Monaco
The top-ranked Serb has won 11 Grand Slams but the French Open continues to elude him, having lost the final to Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros last year and twice to Nadal.
“I don’t like the word ‘obsession’ because it doesn’t come from the right emotion,” Djokovic told reporters Sunday. “But of course, being the only Grand Slam I haven’t won gives me even more incentive to give my best there this year.”
Few would bet against Djokovic winning in Paris given his red-hot form but part of his renowned discipline involves stopping from looking that far ahead.
Nadal, who lost to Djokovic in the Monte Carlo semifinals last year, won eight straight titles here from 2005-12 until Djokovic ended the Spaniard’s run in the 2013 final.
Winning Monte Carlo was always the springboard that led to victory in Paris, and he thinks it will be tough to stop Djokovic doing the same.
Since beating Djokovic in the 2013 U.S. Open final, Nadal has lost 10 of their 11 meetings — the only win in that time coming when he beat Djokovic in the French Open final two years ago.
Since 2015, Djokovic has reached 19 finals in 21 tournaments, winning 15 and losing four finals.
Chester, Pa.
Christen Press also scored for the Americans, who wrapped up a two-game exhibition series with Colombia after a 7-0 win on Wednesday in Connecticut.
U.S. captain Carli Lloyd, the 2015 FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, was held scoreless despite several chances in her homecoming, coming out to a thunderous ovation in the 73rd minute.
London
Jamie Vardy’s double at Sunderland sealed a 2-0 victory that guaranteed a coveted top-four finish. Leicester remains seven points clear at the top and is starting to resemble a Premier League thoroughbred with its effortless march to a first title.
Tottenham is waiting to pounce on any slip-up by Leicester. The second-place London club responded to Leicester’s Sunderland success by ending a 15-year wait for a home win over Manchester United. A 3-0 victory was secured by Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela scoring within five minutes, 46 seconds in the second half.
It pushed Tottenham a step closer to joining Leicester in the Champions League next season, having only featured in Europe’s top competition once before.
United looks unlikely to be with them, given that crosstown rival Manchester City is four points ahead in fourth place.
As things are progressing, record 20-time English champion United could see Leicester guarantee the title by winning at Old Trafford in three games time.
Leicester is in unfamiliar territory but not showing it. There are no nerves, no sign of anxiety from Claudio Ranieri’s team. Some observers suggested the manager was crying when he entered the field after Sunday’s fifth successive win.
“It’s fantastic when you see before the match a lot of old ladies with Leicester shirts outside the stadium,” Ranieri said later. “I said, ‘Unbelievable, they came from Leicester to support us.’ That is emotional; that is fantastic; that is football.
“I want through you to say thank you for the support. It’s unbelievable. They are amazing. They are dreaming and we want to continue to dream. But to do this, we must be concentrated.”
It’s looking bleak for Sunderland, which is four points from safety but with a game in hand over Norwich.
There was little at stake in Sunday’s third game apart from Liverpool gaining confidence ahead of its Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Borussia Dortmund, which is locked at 1-1.
Liverpool dislodged Stoke from eighth place by beating the Anfield visitors 4-1. Alberto Moreno’s fine Liverpool opener was canceled out by Bojan Krkic in the 22nd minute. But Daniel Sturridge restored Liverpool’s lead before halftime and substitute Divock Origi netted twice after the break.
Houston
Marshall buried the finish from a behind the 6-yard box after Oalex Anderson’s cross deflected off goalkeeper Joe Willis and defender Raul Rodriguez. The final whistle blew shortly after the ensuing kickoff to give Seattle (1-3-1) its first draw of the season.
Giles Barnes scored for Houston (1-2-2) in the 35th minute. He was facing away from the ball when Jalil Anibaba made a pass, turned around in time to see it coming his way and improvised a 15-yard turnaround flick that looped into the upper left corner.
Willis had five of his six saves in the second half, stopping Clint Dempsey’s attempt in the 92nd minute.
New York
David Villa put five shots on frame for New York City (1-1-3), including a free kick in the 83th minute and a breakaway attempt in the 84th that forced Lampson to make key saves late.
The Fire (1-1-3) had no shots on goal but had rookie Jonathan Campbell’s goal in the 60th minute waived due to an offside call.
City beat the Fire 4-3 at Chicago when both teams opened the season March 6.