Tourists eye another big win over Zimbabwe today

HARARE: Pakistan are expected to bring in a couple of youngsters in their line-up as they look to complete a 3-0 clean sweep by winning the third and final One-day International against Zimbabwe on Wednesday (today).

The tourists have created a chance to introduce a few more youngsters into the team and test different combinations, which was one of the major aims of their journey. Although they were pushed hard in the first match, they regrouped strongly to put on a sterling all-round performance in the second.

Mohammad Hafeez has underlined his role as a premier allrounder but some of the other members of the squad will also want to use the opportunity to make an impression — particularly the youngsters and players making their comebacks. Sohail Tanvir has made a convincing comeback while Imran Farhat also put his hand up. It will be up to the other fringe members of the squad to capitalise on the chances they may get, especially against opponents struggling to stay above water.

Pakistan have given themselves an ideal opportunity to experiment, but will have to juggle cleverly to include their fringe players. Rameez Raja and Yasir Shah could be brought into the side although it will be harsh to drop Imran Farhat after his impressive showing in the second match. One of Junaid Khan, who injured his ankle during that match but returned to complete his spell, or Aizaz Cheema may have to make way for Sohail Khan, and Asad Shafiq could to slot in at No 3 although Pakistan are unlikely to leave Younis Khan out.

Zimbabwe will want to stop their series against Pakistan from spiralling into a failure and the final ODI is their last chance to do so before the Twenty20s start. So far, they have dramatically swung from a team that can compete fiercely, to one that can be comprehensively outplayed by the same opposition.

On a good batting surface, they will have to apply themselves with less inhibition than they have done so far. Importantly, Zimbabwe will have to show more energy and purpose in the field to back up the performances of their bowlers. Harare does not offer much for either the seamers or the spinners but if they can maintain accuracy and discipline, they should be rewarded.

Zimbabwe’s idea of playing two frontline seamers and two spinners backfired on them on Sunday and they may choose to return to a three-pronged pace attack with Kyle Jarvis returning in place of Prosper Utseya. The No 6 position is still a contentious one and Malcolm Waller had not been able to make it his own in two attempts. Craig Ervine, Forster Mutizwa and Regis Chakabva are all part of the squad and one of the three could be given the opportunity to make a case for themselves there.

Despite Zimbabwe’s tentative approach to batting in the first innings on Sunday, the Harare pitch remains batsmen-friendly. Any advantage for the seamers will dissipate after the first hour of play and chances are the team that wins the toss will bowl first to exploit that. Another perfect summer’s day in Africa is expected to close off the ODI series.(The News Pk)

Dhoni urges India to finish strongly

LONDON: India captain MS Dhoni has urged his side to finish their difficult summer with a flourish in Friday's final one-day international against England in Cardiff.

A dramatic tied match at Lord's on Sunday gave England, who are 2-0 up with one to play, the one-day series but Dhoni's team have one last chance to get an international win this summer.

They were beaten 4-0 in the Test series, lost the only Twenty20 and were 2-0 with one no result going into the fourth one-dayer.

And Dhoni has demanded his side -- who have been decimated by injuries -- do not relax now that the series is gone.

"Every game is important," Dhoni told reporters after Sunday's game at Lord's.

"Despite the fact we have lost the series every game is an international game. We all know we have lost the series but it is important to get the most out of that game and we want a victory in the final game of the whole series."

For some of the younger players Friday's match is their last opportunity to impress their captain before England play five one-dayers in India before Christmas.

Dhoni has lost eight players to injury on this tour including big names such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag and expects the youngsters to make way for the established players when they host the five-match series.

Players such as 22-year-old Ravindra Jadeja, 24-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin and 23-year-old Ajinkya Rahane have featured in this series but may have to take a back seat when the veterans are fit again.

Dhoni added: "We have quite a few players who we have to get fit and who will be back in the one-day squad.

"We will not be as good a fielding side as we are now but you shouldn't forget that most of the grounds in India are quite small and there is not as much opportunity for the batsmen to take twos and threes.

"Everybody is considered but you have to see who is available. It becomes difficult when you have senior players who are missing this series.

"They always get the upper hand so it is tough for the youngsters but this is a good grooming period and once their time comes we all know they will be there for the next five or ten years."`(GEO.TV)

Cook and Trott win main ICC awards

LONDON: England batsmen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were named respectively Test player of the year and player of the year at a ceremony hosted by the sport's governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.

