US Open - Djokovic swats aside Youzhny to reach semi-finals

The Serb polished off his Russian opponent in two hours and 34 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up a last four meeting with Stanislas Wawrinka, who earlier stunned defending champion Andy Murray.

"I've been always trying to play my best tennis in the Grand Slams," said Djokovic, who has now reached the semi-finals at 14 successive Majors.

"I had a tough hard court season coming into the US Open but I'm really working on my game. I'm going to try to play my best in every match."

At two sets up, Djokovic looked to be forging an even quicker path to the last four but Youzhny burst into life to become the first player to take a set off the world number one at Flushing Meadows this year.

The New York crowd swung behind the underdog but Djokovic recovered momentum by breaking the Russian's opening service game of the fourth set.

With entrepreneur Richard Branson cheering him on from his supporters' box, Djokovic broke again in the fourth and sixth games to put the issue beyond doubt.

"After I lost the third set I definitely tried to regroup and focus on every point individually," said the 26-year-old, who hit 32 winners and an unusually high 45 unforced errors.

"It suddenly changed. For some reason I allowed him to come back into the match, started to push the ball, being more passive and allowing him to step into the court.

"It was important to get the early break in the fourth. I really felt a big relief and just went for my shots and played great."

The clash between Djokovic and ninth seeded Swiss Wawrinka will be their first since an epic battle at this year's Australian Open, which the Serbian won 12-10 in the fifth set before going on to win the title.

"That was played on a very, very high level," Djokovic said.

"In the past we all knew (Stan) had the quality to play that well, but not on a consistent basis. I think he has worked on his movement a lot, and some variety of shots in his game.

"He's a very complete player. He's had one of the best seasons of his life. Today he won in straight sets against the defending champion on Arthur Ashe. That's quite impressive."

Murray complained about an emotional letdown from his Wimbledon victory and Djokovic said he understood.

"It's never easy after you win a Grand Slam to motivate yourself again to play smaller tournaments," the six-times Grand Slam champion said.

"And then prepare yourself again to be mentally, physically and emotionally 100 per cent committed to another Grand Slam that is basically just a month and a half after the biggest win in his career, which is Wimbledon.

"I have been in this particular situation. I know how it feels. But this is tennis. In order to be in the mix for number one in the world or a contender for a Major title, you have to be giving everything that you have."

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England swept aside as Australia's Aaron Finch fires the highest international Twenty20 score in history

At some point there was bound to be an Australian backlash and it arrived on Thursday night in the substantial form of Aaron Finch, who blasted his way to the highest score in international Twenty20 cricket.

Finch, a one-day specialist, made 156 off 63 balls, striking 11 fours and an incredible 14 sixes in an onslaught that delivered Australia’s first victory of the year in any form of cricket.

England conceded the second highest score in Twenty20 internationals and the most sixes in an innings – 17 in total – as they were beaten by 39 runs.

Gone were the boos and moans of the Oval Test, with these two sides providing an entertaining match as a quick pitch perfectly suited to Twenty20 cricket yielded 458 runs, with England making a credible fist of an impossible run chase to record their second highest score in this format.

Even blood was spilt at one point with Joe Root top edging a pull off quick bowler Josh Hazelwood that became stuck in the grille of his helmet. Before protective headwear, he would have been left resembling Mike Gatting in 1986 after Malcolm Marshall, a man fondly remembered in these parts, rearranged his features.

But it was still a nasty blow that needed lengthy treatment and far more damaging than anything David Warner could manage in a Birmingham bar. Root’s Australian nemesis was quick with a word, but he should know Root is a tough competitor and he responded with his 90 not out in his first Twenty20 innings for England. Where Australia made 17 sixes, in reply England could only muster four and it was down to Root to prevent a full-scale rout.

“I’m gutted we lost the game but we have done OK today,” said captain Stuart Broad. “We’ve got a good group together with a bit of consistency. There is not a lot of cricket between now and the World Cup but we have a batting line-up that, in the last five games, have scored 200 twice.”

