Second-seeded Petra Kvitova suffered an upset 6-4, 6-3 loss to Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova in the semifinals of the Sydney International on Thursday.

Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, was broken twice in the first set and four times in the second against Pironkova, who finished last season ranked No. 108.

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Spanish club until 2016.

The Spain international had delayed re-signing with Madrid with his contract up in June and reported interest from English club Chelsea and Juventus in Italy.

Lionel Messi marked his return from a near two-month injury absence by coming off the bench to score two late goals as Barcelona beat Getafe 4-0 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

While Cesc Fabregas also scored twice, the atmosphere at the far-from-capacity Camp Nou only picked up with Messi's entrance as a substitute in the 64th minute.

For adventure athletes, it's the new essential: a video of their exploits.

On social media, slogans such as "It ain't bragging" read like a mission statement proclaimed by high-octane sports seekers who strap tiny cameras on to their helmets, bikes and bodies to document their weekend and vacation adventures.

Colorful silk scarves tied daintily around the neck, fishnet mesh vests, big furry mohair coats — and we're talking about menswear, not women's.

The latest men's offerings from British luxury label Burberry Prorsum, showcased Wednesday in London, were themed "A painterly journey." The collection's decadent fabrics and arty prints had a feel of the English dandy and more than a hint of femininity about them.

A U.S. Navy helicopter with five crew members crashed into the ocean off the Virginia coast during a routine training mission Wednesday, killing two crew members and leaving two in the hospital, the U.S. Navy said. Rescuers searched into the night for a fifth sailor.

The two who died were among four crewmembers hoisted from the 42-degree waters by a Navy helicopter and taken to a hospital, the Navy said in a statement. The two surviving sailors were being treated at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. One is listed in serious condition, the other has been upgraded to fair, the Navy said in a news release.

Singer Chris Brown is expected to return to court for a status hearing in a case in which he's accused of hitting a man outside a Washington, D.C., hotel.

The R&B singer was arrested in October after a man said the singer hit him outside the W Hotel. Brown and his bodyguard each face a misdemeanor assault charge.

Former international Thomas Hitzlsperger became the first German footballer to say he's gay.

"I am expressing my sexuality because I want to promote the discussion of homosexuality among professional athletes," Hitzlsperger told Die Zeit in excerpts of an interview on the newspaper's website on Wednesday. The full interview was to be published in its print edition on Thursday.

After more than four decades together, Lily Tomlin's longtime partner and collaborator is now her wife.

Tomlin's publicist Jennifer Allen told People Magazine and other media outlets Tuesday that the 74-year-old actress and comedian married 78-year-old Jane Wagner in a private New Year's Eve ceremony in Los Angeles.

Former U.S. Open champions Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina and Samantha Stosur of Australia rallied to win their second-round matches against tough French opponents Wednesday at Australian Open warm-up tournaments.

Del Potro beat Nicolas Mahut 1-6, 6-3 6-4 at the Sydney International, while Stosur saved two match points and eked out a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7) win over Kristina Mladenovic at the Hobart International.