.

 

"It was refreshing to see Pakistan chase down a tough target," said Sohail. "The way Azhar played, Sarfraz helped him to set the tempo and then Misbah finished the game, it was nice and will help lift the team´s morale."

 

Team manager Moin Khan said the plan was to go for the win in a Twenty20 style.

 

"We had that in mind to go for runs in the last Twenty20 overs and promoting Sarfraz helped," Moin said on the team´s arrival.

 

"It was nice to see the positive intent and this win will go a long way in building the team."

 

Another former captain, Rashid Latif, also praised Misbah.

 

"The kind of role Misbah has played is praiseworthy," Latif told AFP. "As a batsman and as a captain he has been good. The way he used the new players was also appreciable and will help him build this team."

 

Latif however criticised Sri Lanka´s response to the batting onslaught.

 

"Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews used negative tactics, placing his fielders on the boundary line, which went against him. You can´t win or save a Test by such tactics." (AFP)

Pakistan players return home after leveling series against SL

Pakistan players return home after leveling series against SL

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket team players reached Lahore after leveling 3-match Test series against Sri Lanka in UAE on Tuesday, Media reported.

 

Those who returned include Misbahul Haq, Muhammad Hafeez, Muhammad Talha, Azhar Ali, Abudur Rehman, Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali and Rahat Ali.

 

Speaking to media, Misbahul Haq said that he was happy to win the historic match against Sri Lanka as it was too crucial. He lauded team’s performance during the series.

 

He refused to comment when journalists asked about his views on Zaka Ashraf’s return as Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman.

Sharapova out in another early upset in Australia

Sharapova out in another early upset in Australia

MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka advanced to the quarterfinals and firmed as a favorite to claim a third straight Australian Open title on Monday after Maria Sharapova joined Serena Williams on the fourth-round casualty list.

 

Azarenka had a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 13-seeded Sloane Stephens in a match that didn´t have any of the drama of their contentious semifinal here last year.

 

Third-seeded Sharapova lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Dominika Cibulkova in the earlier match on Rod Laver Arena, struggling with her serve in the second and third sets and making 45 unforced errors as she tried to claw her way back.

 

Her serve started to backfire from the eighth game, when she was broken at love while trying to serve out the first set.

 

During a run of four breaks against her, Sharapova won only three points on her own serve and fell 5-0 behind in the second set.

 

The four-time major winner rallied to win four straight games before Cibulkova held to level the match.

 

After taking an off-court medical time out after the second set for a hip strain, she was broken immediately and had seven double-faults in the third set.

 

Sharapova was two tournaments into a comeback from a prolonged layoff with a right shoulder injury, and said her run to the fourth round was a positive sign because she was healthy and back on tour. "I have to look at the positives and see where I have come from in four or five months. I haven´t played a lot of tennis in those six months," said Sharapova, who won the Australian title in 2008 and lost two other finals. "So I certainly would have loved to play a little bit more before playing a Grand Slam, but this is the chance that I was given."

 

Top-ranked Williams, a five-time Australian Open champion, was knocked out in a three-set loss to 14th-seeded Ana Ivanovic on Sunday, and later revealed she had a back problem that had her considering withdrawing from the tournament.

 

Another former No. 1 was knocked out when No. 11 Simona Halep beat Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 to set up a quarterfinal against Cibulkova.

 

Azarenka, meanwhile, was making herself comfortable at Melbourne Park, where she´s on an 18-match winning streak. "I just love playing here, the surroundings, it feels so cozy ... feels like home," she said after her win over Stephens. It was a rematch of their semifinal last year when Azarenka took a medical timeout just when it appeared Stephens was getting momentum, then came back and won the match.

In the first set, Stephens accidently hit Azarenka in the hip area with a shot at the net, and Azarenka sent a forehand whizzing past Stephens a few games later.

 

There was very little tension, though, after Azarenka broke Stephens´ serve to open the second set and then again to take a 5-2.

 

The second-seeded Azarenka didn´t´ have any trouble closing out this time, saving one set point before setting up match point with an ace.

 

Sharapova made it hard for herself in Australia, having difficulty closing out her second- and third-round matches. She needed almost 3½ hours to beat Karin Knapp in searing heat the second round — playing 50 minutes between her first and final match points. She said she couldn´t use the heat wave as an excuse for her loss, and added that the hip strain wasn´t anything out of the ordinary for a tennis player.

 

Cibulkova had spent just over 3½ hours on court in her first three wins. The pair hadn´t played since Sharapova´s quarterfinal win at Wimbledon in 2011.

 

Now they´re evenly split in six head-to-heads, but Cibulkova has won two of their three matches at the majors with her win Monday and her quarterfinal victory at the 2009 French Open. "I was never doubting myself," the No. 20-seeded Cibulkova said, adding that Ivanovic´s win over Williams the previous day had been motivational but not her main inspiration against Sharapova. "This was a different story. I already beat Maria before, and I beat her" at a Grand Slam tournament. (AP)