Twenty years on from his sensational debut as a virtually unknown Formula One driver Michael Schumacher has this week insisted that he will race with Mercedes in 2012 despite widespread rumors that he is set to quit.

The seven-times drivers world champion, now 42, has struggled through a disappointing season so far, but broke off from the final days of his summer holidays to stress that he has no plans to walk away - and no knowledge that he is about to be released.

McLaren team chief Martin Whitmarsh sounded the first fighting notes ahead of Formula One's resumption of racing hostilities next week by claiming both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are still in with a chance of winning the drivers' world title.

As the F1 teams began to return to work after their summer holidays, an upbeat Whitmarsh said the task facing his men was tough, "but not impossible."

Rafael Nadal wanted to play a lot of tennis at the Western & Southern Open, though maybe not all in one day.

Nadal survived a three-set, three-tiebreaker match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Thursday, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9) victory that kept him on court for 3 hours, 38 minutes. Then, he played a doubles match that went an hour and 10 minutes, followed by interviews.

Spain reacted with outrage Thursday after Barcelona's 3-2 Super Cup win over Real Madrid descended into violent scenes with defeated coach Jose Mourinho jabbing a rival in the eye.

Television images and photos on the front pages Thursday showed Mourinho poking his finger into the eye of Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola's assistant Tito Vilanova as players brawled on the field.

A Lionel Messi double inspired European and Spanish champions Barcelona to a 3-2 victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid in their Super Cup second leg clash in Barcelona on Wednesday and a 5-4 aggregate win.

The bad feeling between the two sides boiled over at the end of the match which saw three players sent off - Marcelo and Mesut Ozil of Real Madrid and Barcelona's David Villa.

Veteran striker Raul will remain with German league side Schalke 04 after the 34-year-old rejected an official offer to join Blackburn Rovers, Royal Blues' manager Horst Heldt confirmed Tuesday.

Schalke received a written bid for Raul from the Premier League side on Monday, but the club held a meeting with the Spain veteran's agent on Tuesday who confirmed his client wants to stay with the German league club.

Roger Federer, playing in his final event before the U.S. Open, surged into the third round of the ATP and WTA hard court tournament Tuesday by beating Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets.

The Swiss star, who turned 30 earlier this month, cruised past del Potro 6-3, 7-5 for his first win over the Argentine in their last three matches which included the 2009 U.S. Open final. Federer had won their first six meetings, dating back to Wimbledon in 2007.

London's Olympic Park is undergoing its first real sporting test, hosting its debut tournament as six international sides give the new Basketball Arena a run out ahead of the 2012 Games.

London is staging a series of test events this summer to give their venues a practice go and allow organizers to iron out any problems before the Games begin next July.

Star AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic could miss the start of the new Serie A season with a twisted ankle, his club AC Milan revealed.

The big Swede suffered the injury in training and Milan say he will need two weeks to recover, meaning he should miss their first match.

Arsene Wenger could be in trouble with UEFA after repeatedly communicating with the Arsenal bench during his side's 1-0 win over Udinese in the Champions League play-off first leg.

Wenger was forced to watch the match from the Emirates Stadium stands as the Gunners boss served a touchline ban for abusing Swiss referee Massimo Busacca in the aftermath of last season's stormy Champions League defeat at Barcelona.