TENNIS: Heather Watson crashed out of the China Open after just one hour and five minutes yesterday.

Sixteenth-seed Venus Williams won 6-3 6-1 against the British number one, who has now lost five successive main-draw matches since getting through two rounds in Montreal in August.

In a tournament played at the tennis centre built for the 2008 Olympics, Watson struggled particularly on her second serve, which Williams found to her liking and dominated.

It was the first time in her career that Watson had faced 34-year-old Williams, the five-time Wimbledon champion who has climbed to 18th in the world rankings this year.

Williams is aiming to win her second title of 2014, having triumphed in Dubai in February.

SWIMMING: Japan expelled Naoya Tomita from the Asian Games at the weekend after he allegedly stole a camera.

The 2010 200m breaststroke champion was caught on tape putting a South Korean journalist’s camera in his bag.

Team bosses said Tomita could face criminal charges over the theft. He’s been told to pay his own airfare home but has been barred from leaving the country by South Korean police.

TENNIS: Andy Murray spectacularly ended his title drought yesterday with a win at the Shenzhen Open.

The British number one staved off five match points in the second set tiebreaker, eventually claiming a 5-7 7-6 6-1 victory.

It was his first win since mutually uncoupling with Ivan Lendl in March and should ease the scrutiny placed on his new coach Amelie Mauresmo.

CYCLING: Liam Philipps became the first British man to win the UCI BMX supercross series world title yesterday.

The 25-year-old went into the final round in the lead, but crashed out in the quarter-finals.

Luckily for Phillips, nearest rival Anthony Dean also crashed in the semis, clearing the way for British victory.

BOXING: Liverpudlian Paul Smith said he felt “robbed” on Saturday night after losing out on his WBO super-middleweight title bid on a “disgusting” points decision.

Germany’s Arthur Abraham won 117-111 according to two judges and 119-109 by the third’s count.

ATHLETICS: Dennis Kimetto set a new men’s marathon world record yesterday, running two hours, two minute and 57 seconds in Berlin.

The Kenyan shaved 26 seconds off the record set on the same course last year by compatriot Wilson Kipsang.