World number five Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of the Australian Open first round by fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. The epic five-set match ended 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 in four hours, 41 minutes. It’s only Nadal’s second ever opening round defeat at a major tournament. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, former world number one Ana Ivanovic beat the unseeded Tammi Patterson 6-2, 6-3.

Stylish Algeria win third game at AFCON
DP World ILT20 ‘Power 9 Golf Day’ blends sports and camaraderie in Dubai
Equatorial Guinea players banned, Burkina Faso captain fined over referee abuse
Egypt's Sobhi sentenced to year in prison in academic fraud case
Arsenal thrash Villa 4-1 while Chelsea and Man Utd both held
