Nadal v Federer: Who is the greatest?

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have dominated the men's game in recent years

A terrific US Open final, between two good friends hitting the spirit out of each other with a tennis ball, ended with Rafael Nadal on the ground, body shaking with emotion, secure in the knowledge he had joined the list of all-time greats. A dazzle of flashbulbs helped capture history as the 24-year-old Spaniard completed the magical tennis set of all four majors. It was his ninth Grand Slam overall. It was a worthy final. Towards the end the magnificent Djokovic was smashing winners without a chance of victory. He somehow believed he could do it, that was evident from the ambition he admirably showed, and of course it was possible, but Nadal was in the mood. You could see it in his widening eyes and feel it in the snap of his improved serve and the force of his groundstrokes.

And so, in successive years, we have two players winning the career Grand Slam. Only five men - Perry, Budge, Laver, Emerson and Agassi - had won the set before Roger Federer joined the club last season. Now his great rival Nadal has sealed his place in history. How lucky we are to have been around to see this unique happening. So where does this leave the rivalry? Where does Nadal now stand? Federer has more titles, a world record 16 majors, but Nadal is much younger and - important to the debate - has beaten his rival to win in Australia, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Federer's triumphs over Nadal at the majors have come exclusively on the London lawns. Add Nadal's Olympic gold from Beijing, a record haul of Masters titles - including three in a row on clay this spring (never done before) - plus Davis Cup victories and it's arguably a stronger list of accolades. Brad Gilbert said on Twitter immediately after the final: "There's your GOAT [Greatest of All Time]". Surely that is premature.

Nadal in my mind has to match Federer's longevity, consistency and domination. At least come close to it. The Swiss' streak of consecutive major semis, which only ended this year, is something extraordinary and one of the factors which keeps him ahead. Just. Of course there is no prize for this and I know some people like to grumble about these comparison pieces, but rivalries make sport so compelling - the quest for unmatchable performance and historic accomplishments. The quest for true greatness. Nadal is improving, adapting, hungry and healthy. On the New York evidence, it is entirely possible that he could become the greatest. Perhaps you think he is already there. As we just enjoy these modern day tennis riches, let the debates continue! What do you think?

Rafael Nadal wins US Open to seal career Grand Slam

Nadal now holds three of the four Grand Slam titles

Rafael Nadal joined the ranks of the all-time greats of tennis as he beat Novak Djokovic to win the US Open and complete his set of Grand Slam titles. The Spaniard, 24, won a rain-interrupted final 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows in New York. Nadal's first US Open victory takes him to nine Grand Slam titles. And he becomes only the seventh man in history to complete the set of majors - Wimbledon, the French, Australian and US Opens. Nadal joins Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Don Budge and Fred Perry in having swept the board, and also becomes the first man since Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year. "That's more than I dreamt," Nadal said at the trophy presentation. "It's just amazing to be here in this final, just to arrive in this final. To have this trophy here in a few seconds, with my hands, is going to be unbelievable." 

Neither the New York rain, which had seen the final postponed on Sunday and then interrupted for nearly two hours on Monday, nor Djokovic could halt the Spaniard's relentless march to the one title that still eluded him. There was a case to be made for Djokovic going into the final, not least because he had defeated five-time champion Roger Federer in a dramatic semi-final and had a 7-3 record against Nadal on hard courts, but the world number one is a different animal in major finals. Monday's encounter began in pulsating fashion, with the first five games taking over half an hour as both men pounded away from the baseline. Djokovic was the slower out of the blocks and looked exhausted after the lengthy first point of the match, hinting at an ankle problem after dropping serve straight away. Some uncharacteristic errors from Nadal allowed Djokovic to level in game four, but the Spaniard regained the break immediately in an epic fifth game that saw five break points slip by before he cracked a huge forehand winner on the sixth. The world number one regained the dominance on serve he had enjoyed for most of the tournament as he saw out the set until he played a poor game at 2-1 down in the second, a double fault and a backhand error giving Djokovic the break to love. 

Djokovic was starting to dictate with his forehand as he had against Federer and he consolidated the break to move 4-1 clear, only to miss a game point on his next serve and allow Nadal back into it with a heavy backhand on his third break point. Suddenly, the momentum was with the man from Majorca and he looked ready to press home that advantage at 4-4, 30-30, only for the widely predicted rain to start falling. After a delay of one hour and 50 minutes, the players returned and immediately resumed at, if anything, an even higher level of intensity, with Djokovic in particular firing on all cylinders. The Serb survived from 30-30 on the resumption and held the edge as a tie-break loomed, levelling the match with a fizzing return at Nadal's feet in game 12.

