Sampras: Federer is the ‘best ever’

Former world number one, Pete Sampras, has described recently crowned French Open champion Roger Federer as the best player in history. The 37-year-old American, nicknamed ‘Pistol Pete’ for his bullet-like serves, won a record 14 grand slam men’s singles titles over a 15-year career, though never captured the trophy at Roland Garros.

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Federer survives five-set ordeal in Paris

Roger Federer had to come from two sets down to avoid joining top seed Rafael Nadal on the French Open sidelines as he saw off Germany’s Tommy Haas 6-7 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals on Monday. With Nadal sensationally losing to Robin Soderling and with Novak Djokovic going out in the third round, the draw has opened up for second seed Federer as he bids to complete a set of grand slam titles. The French Open is the only slam to evade the Swiss star, with Nadal usually barring his path, but Haas came close to spoiling the party before Federer took command.

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Venus crashes out in Paris to Szavay

Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams crashed out of the French Open on Friday as she was thrashed 6-0 6-4 by Agnes Szavay of Hungary. It was the third straight year that Williams has gone out at the same stage on the clay of Roland Garros, but defeat to 29th seed was still unexpected. Third seed Williams had charted a perilous course to the last 32, saving a match point on Thursday against Lucie Safarova, but her luck ran out against Szavay

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BA: ‘Absolutely no signs of recovery’ in airline industry

British Airways posted the airline’s worst annual loss since its privatization in 1987 as its chief executive declared there were "absolutely no signs of recovery" in the industry. The airline slumped from profit to loss in the last financial year. During the year ended March 31, its operating loss swelled to £220 million ($348 million) from a restated profit of £878 million ($1.4 billion) in 2008.

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Military: Troops kill 3 Tamil Tigers leaders

The Sri Lankan military said Monday that they killed three top leaders of the Tamil Tigers and the son of the rebel group’s founder. CNN was unable to confirm the account because of safety and access reasons. The deaths were the result of continuing armed encounters with the last remnants of the rebel group, who are now cornered in a small stretch of land in the country’s north, according to the military.

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