Flemenstar takes dominant Fortria Chase victory at Navan

Pre-race 10-11 favourite Flemenstar powered to victory at the Fortria Chase at Navan to deny Big Zeb a fourth consecutive success in the event. The Peter Casey-trained seven-year-old took the lead from the start and finished seven lengths clear. Colm Murphy's veteran 9-2 shot Big Zeb exhibited his enduring class to claim second from Foildubh (7-1) at the end. Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Flemenstar's win came on his seasonal debut. The Andrew Lynch-ridden colt won five of his six starts over fences last season, and he showcased that form from the off as he left his 11-year-old opponent struggling at the back of the pack. When Foildubh and Big Zeb attempted to close as the horses reached the finish line, he had plenty in the tank to burst clear in the Grade Two meet. The win saw Flemenstar's odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup cut with some bookmakers, although others feel he still has to prove himself over a distance of more than two-and-a-half miles.

Women's rankings in Tennis

WTA singles rankings as of Monday 5 November 2012: 1. Victoria Azarenka (Blr) 2. Maria Sharapova (Rus) 3. Serena Williams (US) 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) 5. Angelique Kerber (Ger) 6. Sara Errani (Ita) 7. Li Na (Chn) 8. Petra Kvitova (Cze) 9. Samantha Stosur (Aus) 10. Caroline Wozniacki (Den) 11. Marion Bartoli (Fra) 12. Nadia Petrova (Rus) 13. Ana Ivanovic (Ser) 14. Maria Kirilenko (Rus) 15. Dominika Cibulkova (Svk) 16. Roberta Vinci (Ita) 17. Lucie Safarova (Cze) 18. Julia Goerges (Ger) 19. Kaia Kanepi (Est) 20. Ekaterina Makarova (Rus) Britons in top 250: 49. Heather Watson 53. Laura Robson 137. Anne Keothavong 153. Johanna Konta 172. Elena Baltacha 249. Tara Moore

Laura Robson wins first-round match at Japan Open

Britain's Laura Robson is through to the second round of the Japan Open after she beat Greek opponent Eleni Daniilidou 6-4 6-2 in Osaka. The 18-year-old, ranked 56th in the world and seeded in a WTA tournament for the first time, saw Daniilidou recover from 3-0 in the second set. But Robson held a tough service game, re-established her double break at 5-2 and served out at the first attempt. She will face China's Yi-miao Zhou in the next round. Robson is bidding to break into the top 50 after recent successes including winning Olympic silver in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray and reaching the final of China's Guangzhou Open. Number two seed Zheng Jie appeared on the verge of becoming the tournament's first major casualty when she trailed Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez by a set and 5-2. But the Chinese player reeled off 20 of the next 26 points to take the set before completing a 4-6 7-5 6-4 victory. British number two Heather Watson, already through to the second round of the singles, teamed up with veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm to progress to the second round of the women's doubles. The 20-year-old and her 42-year-old partner, who are the fourth seeds, beat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and American Alexa Glatch 6-3 6-2.(BBC)

NEW YORK: Maria Sharapova, back in the US Open s last eight for the first time since she won the title six years ago, sent fellow Russian Nadia Petrova packing with vigor and passion on Sunday.Not only did she rally after twice losing four games in a row against 19th seed Petrova but third seed Sharapova won six of the last eight games in the match after a 73-minute rain delay to take a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory.The Russian third seed, clearly the fan favorite in the Arthur Ashe Stadium night match, was pumping her fist with evry point in the seventh game of the last set when she broke Petrova to seize the lead for the first time since the opening set.Sharapova, who completed a career Grand Slam by capturing the French Open title last June, rolled through the first set in 31 minutes but Petrova broke her in the second and fourth games of the second set on the way to a 4-0 lead.Sharapova broke back twice to level the set at 4-4, only to have Petrova break her again in the 10th game to capture the set and in the second game of the third set for a 2-0 lead before rain began falling to halt the match.Petrova, who fell to 1-9 all-time against Sharapova, surrendered a break in the first game after the delay and Sharapova broke again four games later then held twice for the victory.Sharapova will next face French 11th seed Marion Bartoli, who beat Czech fifth seeded left-hander Petra Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon winner, 1-6, 6-2, 6-0, to book her first trip to the US Open quarter-finals in her 11th attempt. (AFP)

Stosur ousts Robson to reach Open s last eight

NEW YORK: Defending champion Samantha Stosur squandered eight match points but finally subdued stubborn British teen prodigy Laura Robson 6-4, 6-4 in 98 minutes on Sunday to reach the US Open quarter-finals.The Australian seventh seed advanced to a last-eight meeting with either World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus or Georgia s Anna Tatishvili, who were set to meet in a later night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.Robson broke Stosur in the third game of the match but the Aussie broke back in the next game and seized command, breaking again to take the first set and jumping ahead 5-2 in the second before struggling to close out the triumph.Robson held and broke and threatened to hold again to level the match before Stosur struck, firing a forehand winner that Robson sent wide to end the fight.Stosur has lost all six career meetings with top seed Azarenka, never taking a set off the reigning Australian Open champion. Azarenka s most recent victory over Stosur came in last February s Doha final.Russian third seed Maria Sharapova, the 2006 winner, faced 19th-seeded compatriot Nadia Petrova for a quarter-final berth. The winner would meet either Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova or French 11th seed Marion Bartoli. (AFP)

Why doesn’t sand stick to beach volleyball players?

Look closely at the picture above. What do you notice? Better yet, what don't you notice?

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are sprawled out in the sand, a position they find themselves in more than a dozen times per match. They're surrounded by their sport's playing surface and it's kicked up all around them. But look at Kerri's legs. Check out Misty's arms and take special notice of her feet. There's no sand anywhere.(Yahoo News)

Gymnastics: Jordyn Wieber Qulification in Olympic 2012

Jordyn Wieber of the U.S. competes in the balance beam during the women's gymnastics qualification in the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games