The Morning Sports briefing

Tennis: Big guns in action in Melbourne

Tomas Berdych played arguably the grand slam quarter-final of his life to end the longest losing streak on the ATP Tour with victory over Rafa Nadal this morning.

In the women’s draw, Maria Sharapova schooled Eugenie Bouchard to book her place in the semi-finals.

Soccer: Bad start for Liverpool

Liverpool are likely to go into tonight's League Cup semi-final second leg strikerless once more - as Daniel Sturridge looks unlikely to be risked. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had said on Monday that the English striker would be considered for the fixture although he has gone on to explain that such is unlikely and if he cannot start the game he will not be named as a substitute either.

Meanwhile Blackrock Rugby Club president Seamus Taaffe has said that a deal that will allow Cabinteely FC play League of Ireland football at Stradbrook in the event that their application for league membership this season is successful is in line with the club's previously stated plans to use their ground as a multi-sport facility - as well as making financial sense.

Rugby: European Champions Cup fixture debate

Leinster are adamantly opposed to their European Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath at the Aviva Stadium taking place on Good Friday as it will be an economical disaster for local pub and restaurant owners. The quarter-finals are scheduled for Easter weekend – Friday, April 3rd to Sunday, April 5th – and Leinster have requested a tea-time slot for Saturday 4th.

GAA: Armagh man setting the record straight

There's been a lot of talk of over-training in Armagh of late but manager Kieran McGeeney is adamant that his team are not being trained as hard as a number of counties, nor as hard as how he trained during his time, and that basically the media who have been reporting on the county's apparent demanding training schedule have been dishonest.

Lance wants forgiveness

'If you take me back to 1995, when doping was completely pervasive, I would probably do it again' - nonetheless disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong believes the time has come for him to be forgiven as it was not possible to win cleanly when he was competing. What to watch out for:

In the Leinster schools rugby Senior Cup today St Michael's College and St Mary's College face off in Donnybrook at 3pm, while Wesley College play Cistercian College and Kilkenny College take on Newbridge College in Naas RFC and Co Carlow FC respectively. In the Munster Senior Cup Glenstal Abbey face Castletroy College.

There's also an Irish Rugby press conference in Carton House today - where an injury update will be given by an unspecified coach with the Six Nations opener in mind.

In Leinster schools GAA there's the remaining senior 'A' football quarter final between Dundalk schools and Patrician, Newbridge and in the hurling Dublin South take on Dublin North in the group schools final all fixed for today.

At 11am the GAA Director General will make his annual address and the report on such will be published.

The Australian Open continues , while there's a variety of soccer action available; the African Nations Cup continues, Australia play their Asia Cup semi-final this morning, the Coppa Italia quarter final is this evening between AC Milan and Lazio, while the big game in England is the League Cup semi-final second leg between Liverpool and Chelsea.