New York, September 12
Samantha Stosur stunned 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 title 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 semifinals on Saturday night.

But 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.

The Australian was still rolling in the opening game of the second frame, giving 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.

"Aren't you the one who screwed me over last time?," Williams bellowed at Asdaraki. "That is totally not cool."

The scene recalled Williams' similar meltdown in her 2009 semifinal defeat to Kim Clijsters.

In that match, she unleashed a volley of abuse at a lineswoman who called a foot-fault during the tense match and a penalty point sealed her fate in a 6-4, 7-5 defeat.

This time an angry Williams -- backed by a suddenly energized crowd on the 22,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium -- immediately stepped up her game, breaking Stosur for 1-1 and holding to edge ahead 2-1.

Williams continued to berate Asdaraki on the changeover, but Stosur stayed calm and saved two break points in the fourth game to level the set at 2-2.

Stosur said she didn't really know just what was happening between Williams and Asdaraki.

"I was just kind of there," Stosur said. "I do know the rule, but it's not something I've ever had to deal with before.” —AFP

New York, September 12
Serena Williams went into the US Open final vowing to honour the victims of the September 11 attacks, but ended it in disgrace by refusing to apologise for an ugly tirade during her defeat to Samantha Stosur.

The American star had lost the first set 6-2 to the Australian and faced a break point in the opening game of the second when she unleashed a huge forehand which she greeted it with a loud "c'mon".

But Stosur hadn't even reached the ball and Greek umpire Eva Asderaki immediately penalised the three-time champion for "intentional hindrance".

The point -- and the game -- was awarded to Stosur.

"Aren't you the one who screwed me over last time?" Williams, who was eventually defeated 6-2, 6-3, bellowed at Asderaki, in an apparent reference to a similar incident in Doha in 2009.

At her post-match news conference, the 29-year-old flatly refused to apologise for her outburst which came two years after she was also docked a penalty point in her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters for abusing a lineswoman.

That sanction came on match point and immediately condemned her to defeat.

"I regret losing," said Williams. "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there. It's the final and I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I was just in the zone."

Williams' rage had even continued at the changeover with her ongoing war of words with Asderaki picked up by courtside microphones.

"Don't even look at me," she shouted up at Asderaki. "If I see you in the corridor don't even walk past me... a code violation for expressing my opinion, we're in America... you're unattractive inside..."

Bizarrely, Williams admitted later that she may have confused the chair umpires.

During her infamous meltdown against Clijsters, the official was another blonde European, Sweden's Louise Engzell.

"I don't know. Maybe. Probably for sure," confessed Williams, who was hit with a code violation for the outburst.

"I just yelled, 'Come on'. It was a great shot. I hit it right in the sweet spot. It was the only good shot I hit. I was like, Whoo Hoo, so... "But I don't think it had a big impact, because I think at the end she won pretty handily. She really played phenomenal and she deserved to be the champion." —Agencies

London, September 12
World champions India dominated the ICC ODI Team of the Year announced here today, with four of them figuring in the side, including Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was named captain.

Other Indians named in the team are opener Virender Sehwag, middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh, who won the the Man-of-the-Series award in the cricket World Cup, and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.

Apart from being named captain of the team, Dhoni will keep wicket for the fourth year in a row.

India have the maximum number of players in the world team that does not include Sachin Tendulkar.

Sri Lanka, who finished runners-up in the World Cup, have two players in the first eleven as well as the 12th man. South Africa are being represented by two players while Australia, England and Pakistan have one player each.

Sehwag partners Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan at the top of order while the latter's team-mate Kumar Sangakkara comes at the crucial number three spot.

South Africa's AB de Villiers and Australian Shane Watson were named at number four and five while Yuvraj would bat at number six, a slot ahead of Dhoni.

Pakistan's Umar Gul and South African Dale Steyn will share the pace duties with Zaheer while Englishman Graeme Swann is the lone spinner in the world team.

The ICC today announced the ODI Team of the Year at a special function ahead of the LG ICC Awards ceremony here. The team was chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by West Indian batting legend and former captain Clive Lloyd.

Chairman of the ICC Awards selection panel, Lloyd said India's dominance in the ODI team reflected their success in the World Cup. —PTI

ICC ODI Team of the Year (in batting order):

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper/captain), Graeme Swann, Umar Gul, Dale Steyn, Zaheer Khan. 12th Man: Lasith Malinga. 

India’s triumph in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos (China) has lifted the sagging reputation of the game, and Hockey India can now breathe easy, as the team was selected and sent by it, in a controversial manner. On the eve of the team’s departure to Ordos, the HI disciplinary committee had taken severe action against two players -- mid-fielder Sardar Singh and drag-flicker Sandeep Singh -- by banning them for two years for walking out of the national camp at Bangalore without permission.

The HI top brass had felt that it was time to act tough as these players were vitiating team discipline, which was vouchsafed by the team management, including new foreign coach Michael Nobbs. Though HI has given the duo a month’s time to appeal, it’s unlikely that the ban will be lifted, now that captain Rajpal Singh and Co. have shown that they can play with spirit and win if they are given the right kind of backing and support and a disciplined team.