Cook, the 26-year-old opener who was appointed one day captain after the World Cup this year - shone during the year peaking with a masterly 294 in the third Test victory over India in August, though, that fell outside the time frame for the award.

It was his third Test century in six matches and 19th in all and is now just three shy of England's all-time record Test century total.

It represents quite a turnaround in the genial Cook's fortunes as a year ago he was close to being dropped before reviving his career with a hundred against Pakistan at The Oval.

It proved to be the springboard for a triumphant tour of Australia where he scored 766 runs, including three centuries, as England won the Ashes 3-1.

During the performance period, he played 12 Tests and in 18 innings, he compiled 1,302 runs at an average of 51.74, including six centuries and four half-centuries.Read more on The News Pk

Stosur stuns angry Serena to win US Open title

NEW YORK: Samantha Stosur out-played three-time champion Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to win the US Open on Sunday, claiming the first Grand Slam title of her career in a stormy final.

Stosur kept her composure as Williams erupted in anger at the chair umpire in the second set, dominating the 13-time Grand Slam champion who had reached the final without dropping a set.

She became the first Australian woman to take the title in New York since Margaret Court in 1973, and the first to win a Grand Slam since Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon in 1980.

"I had one of my best days and I'm very fortunate that I had it on this stage in New York," Stosur said. "Ever since I started playing it was a dream of mine to be here one day."

Williams arrived in the final after dismantling world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals on Saturday night in a match that dragged toward midnight. "I was more tired than I expected," Williams said. "But I want to give all credit to Sam today ... She played really, really well. That's what you have to do when you play a Grand Slam final."

Stosur, playing her second career Grand Slam final after a runner-up finish in the French Open last year, quickly claimed the opening set, breaking Williams to lead 2-1 and winning the last 12 points of the set as Williams' frustration grew.

Williams, whose powerful serve is a cornerstone of her game, struggled to get her first serves in and Stosur repeatedly made her pay. "She was cracking 'em today," Williams said of the Australian, who was still rolling in the opening game of the second frame when she gave herself a double break point with a crushing return of serve.

Williams saved one with an ace, and appeared to save another for deuce. But the American's shout of "c'mon" as soon as she unleashed her forehand came before Stosur reached the ball, and umpire Eva Asdaraki immediately penalised Williams for "intentional hindrance" and the point and the game went to Stosur. (The News Pk)

US Open 2011: Serena Williams faces action for outburst

Serena Williams will discover on Monday whether she faces further punishment for an angry tirade at umpire Eva Asderaki in the US Open final.

Sam Stosur won the match 6-2 6-3 after Williams was given a code violation for verbally abusing the Greek official.

Tournament referee Brian Earley must now decide whether to fine the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

Williams, 29, has been serving a two-year Grand Slam probation for an outburst at the US Open in 2009.

"Any impact this code violation might have on Serena Williams' Grand Slam probation would require the incident being ruled a major event," said a statement from the United States Tennis Association.

"That determination will be made by the Grand Slam Committee Director."

The incident occurred when Williams looked to have saved a break point at the start of the second set against Stosur, but her loud cry of "Come on!" was judged by umpire Asderaki to have come before the Australian had a chance to get the ball back.Keep Reading at BBC

Stosur stuns Williams to win US Open title

NEW YORK: Australia’s Sam Stosur upset American Serena Williams 6-2 6-3 on Sunday to win an ill-tempered US Open women’s final.
Stosur played the match of her life to defeat the most formidable player of her generation and capture her first grand slam title, spoiling American hopes of a home-bred champion on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Williams, bidding for a fourth US Open crown, failed to reproduce her best after sailing to the final without dropping a set and let her frustrations boil over.

Throughout the second set she repeatedly argued with the chair umpire in a petulant display that rekindled memories of her exit from the 2009 US Open.

“If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way because you’re out of control,” Williams said.

While Williams berated the official, Stosur remained a model of composure. The 27-year-old dominated the match from the outset and fully deserved her win, played in front of a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

She put Williams under pressure from the start with some thunderbolt returns that pinned Williams behind the baseline and attacked her backhand, forcing her to make errors.

Stosur broke Williams’s serve twice in the first set then three times in the second and only lost her own serve once.

