Croatia's national team doctor blames Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti for Luka Modric's latest knee injury.

"Carlo Ancelotti is guilty for Modric's troubles," Croatia's chief medical officer Boris Nemec told the Sportske Novosti daily.

Kyrie Irving made the most of his playoff debut Sunday, scoring 30 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 113-100 in the opening game of their first round series.

Guard Irving played with the poise of an NBA veteran as he drained his first five shots from beyond the arc. He was backed up by LeBron James 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Kevin Love's 19 point and 12 rebound performance as Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

Rafael Nadal has a return to winning ways on clay in his sights as he targets a ninth title at the Barcelona Open this week.

The Spaniard was beaten in straight sets by world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday, but insisted he was pleased by his progress after a poor start to the year after a long injury layoff in the second half of last season.

On-form Novak Djokovic knows better than to try and predict how long he can keep up what seems to be a super-human effort on court after winning the Monte Carlo Masters.

The top seed had to survive a comeback as well as a 70-minute rain interruption on Sunday before running out 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 winner over Tomas Berdych.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to be drawn into a war of words with Yaya Toure's outspoken agent after a 2-0 win over West Ham kept his side on course for a Champions League place.

However, Sunday's victory at Eastlands was marred by an injury to David Silva, who was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone and injured collar bone.

Jubilant Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood challenged his players to earn FA Cup final places after they set up a May 30 showdown with holders Arsenal by impressively overcoming Liverpool.

Philippe Coutinho put Liverpool ahead in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley, but goals either side of half-time from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph earned Villa a 2-1 win that took them into a first FA Cup final since 2000.

Inter Milan were denied a second-half penalty and AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez performed heroics as an entertaining “Derby della Madonnina” finished scoreless on Sunday.

Inter, sitting a point behind Milan in 10th place as both teams continue their battle for a place in Europe, completely dominated an entertaining second half at a packed San Siro.

Fernando Alonso found something to smile about Sunday despite finishing out of the points in 11th place for McLaren Honda at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

In his first season back at McLaren for a second spell after leaving Ferrari, the two-time champion Spaniard finally delivered something tangible for the struggling Honda-powered outfit.

Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is recovering after undergoing quadruple coronary bypass surgery.

A hospital statement on Friday says Abdul-Jabbar had the surgery on Thursday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Marseille's French title hopes are all but over after losing 1-0 at Nantes on Friday, which also dents its chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Winger Serge Gakpe scored in the 20th minute following some sloppy defending.