Djokovic could not maintain that spectacular level, however, and Nadal came roaring back at the start of the crucial third set, with a quite brilliant cross-court backhand helping him to break for 2-1. As his opponent began, understandably, to look weary, Nadal created opportunity after opportunity to increase his lead, but when a wayward backhand flew long in game eight he had missed 17 of 21 break points. It left him needing to serve out the set and Djokovic made what would be his final push as he attempted to recover the break, but Nadal held his nerve like a champion at 5-4, 30-30, with an ace and a service winner. That all but broke his opponent's resistance and, although there were more flashing forehand winners to come from the Serb, Nadal broke again to lead 2-1 in the fourth and got the double-break when a tired Djokovic was broken to love two games later. After three hours and 43 minutes, Nadal finally stood at championship point, and his place in history was secured when Djokovic sent a forehand long, prompting the world number one to fall to his knees in celebration while his family and friends leapt to their feet in the stands. 

MEN'S CAREER GRAND SLAMS

Fred Perry (GB) 1933-1935

Don Budge (US) 1937-1938

Rod Laver (Aus) 1960-1962

Roy Emerson (Aus) 1961-1964

Andre Agassi (US) 1992-1999

Roger Federer (Swiss) 2003-2009

Rafael Nadal (Spain) 2005-2010       

"Right now he's the best player in the world and he absolutely deserves this title ............. Novak Djokovic "

2010 USA Title With Nadal

Winner Nadal and Runner up Novak Djokovic

Jacobs, bowlers help Warriors outplay Victoria

The one-man army called Davey Jacobs

Davey Jacobs began with a blitz filled with audacious enterprise, followed up with two sensational catches inside the circle, and finished off with perceptive bowling changes to lead Warriors to a 28-run win over pre-tournament favourite Victoria. Jacobs charged out of the blocks with 59 off 39 balls and, though his batsmen let him down, his bowlers responded in clinical fashion as Warriors became the first side to register two wins in the Champions League. Pursuing a middling target of 159, Victoria held all the aces despite the early loss of Rob Quiney. Warriors had lost the momentum following Jacobs' assault in the Powerplay overs, and Brad Hodge was settling in to put the chase on course. And then Victoria ran into the one-man army for the second time in the match: in the fifth over, Jacobs back-pedalled furiously at mid-on before leaping up and back to pluck Hodge's mow that was headed to the boundary, reducing Victoria to 20 for 2 after 4.1 overs. 

Aaron Finch tried to counterattack, launching the spinners for two sixes as things looked up, but Jacobs was not done. In the ninth over, he flew across from extra-cover towards wide mid-off to intercept Finch's carve in acrobatic fashion. With nine overs gone and the score 59 for 3, Victoria had seen enough of Jacobs for a lifetime. David Hussey and Andrew McDonald searched desperately for an escape route. The Warriors bowlers, though, were not about to repeat the mistakes of their batsmen. Nicky Boje and Johan Botha, two of the best spinners to have emerged from South Africa, rose to the occasion with a series of tight overs as the pressure mounted. Things tipped over in the last ball of the 14th over, Justin Kreusch pinging Hussey's stumps with a yorker. Rusty Theron effectively ended the game in the next over, removing McDonald and Matthew Wade as Victoria slunk to 94 for 6. The lower order did not come in the way as Theron and the remaining seamers hit the stumps with monotonous regularity as Victoria finished well short. 

Right through the game, Jacobs sported the mentality of someone who knew he was up against a team with serious Twenty20 pedigree. He set the tone early in the piece, and came out throwing punches in all directions: after Dirk Nannes sprayed the first ball of the game down the leg side for four leg-byes, Jacobs drilled him through point, pulled uppishly past square-leg and punched on the up through the covers to loot 17 from the first over. Shane Harwood also began in wayward fashion and Jacobs crashed two more boundaries to pick 12 from the second. Nannes' reworked lengths and Clint McKay's close-to-unpickable slower balls allowed Victoria to slip in two quiet overs before the mayhem resumed. Jacobs, who had initially bristled with nervous energy - on a couple of occasions, he had exposed all his stumps against Nannes operating at 145+ kph - settled down to play the bowling on merit. What followed was a series of explosive and well-placed cover-drives along the ground, as Harwood bled 31 from two overs. The Powerplay overs had gone for 62, and round one to Warriors. 

With the field spreading out, Hussey resorted to Plan B - taking the pace off the ball - and it helped Victoria switch the momentum around. McKay, McDonald and John Hastings proved tougher to get away, and the pressure led to a run-out. Jacobs was caught short at the striker's end after responding late to Ashwell Prince's call for an impossible single. Victoria had found an opening into Warriors' castle, and three overs later, they claimed full ownership. Prince could not compensate for the run-out, succumbing to a clumsy paddle-scoop off McDonald in the 11th; Colin Ingram holed out in the 12th; Justin Kreusch over-balanced in the 13th and Warriors had lost 4 for 35 in 39 balls following the Powerplay. Mark Boucher and Johan Botha ensured the Warriors innings was not a complete failure and salvaged them to a fighting score. All the same, the dice was still loaded in Victoria's favour and a total of 159 should not have bothered their experienced line-up. However, one Warrior had completely different plans and that made all the difference.

