TOP 20 WTA RANGKING

1	Ana Ivanovic	SRB	3612
2	Jelena Jankovic	SRB	3515
3	Serena Williams	USA	3341
4	Svetlana Kuznetsova	RUS	3181
5	Maria Sharapova	RUS	3131
6	Elena Dementieva	RUS	3070
7	Dinara Safina	RUS	3047
8	Venus Williams	USA	2586
9	Anna Chakvetadze	RUS	2230
10	Vera Zvonareva	RUS	2117
11	Agnieszka Radwanska	POL	2076
12	Daniela Hantuchova	SVK	1847
13	Marion Bartoli	FRA	1635
14	Victoria Azarenka	BLR	1593
15	Patty Schnyder	SUI	1542
16	Agnes Szavay	HUN	1489
17	Alize Cornet	FRA	1415
18	Caroline Wozniacki	DEN	1403
19	Flavia Pennetta	ITA	1335
20	Dominika Cibulkova	SVK	1202

TOP 20 ATP RANGKING

1	Rafael Nadal	ESP	6700
2	Roger Federer	SUI	5930
3	Novak Djokovic	SRB	5105
4	David Ferrer	ESP	2865
5	Nikolay Davydenko	RUS	2700
6	Andy Murray	GBR	2415
7	David Nalbandian	ARG	1975
8	Andy Roddick	USA	1845
9	James Blake	USA	1725
10	Stanislas Wawrinka	SUI	1670
11	Fernando Gonzalez	CHI	1615
12	Richard Gasquet	FRA	1595
13	Fernando Verdasco	ESP	1440
14	Ivo Karlovic	CRO	1405
15	Tommy Robredo	ESP	1360
16	Simon Giles	FRA	1350
17	Juan Martin Del Potro	ARG	1343
18	Nicolas Almagro	ESP	1305
19	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	FRA	1265
20	Nicolas Kiefer	GER	1225

Serena Beat Venus to reach semis of US Open 2008

Stubborn Serena Williams refused to roll over Wednesday against her big sister Venus, saving 10 set points in a heroic struggle before pounding out a 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (9-7) win to advance to the semi-finals of the US Open.

The fourth seed, who lost to her sibling in the Wimbledon final, made sure that scenario did not repeat itself with an intense victory in well over two hours.

Serena Williams, now 9-8 in the series with her sister, reached the final four in New York for the first time since 2002 when she won the title over her nearest relative.

Safina maintained her impressive form as she swept past Italy's Flavia Pennetta 6-2 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of for the first time.

The Russian, who has made the final in six of her last seven tournaments, broke the 16th seed at the first attempt and overpowered her in the first set.

Pennetta put up a better fight at the start of the second but lost her way and Safina sealed a comfortable win.

Safina, the sister of 2000 champion Marat Safin, had never previously been past the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows, and the French Open runner-up said: "I'm getting closer to reaching the same thing as my brother."

Olympic champion and fifth seed Elena Dementieva faces second seed Jelena Jankovic in the other semi-final.

Mafia may be behind Napoli hooligans, say police

he hooliganism that marred Napoli's Serie A opener at AS Roma last weekend may have been orchestrated by the Naples Mafia, Italy's police chief Antonio Manganelli said on Wednesday.

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has banned the Naples club's fans from travelling to away games this season after the trouble, in which a Rome-bound train was ransacked causing half a million euros in damage.

"We have reason to believe that there was the influence of organised crime behind the incidents provoked by the Neapolitan fans," Manganelli was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.

"It's no coincidence that this investigation has been entrusted to the DDA (District Anti-Mafia Department)."

The ticketless fans fought with police and railway workers before effectively occupying the train in Naples. After they refused to get off, police advised regular passengers to disembark and take other trains.

There were also scuffles outside Rome's Olympic stadium between police and Napoli fans and more incidents on the supporters' return journey after the match, which ended 1-1.

The Naples Mafia, the Camorra, has a violent grip on the local drugs trade and its involvement in the lucrative business of illegal rubbish dumping was a major factor behind the recent trash crisis in the city.

Italy has a serious hooliganism problem. A policeman and a fan of Rome club Lazio were killed in separate incidents last year.

Maroni said that the authorities may decide to stage some high-risk games behind closed doors in the future.

Napoli fans were frequently hit by bans on travelling to away games last season, but the authorities wanted to give them the chance to prove they had turned over a new leaf by letting them attended the Roma match.

The Italian Soccer Federation may order Napoli to play some home matches behind closed doors after Sunday's trouble, media reported.

