DURAN DURAN TO REPRESENT ENGLAND IN OLYMPICS OPENING CONCERT

Show to mark start of London 2012 Olympic Games will also feature acts representing Scotland (Paolo Nutini), Wales (Stereophonics) and Northern Ireland (Snow Patrol)

Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and Stereophonics are to play a gig in London's Hyde Park this summer to mark the start of the Olympics.

The show will take place on 27 July, the same day as the Olympics opening ceremony, which will be broadcast live on screens in between the acts.

The bill has been put together to represent each part of the United Kingdom, with Duran Duran representing England, Paolo Nutini playing on behalf of Scotland, Stereophonics representing Wales and Snow Patrol playing on behalf of Northern Ireland.

"Performing to so many people on the most exciting day in sport will be one of the highlights of the last decade for us," said Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon.

"We have been invited to represent England for this show, and we couldn't be more proud. Seeing the torch being lit on the big screens before hitting the stage in this iconic location will be a great experience … We simply can't wait."

Snow Patrol's Jonny Quinn said: "Living in London and everything, with all the excitement, it's certainly an honour to be part of it. I think it will be very special."

While this show will act as an accompaniment to the opening ceremony, Blur will headline a gig in Hyde Park to celebrate the end of the games. They will be joined by New Order and the Specials on 12 August for the show.

Both events have been organised by BT London Live as part of a series of events to mark the Olympics. Tickets for the opening ceremony celebration concert go on sale on Friday 4 May at 09:00BST.


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Lady Gaga Announces UK Tour Dates

Lady Gaga has revealed the dates of two massive UK shows on her Born This Way Ball tour.

The pop phenomenon will be playing Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday, September 8, and the Manchester Arena on Tuesday, September 11. She has also revealed an Irish date at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Saturday, September 15.

Recently reformed joke rockers The Darkness will support on all European dates, while Lady Starlight will also appear on some.

Gaga's statement said: "The Haus of Gaga and I have worked for months conceiving a spectacular stage.

"The Born This Way Ball is an electro-metal pop-opera; the tale of the beginning, the genesis of the Kingdom of Fame. How we were birthed and how we will die celebrating."

Announcing the dates to her 20 million followers on Twitter, she described them as "the first 21 European dates", providing a hint that more will follow - perhaps when or if some of the first batch sell out.

Blur's summer concert should be their last, Damon Albarn says

Blur look likely to end a quarter-century career this summer with their final concert and single release. In an exclusive interview, the band's singer and chief songwriter Damon Albarn has told the Guardian that he intends a new song titled Under the Westway to mark the end of their recording career, and that "in all likelihood", a huge gig on 12 August in Hyde Park, London, will be their last.

Albarn has also cast doubt on the other brand name that has defined his career, revealing that new activity under the banner of Gorillaz, the hugely successful pop project he created with the artist and illustrator Jamie Hewlett, is unlikely, after the pair ended up at "cross-purposes".

The Hyde Park event, which will also feature New Order and the Specials, is being staged as part of the closing festivities for the Olympics, and follows two Blur shows at the same location three years ago. "I'll give it 100%, like I did last time," said Albarn. "And that's it.

"And I hope that's the truth: that that's how we end it."

See tickets to Blur Concert at the Hyde Park

Djokovic beats Murray to defend Miami Masters title

Novak Djokovic successfully defended his Miami Masters crown as he overcame Andy Murray 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in the sweltering heat.

Djokovic becomes just the third man to win the tournament three times or more even though he was at times a distance from his best.

Murray was similarly below par as Djokovic raced through the first set, but took the world number one all the way in the second - though a total of one break point in the entire match for the Scot told its own story.

Djokovic's victory was his third at Miami and avenged his 2009 loss to Murray here at Crandon Park.