Warriors 158 for 6 (Jacobs 59, Boucher 31, McDonald 2-22, Nannes 1-25, McKay 1-27) beat  

Victoria 130 for 9 (Hussey 29, Theron 3-22, Ntini 2-33) by 28 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Victoria v Warriors, CLT20, Port Elizabeth Pictures

Fernando Alonso beats Jenson Button in Italian GP

Fernando Alonso wins Italian Grand Prix

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso leapt back into title contention after winning a thrilling battle with McLaren's Jenson Button in the Italian Grand Prix. The Spaniard moves up to third in the championship, 21 points behind new leader Mark Webber of Red Bull, who leapfrogged McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.Webber finished sixth at Monza, while Hamilton retired after a collision with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who came third. Button stays fourth overall, ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. The German finished fourth in a race that Red Bull had always viewed as damage limitation, one place ahead of the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. The result in Italy means less than a win covers all five title contenders. The decisive moments of the race came around laps 36 and 37. Button had led from the start after passing Alonso into the first chicane following a slow getaway from the Spaniard, who started from pole position.

Alonso tracked Button all through the first part of the race, with the Englishman's lead ebbing and flowing as the two traded fastest laps in a fascinating flat-out battle. By lap 13, Button had eked out a lead of 1.6 seconds, but Alonso then came back at him and they were nose to tail by lap 20. A series of fastest laps from Button stretched his lead to a second on lap 29, but again Alonso responded. Button pitted first, on lap 36, with Alonso coming in next time around. A brilliant in-lap followed by a pit stop that was 0.8secs quicker than McLaren's meant Alonso exited the pits just ahead of Button. He had to defend forcefully at the first chicane, but held Button off around that lap and then proceeded to pull away at a pace to which Button could not respond. "Most of the thanks for the win is to the mechanics," said Alonso. "The pit stop felt so quick. I stopped, they changed tyres and there was a green light. I didn't even have first gear in. "When I came out of the pits I saw he was quite far behind and I thought OK, we have done it but I forgot he was coming at 320kmh (199mph) and he closed very fast. "We went in the first corner nearly side by side and then I nearly spun when I got on the throttle." 

Button was left to worry about Massa, who was slightly faster than him in the closing laps but was unable to get close enough to challenge. "It was quite a tough race mentally to have Fernando behind me for most of it, very mentally draining, and then we pitted one lap early," said the Briton. "The team think the prime tyre was faster but for me I couldn't find the grip on the first lap. So we made a bit of a mistake there. "It's a happy day but obviously you want to be first.

"I didn't have the pace I expected in the race - these guys [Alonso and Massa] were super-fast. "I was surprised how close they could stay in the fast corners. "We had a very quick car but I think these guys had a slight edge." Hamilton's hopes ended at the second chicane on the first lap as he was trying to take advantage of a battle between the two Ferrari drivers. 

Alonso was delayed by his battle with Button at the first corner and Massa was able to get alongside him through the second, left-handed part of the chicane. That gave Massa the inside line through the following Curva Grande, but Alonso was on the inside approaching the second chicane and held on to second position. Hamilton, though, was right behind him, hoping to pass Massa on the inside, but as they turned into the corner he was not close enough. Massa's rear wheel hit Hamilton's front and broke the suspension of the McLaren. "I had a good start and gained a position," Hamilton said. "In a realistic world I perhaps should've stayed there a while. I put my car up the inside and tried to get third - it was obviously a little bit too much. I'm very disappointed in myself and sorry for the team. "I've got to try to collect my thoughts and move onto the next race. The championship is not over, but it's mistakes like I made today that lose world championships." 

Vettel recovered from a brief engine glitch, which lost him a place to team-mate Webber, by making an ultra-late pit stop for a new set of tyres at the start of the last lap. The extra time he spent out on the track leapfrogged him ahead of Webber, Williams's Nico Hulkenberg and Renault's Robert Kubica, all of whom he had been behind before they made their stops. The pit lane was closed for a brief period during the race while medics tended to an injured Hispania Racing team member, who was subsequently transferred to the circuit medical centre. Sakon Yamamoto accelerated away after his pit stop, striking the head of the team member with his rear wing. "I was very worried about the incident in the pit lane," said Yamamoto, who finished the race. "I asked if he was OK and I was told that he was not badly injured." Hispania Racing was fined $20,000 (approximately £13,000) for an unsafe release of Yamamoto's car. Team boss Colin Kolles said: "He remained conscious. We now wish that he recovers quickly."

Match 5 Champions League 2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Guyana Scorecard

All-Round Performance Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis starred with an all-round performance as Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed underdogs Guyana by nine wickets in their opening Champions League Twenty20 match on Sunday. Kallis captured three wickets for 16 to play a big role in RCB skittling out Guyana for a paltry 103 after captain Anil Kumble put the opposition in and later smashed an unbeaten 43 to help his side overhaul the target with more than seven overs remaining at SuperSport Park. Veteran batsman Rahul Dravid, who opened the innings with Kallis, contributed 33 as RCB scored 106 in 12.2 overs to start their campaign on a winning note. Kallis remained not out on 43 from 32 balls with the help of four fours and a six while Dravid, the only RCB batsman dismissed, hit three fours in his 34-ball innings.

