Uber President Jeff Jones is quitting after six months on the job. The ride-sharing company has confirmed Jones' departure in a statement to CNNMoney.

"We want to thank Jeff for his six months at the company and wish him all the best," the statement released late Sunday read.

Jones was named Uber's President at the end of August. He previously ran marketing for Target.

Jones headed Uber's ride-hailing operations, marketing and customer support, and was second in command to CEO Travis Kalanick.

The company, valued at $68 billion, has had a rocky few months, the CNN report said. 

In a letter to employees on Sunday, Kalanick said that Jones made the decision after the company said it would hire a chief operating officer. 

Kalanick is looking for a new second in command who could help him steer the company's trajectory.

"Jeff came to the tough decision that he doesn't see his future at Uber," Kalanick wrote.

Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment, CNN said.

Uber has already lost several big executives since February. Uber's head of growth and product, Ed Baker, resigned from the company in March.

Amit Singhal, its head of engineering, resigned in late February after it was reported that he had left a previous job at Google because of sexual harassment claims.
 

Australian scientists have discovered a "key molecule", which can kill microbes that infect the human liver, which experts believe, could be a breakhrough in malaria aid research and take the fight against the disease a step closer.  

Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) announced the breakthrough after they tracked cells and discovered a molecule which kills microbes that infect the liver – such as malaria, a news agency reported.

Malaria kills around half a million people every year in warm climates such as in Africa and Asia, but lead researcher Hayley McNamara from the ANU said the findings helped answer questions about the mystery of "T-cells" – immune cells which hunt down infections in the body.

"We know T-cells can protect against most infections, what we still don't fully understand is how these T-cells find the rare cells infected with viruses or parasites like malaria – a needle in a haystack problem if you like," McNamara said on Monday.

"We've found that without a key molecule called LFA-1, that cells don't work – they can't move quickly and can't kill malaria parasites effectively."

Associate professor Ian Cockburn from the ANU said that because the T-cells were able to effectively hunt down malaria parasites, they could one day become a major component of future malaria vaccines.

"What we want to do is understand how to make a vaccine that induces these types of immune cells. There are vaccines in clinical trials that work by inducing antibodies, adding a T-cell component would create stronger immunity by arming different parts of the immune system," he said. 

Indian equity markets were trading on a marginally lower note amid weak global cues and profit booking.

At 10.40 am on Monday, the Nifty at the NSE was trading 40 points down at 9,120 while the Sensex at the BSE was trading 142 points lower at 29,507.

In the broader markets, BSE Midcap index slipped 0.1 per cent but Smallcap index rose 0.1 per cent.

Among the BSE sectoral indices, Consumer Durables index registered the biggest gain with a jump of 1 per cent while Telecom index became the top loser with a dip of 1.9 per cent.

On Friday, the Nifty50 had closed at an all-time high at 9,160, up six points. The BSE Sensex had closed 63 points up at 29,649.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Lupin (up 0.8 per cent), Adani Ports (up 0.8 per cent), Cipla (up 0.7 per cent), HDFC Bank (up 0.6 per cent) and HDFC (up 0.5 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: ICICI Bank (down 2 per cent), Infosys (down 1.8 per cent), TCS (down 1.5 per cent), Axis Bank (down 1.5 per cent) and Tata Steel (down 1.4 per cent).

In the global markets, Singapore’s Straits Times Index plunged 0.6 per cent, Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.5 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index lost 0.4 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.6 per cent and China’s Shanghai Composite Index increased by 0.1 per cent.

Back home, the Rupee was trading nine paise higher at 65.48 against the US Dollar.

Late singer George Michael knew his days were numbered and was ready to get his affairs in order, claims Simeon Niel-Asher, a physician who worked with him for over 30 years.

Niel-Asher treated Michael, 53, at his Highgate mansion in north London just three weeks before his death. Michael was found dead on Christmas Day last year.

The physician and close friend said he believed the singer had accepted his mortality, reports mirror.co.uk. 

Niel-Asher said: "When I last saw him he was in good spirits. It was a beautiful last session. We had a really weird conversation, it was interesting and it was strange.

