Sports in Brief: Rafael Nadal loses twice in one day in Chile

In Viña del Mar, Chile, Rafael Nadal lost to Horacio Zeballos in three sets in the VTR Open final on Sunday, settling for a runner-up finish in his first tournament after being sidelined for seven months with a left knee injury. He also dropped a decision in the doubles final.

Nadal was an overwhelming favorite shooting for this 37th singles title on clay. But Zeballos took a 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-4 win for his first title on any surface, looking every bit the equal of the seven-time French Open champion.

Nadal had not dropped a set all week until the final. It was only the fifth singles final that he has lost on clay.

Nadal spoke only briefly after the match, saying, "The fact I am here has been a triumph."

He then played the doubles final with partner Juan Monaco, losing to Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace, 6-2, 6-4.

Elsewhere: In Croatia, Marin Cilic defeated Jurgen Melzer, 6-3, 6-1 to win the Zagreb Indoors for the third time. . . . Richard Gasquet beat Benoit Paire, 6-2, 6-3 to win the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.

The United States was eliminated in the first round of the Fed Cup, losing to host Italy, 3-2, in Rimini when Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci defeated Varvara Lepchenko and Liezel Huber, 6-2, 6-2, in the decisive doubles match.

SOCCER: Striker Sunday Mba's left-footed volley off a rebound in the 40th minute gave Nigeria its first African Cup of Nations title since 1994 with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Manchester United opened a 12-point lead atop the English Premier League, defeating visiting Everton, 2-0, on goals by Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie.

Lionel Messi extended his Spanish league record by scoring in his 13th straight match as host Barcelona routed Getafe, 6-1.

Mario Balotelli converted an 82d-minute penalty kick for his third goal in two games, giving AC Milan a 1-1 tie at Cagliari.

BASKETBALL: In Athens, the Greek Cup final between crosstown rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was delayed by fan violence, with riot police at one point using stun grenades.

The mayhem came with seven minutes left in the second quarter and Panathinaikos leading, 26-17. After Panathinaikos' Stefan Lasme head-butted Pero Antic under the basket, Olympiakos fans threw a large stone that injured the hand of Panathinaikos' American guard Mike Bramos, who was on the bench. Fans then ran onto the court and began fighting one another and throwing seats at the police.

After an hour delay, Panathinaikos defeated Olympiakos, 81-78, in front of nearly empty stands.

Before the game, Olympiakos forward Kyle Hines was hit by a flare during warm-ups. Hines, a Sicklerville native and Timber Creek grad, was not hurt.

SKIING: Surgeon Bill Sterett, who operated on Lindsey Vonn's injured right knee in Vail, Colo., said he was "optimistic for a full recovery" after she shredded two ligaments and broke a bone during a crash last week at the world championships in Austria.

- Staff and wire reports