One-down Robin Uthappa chipped in with an eight-ball cameo of 25 not out which he made with the help of two fours and an equal number of sixes. The Guyana bowlers, lacking in international exposure, failed to make any impact against the top class RCB batsmen who scored runs almost at will. With a meagre total of 104 to chase, Kallis and Dravid did not take much risk with too many shots before Uthappa ended the match in a flash by taking 21 runs in the 12th over with the help of two sixes and a four off Christopher Barnwell.  Uthappa hit the winning runs -- a four -- in the 13th over to overhaul the target. Earlier, Kallis led a disciplined RCB bowling attack with three wickets, including two in three balls, as they shot out Guyana for 103. Kallis claimed Guyana captain Ramnaresh Sarwan's (7) crucial wicket early in the innings before scalping two batsmen in the 16th over after Kumble elected to field after winning the toss.

Kallis (3/16) was ably supported by Kumble, Praveen Kumar and Nayan Joshi by chipping in with a wicket each as RCB bowlers tied down the Guyanese batsmen, most of whom lacking in international exposure, all through the innings. Barnwell top-scored with a 35-ball 30 while the next highest scorer was opener Sewnarine Chattergoon with an 18. Kumble's decision to bowl first was proved right by his pacers Dale Steyn and Kumar as the pace duo tied down Guyana batsmen with the help of some early swing. The Guyanese could not score a boundary till the fourth over and lost their first wicket next over with Kumar removing Travis Dowlin who holed out to fine-leg fielder Steyn. In the same over, the other opener Chattergoon was dropped by Rahul Dravid while on 14.

Kumble brought in Kallis for the first time in the sixth over but he was whacked for a six by Sarwan. But the bowler had the last laugh removing Sarwan with a beautiful off cutter to leave Guyana in trouble at 34/2. With boundaries coming far and between, the Guyanese had to run at every opportunity they got and Cameron White pounced on one such opportunity to run out Chattergoon with a direct throw from the covers in the eighth over. With their top order coming a cropper against a quality RCB bowling attack, the Guyanese could only score 54/3 at the halfway mark and they failed to accelerate in the second half of their innings with wickets tumbling at regular interval. Kumble, who introduced himself in the seventh over, got his first wicket in the 12th over in the form of Narsingh Deonarine (13) who holed out to Ross Taylor at deep midwicket. Royston Crandon (5) fell in the 14th over while promising youngster Jonathan Foo disappointed as he fell in the 16th over for just one to Kallis from the six balls he faced and with that Guyana's hopes of a respectable total evaporated. But for a fighting 30 from Barnwell, who fell in the last ball of their innings, Guyana would not have crossed the 100-mark.

Match Details
Match – 5 , Group B Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Guyana
Date – September 12, 2010 (Sunday)
Time – 15:30 GMT ( 21:00 IST)
Venue – Centurion
Toss – Royal Challengers elected to field.
Result: Royal Challengers won by 9 wickets
Man of the match – Jacques Kallis

Guyana		Runs	Balls	Fours	Sixes	SR
T Dowlin	c Steyn b Kumar	10	17	1	0	58.82
S Chattergoon	run out (White)	18	17	2	0	105.88
R Sarwan	b Kallis	7	3	0	1	233.33
N Deonarine	c Taylor b Kumble	13	19	1	0	68.42
C Barnwell	c Uthappa b Steyn	30	35	2	0	85.71
R Crandon	c Steyn b Doshi	5	10	0	0	50.00
J Foo	c Uthappa b Kallis	1	6	0	0	16.67
D Christian	c Kumar b Kallis	0	2	0	0	0.00
L Cush	c Kumble b Kumar	5	8	1	0	62.50
E Crandon	run out (Uthappa)	0	3	0	0	0
D Bishoo	Not Out
Extras: 14 b:0 lb:10 nb:0 w:4 FOW:T Dowlin (17-1, 4.1), R Sarwan (34-2, 5.3), S Chattergoon (42-3, 7.1), N Deonarine (59-4, 11.2), R Crandon (70-5, 13.5), J Foo (75-6, 15.3), D Christian (75-7, 15.5), L Cush (92-8, 18.3), C Barnwell (103-9, 20), C Barnwell (103-10, 20)		Total: 103-10 (20) | Curr. RR: 5.15

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	NoBall	Wide	Eco
P Kumar	4	0	22	2	0	2	5.50
D Steyn	4	0	23	1	0	2	5.75
Jacques Kallis	4	1	16	3	0	0	4.00
A Kumble	4	0	10	1	0	0	2.50
Nayan Doshi	2	0	12	1	0	0	6.00
B Akhil	2	0	10	0	0	0	5.00