This win was also sweeter as India remained unbeaten at the league phase -- the only unbeaten team -- before downing arch-rivals Pakistan in the title contest. That India won this important trophy in a Chinese city after finishing outside the medal bracket in the last Asian Games at Guangzhou last year, necessitating their qualification for the 2012 London Olympics, was poetic justice indeed.

New coach Nobbs of Australia has begun his job on a winning note to instill confidence in the players and the hockey administrators that his choice was not wrong, after all.

This win will also help force the FIH to re-think its threat of pulling out the Champions Trophy from Delhi, as now HI, in conjunction with the IHF and the Government, will be able to rope in sponsors for the Champions Trophy as the game has once again come into focus for the right reasons.

The tough stand taken by the FIH that it will not accept the forging of a working relationship between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the threat to pull out the Champions Trophy, arguing that the prestigious event was awarded to HI to organise and Sports Minister Ajay Maken’s efforts to bring in a truce between HI and IHF and the Indian Olympic Association’s stand that it too would not accept the merger, had all got the game mired in a controversy. But the title win will have a soothing effect, giving more bargaining power to HI.

The Ministry can now persuade the RBI to release the money owed to the FIH for hosting the World Cup, to pave the way for hosting of the Champions Trophy, since that the team has yet again to qualify for the Olympic Games. (India did not qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, for the first-time ever in the history of the championship after finishing outside the medal bracket in the 2006 Doha Asiad, and then flunking the Olympic qualifiers in Chile).

Pallekele, September 12
Resolute Sri Lankan batting and bad weather frustrated Australia's bid for a series-clinching win as the second Test ended in a draw in Pallekele on Monday. Just 35.3 overs were bowled on the final day, in which Sri Lanka moved from their overnight score of 223/2 to 317/6 in the second innings, an overall lead of 80 with four wickets in hand.

Three half-centuries led a determined batting display by the hosts, who had faced defeat after being shot out for 174 in their first knock.

Seamer Ryan Harris finished with 3-54 as the tourists chipped away at the Sri Lankan middle order, but rain did not leave enough time for Michael Clarke's men to force the result that would have given them the series.

Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 11 and Suraj Randiv was on four when play was halted midway through the post-lunch session. The match was finally called off two hours before the scheduled close.

Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after their 125-run win in the first Test in Galle, with the final Test starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday.

Sri Lanka, who trailed by 14 runs at the start of the day, lost both their overnight batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, within the first hour.

Australia removed the two star batsmen with the second new ball, which was taken as soon as it was due after one over from Trent Copeland with the old ball.

Sangakkara failed to add to his overnight score of 69 when he was squared up by a lifting delivery from Harris and edged a waist-high catch to Clarke at second slip.

The dismissal broke a threatening 101-run stand for the third wicket between Sri Lanka's main batting hopes.

Clarke then dived to his left to snap a stunning low catch in the slips and send back Jayawardene for 51 off the bowling off Copeland.

Jayawardene stood his ground as the umpires debated whether the ball had touched the ground before landing in Clarke's hand, but replays confirmed it was a clean catch.

Sri Lanka were 288/4, a lead of 51 runs, when a sharp shower drove the players back to the pavilion and the umpires ordered lunch 30 minutes early.

When play resumed, Australia grabbed two wickets in the space of six runs to reduce Sri Lanka to 307/6.

Harris picked up his third wicket of the innings when he forced Prasanna Jayawardene (21) to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

Thilan Samaraweera made a dogged 43 when he was dismissed in similar fashion by Shane Watson in the post-lunch session. — AFP

London, September 12
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney's new-found maturity has been key to the striker's lightning start to the season.

Rooney has become only the fourth player in Premier League history to score hat-tricks in back-to-back games when he netted a treble in Saturday's 5-0 win at Bolton.

The England striker has now taken his tally to eight goals in four matches, more than 18 Premier League clubs have so far managed, and drawn level with Sir Bobby Charlton on seven three-timers for the club.

It is a far cry from Rooney's poor form of 12 months ago, and Ferguson believes the trigger has been his number one striker's new-found maturity.

"When players get to their mid-20s, there is more thought in their game. Their timing is better. Wayne's presence is good and he is looking fantastic," said Ferguson.

United top the table on 12 points, with only superior goals difference keeping them ahead of Manchester City.

Ferguson will be hoping Rooney hits the spot against Benfica in their opening Champions League match of the campaign in Lisbon on Wednesday, when United will also aim to extend their 18-month unbeaten away record in the competition. — AFP

New Delhi, September 12
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, informing him about the setting up of a three-member Ethics Commission, comprising of three former Supreme Court and High Court judges.

IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the letter to the PM was in adherence to the IOA’s recent resolve to keep the top brass of the Government informed about its activities.

He said an Indian Court of Arbitration for Sports (ICAS), with a panel of eight former judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, has already been appointed to settle all sports-related disputes. “The ICAS has been set up on the lines of the Court of Arbitration for Sports of the International Olympic Committee,” Malhotra added.

