THE SWIMMING world championships ended with a jolt yesterday in Shanghai when emerging Chinese star Sun Yang broke the oldest world record in the sport - Australian great Grant Hackett's 10-year-old mark in the 1,500 meters.
Sun was more than 2 seconds off Hackett's pace with four laps to go in the marathon in the pool, but ignored fatigue and accelerated on the final two laps to finish in 14 minutes, 34.14 seconds, improving on Hackett's mark of 14:34.56 set at the 2001 worlds.
Fifth-place finisher Chad La Tourette of the United States said he was "just happy to be a part of it."
America's Ryan Lochte, who beat Michael Phelps in their two head-to-head matchups, won five gold medals and a bronze. Phelps won seven medals, including four gold. The United States won 29 medals, 16 gold, improving upon its showing 2 years ago in Rome.
Aleksandr Dolgopolov won his first ATP title, defeating home favorite Marin Cilic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the Croatia Open final.
Marcel Granollers won the Swiss Open for his first title in 3 years, beating Fernando Verdasco, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, on clay in an all-Spanish final in Gstaad.
Second-seeded Nadia Petrova beat top-seeded Shahar Peer, 7-5, 6-2, to win the inaugural Citi Open in College Park, Md.
Ernests Gulbis won the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, rallying past top-seeded Mardy Fish, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, for his second career ATP tour title.
