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RIO DE JANEIRO - Rafael Nadal showed no problem with his tender back in his second match since returning from the injury, defeating fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Rio Open on Thursday. The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. A year ago he used the Latin American swing to test his recovery from an injured left knee. Nadal seemed to move freely against Montanes and wore a large, blue elastic bandage on his lower back as a precaution. "The back, well, its bothering me a little," Nadal said. "Right now its not hurting my game, but Im serving a little more gently than Im used to doing." Nadal said he pushed his recovery "a little bit" to play in Rio, after pulling out of the tournament the week before in Buenos Aires. "I am here and very happy being here," he said. "When you get an injury in the final of a Grand Slam, and you stop (playing/practicing) for 2 1/2 weeks, the comeback is not easy." Asked if nagging injuries might force an early retirement, the 27-year-old joked a bit before getting serious. "I cant predict the future, but my intention is to play many years," he said. In the other key mens match, third-seeded Fabio Fognini reached the last eight beating Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-3. Second-seeded David Ferrer advanced on Wednesday. Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine advanced to his second quarterfinals of the year, beating Facundo Bagnis of Argentina 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (4). Dolgopolov said he hadnt considered leaving the tournament to return to his Kyiv birthplace, where more than 100 people have died in anti-government protests this week. Government snipers killed at least 70 on Thursday. "Its sad. I cant do much, but just support," he said. "Whoever is right doesnt matter now when people are dying." Dolgopolov, who lives in the wealthy European enclave of Monte Carlo, said he was lucky to have the chance to make money playing tennis. "Obviously I would like the people in the (Ukraine) to feel better. If I could, I would change that," he said. On the womens side of the combined ATP-WTA event, fifth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan and Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain set up a quarterfinal matchup after second-round wins. Nara defeated Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-0, 7-6 (3), and was in sight of her first WTA semifinals. Dominguez Lino beat Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1. Nara said she likes the hot weather in Rio and is getting used to the clay. "Now I like the clay court," she said. "Last year, I didnt like it." Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania also made the last eight, as did Brazils Teliana Pereira. She is the first Brazilian woman in 23 years to crack the WTAs top 100. The last was Andrea Vieira. Brazils most famous womens player is Maria Bueno, who won seven Grand Slams singles titles, the last at the US Open in 1966. Cheap Dodgers Jerseys . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. Wholesale Dodgers Jerseys . -- Darrelle Revis says at least 26 teams called after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. http://www.cheapdodgersjerseys.com/?tag=...robinson-jersey. -- Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford made it through a third straight practice without any setbacks and expects to play in Oaklands regular-season finale against San Diego. Cheap Mike Piazza Jersey . After just two league games in June, Toronto (6-4-1) will go on to play seven in July plus a friendly against Tottenham. Five of those contests are against Eastern Conference opposition, meaning valuable points in the playoff race are on the line. Cheap Babe Herman Jersey . Pospisil, the seventh seed, saved match points in each of the last two sets before falling to the unseeded Dutchman. "I wasnt very happy with the way I was playing,"said Pospisil.ROME - Perhaps Mario Balotellis struggles with Liverpool will have a positive effect on his return to Italys squad.Thats what Azzurri coach Antonio Conte is hoping for after giving Balotelli a surprising call-up for a key European Championship qualifier against Croatia on Sunday.Its the first time Conte has included Balotelli since taking over from Cesare Prandelli after Italys first-round elimination from the World Cup.Maybe its even better that Balotelli is coming in during a rough period, Conte said Monday as Italy began training in Florence. I think hell dedicate himself to the national team.Since transferring from AC Milan, Balotelli has scored only two goals in 14 appearances for Liverpool — and none in the Premier League.Glad to be back on the National Team and proud to represent my country, Balotelli wrote on Facebook.Without Balotelli, Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza have taken over as the starters in attack under Contes preferred 3-5-2 formation. It remains to be seen if Balotelli will be used as a bench option or possibly replace Zaza.All players are equal. Balotelli, like everyone else, could play if hes in form but he could also end up on the bench or even in the tribune, Conte said. Balotelli has a lot of experience with the national team, having played a World Cup and a European Championship. Thats important but its not enough. Hes going to have to show me he can adapt to my type of football.Others have already shown that. Immobile, Zaza, (Graziano) Pelle and (Sebastian) Giovinco start with an advantage, Conte added. If over the course of a week Balotelli shows me hes reached the level of the others then he could pass in front of them.While Italy has won all four of its matches under Conte, the Azzurri struggled somewhat in ttheir last two games, a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan and a 1-0 victory over Malta.dddddddddddd.Im looking forward to knowing (Balotelli). Its good to have competition, Zaza said. It could help the squad. I knew sooner or later he would be called up. Hes one of the best Italian forwards.Italy and Croatia are level at the top of Group H with nine points each. Two days after Sundays match at the San Siro — where Balotelli formerly played for both Inter and AC Milan — Italy hosts Albania in Genoa for a friendly.Conte said speculation that he had called up Balotelli merely to meet sponsor demands was nonsense.I dont exclude anyone, said the coach who guided Juventus to the last three Serie A titles. Balotelli is playing as a starter for Liverpool. Im forced to call up many players who are not starters for their clubs.Balotelli has scored 13 goals in 33 appearances for Italy, and was instrumental in the Azzurris run to the final of Euro 2012. But after scoring in Italys opening win over England at the World Cup, both he and the rest of Prandellis attack struggled in the next two matches against Costa Rica and Uruguay.Balotelli was the focus of a big portion of the blame for Italys early exit from the tournament in Brazil.Four months ago when he scored against England, you hailed Balotelli as Italys national treasure, Conte said. Four months later, hes being (attacked). I think thats part of the problem. Hes just a normal player.Conte deflected questions over reports in English tabloids focusing on Balotellis late-night partying habits.Im going to evaluate Balotelli for what he does from here on, Conte said. You know my rules and how severe I am. 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