First title
STUTTGART, Germany - Maria Sharapova earned her first title of the year on Sunday as she blasted her way past world No.1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1 6-4 in the final of the Stuttgart claycourt tournament.
This was the 25-year-old Sharapova's 25th title of her career, but first in 2012 having lost three finals.
It was also revenge for both this year's Australian Open and Indian Wells defeats at the hands of Azarenka, and having also been runner-up at the Miami tournament.
Stoner wins
JEREZ, Spain - Australia's defending world champion Casey Stoner won his first Spanish MotoGP in Jerez, describing it as the greatest race he's ever ridden.
The Honda rider beat home Spain's 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha while another Spaniard Dani Pedrosa was third on a Honda in his 100th race.
English rider Cal Crutchlow just failed to edge out Pedrosa for third and recorded his second successive fourth place.
One run victory
NEW DELHI - Seamers Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav bowled a superb final two overs to help Delhi Daredevils to a thrilling one-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.
Ajinkya Rahana smashed an unbeaten 84 off 63 balls but with two runs needed off the last ball he missed Yadav's delivery as Owais Shah was run out and Rajasthan ended up at 3-151.
Morkel brought Daredevils back into the hunt when he conceded only three runs in the 19th over and also got rid of Australian dangerman Brad Hodge.
Spot booked
LONDON - Super League's London Broncos survived a major scare from John Kear's part-time Batley side to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup with a 22-16 win.
The Londoners overcame horrendous weather at Mount Pleasant and enthusiastic opponents to grind out a hard-fought victory in a fifth-round tie played in driving rain.
Australian half-back Craig Gower led the Broncos' efforts on his 34th birthday as the Super League outfit claimed their first win away from home for almost 12 months to deny Kear, a cup winner with both Sheffield Eagles and Hull, another famous scalp.
Title in sight
MADRID - Karim Benzema struck twice in a 3-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday as Real Madrid edged closer to their first Spanish league title in four years.
The win gave Real a 10-point lead on arch-rivals Barcelona and will be enough to secure the championship if Barca lose to Rayo Vallecano later on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring at the Bernabeu for Jose Mourinho's side and Benzema added his double after the interval to put them within touching distance of a first La Liga title since 2008.
Number one
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - England's Luke Donald took back the World No.1 golf ranking that he lost to Rory McIlroy two weeks ago after finishing third at the US PGA Zurich Classic on Sunday.
Donald has exchanged the top spot with the Northern Irish star and reigning US Open champion for the past two months. The Englishman needed a top-seven finish this week to secure the top ranking once more.