Serena Williams nears milestone for oldest No. 1

Serena Williams moved to within a victory of becoming the oldest top-ranked women’s player, sweeping aside Urszula Radwanska, 6-0, 6-3, on Thursday to reach the Qatar Open quarterfinals at Doha.

If the 31-year-old Williams reaches the semifinals by beating seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova, she will return to No. 1 for the first time in 21/2 years. Chris Evert was No. 1 in 1985 while just shy of her 31st birthday.

If Williams doesn’t make the last four, Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka can keep the top spot by reaching the final. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova can pass both players if she wins the tournament and Williams and Azarenka lose their next matches.

Rafael Nadal beat Joao Souza, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the Brazil Open, the Spanish star’s second tournament since returning from a left knee injury.

Nadal broke Souza’s service late in each set to win in 1 hour 18 minutes at the indoor clay-court tournament in Sao Paulo.

Juan Martin del Potro had 12 aces in a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, reaching his first quarterfinal of the year in the ABN AMRO tournament at Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The second-seeded Argentine will face Jarkko Nieminen, who beat Matthias Bachinger of Germany, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Third-seeded Sam Querrey beat Lleyton Hewitt, 7-6 (6), 1-6, 7-6 (4), to reach the SAP Open quarterfinals at San Jose.

ETC.

Cameron will land at LSU

Louisiana State football Coach Les Miles will introduce Cam Cameron as the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator Friday, a university spokesman said..

Miles has already notified his players that Cameron will be taking over for Greg Studrawa, who remains as offensive line coach.

Cameron comes to LSU after serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator from 2008-2012. He was fired late in this past regular season, missing out on the Ravens’ Super Bowl run.

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USC linebacker Dion Bailey is recovering from shoulder surgery and will sit out spring practice, new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said.

Bailey, a two-year starter who intercepted a team-best four passes last season, said in December that he hoped to return to safety next season.

—Gary Klein

The Los Angeles Times was voted one of the country’s top 10 daily Sports sections among large-circulation papers in the annual Associated Press Sports Editors sections and writing contest. The Times’ sports website also received top-10 recognition.

In writing categories, Bill Plaschke received top-10 honors in column writing, Baxter Holmes was top 10 in breaking news, and Jack Dolan, Ruben Vives and Gary Klein were top 10 in investigative reporting.

The Times also received honorable mention for Sunday sections and special sections.