Today in HistoryToday is Sunday, Oct. 11, the 284th day of 2009. There are 81 days left in the year. AP News in BriefGunmen attack Pakistani army HQ, leaving 6 troops, 4 militants dead; 2 assailants still inside AP News in BriefMilitants attack Pakistan army HQ, take hostages ahead of offensive close to Afghan border Sharapova says she’ll return to singles action next week in WarsawMaria Sharapova plans to be back on tour next week. Dinara Safina is the new tennis queen, without glamourMADRID - Dinara Safina made tennis history for herself and her family when she officially climbed to the world No.1 position in the women’s rankings Monday. Williams’ loss sends Safina to No.1 spotMARBELLA - Dinara Safina came third time lucky to lift the WTA top ranking as current holder Serena Williams crashed to a defeat in the first round of the new Andalucia Tennis Experience event. Nadal, Jankovic head Australian Open seedingsMELBOURNE - World No 1s Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Serbian Jelena Jankovic have been given the top billing in the men’s and women’s singles at the $15.5 million Australian Open tennis starting here Monday. Dubious honour for top seeds in Australian OpenMELBOURNE - World No.1 Rafael Nadal, as expected, is the top seed in the Australian Open men’s singles tennis championship. But it may well prove to be a dubious honour as only few top seeds in the past have gone on to win the championship. Injured Sharapova pulls out of Australian OpenMELBOURNE - Defending champion Maria Sharapova Sunday withdrew from the Australian Open due to a slow return from the chronic shoulder problems which have kept her off court since last summer. Davydenko pulls out of Australian OpenMELBOURNE - The Australian Open tennis tournament has lost injured world No.5 five Nikolay Davydenko as the Russian withdrew due to a nagging heel injury. Australian Open boss confident on Sharapova’s appearanceSYDNEY - Australian Open tennis tournament director Craig Tiley is confident that defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia will play this year. |