Serena Williams will be out to end 11 years of frustration on Saturday when she takes on defending champion Maria Sharapova in a French Open final featuring the two top seeds for the first time in 18

Italy can take a huge step towards a chance of bidding for a record-equalling fifth title with hosts Brazil at the 2014 World Cup with victory over the Czech Republic in their qualifier on Friday.

World Cup hosts Brazil slumped to a new record low in the Fifa world rankings on Thursday as the five-time world champions dropped three places to 22nd.

The Mercedes team has been ordered to face an investigation by the International Tribunal of motor racing’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), into allegations that they conducted illegal in-season testing with Pirelli tyres.

English Premier League clubs will enjoy a revenue boost of almost 25 per cent next season thanks to a glut of lucrative new television deals, according to a report published on Thursday by financial analysts Deloitte.

Maria Sharapova survived a gruelling test to reach the French Open final for the second straight year on Thursday with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 defeat of Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal meet for the 35th time on Friday with a French Open final place at stake as well as their reputations as the two heavyweights of the sport.

A clinically-taken goal from controversial striker Luis Suarez gave Uruguay a 1-0 win in a tame friendly against a young France side in Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium on Wednesday.

Twelve months ago, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sat alone inside Roland Garros’ Court Philippe Chatrier having squandered a two-set lead and four match points to Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals.

Gary Kirsten begins his final stint as South Africa’s coach against former team India in the Champions Trophy opener in Cardiff on Thursday.