Second Service: Nadal cut after crucial win

 By Adrian Humphries 2:30PM 24 JAN 2011 BOOKMAKERS felt Rafael Nadal took a huge step towards regaining the Australian Open crown on Monday when he swept aside Marin Cilic 6-2 6-4 6-3 to advance to the last eight in Melbourne.

Cilic had beaten Nadal 6-1 6-3 in China in 2009 and the world No. 1 was well aware of the potential danger the Croat provided to his chance of holding all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.

However, Nadal produced a sterling performance against Cilic, slowing down the pace of the match, and his reward is a clash against inferior fellow Spaniard and friend David Ferrer.

Nadal was no bigger than 6-4, and as short as evens, for the title after his win while second seed Roger Federer drifted to 23-10 after his great rival progressed.

A Nadal v Federer final, which was 13-8 before the tournament started, is now 6-5 with Paddy Power, while Bet365 go just 10-11.

Britain’s Andy Murray can never have enjoyed an easier path through a Grand Slam tournament. The world No. 5 was cut to 9-2, having been 8-1, after easing past Jurgen Melzer 6-3 6-1 6-1 just after his scheduled quarter-final opponent Robin Soderling was upset 1-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-2 by Alexandr Dolgopolov.

US Open champion Kim Clijsters was tops at 6-4 to claim a first Aussie Open singles crown after surviving a tough test against Eastbourne heroine Ekaterina Makarova, whom she beat 7-6 6-2.

Australian Open best outright prices before last night’s play – men: 6-4 R Nadal, 23-10 R Federer, 9-2 A Murray, 7 N Djokovic, 45 T Berdych, 66 S Wawrinka, 125 A Dolgopolov, D Ferrer; women: 6-4 K Clijsters, 4 C Wozniacki, 11-2 Na Li, 6 V Zvonareva, 12 P Kvitova, 20 A Petkovic, 50 F Schiavone, 100 A Radwanska.

