Nearly eighteen years after the death of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna in a high-speed crash, the Senna name is returning to Williams Formula One team.

Senna's 28-year-old nephew, Bruno, signed a one-year deal to partner Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado and give the British team an all-South American lineup going into the March 18 opener in Australia.

Jose Mourinho defended Cristiano Ronaldo's form on the eve of Real Madrid's Copa del Rey quarterfinal against Barcelona, describing his performance against Mallorca as his best since the coach's arrival at the club.

Ronaldo has come under criticism after squandering chances in a 3-1 loss to Barcelona last month, but Mourinho said the forward's work ethic in the second half of Saturday's 2-1 win was better than all of his Madrid accomplishments before.

French international defender Eric Abidal has signed a new deal with Barcelona, the Catalan club said on Monday after some protracted negotiations.

European champions Barca said they had reached agreement with 32-year-old Abidal for an extra year meaning his new deal runs through to June 2013.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur crashed out in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday but second seed Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova both eased through.

In the first major shock at the season-opening grand slam, local favorite Stosur delivered an error-strewn performance in the Rod Laver Arena to lose 6-7 (2/7), 3-6 to Romania's Sorana Cirstea.

Derek Fisher spent the last year wearing more suits than sweats while negotiating the union's labor deal, and he realizes his peak playing days are probably past.

But Kobe Bryant borrows a term from former coach Phil Jackson to describe anybody who doubts what the Lakers' veteran point guard can do in the clutch.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic and the player he beat in last year's final, Andy Murray, advanced in contrasting styles at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

World number one Djokovic ripped through Italian journeyman Paolo Lorenzi for the loss of just two games, while fourth seed Murray needed over three hours and four sets to douse young American Ryan Harrison.

Ghana midfield dynamo Michael Essien ended his latest spell on the sidelines with a late appearance as Chelsea pipped Sunderland to remain in the English Premier League top four at the weekend.

However, his recovery came too late to win him a place in the Black Stars squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off this weekend in Equatorial Guinea with Gabon also hosting matches.

Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri refused to discuss the Serie A title after his side earnt a crucial 1-0 win away to champions AC Milan to squeeze the top of the table.

Inter's win, coupled with Juventus's 1-1 draw at home to Cagliari, means the top five are now separated by just six points.

Australian teen Bernard Tomic stole the show on day one of the Australian Open Monday with an epic five-set upset of Spain's Fernando Verdasco, as Juan Martin del Potro safely launched his campaign.

Tomic, his country's top-ranked men's player at 38, dug deep as he came from two sets down to oust the experienced 22nd seed in four hour-plus thriller on a sweltering Rod Laver Arena.

Rafael Nadal has a new injury issue — a tendon problem in his right knee which nearly forced him to forfeit a first-round match at the Australian Open on Monday that he ultimately easily won.

Bothered by a left shoulder injury late last year, Nadal had his right knee heavily taped during his 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win over Alex Kuznetsov. The injury occurred in the most innocent of ways — sitting in a chair in his hotel room when he felt "a crack" in his knee and some "unbelievable pain."