SPORT | IN BRIEF
Nadal sees off Federer in Madrid
TENNIS: Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal stepped up his preparations for this year’s tournament by beating world No1 Roger Federer to win the Madrid Masters.
Nadal’s 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) triumph, which followed his wins in Rome and Monte Carlo, means he has now won 18 Masters titles and will reclaim second spot from Novak Djokovic in the world rankings today.
“Winning here at home is a dream,” said the Spaniard. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would win all three of these big events.”
Federer, who won the French Open last year in Nadal’s absence, said: “The clay court season will not be judged here but in Paris.”
Richards kicks Warriors to win
RUGBY LEAGUE: Wigan extended their lead at the top of the Super League with a 38-30 win at Huddersfield, and despite Giants winger David Hodgson running in a hat-trick.
Hodgson grabbed half of his team’s six tries, but Wigan matched that haul, Joel Tomkins and Darrell Goulding getting two apiece.
And the league’s runaway top scorer Pat Richards proved the difference, the full-back’s accuracy with the boot on seven out of eight attempts earning the Warriors victory.