Batting Scoreboard – Team2

Royal Challengers Bangalore		Runs	Balls	Fours	Sixes	SR
Jacques Kallis	Not Out	43	32	4	1	134.38
R Dravid	b E Crandon	33	34	3	0	97.06
R Uthappa	Not Out	25	8	2	2	312.50
R Taylor	DNB
V Kohli	DNB
Nayan Doshi	DNB
B Akhil	DNB
C White	DNB
P Kumar	DNB
D Steyn	DNB
A Kumble	DNB
Extras: 5 b:0 lb:0 nb:0 w:5 FOW:R Dravid (78-1, 10.5)		Total: 106-1 (12.2) | Curr. RR: 8.59

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	NoBall	Wide	Eco
L Cush	3	0	19	0	0	1	6.33
E Crandon	2	0	20	0	0	1	10.00
C Barnwell	4	0	36	0	0	3	9.00
D Bishoo	2	0	19	0	0	0	9.50
R Crandon	1.2	0	12	1	0	0	9.00

World Championship gold bigger than Olympics bronze: Sushil

world wrestling championship

Things are getting bigger and better for Sushil Kumar. His World Championship gold in Moscow on Sunday triggered massive celebrations on the mat with his teammates and team officials where he was wrapped in the tri-colour. Then came the customary flow of congratulatory messages, starting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sports minister MS Gill. Of course, the rewards were express fast too with railway minister Mamata Banerjee arriving first with a cash award of Rs 10 lakh and a promotion for the Indian Railways employee. Bigger awards will come in the way of this soft-spoken champion, who understands clearly the enormity of his achievement but still puts it in simple words. "I am very happy with this win. It is a bigger achievement than the bronze medal (at the Olympics) in Beijing," said the champ about his historic victory at the Olympiskiy Sports Centre in Moscow.

Sushil outclassed Alan Gogaev of Russia 3-1 in straight rounds in the final of the 66kg freestyle category to become the first Indian wrestler to win a world title at the senior level. The reigning Commonwealth and Asian champion is in sublime form this year and by beating a wrestler from Russia, powerhouse of the sport, in his own backyard to lift the title shows he has finally fulfilled the prophecies of his coaches. Sushil dedicated the victory to his fellow countrymen. "I could do it only because I have the entire country's support and blessings with me," added the 27-year-old, rating his semifinal bout against Hasanov Jabrayil of Azerbaijan as his toughest test in Moscow. Now the entire Indian wrestling fraternity is looking at it as a good omen, especially after the recent doping controversy when four wrestlers from the Commonwealth Games (CWG) camp tested positive for a banned substance. "Sushil is our champion. And this victory will now be a boost for all our wrestlers," said GS Mander, president of WFI. "We can expect medals in all the 21 categories (men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle) at the CWG and 50 percent of it will be gold." Mander believes the doping episode was unfortunate and was due to the fact that the athletes were misinformed and not educated properly about the doping rules.

Stoke 2 - 1 Aston Villa

Huth's strike left barely enough time for Villa to restart the game

Robert Huth's injury-time goal stole victory over Aston Villa as Stoke's persistence was rewarded with their first points of the season. The German defender diverted Matthew Etherington's scuffed effort past Brad Friedel to spark wild celebrations. The hosts' bright start had been negated by Stewart Downing's precise header from Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross. But Kenwyne Jones nodded in to level, and Ricardo Fuller went close before Huth's dramatic late strike. With new Villa manager Gerard Houllier unable to take charge because of his ongoing contract release negotiations with the French Football Federation, Kevin MacDonald's caretaker period continued with third place a possibility for his side before kick-off. Stoke's contrasting start to the season had seen them fail to register a point in their first three games, but record signing Jones, in search of his first goal since joining from Sunderland, was immediately to the fore. 

The £8m summer buy was a menacing early presence and Stephen Warnock's concentration was required to clear Etherington's cross from his path after only 30 seconds. The striker squandered a one-on-one from Marc Wilson's fine through ball in the best of three early chances, before directing a header over the bar and thumping a long-range shot too close to Friedel. Wild efforts from Downing and Marc Albrighton had been the limit of Villa's attacking threat as they initially looked ruffled by Stoke's energetic opening. But 10 minutes from the break, Agbonlahor's curling cross cleared a rooted Huth for Downing to plant a diving header back across Thomas Sorensen and into the bottom corner of the net. Referee Lee Probert turned down appeals for a penalty as James Collins appeared to handle under pressure from Jones, but the hosts were only spared slipping two goals behind by Ashley Young's wastefulness at the other end. Another excellent cross from Agbonlahor, from the left flank on this occasion, picked out the winger but he contrived to glance his header wide as the goal gaped in front of him. 