"Sometimes people know they are going to die and they get everything in order. I wonder if there was a bit of that going on, like he somehow knew. It was strange to think he might have known he was going to die or had some kind of inkling. That happens. Some people know they are going to die and I've seen it before.

"In many ways, I thought he was waking up and I saw him coming alive again, maybe the last flash of the candle."

Despite the intense session, the osteopath says they laughed and Michael didn't mind being teased about his ballooning weight.

Singer Zayn Malik says he now has no problem with anxiety and was mainly dealing with it when he was in One Direction.

Although the 24-year-old singer had to cancel some solo performances due to his anxiety last year, he now insists that it was only an issue when he was in One Direction and he has it under control, reported New York Daily News.

"I now have no problem with anxiety. It was something I was dealing with in the band," Malik says in an interview to Sunday Times Style magazine.

And he believes opening up about his issues with food helped.

"People saw strength in that, and they didn't seem to expect it from a guy, but they expect it from a female, which to me is crazy. We're all human. People are often afraid to admit difficulties, but I don't believe that there should be a struggle with anything that's the truth."

The Indian Rupee strengthened by 9 paise to trade at 65.37 against the Dollar in opening trade on Monday on fresh selling of the US currency by exporters and banks.

A weak Dollar in overseas markets and selling of the US currency by exporters and banks supported the Rupee in opening trade, forex dealers said.

Further, a higher opening in the domestic equity market and strong FII inflows influenced the Rupee uptrend, they added.

On Friday, the Rupee had lost 5 paise to end at 65.46 against the US currency on Dollar demand from importers and suspected RBI intervention, ending its four-day dream run.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex rose by 50.49 points, or 0.17 per cent, at 29,699.48 in opening trade.

The two Sufi clerics have returned from Pakistan on Monday and will meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with their family members.

Swaraj had on Sunday said in a series of tweets that she spoke to one of the two clerics, who were later found after going missing in Pakistan.

"I just spoke to Syed Nazim Ali Nizami in Karachi. He told me that they are safe and will be back in Delhi on Monday," she had said in a tweet.

Pakistan had on Saturday also conveyed to India that the two missing clerics had been traced and that they had reached Karachi.

Syed Asif Nizami, the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah and his nephew Nazim Nizami had gone to Pakistan on March 8 as part of annual exchanges between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Garib Nawaz, who is venerated at the Data Darbar Sufi shrine in Lahore.

 Barcelona closed to within two points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as Lionel Messi scored twice in a thrilling 4-2 win over 10-man Valencia at Camp Nou.

Earlier, Antoine Griezmann scored a stunning free-kick as Atletico Madrid compounded a week to forget for Sevilla with a 3-1 win at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday.

Barca needed to come from behind to keep the pressure on Madrid as Eliaquim Mangala headed Valencia in front.

But the on-loan Manchester City defender was sent-off for pulling down Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan had levelled and Messi smashed home the resulting penalty.

Munir El Haddadi briefly levelled for the 10 men before half-time, but Messi and finally Andre Gomes with his first Barca goal sealed the three points.

Madrid still also have a game in hand over their title rivals.

Outgoing Barca coach Luis Enrique named the same side that beat Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 10 days ago to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals in stunning fashion.

And whilst not matching that drama, there was no shortage of action as Valencia showed up the defensive flaws in Enrique's new 3-4-3 system.

Messi had already had an effort cleared off the line, whilst Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a stunning save from Carlos Soler at the other end before an action packed final 15 minutes of the first-half saw four goals and a red card.

Barca's weakness from set-pieces was exposed again a week on from conceding twice from corners in a 2-1 defeat at Deportivo la Coruna when Mangala powered home Dani Parejo's corner to open the scoring.

The lead lasted just six minutes as Suarez raced onto Neymar's throw-in to slot into the far corner.

Mangala went from hero to villain as he then pulled down Suarez inside the area to concede a penalty and get sent-off.

Messi beat penalty specialist Diego Alves from the spot.

However, straight from kick-off Barca were caught cold as Jose Gaya teed up Munir El Haddadi to score against his parent club for the second time this season.

The champions still had 45 minutes to make their man advantage count, though, and they did so despite missing a host of chances after the break.

Messi drilled home at Alves's near post seven minutes into the second period for his 41st goal of the season.