Finch could be held up as an example of Australian cricket’s muddled priorities. He is a Twenty20 specialist with a string of big money IPL deals, but a first-class batting average of just 29. However, it is not hard to see why Finch has a decent living on the go in Twenty20. Built as though he has spent as much time in the gym as the nets, he has immense power and many of his sixes flew several rows back into the crowd. “Every time you go out there in Twenty20 cricket you try and slog it and every now and then it comes off for you,” he said.

Finch looked likely to break Richard Levi’s record for the quickest Twenty20 international hundred when he reached the 90s off only 36 balls. But he moved from 91 to 99 in singles before becoming the first Australian to make a Twenty20 international hundred, reaching the landmark off 47 balls, two slower than Levi.

His next 50 came off only 13 balls, Danny Briggs was smashed for three sixes in four balls, and he scored at such an eye-catching rate that Shane Watson raced to 37 off 16 balls almost unnoticed. Watson played some of the best shots of the innings, hitting powerfully down the ground in making 37 and adding 101 for the third wicket off 41 balls. Jade Dernbach, whose three for 34 were respectable given the overall carnage, bowled Finch off the inside edge as the Australian innings lost its fizz in the final few overs.

England were never really in the hunt and at one point slumped to 42 for four when Eoin Morgan was caught at extra-cover. But Root and Ravi Bopara provided a fightback, adding 95 for the fifth wicket and nudging the rate up to nine an over at one point. They were just one run behind Australia’s score at the 11-over mark but needed a daunting 15-an-over for victory.

It looked all over when Bopara trudged off thinking he had been run out by a direct throw from Warner on 31. Bopara was almost back in the dugout when it was decided by the third umpire that the bails had not been dislodged from the grooves of the stumps before the batsman had made his ground. It made little difference as he soon top edged a pull.

Australia gave England their first look at leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed and, despite conceding 43 off his four overs, he did turn the ball when he gave it some flight.

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England swept aside as Australia's Aaron Finch fires the highest international Twenty20 score in history

At some point there was bound to be an Australian backlash and it arrived on Thursday night in the substantial form of Aaron Finch, who blasted his way to the highest score in international Twenty20 cricket.

Finch, a one-day specialist, made 156 off 63 balls, striking 11 fours and an incredible 14 sixes in an onslaught that delivered Australia’s first victory of the year in any form of cricket.

England conceded the second highest score in Twenty20 internationals and the most sixes in an innings – 17 in total – as they were beaten by 39 runs.

Gone were the boos and moans of the Oval Test, with these two sides providing an entertaining match as a quick pitch perfectly suited to Twenty20 cricket yielded 458 runs, with England making a credible fist of an impossible run chase to record their second highest score in this format.

Even blood was spilt at one point with Joe Root top edging a pull off quick bowler Josh Hazelwood that became stuck in the grille of his helmet. Before protective headwear, he would have been left resembling Mike Gatting in 1986 after Malcolm Marshall, a man fondly remembered in these parts, rearranged his features.

But it was still a nasty blow that needed lengthy treatment and far more damaging than anything David Warner could manage in a Birmingham bar. Root’s Australian nemesis was quick with a word, but he should know Root is a tough competitor and he responded with his 90 not out in his first Twenty20 innings for England. Where Australia made 17 sixes, in reply England could only muster four and it was down to Root to prevent a full-scale rout.

“I’m gutted we lost the game but we have done OK today,” said captain Stuart Broad. “We’ve got a good group together with a bit of consistency. There is not a lot of cricket between now and the World Cup but we have a batting line-up that, in the last five games, have scored 200 twice.”

Finch could be held up as an example of Australian cricket’s muddled priorities. He is a Twenty20 specialist with a string of big money IPL deals, but a first-class batting average of just 29. However, it is not hard to see why Finch has a decent living on the go in Twenty20. Built as though he has spent as much time in the gym as the nets, he has immense power and many of his sixes flew several rows back into the crowd. “Every time you go out there in Twenty20 cricket you try and slog it and every now and then it comes off for you,” he said.