He said the PM has also been informed that the IOA, functioning under the Olympic Charter with autonomous status, has been auditing its account through the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the past many years.

Malhotra said the IOA was receiving funds from the Sports Ministry only for enabling the participation of Indian teams in international competitions, for which proper utilisation certificates were submitted to the Ministry.

The IOA chief said from January last year, it had also come under the purview of the RTI Act, and it had set up an RTI Cell to furnish information on RTI-related queries.

He said the Prime Minister had also been informed about IOA’s compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code by setting up an Anti-Doping Commission, with rules as stipulated by WADA.

Sriganganagar, September 12
Sahil Garg, hailing from Jaitsar a small town of this district, has been crowned as Upcoming Player of the Year at the National Cricket Tournament (U-17) held recently.

Being trained by coach Shiv Chopra of Devi Lal Cricket Academy, Sahil was selected for the summer camp that was organised by the local district cricket association for budding cricketers. He was adjudged best player. In the T-20 matches he claimed 7 wickets conceding only 16 runs. — TNS

New Delhi, September 12
Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza today broke into the doubles top-10 for the first time in her career as she gained a place after the US Open, where she made the third round along with Russian partner Elena Vesnina.

Sania is now fourth Indian player from the current lot to feature in the doubles top-10. Veteran stars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and ever-improving Rohan Bopanna figure in the top-10 in the ATP doubles ranking chart.

Sania won three doubles title in the current calender to take the overall number to 12 trophies. She triumphed at Indian Wells and Charleston with Vesnina and at College Park with Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova.

"Woke up to find out I cracked the top 10 in the world:) thanks each and everyone of you for the support and love all these years," Sania wrote on her twitter page.

"Needed some good news to lift up spirits after this silly knee injury...hope to recover soon," her next tweet read. Bhupathi congratulated Sania for the achievement.

"Welcome to the top 10 club. That's a big effort. Now stay there for a while please... :)," Bhupathi tweeted.—PTI

BRIEFLY

Poonia settles for silver
New Delhi: India's hopes of bagging a boxing gold medal at the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games were dashed when Rahul Poonia lost his final bout to settle for a silver in the event in Singapore. Rahul (49kg) lost 6-13 to Jack Bateson of England. The 16-year-old was the lone Indian boxer to have made it to the finals of the Games. Bateson, a quarter-finalist at the European Youth Championship, made an aggressive start, not giving Poonia many chances to score, but the Indian pugilist managed to throw in a few straight punches to open his account, the Indian Boxing Federation said in a statement. — PTI

Shiv Kapur slips to 25th
Hilversum: Shiv Kapur faltered over the weekend to finish tied 25th with a final round of 70 at the end of the KLM Open. The Indian, who was placed third after the second round, slipped to 18th at the end of the third round and finally dropped to 25th. Kapur, who has been having a series of modest results on the European Tour, had his best finish since the tied 24th place at Ballantine's in May and the 13th place at Maybank Malaysian Open in April. The other three Indians -- Jeev Milkha Singh, SSP Chowrasia and Gaganjeet Bhullar -- missed the cut. — PTI

Ambrose in Hall of Fame
London: Fast bowlers -- Alan Davidson of Australia and Curtly Ambrose of West Indies -- and former Australia women's team captain Belinda Clark has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. The ICC and the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) today named Davidson and Ambrose along with the late Frederick Spofforth of Australia to join the 63 male members of the Hall of Fame, while Clark became the second woman to be included in the elite list. While the trio of Ambrose, Davidson and Clark attended a special Hall of Fame brunch today to celebrate their induction, the late Spofforth will be included into the list later next year in a ceremony involving his family. Davidson took 186 Test wickets and scored 1328 Test runs in his 44 appearances for his country between 1953 and 1963. — PTI

It was a fair result: Cook
London: India might be feeling hard-done by the weather gods but England skipper Alastair Cook said the tie forced by rain interruptions in the fourth ODI here was a fair result. Cook was a relieved man after the tie allowed his side to clinch the five-match series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead here yesterday. England were 270 for eight when the third and final rain intervention forced the match to end in a tie under the Duckworth-Lewis rule. "It's human. When you're ahead of the game and get to go off, you're obviously going to be happier than the other team. It was quite clear when we came off the first time we wanted to go back because we were behind," Cook told reporters in the post-match press conference. "When we came off second time, when we were ahead, if we are all being honest we would have quite liked it to have rained for another hour and we wouldn't have had the last few overs," he said. — PTI

Swann dedicates win to Zoo
London: Athletes dedicating wins to their families, friends and even pets is quite common but flamboyant England off-spinner Graeme Swann has dedicated the ODI series triumph over India to the London Zoo because he happened to have a good time there. Swann has a reputation of being resident funnyman of the English cricket team and he lived upto it with his latest tweet. After the rain-hit tied match against India gave England a winning 2-0 lead in the five-match series, Swann went out with his family to the London Zoo. — PTI