September 05 2009
Sports News Bits

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in good form as both enjoyed straight-sets wins at the US Open on Wednesday.
World number three Nadal swept past Richard Gasquet in round one on his return to Grand Slam action. The third seed, who missed Wimbledon with tendonitis in both knees, powered to a 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory to set up a match against Germany's Nicolas Kiefer. And Federer, playing his second-round match, beat Germany's Simon Greul 6-3 7-5 7-5 in the night session.

Defending champion Serena Williams gave a stunning display of power tennis as she demolished Hungary's Melinda Czink in the second round of the US Open.
The American, playing in front of a record night-session crowd of 24,206, won 6-1 6-1 in 53 minutes. Her sister Venus, the third seed, came through her earlier match with Bethanie Mattek-Sands despite wearing heavy strapping on her injured knee.
Venus made plenty of errors but still saw off the world number 124, 6-4 6-2.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy following a finger operation and will be replaced by Tim Paine.
Haddin, 31, broke his left ring finger on the morning of the third Ashes Test on 30 July and was replaced by South Australian Graham Manou for that match.
He returned to play at Headingley a week later and again at The Oval.
But he then flew home for surgery and was replaced by Paine for the Twenty20 and one-day series in England.

NBA forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who recently agreed a deal with the Houston Rockets, has been cleared to play for Britain in the EuroBasket finals.
The 6ft 9in Mensah-Bonsu, 25, averaged 12.2 points and 10 rebounds per game for GB in last summer's qualifiers. Because he had not formally signed a contract with Houston, GB were forced to insure him independently.
His return will come as a boost to a team missing star player Luol Deng and with several players injured or ill.