Suarez somehow slotted wide with the goal gaping after Alves had denied Messi his hat-trick, whilst Neymar hit the bar.

But Barca finally put the game to bed a minute from time when Neymar crossed for Gomes to tap home against his old side.

At the Calderon, Griezmann shone for Atletico once more as he teed up Diego Godin's opener and then struck a stunning free-kick for his 22nd goal of the season.

Koke added Atletico's third before Joaquin Correa registered a consolation for Sevilla.

Sevilla were dumped out of the Champions League by Atletico's quarter-final opponents Leicester City on Wednesday and have seen their lead over Atletico in third place in La Liga now whittled down to two points.

A third straight league win moves Diego Simeone's men seven points clear of Real Sociedad and Villarreal in the battle for fourth.

"Sevilla have had a magnificent season and have been lauded by the press. That highlights even more how well Atletico played," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.

And the Atletico fans also celebrated the return of Fernando Torres for the first time since he was knocked unconscious in a sickening head clash at Deportivo la Coruna on March 2.

Defeat realistically ends Sevilla's already fading shot at the title as they fall eight points behind Real Madrid.

And coach Jorge Sampaoli claimed he has to rediscover the "real Sevilla" during the international break after four games without a win.

"Logically the league is now a long way off. Now we have to look at the possibility of automatically qualifying for the Champions League," said the Argentine.

"It is normal when you don't achieve what you want, which is to win, there is frustration and bitterness.

"We have come from a very hard blow to take and now we have to find solutions and the real Sevilla."

US President Donald Trump slammed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for "acting very, very badly", following Pyongyangs missile activities, a media report said.

North Korea claimed it tested a new high-thrust rocket engine on Saturday, the latest in a string of missile tests over the past few months, The Hill magazine said in the report.

"He's acting very very badly," the President on Sunday said of Kim Jong-un, according to the White House.

Trump, who travelled to his Mar-a-Lago resort, Florida, said he discussed North Korea's missile launches during meetings over the weekend.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also denounced North Korea's missile launches last week, indicating that the Trump administration is open to taking pre-emptive action if Pyongyang continues to "elevate the threat of their weapons programme".
 

Manchester United snatched an important 3-1 away win against Middlesbrough to jump to the fifth spot in the English Premier League (EPL) at Riverside Stadium here on Sunday.

Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring for Manchester United 30 minutes into the first half, before Jesse Lingard scored again for the visitors at the 62-minute mark, reports Efe.

Middlesbrough's Rudy Gestede hit back 15 minutes later, before Antonio Valencia scored the decisive third goal in the third minute of added time.

Currently, Manchester United hold the fifth position in the league table with 52 points from 27 games, after spending a few weeks stuck in sixth position, despite a good winning streak.

"I think we started the game really well; (Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor) Valdes made three fantastic saves before our first goal. We controlled everything before our second goal and they then changed to play with (Rudy) Gestede and (Alvaro) Negredo," Mourinho said, according to United's website.

"They started putting long balls in to the box. We decided to defend with an extra defender, but I think with the mistakes of letting them push us too much into our box. 

"Then it was a fighting 15 minutes where they didn't have chances but they were close to the dangerous areas, so the game was alive until the last seconds."

Jose Mourinho-coached United have therefore revived their chances to end the season within the big four, and secure a direct ticket to the Champions League.

On the other hand, Middlesbrough seem to have settled for relegation as the season approaches its final stretch, as they currently hold the 19th position with 22 points.

In one of the biggest merger in the telecom space, Vodafone India and Aditya Birla Group-promoted Idea Cellular on Monday announced the much-awaited amalgamation.

Idea Cellular in a regulatory filing on Monday said, its Board of Directors "have approved the scheme of amalgamation of Vodafone India Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary Vodafone Mobile Service Limited with the company (Idea)."

Vodafone will own 45.1 per cent of the combined company, Idea said in a statement.

"The Aditya Birla Group will then own 26 per cent and has the right to acquire more shares from Vodafone under an agreed mechanism with a view to equalising the shareholdings over time," it added.

"For Idea shareholders and lenders who have supported us thus far, this transaction is highly accretive, and Idea and Vodafone will together create a very valuable company given our complementary strength," said Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group.

