Mihajlovic takes charge at Milan

MILAN - Serb Sinisa Mihajlovic, 46, has been appointed the new coach of AC Milan, replacing Filippo Inzaghi who was sacked yesterday, the Serie A football club said.

Mihajlovic, who stood down as Sampdoria coach earlier this month, becomes Milan's fourth boss in less than two years following Inzaghi, Massimiliano Allegri and Clarence Seedorf.

REUTERS

Kohlschreiber makes Fed work

HALLE (Germany) - Seven-time champion Roger Federer survived a nervous first-round challenge on Monday, before prevailing at tennis' ATP Halle Open 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) over home hope Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner was pushed all the way by the 2011 Halle champion before clinching a second-round match-up against Ernests Gulbis.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Del Potro aims to bounce back

BUENOS AIRES - Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has vowed to come back despite 15 "sad" and "sombre" months of injury hell.

Speaking in a YouTube video, the 26-year-old, who has dropped to 578 in the world, spoke of his determination to play again despite needing a third operation on his troublesome wrist in just 15 months.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Germany and Norway through

WINNIPEG (Canada) - Favourites Germany beat Thailand 4-0 to advance to the knockout rounds of football's Women's World Cup as Group B leaders, ahead of Norway who secured their berth by overcoming Ivory Coast 3-1 on Monday.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Drive to buy out Capello's deal

MOSCOW - A group of Russian football fans has started a fund-raising campaign, aimed at collecting €21.4 million (S$32.4 million) needed to buy the under-fire national squad manager Fabio Capello out of his contract after a bad run in Euro qualifying.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE