Swiss star just second man to win both tournaments in French capital
Former world number one Roger Federer won his first Paris Masters title with a 6-1 7-6 victory in the final against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The 30-year-old Swiss third seed became only the second player after Andre Agassi to win titles at Roland Garros and Bercy - the two men's Paris tournaments - thanks to a suberb display over 85 breathtaking minutes.

Federer raced to a 4-0 lead and claimed the opening set in 30 minutes against the sixth seed thanks to his sharp first serve and devastating forehand.

The Frenchman at least made a contest of the second set, threatening to break on two occasions, but it eventually went to a tiebreak which Federer won 7-3 after racing into a 4-0 lead.


Federer Masters Paris

It was Federer's third ATP title of the year after tournament wins in Doha and his home town of Basel last week. It was also his 18th Masters title, second only to Rafael Nadal who has one more to his name.

Tsonga had two break points in the first game but Federer held him off with two first-serve winners.

The Swiss moved 4-0 up after a Tsonga return went wide and a double fault earned him a double break, as a frustrated Tsonga struggled for ideas in front of vociferous support from the majority of a 14,500 crowd.
Chance

Tsonga had a flicker of a chance in the second set, earning a break point in the fourth game with a sizzling crosscourt passing shot, but blew his opportunity by sending a forehand wide.

Tsonga faced a break point in the 10th game but staved it off at the net and the contest went into a tiebreak which Federer won comfortably.

Federer, who had been facing the prospect of failing to win either a grand slam or a Masters title in a season for the first time since 2001, said: "I'm very happy with my performance today. I'm amazed by how well I played.

"I don't think Jo played a bad match. It's good to complete the tournament so solidly."

Tsonga admitted: "I'm a bit disappointed that I have not been able to play better. He was better today. He was just too quick."

Federer will head to the ATP Tour Finals in London next week on a 12-match winning streak, after claiming his 69th career title from 99 finals.

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McLaren star optimistic he has turned a corner after Abu Dhabi victory
An optimistic Lewis Hamilton is hoping his victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is "the start of something good".


Hamilton produced a faultless display at the Yas Marina Circuit to take the chequered flag more than eight seconds clear of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

There is no doubt he suffered a slice of good fortune when world champion Sebastian Vettel, who had just made a perfect getaway from pole position, retired when a puncture caused suspension damage on the opening lap.

Hamilton at times came under pressure from Alonso, notably at the second pit stop when Ferrari kept the Spaniard on the track after he had pitted.

But any concerns were shortlived, with Hamilton delivering a double-clenched fist pump to salute his third win of a season which has been characterised by collisions, controversy and personal problems away from the track.

Earlier in the week, Hamilton had spoken of the "happy bubble" surrounding team-mate Jenson Button this season.

On Sunday he experienced something similar by being able to dedicate his latest victory to mother Carmen, who had travelled to the Middle East to watch the race.

"It is great to be able to win while she's here," said Hamilton in the post-race aftermath.

"I feel fantastic, ecstatic, really happy to be back up here (on the top of the podium).

"That was one of my best races, in terms of my own performance, not making any mistakes. I feel I didn't make a single mistake in the race.
Pressure

"What with the things that have gone on, the pressure I've been under, with the doubt that has surrounded me.

"I'm just massively proud to have put that kind of performance together, and to have come on out on top.

"I said to myself as I slowed down, just being able to hold off one of the best drivers in the world (Alonso) throughout the race is something that is very, very tough to do, so this is great."

Asked whether he felt he was back on track, Hamilton added: "It is early days yet, but hopefully this is the start of something very good.

"We've another great race ahead of us in Brazil and I just have to keep my focus on that, try to keep the momentum.

"But you know how it goes. Anything can happen. I just have to keep my mind on the game."

It is a mind Hamilton claims has been "clearer" this weekend, that he has had "less weighing on me, less thoughts on the issues and problems I've got".

He added: "I was just able to drive clearly. Obviously in the last race I had that mistake (collision with Felipe Massa), when I wasn't thinking straight.

"But this weekend I've been thinking straight, and I don't know if that's because I've had great support here or what, but it's been a positive feeling all week."
Difficult

Button also produced a fine performance, securing a place on the podium despite struggling with the loss of his KERS power boost during the race.

"It was a difficult race for me, as I had a KERS Hybrid issue, which is admittedly very rare for us," he explained. "After about 15 laps it stopped working - and that doesn't just affect your power out of the corners, it affects engine braking too.