Real Madrid 'refused Man City bid for Van Nistelrooy'

Real Madrid turned down a "blank cheque" for their Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from Manchester City after selling their Brazilian forward Robinho to the English side, sports daily Marca reported on Wednesday.

Manchester City and its new owner, billionaire Arab businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim of the UAE, offered an "out of the ordinary" sum for the 32-year-old after sealing their purchase of Robinho on Monday for 42 million euros (61 million dollars), it said.

Al-Fahim, who wants to turn Manchester City into the biggest football club in the world, said on Tuesday he was willing to pay 150 million euros for crosstown rival Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid had offered around 85 million euros for Ronaldo over the summer but the 23-year-old player decided to stay with Manchester United for at least another year.

Al-Fahim is also interested in signing FC Barcelona's French international striker Thierry Henry and Valencia's Spanish international striker David Villa, the top-scorer at Euro 2008.

Spanish media reported that he is also interested in Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool's striker Fernando Torres.

Al-Fahim has not disclosed the amount he is paying for City when he made the purchase on Monday on behalf of the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, of which he is a board member.

The National, an English-language Abu Dhabi daily, earlier on Tuesday estimated the value of the buy-out at 177 million dollars.

2008/09 English Premier League

2008/09 English Premier League

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff	Points
1	Chelsea	3	2	1	0	6	1	5	7
2	Liverpool	3	2	1	0	3	1	2	7
3	Man. City	3	2	0	1	8	4	4	6
4	Arsenal	3	2	0	1	4	1	3	6
5	West Ham	3	2	0	1	6	5	1	6
6	Middlesbrough	3	2	0	1	5	4	1	6
7	Aston Villa	3	1	1	1	6	5	1	4
8	Bolton	3	1	1	1	3	2	1	4
9	Man. Utd	2	1	1	0	2	1	1	4
10	Blackburn	3	1	1	1	5	7	-2	4
11	Newcastle	3	1	1	1	2	4	-2	4
12	Hull	3	1	1	1	3	7	-4	4
13	Wigan	3	1	0	2	6	3	3	3
14	Fulham	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3
15	Stoke	3	1	0	2	5	7	-2	3
16	Portsmouth	3	1	0	2	3	5	-2	3
17	Everton	3	1	0	2	4	7	-3	3
18	Sunderland	3	1	0	2	2	5	-3	3
19	Tottenham	3	0	1	2	3	5	-2	1
20	West Brom	3	0	1	2	1	3	-2	1

Gossip Soccer

Manchester City | After Robinho, City aimed at Ronaldo

The blow Manchester City in the transfer stock exchange apparently did not yet stop up until the hot season ending. The new owner City, Sulaiman Al-Fahim was sure his club can get Cristiano Ronaldo to the middle transfer stock exchange of the season later. After the substitute for the owner, City apart from the assumption of overtaking Chelsea's efforts that for a long time have scrutinised Robinho. The price of the Robinho transfer as big as 32,5 million sterling pound in fact broke the record of the European transfer this season. The ambition of Al-Fahim apparently did not lose big compared to the owner City beforehand, Thaksin Shinawatra. Previously Thaksin also wanted to bring Ronaldinho in, in fact has bargained higher compared to AC Milan.

Al-Fahim: I Abramovich Just

The new boss Manhcester City, Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim stressed, his presence in the club was the same as the presence of the Abramovich Novel in Chelsea. He will make Manhcester City become the big club and could compete to gain the trophy in each competition season. He also stated himself was Abramovich just. On Monday (1/9), the consortium of the Abu Dhabi investment company (ADUG), the Union of the Arabian Emirate, bought most shares Manchester City. Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim as the boss ADUG, at once made the transfer blow by bringing Robinho from Real Madrid in. In the future, this club will more often buy the star so that Man. City could become the big club.Asked whether his side bought Manchester City will match the Abramovich Novel time bought Chelsea, Al-Fahim answered,"was thought By me will be the same. We want to saw Manchester City could dispute to gain the degree. " "we only did not want Manchester City could gain the trophy in England, but also in the Champions League. We wanted this club always to be ready to seize all the trophies that ada,"he added. In his statement, ADUG aimed at City could appear in the Champions League the season 2009-10. Then, this season of City must be able to enter four big Premier League. Although at this time City could have occupied the place of the three temporary classifications, according to Al Fahim, the hunting of the real trophy will happen in the front season.

