NEW YORK: Britain’’s Andy Murray advanced to his first Grand Slam final by stunning world number one Rafael Nadal on Sunday in a US Open semi-final, booking a date with reigning champion Roger Federer on Monday. The 21-year-old Scotsman defeated the reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion 6-2, 7-6 97/5), 4-6, 6-4 in a match that began Saturday but was halted by rain in the third set. That storm pushed the showdown with 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer to Monday, the first time since 1987 that bad weather has postponed the year’’s last Grand Slam tournament to an extra day. Murray became only the third British man to reach a Slam final in the 40-year Open era, after Greg Rusedski in the 1997 US Open and John Lloyd at the 1977 Australian Open, and twill be the first to win a title by beating Federer. “He’’s probably the greatest player ever,” Murray said of Federer. “To get the chance to play against him in a Slam final is an honor. I”ve played well against him in the past. Hopefully I can do the same again.” Murray slept on a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 2-3 lead but was down a break in the third set with Nadal serving when play resumed at Arthur Ashe Stadium after a delay of about 26 hours from Saturday’’s stoppage at adjacent Louis Armstrong Stadium. “I”m very relieved to come back,” Murray said. “Obviously tough to sleep on it but I”m very glad I came through in the end.”
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WASHINGTON: The Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Senator Joe Biden, has drawn up an excellent long-term plan for the United States to help Pakistan economically, thereby strengthening the state against Islamist extremism. The problem is, however, that Pakistan may not be able to wait that long.He and others have warned that mass anger at rising food prices and lengthening electricity cuts could combine with hostility to the government’’s campaign against the insurgents and to Pakistan’’s alliance with America. Pakistan’’s new president, Asif Zardari of the Pakistan People’’s Party (PPP), is already hated by much of the population, in part because he is seen as too pro-American.Sharif’’s popularity has soared in recent months, partly due to his opposition to Pakistani help to the Americans in Afghanistan and criticism of the Pakistan Army’’s campaign against the insurgents.This does not mean that the United States should treat Sharif as an enemy. If he comes to power, he will probably follow a course of pragmatic cooperation with Washington. America should give emergency aid to the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the Pakistani military offensives in Bajaur in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Swat in the North West Frontier Province. These should be focused on the North West Frontier Province. The planned $750 million for the tribal areas is a good idea in itself, but given the security situation and lack of basic infrastructure in these areas, it will be many years before this money can be spent effectively. Meanwhile, the North West Frontier Province itself is in grave danger from the militants.
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PESHAWAR: Being in power means getting a lot more votes in Pakistan and this is what happened once again on Saturday when the ruling PPP swept the pre
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Islamabad The Margalla Police have arrested two dacoits allegedly involved in killing a shopkeeper during an armed dacoity in a medical store
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Pakistan News
LAHORE THE City District Government Lahore (CDGL) on Sunday constituted a three-member committee to bring down the price of Roti from Rs 5 to
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ISLAMABAD: Senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Sunday his party had “subdued” expectations from the new president of Pakistan, Asif Al
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LAHORECITY streets once echoed with laughter and joyful shrieks of young boys and girls playing traditional games but these have been forgotte
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IslamabadThe salaried class and daily wage earners groaning under spiralling inflation are attaching high hopes to President-elect Asif Ali Za
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday vowed to restore the 1973 Constitution to its original form, which would help in securing
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ISLAMABAD: Top police officials of Islamabad and Balochistan are said to have quietly discussed the possibility of arresting the younger brother of PP
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