Defending champion Novak Djokovic battled past Rafael Nadal in an epic, five-set Australian Open final which clocked in at 5hr 53min -- the longest title match in grand slam history -- early Monday.

Djokovic fought back from losing the first set to take a 2-1 lead, but he was then taken to a gripping fifth set by resurgent Nadal before winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 for his third consecutive major title.

Bayern Munich stayed top of the German league on Saturday as striker Mario Gomez claimed his 17th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, but Shinji Kagawa-inspired Borussia Dortmund are hard on their heels.

Japan winger Kagawa scored twice in Dortmund's 3-1 win over Hoffenheim, which means the defending champions remain second and level on 40 points with Bayern, but Munich stay top by virtue of goal difference.

Dirk Kuyt came off the bench to fire a dramatic late winner as Liverpool sent Manchester United crashing out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory in the fourth round at Anfield on Saturday.

Kenny Dalglish's side took the lead when Daniel Agger punished poor goalkeeping by David de Gea to head home in the first half.

A government-run Saudi Arabian newspaper reports that for the first time in the conservative Muslim country, women will be allowed to attend football matches in one of the country's stadiums.

Al-Sharq newspaper on Saturday quoted unnamed officials as saying that women will be able to watch the matches in a new facility that will be completed in 2014 in the western port city of Jeddah.

Ice dancers Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France retained their free dance title at the European figure skating championships on Friday by overhauling Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev.

Trailing the Russian pair by 0.17 points after Wednesday's short dance, Pechalat and Bourzat brought the crowd to their feet with a rousing performance to the moody "The Pharaoh and His Mummy" to score 99.29 points.

Barcelona says forward Pedro Rodriguez has injured his left thigh and won't be available for Saturday's Spanish league game at Villarreal.

The Spanish international has missed several matches because of injury this season.

Victoria Azarenka won her first grand slam title and became the new world number one when she thrashed a disappointing Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final on Saturday.

The third-seeded Belarusian overpowered the 2008 champion to win 6-3, 6-0 in 82 minutes to lift the trophy and become the fourth women's first-time grand slam winner in a row.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is no nearer to returning from his long-term ankle injury after what manager Arsene Wenger says is "setback."

Wenger says the 20-year-old Wilshere "had a little setback which is under investigation ... He has pain again in his ankle."

Defending champion Novak Djokovic moved into an Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal after edging Andy Murray in a five-set, almost five-hour semifinal late Friday night.

Despite appearing tired and sore from the second set, Djokovic rallied to beat Murray 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5 in a rematch of the 2011 final at Melbourne Park to reach his third consecutive Grand Slam final.

The Boston Celtics rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit to beat the Orlando Magic 91-83 behind a balanced attack led by veteran forward Paul Pierce.

Pierce was one of five Celtics to reach double figures, finishing with 24 points. Kevin Garnett had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, who trailed by as much as 27 points in the first half.