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Murray a step closer to Masters after St Petersburg win

ST PETERSBURG, Russia: Briton Andy Murray moved a step closer to a place in the prestigious Masters Cup after winning the St. Petersburg Open here on Sunday against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

"I played effectively, without committing any errors. I didn't give my opponent many chances," said the Scot after winning the 700,000-euro ATP tournament 6-2, 6-3.

Murray was never really in danger on his service and broke the Spaniard's serve in the third and fifth games of the first set.

The Scot continued his dominance in the second set, breaking Verdasco's serve in the first and last games.

It is the second title of the year for the world No 16 following his victory in San Jose, for the second year running - the only event where he has claimed an ATP title previously.

Federer fixed on Paris after home heroics

BASEL, Switzerland: Roger Federer vows there will be no turning back as he returns to the Paris Masters for the first time in four years after earning top ATP end-of-season ranking honors for the fourth year in a row.

"I'm not worried about any fitness or fatigue," said the Swiss after earning his eighth victory without a loss over Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-4 to win a second straight Swiss Indoors title on Sunday.

"I'll leave on Monday, there's no pulling out now."

Federer is riding his usual wave of confidence after producing the 61-minute rout at the hometown stadium where he got his start as a teenaged ballboy.

He joins another pantheon of greats who have earned four year-end top spots in the past: Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.

Rodriguez, Fielder win Hank Aaron awards

DENVER: Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers Prince Fielder have been selected by fans as winners of the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the top offensive players in the National and American leagues.

Nearly 400,000 votes were cast at MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and Commissioner Bud Selig announced the winners on Sunday.

Rodriguez, who won the award each year from 2001-2003, was honored for a fourth time. It was the first Aaron Award for Fielder.

One nominee was put forward from each Major League team.

Third baseman Rodriguez, who received 24 percent of all AL fan votes during the final phase, led the major leagues with 54 home runs, 156 runs batted in, 143 runs scored and a .645 slugging percentage.

Fielder received 16 percent of the NL fan votes. The first baseman led the National League with 50 home runs and drove in 119 runs for the Brewers.

Ramos tells stuttering Spurs hard work starts now

LONDON: New Tottenham manager Juande Ramos had only a few words to say to his players after he saw Blackburn come from behind to win 2-1 at White Hart Lane. He told them: "The hard work starts tomorrow."

That work involves instilling a belief in a side that is not short on talent but has forgotten how to win.

After taking the lead through a Robbie Keane penalty just after the interval, the Spurs were undone by Benni McCarthy's equalizer and a 90th-minute winner from Rovers' giant center-back Christopher Samba.

With Ramos watching from the directors' box, the Spurs put in a performance that deserved at least the point that would have allowed them to climb out of the relegation zone. In the end however Samba denied them even that.

With the Spaniard not due in the dugout until Blackpool visits for a League Cup tie on Wednesday night, development coach Clive Allen took temporary charge of the Tottenham team.

(China Daily 10/30/2007 page23)