The half ended with Villa clearly on top and Sorensen denied James Collins and Downing in quick succession before Ashley Young's cross skirted perilously across the face of his goal. Tony Pulis, who had been absent from the home side's dug-out from the first half due to a family bereavement, took his place on the sidelines after the break and saw Jones warm Fridel's palms with a sharp header from an acute angle. He summoned Fuller and Jermaine Pennant from the bench, and may have been tempted to make changes at the back after seeing Huth and Sorensen's indecision almost allow Nigel Reo-Coker in. Sorensen was then briefly troubled by an Albrighton snap shot that squirmed from his grasp, but with Downing's effort the only difference between the sides Villa never looked entirely secure and were made to pay. Jones' industry was finally rewarded after Etherington followed up his own blocked shot and dug out a far-post cross that the Trinidad and Tobago forward nodded past a helpless Friedel ahead of Richard Dunne. 

A enthralling last ten minutes followed as the match teetered in the balance. Reo-Coker saw a shot snuffed out by Danny Collins after a perceptive square ball from Agbonlahor at one end, before Fuller tricked his way past James Collins and tested Friedel with a solid shot at the other. But in the last of three minutes of injury time, Villa failed to clear Pennant's free-kick and Huth's reflexes were fast enough to steer home as Etherington's effort flashed past.

Premier League table snapshot

As it stood on 13 Sep 2010 23:59 UK

Position	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	4	16	12
2	Arsenal	4	10	10
3	Man Utd	4	6	8
4	Blackpool	4	0	7
5	Birmingham	4	1	6
6	Fulham	4	1	6
7	Aston Villa	4	-3	6
8	Man City	4	2	5
9	Wolves	4	0	5
10	Sunderland	4	0	5
11	Tottenham	4	0	5
12	Bolton	4	-1	5
13	Liverpool	4	-2	5
14	Newcastle	4	1	4
15	Blackburn	4	-1	4
16	West Brom	4	-6	4
17	Wigan	4	-9	4
18	Stoke	4	-3	3
19	Everton	4	-2	2
20	West Ham	4	-10	0

Kim Clijsters beats Vera Zvonareva to win third US Open

Clijsters has won 27 of her last 28 matches at the US Open

Defending champion Kim Clijsters thrashed Vera Zvonareva in 59 minutes to win her third US Open title at Flushing Meadows in New York. The 27-year-old Belgian, who won last year following a spell in retirement, defeated Russian seventh seed Zvonareva 6-2 6-1.In a desperately one-sided final, Clijsters broke twice in each set. Clijsters has now claimed all three of her Grand Slam titles in New York after winning her first in 2005. "It's been an incredible year, being back in the Open and for the first time I'm able to defend my title," said Clijsters. Clijsters had lost her two previous meetings with Zvonareva, including a recent defeat at Wimbledon as the Russian made it through to her first Grand Slam final.

"In a way I was excited to play her in the final here just to try and get that revenge," said Clijsters. "The one at Wimbledon was one of the most disappointing losses that I've dealt with so far in my career. 

"But today I was able to mix up my game a little more and I think that just got her thinking even more, besides the fact that she was probably thinking about the occasion, where she was playing and being in another final, which is always something that does have an effect on the way you feel." Zvonareva had admitted that her swift loss to Serena Williams at the All England Club had been an experience she failed to handle, and more was expected of her in her second major final. However, after a solid enough start to Saturday's showdown the Russian slipped behind with a double fault and three errors in game six, and Clijsters simply powered away. Another woeful service game saw Zvonareva broken to love when attempting to stay in the first set and she received a warning for racket abuse in the following game after she had been sent sprawling behind the baseline under a Clijsters barrage. Two cracks of the racket did little good and in game two of the second set, Zvonareva double-faulted to drop serve to love once again. 

Such was the one-sided nature of the contest that the seventh seed received a huge cheer when she stopped a run of seven games in a row against her to make it 3-1, and there were even a few ironic cheers when the ever-popular Clijsters double-faulted at the start of the next game.  Zvonareva battled her way to an unexpected break point only for Clijsters to slam the door shut with an ace, and when the Russian double-faulted for the fourth time to hand over yet another break at 5-1 it was only left for the Belgian to seal victory moments later with a forehand winner. Clijsters immediately headed into the stands to celebrate with friends and family, while her defeated opponent sat in floods of tears, seemingly stunned by her lack of performance. "I gave it 100%," said Zvonareva. "I was just physically not there. I just couldn't execute. I have to learn how to recover well and make sure I'm physically fit and ready to play when it comes down to the last matches. "I will have to learn how to pace myself with practicing and preparing. Maybe if I really want to go deep in the Grand Slams, maybe I will have to stop playing doubles." And on her emotional outburst, the Russian added: "I was frustrated because I was losing games to love and was not able to come up with my game. She came up with some great shots in the key moments."

