Rafael Nadal step first time to USopen final blast Youzhny

Rafael Nadal step first time to USopen final blast Youzhny

Rafael Nadal's final countdown began at 2:40 p.m. Saturday. After a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, the top seeded Spaniard is heading to the US Open final for the first time ever. He becomes just the sixth man in the Open Era to reach the finals of all four Grand Slams, and, at 24, the second-youngest.

"It's another step I think in my career, so for sure is a very important victory for me," said Nadal. "[To] be in the final of the last Grand Slam of the year is something new, because I always arrived here with problems."

"I feel I play really good one game at 4-3, first set, like was lot of emotions," Youzhny explained. "If I can play like this on every game against Rafa, maybe... I can get chance to win. But I don't have so much emotion like I have this game, so I can like sometimes wake up for some points or some games, but I cannot be consistent for all match."

"I change a little bit the grip," he said. "And what I change especially is the position. Important thing is I know I have to serve well if I really want to have any day the chance to win here."

"Thank you very much," Nadal said to a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium following the match. "You make me feel unbelievable."

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Kim Clijsters wins her third US Open title

Kim Clijsters wins her third US Open title

In yet another rousing performance in a US Open final, Kim Clijsters decimated Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 to win her third title in New York.

Moving swiftly, serving accurately and dominating action off the ground, the Belgian and part-time New Jersey resident set a record for the least amount of time played in dispatching the Russian in 59 minutes (officials began to keep time records in 1980). It was the most one-sided final at the US Open since American Chris Evert smoked Evonne Goolagong 6-3, 6-0 in 1976.

"I'm very excited that I was able to defend my title. It is always an honor to go back to a place, especially a Grand Slam, where you've done well and you've won. You obviously want to bring your best tennis again," Clijsters said. "Obviously tennis wise I knew that if I would bring my best, that I'm capable of beating a lot of the top players."

"Obviously when I started my U.S. summer, the US Open was my main goal," Clijsters said. "I wasn't playing my best tennis when I wanted to in the beginning. But I was able to lift my game in the last two matches when I needed it to. That's obviously what probably I'm most pleased with over these last 14 days - that I was able to do that."

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Manchestar united must learn to setback

Manchestar united must learn to setback

Darren Fletcher says it is important for Manchester United to bounce back quickly from the shock draw at Goodison Park.

"All we can do now is learn from it - that's the biggest thing. The same happened to us at Fulham and this shows we haven't learned from that. We really have to do that now and see games out when we're in a winning position."

United had initally gone a goal down after a strike from Steven Pienaar but roared back with three goals to make themselves favourites for three points.

"It was important we scored straight away and went into half-time at 1-1," said Fletcher.

"At that point we would have been the happier team.

"Then we came out in the second half, played some good football and got ourselves into a good position. We started the second half the way we should do - we passed the ball around and took our chances. We were in control of the game.

"Once they got that second goal it gave the whole place a lift.

"You can't give teams like Everton any sort of confidence - it gives them hope and then they threw men into the box for the last minute, which they wouldn't have done at 3-1.

"Teams like Everton play until the final whistle and they proved that today. If we don't defend right as a team we're going to get punished.

"The biggest thing, though, is that we learn from today and don't let it happen again."

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Indian swimmers hope to shine in commonwealth games

Indian swimmers hope to shine in commonwealth games

Indian swimmers have never won a Commonwealth Games medal and this time around things have not changed much.

Indian swimmers have never created much of a buzz at the Commonwealth level given the competition in the pool features powerhouses such as Australia, Canada and England among others.

Australia has 557 medals at the Games and are expected to rule the pool even this time.

"What home advantage? Please don't talk about any home advantage," said Nanavati.

"In any case, we never considered Richa Mishra and Jyotsana Pansare as medal prospects for India in the CWG as in the past also they could never do well for the country. So, losing them is not exactly a concern," he said.

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Super Kings beat Central Districts in an ACLT20 match.

Super Kings beat Central Districts in an ACLT20 match.

Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was all praise for Subramaniam Badrinath for his unbeaten 52 which set up his side's win over Central Districts in an ACLT20 match.

"We lost early wickets and that put us under pressure.

But Badrinath and Anirudha batted really well. These are the conditions where technique does matter. If those who have good technique perform up the order it is easier for those who have lesser technique to slog later," Dhoni said.

"Badri has a good technique and so good to see him perform," said Dhoni after CSK's 57-run win over Central Districts.

"All the bowlers bowled well. Balaji bowled well to pick up three wickets. The two spinners were superb as conditions here were not that well assisting them," he said.

"Muttiah Muralitharan is a great bowler and it is great to have him in the team. He just varied his deliveries and the same was in case of R Ashwin also," he added.

"Well of course it is really good to start such a tournament with a big win. It is important to get momentum when you start off with a win. We want to win all the remaining three matches but at least we have to win two," he added.

"To restrict Chennai to 150, I thought the boys bowled really well. The bowling and fielding were the positives, but we didn't really turn up with the bat. We will be looking to bounce back against Victoria," How said.

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IPL players under the scanner

IPL players under the scanner

Reports claim that twenty nine players are suspected to be involved in spot-fixing at last year's IPL in South Africa.

According to a secret dossier compiled by the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit, the list includes some high-profile names but nobody from England or Pakistan, whose players did not take part due to security issues, 'The Sunday Times' claimed.

"Some betting patterns were very suspicious at IPL 2," the report said quoting a source.

Despite long-standing concerns about the integrity of the IPL -- whose commissioner Lalit Modi is suspended amid corruption allegations -- England players are expected to be available for the entirety of next year's IPL for first time.

Three Pakistan players salman butt,mohammad asif and mohammad amir were suspended by the ICC for their alleged involvement in sport-fixing in the Lord Test and the trio returned home.

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England cricketer in hiding after raid

England cricketer in hiding after raid

England Test cricketer Usman Afzaal is hiding in a "safe house" after a betting gang posing as cops ransacked his family house.

According to British tabloid, 'News Of the World', 33-year-old Afzaal is under police protection after being targeted by a shady betting syndicate.

"Test match ace Usman Afzaal, 33, is being guarded at a "safe house" after a gang posing as cops ransacked his family home with a fake warrant," the report said.

Afzaal's family reported the unusual incident to a Nottingham police station next morning but they were informed that no such record of investigation existed.

Afzaal's brother Kamran had also received an anonymous blackmail call, asking for a sum of 100,000 pounds within 24 hours, failing which his family would be reported to cricket's anti-corruption squad, the report said.

The family had to leave their three-storey townhouse on the outskirts of Nottingham after the bizarre episode.

"They have gone. They have been under police protective custody for a couple of months and have moved out," a neighbour at the family home, was quoted as saying by the tabloid last night.

Scotland Yard's Serious and Organised Crime Command were tipped off by Customs officers who had learned of the menacing demand.

"It is believed the gang involved may have links to an illegal gambling ring run by an Indian fixer based in the Middle-East," the report said.

Pakistan-born England cricketer Afzaal featured in three Ashes Tests against Australia in 2001.

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