Murray's mint

Murray: A master

And so, grudgingly, we have to give Andy Murray a pat on the back.

The dour Scottish tennis player beat world number three Novak Djokovic 7-6 7-6 to win his first Masters title, in Cincinnati.

That's expected to lift the frowning youngster to No6 in the world rankings. And it's no doubt helped his bank balance as well.

It also means he had the best weekend of our other featured Brits, Michael Vaughan and Lewis Hamilton after Vaughan stood down as England cricket captain and Hamilton saw his Grand Prix ambitions thwarted by a flat tyre.

After South Africa dug in for a five wicket victory at Edgbaston, which handed them a 2-0 lead in the Test series, Vaughan decided he had no choice.

'I've made the decision to stand down as England captain. It's the hardest decision I've ever had to make but also the easiest.

'The hardest because I'm giving away the job I've loved for the last five years, one I've put my heart and soul into, but also the easiest because my mind has told me to pack it in.

'I felt if I kept going my career could come to an abrupt end. Hopefully, this can prolong my career.

'I will carry on playing because I think there are a lot more runs in me.'

A new captain should be announced this week.

As for Hamilton, he was running well at the Hungarian Grand Prix but suffered a puncture on lap 41 and could only finish fifth.

Happily, his team mate Kovalainen won... and even more happily Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Hamilton's closest rival in the drivers' championship, had an engine blow-out.

'It's the best of the worst,' shrugged Hamilton. 'What can you do when you have a puncture?'

Er, pray that your rival doesn't finish?

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