"The combination of Vodafone India and Idea will create a new champion of Digital India founded with a long-term commitment and vision to bring world-class 4G networks to villages, towns and cities across India," said Vittorio Colao, Chief Executive, Vodafone Group Plc.

"The combined company will have the scale required to ensue sustainable consumer choice in a competitive market and to expand new technologies – such as mobile money services – that have the potential to transform daily life of every Indian," he added.

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United players were accused of sparking an ugly clash in the tunnel in a stormy aftermath to their 3-1 win at Middlesbrough.

United remain in contention for Champions League qualification after a hard-fought victory on Sunday, which ended with rival players separated by security staff in the tunnel when punches were reportedly thrown.

Middlesbrough captain Ben Gibson and United's former England midfielder Ashley Young were restrained by team-mates as tempers flared.

Mourinho refused to comment, but Middlesbrough caretaker manager Steve Agnew insisted his players were reacting to provocation after a stoppage-time bust-up between United defender Eric Bailly and Rudy Gestede, which initially appeared to include the duo biting each other before replays showed it was only a heated clinch.

"I'm picking up there's something gone on in the tunnel," Agnew said.

"That many bodies were there, it was hard to tell with all the pushing and shoving.

"What triggered it off I don't know? I've got a group of very well behaved players so I can assure you it wouldn't be one of ours.

"What I would say it would have been a reaction because of the spirit they have."

Mourinho had enflamed matters before the game by suggesting he 'knew the names' of the players he claimed had been responsible for the departure of Aitor Karanka, his former Real Madrid assistant who was sacked as Middlesbrough boss last week.

The Portuguese headed down the tunnel at the final whistle without acknowledging his opposite number, though Agnew confirmed the pair had shaken hands in the tunnel afterwards.

"Was this justice for Karanka?" Mourinho said after seeing his side extend their 18-game unbeaten league run to end a 19-week stay in sixth by climbing to fifth, two points ahead of Arsenal and Everton.

"I think justice for Karanka is the work he did here, people can never delete that. He took the club form the brink of League One to the Premier League.

"I know what I'm saying, he could have left for a bigger club and yet he stayed then in the end he loses his job.

"Despite all that's happened, I still think he'll be unhappy we have won, because he wants this club to stay in the Premier League.”
Middlesbrough's hopes of achieving that aim look increasingly slim after an 11-game three-month run without a league win.

They at least ended their lengthy goal drought as Gestede pounced on a mistake by Chris Smalling to halve the arrears.

Hopes of salvaging an unlikely draw to chip away at the five-point gap to safety faced by a side currently second from bottom were extinguished by Victor Valdes' stoppage-time slip which allowed Antonio Valencia to walk the ball into an unguarded net.

Goals either side of half-time from Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard had put the visitors in control.

"It's a big win that keeps us alive in the competition for fourth place," Mourinho added.

Given their presence in the Europa League, United retain two potential avenues to next season's Champions League, and Mourinho added: "Do I prefer to qualify for the Champions League by finishing fourth or winning Europa League? I prefer Europa League. There's a prestige to winning a trophy."

"To push Manchester United all the way is something I was really pleased with," added Agnew, who has had no assurances as to the length of his temporary tenure beyond Middlesbrough's next game at Swansea at the start of next month.

"It's a display that gives us hope for the future and I've seen enough of these players to know we're more than capable of winning games."

Republicans have made a pitch for their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare ahead of a critical vote this week, a media report said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan on Sunday expressed confidence about the prospects of passing the Republican healthcare plan, called the American Health Care Act, The Hill magazine said in the report. 

Other Republicans, however, voiced concerns about the plan, with Senator Rand Paul predicting it would not pass through Congress.

Later on Sunday, Ryan told Fox News that he was optimistic about the chances of passing the plan.

"We feel very good where we are," Ryan said, adding "We're still having conversations with our members. We're making fine-tuning improvements to the bill to reflect people's concerns, to reflect people's improvements."

But Ryan admitted that there were improvements to be made to the bill until it is brought to the floor. 

The Republicans are not "doing this behind the scenes and just bringing some bill to the floor and making people vote for it."

"We're listening to the people," he added.