Stosur, seeded ninth, became the first Australian woman to win the US Open title since Margaret Court in 1973. The last Australian woman to win any grand slam was Evonne Goolagong-Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.

Stosur, who was better known as a doubles player, emerged as Australia’s best prospect in years when she made the final at the French Open last year but lost to Italy’s Francesca Schiavone.(Dawn.com)

Gamba Osaka stretch J-League lead

TOKYO: The forward duo of Korean Lee Keun-Ho and Brazilian Rafinha gave Gamba Osaka a 2-0 win over Omiya Ardija on Saturday as they stretched their lead in the J-League to three points.

Rafinha pounced on a back pass from Shin Kanazawa and fired a shot, which was saved by goalkeeper Takashi Kitano, but Lee quickly hit the rebound into the empty Omiya net in the 43rd minute.

A long ball from Japan international midfielder Yasuhito Endo was picked up on the right by Korean midfielder Kim Seung-Yong who hit it into the area to allow Rafinha to score the second goal in the 77th minute.

Gamba Osaka now have 53 points, ahead of Yokohama Marinos and Kashiwa Reysol on 50 points, defending champions Nagoya Grampus on 49 points, and Kashima Antlers on 39 points.

Ariajasuru Hasegawa scored the only goal in Yokohama's victory over bottom placers Avispa Fukuoka, while Kashiwa came back from a goal down to beat Nagoya 2-1.

Seven-time champions Kashima also came back from two goals down thanks to late scores from Daiki Iwamasa and Yuzo Tashiro which earned them a 2-2 draw against Albirex Niigata.

In other games, Cerezo Osaka scored five goals in a second-half onslaught, including a hat-trick from Ryuji Bando, to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 5-4, while Jubilo Iwata won a Shizuoka derby against Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1.

Qureshi-Bopanna advance to US open semi-finals

NEW YORK: Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India's Rohan Bopanna advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open, Geo News reported.

The duo beat the English pair of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins 7-5, 2-5, 7-5 in a rain delayed match.

Qureshi and Bopanna will now face Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in the semi-final.

England edge India in third ODI

LONDON: England survived some anxious moments to complete a three-wicket victory over India under a full moon at the Oval on Friday night in a rain-reduced third one-day international.

Chasing 218 from 43 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis system after an hour's rain break in the day-night match, England survived a wobble in mid-innings to get over the line with seven balls to spare.

England lead 2-0 in the five-match series after the first game was rained out. The teams meet again at Lord's on Sunday and in Cardiff next Friday.

World Cup champions India, who lost their place at the top of the world rankings during a 4-0 whitewash in the test series, rallied from 58 for five to reach 234 for seven from their 50 overs.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, an injury replacement for Gautam Gambhir, stroked the ball beautifully to score 78 from 89 deliveries. He added 112 with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (69) and 59 from 31 balls with Ravichandran Ashwin (36 not out).

Alastair Cook asked India to bat after winning the toss and won an immediate reward when Ajinkya Rahane, who had scored 155 from 120 balls in his three previous one-day internationals, was dismissed without scoring, caught behind prodding at James Anderson's fourth delivery of the day.

Anderson then ran out Rahul Dravid (2), swooping from mid-off to pick up the ball and throw down the stumps at the batsman's end in one motion.

Dravid, who had been late starting after Parthiv Patel had pushed the ball into the off and then hesitated before running, looked distinctly unimpressed with his partner's calling, swishing his bat in irritation as he to the pavilion.

Patel did not linger, departing for three when Anderson uprooted his off-stump and Virat Kholi (7) edged Anderson to give wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter his second catch and compound India's misery.

Dhoni smacked his second ball for four and Suresh Raina launched Anderson into the crowd for the only six of the innings. Raina reached 21 before he tried to swipe Broad to leg and was caught behind.Read more

Djokovic, Federer in semis as Open gets Monday end

NEW YORK: World number one Novak Djokovic and five-time champion Roger Federer set up a US Open semi-final blockbuster on Thursday as the rain-ravaged event opted for a fourth successive Monday men's final.

Top seed Djokovic, the runner-up in 2007 and 2010, booked his place in a fifth successive semi-final when Serbian Davis Cup-winning teammate Janko Tipsarevic retired with a left thigh injury.

