Federer beats Nadal to win ATP World Tour Final

Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts during a round robin singles tennis matc...

​London: Roger Federer sent a timely reminder to Rafael Nadal on Sunday, out-gunning the world number one to win the ATP World Tour Finals with an irresistible display of attacking tennis.

Federer, overshadowed this season by the phenomenal Nadal, won 6-3 3-6 6-1 in front of 17,500 fans at London's O2 Arena for a record-equalling fifth title at the year-ending finale, matching the feat of Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.

Federer and Nadal set for grand finale

Nadal, who won this year's French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles to knock Federer off the top of the rankings, looked jaded after his epic semi-final against Andy Murray on Saturday and the Swiss seized his chance in style.

Federer fired down 32 winners in the one hour 37 minute contest to Nadal's 11 as he beat the Spaniard for only the second time in two and half years.

Nadal now leads 14-8 in their series dating back to 2004 but Federer's form since his shock defeat by Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon suggests the 24-year-old will be challenged hard for the sport's majors again next year.

In going through the round-robin tournament undefeated Federer also added $1.6 million (1.0 million pounds) to his considerable bank balance, although notching another victory over his great rival, and regular nemesis, was satisfaction in itself.

The 16-times grand slam champion roared with delight as he looped a forehand on to the baseline and, after a slight hesitation, Nadal opted not to challenge the call and began walking to the net to shake hands.

For the time since 1986 the world's top two players in the ATP rankings contested the final match of the season -- a fitting end to a tournament that attracted 250,000 fans over eight days to London's Docklands.

Though the match lacked the drama of their previous one in London -- Nadal's unforgettable 2008 Wimbledon final defeat of Federer -- it still provided a feast for a sell-out crowd as both players traded blows.

Nadal had the first sniff of a chance at 3-3 when he had Federer down 0-30 on serve but he was helpless as the Swiss reeled off four perfect points.

Asian Games

In the next game, Federer earned a break point with a forehand winner and converted it when he rolled a backhand beyond the reach of Nadal.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the Swiss had moved a set ahead but Nadal, playing in the final of the season-ender for the first time, levelled the match after breaking Federer's serve in the fourth game of the second set.

Predicting a winner at that stage looked impossible but Federer struck the decisive blow to move 3-1 ahead in the decider when Nadal hit a tired-looking backhand wide.

Nadal got to deuce on the next game but Federer slammed the door shut with an ace to move 4-1 ahead and there was no way back for the Mallorcan.

Bopanna-Qureshi get Grand Prix of Peace and Sports award

Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, right, and partner Rohan Bopanna of Indi...

Paris: Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani doubles partner Aisam ul Haq Qureshi have been awarded the 2010 Grand Prix of Peace & Sports at a glittering event held in Monaco.

The two players, who are also known as Indo-Pak Express were given the award in the presence of Crown Prince of Monaco Thursday night for their role in promoting peaceful relations between India and Pakistan.

Bhupathi-Mirnyi end runners-up at World Tour Finals

The two have been playing together as a doubles team on the ATP circuit in 2010 and to convey their message of peace, they have been sporting the slogan 'Stop War, Start Tennis'.

"Their commitment to promoting peace between the two countries and their conviction that peace was possible was shown amply during the year. In the US Open tournament they managed to bring together the ambassadors of India and Pakistan to support the same team," says the citation of the award which was handed out in a ceremony with numerous stars from the world of sports.

Handing the award, Joel Bouzou, president and founder of Peace and Sport Foundation, requested the governments of India and Pakistan to support the project of Bopanna and Qureshi to organise a symbolic tennis match at the Wagah border checkpost. "The sport is ready for peace. Will the two governments rise to the occasion?" he asked.

The evening saw five other awards being handed out. These included the award for a peace project of an international sporting federation, which was shared by world football body FIFA and IFNA (International Federation of Netball Associations).

IFNA got the award for its programme 'Goal', which helps young women to become independent in India. FIFA got the award for it initiative Football for Hope, which reinforces programmes around the world on subjects as diverse as education, health, building peace and reconciliation.

The award for the Sporting Event of the Year went to 'Rumble In Cartagena' - an event of rugby in wheelchairs which was organised during the Summit for a World Free of Anti-personnel Mines.

The award for a sports NGO for peace was given to the Peres Center, which has mounted about 10 projects favouring socio-economic cooperation and cross-border interactions between the Palestinian and Israeli people.

Federer thanks Annacone for return to form

The award for Socially Responsible Company of the year was bagged by sports wear major Puma, which organised thousands of charitable football matches around the world to promote peace, donation of sporting equipment.

And the special prize of the Jury went to "Out of the Ashes", a film based on the emergence of the Afghanistan cricket team, which originated in the refugees camps in Pakistan and went on to participate in the Cricket World Cup.

The Peace and Sports Awards were inaugurated in 2008 and are given by the eponymous organisation which in apolitical and neutral.

Malik dropped because of Super Sixes loss?

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik being ignored for the New Zealand tour could be a result of the team's unlikely loss in the Super Sixes Tournament final in Hong Kong under his captaincy last month.

Sources said Malik, who was ignored by the selectors on Tuesday for the New Zealand tour despite his terrific form in domestic cricket, may have been sidelined because of the Hong Kong tournament.

Pakistan selectors leave out Yousuf for New Zealand tour

"Malik was captain and in the final opponents Australia required 48 runs in the final over to win the match. Imran Nazir a part time bowler was given the ball and incredibly even in the super sixes format he conceded 48 runs bowling number of wides and no-balls in the decisive over," one source said.

