Sport Shorts

HALLE – Tomas Berdych went one better than last year when he beat Marcos Baghdatis 7-5 6-4 in the final of the Halle Open yesterday.Berdych, the fourth seed from the Czech Republic, was too consistent for eighth-seeded Cypriot Baghdatis as he wrapped up victory in one hour 20 minutes.

The win gave Berdych his third career ATP title and his first on grass. It was his second successive appearance in the Halle final, after his defeat by Roger Federer 12 months ago.LE MANS – German duo Frank Biela and Marco Werner along with Italian driver Emanuele Pirro won the Le Mans 24-hour race in an Audi yesterday for the second successive year.They beat home a Peugeot driven by Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy.Audi have now been unbeaten on the famous circuit since 2000 and gained the upper hand over rivals Peugeot.Peugeot were competing in the race for the first time in 14 years and since winning in 1993.It was an incident-packed event for the Audi cars however in this 369-lap race for the winners.For the first time ever, two Audi cars were forced to retire after accidents.JAKARTA – Kenya dominated the Jakarta International 10K run on Sunday with John Cheruiyot Korir first over the line and compatriot Rita Sitienei Jeptoo the first woman.Korir clocked 29 minutes and 23 seconds while Rita Sitienei Jeptoo finished with a time of 32 minutes and 19 seconds.Korir was followed by two other compatriots, Johnstone Chepkwony in second place in 29 minutes and 42 seconds, with Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba third a split second behind.In the women’s event, second place went to Russian Irina Timofeeva in 33 minutes and 17 seconds and Indonesia’s Triyaningsih came third with 34 minutes and 10 seconds.Winners of the men’s and women’s pocketed 11 000 dollars each, while those placed second received 6 000 and third took 4 000 dollars.BOSTON – Landon Donovan scored on a penalty kick in the 59th minute and Carlos Bocanegra headed in a goal as the US advanced to the semis of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Panama.The Americans, who allowed their first goal of the tournament when Panama’s Blas Perez scored in the 83rd minute, advanced on Saturday to their eighth semi-final in nine Gold Cups.For Donovan, it was his second goal of the tournament – both coming on penalty kicks.It was also the American forward’s 32nd all-time goal in international play, putting him just two shy of Eric Wynalda.In Saturday’s other quarter-final, Canada defeated Guatemala 3-0.The United States will play Canada in the first semi-final on Thursday in Chicago.It was his second successive appearance in the Halle final, after his defeat by Roger Federer 12 months ago.LE MANS – German duo Frank Biela and Marco Werner along with Italian driver Emanuele Pirro won the Le Mans 24-hour race in an Audi yesterday for the second successive year.They beat home a Peugeot driven by Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy.Audi have now been unbeaten on the famous circuit since 2000 and gained the upper hand over rivals Peugeot.Peugeot were competing in the race for the first time in 14 years and since winning in 1993.It was an incident-packed event for the Audi cars however in this 369-lap race for the winners.For the first time ever, two Audi cars were forced to retire after accidents.JAKARTA – Kenya dominated the Jakarta International 10K run on Sunday with John Cheruiyot Korir first over the line and compatriot Rita Sitienei Jeptoo the first woman.Korir clocked 29 minutes and 23 seconds while Rita Sitienei Jeptoo finished with a time of 32 minutes and 19 seconds.Korir was followed by two other compatriots, Johnstone Chepkwony in second place in 29 minutes and 42 seconds, with Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba third a split second behind.In the women’s event, second place went to Russian Irina Timofeeva in 33 minutes and 17 seconds and Indonesia’s Triyaningsih came third with 34 minutes and 10 seconds.Winners of the men’s and women’s pocketed 11 000 dollars each, while those placed second received 6 000 and third took 4 000 dollars.BOSTON – Landon Donovan scored on a penalty kick in the 59th minute and Carlos Bocanegra headed in a goal as the US advanced to the semis of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Panama.The Americans, who allowed their first goal of the tournament when Panama’s Blas Perez scored in the 83rd minute, advanced on Saturday to their eighth semi-final in nine Gold Cups.For Donovan, it was his second goal of the tournament – both coming on penalty kicks.It was also the American forward’s 32nd all-time goal in international play, putting him just two shy of Eric Wynalda.In Saturday’s other quarter-final, Canada defeated Guatemala 3-0.The United States will play Canada in the first semi-final on Thursday in Chicago.