Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska triumphed in the final of the Shenzhen Open, beating American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-2 to claim her 18th WTA title.

By reaching the Shenzhen final Radwanska ensured that she will unseat Russian Maria Sharapova as world number four when the new WTA rankings are announced on Monday.

Novak Djokovic will begin the defense of his Australian Open title from January 18 with the ominous warning to flagging rivals that he is in the form of his life.

Speaking after his destruction of Rafael Nadal at the Qatar Open on Saturday -- with both players saying afterwards that the Serb played perfect tennis -- the world number one said he "expected" to play at the same level at this year's first Grand Slam.

Zinedine Zidane has urged Gareth Bale to maintain his sensational form after the Welshman got the Frenchman's reign as Real Madrid boss off to a flying start with a hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday.

Madrid moved to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona on Zidane's bow in senior management at the Santiago Bernabeu as Bale registered his second hat-trick in four games in between Karim Benzema's double.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is not concerned that a hectic period of fixtures could derail his team's bid for glory on multiple fronts this season.

The Frenchman rested a number of players, including Mesut Ozil, for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie with Sunderland, which Arsenal won 3-1 courtesy of goals from Joel Campbell, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted his side needs to improve and cope with the pressure of performing at Old Trafford after they scraped to a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in the FA Cup.

Van Gaal's side looked as though they would be taken to a third-round replay by their third division opponents before Wayne Rooney scored the winning goal with an injury-time penalty.

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao will not return to parent club Monaco in the winter transfer window with the French Ligue 1 side telling him to stay at Chelsea to nurse his thigh injury.

Falcao, 29, has been on loan at the English champions but has not played since October 31. He had been expected to go back to Monaco in January.

Francesco Totti's return from injury failed to spark Roma as the Serie A title hopefuls' winless run continued Saturday after being held 1-1 at home by AC Milan.

Totti returned following a near four-month injury layoff when he replaced Nigerian starlet Umar Sadiq 25 minutes into the second half.

French legend Zinedine Zidane takes charge of Real Madrid for the first time when Deportivo la Coruna visit what is expected to be a sold out Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

The Madrid fans turned out in their thousands to welcome Zidane at his first training session on Tuesday, hours after he replaced the sacked Rafael Benitez, who paid the price for his unpopularity with the club's stars and fans alike after just seven months in the job.

Sheffield United manager Nigel Adkins believes his third tier underdogs should dare to dream as they bid to claim another famous scalp against Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

The Blades have built up an impressive reputation as cup fighters in recent seasons, reaching the FA Cup semi-final two seasons ago and last season reaching the last four of the League Cup.

Arsenal's sights are set on the Premier League title but Gunners defender Calum Chambers says the possibility of becoming the first club in the modern era to lift the FA Cup for a third successive season will fire their defense of the trophy.

Arsene Wenger's side face Sunderland in the third round at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday eight months after their 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in last season's final.