TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 SPORTS Vidal welcomes end Saudis seek to change Alvarez joins Samp of Barca transfer ban Iran fixtures over tensions on six-month deal BARCELONA: A year-long ban on European champions Barcelona registering RIYADH: Saudi football clubs in the Asian Champions League MILAN: Sampdoria have announced the signing of Argentinian midfielder new players came to an end yesterday, finally freeing up summer signings have appealed for their fixtures in Iran to be played elsewhere Ricardo Alvarez, who joins the Serie A club from Inter Milan following an Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan to make their debuts. Despite the ban imposed by after a sharp escalation of tensions between the two rival unsuccessful loan spell with Sunderland in England’s Premier League. FIFA for irregularities in the signing of foreign players under nations. Alvarez, 27, has joined the Genoa-based club on a six-month deal which the age of 18, Barca recorded the second most successful Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nasr called in statements expires on June 30, according to Sampdoria. “President Massimo Ferrero is year in their 116-year history. Luis Enrique’s men claimed on their respective websites for the matches against their happy to announce Ricardo Gabriel Alvarez is now officially a five trophies in all, including a treble of La Liga, Iranian counterparts to be played on neutral grounds. The Sampdoria player and has signed a contract which expires on Champions League and Copa del Rey. However, having clubs are expected to ask the Saudi Arabian Football June 30 2016,” said a statement from the club. Alvarez joins in drawn three of their last four La Liga games to fall two Federation to officially submit the request to the Asian time for the city derby away to Genoa on Tuesday, bringing points behind Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, Football Confederation ahead of the next round of AFC to an end a period of uncertainty about his future. Alvarez, Vidal and Turan are expected to add some much needed Champions League fixtures in February. who has made nine appearances for the Argentina national depth to the squad for a potential run of 16 games before Relations between Saudi Arabia and its regional arch-rival side, joined Sunderland on loan from Inter in September the end of February. “Finally, the sanction has ended,” 2014 but failed to make the move permanent. Sampdoria Iran dramatically deteriorated following the weekend execu- Vidal, who joined from Sevilla in June for a report- travel to Genoa looking to win a second consecutive game in tion of Shiite cleric Nimr Al-Nimr in the Sunni-dominated ed 20 million euro ($21.7 million) fee, told Serie A for the first time since ex-Fiorentina coach Vincenzo kingdom. Shiite Iran strongly condemned the execution and Barca TV. And Vidal could make his Montella took over from sacked Walter Zenga. With angry crowds in Tehran set the Saudi embassy on fire, debut against another of his former only five wins in 17 games, Sampdoria have slipped prompting Riyadh to sever diplomatic links with its Gulf clubs Espanyol in the Copa del Rey on to 14th in Italy’s top flight although Genoa are four Wednesday.—AFP neighbour. — AFP points further adrift in 17th. — AFP Williams out of Hopman opener with swollen knee PERTH: World number one Serena Williams 20-year-old was no match for the world num- saying she had pulled up sore after a training November. suggestions the presence of Duval in Perth as suffered an early season injury setback yester- ber 19. session earlier in the day. But the player said she hoped to be fit to an emergency player for the event indicated day as she withdrew from the United States’ The first set was competitive but Svitolina The match at the mixed-teams tournament play in the United States’ second tie against they were aware of concerns over the fitness opening Hopman Cup tie with inflammation cruised past the tiring Duval 6-4, 6-1. would have launched Williams’s preparations Australia Gold, one of two teams representing of Williams. in her knee. Her withdrawal helped the Dolgopolov then secured the tie with a com- for her title defence at the Australian Open in the hosts, on Tuesday evening. Williams won her sixth Australian Open last Ukraine pairing of Elina Svitolina and fortable 6-4, 6-2 win over a disappointing Jack Melbourne later this month. Williams, who “I’m disappointed to not take the court in January and was on target for the coveted cal- Alexandr Dolgopolov record a 2-1 round Sock. In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, sat out Perth today,” Williams said. “I had every inten- endar-year Grand Slam until she suffered a robin opening win over the US in the mixed US pair gained some consolation by winning the tail-end of last season saying she needed tion to play this morning. shock loss to Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals teams tournament. 