Meanwhile, White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney slammed the ObamaCare saying one of the key points of the Republicans' plan is that it is going to "encourage more competition". That, he said, would lower the costs for everyone.

"The Affordable Care Act wasn't really ObamaCare. It wasn't really the Affordable Care Act. It was the Affordable Coverage Act," Mulvaney told CBS News on Sunday night. 

"And those people that you just described could afford to buy insurance, but they couldn't afford to go to the doctor because the deductibles were so high."

The Trump administration and House Republican leaders are making two significant changes to the ObamaCare replacement bill ahead of an expected vote on Thursday.

The bill, unveiled earlier this month, is now being considered by two congressional committees ahead of its passage through the House and Senate.

Sergio Aguero bailed out Manchester City at home against Liverpool, equalising in the 69th minute to ensure their English Premier League tie at the Etihad Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday night.

Both sides came into the game desperately seeking a win after underwhelming in the season so far, but arguably the home side were feeling the pressure the most after their exit from the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

As a result, City manager Pep Guardiola sent out his strongest possible line-up, with Sergio Aguero leading the line in a 4-5-1 formation.

Jurgen Klopp sent out Liverpool in their standard 4-3-3, with Roberto Firmino again playing as the central striker. Emre Can continued his run of starts in the absence of skipper Jordan Henderson and while Dejan Lovren was available, Klopp chose to go with the central defensive pairing of Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip.

City began the match the stronger of the sides and should have taken the lead early on after Leroy Sane had tormented Nathaniel Clyne on the wing before seeing his shot saved from an acute angle by Simon Mignolet. The resulting ball fell kindly to David Silva, but the Spaniard just couldnt keep his volley down.

Minutes later, City were given a reprieve of their own, with Yaya Toure sliding in on Emre Can with his boot raised and actually striking the Reds midfielder on his shoulder. Referee Michael Oliver could have sent him off, but chose to caution the Ivorian instead, much to the relief of the home crowd.

City continued to search for the opener and very nearly had it when Silva sent in a low cross from the left which somehow managed to elude Sergio Aguero and  Raheem Sterling. While Fernandinho managed to get a touch the far post, the Brazilian was could only graze the side netting.

At half-time, Liverpool were firmly on the back foot, unable to test City goalkeeper Willy Caballero with anything of note and Klopp must have given his players a talking to, for they were more dominant side as the second half started.

And when Can found Firmino inside the box with a raking ball from deep, City full-back Gael Clichy panicked and tried to barge the Brazilian off the ball, leaving referee Michael Oliver with no choice but to point to the spot.

Ex-City midfielder James Milner, Liverpool’s designated penalty taker, stepped up and sent Caballero the wrong way to give the away side a vital lead in the 51st minute.

The home side took their own sweet time to respond, playing the patient possession game and never looking hurried with the ball even as the clock ticked on. And they got rewarded for their patience in the 69th minute, when Kevin De Bruyne sent in a low cross for Aguero to guide home from the first post. The Argentine hitman, quiet for majority of the game, struck at a crucial juncture to continue his fine scoring record against Liverpool.

What followed post the equaliser was a frantic final 15 minutes as both sides upped the tempo, opening up the game in the process but somehow were unable to add to the score.

Aguero was guilty of two misses, the first when he had made a brilliant run into the box, aided by a deft back heel from Sane but somehow lost his balance just when he was about to finish. De Bruyne hit the post in the ensuing chaos but it was a squandered chance at the other end that sparked disbelief.
Firmino had deftly laid it on a plate for Lallana following Giorginio Wijnaldum’s clipped pass, but the Englishman somehow miscued his volley from six yards out.

The game wasn't finished and City had one final chance but Aguero somehow skied a volley over the bar after some good work from De Bruyne on the right to ensure both teams got a point each.

With the result, City remain in third place, two points behind second-placed Tottenham Hotspur with Liverpool a point behind the Sky Blues in fourth place. While it wasn’t the result the teams would have wanted ahead of the International break, a draw was probably the fair result.

The key Indian equity indices on Monday opened lower.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading 77.77 points or 0.26 per cent lower soon after opening.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 19.80 points or 0.22 per cent lower at 9,140.25 points.

