Monday, August 24, 2009 CINCINNATI: World number one Roger Federer defeated fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-1, 7-5 to win the Cincinnati Masters title Sunday and cement his status as favorite for the upcoming US Open. Federer set the tone in the second game of the match, when Djokovic saved six break points but still couldn't ward off the break of serve. When Djokovic finally held serve in the sixth game of the match he could only look at the sky and smile. He presented a tougher challenge in the second set but couldn't capitalize on a set point in the 10th game. Federer earned the key break for a 6-5 lead before serving out the match with a love game. Federer won his third Cincinnati title after victories here in 2005 and 2007. He also captured his 16th Masters crown - second only to Andre Agassi's career total of 17 in the elite series. He turned the tables on Djokovic, who had beaten him in two prior meetings this season. More importantly, the five-time defending US Open champion showed he is on form with the last Grand Slam of the season scheduled to start at Flushing Meadows on August 31. After capturing the Masters title in Madrid, Federer posted milestone victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year. His first French Open title made him just the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam and his triumph over Andy Roddick in an epic Wimbledon final gave him a record 15th career Grand Slam. After taking a break as he and wife, Mirka, welcomed the birth of twin daughters, Federer then suffered a shock quarter-final defeat at the Montreal Masters against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Friday, August 14, 2009 MUMBAI: A 26-year-old woman died Thursday of H1N1 swine flu in the southern city of Bangalore, raising India's death toll from the virus to 20, authorities said.The death was the first reported in India's information technology capital, the Press Trust of India reported.Meanwhile in Pune, the worst-affected in India, two more victims of the virus died Thursday, raising the death toll in that western city near Mumbai to 12, the report said. The victims were an 11-month-old boy and a 75-year-old old woman.US media reported movie halls, schools and colleges were ordered closed Thursday for three days to a week in Mumbai, the commercial and financial capital of the country, as fear of the pandemic spread.Prajakata Lavangare, a spokeswoman for the government of Maharashtra state of which Mumbai is the capital, said similar orders were issued in Pune, which is also located in the state.The woman who died in Bangalore was identified only as Roopa, a teacher in...
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