Ferguson's suggestion that the game at Stamford Bridge represented an "easy" three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side proved inaccurate.

BBC: Chelsea 1-0 Bolton

Nadal, a winner in Monte Carlo and Hamburg this year, then took three games in a row to prevail in one hour and 58 minutes.

BBC: SPORT | Tennis | Nadal & Djokovic into round four

United travel to the Stadium of Light in second place, having closed the gap on Chelsea to three points - despite only drawing at Bolton - after Carlo Ancelotti's side lost to Manchester City.

BBC: No panic over Manchester United form - Rio Ferdinand

Happily, three American college boys who find him at play in Monte Carlo help him to uncover the wild and woolly Yank beneath his monocle.

NEWYORKER: The Mollycoddle

The Bryans' latest win, in the Monte Carlo Masters last weekend, was particularly significant since they beat three key rivals in their final three matches.

WSJ: Americans Produce Feats on Clay

Hewitt went out of the Monte Carlo Masters in the third round on Thursday, losing a tight three-set encounter with Rainer Schuettler.

BBC: Hewitt commits to clay

However, there never looked any liklihood of history repeating itself this time around as Nadal became the first man in history to win three clay-court titles in a year prior to the French Open, following his recent successes in both Monte Carlo and Rome.

CNN: Brilliant Nadal too strong for Federer