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Tennis: Business is good for Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is hoping that her new role as a businesswoman will provide her with the inspiration to add to her haul of four Grand Slam titles. The 26-year-old Russian, the French Open defending champion, arrived early in Paris to attend the French launch of her SugarPova Candy Collection, which her official website describes as "a premium candy line that reflects the fun, fashionable, sweet side of international tennis sensation Maria Sharapova".

Nadal, Djokovic on semi-final collision course in Paris

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) - Defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal was drawn in the same half as world number one Novak Djokovic on Friday as the Spanish claycourt machine chases a record eighth title at Roland Garros. Third seed Nadal, who beat Djokovic in last year's final, could face the Serbian in the semis. "But is not in the first round, no?," Nadal joked when asked how he felt about his potential meeting with Djokovic in a news conference.

Tennis: Djokovic, Nadal on semi-final collision course

Top seed Novak Djokovic and seven-time champion Rafael Nadal were set on a French Open semi-final collision course Friday, condemning one of the sport's superstars to certain defeat before the final. The world number one Serb and the third-ranked Spaniard were placed in the same half of the draw, leaving Roger Federer, the second seed, to remain untroubled by either of his two great rivals until the final.

Tennis: French Open advisory

The 2013 French Open gets underway at Roland Garros on Sunday with Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova defending their titles. AFP Sports is about to file the following stories: Tennis-FRA-Open-Asia-CHN-Li,FOCUS PARIS Li Na's momentous French Open title win of 2011 was expected to open the floodgates for Asian -- and in particular Chinese -- players in world tennis. 600 words by Allan Kelly Tennis-FRA-Open-men-future PARIS

Tennis: Clock ticking for next golden generation

If you desire world domination in tennis, best get an early start as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have proved. So, for the likes of Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic and Bernard Tomic -- often touted as the best of the next generation in men's tennis -- the clock is already ticking. Nadal was just 19 when he burst onto the scene with a first French Open title in 2005. Djokovic was 20 when he made his breakthrough at the 2008 Australian Open while Federer had his first of 17 Grand Slam titles wrapped up at Wimbledon in 2003 when he was 21.

Tennis: WTA Brussels Open results - 2nd update

Results from the fourth day of the WTA Brussels Open on Thursday (x denotes seed): Quarter-finals Peng Shuai (CHN x8) bt Sloane Stephens (USA x4) 6-2, 6-3 Romina Oprandi (SUI) bt Zheng Jie (CHN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 2nd rd Jamie Hampton (USA) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL x5) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 Roberta Vinci (ITA x2) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 afp

Tennis: Nice Open ATP results - collated

Results from the fifth day of the ATP Nice Open tennis tournament on Thursday (x denotes seeding): Quarter-finals Albert Montanes (ESP) bt Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-4, 6-1 Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) bt Sam Querrey (USA x3) 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Robin Haase (NED) 6-2, 6-3 Pablo Andujar (ESP) bt Gilles Simon (FRA x2) 6-4, 7-5 afp

Tennis: WTA Brussels Open results

Results from the fourth day of the WTA Brussels Open on Thursday (x denotes seed): 2nd rd Jamie Hampton (USA) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL x5) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 Roberta Vinci (ITA x2) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 afp

Tennis: Strasbourg Open results

Results from the fourth day of the WTA Strasbourg Open on Thursday (x denotes seeding): Quarter-finals Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) bt Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 6-3, 6-2 Alize Cornet (FRA x3) bt Chanelle Scheepers (RSA x7) 6-3, 6-1 afp

Nadal back in old routine and looking invincible

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - Watching Rafa Nadal churn his way through the claycourt season over the past few weeks, it seems nothing much has changed since his French Open triumph a year ago despite a lengthy injury layoff. Titles in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, where he dropped only three sets in the process, mean the 26-year-old is overwhelming favorite to lift the trophy for an eighth time at Roland Garros when play gets underway in Paris on Sunday.
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