US Open, Flushing Meadows
Dates: 30 August - 12 September Start time: 1600 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; updates on BBC Radio 5 live; live on Sky Sports

"I was frustrated because I was losing games to love and was not able to come up with my game. She came up with some great shots in the key moments" .................Vera Zvonareva

Nadal & Djokovic US Open final postponed until Monday

Nadal is looking to join the tennis greats by defeating Djokovic in New York

The US Open final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic has been postponed until Monday because of persistent rain in New York on Sunday. After the scheduled start time of 2100 BST was pushed back by the poor weather, a decision to postpone was made at 2320 BST. The final will now take place at 2100 BST on Monday, after the conclusion of the women's doubles final. "I'll just wait another day, that's not terrible," Nadal told 5 live. It will be the third year in succession that a third Monday is required at Flushing Meadows because of rain. Monday's play will begin with the closing games of the women's doubles final at 2000 BST, with Liezel Huber and Nadia Petrova leading Vania King and Yaroslavl Shvedova 6-2 4-6 5-4. The delay could work to Djokovic's advantage, giving him an unexpected extra day to recover from his epic five-set semi-final win over Roger Federer. "I was having fun yesterday after the match, calling for the rain to give me more time, and here it is," Djokovic told 5 live. "Maybe it's going to help me to recover and be fit for tomorrow. This rain might go in my favour but even if I played today I'd be ready, because a final is a match where you have to find the energy to perform your best." US Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier explained the decision to call off play on Sunday relatively early (6.20pm local time), saying: "Our fear was the rain would not stop and it would be unfair on the players to keep them here, and certainly to our many fans." 

And asked about the perennial question of building a roof over the huge Arthur Ashe Stadium, Widmaier estimated the cost at US$150m and described it as "both technically and financially challenging", while still "under consideration". When the final does get under way, the 24-year-old Nadal will seek to become only the seventh man to win all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments as he competes in his first final at Flushing Meadows. Serbia's Djokovic, 23, is into his second US final, having lost to Federer in 2007. Spaniard Nadal has already won the French Open and Wimbledon crowns this season and is bidding to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open titles in the same year. He is yet to drop a set in the tournament and has only lost two service games. 

Victory over third seed Djokovic would be the ninth Grand Slam title of his career and make him the second youngest player after Don Budge to complete a career slam of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles. "The result of this match will change a lot," said Nadal. "It's another step in my career. It's a very important match for me." Federer, who completed his own career slam with victory at the French Open in 2009, is backing Nadal to achieve the feat.  "It's great for tennis," said the Swiss former world number one. "It's great for him at that young age to have that opportunity." 

Djokovic may draw strength from his record against Nadal. Although the Serb trails 14-7 in their overall head-to-head, he has won their three most recent meetings and leads the rivalry 7-3 on hard courts. It's true that on hard court I do have my best chances against Rafa but he's still number one in the world and the one that's playing great tennis," said the 2008 Australian Open champion. "It's going to be tough. He's going to be very motivated to win this title because it's the only major he hasn't won." Nadal, whose last victory over Djokovic on hard courts came in the 2008 Beijing Olympics semi-final, has no doubts about the magnitude of the tasking facing him as he looks to become the finish Spanish man to win the US Open since Manuel Orantes in 1975."He's a very difficult opponent for me and I've had lots of losses against him on this kind of surface," said Nadal. "He's a great player. I think he deserves to be in the final, because his mentality is always very positive."

US Open, Flushing Meadows
Dates: 30 August-12 September Start time: 1600 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; updates on BBC Radio 5 live; live on Sky Sports

MEN'S CAREER GRAND SLAMS

Fred Perry (GB) 1933-1935

Don Budge (US) 1937-1938

Rod Laver (Aus) 1960-1962

Roy Emerson (Aus) 1961-1964

Andre Agassi (US) 1992-1999

Roger Federer (Swiss) 2003-2009

Century for Andrew Strauss in England win over Pakistan

Strauss century helps England win

England edged to a four-wicket win over Pakistan at Headingley to take a 2-0 lead in the one-day series. Openers Kamran Akmal (74) and Mohammad Hafeez (43) shared 122 after Pakistan opted to bat, and Asad Shafiq hit 50 in their 294-8, Stuart Broad taking 4-81. Andrew Strauss put on 146 with Jonathan Trott, but fell for 126 in the 45th over and Eoin Morgan went in the next. Six were needed from the final over but Michael Yardy and Tim Bresnan guided their side home with three balls left. An exciting finish in good conditions was exactly what the series needed, given England's dominance in the Test and Twenty20 matches. Another improved Pakistan performance saw them come agonisingly close, but they succumbed to their seventh defeat in eight internationals against England this summer. The opening stand was their highest first-wicket ODI partnership against England and more than the entire team has made on five occasions during the international matches on this trip. 

Bresnan's first three overs went for 25, and the 50 partnership was recorded in 53 balls courtesy of a rare James Anderson misfield.  The bright Leeds sunshine and flat surface gave little assistance to the bowlers, but England's fielding in general was unusually lax and tactics with the ball that previously proved so effective did not work.Yardy has often stemmed the scoring with his unique brand of flat slow to medium left-arm, but he conceded 26 in his opening four overs. It was Paul Collingwood who made the breakthrough, ironically with an off-cutter, to trap Kamran marginally on the line of off-stump when sweeping, while Hafeez was bowled via the inside edge and pad off Graeme Swann, who found some spin and was relatively economical. Mohammad Yousuf, who made only eight in the first ODI and looked out of place in the Twenty20 matches, again started slowly before gradually beginning to find his touch. 

