Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United's 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City in his first competitive game as manager accurately reflects the enormity of the task ahead of him.

Saturday's 2-1 loss at Old Trafford was the first time in Premier League history that the 20-time champions -- who finished seventh last season -- have lost an opening-day fixture at home.

World number three Roger Federer defeated eighth seeded Andy Murray 6-3, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday.

Five-time Cincinnati champ Federer, who lost in the final last week in Toronto, next faces hard-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic who rolled over Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-0 earlier Friday.

USA Basketball has canceled the team's trip to Senegal because of concerns over the deadly Ebola outbreak, federation chairman Jerry Colangelo said Friday.

The men's team, stocked with NBA stars, had been scheduled to visit Africa for the first time on August 27, with a day of basketball clinics, tours and other functions planned in the capital Dakar.

Maria Sharapova won a re-match of her French Open title victory over Simona Halep, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters.

The reigning Roland Garros holder will play Ana Ivanovic after the Serb ninth seed defeated Ukrainian teenager Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 in less than an hour on Friday night.

Tony Pulis has left his position as Crystal Palace manager, plunging the club into turmoil just a day before it starts the English Premier League season.

Pulis walked away late Thursday, but Palace wouldn't confirm it until Friday, and said it was by "mutual consent."

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic tumbled out of the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, while second-seeded Roger Federer narrowly avoided an upset in the round of 16.

Tommy Robredo beat Djokovic, 7-6 (6), 7-5 before Federer escaped with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils in the night session.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City, joining David Silva and Vincent Kompany in committing his future to the English champions this week.

The 26-year-old Aguero's new deal runs to 2019.

Former Juventus manager Antonio Conte was confirmed as the new coach of Italy after signing a two-year contract on Thursday.

The Italian football federation announced the appointment, three days after new president Carlo Tavecchio was elected. Tavecchio and Conte spoke on the phone early Thursday.

New Argentina coach Gerardo Martino will not make any drastic changes to the style of play that took the team to the World Cup final.

After being officially introduced on Thursday, Martino said he will keep the same philosophy and tactics of former coach Alejandro Sabella, who stood down after the World Cup in Brazil.

German World Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Netherlands winger Arjen Robben and Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo are the three contenders to win UEFA's Best Player in Europe Award for 2013/14.

The winner, to be announced on August 28 in Monaco, where the draw for the group stage of the Champions League is taking place, will succeed last year's victor Franck Ribery.