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Henry insists he is happy with status on Barcelona team

MADRID: French striker Thierry Henry on Sunday insisted he was happy with life at the Catalan club after denying he had complained to reporters about being played out wide.

"I just want to say I feel very at ease in this team and that I am very happy," Henry told a news conference to clarify his position.

"I have read things (in the press) which did not please me - I speak to everyone in the dressing room, I am always joking around, that's all," insisted the former Arsenal man, who joined Barca in the summer and scored in a 2-1 win at Zaragoza on Saturday.

"I said the other day I would play wherever the coach wants me to but then the following day I read things I didn't say, interpretations of people speaking about me," said the striker, who has netted seven times in 19 league matches since coming to Spain.

"So I just want to say I am happy and feel at ease in this team. The coach (Frank Rijkaard) asked me if I could play wide or in the middle and it's his decision."

Nadal returns to the court for Rotterdam Open

ROTTERDAM: Rafael Nadal will step back onto the court almost a month after his last match, making a Dutch debut as top seed at the Rotterdam Open starting on Monday.

Since losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Spain's Nadal has rested a knee and started a charitable foundation based in his island home of Mallorca.

But with the chance to try and close the gap a bit on world No 1 Roger Federer - the Swiss will not return to tennis until his Dubai title defense in early March - Nadal is taking his Rotterdam campaign seriously.

Out of action is fragile Novak Djokovic, who has not been at full fitness since his Australian Open title.

The Serb limped through a doubles match this month in Davis Cup, quit a reverse singles rubber and was unable to complete a match in Marseille. He is hoping to rid himself of a virus by skipping Rotterdam.

Japanese teenager Nishikori stuns Blake to take title

DELRAY BEACH, Florida: Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori stunned American top seed James Blake 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the ATP title here.

The 18-year-old, ranked 244th in the world, claimed his first career crown and became the first Japanese man to win a tour event since Shuzo Matsuoka in Seoul in April 1992.

Nishikori, who had to qualify to get into the main draw of the $411,000 hardcourt tournament, was playing in his first ATP final.

He has been based in Florida since he began training at the Bollitierri Academy at the age of 14.

"Last night I tried to imagine winning the final, but I couldn't do it," Nishikori admitted. "I was so nervous in the first set. During the second set I started to feel more confident.

"This is the best tournament in my life," he added. "I am so happy right now. I played eight matches in nine days but I didn't feel tired."

Murray ends Ancic's dream return in Marseille final

MARSEILLE, France: Britain's Andy Murray captured his second title of 2008 on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mario Ancic in the Marseille final which brought the Croatian's impressive comeback to an end.

For world No 11 Murray, it was a fifth career singles title but Ancic, a former Davis Cup winner whose career has been decimated by injury and illness, can take heart from a shock run to the final here.

"It was a very high standard, I hit some really important shots on the big points, especially at the end of the first set," said Murray.

"I think, when you can hit a lot of different shots it makes it more enjoyable to play, and to watch as well. I thought it was a good match and I enjoyed it."

Murray, who won in Doha in January, now improves to 10-1 for the year with his only loss coming against Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round in Melbourne.

(China Daily 02/19/2008 page22)