Bentitez parts with Liverpool, Zim's win and French Open

Starting with the gunners, Barca's "formal bid" has been rejected by Arsenal FC. After Messi, Puyol, Iniesta etc etc, Xavi is the latest one to come out and say "Fabregas would suit Barcelona, Fab has Barca genes.....etc etc". Are we not all so sick of it already? Why dont these players concentrate on the WC now? I know that it is the club which pays them. But a little bit of loyalty towards the country wont hurt them.

Elsewhere, Rafa Benitez and Liverpool have 'mutually agreed' to part ways. The Liverpool gafa had signed a 5-yr contract last season. But, ousted out of the champions league in the preliminary rounds and finishing outside top 4 was not acceptable to the Liverpool board and he was asked to leave. He is expected to take over the reigns at Inter.

In the WC warmup, Carlos Vela scored for Mehico as they beat the Azzuri 2-1. Happy that Vela scored. Not too sad that Italy lost. Let the real thing begin, and hopefully the Azzuri will be up and running.

Zim beat India for the second time in the series. They did it with a bonus point too. Actually not many people know about this ODI triangular series, also involving, surprise surprise Srilanka. India now have to beat Srilanka in the last game with a bonus point to get to the final. Aah.....who cares? The timing of this series is defeinitely one to be questioned. Immediately after the IPL and T20 WC, probably there is only one team which is benefited from this-- Zimbabwe. So, I wont be to unhappy to see them win this series.

Samantha Stosur of Autralia and Schiavonne of Italy will play the Women's FO final. Schiavonne, apparently, is the first Italian to reach the FO final. Stosur, the one who plays with her shades, is the favorite, with wins over Justine Henin and Serana on the way to the FO final.

In the mens, Nadal plays Melzer of Austria and Soderling plays Berdych. In the quarters, Nadal bt Almagro (who I expected to do well) in straight sets. But, this must be one of the hardest straight sets win for Nadal. For the most part, Almagro looked the better player in the first 2 sets.
Djokovic looked to be in the cuise mode against Melzer, before his breathing problems came back to haunt him. He was 2 sets and a break up before going on to lose the match. Soderling, of course beat none other than 'Roi Rodge' in 4 sets. It was a rain-affected match. But, Soderling was just too powerful for the world no 1 on this day. He has become the upset-man now. Last year, Soderling bt Nadal and now Federer.