Djokovic, who was 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (3/7), 6-0, 3-0 ahead at the time, will face Federer for the fourth year running after the Swiss star demolished Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

The winner of that tie will play in a Monday final after besieged organisers surrendered their desperate attempts to shoehorn the remainder of the tournament, which had seen Tuesday and Wednesday washed out, into four days.

The women's final will take place on Sunday instead of Saturday with both men's and women's semi-finals on Saturday.

Djokovic claimed his 62nd win of 2011 when Grand Slam quarter-final debutant Tipsarevic's brave bid was undone by a thigh injury in the third set.

Federer gained revenge for his landmark Wimbledon loss to the Tsonga where the Frenchman had become the first man to defeat the 16-time Grand Slam title winner from two sets to love down.

It will be the fourth successive US Open semi-final meeting between Federer and Djokovic and first since the Swiss ended the Serb's 43-match winning run at the French Open in June.

US Tennis Association officials extended the tournament after leading stars such as Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, who were all facing playing on four consecutive days to make a Sunday final, protested over the schedule.

In contrast, title rivals Djokovic and Federer had both completed their last-16 matches on Monday.

Murray, who made the last eight with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over America's Donald Young, believes the players need more power at the Grand Slams. (AFP)

Pakistan record dramatic win against Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO: Pakistan snatched a five-run victory from the jaws of defeat as Zimbabwe failed to reach the target by just six runs in the first of the three One-day Internationals here at the Queen’s Sports Club ground on Thursday.

Chasing 248, Zimbabwe could make 242 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the 50 allotted 50 overs.

Captain Brendan Taylor with 84 and Vissu Sibanda with 73 runs were the top scorers for Zimbabwe while for Pakistan, debutant pacer Aizaz Cheema took three wickets for 36.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat after which Pakistan scored 247 for seven.(Geo.tv)

Ronaldo scores hat-trick as Real thrash Zaragoza

Cristiano Ronaldo picked up from where he left off last season with a superb hat-trick to inspire Real Madrid to a crushing 6-0 victory at Real Zaragoza in their opening La Liga match.

The prolific Portuguese had scored a record 40 goals last season as Real finished second behind Barcelona for a third consecutive time.

The twenty six year old now has 6 9 goals in only 6 4 league appearances and 1 02 in 11 5 games in all competitions for Real.

Source: Tensports

2nd ODI: India's losing run in Eng continues

SOUTHAMPTON: Alastair Cook played a captain's innings and anchored a stiff run-chase with a well-paced knock of 80 not out to extend India's losing streak as the hosts won the rain-curtailed second ODI by seven wickets at The Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

The match was reduced to a 23-over game after rain held up play for close to five hours. Put in to bat, India reached a more than competitive 187/8 riding on Ajinkya Rahane's maiden ODI fifty and a quickfire 40 by Suresh Raina.

Southampton: Alastair Cook played a captain's innings and anchored a stiff run-chase with a well-paced knock of 80 not out to extend India's losing streak as the hosts won the rain-curtailed second ODI by seven wickets at The Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

The match was reduced to a 23-over game after rain held up play for close to five hours. Put in to bat, India reached a more than competitive 187/8 riding on Ajinkya Rahane's maiden ODI fifty and a quickfire 40 by Suresh Raina.

But the good work by batsmen was undone by India's insipid bowling that wilted under the pressure exerted by the blistering pace set by openers Cook and Craig Keiswetter.

England raced to fifty in just the fifth over of their run-chase, largely due to Kieswetter who took full toll of the revised mandatory powerplay of first five overs. England hammered India for 56 runs in that period.

But Vinay Kumar brought India some respite by dismissing Kieswetter, though not before he damaged India's plans with a knock of 46 off just 25 balls, punctuated with four boundaries and three towering sixes.

Ian Bell took a cue from Kieswetter and went about his strokes uninhibited, bringing up his team's hundred in just the 10th over of the innings.

But off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck to remove Bell (25 off 16) as England lost a wicket against the run of play.

Ravi Bopara (24 off 20) and Cook then stitched a brisk 60-run partnership to put India out of the match. By the time Ashwin dismissed Bopara, England were well and truly in control. Cook and Samit Patel then completed the last rites to reach the target with five balls to spare.

None of the Indian bowlers could trouble England, with Ashwin (2/42) and Vinay (1/33) being the only wicket-takers.

