Big-serving Jo-Wilfried Tsonga crashed out of the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, beaten by Japan's Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 4-6 but third seed David Ferrer eased through to the third round.

Tsonga, the fourth seed, appeared to be on his way to a straightforward win when he stepped up the intensity of his game to seal the first set tie-break with the loss of just one point.

Portugal, Croatia, the Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic will be seeded for Thursday's draw for the Euro 2012 play-offs, UEFA said on Wednesday.

UEFA selected the four seeds based on their current ranking coefficients for matches that will pit them against the other four survivors -- Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Estonia -- in the draw in Krakow.

Euro 2012 will not be a cakewalk for holders Spain and in-form Germany, German coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday, insisting other nations such as France had to be considered.

"It's not certain this match (a Germany versus Spain showdown) will happen at this tournament -- even if everyone is talking about this duel," Loew told reporters who asked him to compare his side's chances with those of the defending European and world champions.

The euphoria of Argentina's opening World Cup qualifying win over Chile vanished at a stroke on Tuesday as the two-time world champions slumped to an historic 1-0 loss to Venezuela.

Fernando Amorebieta bagged the only goal to stun Alejandro Sabella's side and send them back to square one, just when it seemed Friday's 4-1 thrashing of Chile had exorcised demons of a summer Copa America failure on home soil.

Serena Williams could get a chance of revenge against Samantha Stosur on the Australian's home soil after announcing she will start her 2012 season at the Brisbane International.

Queenslander Stosur, who will also play the tournament, won her first Grand Slam in September by beating a fiery Williams 6-2, 6-3 in the U.S. Open final.

Furious Italy star Antonio Cassano blasted his detractors and vowed Tuesday to retire following the next World Cup.

The AC Milan forward scored a brace in the 3-0 Euro 2012 Group C qualifying victory against Northern Ireland but then dropped a bombshell about his future.

Denmark, France and Russia booked their places at Euro 2012 while Portugal were consigned to the play-offs after a tense conclusion to qualifying on Tuesday.

Greece, surprise champions in 2004, joined that trio as winners of their respective groups with Sweden also sealing their passage as best runners-up in Group E with a shock 3-2 win over already qualified Holland in Stockholm.

Lebanon conceded a late own goal to draw 2-2 with Kuwait in third-round Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday.

Lebanon started well when Hassan Maatouk scored after 15 minutes at the Sports City Stadium only for Kuwait's Musaed Neda to level in the 50th minute.

Andy Roddick refocused after losing his cool Tuesday to win a tight battle against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 and advance to the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

The American 10th seed won a first set tie-break and sealed victory after clinching a topsy-turvy second set that contained five breaks of serve.

In-form Andy Murray said Tuesday he had entered the final weeks of the season in a good "mindset" as he bids to dislodge Roger Federer from the world number three spot.

Britain's Murray has won 21 of his past 22 matches, taking titles in Cincinnati, Bangkok and Tokyo. His only loss during that period came against Spain's Rafael Nadal in the US Open semi-finals.