He said the final over had raised eyebrows in the Pakistan Cricket Board and given Malik's disciplinary record as well the selectors decided to play it safe.

"If a player has scored three big hundreds in succession in domestic cricket he is always a serious contender but in Malik's case his ouster may also be linked to non-cricketing reasons," the source said.

Malik himself told the media that he was extremely disappointed at not making the team.

World Cup 2011

"What more do I have to do to prove myself. I have scored nearly 580 runs in five innings with three centuries and I have taken 14 wickets for PIA in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and if this not enough to win me a place back in the team I don't know what is," Malik said.

"If the selectors are not considering me when I am in prime form then I think I am within my right to at least ask them to tell me on what grounds I have not been picked in the touring squad," Malik said.

Afridi not happy with axing of Kamran, Malik

Karachi: Pakistan's one-day captain Shahid Afridi on Friday questioned national selectors' decision to drop senior players Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal from the squad for New Zealand tour, saying that it would affect preparations for the 2011 World Cup.

"I am definitely not happy with the way we are preparing for this mega event. I think we need to have experienced players like Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik in the team (for the New Zealand tour)," Afridi told reporters.

Controversies will not affect us in World Cup: Afridi

The outspoken all-rounder said that the media should ask the Pakistan Cricket Board and selectors why Kamran and Malik were not included in the squad.

"I think the media should ask the board because we need experience players for a major tournament like the World Cup and you can't expect to go into such a big event with a young and inexperienced side," Afridi said.

The national selectors ignored senior players Kamran, Malik, Rana Naved and Danish Kaneria while announcing the Test and Twenty20 teams for the New Zealand tour starting this month.

Afridi also urged the selectors to announce a pool of players for the World Cup as soon as possible so that the players could gel together and start preparing for the mega event.

"We need to work with a pool of players as soon as possible," he said.

Afridi declined to make any predictions about how Pakistan would perform in the World Cup next year being held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"In modern day cricket, it is very difficult to make any predictions about who will win the World Cup. I know people don't have much expectations from us in the World Cup but I am positive about our performance and I will back my players to do well, even the younger ones," he stated.

World Cup 2011

Asked about the exclusion of Mohammad Yousuf from the Pakistan Twenty20 and Test squads for the New Zealand tour, the flamboyant all-rounder was quick to point out that the senior batsman did not deserve a place in the T20 team while as far as why he was not selected in the Test team, he (Afridi) had nothing to do with Test cricket.

Asked about bookmaker Mazhar Majeed's claims of having ties with Pakistan players, Afridi pointed out that he had no issues at all since he had never done anything wrong in his cricket career.

"When I have done nothing wrong why should I be worried about Mazhar Majeed is saying or has to say I am not bothered at all."

Miandad and Waqar in war of words

Karachi: Former captains Javed Miandad and Waqar Younis have started a war of words after PCB offered Pakistan's batting and fielding consultant job for the New Zealand team to the former.

Pakistan team's head coach Waqar Younis who is these days in Sydney made it loud and clear that he would remain in charge and Miandad's role would be restricted in the team.

Afridi not happy with axing of Kamran, Malik

Miandad on Friday hit back warning Waqar to be careful while choosing his words.

"I think Waqar should realize my stature as a player and director general of cricket in the PCB before making any such comments. He should also realize that we are both employees of the board and not allowed to make such statements against each other. I can easily enough get a show cause notice issued to him for his remarks," Miandad said.

He also made it clear that he had turned down the offer from the board in a letter sent to the board Chairman, Ijaz Butt since he couldn't work under the supervision of Waqar who had played under him and was much junior to him.

"I am not going to be answerable to Waqar as far as my work is concerned I am only answerable to the board Chairman and I can't work under such restrictions," Miandad said.

After making him an offer the board sent another agreement letter to Miandad outlining the terms and conditions under which he would work in the Pakistan team on the New Zealand tour.

The conditions included that he would report to Waqar Younis, discuss all plans and schedules with him and not undertake any coaching session without approval of the head coach.

Let the tweeters tweet, says 'boring' Strauss

Waqar also added fuel to fire from Sydney when he said that Miandad's addition to the panel of coaches will not affect his role with the team.

While welcoming the PCB move to approach Miandad, Waqar, however, made it clear that he was fine as long as Miandad's role did not clash with his as head coach.

"I will send players to him whenever he wants them. He can work on their technique and sort out their difficulties. But when it comes to match strategy, that's my job," Younis said.

Dhoni signs Rs.26 crore endorsement deal with UB Group

New Delhi: Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni signed one of the largest single endorsement deals with the liquor to airlines conglomerate, the UB Group, valued at approximately Rs.26 crore for three years, according to a person privy to the deal.

The deal puts the Indian captain in the select league of top Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan who charge anywhere near Rs.6 crore to Rs.8 crore per product's endorsements in a year.


A official with the talent management firm Rhiti Sports Management, through which the deal was struck, told IANS: 'Yes, Dhoni has entered into a deal with the UB Group and is now in the exclusive league of stars like Shah Rukh and Aamir.'


According to the official, the Indian cricket captain will endorse the company's McDowell soda.

'Right now, Dhoni is one of the most sort-after persons for endorsements, which is majorly due to the fact that the Indian team has been performing very well,' the official added.


Earlier, Dhoni's most expensive deal was signed at a price of Rs.6 crore per year with Reebok, which comes down to Rs.30 crore for a 5-year period.


Currently, he is associated with 22 brands -- among them beverages and snacks major PepsiCo, reality company Amrapali, telecom operator Aircel and retail chain Big Bazaar.