Kaka will move from AC Milan

The Andriy Shevchenko attendance in San Siro blew out the speculation that Kaka will be casualties. The front season playmaker from Brazil would hengkang to Stamford Bridge, because he became the sign thank you Rossoneri to goodness Chelsea that gave Sheva willingly -- the term for Shevchenko -- again reinforced Milan. Although not yet having the official statement from all the related sides, but the media continued to report this matter. Alhasil, not the day without the news about the Player's Terbaik trip the World in 2007 this. For a long time was silent, Kaka finally adopted spoke. The famous half-back very religious that said that he did not have the intention to pick up foot from San Siro. For Kaka, Milan was everything. I went to Chelsea? I still continue to a player Rossoneri. I will help Milan to win several trophies. This club brought several great players in, and Sheva would fast adapted and joined without masalah,said Kaka to La Gazetta dello Sport, on Wednesday (27/8). The player who since the beginning had sealed the number of the back 22 in Milan added, he will not become casualties Sheva. If that had finally happened, then this matter not his desire. I could not say anything will about my news be sold after Milan bought Shevchenko. If having the person who agreed to this matter and handed over me to Abramovich, that is why not I. Because, I always said that I was happy in Milan. My main aim here was to win for Milan. For us like that, I will continue to in Milan,he added. Vice-President Milan, Adriano Galliani, also denied this news. about the Shevchenko rumour, Kaka had not spoken so as fans stayed calm... We always said the same thing for two tahun,he revealed. Indeed, Chelsea that currently is occupied by great half-backs as Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Deco, it was reported continued to aim at Kaka. The Abramovich novel was ready menggelontorkan the fund 80 million sterling pound (around Rp 1.351 trillion) to get this superstar

San Marino Grand Prix.

Australia's defending world champion Casey Stoner is already looking ahead to next year after his title hopes faded with a crash in Italy's San Marino Grand Prix.

Ducati rider Stoner crashed while leading on lap six as his Italian rival Valentino Rossi claimed a crucial victory at Misano.

Rossi leads the standings on 262 points ahead of second-placed Stoner on 187.

Five races remain, with 25 points awarded for a win.

Stoner, who was riding despite a painful hand injury, said he would battle on and have an operation at the end of the season.

"It is very disappointing for the weekend to end like this after showing such a high level of performance in practice," said Stoner, who was pole-sitter.

"Basically we took the decision to put one lap on the race tyre in warm-up this morning to get it scrubbed in.

"We've done it before and not had a problem but today I could feel from the first lap that the grip wasn't right.

"After a few laps it started to feel better and I was gaining confidence but it let go.

"It's a real shame but, anyway, we tried hard here and once again I think we've shown we are very fast, we have a great bike and tyres that work fantastically.

San Marino - the Series MotoGP was kept leaving six races more. Valentino Rossi then determined to sweep clean all these races by becoming the number of one. As far as this is concerned The Doctor already five times gained the peak of the podium. Rossi gained him in the series in China, France, Italia, and two finally was in two last United States races and the Czechoslovakian Republic.Resulting from his impressive appearance, he is currently superior 50 of the rivals terdekat him that also was the defending champion, Casey Stoner.

The Australian racing driver had personally said that maintained gelarjuara was something that was almost impossible for him at this time. Back to Rossi, although currently he is superior far, he did not want to relax.

For him, there was no race use if only to achieve the position of the number of two. He was justified that the race was still long and the finish in the position of two could made his position in classification be threatened."I had the big superiority, but still was too early to make the decision like that, race only for the place kedua,"he said as being launched by Autosport.

"First was because of the finish in the second position to be ketidakberuntungan. And the two were still having six series more and not two. We will try to appear like in the last race and tried overcame Casey,"he accused. "Street headed the end was still long. And I thought in the race this time (the San Marinoan series, red) will have several racing drivers who could approach me or Casey.

Dementieva VS Jankovic

Second seed Jelena Jankovic and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva, both seeking their first Grand Slam title, advanced to a US Open semi-final showdown with straight-set victories Tuesday.

Jankovic ousted Austrian Sybille Bammer 6-1, 6-4 in 90 minutes, moving the 23-year-old Serbian within a win of her first Slam final, while Russian fifth seed Dementieva rolled over Swiss 15th seed Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-3 in just 76 minutes.

The party of the semi-final will later be the time to eight both of them met. Jankovic, that was gazing at the level of one world, was still being superior one victory from the winner of the Beijing olympic games gold. The other semi-final ticket will be contested between Williams Bersaudara, Venus or Serena, as well as Dinara Safina that will be faced with Flavia Pennetta from Italia.

