Henin has slight edge at wide ‘Open’

A U.S. Open runner-up last year, Justine Henin is my favorite to win the hardcourt major this time around, which would give her a second Grand Slam title in 2007.

Earlier this year Henin won the French Open. She missed the Australian Open while going through a divorce, and was upset in the Wimbledon semifinals by Marion Bartoli.

But Henin is not an overwhelming favorite, and this major is wide open. Henin is one of six players with a solid shot to take the title, the others being Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, and Ana Ivanovic.

With the exception of Sharapova, all of these players are in the top half of the draw.

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Carter shares lead at Dutch Open

ZAANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — England's David Carter remained in contention for his first PGA European Tour title, shooting a 1-over 71 on Saturday for a share of the third-round lead in the KLM Open.

England's Ross Fisher (68) and New Zealand's Steve Alker (69), also both winless on the European tour, matched Carter at 9-under 201 on the Kennemer course. Carter birdied the 16th and 17th, but closed with a bogey.

``The wind was from a completely different direction today and threw me on a few holes, but I'm still in with a chance,'' he said. Fisher had four birdies in his first eight holes.

David Higgins shot his second straight 68 to join Phillip Price (67), Thomas Levet (68) and Joost Luiten (71) at 7 under. Bernhard Langer had a 67 to remain four shots behind, and defending champion Simon Dyson revived his hopes with a 66, finishing another shot back. Langer will be 50 on Monday.

Edwards wins at Bristol, securing spot in Chase

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) -- When Carl Edwards was paying his bills as a substitute teacher, hoping and praying he'd someday make it into NASCAR, he pictured himself racing at Bristol Motor Speedway.

So after scoring his first career victory Saturday night at the Bristol bullring, Edwards felt like he was living a dream.

"It's such a huge win because it's Bristol. It's a short track. It's really tough. It's 500 laps. It's grueling," he said. "This is what I always thought of as a Nextel Cup race. This is what it's about. "A Saturday night at a really tough track that's historic. I guess to me, if you win at a track like this, it feels really good as a driver."

This one certainly did for Edwards, who clinched a spot in the Chase for the championship while picking up another 10 bonus points to use in his pursuit of the Nextel Cup title.

Puerta seriously ill after collapse

MADRID, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The prognosis for Sevilla player Antonio Puerta remains 'very serious' following his collapse and loss of consciousness during his side's league match against Getafe on Saturday.

'Antonio Puerta remains under sedation in the intensive care unit, with assisted ventilation and haemodynamic instability,' said a medical report issued by the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville on Sunday.

'We will issue another report tomorrow unless there are further incidents to report.'

Earlier, doctors had said the prognosis for the 22-year-old Spanish international was 'very serious'. However, Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said doctors were becoming more optimistic.

'The player's life was saved thanks to the rapid intervention of the club doctors and the Red Cross because he had a number of cardiac arrests,' del Nido was quoted as saying on the club's website after visiting Puerta on Sunday.

'Despite the severity of the situation his situation appears to be evolving favourably and the doctors are becoming more optimistic.'

Puerta collapsed after jogging back towards his own goal 35 minutes into the game at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.

Team mates and medical staff rushed to his side and were seen preventing him from swallowing his tongue as he lost consciousness. He was able to walk from the pitch but doctors said that he collapsed again in the changing rooms and had to be given cardiac resuscitation before being taken to hospital.

AC Milan, Sevilla's opponents in next week's European Super Cup issued a statement on Sunday wishing the player a speedy recovery.

Wish you feel well soon.....

Real 2-1 win..... !

MADRID (Reuters) -- Real Madrid got their title defense off to a winning start when a deflected shot by Wesley Sneijder earned a 2-1 comeback victory over city rivals Atletico at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

The Dutchman's miscued shot spun off a defender and ended up in the back of the net after Guti had rolled a free kick into his path 10 minutes from time.

The game between the Primera Liga's two biggest spenders was played at a frenetic pace with the sides playing open, attacking soccer. But Bernd Schuster's Real looked more dangerous in front of goal and deserved the win.

"We made a huge effort for this first game and it was an exciting match which the fans clearly enjoyed," said coach Schuster.

"We got the win tonight but Atletico are a very dangerous side and I think they will be battling away with the top teams this season."

Atletico made the better start, Argentine youngster Sergio Aguero putting the visitors ahead inside a minute when he stole in at the far post to nod in a Mariano Pernia corner.

Real responded well and Robinho was denied in the 14th minute when Atletico keeper Leo Franco saved his fierce shot.

A minute later Raul equalized when he steered a neat header past Franco after Sergio Ramos had floated in a cross from the right.

There was no let-up in the pace in a breathless opening half hour, Robinho going close for Real after a lightning break and Maxi Rodriguez clipping the ball wide after a well-worked Atletico attack.

