Former World No 1 Maria Sharapova suffered a setback on her return from injury when she lost 6-4, 6-3 to Lucie Safarova in the first round of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Justine Henin reached her third final in fourth months since her comeback when she brushed aside Shahar Peer in her semi-final at Stuttgart's indoor clay tournament on Saturday.
Bayern Munich can either move closer to three titles or miss out on them completely in the coming "weeks of truth", their coach Louis van Gaal said on Monday.
Bayern Munich will be without experienced Franck Ribery when they meet Manchester City in their Champions League Group E opener on Wednesday with fellow winger Arjen Robben also doubtful, coach Pep Guardiola said.
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez, the Bundesliga's most expensive ever purchase, is already feeling insecure at his new club.
Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann ended his illustrious 22-year career on Saturday with VfB Stuttgart's final league match of the season, a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim.
Justine Henin was inspired to return to tennis by Roger Federer and the decision was rewarded on Sunday when she beat Australia's Samantha Stosur in the final of the Stuttgart indoor tournament for her first title since her comeback. It was the Belgian's first tournament on clay, her favoured surface on which she has won four French Open titles, since she ended her 19-month self-imposed exile at the start of the year.
World champions France had eight players, one less than former holders Spain, in international players' association FIFPro's 55-name shortlist for its World XI of 2018 award.
European auto giant Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft on Tuesday said it has bought 49.9 per cent stake in luxury car maker Porsche AG for 3.9 billion euros ($5.8 billion).
With Federer certain, young Austrian Dominic Thiem is third in the ATP race to London, followed by Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev, Djokovic, world number one Andy Murray, and Belgium's David Goffin.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova will miss the grasscourt season, including this month's Wimbledon qualifying tournament, after failing to recover from a left-thigh injury she suffered during last month's Italian Open.
AC Milan were handed a comfortable UEFA Cup assignment on Tuesday after being drawn with Heerenveen, Braga, Portsmouth and Wolfsburg in the group stage.
Defending champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain was knocked out of the French Open when she lost 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the fourth round against France's Kristina Mladenovic on Sunday.
Leaders Bayer Leverkusen set a Bundesliga record for the longest unbeaten start to the season when they drew 0-0 at home to Cologne on Saturday.
Mercedes Benz just about managed to keep its neck ahead last year, with a lead of 537 units over BMW, according to data available with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. However, handicapped by inadequate vehicle kits for the first nine months of this year for one of its models, a senior company executive stated it is unlikely Mercedes Benz will be able to surpass its own total posted last year. Mercedes Benz India sold 3,445 units last calendar year, while BMW s
Britain's Paul di Resta is set to become a grand prix regular as Force India's reserve driver while compatriot Gary Paffett will be McLaren's main tester, according to team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
'No words, games, or actions will ever stop me from reaching my own dreams. And I have many'
Maria Sharapova can rise above the furore surrounding her return from a 15-month doping ban if she accepts the decision to deny her a wild card entry to the French Open without rancour, former world number three Pam Shriver has said.
Arsenal eased into the group stages of the Champions League on Wednesday by outclassing Celtic 3-1 to enter Thursday's draw where they will be joined by Fiorentina, VfB Stuttgart, Olympiakos and APOEL Nicosia.
The level of media coverage surrounding Maria Sharapova's return to tennis from a doping suspension has been a key factor in the five-time Grand Slam winner being offered wildcards to events, men's world number one Andy Murray has said.
Penpix of the top women's contenders at the 2017 French Open:
The Russian can qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon by reaching the semi-final of either the Madrid or Rome tournaments.
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza says she would do all it takes to maintain her world number one ranking.
Hamburg SV and Bayer Leverkusen drew 0-0 on Saturday to remain undefeated at the top of the Bundesliga. Schalke 04, who won 2-1 at struggling VfB Stuttgart, stayed on their heels on 19 points while Bayern Munich notched their first victory in three games with a 2-1 triumph at Freiburg that moved them up to fifth on 15 points.
Schalke 04 won 2-1 at struggling VfB Stuttgart to stay on the heels of the Bundesliga leaders on Saturday while Bayern Munich notched their first victory in three games with a 2-1 triumph at Freiburg.
Extends contract up to 2020
World number nine Svetlana Kuznetsova marched into the Stuttgart Grand Prix final on Saturday, crushing fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-2 in just 67 minutes.
Priced at about Rs 31,000 (450 euros), the N97 Mini features a tilting 3.2" touch display, QWERTY keyboard and fully customisable homescreen.
Bayern, who won the Champions League in 2013, have yet to hit top form this season, with many players tired after the World Cup and others, including Thiago Alcantara, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Rafinha, out injured.
Maria Sharapova's love for tennis has only grown stronger during her 15-month doping ban, the five-times Grand Slam winner has said as she continues her comeback from the suspension.
World number one Dinara Safina gained swift revenge over Svetlana Kuznetsova on Saturday, thrashing her fellow Russian 6-3, 6-2 to win the Italian Open in their second consecutive final meeting.
Italian Flavia Pennetta caused an upset by beating third seed Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Stuttgart Grand Prix quarter-finals on Friday.
Twice UEFA Cup winners Sevilla failed to reach the knockout phase after a 1-0 defeat at Sampdoria eliminated the Spaniards. Sampdoria's victory sent them through from Group C along with VfB Stuttgart, who thumped Standard Liege 3-0 to progress to Friday's last 32 draw. Paris St Germain, twice winners Tottenham Hotspur, NEC Nijmegen and Olympiakos Piraeus also sealed places in the first knockout round.
The Indo-Czech pair was upset by local duo of Andreas Beck and Sebastian Rieschick 4-6, 0-6 in second round of the Mercedes Cup
Keys will next face 10th seed Sloane Stephens, nine months after her compatriot beat her in the US Open final
Former world number one Maria Sharapova has been invited to play at the Madrid Open in May, which takes place less than two weeks after her 15-month doping ban expires, tournament organisers said on Wednesday.
Udinese inflicted more misery on hapless Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-0 UEFA Cup group stage victory.
Troubled Liverpool conceded a last-gasp goal in a 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyon on Wednesday, leaving them in danger of an early UEFA Champions League exit, while Inter Milan were on the right end of some late drama. European champions Barcelona, beaten 2-1 at home by Rubin Kazan two weeks ago, were held to a goalless draw away to the Russians in freezing conditions.
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic celebrated her imminent return to the top of the world rankings with an easy 6-4, 6-3 victory over Nadia Petrova in the Stuttgart Grand Prix final on Sunday.
Holders Barcelona suffered a stunning 2-1 home defeat by Russia's Rubin Kazan while Liverpool lost by the same score to Olympique Lyon at Anfield on a night of high drama and late goals in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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