In the morning, Parthiv Patel took off after India were put in to bat and made his intentions clear when he hit Tim Bresnan for two sixes in a 16-run over.

But a disciplined James Anderson got his man caught behind as a confused Parthiv (28 off 18) walked back deciding not to question the nick.Read more

England win toss, put India into bat in 2nd ODI

SOUTHAMPTON: England won the toss and put India in to bat in the shortened second one-day international here at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

The match was reduced to 23 overs a side after rain delayed the start by five hours from the planned 2pm local time.

England brought in Ravi Bopara for the injured Eoin Morgan - who will miss the rest of the series with a shoulder injury - and Graeme Swann returned after missing the first match at Durham with a virus.

With the match reduced to a near Twenty20 format Jonathan Trott was left out.

India made one change with Manoj Tiwary replacing Rohit Sharma who broke his hand on Saturday when he was hit by the first ball he faced from Stuart Broad.

Sharma was the eighth Indian player to leave the tour which has seen them beaten 4-0 in the Test series and Sachin Tendulkar stranded on 99 international centuries after aggravating an old toe injury.

The series stands at 0-0 after the first match was declared a no result - again because of rain.

Teams
England: Alastair Cook (captain), Craig Kieswetter (wkt), Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Ben Stokes, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Jade Dernbach
India: MS Dhoni (captain, wk), Parthiv Patel, Ajinka Rahane, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary, Suresh Raina, Pravin Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, R Vinay Kumar, Munaf Patel

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WI) and Rob Bailey (ENG), 3rd umpire: Marais Erasmus (SA)
Fourth umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ) (Th news pk)

Russian firepower thwarted by determined Irish

MOSCOW: A sterling defensive display by the Republic of Ireland saw them hold Russia to what could prove to be a crucial 0-0 draw in their Euro 2012 Group B clash here on Tuesday.

The Irish - who trail Russia now by two points with two matches remaining while Slovakia are a point behind but play later on Tuesday - had Aston Villa duo Shay Given and Richard Dunne to thank for keeping their automatic qualifying chances very much alive.

The Irish - who were recording their third successive scoreless draw - had had to remodel their first choice defence radically as regular starters John O'Shea was injured and Sean St Ledger suspended, leading to rare starts for Leeds United's Darren O'Dea and Stephen Kelly, who was celebrating his 28th birthday.

Given pulled off a stunning save in the eighth minute from Andrei Arshavin's rasping 30 yards shot, turning it around the post for a corner.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper - winning his 116th cap and who made his international debut against the Russians - was again at his best in the 22nd minute as he dived to his right to turn away a volley from Igor Semshov after Alexsandr Kerzahkov had put in a dangerous cross.

Dunne then produced a remarkable goalline clearance as Given was for once beaten but the veteran defender managed to block Semshov's shot with his leg as Russia piled the pressure on the Irish goal.

Former Chelsea player Yuri Zhirkov looked a different player to the one rarely given a chance in England and having been the provider for Semshov's goalbound shot, he nearly turned to scorer as cheekily seeing Given off his line prior to a corner he tried to curl it in at the near post, only for the goalkeeper to recover and push it away.

Russia began the second-half in the same determined fashion and Dunne again had to be alert to block Roman Shirokov's shot from inside the penalty area.

Semshov then made an extraordinary misjudgement in the 55th minute as again breaking through the fragile Irish defence he chose to pass it into empty space - substitute striker Roman Pavlyuchenko was a yard behind him - to no-one rather than shoot himself with just Given to beat.

Dunne, however, picked up a booking later in the half which rules him out of the next qualifier against Andorra, and was then involved in a farcical episode where having bloodied his shirt when his head hit the turf he was ordered off by the referee after returning with a new one.(The news Pk)

Stosur drops epic breaker but reaches quarters

NEW YORK: Samantha Stosur dropped an epic second-set tiebreaker but recovered to beat Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-7 (15/17), 6-3 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Russia's Kirilenko prevailed in what the WTA said was the longest women's singles tiebreaker at a Grand Slam tournament to knot the fourth-round match at a set apiece.

But it was the ninth seed from Australia who moved on to a quarter-final clash with second-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva.

Zvonareva advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Sabine Lisicki, the big-serving German who had hoped to improve on her run to the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Instead Zvonareva, runner-up to Kim Clijsters here last year, needed just 77 minutes to wrap up her fourth career victory over Lisicki in as many meetings.