"Fortunately, my engineer came over the radio and told me they'd found a way to make it work again - but it meant pushing lots of buttons on the steering wheel every couple of laps because it only returned intermittently.

"I'd arrive at a corner and not know whether I had any engine braking because I had no warning. So selecting the right spot at which to brake was tough.

"Although the problem made for a tricky drive for me, it also made it even more satisfying to manage to keep it together and end up on the podium," he added.

Despite Hamilton's win, Button's result guarantees that he will finish above his team-mate this season - something Hamilton has never before experienced in the decade he has raced single-seaters.

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Spain attacking midfielder not pleased with Three Lions' tactics
Spain international midfielder Cesc Fabregas has taken a dig at England for adopting a negative approach to their game at Wembley on Saturday.


The European and world champions slumped to a narrow 1-0 defeat in London in the friendly international between the two teams, thanks to a 49h minute goal from Frank Lampard.

England coach Fabio Capello fielded a defensive formation against Spain, who dominated the match but failed to find the target, although David Villa hit the post in the second half.

Fabregas, who came on as a half-time substitute, was understandably frustrated with the final outcome but insisted that it had more to do with England playing with 10 men behind the ball than anything else.

"At the end of the day, you want teams to have a go at you and test you and see what happens," explained the Barcelona star.

"We knew, especially after we saw the first XI that they put in, that they were going to defend basically the whole game.

"Even when they were winning, they had (Danny) Welbeck up front alone and everyone just defending.

"But this is the way they want to play and it worked for them."
Pleased

"We dominated the game and we made England defend nearly the whole 90 minutes," continued Fabregas.

"We played two completely different styles of football.

"The more defensive one won but we know that the only way they could score was from a free-kick or a corner and we conceded a not very intelligent free-kick there.

"We paid for it but, basically, we are happy because we played very well."
Poor results

The defeat continued Spain's disappointing results in friendlies against the major footballing nations since their World Cup triumph in South Africa in 2010, as they had earlier lost to Argentina, Portugal and Italy.

However, Fabregas dismissed suggestions that this is something to worry about and pointed out that La Furia Roja qualified for next summer's Euro 2012 finals with maximum points from their group.

"Nearly every team we've played now plays like that and we qualified with maximum points," said the 24-year-old.

"In friendlies, it's true that's sometimes we don't go with the same mentality as the important games.

"We always suffer a little bit more in friendly games and we change a lot of players and it's completely different.

"But we are trying our best and hopefully we will be ready for the Euros.

"You cannot even compare the situation today and an important game like the Euros."

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ARSENAL CLEAR-OUT AHOY

Arsenal fans will shed no tears at the two names featured in the Daily Mail's story of senior players leaving the Emirates in January, with Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh very much surplus to requirements.

Fifth-choice centre-half Squillaci is available on loan to anyone who will stump up his wages or for around £2m on a permanent deal, but the Mail offers no price tag for Chamakh, who has had a nightmare 2011 after a promising start to his Arsenal career.

Oh and Manuel Almunia is available for around £300,000 while Schalke are apparently sniffing around perma-sub Andrey Arshavin.

CITY EYE MARTINEZ

Manchester City definitely need more quality players so there's little surprising about the Daily Mail's claim that they have sounded out Athletic Bilbao over Spanish international midfielder Javi Martinez.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all shown an interest in the really rather good Martinez, who has a £34m buy-out clause in his contract.

"When you hear of interest from United, you feel proud but I'm happy at Athletic," said Martinez before talk of the other Manchester club getting involved.

KEITA MAKES REDS WAIT

Here are some quotes from Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita in The Sun: "Liverpool are a great club and it is fantastic to hear they are interested in me but you know how I feel about Barcelona.

"But we are in football and nothing is an absolute, so let's wait until the end of the season. I want to play more games and the Premier League is very attractive and exciting for anyone."

The 31-year-old Mali midfielder has started only five league games for Barcelona this season.

AND THE REST

Liverpool are closing in on the signature of Swiss teenage striker Nicholas Hunziker from FC Basle...Fulham are lining up Swansea's former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair as a replacement for Moussa Dembele, who is wanted by Tottenham...Sheffield rivals United and Wednesday are set to go head to head to sign in-form Rotherham striker Lewis Grabban.

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