Tennis: Serena Williams has become the oldest women’s world tennis number one after her three-set win over Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open yesterday. Victory for the 31-year-old ensured she will eclipse the previous oldest mark set by Chris Evert, who was 30 years and 11 months when she was number one in November 1985. It marks Williams’s return to the top spot after a gap of almost two-and-a-half years, having been usurped by Caroline Wozniacki in October 2010, and her fourth reign at the top in total. She will next face Maria Sharapova in the semis, after the Russian third seed beat Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 22 minutes.
Athletics: Collegiate coaches Mike Holloway and Beth Alford-Sullivan have been selected to guide the United States team in August’s IAAF world championships, USA Track and Field said yesterday. University of Florida coach Holloway will lead the US men and Alford-Sullivan, the Penn State University coach, will direct the American women in the August 10-18 champion-ships in Moscow.
Cycling: The French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) will not carry out tests on the Paris-Nice stage race this year, citing a disagreement with the International Cycling Union (UCI). The two organisations have long been at loggerheads with the AFLD saying that the UCI had not followed correct procedures during testing on the 2009 Tour de France. The UCI denied the allegations. The UCI came under heavy fire in last year’s US Anti-Doping Agency report that led to Lance Armstrong’s demise. The Paris-Nice race starts on March 3.
Rugby Union: Ireland flyhalf Jonny Sexton and lock Mike McCarthy have been ruled out of the next Six Nations match against Scotland due to injury, Ireland manager Mike Kearney said. Sexton sustained a torn hamstring and McCarthy a knee injury during Ireland’s 12-6 defeat by England in Dublin on Sunday and they will not be fit to face the Scots in Edinburgh on February 24.
Snooker: Pankaj Advani’s history-making run at the Welsh Open was halted in comprehensive fashion by world no.2 Judd Trump yesterday. The 27-year-old from Bangalore became the first Indian player to make the quarter-finals of a ranking event when he beat Graeme Dott 4-1 yesterday. But he found a returning-to-form Trump a different proposition in Newport, with the former UK Championship winner wrapping up a 5-2 victory.