I think we all feel that Russia’s a place that’s not dead yet Rudnitsky says

“I think we all feel that Russia’s a place that’s not dead yet,” Rudnitsky says. “It’s not like the West, where nothing interesting ever happens Right now, the country’s doing great There’s money to burn. But who knows what happens in 10 years’ time? Could the government be overthrown? Could there be rioting in the streets? Could Russia become China’s northern province? Nobody knows.”To reflect the excitement of being a bright young thing in Noughties Russia, The eXile has an odd medley of content. From long, serious pieces on a scarcely-reported war in Azerbaijan to a popular round-up of the country’s most imaginative demises, called Death Porn; from features on Russia’s obsession with mayonnaise to club and pub reviews; The eXile is nothing if not eclectic.

Some of its most memorable editions have been founded on legendary pranks, the most famous of which was convincing ex-President Mikhail Gorbachev to enter into negotiations as a “perestroika co-ordinator” for the New York Jets gridiron football team.”We do have a lot of fun, and we do a lot of stupid, satirical stuff,” Rudnitsky concedes. “I could have lost that match easily but I came through and that gave me a boost.”Federer was playing in his first tournament in Japan and said he hopes to return next year.”It’s been a great year so far,” said Federer, who has three season Grand Slam titles. “The wind was a factor and I had trouble with my serve, but his ability to hit passing shots so well and consistently is what makes it so difficult. He was just too good.”As in Saturday’s semifinal win over Benjamin Becker, Federer made several brilliant shots that excited the crowd and put Henman on the defensive.”I was able to come up with some great passing shots at the right time,” said Federer, who will next contest the ATP Masters Series in Madrid.Federer ground out a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) quarterfinals victory over Takao Suzuki on Friday, and credited his game against the Japanese wild card as key to Sunday’s title win.”I got lucky against Suzuki,” said Federer. “It was hard for him after the three double faults because if you want to win you just can’t do that.”Federer, playing in his first tournament since winning last month’s US Open, broke Henman again to take a 2-1 lead in the second set and was never seriously challenged before wrapping the match up in 1 hour and 7 minutes.”It wasn’t easy today,” said Henman, who conceded six double faults throughout the match.

Roger Federer took advantage of some costly mistakes by Tim Henman yesterday to win his first Japan Open. Top-ranked Federer coasted to a 6-3, 6-3 win over 10th-seeded Henman, who struggled with his serve in windy conditions at Tokyo’s Ariake Colosseum.
Henman conceded three straight double faults to allow Federer to take a 4-2 lead in the first set, which the Swiss star closed out with an ace.”When he served three double faults, that just gave me the first set,” said Federer. Leicester then made several changes, though shortly after Daryl Gibson nicked a try, back came Worcester.Ben Gotting, who had replaced Aleki Lutui at hooker, scored himself Brown converted. With five minutes to play, that made it 30-20, and five minutes of mayhem followed. Gibson, however, got the final try in stoppage time to seal it.Worcester: Tries Quinnell, Gotting; Conversions Brown 2; Penalties Brown 2.

Leicester: Tries J Murphy, Vesty, Ayerza, Gibson 2; Conversions Burke, Goode; Penalties Burke 2.Worcester: T Delport; M Tucker, D Rasmussen (M Avramovich, 66), S Whatling, G Trueman; J Brown, R Powell (M Powell, 65); T Taumoepeau (L Fortey, 40), A Lutui (B Gotting, 40), C Horsman (Taumoepeau, 65), R Blaze, C Gillies (T Collier, 59), G Quinnell (T Harding, 50), P Sanderson, K Horstmann (capt; Harding 31-40).Leicester: S Vesty: G Murphy (L Lloyd, 54), O Smith, D Gibson, J Murphy; P Burke (A Goode, 56), S Bemand (F Murphy, 66); M Ayerza (M Holford, 66), J Buckland (G Hickie, 61), J White, L Cullen (capt), B Kay (S Jennings, 50), L Deacon (M Corry, 69), L Moody, J Crane.Referee: R Maybank (Kent).. Burke had gone off with a hamstring problem, so Andy Goode kicked the conversion. So it was 15-6 to Leicester at the break.Gavin Quinnell turned that into 15-13 with a try from a line-out within four minutes of the restart. Although the Leicester forwards were in the ascendant, with Marcos Ayerza, James Buckland and Julian White in splendid form, not until the last 20 minutes did Leicester cut loose, and then not with the confidence they have displayed in recent games.Burke kicked a penalty to open up the gap to five points, and within seconds Ayerza scored a driving try. Their fly-half, James Brown, had opened the scoring with a penalty, but two catastrophic defensive mistakes gave the wing Johne Murphy and full-back Sam Vesty straightforward tries.