Stosur had already entered the record books this week when she toiled for three hours and 16 minutes to get past Nadia Petrova 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 in the third round -- the longest women's singles match recorded at the US Open since the tiebreak era began in 1970.

Italy's Flavia Pennetta also stayed tough in the face of adversity as she carved out a 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory over a fighting Peng Shuai to set up a quarter-final meeting with German Angelique Kerber -- a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Monica Niculescu in a battle of unseeded players.

Pennetta, the 26th seed, who shocked third-seeded Maria Sharapova in the third round, had to fight to the finish against Peng, who saved one match point and gave herself four set points in the tiebreaker before Pennetta was able to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in four years.

Pennetta twice came back from service breaks in the second set, but after breaking Peng for a 6-5 lead she was clearly feeling the strain of the long rallies on the steamy Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Serving for the match, she had to pause at the back of the court as she felt herself becoming ill, returning to the baseline to cheers of encouragement of the crowd -- and a time warning from the chair umpire.

The quarter-final line-up will be completed on Monday when world number one Caroline Wozniacki faces 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and three-time champion Serena Williams will tackle another former world number one, Ana Ivanovic.

Williams, Djokovic march on at US Open

NEW YORK: Six months after she nearly died, Serena Williams is closing in on what could be the greatest achievement of her incredible career.

The former world number stormed into the quarter-finals of the US Open by beating Ana Ivanovic 6-3 6-4 on Monday and suddenly the title looks to be at her mercy.

“I’m a person that really hates to lose,” Williams said. “It’s really important for me just to look at the mountain and keep climbing it, not get discouraged.”

Novak Djokovic is also edging towards the men’s title. The Serbian has been almost invincible this year and is through to the last eight without dropping a set, although he had to survive an epic tiebreaker to maintain his perfect record.

The world number one survived a 30-point classic against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, winning 16-14, and pumped his first like he had won the final. He ran away with the next two sets to win 7-6 6-4 6-2.

“This is one of the longest tiebreaks I ever played. It was certainly exciting to be part of it but I knew that I needed to win that set,” Djokovic said.

“After I won first set, I felt that I had a little mental advantage over him, that I’m in control.”

Djokovic’s next opponent is his Davis Cup team mate Janko Tipsaraevic, who beat former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 7-5 6-7 7-5 6-2 in a slugfest that last almost four hours.

“It means there’s going to be at least one Serbian in the semi-finals, which is great for our country,” Djokovic said.

“We are great friends. It’s not going to be easy to play him, but look, it’s the quarter-finals and we both want to win.”

Williams’s ability to overcome adversity has helped make her the finest player of her generation, and among the best of all time, but when doctors found a life-threatening blood clot on her lungs in March, winning the US Open was the last thing on the American’s mind.

Yet here she is, riding high on emotion and with momentum building behind her.

Ivanovic, a former French Open champion, loomed as a dangerous opponent, but Williams disposed of her with the ruthless determination of a woman on a mission.

“I think I’d like to say it’s a bigger mountain like Everest. It’s something you can always reach (for) and achieve whether I’m playing tennis or doing something else,” Williams said.

“I don’t ever want to get to the top of the mountain. I want to keep being able to reach something.”

Williams went into the match as favourite, having won her two previous matches with Ivanovic, but Mother Nature was against her this time.

The wind was blowing hard at Flushing Meadows, making serving difficult. The gusts should have reduced the effectiveness of one of Williams’s biggest weapons, but the 29-year-old handled the conditions better than her opponent.

Williams served nine aces and one double fault while Ivanovic landed just three aces and made eight double faults.

That was enough to give Williams the advantage but when Ivanovic made more than twice as many unforced errors as the Americans, the match all but ended as a contest.

“As I said even before the match, I think she’s the favorite for the tournament,” Ivanovic said.

“She’s been playing really well, and it’s gonna be tough (for anyone to beat her).”

Williams’s next opponent is Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who avenged her agonising loss to Italy’s Francesca Schiavone at this year’s French Open to win 5-7 6-3 6-4.

It was sweet revenge for Pavlyuchenkova after she blew her chance of a first grand slam semi-finals appearance when she lost to Schiavone in the quarters at Roland Garros after leading 6-1 4-1.