Things did not improve for Yardy when he returned to the action and was wristily flicked over mid-on for six by Yousuf. The 36-year-old reached 46 before he got a faint edge to a lifting ball from Broad, leaving him with only one half century in his last 10 ODI matches. But the momentum was maintained by Shafiq, who displayed an elegant straight bat throughout and, when launching Swann for six, one of the most expansive follow throughs of recent years. Umar Akmal added a breezy 28 with three successive fours in a Broad over that also contained two wickets, although Pakistan may have felt that more than 73 should have been made from their final 10 overs. Indeed England were ahead of the rate from the off with left-handers Strauss and Steven Davies playing in calm fashion, picking off the loose balls and using the pace of Shoaib Akhtar to good effect. But Shoaib, often measured above 90mph despite having the appearance of a man clearly in the twilight of his career, angled one across to take the edge of Davies and the scoring slowed. 

Strauss backed away to smash Shoaib down the ground and record the 50 in the ninth over but he was reprieved next ball on 23 when the giant Mohammad Irfan, rather incongruously stationed at leg gully, could not get his 7ft 1in frame down in time and spilled the low chance. The England captain had another moment of fortune on 39 when Umar Gul nipped one back and the ball flicked off the glove before being superbly snaffled by a wrongfooted Kamran diving back to his right, but umpire Billy Doctrove deemed that no contact had been made. After a quiet period Strauss recorded both the England 100, and his 23rd ODI half century, in magnificent fashion when he skipped down the wicket to Shahid Afridi and sent a sweetly timed stroke high over mid-wicket for six, leaving his team needing 188 from 30 overs. Afridi took himself out of the attack having conceded 22 from three overs and Strauss and Trott were then content to keep things progressing steadily with singles, sharing England's highest second-wicket ODI partnership against Pakistan as they put on 146. The gargantuan Irfan continued to have difficulties: with his fielding, with his bowling - which despite his great height was again wicketless and largely unthreatening - and then to cap it all, with his fitness. But there was hope for Pakistan in the 33rd over with 106 still needed when Trott was run out by a direct hit after wandering out of his crease following an appeal for lbw. 

And with the required rate touching seven per over for the first time, Collingwood holed out to long-on for 19, the all-rounder having reached 50 only twice in 19 international innings this summer. Morgan survived a tough chance on one when a thick edge would not stick in Kamran's gloves and Strauss departed with 47 needed when he missed a sweep at a quicker ball and was lbw. England's ice-calm finisher Morgan played one trademark reverse flick for four but lofted a catch to deep cover with his team 35 short of their target. Yardy made a composed unbeaten 13 and shared 22 with Ravi Bopara, but the Essex batsman was caught in the deep and with both sets of fans in fervent mood, Gul bowled the final over. Bresnan saw a top-edged hook fly over the wicketkeeper's head for four as England leapt up to second in the one-day rankings, but Pakistan will be hopeful of reversing their fortunes in the third match of the series at The Oval on Friday.

Second one-day international, Headingley:
England 295-6 (49.3 ovs) beat Pakistan 294-8 (50 ovs) by four wickets

Want to Know the Score details Go through this Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/shared/fds/hi/statistics/cricket/scorecards/2010/9/85649/html/scorecard.stm

US beat Turkey to win World Basketball Championship

The win sees the US qualify for the 2012 London Olympics

The United States captured their first world championship basketball title since 1994 with a 81-64 victory over Turkey in Istanbul. It was the Americans' fourth world crown and comes two years after they won the Olympic title in Beijing. Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant shone once again with 28 points while Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 rebounds.Phoenix Suns forward Hedo Turkoglu led Turkey with 16 points, despite being hampered by a knee injury. Turkoglu gave the fanatical home support something to cheer about with eight early points but after he departed, the home side found the going difficult and were 22-17 down at the end of the opening quarter. The forward returned to the court in the second quarter with a knee brace on his right leg and with his movement affected and Durant lighting up the game, they were soon 42-32 down by the break. Durant was on fire at the beginning of the second half with two three-pointers to see the US team's lead go out to 16 but Turkey, playing in their first final, attempted to work their way back into the game. However, the US remained calm and continued picking their shots with a 61-48 margin going into the final quarter and they maintained their advantage to win back the gold. "It was a great challenge for us," said US captain Chauncey Billups. "We are a very young team and inexperienced, but we have been really close since the start of the tournament. Kevin Durant was huge. He was the best player of the tournament." In the bronze medal match, Lithuania defeated Serbia 99-88.

AR.Rahman Collection for Champions League Twenty20 Match...

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Champions league-Theme music



Jiya Se Jiya||The Rockstar Version||AR.Rahman||Connections



Jiya Se Jiya- A R rahman's new song from Connections