Olympic champion Elena Dementieva cruised past Pauline Parmentier of France 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. It was bit of a struggle for second seed Jelena Jankovic, who scraped past Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-7, 7-5. Svetlana Kuznetsova survived a tie-break scrae to beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 7-6, 6-1. Former world number one Lindsay Davenport had it easy at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, despatching Alisa Kleybanova. 7-5, 6-3.

In the men’s draw, last year’s runner-up Novak Djokovic overcame an ankle injury to beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in his first round match. Russian Nikolay Davydenko shrugged off his recent poor form to overcome Israeli Dudi Sela in straight sets while Robby Ginepri got his US Open off to an impressive start with a three-set win over fellow American Amer Delic. 19-year old Latvian Ernests Gulbis closed out a 7-5, 6-1, 7-6 victory over veteran Swede Thomas Johansson.

Five time European champions, Liverpool had to struggle hard for a narrow 1-0 win over Belgium’s Standard Liege to advance to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Dirk Kuyt scored the only goal in extra time, just two minutes before the tie was headed for a decisive penalty shoot-out. Elsewhere, Fenerbahçe advanced after a 2-1 victory in Istanbul over Serbian champions Partizan Belgrade. The first leg had finished 2-2.

Jose Ivan Gutierrez successfully defended his ENECO Tour title after he finished the seven stage race through Belgium and Luxembourg in a combined time of 26 hours 27 minutes and seven seconds. Gutierrez finished four seconds ahead of his closest rival, Sebastien Rosseler. Latvian Raivis Belohvosciks won the 18.3-kilometre final stage time trial through Mechelen in Belgium in a time of 22 minutes and four seconds.

Top seed Ana Ivanovic opened her US Open campaign with a hard fought 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Russian Vera Dushevina. Sixth seed Dinara Safina also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Kristie Ahn. Serena Williams raced to a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko while sister Venus thrashed Aussie Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-3 in 77 minutes. Amelie Mauresmo beat her French compatriot Natalie Dechy 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the day’s final match at the Louis Armstrong court.

Four time reigning men’s champion, Roger Federer made an impressive start with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 win over Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez. Marat Safin began his quest for a second US Open titlewith a hard fought 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over American Vincent Spadea. Twelfth seed Richard Gasquet became the highest seed to fall so far as he lost to two-time US Open quarter-finalist, Tommy Haas in a marathon five setter. Mardy Fish put out Australian Robert Smeets in four sets.

Barcelona advanced to the group stages of the Champions League despite a 1-0 away loss to Wisla Krakow. Tomas Jirsak provided a cross from a corner on 52 minutes as Cleber headed home to give the Polish club a 1-0 lead. Wisla maintained the lead for full ninety minutes for a famous win but Barca advanced 4-1 on aggregate, courtesy a thumping 4-0 win in their home leg a fortnight ago.

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen won the sixth stage of the Tour of Benelux from Maldegem to Brussels. Hagen covered the 186 kilometres stage in a time of four hours seven minutes and 20 seconds. A fourth place finish was enough to allow German Andre Greipel to retain the overall lead with an aggregate time of 26 hours four minutes and 46 seconds, 11 seconds ahead of the Spain’s Jose Ivan Gutierrez.

World number one Rafael Nadal was tested in his opening round encounter against Bjorn Phau before overcoming the German 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 to advance to the next round of the US Open. David Ferrer is safely through. The fourth seed Spaniard beat Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina, 7-6 (1), 6-2, 6-2 at the Flushing Meadows. Andy Murray joins him in the next round after a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Argentina's Sergio Roitman.

Tenth seed Russian Anna Chakvetadze was upset by compatriot Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 2-6, 3-6 but Olympic champion Elena Dementieva came from 5-3 down in the second set to beat Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4, 7-5. Lindsay Davenport beat Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-2 on her return from a two-month injury lay-off. Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Shuai Zhang 6-4, 6-2 while second seed Jelena Jankovic wrapped up a 6-3, 6-1 win over American teenager Coco Vandeweghe.