IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Tennis

Henin beats Golovin to claim Zurich title

ZURICH: Justine Henin claimed her ninth title of the year on Sunday when she defeated unseeded Tatiana Golovin of France 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Zurich Open.

The match was a repeat of their final in Stuttgart just two weeks ago, which the top-seeded Belgian won in three sets.

Henin has now won 20 consecutive matches, stretching back to her loss to Marion Bartoli in the Wimbledon semifinals. The last player to achieve 20 victories was Kim Clijsters who won 21 matches in 2005.

Golf

Canadian Weir wins Arizona Open

NEW YORK: Canada's Mike Weir held off Australian Mark Hensby to win the Arizona Open by one shot in warm and windy conditions at Scottsdale on Sunday.

Left-hander Weir, the 2003 US Masters champion, sank a six-foot par putt on the 18th green to clinch his first Tour victory since 2004 with a final-round two-under-par 68.

Weir posted a 14-under total of 266, one ahead of Hensby who carded a 69 to finish three shots clear of American Billy Mayfair.

Third-round leader Carl Pettersson of Sweden and American Sean O'Hair were a further stroke back at nine under in a tie for fourth place.

Soccer

Beckham effort to no avail as LA Galaxy bows out

CHICAGO: David Beckham's first season in Major League Soccer came to an end on Sunday when the Los Angeles Galaxy was beaten 1-0 by the Chicago Fire.

The former England captain played the final 33 minutes, but was unable to lift the Galaxy in a game that was goalless until former Manchester United trainee John Thorrington's goal in second-half stoppage time.

The Galaxy needed a victory to earn a spot in the eight-team playoffs. The Fire was also playing for the postseason lives, but only needed a draw.

Basketball

Six refs disciplined by NBA over gambling infractions: report

NEW YORK: Six National Basketball Association referees have been disciplined by the league for breaching its anti-gambling rules, The New York Daily News reported on Sunday.

The newspaper said the unnamed officials had commited infractions such as visiting casinos, and their cases were not related to that of Tim Donaghy, the referee who pleaded guilty in August to betting on games he officiated.

"Nobody's getting suspended," the newspaper quoted a source as saying. "They were reprimanded and punished, but nobody lost their job."

(China Daily 10/23/2007 page23)