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ANDY MURRAY is celebrating his first Masters Series title after victory over Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati on Sunday.
The British No 1 produced a stunning performance to overcome the Serb 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in a thrilling final in Ohio.
BLACKPOOL striker Ben Burgess will this season give News of the World readers an exclusive insight into life at one of the country's less glamorous clubs. The Seasiders are famous as the club which gave us legendary winger Sir Stanley Matthews but not even their most ardent fan would claim they are still in the big-time. Ben, 26, is about to start his third season at the club, after spells at Blackburn (where he played three games as an 18-year-old for Graeme Souness), Northern Spirit in Sydney, Brentford, Stockport, Oldham and Hull. Newly married to Kate, he lives in Lytham, drives a BMW, loves playing Pro Evo on the PlayStation and is doing a journalism degree at Staffordshire University. Here he reveals the delights of seeing players on trial.
YOU meet some funny people at this time of the year because so many clubs have players on trial.
At Blackpool a couple of seasons ago, we had one guy turn up with a Geordie accent listed both Middlesbrough (believably) and Real Betis (interestingly) among his previous clubs.
News of the World columnist Kevin Pietersen is the new captain of Test and one-day sides at Lord's it has been confirmed.
Pietersen takes over from Michael Vaughan who chucked the towel in on Sunday.
LEWIS Hamilton came a disappointing fifth in the Hungarian Grand Prix after tyre trouble dashed his promising pole position start.
The British racing sensation now has a five-point lead in the title race over reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen after Heikki Kovalainen took the top podium place.
MICHAEL Vaughan has said a tearful farewell to the England Test captaincy.
Vaughan brought his own future into question after yesterday's five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the third Test at Edgbaston gave the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.
PETER STOTESBURY was forced to take a couple of pain killers after boating a superb 95lb conger.
The Fareham, Hampshire, angler said: “I have a bad back and battling with the conger knackered me.”
Peter, 52, wins a reel.
Enter your prize catch by emailing fish@notw.co.uk - don't forget to include names and address of witnesses plus full details of capture. Attach any pictures and we'll put them on our website.
ROBBIE KEANE has wasted no time in adapting to life on Merseyside.
WORLD champion Kimi Raikkionen is rubbishing rumours he will leave Ferrari at the end of the season.
The flying Finn remains confident about retaining his crown despite falling off the pace and claiming just one podium finish in the last five races.
By RICHIE BENAUD, the voice of cricket
PAUL COLLINGWOOD provided one of finest examples of a Test batsman wanting to be on the field at the end of an innings.
In contrast, Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal on Friday at Edgbaston was bizarre.
ANIL AMBANI, 49, is the sixth-richest man in the world with an estimated personal wealth of £21billion.
He is the chairman of Reliance Capital, Reliance Communications and Reliance Energy, where he is also managing director.
By ROB SHEPHERD
THE world’s sixth richest man will not be wearing a black and white Newcastle shirt in the St James’ Park directors’ box.
He will not rub shoulders with the Toon Army on away trips or press the flesh with them as they jostle through the turnstiles.
Asian billionaires in battle as Ashley is ready to sellEXCLUSIVE by ROB SHEPHERD
NEWCASTLE are at the centre of a massive £260million takeover battle between TWO of Asia’s richest companies.
Toon owner Mike Ashley is in talks with Anil Ambani, the sixth richest man in the world and head of Reliance Communications, India’s biggest telecoms company.
Spanish giants refuse to give up chaseBy ROB SHEPHERD
REAL MADRID are preparing one final £60million bid to land Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United insist their Portuguese winger is not for sale. But last night Real boss Bernd Schuster confirmed: “The club are working hard to get a solution. We knew it was going to be very complicated.
Villa boss says Gareth will go to LiverpoolBy AIDAN MAGEE
MARTIN O’NEILL has dramatically admitted defeat in his attempt to keep Gareth Barry.
The Aston Villa boss has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown just days after announcing that his captain and prized asset was going nowhere.
Scolari confident England ace will sign new dealEXCLUSIVE from ROB BEASLEY in Moscow
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI is confident he has trounced Jose Mourinho in the battle for Frank Lampard.
Chelsea’s new boss now expects the England midfielder to sign a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge.
You can shout at Rob Shepherd by joining his online forum on Sunday from midday. He'll be discussing all the weekend's big talking points and you can tell him what you think of Emmanuel Adebayor's decision to stay at Arsenal.
AT last it seems some sanity is about to prevail from this summer of madness.
Emmanuel Adebayor is poised to end the brinksmanship at Arsenal, sign a new deal and so end all talk of a move to Barcelona.
New Spurs ace scared by Eduardo horror tackleBy AIDAN MAGEE
LUKA MODRIC admits the horror injury suffered by compatriot Eduardo made him think long and hard about coming to the Premier League.
The slightly-built Croat- ian played for Dinamo Zagreb on the day the Arsenal striker sustained a sickening compound fracture at Birmingham.
Hammers will retire legendary shirt for charityEXCLUSIVE by ROB SHEPHERD
WEST HAM will retire Bobby Moore’s number 6 shirt for good next week.
Matthew Upson, who currently wears it, will hand over two jerseys, one home kit, one away, to Moore’s widow Stephanie at Saturday’s pre-season game against Villarreal.
MATT POTTS DEALSTOKE are giving Dominic Matteo a new one-year deal after he proved his fitness.
The former Liverpool defender, 34, missed a large chunk of the 2007-08 season with a foot injury but has sailed through the Potters' pre-season with no problems.
West Brom want Blades star Michael TongeWEST BROM hope to boost their squad for the Premier League with a £2million bid for Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge.
The ex-Manchester United youth star has played almost 300 games for the Blades but is still only 25.
