Ronaldo, Messi net 2 as Madrid draws 2-2 at Barca

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dueled each other to an entertaining stalemate on Sunday, with both superstars scoring twice as Barcelona drew 2-2 with Real Madrid to keep an eight-point lead over its archrival intact. The result ended Barcelona s perfect start to the league campaign as it dropped points for the first time in seven games, but provided yet another memorable chapter in the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, the two biggest names in the sport. Ronaldo put Madrid ahead at Camp Nou stadium in the 23rd from a pass by Karim Benzema to extend his scoring streak in "clasico" matches to six. Then it was Messi s turn, as he took advantage of a defensive slip to level for Barcelona in the 31st, before adding a second goal in the 61st with a perfect free kick from almost 25 yards out. But as Barcelona looked to seal the result, Mesut Oezil unlocked Barcelona s makeshift defensive line to set up Ronaldo to respond five minutes later and split the points. It was, perhaps, a fitting end to the latest head-to-head duel between arguably the two best players in the world, who for the last two seasons have engaged in a two-way scoring race unlike anything the Spanish league has seen before. Messi and Ronaldo are the leading candidates for the world player of the year award, and both showed they more than deserved it with standout performances on Sunday night. Ronaldo added to his pair of hat tricks from the previous week, while Messi recorded his 17th career goal against Madrid, leaving him one short of equaling Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefanos record. The two players lead the Spanish league with eight goals apiece through seven rounds. Atletico Madrid can move even on points with Barcelona if it beats third-place Malaga later. Camp Nou was bedecked with independence flags and the game started with the 90,000-plus fans holding up colored cards to form a mosaic of the red-and-yellow Catalan flag before shouting "Independence" in unison in the latest manifestations of the surge of separatist sentiment in the northwestern region of Spain. But politics aside, the home fans quickly returned their attention to Barcelona s thinned backline, which was without both center backs Carles Puyol (elbow) and Gerard Pique (foot). To compensate, coach Tito Vilanova, in a minor susprise, left new signing Alex Song on the bench, and aligned Adriano alongside Javier Mascherano in the center of his defense. With Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas in midfield, Barcelona quickly made their intentions known as the pair wove together combinations with Messi up front. But Ronaldo made sure Madrid opened the scoring when he took Benzema s pass and used one sharp touch to drive the ball between the near post and goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Ronaldo s goal seemed to stun Barcelona, and Madrid had two golden chances to double its advantage two minutes later when Benzema scuffed a close-range shot, sending it off the bar, and Angel Di Maria punched the rebound wide. Barcelona s injury troubles in defense mounted in the 27th when Dani Alves had to be replaced by Martin Montoya. Just when Barcelona was suffering the most, Messi stepped up to level the score. Madrid defender Pepe failed to clear a high ball from a deflected cross by Pedro Rodriguez, and Messi slipped in to poke the loose ball past goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Messi started the second half with a long gallop from deep in his own half, passing two defenders before sending a cross into the area the defense had to scramble to intercept. Messi then put the hosts in front, winning a free kick before looping it over the wall and beyond Casillas  diving grasp. Ronaldo hit right back when Oezil threaded a pass through the defense for the Portugal forward to slot past Valdes. The draw spoiled Vilanova s bid to become the first coach to lead Barcelona to seven wins in as many games to start the season.

Djokovic wins fourth title of the year

World number two Djokovic dug deep in the first set after an early trade of breaks to win a close tie-breaker and then broke the third-seeded Tsonga twice in the second set. After receiving his trophy, Djokovic delighted the crowd by joining the ball girls and boys in doing the "horse dance" made popular by Billboard chart-topping South Korean rapper Psy in his "Gangnam Style" hit. Sunday s victory gave Djokovic, who also won the China Open in 2009 and 2010, his fourth title of the year. "I think the first set was really even and maybe a couple of points decided the winner there," Djokovic told reporters. "We both had our chances aside from those breaks that we converted. I managed to hold my nerve in the end. "I made that early break in the second (and) I felt much more comfortable on the court." The Australian Open champion will remain in the hunt to take back the world number one ranking from Roger Federer at the end of the year. "That s the target," Djokovic said. "This will definitely help me in that race but it s still quite open. There are still tournaments to come, big ones." Tsonga said he needed to raise his game to beat top players such as Djokovic after his sixth straight loss to the Serbian. "I think it was a good match," Tsonga said. "I missed maybe something in the middle of the first set. I was a break up and I was playing well but then he played solid. It was really difficult to control him. "I just tried to play my game, to be aggressive, but against a player like this, for the moment, my level is not high enough and it s not enough to beat him." Earlier, Mike Bryan overtook Australian Todd Woodbridge s mark of 83 career doubles titles when he, along with brother Bob, beat Carlos Berlocq and Denis Istomin 6-3 6-2 for their third China Open title in four years. It was the seventh title of the year for the American pair. 

West Indies wins World Twenty20 final

Samuels hit six sixes and three fours in his 78 off 56 balls to lift West Indies to 137-6 after it stuttered at 87-5. Samuels then bowled a tidy four-over spell (1-15) as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 101 in 18.4 overs. Offspinner Sunil Narine grabbed 3-9 and captain Darren Sammy picked up 2-6 with Sri Lanka losing its way through the innings to the despair of 35,000 home fans at R Premadasa Stadium. Ajantha Mendis took 4-12 but finished on the wrong side as West Indies won its first major title since clinching the Champions Trophy in 2004.