Sports in brief

US Open main draw

WHITE PLAINS, New York (AP):

Top-ranked Serena Williams and her sister Venus are among five past champions getting direct entry into the US Open women's main draw.

They are also two of 10 Americans in the provisional field, the most of any country.

The US Tennis Association said yesterday that 100 of the top 102 in the WTA rankings are in the field. Serena Williams has won four of her 16 Grand Slam singles titles at Flushing Meadows, including last year, while Venus Williams won the tournament in 2000 and 2001.

Other past champions in the field are Maria Sharapova, Sam Stosur and Svetlana Kuznetsova, along with two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka and recent Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. The hard-court tournament begins on August 26.

Froome extends Tour lead

L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (AP):

Tour de France leader Chris Froome is so dominant that even when he loses time he extends his lead.

The British rider was hit by a 20-second penalty during yesterday's 18th stage up L'Alpe d'Huez, but it made little difference as he increased his advantage over his main rival Alberto Contador to more than five minutes.

Christophe Riblon became the first Frenchman to win a stage this year, while Froome edged closer to becoming the second British rider to win the Tour, following Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins last year.

FIBA suspends Lebanon

BEIRUT (AP):

The head of Lebanon's Olympic Committee says the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has suspended Lebanon's basketball federation for four years because of political bickering between two clubs.

Jean Hammam says Lebanon will be prevented from taking part in the Asia Championship in the Philippines next month, the National News Agency reported yesterday.

Basketball is one of Lebanon's most popular sports, and top clubs are owned or funded by politicians, including the president's family and Cabinet ministers.

FIBA stripped Lebanon this year of the hosting rights for the Asia Championship because of the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

Brazil hits back

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP):

Brazil's government says it is the right choice for next year's World Cup, reacting to FIFA President Sepp Blatter saying they might have made a mistake picking Brazil as the host.

At their height, more than one million people took to the streets in protests during last month's Confederations Cup - the warm-up for the World Cup - angry at Brazil's poor public services, contrasted with almost $14 billion being spent on the World Cup.

In a statement sent yesterday to the Associated Press, the sports ministry said "the success of the Confederations Cup" showed Brazil was the correct choice.

The statement also called Brazil "a democratic country" in which citizens have a right to freedom of expression.