“Of course I was thinking about it,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “But it made me stronger I think. I never try to find excuses when I lose so I always blame myself.”(The News Pk)

Nadal in US Open health drama, Murray eases on

NEW YORK: Defending champion Rafael Nadal shocked the US Open on Sunday when he collapsed with cramps during a bizarre news conference while Andy Murray stayed on course for a semi-final clash against the Spaniard.

Nadal, 25, was talking to journalists two hours after his third round win over close friend David Nalbandian, when he grimaced in pain, screwed up his eyes and slumped in the back of his chair, feeling his right leg.

The world number two, a winner of 10 Grand Slam titles, slipped to the floor behind the table where he had been sitting, and out of view of the media, while tournament medical staff were summoned.

Scores of reporters and camera crews were ushered out of the interview room deep inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the drama was still relayed into the nearby media centre by the internal television feed.

The conference room lights were switched off before the top of Nadal's right leg was suddenly silhouetted above the desk as the physios got to work.

After 15 minutes of treatment, Nadal was back on his feet, insisting that the problem was merely cramping.

"It was just cramping in the right leg, in the front and in the back. It was very painful, that's all," said Nadal, who resumed his news conference standing instead of sitting.

A smiling Nadal said the incident will not affect his preparations for his fourth round match against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, scheduled for Tuesday.

"I will train normally on Monday. It was just a normal cramp that could have happened anywhere, but it's just bad luck that it happened in the press room. Anywhere else, nobody would have noticed." (AFP)

Bolt after jumping the gun in 100 finals

DAEGU: Still fuming from his false start that knocked him from the 100-meter final, Usain Bolt crouched slightly on the line and waited. Then he zipped into the darkness of a deserted practice track.
There, only a short hike from the main stadium, he didn't have to worry about jumping the gun.
Bolt missed out on defending his title Sunday when he jumped from the blocks early at the world championships. He was disqualified by a highly debated zero-tolerance false start rule enacted last year.
"He's human, isn't he? I always knew he was human," said his coach, Glen Mills. "He will pick himself up. He's a champion."
Just not on this night.
Bolt knew instantly it was his error, too. Soon after the gun went off, soon after taking just a few steps out of the blocks, another gun blasted — the knot-in-your-stomach sound for any sprinter.
Bolt's eyes grew big. He pulled his shirt over his face, then ripped it off and whipped it around in his hand. Grudgingly, Bolt left the stage he has dominated since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Instead, it was left to another Jamaican to wrap himself in the country's flag — Yohan Blake, a 21-year-old up-and-comer that former Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene predicted to win.
Blake finished in a modest time of 9.92 seconds, 0.16 seconds ahead of American rival Walter Dix. Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the 2003 world champion and now an aging 35-year-old veteran, was third.
On the morning after his disqualification, Bolt realized Monday he had to move forward as quickly as possible.
"There is no point to dwell on the past. I have a few days to refocus and get ready for the 200 on Friday," the Jamaican said in a statement.
The 200 is his favorite event and more gold could be waiting in the 4x100 relays on Sunday, the last day of the championships.
"I know that I am now in good shape and will focus on running well in the 200," Bolt said.(GEO.TV)

Kraft upsets Cantlay to win US Amateur golf title

ERIN, Wisconsin: Kelly Kraft beat favourite Patrick Cantlay 2-up to capture the 111th US Amateur Championship at Erin Hills golf course on Sunday.

Kraft was the underdog against the No. 1 world ranked amateur Cantlay in Sunday's 36-hole final.

Cantlay has engineered a superb run on the PGA Tour by recording four top 25 finishes and shooting a second round 60 at the Travelers Championship.

Both American finalists are awarded a spot in the 2012 US Open and are traditionally also invited to The Masters. Kraft will also get a spot in the British Open.

Kraft, who just finished his senior season in US college golf, took the lead when Cantlay bogeyed the 16th hole.

On the par-five 18th hole, both players drove it into the bunker.

Kraft and Cantlay chipped out safely, but Cantlay had the longer approach shot and left it a little short of the green. Kraft found another bunker with his approach.

Cantlay then left his chip shot well short of the hole, and Kraft blasted his sand shot close to the pin.

Cantlay missed his par putt and conceded the hole -- and the match -- to Kraft.