Ana Ivanovic outlasted Venus Williams to win the clash of the two former world number ones 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a marathon Auckland Classic final on Saturday.

It is the 12th title for the 26-year-old Serb and second seed but her first success since victory in Bali in 2011.

David Moyes heads into Sunday's FA Cup third round clash against Swansea desperate to end Manchester United's 10-year wait for FA Cup glory.

United have been struggling in the Premier League and Wednesday's defeat against Tottenham left them 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal stars he will not accept another lackluster effort in the FA Cup when Tottenham visit the Emirates Stadium in Saturday's marquee third round clash.

Wenger's side crashed out of the FA Cup after an embarrassing home loss to Championship club Blackburn in the fifth round last season.

Jose Mourinho insists he does not want Juan Mata to leave Chelsea and expects the Spain international to remain at Stamford Bridge this month.

Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, appeared to pave the way for Mata's departure after the player's frustrated reaction to being substituted during the New Year's Day win at Southampton.

Manchester United manager David Moyes has admitted that winger Ashley Young is set for a spell on the sidelines with an injury suffered in the New Year's Day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Young hurt his shoulder in a collision with Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris that Moyes insisted should have led to a penalty for his side.

World number one Serena Williams will meet the second ranked Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Brisbane International after she downed Maria Sharapova in an enthralling semifinal Friday.

Williams, the defending champion, beat Sharapova 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) in one hour, 43 minutes on Pat Rafter Arena.

World number one Rafael Nadal showed his trademark grit and determination on Thursday as he reached the semi-finals of the Qatar Open with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

The Spaniard has never previously won an ATP World Tour title in the first week of the season, but he is on course to do so this time after seeing off Gulbis, the only other seeded player left in the draw.

Security forces briefly detained on Thursday two Americans playing for a basketball team in Libya's volatile eastern city of Benghazi, a security source said.

The unidentified men, who play for Benghazi's Al-Hilal, "were picked up while they were practicing near Garyounes University," said one of the school's security officials.

England's frenetic festive period gives way to the romance of the FA Cup this weekend, with Tottenham Hotspur's trip to north London rivals Arsenal the pick of the third-round ties.

Manchester United will once again look to the cups for consolation when they host Swansea City, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City will all be seeking to avoid embarrassment at the hands of lower-league teams.

After a short winter break, Spain's top-flight clubs are back in action this weekend with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid jostling for position at the top of the table and a Basque derby also on the cards.

Reigning champions Barcelona and Diego Simeone's Atletico are level on points at the top and are due to face each other in a mouthwatering fixture in Madrid next weekend.