Federer Chases His Fifth ATP World Tour Finals Title

London (11/27) Four times Tennis Masters Cup winner Roger Federer is looking for the fifth as he overcame world number three Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of ATP World Tour Finals. Federer dispayed a virtuoso match, winning 6-1, 6-4 at O2 Arena.

"Obviously I'm really looking forward to playing against Rafa tomorrow," Federer, who can emulate Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl by winning the year-end title for a fifth time, told reporters. "Who wouldn't? I'm no different."


Federer serves the ball to Djokovic

Federer conjured 31 winners in a one-sided 80-minute contest against Djokovoic, who beat him at this year's U.S. Open.

"Every ball kind of listens to him," was Djokovic's eloquent description of 16-times grand slam champion Federer's sublime performance. "He's maybe playing the best tennis in 2010."

In the final, Federer would face Rafael Nadal who battled in three hours and eleven minutes to subdue local favorite Andy Murray 7-6(5), 3-6, and 7-6 (6).

"I just love playing against him," said Murray, who hugged his rival across the net at the end. "As a sportsman, I don't know if there's been many better than him ever in terms of the way he conducts himself.

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Arsenal to the Top for Two Hours

Andrei Arshavin celebrates his goal with Jack Wilshere

Arsenal was back to a winning form with a 4-2 victory over home Aston Villa. The visitors bossed the first half but had to wait until 39 minutes until Andrei Arshavin fired home. On the whistle a corner from the Russian, excellent on the day, was volleyed in by Samir Nasri.





Ciaran Clark fired Villa a lifeline six minutes after the restart but Marouane Chamakh replied almost immediately to restore the visitors' two-goal cushion.

Clark headed home with 20 minutes to go but, despite the odd scare, Arsenal were untroubled.


Jack kisses Arsenal badge



In the final seconds, Chamakh squared to Wilshere who headed home into an empty net from barely a yard. Wilshere successfully sealed it.

Because of this result, Arsenal topped the English Premier League with 29 points before Manchester United won 7-1 over Blackburn Rovers. Chelsea, having 28 points, will play on Sunday.

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Asian Games Badminton - Fabulous Final

Lin Dan Completes Title Collection with Gold Medal

Guangzhou (11/21) - 2008 Olympic gold medalist Lin Din of China won his first Asian Games gold medal as he mastered the same opponent as in Beijing 2008, Lee Chong Wei. Lin Dan who was the Asian Games 2006 silver medalist, becomes the first man to win the four main titles, overpowering the Malaysian 21-13, 15-21, and 21-10. Now Lin Dan has 4 All England titles, 3 world championship titles, an Olympic gold medal, and an Asian Games gold medal.

“I have reached my target. I have won all the major titles that a player can win. This is really a wonderful moment for me,” Lin Dan said whose victory made his meeting record against Chong Wei 14-5.

“Of all the titles that I have won, the 2004 Thomas Cup Finals, however, will hold a special spot for me. It was the beginning of my rise as a player. And the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was an important one too.”

“This is my best Asian Games final. There was pressure on both of us. We played well even though it was so tough. Honestly, I was the lucky one to win.

“I give my due respect to Chong Wei. He really fought very hard today,” said Lin Dan

Meanwhile, sad Chong Wei refused to speak in the media conference.

One Gold for Each Indonesia and South Korea

In the men's doubles, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan succeeded to present Indonesia's third gold medal in Asian Games, upsetting defending Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong who had beaten Markis and Hendra in Asian Games 2006 semi-final.

The 2007 world champions confronted strong shots from Kien Keat and Boon Heong before winning 16-21, 26-24, and 21-19 in 58 minutes. The match went tough that Kien Keat even fell many times to return the Indonesian pair's hits. It was also his fault tht Markis and Hendra clinched the winning point.

“Before this match, I had played badly. But today, Boon Heong and I gave it our all, especially at the crucial times.

“We fought hard and it’s disappointing to settle for silver. It should have been better. But overall, we do not regret with the way we played in losing the match,” commented Kien Keat.

He was disappointed about that they failed to win the second game.

“We let it slip through our hands. Then, it was difficult for us to focus after they took a big lead in the rubber game. We managed to chase and even led but, eventually, it did not end in our favour,” he said.

In the all-Chinese women's singles final, Wang Shixian beat compatriot Wang Xin 21-18 and 21-15. In the women's doubles final, Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei of China defeated teammates Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli 20-22, 21-15, and 21-12.

South Korean Shin Baek-cheol and Lee Hyo-jung ended China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei's dream in reaching gold medal in Guangzhou with a 21-19 and 21-14 victory.

Asian Games individual results:

Men's Singles
Gold - Lin Dan (China)
Silver - Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)
Bronze - Park Sung-hwan (South Korea) and Chen Jin (China)

Women's Singles
Gold - Wang Shixian (China)
Silver - Wang Xin (China)
Bronze - Yip Puy Yin (Hong Kong) and Eriko Hirose (Japan)

Men's Doubles
Gold - Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)
Silver - Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong (Malaysia)
Bronze - Lee Yong-dae/Jung Jae-sung (South Korea) and Muhammad Ahsan/Alvent Yulianto (Indonesia)

Women's Doubles
Gold - Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei (China)
Silver - Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang (China)
Bronze - Kim Min-jung/Lee Hyo-jung (South Korea) and Ha Jung-eun/Lee Kyung-won (South Korea)

Mixed Doubles
Gold - Shin Baek-cheol/Lee Hyo-jung (South Korea)
Silver - Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei (China)
Bronze - He Hanbin/Ma Jin (China) and Chen Hung-Ling/Cheng Wen-Hsing (Chinese Taipei)

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Asian Games Badminton - China on Zenith

Guangzhou (11/15) - China won both men's and women's badminton medal in Asian Games 2010 at the Tianhe Gymnasium.

In the men's final, China overcame South Korea 3-1. Lin Dan gave China the first victory as he defeated Korea's striving Park Sung-hwan 19-21, 21-16, and 21-18.



“The start was not satisfactory, I was not doing well and I lost several points,” said Lin Dan, who also led his team winning Asian Games gold medal in Doha 2006.

Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung kept Korean hope alive as they equalized the score 1-1. They downed their usual opponent Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng 21-17, 20-22, and 23-21.

However, Chen Jin beat Shon Wan-ho and Xu Chen/Guo Zhendong conquered Ko Sung-hyun/Yoo Yeon-seong to secure the win for China.



In the women's final, China was too powerful for Thailand, clinching a 3-0 triumph. World number one Wang Xin responded hard resistance from young Ratchanok Intanon, who replaced Salakjit Ponsana, before winning the first match 20-22, 21-17, and 21-14.

"I was prepared but did not expect the match could be so hard, I think I was a little nervous," said Wang, who just turned 24.

Wang Shixian added more point for China after subduing Nitchaon Jindapol 21-13 and 21-12. Finally, Jiang Yanjiao mastered S. Taerattanachai, 21-15, 21-10, to present a gold medal for China.

Meanwhile, Indonesia gained two bronze medals, Thailand won a bronze from the men's team, and South Korea won a bronze from the women's team.

gz2010
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