Serena Williams, brimming with confidence and self-belief with every match she plays, stormed into the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday with a 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Ana Ivanovic.
World No 7 Tomas Berdych will lead the Czech Davis Cup team in their semi-final clash against Argentina later this month.
It was Messi's 56th converted penalty in La Liga and saw him draw level with Hugo Sanchez as the league's second-top penalty taker, behind record holder Cristiano Ronaldo on 61.
The gap between the leading four, which also contains Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray, and the chasing pack was again evident as Djokovic beat Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-2 before Federer saw off fellow-Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6, 6-3.
World number two Novak Djokovic has a shot at revenge against Juan Martin del Potro, who ended the Serb's medal hopes at the London Olympics, when the two clash in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals on Saturday.
If there was any doubt that Rafa Nadal will reach the French Open quarter-finals on Monday, a simple look at the numbers should silence the sceptics.
New Zealand clinched the title of 21st Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in their maiden final appearance, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the summit clash.
World number two Novak Djokovic expects Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray to lift their game at the French Open despite failing to make an impact so far in the clay court season.
Wimbledon is ready to kick into gear after a stop-start first week, with seven Grand Slam champions in action on 'Manic Monday' when all the men's and women's fourth-round matches are contested.
Second-placed VfL Wolfsburg breathed new life into the Bundesliga title race with a 4-1 win over leaders Bayern Munich, who lost their unbeaten record in a dramatic restart to the league after the winter break on Friday.
A bright India provided hope for a brighter future but their dream ended in a heartbreak following a 1-2 defeat to Colombia in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has admitted to lying to fellow France international Mathieu Valbuena over a sex video at the centre of an alleged blackmailing attempt, Le Parisien reported on Friday.
Here are images from a hot, hot day from Melbourne Park...
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Xherdan Shaqiri netted a hat-trick as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 in Manaus on Wednesday to secure the runners-up spot in World Cup Group E and a last 16 clash against Argentina.
Atletico de Kolkata were guilty of missing too many chances and were held to a goalless draw against FC Pune City in their concluding group encounter of Hero Indian Super League at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata, on Friday.
Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a lingering wrist injury that he was concerned could cause him further damage if he played the season opening Grand Slam.
Indian tennis stars Leander Paes, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna made a rampaging start to their campaign at US Open as they advanced to the second round of the US Open along with their respective partners after notching up contrasting wins at Flushing Meadows, in New York.
Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro stepped up his comeback from another wrist surgery by toppling top seed Fabio Fognini at the Sydney International on Wednesday.
Marin Cilic overcame Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2 after a titanic tussle in the opening singles rubber to give hosts Croatia a 1-0 lead over Argentina in the Davis Cup final on Friday.
Andre Greipel silenced the doubters with his second back-to-back bunch sprint victory in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race on Thursday.
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has admitted he is feeling extremely gutted after his collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton at Spanish Grand Prix, which ended his seven-race winning streak.
Imperious Spain took their place among the game's greats in vintage style by thrashing Italy 4-0 to become the first team to win successive European Championship titles on Sunday.
Images from the opening day of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, on Monday.
For a set not even the granite defence of Novak Djokovic could withstand the irresistible brute force of Juan Martin del Potro on Sunday but the Serb then rode out the storm to win the opening semi-final at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Juan Martin del Potro beat Roger Federer 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday.
Barcelona were hit with more bad news on Sunday when centre back Gerard Pique was ruled out for about two weeks with a calf problem.
Rafael Nadal gave Russian teenager Andrey Rublev a tennis lesson on Wednesday, racing into the semi-finals of the US Open with a ruthless 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win that cleared the path for a possible showdown with rival Roger Federer.
Agustin Mazzilli and Gonzalo Peillat scored a brace each to help Olympic champions Argentina eke out a 4-3 win over Spain, while New Zealand scrapped past France 2-1.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal appeared to need the sword of Damocles hanging over his head before he resorted to adopting the traditional fluid attacking style that served the team well in an impressive 3-0 win over Stoke City.
German 11th seed Angelique Kerber became the highest-ranked player to reach the women's quarter-finals after she outclassed Switzerland's Belinda Bencic 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) at Wimbledon on Monday.
After an even first 45 minutes, strikes from Pablo Sarabia and Wissam Ben Yedder stunned the Catalans and left them needing a second-leg comeback at the Nou Camp for the second consecutive round in the competition.
Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal was lucky to escape without a red card after he threw a punch at Atletico Madrid forward Mario Mandzukic in Tuesday's 0-0 Champions League quarter-final, first leg draw at the Calderon.
Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani combined to spark Napoli's 3-1 comeback win over Chelsea in their Champions League last 16 first-leg match on Tuesday that deepened the gloom hanging over the London club.
Barcelona star forward Lionel Messi has revealed that his former team-mate Ronaldinho had promised him to give his No 10 jersey months before the Brazilian's departure from the club in 2008.
Novak Djokovic sat out last year's U.S. Open to rest an elbow injury that eventually required surgery, but that pain and frustration felt like a distant memory on Friday when the Serb completed his march to the New York final with authority.
Andy Murray recovered from an early setback to beat Austrian Dominic Thiem.
Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal and twice winner Novak Djokovic are one victory away from renewing their rivalry in the final with both expected to get through their semis on Friday.
Images from the match played between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
Leander Paes and his Italian partner Daniele Bracciali stormed into the semi-finals of the Thailand Open, in Bangkok, defeating the Colombian pair of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Thursday.
