Nalbandian as in the first set struggled to serve out at 5-4 this time recovering from 0-40 before

Nalbandian, as in the first set, struggled to serve out at 5-4, this time recovering from 0-40 before converting his first match point.. A grey-haired spectator fell down the steps of his box trying to catch a ball and he – and probably his family viewing at home – had to suffer replays of the incident during the change-over.Nalbandian provided further impromptu entertainment in the second set, first by spinning around to hit volleys, then by trying an acrobatic backhand-lob while balancing on his left hand.Ljubicic was broken in the ninth game, netting a limp forehand after making an impressive serve at 15-40. After breaking for 2-1 in the opening set, he was not troubled until serving out at 5-4. Ljubicic created two chances to break, but returned a second serve long on the first and overhit a forehand on the second.Innovation has become the hallmark of this event, which was transformed into the Tennis Models Series Madrid But the catwalk ball-girls were not the only distraction. Safin made the decisive break for 4-2 in the first set and fended off Agassi’s aggressive moves in the second, taking the tie-break 7-4.Nalbandian, having made his Masters Cup intentions clear – “I’ll fight to the end” – was too strong for Ljubicic, returning the Croatian’s serve with keen-eyed confidence, containing his opponent with solid serves and bombarding him with deep ground-strokes.The compact 22-year-old from Buenos Aires moves unhurriedly to make his shots, allowing his racket speed to do the damage. Agassi’s celebrated return of serve was crucial on an afternoon when his 24-year-old Russian opponent was primed to serve with power and consistency and keep his huge ground-strokes inside the lines.At times, particularly in the second set, Agassi varied his tactics by standing on the baseline to receive Safin’s first serve and by standing a yard behind the line for the second, hoping to put the ball back in play and invite Safin to make errors He rarely succeeded.

“He’s got a big game and came in firing on all cylinders,” Agassi said.The pair contested one of the year’s most spectacular matches over five sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, and a packed house at the Rockodromo here would have liked a longer show. If Nalbandian prevails, he will add substance to his Houston challenge. Nalbandian defeated Ivan Ljubicic, Henman’s third-round conqueror, 6-4 6-4, in the opening semi-final.With Nalbandian’s compatriot, Gaston Gaudio, already guaranteed a place in the Masters Cup as the winner of the French Open, only seven others can qualify, and three of those places have been filled.Safin levelled his series of matches against Agassi, 3-3, defeating the icon from Las Vegas, 6-3 7-6, after an hour and 33 minutes. It took Bath until midway in the first half to meaningfully attack and their first real threat resulted in a try in the 25th minute. Matt Stevens, who had been under pressure from his opposite prop, Olivier Miloud, barreled over after a superb passage of play. Robbie Fleck collected a poor defensive kick near the half-way line and attacked.

Three of four phases later Andy Beattie made the incisive break from the right, angled in-field and when he presented the ball it was fired out to the right where weight of numbers and a little luck, when Mike Tindall lost control, left Stevens with the score.A Boyet penalty and Olly Barkley miss left the half-time score 10-9 to Bath, a lead they extended with their second try in the 48th minute although the field position that led to it was gifted by Jean-Francois Coux. Afterwards, South Africa’s coach Jake White named a 33-strong squad, including a record five blacks, for next month’s four-Test tour of Ireland, England, Scotland and Argentina.Federico Mendez, the hooker who laid out Paul Ackford at Twickenham in 1990, is set to extend his international career to 15 seasons after being named in Argentina’s squad to face France and Ireland.. Marat Safin ended the 34-year-old Andre Agassi’s run at the Madrid Masters yesterday and put further pressure on Tim Henman in the battle for qualification for the Masters Cup in Houston next month. Director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andr?as rested several key players like Charlie Hodgson and Jason Robinson.Bristol’s 41-6 win at Henley lifted them to the top of National League One on points difference from previous leaders Pertemps Bees, who made heavy weather of a 16-5 home defeat of Plymouth Albion.All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall scored two tries and outplayed Piri Weepu, one of his main rivals for the New Zealand No 9 shirt, as Canterbury beat Wellington 40-27 in the National Provincial Championship final.Blue Bulls saw off Free State Cheetahs 42-33 in a 10-try thriller to lift the Currie Cup in Pretoria. Mike Horak, Phil Murphy and Justin Bishop crossed for the Exiles and Mike Catt supplied a conversion and a penalty.Borders thrashed AA Coimbra 98-3 in Portugal, their 16 tries including a hat-trick for Nikki Walker. French heavyweights Pau, Agen, B?ers and Montpellier all claimed convincing away wins.Sale visit Sicily to take on Catania this afternoon with a considerably weakened line-up. Tries from Horsman, fellow prop Steven Sparks, Dale Rasmussen and Pat Sanderson were augmented by four kicks by full-back James Brown.

Sebastien Laloo responded with five penalties for Brive.London Irish take a 20-18 lead over Auch into next weekend’s second leg at the Madejski Stadium. The visitors’ other points came from the boot of fly-half David Holwell, making his Heineken Cup debut, while South African full-back Marius Goosen landed three penalties for Treviso.Chris Horsman gave a barnstorming display in Worcester’s 29-15 victory in the first leg of their European Challenge Cup first-round tie against Brive at Sixways. But it was not until injury time that the visitors killed off Treviso’s resistance when Ireland captain O’Driscoll sprinted over after a fine break by Denis Hickie. Tries from Ireland internationals Shane Byrne, Shane Horgan and Brian O’Driscoll enabled Leinster to launch their Heineken Cup campaign on a winning note with a workmanlike 25-9 success away to Treviso in Pool Two.
The Italians battled bravely for over an hour before Horgan’s well-taken 59th-minute effort tilted the balance in the Irish province’s favour. Goode converted both to wrap up a well earned victory.Leicester: S Vesty; J Holtby, S Rabeni, D Gibson, A Healey (A Tuilagi, h-t); A Goode (M Cornwell, 72), H Ellis; G Rowntree (J White, 19-31; h-t), J Buckland (R Cockerill, 51-64), D Morris, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, B Deacon, L Moody, W Johnson (H Tuilagi, 70).Calvisano: P Vaccari; L Nitoglia, G Raineri, C Zaoletti, A Vodo; G Fraser, P Canavosio (P Griffen, 41); G Bocca (M Castrogiovanni, 55), A Moretti, S Perugini (G De Carli, 64), M Ngauamo, J Purll, R Mandelli, M Zaffiri (capt), V Bernabo.Referee: D Changleng (Scotland).. But inspired by their captain Maurizio Zaffiri, with his pack tackling way above their weight, they clung on.Gerald Fraser, who kicked a first-half penalty, struck again in a rare visit to within reach of Leicester’s posts.Clearly trying to adapt to the worsening conditions, and finding his feet after so long on the sidelines, Moody’s confidence about his likely return to the England squad was given a timely boost as he made the most of some sloppy defence to claim tries in the 59th and 63rd minutes.