Today marks the anniversary of the death of the author of Pride and Prejudice. Robert Hume explains how her ‘Irish friend’ put fame and fortune above a chance to marry a penniless writer.

American teenager Melanie Oudin continued her giant-killing run at the US Open when she knocked out a third Russian seed in succession Nadia Petrova at Flushing Meadows.

Roger Federer made light work of 14th seed Tommy Robredo on American Labour Day as the world number one advanced on the US Open quarter-finals.

Novak Djokovic kept alive his hopes of ending Roger Federer’s dominance at the US Open in New York as the third-seeded Serb edged past Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

In the only singles match to be completed before rain wiped out play for the day, Jelena Jankovic pounced on fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva’s weak serve in a 6-2 6-1 rout of the Russian that vaulted her into the semi-finals of the US Open.