Shen-Zhao capture pairs

The Chinese husband and wife team added their first Skate America title to their victory at Cup of China two weeks ago - a superb start to a comeback from two years away from the sport. They hope to cap the season with a triumph at the Vancouver Olympics next year.

Ukraine's Tatiana Volosozahar and Stanislav Morozov were a distant second.

The pairs free skate competition was marred by a scary fall by Canadian Meagan Duhamel, which forced her and Craig Buntin to withdraw.

Duhamel fell hard to the ice and reinjured her right leg. She landed first on her shoulder, but althoug she banged her head Duhamel said it was her leg, in which she has battled stress fractures, that was hurt and not her head.