If Rafael Nadal is getting nervous as he eases closer to winning his fourth consecutive Grand Slam, he sure isn't showing it.

After his 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win Thursday over American qualifier Ryan Sweeting, the Spanish star appeared as comfortable talking about his next match — against 18-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic — as he was in beating Sweeting so convincingly.

Arsene Wenger insists there are no problems between Arsenal team-mates Cesc Fabregas and Denilson after the Brazilian appeared to criticize the Gunners captain in an interview.

Speaking to Brazilian television, Denilson seemed to question Fabregas's leadership qualities saying: "Fabregas is the captain, but he is not a leader to me."

Venus Williams bravely battled through a painful injury to reach the Australian Open's third round as Spain's Fernando Verdasco survived a trademark five-set thriller.

Women's world number one Caroline Wozniacki finally hit form on Wednesday and American Andy

China's Li Na upset two-time champion Kim Clijsters to win the Sydney International title and her fourth career WTA crown on Friday.

Eighth seed Li recovered from going behind 0-5 in the opening set to rally for a convincing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 victory in 1hr 30min.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will play an exhibition match on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open to raise funds for the country's flood victims.

Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters will join Lleyton Hewitt in a "Rally for Relief" match at Rod Laver Arena. Also participating will be Sam Stosur and retired star Pat Rafter, who both come from the affected state of Queensland.

Saudi Arabia face Jordan on Thursday at the Asian Cup under a new coach following Jose Peseiro's dismissal after just one game at the tournament, but the new man warned he doesn't have a magic wand.

The Saudis' quest for a fourth Asian Cup title lay in tatters after their embarrassing 2-1 Group B defeat to unfancied Syria in their opening game, with Portuguese Peseiro sacked immediately afterwards.

Bahrain coach Salman Sharida pleaded for patience from the team's supporters after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by South Korea in their opening Group C game at the Asian Cup.

A brace from midfielder Koo Ja-Cheol set South Korea on course for what looked like a routine victory, but Faouzi Aaish pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 85th minute to leave the Koreans hanging on.

Saudi Arabia's quest for a fourth Asian Cup lay in tatters on Monday after they sacked beleaguered coach Jose Peseiro in the wake of an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Syria in their opening game.

The Portuguese, a former assistant to Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid, had been under intense pressure after he failed to get Saudi Arabia to last year's World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said for the first time on Friday that he 'expects' the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be held in winter rather than the traditional summer months of June and July.

Qatar was controversially awarded the right to host the tournament last month despite summer temperatures in the Gulf emirate soaring to over 40 degrees Celsius.

A stomach injury to Serbia's Ana Ivanovic has handed Belgium a place in the mixed-teams Hopman Cup final on Saturday.

The Serbian pairing of Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic were top seeds and topped Group A by winning two of their three round-robin ties, with Belgian duo Justine Henin and Ruben Bemelmans second despite beating the Serbs on Thursday.