Briefs

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Mauresmo upset

SVETLANA Kuznetsova stormed to her second title in two weeks with a 6-4 6-0 victory over France's world number one Amelie Mauresmo in the China Open.

Mauresmo appeared to be in control at a break up in the first set, but Kuznetsova broke back at 4-4 just before rain forced a suspension.

Following a two-hour break, Mauresmo's game fell apart as the Russian won the next eight games in just half an hour.

It was the 21-year-old's eighth title, following her win in Bali last week.

Rally lead

SEBASTIEN Loeb clinched his third successive Rally of Cyprus victory to stretch his lead in the World Rally championship to 35 points.

The Citroen driver's eighth win of the season was secured when he came home 21 seconds clear of Marcus Gronholm.

Loeb now only needs to finish in front of Gronholm next time out in Turkey, or in the first four if the Finn wins, to clinch his third straight world title.

Gronholm finished in third place, 26 seconds behind Loeb.

Going into the third day, Loeb had a 21.8 second lead over Gronholm, which he extended when he won Sunday's opening stage.

But the Ford driver proved he was not going down without a fight, winning the rest of the day's stages.

"It's my third win in a row in Cyprus," said Loeb after his eighth win of the season. "It doesn't get much better.

"I gave everything I could from start to finish.

"Marcus pushed me very hard for two days. Now we can hopefully go to Turkey and confirm the championship."

A disappointed Gronholm shrugged off his own setback, saying: "We are fighting to win rallies and manufacturers' (points). We are a bit down now, but wait, wait," he said.

"It was a big ask to try and catch Seb. The team decided that it was more important that we confirmed second place and collected championship points. After the first stage this morning it was time to be sensible."

Gronholm's team mate Mikko Hirvonen was third overall and said he would pay particular attention to the set-up of his Ford Focus in Turkey next month.

Nelson retires

JOHNNY Nelson has been forced to call time on his boxing career because of persistent knee and back problems.

The Yorkshireman, 39, announced his retirement after pulling out of next month's WBO cruiserweight title fight with Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli.

"I've decided to say that's it, I'll call it a day," said Nelson, who defended his WBO crown 14 times. "Out with the old, in with the new."

Doctors had already advised Nelson to quit after knee surgery in March.

Nelson had managed to return to training following that operation, but he was then struck by a back injury.

"The injuries that I have acquired through training for fights over the past years just will not let me step up to the next level in preparation for my next fight," said Nelson.

"In the mornings when I get up, boxing is no longer the first thing I think about. I think about the injuries."

Nelson's WBO belt will pass to Maccarinelli subject to the governing body's approval.

Maccarinelli, whose next fight will be against Mark Hobson, won the interim crown when he beat Marcelo Dominguez in July.

Nelson had already pulled out of the first scheduled fight with Maccarinelli in March.

Robert Smith, assistant general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, paid tribute to Nelson following his decision to retire.

"Johnny Nelson has been a great ambassador for boxing and a great champion," he said.

"He has done it the hard way throughout his 20-year career and has always been a gentleman and a credit to the sport."

Maccarinelli had been hoping to prove himself as Britain's best cruiserweight by beating Nelson.

But the 26-year-old must now prepare for a re-match with Yorkshireman Hobson, who also stepped in as a replacement for Nelson in March.

"I'm absolutely gutted. This was going to be my biggest fight," said Maccarinelli, who beat Hobson on points last time.

"I have trained so hard for more than a year, what with the last one being cancelled, and when I got the call I was devastated.

"There's not a huge number of big names in the division after Nelson, but what can I do? The show must go on.

"He's been a great champion and a good role model for the sport over the years and it's just a great shame that the two best cruiserweights in Britain did not get to meet each other."

Maccarinelli admits he will take little joy from being ushered in as champion without throwing a punch.

"It's no consolation at all," he said. "I'm a fighter and I wanted to earn that belt fair and square by beating him up in the ring.

"I won't get that chance now. If he won't fight me, then what can I do?

"However, Hobson will really be up for this fight and I reckon he will be more prepared this time.

"The last fight was a good scrap for the fans but this time I'm not going to go the distance. I will knock him out."

Maccarinelli's fight will be on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe's bout with Cameroon's Sakio Bika at the MEN Arena.

Bettini wins

PAOLO Bettini of Italy outsprinted Erik Zabel to win the men's road race at the World Championships in Austria.

Olympic champion Bettini, who rides for Quick Step, moved past German veteran Zabel in the final 100m of a two-man sprint to the finish line.

The 32-year-old completed the 265.2km route in six hours 15.36 seconds for his first world road race title.

Zabel, 37, had to settle for second with Spain's Alejandro Valverde third, more than two bike lengths behind.

"I dreamed about becoming world champion," said Zabel.

"It is awful when you still lead with 50 meters to go. But silver gives me joy, too."

Bettini said that he had been confident before the race but did not expect such a drawn-out finish.

"It was the longest finish I ever raced," said Bettini. "We knew we had great potential.

"The course was very fast but when I attacked I knew it would be hard to stay clear on the descent.

"The team rode to set me up for the sprint but then when I saw the other leading riders go fast into one of the final corners I dived after them.

"I hit my shoulder on the barriers and I was scared of crashing but knew I had to risk it because the move was decisive.

"It's ironic because we raced hard all day and then we ent clear in the final corner. One corner decided the race."

The 35-year-old gave conflicting signals over his plans now he is world champion.

"It was a fantastic win and has enabled me to achieve a dream. After this win my career could finish here.

"Now I have won all the classics except the Tour of Flanders but there's time for that."

But it was disappointment for Belgium's Tom Boonen, who failed to retain his 2005 title as he finished ninth.

In a tense finale, Bettini made the perfect play by jumping on the wheel of Zabel when the German broke away with 200m left after a four-man split in the bunch.

Valverde failed to see the move until too late but finished ahead of compatriot Samuel Sanchez and picked up a third medal from the championships, having been runner-up last year and in 2003.

Australian Robbie McEwen was fifth with compatriot Stuart O'Grady sixth.