The 50-foot yacht Victoire was Monday named the overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart ocean race, after the only boat still at sea that could beat her ran out of time.

Supermaxi Wild Oats XI won line honors in the challenging 628 nautical mile race on Saturday night, storming home ahead of the fleet in a time of two days, six hours, seven minutes and 27 seconds.

Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has vowed to continue his attacking philosophy against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Sherwood tasted victory for the first time as the permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas when Stoke were beaten 3-0 in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

French footballer Nicolas Anelka on Sunday strongly defended a controversial gesture he made during a weekend match, saying "I am neither anti-Semite nor racist", even as British football authorities mulled possible punishment.

The 34-year-old West Bromwich Albion striker and former member of France's national team issued a series of tweets rejecting claims that the gesture he made Saturday was anti-Semitic or a thinly veiled Nazi-like salute, as many have interpreted.

Michael Schumacher, the retired seven-time Formula One champion, was in a critical condition on Monday after suffering severe brain trauma in a skiing accident in the French Alps, doctors said.

The German racing legend, who turns 45 on Friday, had been skiing off-piste with his 14-year-old son in the upmarket Meribel resort when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to keep the critics off their backs by winning at Newcastle on Sunday to end the year as Premier League leaders.

Though the Gunners still haven't won a trophy since 2005, 2013 will nevertheless go down as one of their more successful years in recent memory.

Tim Sherwood will continue his crash-course introduction to management as he attempts to ensure Tottenham avoid another home disappointment when Stoke visit White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Sherwood marked his first game since agreeing an 18-month contract to succeed Andre Villas-Boas as Tottenham boss with a frustrating draw against struggling West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

Anthony Stokes has become the latest Celtic player to talk up the importance of continuing his side's 17-game unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership season.

The Glasgow giants' 1-0 victory over St Johnstone on Thursday sent the Parkhead club 11 points clear at the top of the table from second place Motherwell to leave Neil Lennon's side firmly on course to retain their title.

Six of the top 10 women's players will compete in the Brisbane International beginning Sunday but arguably all eyes will be on the men's draw as Swiss superstar Roger Federer makes his debut in the tournament.

Seventeen-time Grand Slam winner Federer could possibly be playing in Australia for the last time if he decides to call an end to his glittering career at the end of 2014.

Novak Djokovic overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to enter the final of the Mubadala Championship for the third time in three years on Friday, but he won't be facing top-ranked Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic beat Tsonga 7-6 (5), 6-3 in 74 minutes to set up a repeat of last year's final against David Ferrer, who knocked out Spanish compatriot Nadal 6-4, 6-4 with breaks in the last game of each set, in 90 minutes of quality tennis.

Cardiff fired manager Malky Mackay on Friday following a destabilizing power struggle with owner Vincent Tan.

The Scotsman was dismissed only five days after being told by the club he would remain in charge for the "foreseeable future."