But it was Real who carried more threat up front, Ramos heading against the post on the half hour and Sneijder firing wide from long range. Real midfielder Mahamadou Diarra missed the best chance of the first half when he sliced wide with the goal at his mercy. Atletico made a bright start to the second period but faded as Real grew in confidence, Guti firing a free kick against the bar and Ruud van Nistelrooy having a close-range shot blocked by Franco.

Sevilla were hosting Getafe in a repeat of last season's King's Cup final while promoted Real Murcia entertained Real Zaragoza in Saturday's late matches.

Real Raul.... you deserve the real win.... bravo !!

from jeffayn ... ..

Wenger is winner ?

Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman believes it is only a matter of time before Arsene Wenger signs a new contract at the Emirates. Wenger's current contract expires at the end of the season and the delay over putting pen to paper on a new deal has followed vice chairman David Dein's departure from the club last April

Gay takes gold

American passes Powell to win 100 meters at Worlds


OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Tyson Gay is the world champion.

In a 100-meters final that delivered all it promised Sunday, Gay was slower out of the blocks. Once his legs got pumping, he caught and surged past Asafa Powell to claim his first gold medal at a major international championship in 9.85 seconds.

"After 60 meters I saw that I could catch him -- and it worked," Gay said. "I stayed relaxed and believed in my top speed even though I had a bad start."

Powell, sensing defeat, was passed by Derrick Atkins of Bahamas at the tape in 9.91. Powell was third in 9.96, and even though he is co-holder of the world record at 9.77, admitted he ran scared.

"I panicked. I felt him coming on," Powell said. "That slowed me down ... I made a big mistake."

Watched under a full moon by Japanese Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and some 40,000 fans at the Nagai stadium, Gay pumped his arms, beat his chest and shouted in delight in the victory that ended weeks of nervous preparations.

Powell showed little emotion -- his sullen demeanor said it all.

Gay, regularly slower out of the blocks than Powell, had feared a false start, which would put him even more on edge. But the race went off smoothly. And with his head wobbling from side to side, Gay hit his groove.

2007 FORMULA 1™ Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix

2007 FORMULA 1™ Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix

Felipe Massa -Ferrari 58 1:26:42.161 1 10
Kimi Räikkönen -Ferrari 58 +2.2 secs 3 8
Fernando Alonso -McLaren-Mercedes 58 +26.1 secs 4 6
Nick Heidfeld -BMW 58 +39.6 secs 6 5
Lewis Hamilton -McLaren-Mercedes 58 +45.0 secs 2 4
Heikki Kovalainen -Renault 58 +46.1 secs 7 3
Nico Rosberg -Williams-Toyota 58 +55.7 secs 8 2
Robert Kubica -BMW 58 +56.7 secs 5 1

Bravo the Scuderians..... !!!!

Razzaq retires

Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has quit international cricket citing an agenda against him after he was omitted from the country’s Twenty20 World Championship squad.

"I believe that they (selectors) wanted to drop me from test and one-day international cricket as well so as a protest I am quitting international cricket,'' Razzaq said.

Pakistan cricket selectors dropped the 27 year old and seasoned middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf from the 15-men squad for Twenty20 World Championship.

"There can be a reconciliation but the (Pakistan Cricket) Board has to listen to the grievances of the players.

"Why is the board acting like this with players, trying to get rid of all the seniors?" Razzaq questioned aloud.

However, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed dismissed the player’s claims.

"The team for the Twenty20 World Championship was picked purely on merit," Ahmed said.

"I still believe that Razzaq has a future in Pakistan cricket and he should reconsider his decision," he added.

Nicol crushes rival Grinham to win S'pore Open

PETALING JAYA: The fireworks in the final of the Singapore Squash Masters did not materialise as two-time World Open champion Nicol David crushed Australia's Natalie Grinham to secure back-to-back titles at the Kallang Squash Centre on Saturday.

Nicol, who won the Malaysian Open last Saturday, thumped Grinham 9-6, 9-5, 9-5 in the final. Nicol had a big advantage since Grinham was clearly not at her best, not having fully recovered from her right Achilles injury sustained last week at the Malaysian Open.

World No 1 Nicol has now won five titles this year and 21 in total since turning professional in 2000. The win also extends her unbeaten run to eight professional matches.

The final on Saturday renewed the rivalry between Nicol and Grinham, the two best women squash players in the world currently.

It was their sixth meeting of the year, and was expected to have been a long, drawn-out affair, especially since Nicol surprisingly lost to Grinham in the final of the Seoul City Open in April.

Nicol earned US$6,650 (RM23,142) for winning the title while Grinham took home US$4,725 (RM16,443) as runner-up