Defending champ Juan Monaco crushed Robby Ginepri 6-1, 6-0 in the quarter-finals Friday of the US Clay Court Championships, setting up a re-match of last year's final with John Isner. Only this time Monaco and runner-up Isner will meet in the Houston semi-finals after Isner booked his spot with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Ricardas Berankis earlier in the day.

Steve Stricker is hoping he can come in from the cold this week to finally get to grips with Augusta National, a course he says has overwhelmed him in the past. The 46-year-old "quiet man" of US golf has played in 12 Masters and has just a tie for sixth place in 2009 to show for it. Last year was typical when he could only tie for 47th. This year, though, Stricker has decided to drastically cut back on his schedule and, instead of playing in the week before the year's first major, he spent the time at home up north in Madison, Wisconsin, where winter still has a grip.

U.S. Sports Desk, Apr 5 (EFE).- The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 100-88 to move within a half-game of the Texas club in the battle for top seed in the NBA Western Conference. Russell Westbrook scored 27 points and Kevin Durant contributed another 25 in what turned out to be a fairly easy home win over the Spurs. Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard each put up 24 points for San Antonio.

U.S. Sports Desk, Mar 24 (EFE).- Offensive lineman David Diehl said in an interview with the NFL Network that he was willing to restructure his contract with the New York Giants if the team asked him to. Diehl, who has played 10 seasons for the Giants, said he was willing to "do some things to restructure" his contract, allowing the team to keep key players, like wide receiver Victor Cruz.