Nadal, Federer, Djokovic land in Rome quarters

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04/30/2009 - Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, former world No. 1 Roger Federer and reigning Rome champion Novak Djokovic were among Thursday's third-round winners at the $3.645 million Italian Masters tennis event.

The three-time Rome titlist Nadal spanked helpless Swede Robin Soderling 6-1, 6-0 on the red clay at Foro Italico. The Spanish superstar cruised in 1 hour, 24 minutes on Day 4.

Nadal captured this event three years in a row from 2005-07, including a victory over Federer in the 2006 finale.

The reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion Nadal is fresh off his fifth straight Barcelona and fifth consecutive Monte- Carlo clay-court championships. The super Spaniard has now won his last 27 matches on red clay and is 144-4 on the surface since 2005, including a perfect 13-0 this season.

Nadal's quarterfinal opponent on Friday will be fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who moved on by besting Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-4. Nadal snuck past Verdasco in an epic all-southpaw five-set semifinal en route to his Aussie Open title earlier this year.

The second-seeded Federer, meanwhile, handled 16th-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-1. The reigning U.S. Open champ Federer, a two-time runner-up in Rome, lost to Stepanek in the quarterfinals here a year ago.

Up next for the 13-time major champion Federer will be German qualifier Mischa Zverev, who upended eighth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-1.

A third-seeded Djokovic moved on by whipping 13th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-1. Djokovic defeated Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in last year's Rome finale.

Fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro reached the quarters by outlasting a 10th-seeded Wawrinka 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, while 12th-seeded Chilean slugger Fernando Gonzalez came from behind to dismiss Austrian lefthander Jurgen Melzer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. "Gonzo" was the 2007 Rome runner-up to the amazing Nadal.

One other third-rounder saw surprising Argentine qualifier Juan Monaco topple 15th-seeded Croat Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4.

The other quarterfinals will pit Djokovic against del Potro and Gonzalez versus Monaco, who upset Miami Masters titlist and U.S. Open runner-up Andy Murray in the second round this week.

The 2009 Rome titlist will take home $565,000.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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