MADRID (Reuters) – Andy Murray’s latest bid for a maiden clay title ended when he fell to Tomas Berdych in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Friday, leaving Rafa Nadal as the only member of the ‘big four’ still alive at the Masters event.

World number three Murray had lost his last two matches on clay against Berdych, runner-up to Roger Federer in Madrid last year, and was beaten 7-6 6-4 by the Czech sixth seed after Nadal battled past Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 4-6 7-6 6-0.

MADRID, May 10 (Reuters) – Andy Murray’s latest bid for a maiden clay title ended when he fell to Tomas Berdych in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Friday, leaving Rafa Nadal as the only member of the ‘big four’ still alive at the Masters event.

World number three Murray had lost his last two matches on clay against Berdych, runner-up to Roger Federer in Madrid last year, and was beaten 7-6 6-4 by the Czech sixth seed after Nadal battled past Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 4-6 7-6 6-0.

MADRID (Reuters) – A laid-back Serena Williams breezed into the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Thursday when she barely broke sweat in a 6-3 6-1 destruction of Maria Kirilenko.

The world number one and top seed, defending champion at the premier clay event in the Spanish capital, needed just over an hour to dismiss the 13th-seeded Russian and set up a last-eight meeting with Spanish wildcard Anabel Medina Garrigues.

MADRID (Reuters) – Roger Federer vowed to get straight back on the practice court after the world number two was dumped out in the third round of the Madrid Open by Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Thursday.

Defending champion at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, Federer was playing his first tournament after a seven-week rest following defeat to Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.

MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) – Roger Federer vowed to get straight back on the practice court after the world number two was dumped out in the third round of the Madrid Open by Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Thursday.

Defending champion at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, Federer was playing his first tournament after a seven-week rest following defeat to Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.

MADRID (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s hopes of claiming a second straight Madrid Open title after a layoff were dashed when the world number two suffered a surprise 6-4 1-6 6-2 third round defeat to Japanese young gun Kei Nishikori on Thursday.

Playing his first tournament since taking a break after his quarter-final exit at Indian Wells in March, Federer became the second high-profile casualty at the clay Masters event following Tuesday’s shock second-round defeat for world number one Novak Djokovic to unseeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s hopes of claiming a second straight Madrid Open title after a layoff were dashed when the world number two suffered a surprise 6-4 1-6 6-2 third round defeat to Japanese young gun Kei Nishikori on Thursday.

Playing his first tournament since taking a break after his quarter-final exit at Indian Wells in March, Federer became the second high-profile casualty at the clay Masters event following Tuesday’s shock second-round defeat for world number one Novak Djokovic to unseeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid have stubbornly refused to capitulate in recent weeks but La Liga leaders Barcelona finally have their fate in their own hands on Sunday and can secure a 22nd La Liga crown with victory at Atletico Madrid (6:00 p.m. British time).

Barca need two points from their remaining four matches to wrest the title back from their arch rivals, who have played a game more ahead of their trip to Espanyol on Saturday (9:00 p.m.), and meet an Atletico side who have already made sure of third place and a berth in the Champions League group stage.

MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) – Real Madrid have stubbornly refused to capitulate in recent weeks but La Liga leaders Barcelona finally have their fate in their own hands on Sunday and can secure a 22nd La Liga crown with victory at Atletico Madrid (1700 GMT).

Barca need two points from their remaining four matches to wrest the title back from their arch rivals, who have played a game more ahead of their trip to Espanyol on Saturday (2000), and meet an Atletico side who have already made sure of third place and a berth in the Champions League group stage.

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid made sure Barcelona will have to wait at least until Sunday to wrap up a 22nd La Liga title when Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 200th goal for the club in a 6-2 win at home to nine-man Malaga on Wednesday.

Barca need two more points to wrest the league crown back from their arch rivals and secure a fourth title in five years and a win at third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday would be enough for Tito Vilanova’s side.