FacebookDeliciousDiggStumbleUpon   TOP STORIES Grant looking to boost job prospects by keeping Hammers' run going 7:37pm 25 Jan 2011 Second Service: Federer still 2-1 despite hammering Wawrinka 1:00pm 25 Jan 2011 Road kings Green Bay 8-11 Bowl favourites 4:45pm 24 Jan 2011 2:30pm 24 Jan 2011 Leinster 5-2 for second Heineken win after kind draw 9:23pm 23 Jan 2011 Kaymer rises in rankings after Abu Dhabi success 9:10pm 23 Jan 2011 Australia whitewash 8-1 after Sydney ODI-stroll 8:34pm 23 Jan 2011 Baggies defeat sees Di Matteo cut to get sack 8:26pm 23 Jan 2011 Second Service: Federer stays at 7-4 after four-set Robredo success 1:38pm 23 Jan 2011 City out to 15-2 for title after defeat at Villa Park 7:41pm 22 Jan 2011 Show All Current Stories LATEST STORIES Grant looking to boost job prospects by keeping Hammers' run going 7:37pm 25 Jan 2011 Second Service: Federer still 2-1 despite hammering Wawrinka 1:00pm 25 Jan 2011 Road kings Green Bay 8-11 Bowl favourites 4:45pm 24 Jan 2011 2:30pm 24 Jan 2011 Leinster 5-2 for second Heineken win after kind draw 9:23pm 23 Jan 2011 Kaymer rises in rankings after Abu Dhabi success 9:10pm 23 Jan 2011 Australia whitewash 8-1 after Sydney ODI-stroll 8:34pm 23 Jan 2011 Baggies defeat sees Di Matteo cut to get sack 8:26pm 23 Jan 2011 Second Service: Federer stays at 7-4 after four-set Robredo success 1:38pm 23 Jan 2011 City out to 15-2 for title after defeat at Villa Park 7:41pm 22 Jan 2011 Show All Current Stories FOOTBALL Grant looking to boost job prospects by keeping Hammers' run going 7:37pm 25 Jan 2011 Baggies defeat sees Di Matteo cut to get sack 8:26pm 23 Jan 2011 City out to 15-2 for title after defeat at Villa Park 7:41pm 22 Jan 2011 Qatar World Cup 3-1 to be held during winter 5:43pm 20 Jan 2011 Arsenal in to 5-1 for Cup after despatching Leeds 10:49pm 19 Jan 2011 Adam 8-11 for January switch 5:41pm 20 Jan 2011 Citizens 7-1 for title after scraping past Wolves 7:52pm 15 Jan 2011 200-1 for no giants to fall 10:56pm 7 Jan 2011 Roy 1-2 to have bossed his last Reds league game 10:51pm 6 Jan 2011 Turmoil continues for Liverpool and Chelsea 10:14pm 5 Jan 2011 Show All Current Stories GOLF Kaymer rises in rankings after Abu Dhabi success 9:10pm 23 Jan 2011 Favourite Ogilvy now a doubtful Hyundai starter 1:18pm 6 Jan 2011 CRICKET Australia whitewash 8-1 after Sydney ODI-stroll 8:34pm 23 Jan 2011 Marvellous Marsh spearheads Australia victory 12:50pm 21 Jan 2011 England 8-11 for Ashes treble after SCG stroll 10:45pm 7 Jan 2011 England 1-12 to wrap-up SCG win in morning 1:52pm 6 Jan 2011 TENNIS Second Service: Federer still 2-1 despite hammering Wawrinka 1:00pm 25 Jan 2011 2:30pm 24 Jan 2011 Second Service: Federer stays at 7-4 after four-set Robredo success 1:38pm 23 Jan 2011 Second Service: Saturday's updates and betting news from the Australian Open 1:44pm 22 Jan 2011 Second Service: Thursday's updates and betting news from the Australian Open 1:44pm 20 Jan 2011 Second Service: Wednesday's updates and betting news from the Australian Open 2:50pm 19 Jan 2011 Updates and betting news from the Australian Open 1:39pm 21 Jan 2011 RUGBY Leinster 5-2 for second Heineken win after kind draw 9:23pm 23 Jan 2011 OTHER SPORTS Road kings Green Bay 8-11 Bowl favourites 4:45pm 24 Jan 2011 Rocket still 9-2 for world title after Power win 11:49pm 31 Oct 2010 Froch retains title with scrappy win 11:56am 18 Oct 2009 Specialist road racers should shine at Infineon 8:34am 21 Jun 2009 Roush stable has pedigree to tame Nascar's Monster Mile 12:12pm 31 May 2009 Search our News Archive Sport News RSS Feed All Racing Post RSS Feeds Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Download our iPhone app

Pennant claims home fans are crucial to success

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Stoke City’s on-loan winger Jermaine Pennant is dreaming of remaining at the Britannia Stadium and helping the club make the home ground a fortress in the Premier League.

The former Liverpool player is currently on a short-term loan from Spanish club Real Zaragoza until January, but he has impressed at the club as they have recovered from a poor start to sit in the Premier League top ten and the Premier League betting predictions indicate the club can push on.

Pennant has played a vital role in helping Stoke make the Britannia Stadium a tough place for teams to come to his season – with the club winning their last three home games on the trot. Anyone looking to bet on Premier League matches should remember this.

He told the Sentinel he would be “more than happy” to remain at Stoke if the two clubs can come to an agreement about extending the loan deal, and it has been the atmosphere generated by the Stoke fans that has impressed him most during his short time at the club.

Those passionate fans are vital in helping inspire the players at home and making sure they take all three points from tough Britannia Stadium clashes.

“Our home games were always going to be the strongest part of our season,” Pennant said.

“The fans make a massive difference and the big teams seem to struggle when they come here.

Dean Whitehead recently scored his first goal for Stoke City, and manager Tony Pulis has called on the midfielder to find the back of the net more over the rest of the season.

Stoke are a club that need all their midfielders and attackers to chip in with goals if they are to finish in the Premier League top ten, and it is starting to look like Pulis has assembled a strong unit at the club that could have them looking up rather than down.

Arc a step closer for Workforce after crucial gallop

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