Finch looked likely to break Richard Levi’s record for the quickest Twenty20 international hundred when he reached the 90s off only 36 balls. But he moved from 91 to 99 in singles before becoming the first Australian to make a Twenty20 international hundred, reaching the landmark off 47 balls, two slower than Levi.

His next 50 came off only 13 balls, Danny Briggs was smashed for three sixes in four balls, and he scored at such an eye-catching rate that Shane Watson raced to 37 off 16 balls almost unnoticed. Watson played some of the best shots of the innings, hitting powerfully down the ground in making 37 and adding 101 for the third wicket off 41 balls. Jade Dernbach, whose three for 34 were respectable given the overall carnage, bowled Finch off the inside edge as the Australian innings lost its fizz in the final few overs.

England were never really in the hunt and at one point slumped to 42 for four when Eoin Morgan was caught at extra-cover. But Root and Ravi Bopara provided a fightback, adding 95 for the fifth wicket and nudging the rate up to nine an over at one point. They were just one run behind Australia’s score at the 11-over mark but needed a daunting 15-an-over for victory.

It looked all over when Bopara trudged off thinking he had been run out by a direct throw from Warner on 31. Bopara was almost back in the dugout when it was decided by the third umpire that the bails had not been dislodged from the grooves of the stumps before the batsman had made his ground. It made little difference as he soon top edged a pull.

Australia gave England their first look at leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed and, despite conceding 43 off his four overs, he did turn the ball when he gave it some flight.

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Tennis - Serena brushes aside Tatishvili in Bastad

Williams barely broke a sweat, dropping only five games in a match that lasted just over an hour.

It was the first time that the two had faced each other with the world number one and top seed coming through against the world number 104 in typically brutal fashion.

The 31-year-old American struggled with her serve throughout the match, making just 58% of her first serves and was broken 3 times by her Georgian opponent.

Although red-hot favourite, Williams is now in a stronger position with 2nd seed, and world number 23, Simona Halep retiring hurt in her match against Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.

WTA Bastad round two results

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) 6-2 6-3

Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat 2-Simona Halep (Romania) 4-6 7-5 2-0 (Halep retired)

Richel Hogenkamp (Netherlands) beat 6-Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-1 2-6 6-3

WTA Bad Gastein round two results

2-Annika Beck (Germany) beat Mandy Minella (Luxembourg) 2-6 6-4 6-4

Yvonne Meusburger (Austria) beat 3-Irina Begu (Romania) 6-3 6-3

Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) beat 6-Chanelle Scheepers (South Africa) 7-5 1-6 6-1

Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (Austria) beat Petra Martic (Croatia) 6-4 6-4

Arantxa Rus (Netherlands) beat Estrella Cabeza Candela (Spain) 5-7 7-5 6-3

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Tennis - Serena brushes aside Zakopalova to make Bastad final

Williams’ early dominance was total as she rattled off the first eight games to bagel her Czech opponent and open up a two game advantage in the second set.

Zakopalova did manage to fashion a break of her own to tie the second set at 2-2 but Williams, who lost to Sabine Lisicki in the last-16 of Wimbledon, broke back to take the set and the match just shy of an hour and ten minutes.

Williams will face home hope Johanna Larsson in Sunday’s final.

The Swede came from behind to overpower her Italian counter-part Flavia Pennetta 2-6 6-3 6-4.

WTA Bastad semi-final results

1-Serena Williams (US) beat 3-Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) 6-0 6-4

8-Johanna Larsson (Sweden) beat Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 2-6 6-3 6-4

WTA Bad Gastein semi-final results

Andrea Hlavackova (Czech Republic) beat Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 7-5 6-7(1) 6-4

Yvonne Meusburger (Austria) beat 8-Karin Knapp (Italy) 6-4 6-3

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