Grand Slam record-holder Roger Federer believes that his capacity for playing through pain is one of the reasons why he can challenge for the top titles again in 2012.

Speaking the day before starting the defense of his Qatar Open title, Federer cut an optimistic figure as he contemplated life on an increasingly taxing tour well into his 31st year.

Miami and Oklahoma City, the last two undefeated teams in the NBA this season, both lost for the first time on Monday as the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks celebrated triumphs.

The Mavericks defeated the visiting Thunder 100-87, improving to 2-4 and avenging a loss at Oklahoma City last week, while the hosts Heat fell 100-92 to the Hawks despite a game-high 28 points from Miami's LeBron James.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been fined the equivalent of a week's wages by the Premier League club for a night out over the Christmas weekend, according to press reports here on Monday.

Rooney was dropped by United ahead of their shock 3-2 home loss to Blackburn last Saturday, officially because of fitness concerns.

Rafa Nadal admits he is having to take risks in order to achieve the level required to win back the world number one ranking.

The French Open champion is gambling with a heavier headed racket here in the first tournament of the 2012 tour, even though he has had little more than a week to get used to the change.

One night after missing an uncontested layup to equalize in the last seconds, Italy's Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Lakers 99-90 on Sunday.

Ty Lawson added 17 points and 10 assists while Brazil's Nene contributed 13 for the Nuggets, who improved to 3-2 while the Lakers fell to 3-3.

NBA superstar LeBron James is engaged to marry long-time girlfriend Savannah Brinson, who accepted his proposal at a lavish New Year's Eve dinner party in Miami.

Brinson was the high school sweetheart of the Miami Heat playmaker and is the mother of James' two sons, seven-year-old LeBron Jnr and four-year-old Bryce.

Real Madrid and Barcelona can set the stage for another pair of "clasicos" by beating Malaga and Osasuna when Spanish football returns from its annual winter break this week with the Copa del Rey's round of 16.

Madrid and Barcelona both play their first leg at home, and big victories there would all but end their opponents' hopes of pulling off an upset in the return match.

Serena Williams says she has fallen out of love with tennis despite recording an impressive comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday.

Playing her first match since losing the U.S. Open final to Samantha Stosur in August, Williams showed why she is the most feared player in the draw as she outgunned Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.

Kim Clijsters began preparation for the defense of her Australian Open singles title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Romania's Simona Halep in the first round of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

Clijsters beat China's Li Na in the final at last year's opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park. This year's Australian Open begins Jan. 16.

Novak Djokovic showed he remains the player to beat in 2012, routing David Ferrer 6-2, 6-1 Saturday to win the World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament.

The top-ranked Djokovic also beat Gael Monfils and then routed Roger Federer en route to his first Abu Dhabi title.