Allgemeines » Janssen, who converted 34-of-36

Andy Murray has been seeded second for this weeks Monte Carlo Masters and cannot face Novak Djokovic until the final - but his route looks anything but straightforward. Murray begins his clay court season in the principality and will be looking to return to the form that saw him reach the Australian Open final rather than the form of the US hard-court Masters swing.Murray has suffered shock defeats in recent weeks, losing to Federico Delbonis at Indian Wells, and labouring in defeat to Grigor Dimitrov in Miami. Next up for the world No 2 is Monte Carlo, a venue he has not played at since a third round exit in 2013, and he will be hoping to replicate the form which guided him to the semi-finals in 2009 and 2011.However, he has it all to do if he is to claim a first Masters title in Monte Carlo.... Second Round beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2 4-6 6-3 Last 16 beat Benoit Paire 2-6 7-5 7-5 Quarter-Final - Milos Raonic Milos Raonic has been one of the form players on tour this season Plenty of danger lurks in Murrays quarter with Pablo Cuevas, a two-time clay-court winner this season, posing a very real threat to the big serving of Tomas Berdych (runner-up in 2015) and Milos Raonic, but its the Canadian who is arguably the form man on the tour this year behind Novak Djokovic.A run to the semi-final at the Australian Open, where he was beaten in five sets by Murray, was followed by a lay-off before a return at Indian Wells where he made the final before losing to Djokovic. Raonic has reached at least the last eight in all four of his events this year, but Murray leads the head-to-head and won the pairs last meeting on clay - a straight sets success on his way to the Madrid Masters title last year.Semi-final - Rafa Nadal Rafael Nadal has won eight Monte Carlo titles - but none since 2012 Rafa Nadal or Stan Wawrinka are the big hitters likely to provide the semi-final opposition with Dimitrov and Dominic Thiem the danger-men lurking in that quarter.Wawrinka was champion in the principality in 2014 but by virtue of his reputation as the king of clay we will take Nadal, with eight successive Monte Carlo crowns under his belt to come through and provide Murrays semi-final challenge.The 29-year-old may be a fading force but his run to the semi-finals at Indian Wells hinted at a return to form before that shock second-round defeat to Damir Dzumhur in Miami.Nadal holds a dominant head-to-head record between the pair including their last meeting at the World Tour Finals in London last year - however Murray won the last meeting on clay.Murray claimed the Madrid Masters title last year with a dominant 6-3 6-2 victory over Nadal in the final and will hope for more of the same should the pair make it as far as the last four.Final - Roger Federer Master of his trade Novak Djokovic blazing a Masters trail Can it really be anyone other than the formidable world No 1 who faces Murray in the final? Djokovic has claimed the first two Masters events of the year (Indian Wells and Miami) which took his career tally to a record 28.He is the defending Monte Carlo champion, has reached the final of every Masters event he has entered since Shanghai in 2014 and has lost just once this year to go alongside his four titles (although that was an enforced withdrawal against Lopez following an eye problem).Well yes actually it can, Roger Federer has made serene progress in Monte Carlo and is chasing a first win in the principality having lost four finals. Gael Monfils is the most likely alternative, reveling in front of his home fans.You can watch the action from the Monte Carlo Masters on Sky Sports from 9.30am on Monday on Sky Sports 1 Federers Monte Carlo retrurn Details on the draw in Monte Carlo Also See: Federers Monte Carlo return Sky Live: Monte Carlo Masters Master of his trade Djokovic wins in Miami Stitched Celtics Jerseys .com) - The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated balls during Sundays AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. Boston Celtics Shirts . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract. https://www.cheapceltics.com/702n-larry-...eltics.html.com) - The Winnipeg Jets placed defenceman Paul Postma on injured reserve Tuesday. Satch Sanders Jersey . - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Ray Allen Jersey . Armstrong was given the rank of "Chevalier" -- or Knight -- in the "Legion dHonneur" in 2005, the last year of his seven consecutive Tour de France victories.TORONTO -- Casey Janssen doesnt have a date circled on his calendar for his return to the Toronto Blue Jays lineup. The Toronto closer is dealing with a left abdominal/lower back problem that sent him to the disabled list March 30, the eve of the Jays season opener. "Its just a day-by-day thing," Janssen said Saturday of his return. He says he plans to push as hard as he can go, but does not want to set a rigid timeline that might lead to disappointment -- or headlines. "We dont want to get ahead of ourselves," he explained. "We dont want to have dates where either I or you (media) guys or anyone else wants to have as a deadline or a certain date, where if I dont make it that day then its breaking news or something like that." Coming after a pre-season that saw him pitch just three innings as he protected his shoulder, it all means that Janssen is a long way off from where he hoped to be. "Im starting to trust it a lot more," he said of the problem oblique muscle. "Im starting to be a lot more active on it. The recovery is quicker, I guess. If Im active on it, within a few hours it (the discomfort) is probably gone. You wake up with a fresh start every day which is nice. "Ive just got to continue to progress. The further we get away from that Montreal date, the healthier its going to get." The Montreal date was the late March finale to the Toronto pre-season. Janssen felt something as he was warming up to go in against the New York Mets, but didnt think it was anything moree than a "tight something.dddddddddddd" "Never did I imagine Id be sitting here in late April having not thrown a pitch," he said. The days after, however, he knew it was something more than tightness. Janssen is slated to throw a bullpen session Sunday, with another planned a few days later. A rehab assignment in the minors will follow. He has already had one of those shut down mid-month when it was determined he needed further rest. "I cant wait to throw (the bullpen session), Im excited," he said. "Hopefully theres no looking back." As frustrated as he is by the inactivity, the 32-year-old right-hander understands patience is needed. "Being in the position where I pitch in a game, youve got to be good," he said. "You dont want to let the team down by figuring it out up here. "So I want to be clicking once I get up here ... At the end of the day, my arms got to be able to bounce back, do the things Im asked to do here and then also have my side tested enough where, the same thing, Im not getting special treatment when Im ready." Janssen, who converted 34-of-36 save opportunities last season. says he only feels the injury occasionally in his day-to-day life. But given the importance of the bodys trunk to throwing, it is like Kryptonite to a pitcher. "Theres no injury thats fun," he said. "This one seems to take lot more time, even when theres no extreme pain." Sergio Santos has assumed the role of closer in Janssens absence. ' ' '