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ATP FINALS 2011 - Tsonga Tops Nadal To Join Federer In SFs

RESULTS FOR THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2011

Singles - Group B Round Robin
[6] J Tsonga (FRA) d [2] R Nadal (ESP) 76(2) 46 63
[4] R Federer (SUI) d [8] M Fish (USA) 61 36 63

Doubles - Group B Round Robin
[3] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) d [2] M Llodra (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) 46 63 10-7
[8] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d [5] R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) 62 61

NEWS

Tsonga Tops Nadal To Join Federer In SFs

Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga became the first Frenchman in three years to qualify for the semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, with a 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-3 victory over second seed and last year's runner-up Rafael Nadal on Thursday. Tsonga finished Group B play with a 2-1 record.

The 26-year-old Tsonga, who is appearing at the year-end championship for the first time in three years, hit 11 aces, 46 winners and almost as many unforced errors, 45. It was his third win in nine meetings against Nadal, who won three of 12 net points and committed 24 unforced errors.

Federer Stays Perfect After Fish Test

Roger Federer maintained his perfect record at the ATP World Tour Finals in London with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 win over Mardy Fish.

TENNIS Roger Federer in action against Mardy Fish in the group stage of the ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 on November 24.

The defending champion and 16-times Grand Slam winner, who has won the season-ending Finals on five occasions, broke Fish at every time of asking in the first set, but was thrown a strong challenge afterwards as the American bounced back to take the second.



ORDER OF PLAY FOR FRIDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2011

AFTERNOON SESSION 12:15 PM
Lindstedt/Tecau vs. Melzer/Petzschner
Djokovic vs. Tipsarevic

EVENING SESSION 6:15 PM
Bryan/Bryan vs. Bhupathi/Paes
Ferrer vs. Berdych

ATP FINALS 2011 - Order of Play for This Friday 25th November

RESULTS FOR WEDNESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2011

Singles - Group A Round Robin
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) d [1] N Djokovic (SRB) 63 61
[7] T Berdych (CZE) d [9] J Tipsarevic (SRB) 26 63 76(6) - saved 1 M.P.

Doubles - Group A Round Robin
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d [6] R Lindstedt (SWE) / H Tecau (ROU) 61 62
[4] M Bhupathi (IND) / L Paes (IND) d [7] J Melzer (AUT) / P Petzschner (GER) 75 63


NEWS

Nadal Receives Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award
Rafael Nadal was honoured for his charitable efforts in a special, on-court ceremony Wednesday at The O2 as he was presented with the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award by ATP Executive Chairman and President Adam Helfant.

Ferrer Beats Djokovic To Qualify For SFs
Fifth seed David Ferrer qualified for the semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-1 win over World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in front of a sell-out 17,500-strong crowd at The O2.


ORDER OF PLAY FOR FRIDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2011

AFTERNOON SESSION 12:15 PM
Lindstedt/Tecau vs. Melzer/Petzschner
Djokovic vs. Tipsarevic

EVENING SESSION 6:15 PM
Bryan/Bryan vs. Bhupathi/Paes
Ferrer vs. Berdych

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ATP FINALS 2011 - This Thursday Federer vs Fish and Nadal vs Tsonga

RESULTS FOR TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2011

Singles - Group B Round Robin
[4] R Federer (SUI) d [2] R Nadal (ESP) 63 60 - Federer classifies for the Semi-Finals
[6] J Tsonga (FRA) d [8] M Fish (USA) 76(4) 61

Doubles - Group B Round Robin
[2] M Llodra (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [5] R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) 76(6) 63
[3] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) d [8] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 64 63

NEWS:
Murray Withdraws From Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
Great Britain’s Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals due to a groin strain, and will be replaced by World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in round robin Group A.


ORDER OF PLAY FOR THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2011

AFTERNOON SESSION 12:15 PM
Bopanna/Qureshi  vs. Fyrstenberg/Matkowski
FEDERER vs. FISH

EVENING SESSION 6:15 PM
Llodra/Zimonjic vs. Mirnyi/Nestor
NADAL vs. TSONGA

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