From Kim Yu-na's record-setting performance to Evan Lysacek's powerful free skate, it was a great night for world champions at Skate America in Lake Placid, N.Y.

A couple of hours after South Korea's Yu-na did about everything but carve 007 into the ice with her world-record 76.28 points in the women's short program, American Lysacek won his first crown at this event. He wasn't nearly as brilliant as in his short program the previous night, but he didn't need to be in besting Canada's Shawn Sawyer. Lysacek hit seven triple jumps and finished with some fancy footwork and an impressive combination spin that got the crowd onto its feet.

His 237.72 points were nearly 29 better than Sawyer.

"This was a very big step forward since Cup of China," Lysacek said, referring to finishing second to Japan's Nobunari Oda in Beijing two weeks ago. "I had no technical deductions. I'll work on my program at home and my concentration and strength for the Grand Prix final.

His victory qualified him for that competition next month in Tokyo -- and put Lysacek in a strong mindset for January's nationals and the Vancouver Olympics in February.

"I almost never think about results," he said, "but I really wanted to win this competition. "

Kim will be a heavy favorite at the Olympics, particularly if she keeps outdoing herself. She is one straight-shooting Bond girl.

Kim capped a mesmerizing performance to a James Bond medley with a marksman's pose that would make Sean Connery or Daniel Craig proud.

"I'm trying to do a clean program every time," Kim said after blowing away the field, grabbing a 17.48-point lead over American Rachael Flatt heading into the free skate today. "It's not about the score. I don't want to think about the score."

Two-time Olympic bronze medalists Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo took a big step toward Vancouver in their comeback when the Chinese pair won.

Earlier, 2006 Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto stretched their lead in ice dance.

They did it well enough to increase their lead after winning compulsories. The 2006 Olympic silver medalists and runners-up at the world championships last year head into the free dance today with nearly a 14-point lead over Russians Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski, who struggled in the original dance.

Belbin and Agosto are seeking their fifth Skate America title.

Novak Djokovic reached the final of the Paris Masters for the first time by overpowering Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 6-3.

Djokovic, 22, of Serbia, will face Gael Monfils of France today. Monfils advanced to the final with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Radek Stepanek.

Marek Hamsik converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute, and Slovakia defeated the United States, 1-0, in a World Cup warm-up in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Americans, who have qualified for their sixth consecutive World Cup, close their '09 schedule Wednesday at Denmark.

American Michael Phelps finished fifth in the 200-meter butterfly final at a short-course World Cup meet in Berlin. Nikolay Skvortsov of Russia, who had the fastest qualifying time, won the final in 1:50.58. Phelps was the eighth and last qualifier in the heats.

Maria Riesch of Germany won the opening women's World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland, edging Lindsey Vonn of the United States by 0.08 seconds. Riesch, the defending world slalom champion, finished with a two-run time of 1:48.71. Tanja Poutiainen of Finland was 1.16 behind in third place.

Lee Jung-Su of South Korea beat U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno in the men's 1,500-meter short track World Cup race in Marquette, Mich. Lee finished in 2:13.595 and Ohno crossed in 2:13.731. Charles Hamelin of Canada was third.

Katherine Reutter set an American record of 43.648 seconds in a quarterfinal heat of the women's 500 and then placed fourth in a final won by Wang Meng of China in 42.

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