Andy Murray swept into the semi-finals of the ATP Tour Finals as the world number three defeated France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) at London's O2 Arena on Friday.

After Novak Djokovic's win over Tomas Berdych earlier on Friday, Murray knew he only needed to take one set off seventh seeded Tsonga to guarantee his third appearance in the last four of the season-ending event.

Mike Brown was fired as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after the team started the NBA season by losing four of its first five games, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday.

The firing came only hours ahead of the Lakers playing host to Golden State, a game in which the squad will be guided by assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff on an interim basis. A search for a new head coach is already under way.

World champion Sebastien Loeb, lying second overnight, picked up two of Saturday's opening three special stages to take command of the season-closing Rally of Spain.

The Citroen ace heads the standings by 18.9sec from Ford's Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala, with another Ford competitor, Norway's Mads Ostberg, who had led Loeb overnight, 47.9s away in third.

South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai beat Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia 3-0 to claim their first AFC Champions League title on Saturday.

Kwak Tae-Hwi struck in the first half, and Brazilian striker Rafinha and Kim Seung-Yong scored after the break in a comprehensive win for the hosts at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.

The American University of Beirut is coming out in full force this year at the 2012 Beirut International Marathon, participating with 600 students and staff, under the slogan “Run AUB Run” to promote well-being for the individual and the community, a press release said Friday.

For AUB, marathon day will be more than a race or a healthy way to spend a Sunday morning. It will also be an opportunity for community members and charitable donors to support two worthwhile causes, while also joining in a fun activity.

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant put in a strong fourth-quarter performance to guide the Thunder to a 97-91 victory at the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Durant scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, sealing the win with an off-balance jumper off one foot with 35.1 seconds to play.

The annual United Nations charity match featuring former World Cup winners Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane will be played in Brazil.

The 2013 "Match Against Poverty" will take place in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre on December19 at Gremio's brand new arena.

Jack Wilshere is back in the England squad for the friendly next week against Sweden after being out of contention since last year because of various injuries.

The Arsenal midfielder was called up Thursday despite club manager Arsene Wenger urging caution about how the midfielder is used because he has only just returned to action.

On an indoor court, Roger Federer can win even when he's not playing his best.

He proved that again Thursday at the ATP finals, beating David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6 (5) and advancing to the semifinals with a group match to spare despite struggling to land his serve and scrambling to stay in the long rallies.

Inter Milan and Lyon were among the six teams to qualify for the Europa League's knockout stage on Thursday but defending champion Atletico Madrid was made to wait after its 16-match winning run in European competition was ended.

Liverpool's qualification hopes took a dive by losing 1-0 at wealthy Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in Group A while Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani produced the best individual performance of the round, scoring all four of Napoli's goals in a 4-2 win over Dnipro to revive the Italian team's challenge in Group F.