The sporting week in pictures, including Virat Kohli, Roberto Firmino and Rafael Nadal

We pick out some of the key images of the last seven days taken from the likes of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and World Cup skiing

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  Andreas Schuler from Switzerland during qualification for the men's ski jumping World Cup event in Engelberg, Switzerland, on December 22. EPA

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  Fans watch the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final between Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, December 21. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Smoke from bushfires in Canberra, Australia, hangs over the ground during the Big Bash League match between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval on Saturday, December 21. The match was abandoned due to the conditions. Getty

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  Swimmers compete in the women's 100m backstroke during the International Swimming League Championship Final in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday December 21, 2019. AFP

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  India captain Virat Kohli after losing his wicket in the third and final one-day match against the West Indies in Cuttack on Sunday, December 22. AP

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  Switzerland's Daniel Sette competes during the men's World Cup giant slalom, in Alta Badia, Italy, on Sunday, December 22. AP

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  A surfer rides a wave at Praia do Norte or North Beach in Nazare, Portugal, on Sunday, December 22. AP

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  British fighter Daniel Dubois walks away after knocking out Kyotaro Fujimoto of Japan during the WBC Silver and WBO international heavyweight title fight at Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, December 21. Getty

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  Jermell Charlo, left, on his way to victory over Tony Harrison for the WBC world super welterweight title at Toyota Arena in California on Saturday, December 21. AFP

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  The roof opens at Melbourne Arena as players warm-up ahead of the NBL match between Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans on Thursday, December 26. Getty.

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  Jockey Michael Poy guides Alburq, left, to victory in the Candy Cane Lane Plate at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Saturday, December 21. Getty

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  Dutch rider Mathieu Van Der Poel on his way to victory during the sixth stage of the World Cup cyclocross competition, the Cross de la Citadelle in Belgium, on Sunday, December 22. AFP

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  Flamengo fans in Rio de Janeiro after their Fifa World Club Cup final defeat against Liverpool in Doha on Saturday, December 21. EPA

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  Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring Liverpool's winning goal against Flamengo in the Fifa World Club Cup final in Doha on Saturday, December 21. EPA

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  Competitors and the spectator fleet, right, race along at start of the 75th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Thursday, December 26. AP

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  England all-rounder Joe Denly during a nets session in Pretoria on Wednesday, December 25, ahead of the first Test against South Africa. Getty

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  Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin is checked into the glass during the second period against the Calgary Flames at the American Airlines Center in Texas on Sunday, December 22. USA TODAY Sports

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  Maria Sharapova in action against Ajla Tomljanovicat the Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, December 19. AFP

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  Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov holds a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, December 24, following meetings with the Russian anti-doping agency to discuss Russia's doping ban from major sport competitions. AFP

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  England bowler Stuart Broad in action during Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Thursday, December 26. Getty

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  The bronze statue of football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Malmo, Sweden, is cleaned on Sunday, December 22, after it was vandalised again following the hometown player's decision to invest in a rival club last month. AFP

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  A "dunking Santa" uses a trampoline to get airborne during a timeout in the NBA game between the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards on Monday, Deccember 23, 2019. The Wizards won 121-115. AP

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  Dutch fighter Rico Verhoeven walks out ahead of his world heavyweight title kickboxing bout against Badr Hari of Morocco in Arnhem on Saturday, December 21. Getty

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  Australia batsman Steve Smith plays a shot during Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Getty

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  Fallon Sherrock on her way to victory over Mensur Suljovic in the second round of the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace, London, on Saturday December 21. In the first round, Sherrock became the first woman to win a match at the event. AP

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  Competitors sail out of Sydney Harbour at the start of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Thursday, December 26. AFP

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  Arizona Cardinals quarterback Brett Hundley evades a tackle by Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Arizona won 27-13. USA TODAY Sports

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  Mexican wrestler Rakner clashes with Relampago Veloz during a "lucha libre" fight in Mexico City, on Saturday, December 21. AP

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  Spectators watch the 7 W-League football match between Canberra United and the Western Sydney Wanderers at McKellar Park in Canberra, on Thursday, December. Getty

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  Cheslea manager Frank Lampard celebrates after his team's Premier League victory at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, December 22. AFP

The Mubadala World Tennis Championship returned to Abu Dhabi this week with a very familiar face securing the title at Zayed Sports City.

Rafael Nadal capped yet another memorable year in the sport by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7, 7-5 7-6 in the final.

Liverpool continued their stellar year in football after defeating Brazilian side Flamengo 1-0 to secure the Fifa World Cup for the first time.

The Uefa Champions League winners and runaway leaders of the Premier League are now firmly on the way to becoming one of the greatest teams to have worn the famous red shirt.

India capped a tremendous year in cricket by clinching a 2-1 one-day series triumph over the West Indies in Cuttack.

Virat Kohli struck a quality 85 as the home side won by four wickets and end the year as the top-ranked Test team and second in ODI standings.

You can see a selection of the best images from the action in the photo gallery above.

To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.