Rafael Nadal shrugged off talk of reclaiming the world number one spot yesterday as the 11-time grand slam tennis title winner prepared to return after a seven-month injury lay-off. Nadal, now at five in the world after not having played since his shock second-round defeat at Wimbledon in June, will be top seed at the Vina del Mar clay-court event in Chile this week. "After seven months without playing, I am not even thinking of the world number one spot. I am just concentrating on doing my best," he said. "I have to start slowly and with patience." AFP

Wong Ho-chung held off Jeremy Ritcey on the rough trails of Lantau yesterday to win the penultimate race of the North Face King of the Hills series in three hours, and 36 minutes, 13 seconds ahead of Ritcey. It was Wong's second consecutive victory, putting him in the driver's seat to win the series in the final race next month. Eric LaHaie finished third. Denvy Lo just missed breaking the women's course record in a dominant full marathon victory. Lee Quane claimed line honours in the men's half marathon while Claire Price set a new female half-marathon course record. Staff Reporter