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."

Jose Callejon grabbed a late winner for Real Madrid as Jose Mourinho's men fought back from a goal down to defeat Mallorca 2-1 and go eight points clear of bitter rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday.

The win piled the pressure on champions Barcelona who tackle Real Betis at home on Sunday.

Rafael Nadal has criticized Roger Federer for letting other players "burn themselves" by complaining about tour conditions while maintaining his good reputation by rarely making negative comments about tennis.

The pair have always been respectful rivals, but the ongoing debate about the overcrowded tennis calendar has exposed a difference of opinion on the eve of the Australian Open.

Paul Scholes' first league goal at Old Trafford in nearly three years vindicated the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson to call the Manchester United midfielder out of retirement as his side beat Bolton 3-0.

With Scholes, 37, starting a game for the first time in eight months, and Danny Welbeck and Michael Carrick each scoring late in the second half, victory allowed United to move level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

Fernando Torres failed to end his four-month Premier League goal drought but the striker could at least claim an assist for Frank Lampard's flukey goal that gave Chelsea a narrow 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

The Spain striker sent an acrobatic volley crashing against the bar before the ball found its way into the net off the knee of Lampard in the 13th minute.

Italian Daniela Merighetti claimed her maiden World Cup victory at the age of 30 when she won the women's downhill here on Saturday.

Merighetti timed 1min 33.17sec in sunny but windy conditions, 0.21sec ahead of American three-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn, with Germany's defending World Cup title holder Maria Hoefl-Riesch making up the podium at 0.40sec.