Dinara Safina in the Semis Us Open 2008

Dinara Safina secured a semi final spot after defeating Italian opponent Flavia Pennetta pretty comfortably. The Russia sixth seed was played at her prime, while Flavia Pennetta, who was playing his first grand slam quarter final match, seemed to be the shadow of her excellent form of previous rounds. Italian 16^th seed surrendered to Safina in striahgt set 6-2, 6-3. In the first set, Pennetta failed to produce any challenge in the first set as she was broken twice by Dinara Safina.

Her older brother Marat Safina won the US Open men's title in 2000.

Safina advanced to the semi-finals where she will play the winner of a match between the American Williams sisters Serena and Venus.

The 22-year-old Safina continued her domination over Pennetta, raising her career record over the Italian to 5-0. Wednesday's match on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium was a repeat of the 2008 Los Angeles final which Safina won in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

The six-foot-one Safina needed just 71 minutes to reach her first US Open semi-final in seven tries as she closed out the match on her second match point when Pennetta hit a backhand long.

Safina has had a breakthrough season in 2008 winning three titles and reaching the final of six of her past seven tournaments.

Pennetta, seeded 16th, won two singles titles this year in Vina de Mar and Acapulco, Mexico.

At the 2008 French Open she upset Venus Williams to reach the fourth round for the first time at the Roland Garros before losing to Suarez Navarro.

World Cup 2010 qua

WC 2010 qual. - Europe (Group 6)
August 20
FT Kazakhstan 3 - 0 Andorra

WC 2010 qual. - South America
June 19
FT Venezuela 2 - 3 Chile

WC 2010 qual. - Asia (Group 1)
June 22
FT Australia 0 - 1 China
June 23
FT Iraq 0 - 1 Qatar

WC 2010 qual. - Asia (Group 2)
June 22
FT Japan 1 - 0 Bahrain
June 23
FT Oman 2 - 1 Thailand

WC 2010 qual. - Asia (Group 3)
June 22
FT Korea Republic 0 - 0 North Korea
June 23
FT Jordan 2 - 0 Turkmenistan

WC 2010 qual. - Asia (Group 4)
June 23
FT Lebanon 1 - 2 Singapore
FT Saudi Arabia 4 - 0 Uzbekistan

WC 2010 qual. - Asia (Group 5)
June 22
FT Iran 2 - 0 Kuwait
FT U.A.E. 1 - 3 Syria

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 1)
June 21
FT Cameroon 2 - 1 Tanzania
23:57 June 22
FT Cape Verde 3 - 1 Mauritius

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 2)
23:57 June 22
FT Zimbabwe 0 - 0 Kenya
FT Guinea 4 - 0 Namibia

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 3)
June 22
FT Benin 2 - 0 Niger
23:57 June 23
FT Angola 0 - 0 Uganda

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 4)
June 21
FT South Africa 0 - 0 Sierra Leone
FT Nigeria 2 - 0 Equatorial Guinea

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 5)
June 28
FT Gabon 2 - 0 Lesotho

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 6)
June 20
FT Algeria 1 - 0 Gambia
June 21
FT Senegal 3 - 1 Liberia

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 7)
23:57 June 22
FT Mozambique 3 - 0 Madagascar
FT Ivory Coast 4 - 0 Botswana

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 8)
June 21
FT Morocco 2 - 0 Rwanda
23:57 June 22
FT Ethiopia 6 - 1 Mauritania

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 9)
June 21
FT Burkina Faso 4 - 1 Seychelles
FT Tunisia 2 - 1 Burundi

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 10)
23:57 June 22
FT Congo 2 - 0 Chad
FT Mali 3 - 0 Sudan

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 11)
June 21
FT Zambia 1 - 0 Swaziland

WC 2010 qual. - Africa (Group 12)
23:57 June 22
FT DR Congo 5 - 1 Djibouti
FT Egypt 2 - 0 Malawi

WC 2010 qual. - CONCACAF (Group 1)
August 20
FT Cuba 1 - 3 Trinidad & Tobago
FT Guatemala 0 - 1 United States

WC 2010 qual. - CONCACAF (Group 2)
August 20
FT Canada 1 - 1 Jamaica
FT Mexico 2 - 1 Honduras

WC 2010 qual. - CONCACAF (Group 3)
August 20
FT Haiti 2 - 2 Suriname
FT Costa Rica 1 - 0 El Salvador

WC 2010 qual. - Oceania
June 14
FT Vanuatu 1 - 1 New Caledonia
June 21
16:00 New Caledonia ? - ? Vanuatu

European Cups - Champions League (qual.)

