French Open

Federer could do nothing to stop Nadal winning a fourth title

Rafael Nadal thrashed world number one Roger Federer to win a fourth successive French Open title on Sunday.
The Spaniard, 22, won 6-1 6-3 6-0 in one hour 48 minutes to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1981 to win four Roland Garros titles in a row.
Federer had lost the previous two finals to Nadal, and was broken at the start of each set this time as he fell well below his best form.

Nadal becomes the seventh man to win a GraFederer had gone into the final insisting that he believed he could win, despite a 1-8 record against Nadal on clay and having seen the Spaniard demolish all comers on his way through the draw.
And any belief that Federer did have began to disappear almost immediately, as he made four unforced errors to give away a break of serve in game one.
The top seed appeared to be using a more attacking strategy than in past years and the high-risk tactics almost got him back on level terms in game two, but he could not convert a break point and the set ran away from him.
When Federer dropped serve at the start of the second with his 15th unforced error of the match he looked a beaten man, but a superb angled backhand helped him recover the break in the following game.
And as the set progressed, Federer began to suggest he could threaten the champion.
The key moment came at 3-3 when the Swiss earned a break point and a chance to finally move ahead, but Nadal drew him into the net and Federer caught the tape as he went for too much with a low backhand.
With the chance gone, Nadal inevitably made him pay in the next game, taking his third break point by punching a backhand pass down the line with Federer stranded at the net.
Things got even worse for the Wimbledon champion in the third, who lost his first love set at a Grand Slam since facing Pat Rafter at the French Open in 1999.
In the closing stages, Nadal was picking him apart, with one stunning lob in game four a particular highlight and evidence that the Mallorcan's game has come on in leaps and bounds.
He sealed victory when the world number one made his 35th unforced error of the match - to Nadal's seven - and left an embarrassed Federer to pay tribute as the trophy was handed over for a fourth time.
"Rafa is very, very strong and he dominates this tournament like never before," said Federer. "Congratulations Rafa." nd Slam without dropping a set.
The last man to do so was Federer himself, at the Australian Open last year, but the aura of invincibility has well and truly left the Swiss now.
It was the heaviest defeat of Federer's career in Grand Slam tournaments and suggested he is as far as ever from fulfilling his dream of winning all four major titles.

Invincible is exactly the description that applies to Nadal at Roland Garros. He has won all 28 matches he has played there and lost just eight sets in four years.

Iraqi PM assures Iran on security

Iraq will not allow its territory to be used to attack Iran, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said during a visit to Tehran.
Mr Maliki met the foreign minister and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who pledged to help with Iraq's security.
The role of the US in Iraq is high on the agenda, with Tehran concerned about a treaty under discussion on the terms of the US military's future in Iraq.
Iran's alleged backing for militants in Iraq was also expected to be discussed.
'Peace and security'
"We will not allow Iraq to become a platform for harming the security of Iran and neighbours," Iranian state-run media quoted Mr Maliki as saying after late-night talks with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
In his talks with Mr Ahmadinejad, Iranian media quoted Mr Maliki as saying: "A stable Iraq will be a benefit to the security of the region and the world."

Mr Ahmadinejad told Mr Maliki: "Iraq's neighbours have more responsibility to help the country to establish peace and security."
Without referring directly to the US-Iraqi deal, Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying: "Iraq must reach a certain level of stability so that its enemies are not able to impose their influence."
A statement from Mr Maliki's office in Baghdad said economic and trade issues were high on the agenda.

"Iraq is looking forward to Iranian companies taking part in developing its infrastructure," Mr Maliki is quoted as saying.
The BBC's John Leyne, in Tehran, says Iran has made no secret of its opposition to the current negotiations going on between Iraq and the US, which are aimed at regulating the presence of US forces in the country after their UN mandate expires at the end of 2008.
The US-Iraqi talks, which are seeking to reach agreement by the end of July, have run into problems over issues related to Iraqi sovereignty.
The Iraqi prime minister was also expected to raise allegations of Iranian support for Shia militants in Iraq.
Shia militiamen fought bitter battles with US and Iraqi government forces between March and May.
Mr Maliki is on his third visit to Iran since taking office in June 2005.
Government sources say Iraqi security officials with the delegation will be showing the Iranians evidence of their alleged support for the militias, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad reports.
Iran has always denied any involvement, but officials say Mr Maliki will once again urge Tehran to support the Baghdad government and stop secretly backing militias.