SPORTS BRIEFS

Kanepi victory

BRISBANE - A "who's who" of women's tennis bowed out of the 2012 Brisbane International but the next big thing may have been revealed in Saturday night's final. World No.34 Kaia Kanepi capped a giant-killing run at the event with a 6-2 6-1 thrashing of fellow unseeded player Daniela Hantuchova to clinch her second career title. Promoters may have been privately seething after injury or rusty form struck down the likes of Sam Stosur, Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams at the star-studded tournament.

Czech wins title

PERTH - The Czech Republic lived up to their Hopman Cup top seeding, powering to their second title with a 2-0 victory over Spain in Perth on Saturday night. World No.2 Petra Kvitova defeated France's Marion Bartoli 7-5 6-1 before Tomas Berdych wrapped up the tie with a 7-6 (7-0) 6-4 triumph over good friend Richard Gasquet. France, in their 18th Hopman Cup appearance, are yet to win the mixed-teams event, while the Czech Republic now have two titles to their name after Jana Novotna and Petr Korda won it in 1994. Czechoslovakia also won it in 1989.

Dijk scores

ADELAIDE - A penalty to Adelaide striker Sergio van Dijk ensured a 1-1 draw against Brisbane League in Saturday's A-League match. Van Dijk's strike cancelled a goal by Brisbane dangerman Issey Nakajima-Farran to square a compelling Hindmarsh Stadium contest. Nakajima-Farran was primary public enemy for the parochial 11,274-strong Adelaide crowd for his first half tangle with Red stalwart Fabian Barbiero.

First title

BAD KLEINKIRCHEIM, Austria - Elisabeth Goergl of Austria won her first World Cup downhill race on Saturday, delighting the crowd in the south Austrian resort which is the birthplace of ski great Franz Klammer. The reigning world champion in the discipline took the top honours ahead of Julia Mancuso of the United States and Fabienne Suter of Switzerland. Mancuso, the Olympic silver-medallist, posted the top time early on and held the lead for much of the race before the home favourite crossed the finish line under sunny skies in 1 minute 48.40 seconds, 00.16secs faster than the American.

Leaders

EAST LONDON, South Africa - Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was joined by fellow South African Tjaart van der Walt at the top of the leaderboard after three rounds of the Africa Open. Title holder Oosthuizen started with a two-stroke advantage in the first 2012 European Tour event after a birdie-packed 62, but had to settle for a six-under-par 67 third time round the East London Golf Club layout. Van der Walt followed his second-round 64 with a 65 and goes into the last round level with 2010 Open winner Oosthuizen on 198.

Smith's winner

GLASGOW - Gordon Smith's late winner saved Hearts blushes as they narrowly defeated Auchinleck Talbot 1-0 at Tynecastle to book their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. Scottish Junior side Auchinleck looked to be heading to pulling off one of the competition's biggest shock results after holding the Scottish Premier League side for the majority of the match before conceding late on.

Source: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=190341

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