The Sensex of the BSE, which opened at 29,653.54 points, was trading at 29,571.22 points (at 9.21 a.m.), lower 77.77 points or 0.26 per cent from the previous day's close at 29,648.99 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,699.48 points and a low of 29,544.21 points in the trade so far.

The World Bank has announced $57 billion in financing for sub-Saharan Africa over the next three fiscal years.

Of that total, $45 billion will come from the International Development Association, the World Bank fund that provides grants and interest-free loans for the world's poorest countries.

The package will also feature an estimated $8 billion in private sector investments from the International Finance Corporation, a private-sector branch of World Bank, and $4 billion will come from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the bank's unit for middle-income nations, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim yesterday said in a statement.

Germany, which hosted a meeting of the G20 countries Friday and Saturday, said that a partnership called "Compact with Africa" would be a priority of its presidency this year of that club of powerful nations. Of all the countries in Africa, only South Africa is a G20 member.

"This represents an unprecedented opportunity to change the development trajectory of the countries in the region," Kim said.

"With this commitment, we will work with our clients to substantially expand programs in education, basic health services, clean water and sanitation, agriculture, business climate, infrastructure and institutional reform," he added.

Kim left for Rwanda and Tanzania on Sunday in a show of World Bank support for the entire region.

The new financing from the International Development Association will target 448 projects that are already underway in sub-Saharan Africa. The region accounts for more than half of the countries eligible for this kind of financing from the IDA, the bank said. 

Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling fifth ATP Indian Wells Masters title, continuing his career resurgence with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Stan Wawrinka.

Federer, sidelined some six months after knee surgery in 2016, returned to win his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

With Sunday's triumph in the all-Swiss final, Federer joined Novak Djokovic as the only men to win five Indian Wells titles, adding to those he won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012.

At 35, Federer is the oldest ATP player to win one of the elite Masters titles, supplanting Andre Agassi who was 34 when he won in Cincinnati in 2004.

"It's been just a fairytale week once again," said Federer, who missed Indian Wells last year because of injury.

"I'm not as surprised as I was in Australia, but still this comes as a big, big surprise to me, nevertheless, to win here again and beating the players that I did and the way I did.

"I couldn't be more happy. It's an absolute, huge start to the year for me. Last year I didn't win any titles. I don't think I was in any finals except maybe Brisbane last year. The change is dramatic, and it feels great."

The speedy progress means 10th-ranked Federer will have to reassess his 2017 goals. Prior to the Australian Open his aim was to get his ranking to as high as eighth by the time Wimbledon was over.

"The goals are clearly changing after this dream start," Federer said.

While Federer had won 19 of 22 prior meetings with Wawrinka — including a semi-final win in Melbourne — he noted that his compatriot would be no easy mark as he played his first tournament in America since winning the US Open in September.

But Federer claimed a tightly contested first set with a break in the 10th game, pushing Wawrinka into a forehand error to end a tense rally for a set point, on which Wawrinka sent another forehand long.

Wawrinka responded immediately with a break to open the first set — after Federer had held all 42 of his service games in the tournament to that point.

He had saved the lone break point he faced — in his straight-sets thumping of Rafael Nadal in the fourth round — but sent a backhand long on break point to give Wawrinka the advantage in the set.

Wawrinka then withstood two break points to hold for a 2-0 lead, which proved short-lived as Federer won the next three games to take a 3-2 lead.

Finally Wawrinka found himself serving to save the match.

A backhand into the net gave Federer a chance, and he seized it with a volley winner.

"I've lost some tough ones against you, but when you played the final in Australia, I was your biggest fan," a choked up Wawrinka told Federer at the trophy ceremony. "So congratulations on your comeback and congratulations on today."

Although he owns three Grand Slam titles, Wawrinka was playing in just his fourth Masters final and has won just one of the prestige events — beating Federer in the final at Monte Carlo in 2014.

"It's a tough loss," he said. "In a way, I'm really happy to make the final. It's a great result on that, but you always want more."

After fearing that knee trouble in the wake of the Australian Open would slow his season, Wawrinka was pleased to play at a high level.

"After Australia, I wasn't in a good position," he said.

"I was really, really struggling with my knee. I wasn't sure to be back here in that level that quick.

"But I still lost the final," he said. "So it wasn't easy.”