It’s raw power and 15 Grand Slam titles against consistency and one Grand Slam final defeat in the French Open semi-finals on Thursday when Serena Williams goes up against Sara Errani.

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.

Roberto Martinez was hired as the new manager of Everton on Wednesday, concluding a four-year spell at Wigan where he established a reputation for playing entertaining football but couldn’t prevent it

The Indians hammered Australia XI by 243 runs in a Champions Trophy warm-up match after skittling out the defending champions for just 65 in Cardiff on Tuesday.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful on Tuesday admitted match-fixing and apologised for the latest damaging scandal to hit the sport.

Mike Gatting said he was “happy”, 20 years on, to have been bowled by the “ball of the century” that kick-started Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne’s career as one of cricket’s greatest bowlers.

Fabio Capello wants nothing less than a win against Portugal in their upcoming World Cup qualifier to help Russia reach the finals in Brazil next year.

Keisuke Honda fired Japan into the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday with a dramatic injury-time penalty which salvaged a 1-1 draw with Australia and made them the first team to qualify alongside hosts Brazil.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has denied reports that star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected a new contract from the Spanish club.