TENNIS:Victoria Azarenka made sure of finishing the year as the top-ranked player in the world by beating Li Na, 7-6 (4), 6-3, at the WTA Championships in Istanbul. Azarenka secured a spot in the semifinals and will play Maria Sharapova.
Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to the semifinals when she edged Sara Errani, 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4, in a match that lasted nearly 31/2 hours. The fourth-ranked Radwanska will play Serena Williams on Saturday.
Roger Federer breezed into the Swiss Indoors semifinals in Basel, beating Benoit Paire, 6-2, 6-2, behind a strong serve to raise his record to 65-9 this season.
Federer faces Paul-Henri Mathieu, who defeated Grigor Dimitrov, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4).
AUTO RACING: Jimmie Johnson's championship hopes got a boost when he won the pole position for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway, while points leader Brad Keselowski qualified 32d.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he hates the attention his concussions and nearly three-week departure from NASCAR caused, but he "learned a ton" and is glad he took the steps he did to make sure he is OK to race.
GOLF: Robert Garrigus shot a 7-under-par 64 to take a 2-stroke lead ahead of Jbe' Kruger, who upstaged Tiger Woods in their second-round pairing at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Woods carded a 67 and was tied for fifth at 9 under with Kevin Na (66) and Brendon De Jonge (65).
Suzann Pettersen shot a 7-under 65 to share a 2-stroke lead with Inbee Park halfway through the Taiwan Championship in Yang Mei.
They were at 10-under 134 at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club.
Peter Hanson shot an 8-under 64 to take a 2-stroke lead on defending champion Rory McIlroy after the second round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.
SOCCER: FC Dallas defender Jair Benitez and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Robbie Keane have been fined by Major League Soccer.
Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa will miss three or four weeks with a left knee injury, ruling him out of Premier League matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Inter Milan playmaker Coutinho will be out for at least a month with a broken left leg.
BASKETBALL: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said no decision was made about Delonte West's future with the team after the guard was suspended for the second time in two weeks.
UCLA unveiled an 8-foot bronze statue of legendary coach John Wooden that is standing vigil outside the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion.
His daughter Nan Wooden said, "He's probably shaking his head, saying, 'I don't deserve this.' "
CYCLING: A Dallas promotions company that paid Lance Armstrong $7 million for winning his sixth Tour de France is demanding he return the money.
- Associated Press
