SPORT | IN BRIEF
Serbia make Davis Cup history
TENNIS: Serbia celebrated their first Davis Cup title after Victor Troicki thrashed France’s Michael Llodra 6-2 6-2 6-3 in yesterday’s decisive match in Belgrade. World No3 Novak Djokovic had earlier pulled Serbia level with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 win over Gael Monfils. Serbia’s triumph sees them become the 13th nation to lift the Davis Cup since its inception in 1900.
Higgins caps comeback with win
SNOOKER: John Higgins battled to a 9-6 victory over Stephen Lee on his return to competitive action in the first round of the UK Championship in Telford.
The 35-year-old, who was handed a six-month ban in May for bringing the game into disrepute despite being cleared of match-fixing, will face Graeme Dott in the last 16. Ronnie O’Sullivan is locked at 4-4 with Stuart Bingham.
Ainslie takes title on final day
SAILING: Three-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie led his crew to the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia to claim his first ISAF Match Racing World Championship title. The Briton’s late-season charge saw him beat France’s long-time leader Mathieu Richard of the Match Racing Team to the title in a duel that went down to the final day of the season.