38 Wednesday, January 9, 2013 NNewew VVisionision SPORT Serena set for top slot PARIS

Serena Williams is poised to regain the WTA World No.1 ranking she lost in October, Real ’s Modric 2010, following her win in Demba calm Brisbane at the weekend. “I just want to enjoy my Today: 10.45pm, SS3 The American (inset) was football, it’s not about pres- English League Cup named WTA World Player of sure, it’s about playing a semi-final first leg game I like, and that’s what Modric is the Year last year for winning Chelsea v Swansea the Wimbledon and US Open I’m doing,” Ba said. titles as well as Olympic gold “I’m here to help the group in London, but that was still LONDON and the team; it’s not about taking the position of some- adapting not enough for her to overtake Victoria Azarenka and Maria insists his arrival one else. I know Fernando is MADRID Sharapova ahead of her. at Chelsea has done nothing the main man. I’ve just come, But she is close on their heels to affect ’s I will learn from people and Today: Spanish King’s and, having being knocked position as the main striker at I will learn from him as well Cup last 16 out early at last year’s Austra- Stamford Bridge. because his history is much 9.30pm lian Open, is Ba made the perfect start bigger than mine.” Sevilla v Mallorca well placed to his Blues career following And the forward claims he 11.30pm to pick up his £7.5 million ($12 million) has already benefited from Real v Vigo big ranking move from Newcastle United, playing in front of European Zaragoza v Levante points in scoring twice in the 5-1 FA champions Chelsea’s play- Melbourne Cup third round victory at makers, including Xabi has later this Southampton while Torres and . backed Real Madrid month. remained on the bench. team mate Luka Azarenka, Torres is expected to be Creating space Modric to come good who will be restored to the line-up when He added: “It makes football despite an indifferent top seed at rivals Swan- look easy, I just try to run start to the Croatia the year’s sea City visit west London for in behind and create space midfielder’s first Grand the first leg of the League for the midfielders because I career. Slam, has Cup semi- know when they have space Modric, 27, left Totten- 10,595 points, 450 points final on they will be dangerous. ham Hotspur in August ahead of Sharapova and 845 Wednes- “When you have players like and has started only points clear of Williams. day, this, that understand football eight of his new club’s although perfectly, you just have to run 18 La Liga matches WTA rankings (top 10) Chelsea and the ball will come into and three of six Cham- V. Azarenka (Belarus) man- your feet, and that’s what I pions League games. M. Sharapova (Russia) ager Ra- tried to do. Alonso, Jose S. Williams (USA) fael Benitez “I’m very pleased, I saw it Mourinho’s preferred A. Radwanska (Poland) could pair when I played against them, choice A. Kerber () the two but they are world-class play- alongside L. Na (China) strikers from ers and when you play with Germany’s S. Errani () the start. them it’s completely different. Sami P. Kvitova () They create spaces, provide Khedira S. Stosur (Australia) More good passes and they are in central C. Wozniacki () options very intelligent in midfield, Ba’s their game.” said he impact Swansea were himself means held 2-2 by needed Bulls edge Chel- Arsenal in time to adjust sea the FA Cup when he returned to imme- on Saturday from Tottenham’s diately but manager English rivals Cleveland appear Michael Lau- in 2009. drup opted to NEW YORK much less reli- rest a number Webb in charge of key players Carlos Boozer and the Chicago ant on the will inconsis- in that game, referee Sunday’s Bulls recovered from a slow placing Miguel start to pummel the struggling tent Torres Premier League game and he may Michu and Pablo between Manchester Cleveland Cavaliers 118-92 on Hernandez on the Monday and take over top spot well challenge the United and Liverpool Spain international’s bench and omitting at . in the Eastern Conference’s Ashley Williams and Angle Central division. position as the first The 2010 World Cup choice forward in the Rangel from the squad. final official (inset) has In-form forward Boozer All are set to start at Stam- scored a game-high 24 points longer term. not taken charge of the But the Senegal ford Bridge and Denmark fiery fixture since an FA along with 11 rebounds, while great Laudrup believes that Luol Deng added 19 points as striker has made it Cup tie two years ago. clear he sees Torres as the side’s success in forcing In that game, which the Bulls recorded their third a replay against Arsenal con- straight win, and their 11th in Chelsea’s new striker Demba Ba (top), Fernando Torres and the senior partner as Liverpool lost 1-0 at he attempts to establish firms the strength in depth in Old Trafford, Webb a row over the Cavaliers. Swansea’s Miguel Michu (inset) are expected to shine today his squad. Chicago, who upset NBA himself at his new club. controversially awarded champions Miami 96-89 on a penalty against the Friday, shrugged off a disap- visitors and sent off pointing first quarter to im- skipper . prove their overall record to Their then winger 19-13 and dislodge the Indiana Minister to act on racism was Pacers (20-14) from top spot in fined after posting a MILAN German-born Ghanaian inter- mocked-up picture of the Central standings. Italian Cup national’s stance against racist the 41-year-old Webb “I’m just playing off my team quarter-final: 10.45pm Italian interior minister An- supporters. Police have identi- wearing a United shirt mates,” Boozer told reporters namaria Cancellieri on Mon- Juventus v AC Milan fied six Pro Patria supporters after recording his fifth consec- on . day called for “more incisive” suspected of racist chanting Webb made history in utive double-double. “Games group of fans during a friendly action to be taken to end the and they facing a five-year sta- 2010 when he became like this are fun because every- against fourth division side abuse of non-white players by dium ban. the first man to offici- body played so great. We like Pro Patria by storming off the racist fans. Meanwhile, ’s ate the final of both the moments like this. pitch. Cancellieri was speaking af- Juventus side will take on AC Champions League “We wish all the games could He was followed by his team- ter AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince Milan in the Italian Cup quar- and the World Cup in be like this. We’re trying to mates, prompting a global Boateng last week responded ter-final match scheduled for the same year. step up a little and get some Juventus star Andrea Pirlo to racist chants by a small outpouring of applause for the Wednesday. more wins. We had a tough last couple of weeks of 2012.”