What’s happened to American tennis?

Fish is almost certain to be the in-form player among an aging group of injury racked former champions, untested newcomers and under-achievers

MONTREAL: Mardy Fish will never be seen as the saviour of American tennis but the 29-year-old is ready to step up and carry the flag into the US Open later this month if no one else will.
That Fish, the winner of six titles but no grand slams, is the likely standard-bearer for the US at Flushing Meadows as the top ranked American does not say so much about his improved play this season as it does about the decline of the sport in the United States.

McLaren's Hamilton 'can't wait' for restart

Lewis Hamilton clinched the world champion in 2008, in only his second season in Formula One.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Lewis Hamilton "can't wait" for the 2011 Formula One season to resume
• His McLaren team have won the last two rounds of the world championship
• Hamilton is currently third in the drivers' standings, 88 points behind Sebastian Vettel

Formula One's mid-season break may have only just begun, but McLaren's Lewis Hamilton says he "can't wait" for the competition to resume in Belgium later this month.

Gervinho sees red as Gunners draw blank

Newcastle's Joey Barton and Arsenal's new striker Gervinho locked in a tussle which ended in the Ivorian's dismissal.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Arsenal's new signing sent off after altercation with Newcastle's Joey Barton
  
• Liverpool start with 1-1 home draw against Sunderland; Villa draw 0-0 at Fulham
  
• Bolton beat new boys Queens Park Rangers 4-0; Wolves open with win at Blackburn

 New striker Gervinho was sent off on his Premier League debut as Arsenal drew 0-0 against Newcastle United at St James Park in their opening match of the season on Saturday.

England thrash India to reach summit

England's players celebrate at Edgbaston as India are bowled out for 244 in their second innnings.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• England replace India at top of world Test cricket rankings after victory at Edgbaston
  
• Innings and 242-run win means England now have a 3-0 lead in four-match series
  
• India's batsmen offer little resistance on fourth day being bowled out shortly before tea

 England have become the top-ranked nation in Test cricket after crushing India by an innings and 242 runs at the third Test match at Edgbaston on Saturday.

AP Analysis: Stricker on the Mark at PGA(GOLF)

AP golf writer Doug Ferguson breaks down the first round of the PGA Championship, which saw 44-year-old Steve Stricker tie a major championship record with a 63.

Italian club Atalanta hit by six-point deduction

Cristiano Doni, Atalanta's 38-year-old captain, has been hit with a three-and-a-half year ban.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Atalanta hit by six-point deduction after probe into alleged match fixing
• Italian Football Federation also ban club captain Cristiano Doni for three years
• Atalanta say they intend to appeal their points deduction
• A total of 16 clubs and 16 players hit with charges

 Newly-promoted Atalanta will start the Italian Serie A season with a six-point deduction for their part in an alleged match-fixing scandal.

‘Gate of World’ opens tonight at Spring Cocoon

SPRING Cocoon, or Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, will be seen throughout the world when the opening ceremony of the 26th Summer Universiade begins at 8 p.m. tonight.

The two-hour ceremony will include flag raising, the entrance of the athletes, swearing-in by athletes and judges, and cultural performances. The latter could well steal the show.