Nadal reaches semis; Djokovic falls in French quarters

Tennis Betting Lines

06/02/2010 - Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Four-time champion Rafael Nadal was tested in his quarterfinal victory, while third-seeded Serbian star Novak Djokovic was stunned by Austrian Jurgen Melzer at the French Open on Wednesday.

The second-seeded former world No. 1 Nadal got past 19th-seeded fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, while a 22nd-seeded Melzer prevented a Nadal-Djokovic semifinal with a grueling come-from-behind five-set victory over Djokovic on Day 11 at Roland Garros.

Following a pair of tiebreaks, Nadal got the break of serve he needed to grab a 5-4 lead against Almagro in the third set. Then, serving for a spot in the semifinals, Nadal converted on his second match point when Almagro sailed one final backhand long. Almagro saved a first match point, trailing 30-40, with a tremendous backhand winner. Almagro possesses one of the best one-handed backhands on the tour.

Nadal, who had his serve broken only once on Wednesday, prevailed in 2 hours, 35 minutes. He broke Almagro on two occasions.

The "King of Clay" will meet his fellow southpaw Melzer in the semifinals here on Friday. The Spaniard is 2-0 lifetime against the Austrian.

Nadal is a six-time major champion, with four of his titles coming right here in Paris from 2005-08. He topped his great rival Roger Federer in three straight French Open finals from 2006-08 before losing to Swede Robin Soderling in the fourth round here a year ago. Soderling stunned a top-seeded Federer here on Tuesday.

The amazing Nadal, who will turn 24 on Thursday, is now 36-1 lifetime at Roland Garros, with his only loss coming at the hands of the big-hitting Soderling.

The lefthanded Melzer dropped the first two sets before charging back to stun the former Aussie Open champion and former world No. 2 Djokovic 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. Melzer had never even reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam event prior to this fortnight.

Melzer climbed back into the match Wednesday by cruising in the third set and squeaking out the fourth via tiebreak, which was all Melzer, as he charged out to a 6-0 lead before taking it in 7-3 fashion.

In the fifth and final set, things were all square at 4-4 before Melzer broke Djokovic on his third break point of the ninth game. Djokovic netted a backhand to give the Austrian the break after saving two other break points, including the second one via overhead winner.

Melzer would outlast Djokovic in the next game by holding his serve. The Austrian blew his first match point by tapping a forehand volley into the net, despite having a wide-open court in front of him.

Djokovic saved a second match point, but a third one proved to be the charm for the 29-year-old Melzer, who advanced when the Serb sent a forehand return long after 4 hours, 15 minutes of entertaining tennis.

Melzer won despite going only four-of-24 on a bevy of break-point chances.

The 23-year-old Djokovic, who shares a May 22 birthday with Melzer, failed in his attempt to reach a third semi here in four years.

Friday's other men's semifinal will pit a fifth-seeded Soderling against 15th- seeded Czech Tomas Berdych. The 6-foot-4 Soderling is 4-3 all-time against the 6-foot-5 Berdych, but the Czech captured their lone clay-court encounter three years ago.

Berdych will appear in his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal, while Soderling will play in his second, with both coming here in Paris over the last two years.

Soderling lost to Federer in last year's French Open finale.

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Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

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