August 26
FT Panathinaikos 1 - 0 Sparta Prague
FT Petrzalka 1 - 1 Juventus
FT Wisla Krakow 1 - 0 Barcelona

August 27
FT BATE Borisov 1 - 1 Levski Sofia
FT Kaunas 0 - 2 Aalborg BK
FT Dynamo Kyiv 4 - 1 Spartak Moscow
FT Steaua Bucuresti 1 - 0 Galatasaray
FT Fenerbahce 2 - 1 Partizan Belgrade
FT Basel 2 - 1 Vitoria Guimaraes
FT Atletico Madrid 4 - 0 Schalke
FT Dinamo Zagreb 1 - 3 Shakhtar Donetsk
FT Marseille 2 - 1 Brann Bergen
FT Olympiakos Piraeus 1 - 0 Anorthosis
FT Slavia Prague 0 - 0 Fiorentina
FT Arsenal 4 - 0 FC Twente Enschede
AET Liverpool 1 - 0 Standard Liege

European Cups - UEFA Cup (qual.)
August 26

FT FC Nordsjaelland 2 - 1 Queen of the South
FT Lokomotiv Sofia 1 - 1 Borac C.

August 28
FT FC Moscow 2 - 0 Legia Warsaw
Pen. FC Midtjylland 0 - 1 Manchester C. *
FT Hapoel Kiryat Shmona 1 - 2 Litex Lovech
FT Hapoel Tel Aviv 3 - 0 Vojvodina Novi Sad
FT Zrinski 0 - 2 Braga
FT Hertha BSC 1 - 0 Interblock
FT Slaven Belupo 2 - 0 Aris Saloniki
FT SV Salzburg 0 - 1 Suduva
FT Viking 1 - 2 Honka
FT Cherno More Varna 2 - 0 Maccabi Netanya
FT Kalmar 4 - 0 AA Gent
FT Lillestrom 2 - 4 FC Copenhagen
FT Omonia Nicosia 2 - 2 AEK Athens
FT Rosenborg 5 - 0 Djurgarden
FT Austria Vienna 2 - 0 WIT Georgia
FT Brondby 2 - 0 Haka Valkeakoski
FT FC Vaslui 3 - 1 L. Metalurgs
Pen. Sturm Graz 1 - 1 Zurich *
FT Zilina 2 - 1 Liberec
FT Besiktas 4 - 0 Siroki Brijeg
FT Debrecen 2 - 3 Young Boys Bern
FT Grasshoppers 0 - 0 Lech Poznan
FT Bellinzona 2 - 1 Dnipro D'petrovsk
AET Red Star Belgrade 3 - 3 APOEL Nicosia
FT Gyor 1 - 4 Stuttgart
FT Rennes 2 - 0 Stabaek
FT Hajduk Split 0 - 2 Deportivo La Coruna
FT St. Patricks 2 - 1 Elfsborg
FT Aston Villa 1 - 1 Hafnarfjordur
FT Napoli 5 - 0 Vllaznia

European Cups - Super Cup
August 29
FT Manchester U. 1 - 2 Zenit St. Petersburg

Euro (Under 21)

Euro (Under 21) - Group 1 (qualifiers)
August 20

FT Albania 1 - 1 Greece

Euro (Under 21) - Group 2 (qualifiers)

August 20
FT Armenia 2 - 1 Turkey

Euro (Under 21) - Group 3 (qualifiers)

March 25
FT Ireland 1 - 1 Montenegro U21
March 26

FT Portugal 2 - 0 Bulgaria
Euro (Under 21) - Group 4 (qualifiers)
August 19

FT Kazakhstan 3 - 0 Poland
August 20
FT Russia 1 - 2 Spain
Euro (Under 21) - Group 5 (qualifiers)
August 20

FT Estonia 1 - 0 Rep. of Macedonia
FT Switzerland 2 - 0 Norway
Euro (Under 21) - Group 6 (qualifiers)
September 4

20:45 Scotland ? - ? Slovenia
Euro (Under 21) - Group 7 (qualifiers)
March 26

FT Cyprus 0 - 2 Belgium
FT Austria 1 - 0 Slovakia
Euro (Under 21) - Group 8 (qualifiers)
August 19

FT Hungary 5 - 0 San Marino
Euro (Under 21) - Group 9 (qualifiers)

August 19

FT Moldova 1 - 0 Germany
Euro (Under 21) - Group 10 (qualifiers)

August 20

FT Wales 0 - 1 Romania