6-2, 6-3. “time to heal” after narrowly missing out on a “Unfortunately due to inflammation in my at the US Open in September. Duval only Williams was replaced by American young- Williams, 34, was scheduled to play rare calendar-year Grand Slam. knee I need to rest and am confident to be returned to tennis in August after overcoming ster Vicky Duval, on the comeback trail after Svitolina in the women’s singles to open the Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, conceded out there against Aussie Gold tomorrow Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has a career high being diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and the tie, but withdrew minutes before the start, Williams’s knees were troubling her in evening.” Tournament organisers dismissed ranking of 87. — AFP Stosur survives another tricky outing in Brisbane BRISBANE: Australian Sam Stosur narrowly right-hander, winner of eight WTA titles. avoided another disappointment on home “I need to go see my physio and do what- turf as she battled through a wrist injury and ever we need to do tonight. “Then tomorrow three tough sets to claim an opening victory playing night match there is that little bit of at the Brisbane International yesterday. extra time if it is a bit sore. I’m sure we’ll come The former US Open champion recovered up with a plan and be out on court ready to from 0-3 down in the final set to record a 6-4 go.” Italy’s Roberto Vinci, who ended Serena 3-6 6-4 victory over Slovakian qualifier Jana Williams’ bid for a calendar grand slam at the Cepelova to kick off her always intense U.S. Open semi-finals last year, also needed Australian summer in positive style. three tough sets to make the second round The 31-year-old has frequently failed to hit on the Brisbane hard courts. the heights on home turf, having never won a The 32-year-old prevailed 3-6 6-2 6-4 over tournament or progressed past the fourth former world number one Jelena Jankovic, round at the Australian Open, and bemoaned while Germany’s world number 10 Angelique on Sunday the unfair emphasis she received Kerber shook off the rust in a 5-7 6-3 6-0 vic- for her domestic form. The world number 27 tory over Camila Giorgi of Italy. looked set to give the critics another stick to Russian Maria Sharapova is the tourna- beat her with before a spirited effort did for ment draw card and she will kick off her cam- the world number 147 and set up a second- paign on Tuesday against compatriot round clash with Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro Ekaterina Makarova. On the men’s side, 17- on Tuesday. “I am really pleased to walk away times grand slam champion Roger Federer with a win, especially being down in that will play Germany’s Tobias Kamke. third set and then find that ability to come Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov had been tout- back and play well and win it when you are ed as ‘Baby Fed’ but a disappointing 2015 sea- down, to turn things around,” Stosur said. son quelled those comparisons with the “There were lots of positives I could take Swiss great. The Bulgarian, who has slumped out of that.” Stosur needed treatment for a from eighth to 28th in the rankings, started wrist problem midway through the second his new campaign in more upbeat fashion by set but was not overly concerned about the recording a 6-3 7-6(10) win over fifth seed injury. “I’m not freaking out about it,” said the Gilles Simon of France. — Reuters Azarenka sets up showdown with Halep BRISBANE: Former world number one pete.” Azarenka said she was looking for- Victoria Azarenka demolished Russia’s ward to playing Halep. “I think it’s going to Elena Vesnina at the Brisbane International be a very good test,” she added. “Playing PERTH: Andy Murray of Britain hits a return against Kenny de Schepper of France during their fourth session men’s singles match on day two of yesterday to set up a second-round show- against top players, you always put yourself the Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth yesterday. — AFP down with top seed Simona Halep. in a situation where you have to push your- Azarenka lost the opening two games to self. the Russian qualifier before reeling off suc- “So for me it’s going to be a great chal- cessive victories to win 6-2, 6-0 at the Pat lenge.