AFP - Steady rain prevented any play by early afternoon Wednesday at the China Open, with fans desperate to see a win for local favourite Zheng Jie and world number two Jelena Jankovic due on court.

AP - Tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is likely to return for No. 14 Ohio State against Minnesota on Saturday. "It adds to our arsenal," coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday, shortly after announcing that Wells was probable for Saturday's game.

AP - Blues defenseman Erik Johnson, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, tore two ligaments in his right knee during a recent golf outing and is expected to miss the entire season but recover fully.

AFP - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson branded Emanuel Pogatetz's challenge on Rodrigo Possebon "horrendous" after the young Brazilian was left with a suspected broken leg on his debut for the English and European champions.

AP - The Milwaukee Brewers needed a dramatic home run from Prince Fielder and the Mets used a wacky hit from Johan Santana to end up with much-needed wins.

AFP - Embattled ex-National Basketball Association ref Tim Donaghy has began serving a 15-month sentence for his role in a gambling scandal, the American media reported.

AP - Marc Bulger is out as the St. Louis Rams starting quarterback after throwing only two touchdown passes in three games and will be replaced by 38-year-old Trent Green for Sunday's game against Buffalo.

AP - Don't fret, Jets fans. Brett Favre's playing streak appears safe. The New York quarterback rolled his left ankle during the third quarter of the Jets' 48-29 loss at San Diego on Monday night, but coach Eric Mangini wasn't overly concerned about Favre's injury.

AP - The Tampa Bay Rays keep reaching new milestones, and their latest feat brought them closer to perhaps the most significant accomplishment in an amazing regular season.

AP - Maybe Ozzie Guillen was right about Javier Vazquez. Two days after the manager said Vazquez hasn't been a big-game pitcher during his career, the White Sox right-hander lasted just four innings in Chicago's biggest game of the year, a 9-3 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday night that pulled the Twins within 1 1/2 games in the AL Central race.

AP - The World Series champion Boston Red Sox are back in the playoffs, thanks to a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night that clinched at least a wild-card berth.

AFP - Philipp Petzschner sprang the first upset of the Thailand Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of error-prone Russian Marat Safin on Tuesday.

AFP - Newcastle captain Michael Owen has said he and his team-mates were "saddened" to see manager Kevin Keegan quit but warned the Magpies they had to "snap out of the doom".

AP - A late-season meeting between the two top teams in the American League's Central Division highlights tonight's full baseball schedule. Minnesota opens a three-game series against first-place Chicago in the Metrodome. The White Sox have a two and a half game lead over the Twins and a magic number of 5.