Stosur advances
NEW YORK - Samantha Stosur will play world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in the US Open quarter-finals after seeing off the daring challenge of giant-killing British teenager Laura Robson. The defending champion overcame Robson 6-4 6-4 in one hour, 38 minutes to book a showdown with Azarenka on tomorrow. Stosur's 11th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows — and 15th from her past 16 matches in New York — was much closer than the one-sided scoreline suggests.
Ronaldo 'sad'
BARCELONA - First Kaka wanted to leave, now Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he's "sad" at the Spanish club. Ronaldo said he was upset with "people in the club" after scoring two goals to lead Madrid to a 3-0 win over Granada yesterday. The Portugal forward oddly chose not to celebrate his goals, remaining glum as his teammates and fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium erupted around him. When asked why after the match, Ronaldo said, "I am sad and the club knows it, that's why I didn't celebrate the goals. The people in the club know why."
Juve go top
ROME - Champions Juventus underlined their Serie A title credentials by going top as Inter Milan were humbled 3-1 by a Francesco Totti-inspired Roma at the San Siro yesterday. AC Milan, who finished runners-up to Juventus last season but stuttered against Sampdoria last week, got their scudetto campaign back on track Sunday when Giampaolo Pazzini struck a hat-trick in a 3-1 win away at Bologna. Juventus produced a commanding performace in a 4-1 win away to 10-man Udinese.
Ramsay wins
CRANS-SUR-SIERRE - Scotland's Richie Ramsay claimed the biggest win of his career yesterday at the European Masters in the Swiss Alps when a final-round 66 sealed a four-shot victory. Ramsay finished at 16-under par, with Australia's Marcus Fraser, Romain Wattel of France, Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden and England's Danny Willett tied for second on 12-under. It is the second tour title of Ramsay's career after his triumph at the South African Open in 2010.
Test run-chase
BANGALORE - Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged five wickets to throw the second and final Test against New Zealand wide open on the third day in Bangalore yesterday. Ashwin finished with 5-69, his fifth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings, as New Zealand reached 9-232 in their second innings at stumps for an overall lead of 244. New Zealand paceman Tim Southee earlier grabbed a maiden seven-wicket haul as the Indians were bowled out for 353 in their first innings in the morning in reply to the tourists' 365.
Reunited
WELLINGTON - Say goodbye to Sonny Bill Williams, say hello to the old firm. The high-profile departure of Williams to Japan has only served to reunite the most prolific backline partnership in All Blacks rugby as Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu get set to start Test No.35 together. The Smith-Nonu midfield axis hasn't been sighted since the World Cup final last October but they seem certain to run out against Argentina in the Rugby Championship Test at Wellington on Saturday.