Maria Sharapova easily beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-0, 6-1 Tuesday in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. The former top-ranked Russian, who has been struggling since returning from a 10-month injury layoff, will next face Alisa Kleybanova, who defeated sixth-seeded ...

Sumo veteran Kaio said Tuesday that harsh treatment of wrestlers in training is an integral part of Japan’s ancient sport and is partially responsible for his own success. Japan’s ancient sport has been rocked by several recent scandals, including one in which a trainer ...

World champion Evan Lysacek won the men’s free skate on Friday as the United States remained in the lead at the figure skating World Team Trophy. Lysacek, who was second after Thursday’s short program, received 154.86 points in the free skate to finish with ...

The Seibu Prince Rabbits, an ice hockey team with a 37-year history, is the latest casualty of Japan’s economic crises. The Rabbits were disbanded Tuesday after the club’s parent company, Prince Hotels Inc., was unable to find a new owner. Since announcing its withdrawal ...

FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised England as a strong candidate to host the 2018 World Cup, adding he expects a competitive bidding process. “England is a strong candidate, because it is a strong country in football,” Blatter said after FIFA’s executive committee wrapped up ...

Nobunari Oda capped a successful return to competitive skating on Sunday with a victory at the NHK Trophy. Oda, who was in first place after Friday’s short program, overcame several mistakes in his free skate to finish with 236.18 points, ahead of American Johnny ...

Tomas Berdych defeated Andy Roddick 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) in the semifinals of the Japan Open on Saturday, ending the second-seeded American’s bid for a second straight title in Asia. The ninth-seeded Berdych will face fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in ...

Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori beat American Robert Kendrick in three sets Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Japan Open. Nishikori downed Kendrick 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 and will meet Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round Wednesday. Defending champion David ...

Italy’s Valentino Rossi stormed to victory at the Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday, claiming his sixth MotoGP world championship. Rossi, riding a Yamaha, pulled ahead of defending MotoGP champion Casey Stoner of Australia with 11 laps to go and won the race with ...

Hideo Nomo was a trailblazer and an inspiration to Japanese players who dreamed of playing in the U.S. major leagues, former teammates and opponents said a day after the pitcher retired. Nomo announced his retirement on Thursday, bringing an end to an illustrious Major ...