Second seed Verdasco claimed a 3-6 6-4 6-4 win over the American favorite who was bidding for his fourth title in the tournament and his 29th career title.

CNN: Soderling and Dementieva claim titles

With American and European bosses bidding each other up as they compete to reshape whole industries, goes this argument, the Japanese must steel their nerves for the fight.

ECONOMIST: Japanese companies

Last year, Mr Roberts considered bidding for the American entertainment assets of Vivendi, a French group.

ECONOMIST: Disney on the defensive | The

He is bidding to become the first American ATP Tour player to triumph in the Palm Desert since Andre Agassi in 2001.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

It went to an American after a contest against Russians and others, according to people familiar with the bidding.

WSJ: 'The Scream' by Edvard Munch

Ex-Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller is leading a consortium bidding to buy the company that owns the rights to hit TV show American Idol.

BBC: Ex-Spice Girls boss eyes Idol bid