China win puts Hamilton at doorstep of F1 title
auto racing
Lewis Hamilton's win in the Chinese Grand Prix proved to be anticlimactic, leaving the McLaren driver just short of clinching the Formula One title. Hamilton led from start to finish in a tepid race in Shanghai, finishing 14.9 seconds ahead of rival Felipe Massa, who took second thanks to Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen letting him through late in the race. The result extended Hamilton's lead in the drivers' championship to seven points with only the Brazilian Grand Prix remaining in two weeks. ... Steve Lawson, a popular NASCAR official, was found dead in his hotel room in Martinsville, Va., NASCAR officials said. He was 51. The cause of death was not announced. Lawson, of Rockford, Ill., worked as an official for stock car racing's governing body for more than a decade.
Soaring Briton Murray earns Madrid crown
tennis
Fourth-ranked Andy Murray beat Gilles Simon of France, 6-4, 7-6 (6), to win the ATP Madrid Masters in Spain. The U.S. Open finalist became the first Briton to win four titles in a season. He will be the first Briton in the Open era since Fred Perry in 1936 to finish the year at No. 4. Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman both reached No. 4 but never finished the year there. Murray won in Doha, Marseille and Cincinnati. Mark Cox of Britain captured three titles in 1975.
WTA Zurich Open: : Venus Williams won the Switzerland tournament for her second singles title of the season. Williams beat Italy's Flavia Pennetta, 7-6 (1), 6-2, to take the tournament she last won as a teenager in 1999. The win should seal the 28-year-old American's place at the season-ending WTA Tour Championship in Doha next month. She also won at Wimbledon this year.
Yankees' Chamberlain apologizes after arrest
baseball
New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain apologized for "an error in judgment" a day after he was arrested in Nebraska on suspicion of driving under the influence, speeding and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said Chamberlain was stopped about 1 a.m. Saturday on U.S. 77 south of his hometown of Lincoln. "I want to apologize to the New York Yankees and the fans for an error in judgment and for putting myself in a difficult situation," Chamberlain said in a statement released by his agent, Randy Hendricks.
Hopkins, 43, proves mettle by defeating Pavlik
et cetera
