IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Zhao ready to put bad luck behind her

The number 8 is not a lucky for Zhao Ruirui. China's towering spiker was wearing the normally auspicious number when she seriously injured herself four years ago.

FIVB chief: China must treat every match like a final

Wei Jizhong, Chinese vice-president of volleyball's world governing body FIVB, has told the national women's team: it must play every match like the final if it hopes to defend its Olympic gold medal in the August.

KTV 'frenzy' a cakewalk

It's hard to gauge which story caused a bigger stir among Chinese fans of Yi Jianlian: that the NBA sophomore was suddenly shipped to the New Jersey Nets on the eve of the NBA draft, or that he was caught partying at a KTV in Beijing until 4 am when he was supposed to be preparing mind, body and soul for the Olympics.

Score board

Baseball

French sprinter Feillu in yellow

NANTES, France: Frenchman Romain Feillu took the biggest accolade of his career on Monday when a successful breakaway that foxed the sprinters' teams handed him the Tour de France yellow jersey on Monday.

Royals snap Rays' 7-game streak

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida: John Buck and Mike Aviles hit 10th-inning homers to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 7-4 victory that snapped the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak in the American League on Monday.

Nadal closes gap on Federer

PARIS: Rafael Nadal's epic final victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon has seen him close the gap on the world No 1 to 545 points in the ATP rankings released on Monday.

Wife of 'A-Rod' files for divorce

MIAMI: The wife of New York Yankees superstar Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez filed for divorce in Miami on Monday, citing the slugger's alleged infidelities.

IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Federer plots 10-year Wimbledon rule

LONDON: Roger Federer could make history by becoming the first man to win six successive Wimbledon titles on Sunday, but he won't be satisfied until he's added at least five more to his name.

Victories bolster Beijing bids for Phelps and Hoff

OMAHA, Nebraska: Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff bolstered their Beijing Olympic bids with victories on Wednesday at the US Olympic swimming trials.