Andy Murray: Through to the semi-finals in Brisbane
Top seed Andy Murray was at his ruthless best as he cruised to a 6-2 6-2 victory over doubles partner Marcos Baghdatis in the quarter-finals of the ATP Brisbane International.
The British No.1 had been knocked out of the doubles competition with the Cypriot on Thursday, but he made amends as he powered into the last-four.
Looking full of confidence, Murray raced into a 4-0 lead which he never looked in danger of relinquishing.
Baghdatis proved a trickier proposition at the start of the second set but when Murray clinched the first break in game five it was only a matter of time.
The world No.4 had made sluggish starts in his opening two rounds, losing the first sets against both Mikhail Kukushkin and Gilles Muller, but he looked sharp from the outset on Pat Rafter Arena.
His powerful forehands troubled the 2006 Australian Open runner-up from the off, a Baghdatis double fault handing Murray the opening game before the Scot clinched a second break to love in game three.
Advantage
Baghdatis got on the board by holding serve at the third time of asking, but never looked like threatening the Murray serve as the Briton held firm to win the opening set.
Mancini targets signing
Roberto Mancini: Manchester City boss says the club need to do everything to grasp their title chance
City's mammoth spending in recent seasons has delivered a squad which is currently top of the Premier League table and three points clear of reigning champions Manchester United.Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City's title challenge will benefit from a new signing in January and says the club 'need to do everything' to fulfil their goal.
Mancini's men are warm favourites to go on and clinch a first title in over 40 years, but the City boss is wary of leaving himself short of options.
Ivory Coast duo Kolo and Yaya Toure will be missing for several weeks due to the African Cup of Nations, while Mancini has claimed he will struggle to fill the bench for Sunday's FA Cup tie against local rivals United.
The Italian is aware he needs to offload players before he brings new faces in, with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Bridge and Nedum Onuoha all expected to leave the Etihad Stadium this month.
However, Mancini has stressed the importance of having players at his disposal who can match the title-winning experience that the Red Devils and Chelsea can boast.
Big problem
"This could be the first championship for many years and we need to do everything we can to win it," said Mancini.
"United and Chelsea have won trophies for many years. So they are quiet. They understand that they can play without pressure. For us it's different.
"I said two months ago that we could have a big problem in January because we have to play big games without Yaya.
"It's better that we sell first. Maybe then we can then take in other players.
"If we have strikers injured then we need to buy another. Because (Edin) Dzeko has a problem in his knee, at the moment I have one striker and two midfielders."
The start of the second set was a much tighter affair than the first, Baghdatis holding his opening two games and forcing a break point in game four which Murray saved thanks to his serve-and-volley tactics.
Murray made his rival pay for that missed opportunity by securing a break of his own in the next game, and consolidated that advantage by holding serve - saving another break point - to go 4-2 up.
Another break followed as crowd favourite Baghdatis ran out of steam, Murray completing an impressive win with minimum fuss.
Next up for the Scot will be a semi-final meeting with Australian eighth seed Bernard Tomic, who needed little over 79 minutes to beat Dennis Istomin 6-3 7-6 (7/4).
Second and third seeds Gilles Simon and Alexandr Dolgopolov claimed their places in the last four on Thursday.
Manchester United wonderkid Paul Pogba's Old Trafford future in doubt as AC Milan & Inter table offers
Getty
The French midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and is free to discuss personal terms with clubs outside the English leagues with a view to a free transfer in the summer. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claims the club have a unilateral option to extend the 18-year-old’s contract for a further year, but this has been disputed by sources close to Pogba as the youngster explores all of his options.
Goal.com understands the two Milan clubs have made ‘stunning’ contract offers for Pogba, who is believed to be impatient to play first-team football as he looks to fulfill his billing as one of the brightest talents in European football. The France youth international has also been linked with rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.
Inter are believed to be in pole position thanks to the influence of Italian superagent Mino Raiola, who has been acting as an ‘advisor’ to Pogba and has a reputation in his homeland for securing highly lucrative contracts for players. Raiola is understood to have met Inter directors at the club’s training centre, Appiano Gentile, on December 14 to talk about potential signings.
There would be no transfer fee should Pogba move abroad at the end of his contract, but a nominal sum would be due to United for 'training compensation' under Fifa rules. A move within England would require a fee to be set by an independent tribunal.
United are desperate to convince Pogba that his future is best served at Old Trafford and Ferguson is trying to persuade the player to turn his back on the vast sums being offered in favour of focussing on his career development.
Ferguson has targeted next season as Pogba’s breakthrough campaign and the former Le Havre youngster has made three appearances so far this season, all in the League Cup, while he has been an unused substitute in the club’s last two Premier League matches.
The United boss is a huge fan of Pogba, who joined the club in 2009 when the Red Devils were accused of ‘poaching’ him French side Le Havre. Ferguson made little attempt to hide his contempt for Pogba’s representatives last month as he urged the player to put his career before money.
He said: "He's got an agent who's obviously become a bit difficult but we're negotiating with this agent and we want the boy to stay. But it's down to the individual also.
"Matt Busby summed it up perfectly, that you don't need to chase money at a club like Manchester United, it will eventually find you. If you're good enough, you will earn money and become rich playing for us, there's no doubt about it.
"You hope he gets the right advice. All the young players who remain here always do well. It's one of these situations that they can chase the money early in their career but at the end it's not the same as if they'd stayed here.
"It's the decision the player has to take himself, no matter who he is, about where they think their best future will be. He just needs to look round about him to realise that. But if he wants to go, there is nothing we can do about it."
Goal.com understands the two Milan clubs have made ‘stunning’ contract offers for Pogba, who is believed to be impatient to play first-team football as he looks to fulfill his billing as one of the brightest talents in European football. The France youth international has also been linked with rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.
Inter are believed to be in pole position thanks to the influence of Italian superagent Mino Raiola, who has been acting as an ‘advisor’ to Pogba and has a reputation in his homeland for securing highly lucrative contracts for players. Raiola is understood to have met Inter directors at the club’s training centre, Appiano Gentile, on December 14 to talk about potential signings.
There would be no transfer fee should Pogba move abroad at the end of his contract, but a nominal sum would be due to United for 'training compensation' under Fifa rules. A move within England would require a fee to be set by an independent tribunal.
In demand | Pogba is seen as one of the most promising young players in Europe
United are desperate to convince Pogba that his future is best served at Old Trafford and Ferguson is trying to persuade the player to turn his back on the vast sums being offered in favour of focussing on his career development.
Ferguson has targeted next season as Pogba’s breakthrough campaign and the former Le Havre youngster has made three appearances so far this season, all in the League Cup, while he has been an unused substitute in the club’s last two Premier League matches.
The United boss is a huge fan of Pogba, who joined the club in 2009 when the Red Devils were accused of ‘poaching’ him French side Le Havre. Ferguson made little attempt to hide his contempt for Pogba’s representatives last month as he urged the player to put his career before money.
He said: "He's got an agent who's obviously become a bit difficult but we're negotiating with this agent and we want the boy to stay. But it's down to the individual also.
"Matt Busby summed it up perfectly, that you don't need to chase money at a club like Manchester United, it will eventually find you. If you're good enough, you will earn money and become rich playing for us, there's no doubt about it.
"You hope he gets the right advice. All the young players who remain here always do well. It's one of these situations that they can chase the money early in their career but at the end it's not the same as if they'd stayed here.
"It's the decision the player has to take himself, no matter who he is, about where they think their best future will be. He just needs to look round about him to realise that. But if he wants to go, there is nothing we can do about it."
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