Medvedev knocks out Murray in Brisbane second round PAGE 18 THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 Pulisic joins Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for 64 million euros PAGE 19 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE MAN CITY VS LIVERPOOL Our aim is to see Qatari players make ATP 500 event, says Khelaifi VINAY NAYUDU was a member of the Qatar Davis Cup our goal. “Some of our youngsters are DOHA team playing 43 ties between 1992 coming through the ranks. While they and 2002 and had a 12–31 record in are on top in the GCC and the region, NASSER bin Ghanim al Khelaifi, a Some of our youngsters are singles, and 12–16 in doubles. and second among youth we want former Qatar Davis Cup representa- coming through the ranks. The ATP World Tour 500 series is them to rise higher,” he added. tive and President of Qatar Tennis While they are on top in the the fourth highest tier of the men’s ten- The 45-year-old Paris Saint-Ger- Federation, on Wednesday said that GCC and the region, and nis tournament after the four Grand main (PSG) chairman added, “Young- QTF’s aim is to see Qatari youngsters second among youth we want Slam tournaments, ATP Finals, and sters need to love their sport and qualify for an ATP 500 tournament in the ATP World Tour Masters 1000. should be ready to work hard to excel. the near future. them to rise higher. The series includes 13 tournaments, “There are no secrets in any “We are providing the best of fa- Nasser al Khelaifi with 500 rankings points awarded for sport. You need to do more than the cilities for our players and we have the events’ singles champions. others and you need to be there each also hired a new German coach Ol- “Our ambition is also see our play- day to train and do things by your- Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) President ivier to help them develop physically our players or two eventually gradu- ers aim for, and hopefully achieve self. You don’t need someone to push Nasser bin Ghanim al Khelaifi speaking to journalists at the Khalifa Inter- and mentally. We aim to see one of ate to that level,” said Khelaifi, who a world ranking inside 500. That is you,” he stressed. national Tennis & Squash Complex on Wednesday. Djoko survives scare, Wawrinka steady on way to quarter-finals AMIR ATTENDS QATAR OPEN Berdych, Nikoloz The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani attended part of the Qatar and Cecchinato ExxonMobil Open tennis tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Wednesday. HH the Amir watched the match between through to last 8 (QNA) world number one Novak Djokovic and Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics. VINAY NAYUDU DOHA TWO-TIME champion in Doha, Novak Djokovic has had an impeccable record at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. The Ser- bian has only lost once here, in the quarter-finals, in his debut year in 2015. In 2016, he didn’t drop a set going on to lift the Falcon trophy, and the fol- lowing year he prevailed over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and Britain’s Andy Murray with three-set wins to emerge as champion a second time. Now in 2019, the World Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych in action during his second round match against Spain’s Fernando No.1 is bidding to emulate Verdasco. Swiss maestro Roger Federer by winning in Qatar for a third RESULTS time. And the man, who him- self admitted to be “very, very SINGLES 2ND ROUND confident” given his blazing 1-Novak Djokovic (SRB) bt Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) bt Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 6-4, 7-6 (3) 7-Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Q-Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-1, 6-4 Dusan Lajovic (SRB) bt Q-Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 7-6 (4), 0-6, 7-5 start at the $1.4m Qatar Exx- Pierre-Hughes Herbert (FRA) bt Q-Maximilian onMobil Open 2019 event, was Marterer (GER) 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6) however made to rally from 4-Marco Cecchinato (ITA) w/o Guido Pella (ARG) 5-Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS) being a set down by Hungarian 6-3, 6-4 Marton Fucsovics at the centre 8-Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs WC-Tomas Berdych court on Wednesday. (CZE) It was quite a scare indeed QUARTER-FINALS LINE-UP 1-Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs 5-Nikoloz Basilashvili as the world number 36 Fucso- (GEO) vics, who is also exactly as tall Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs 7-Roberto Bautista Agut as Djokovic at 6’2”, claimed the (ESP) opening set pushing his oppo- 4-Marco Cecchinato (ITA) vs Dusan Lajovic (SRB) WC-Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs Pierre-Hughes Herbert nent into conceding the much- (FRA) needed break before the Serbi- DOUBLES (QUARTER-FINALS) an decided to change gears and Robin Haase & Matwe Middelkoop (NED) bt Maximo eventually dictate terms to win Gonzalez (ARG) & Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 6-2, 6-4 Marko Djokovic & Novak Djokovic (SRB) bt Damir the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 after Dzumhur (BIH) & Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 7-5, 3-6, two hours. 10-7. It also meant that both Djokovic and Stanislas Waw- STAR POWER: Paris St Germain coach Thomas Tuchel watches the rinka stayed on collision course second round match between Chile’s Nicolas Jarry and Switzerland’s stepped up his level of play. for a likely semi-final meeting. Stanislas Wawrinka. The 31-year-old who is 72- Wawrinka too faced resistance time Tour-level titlist found from big-hitting Chilean Nico- cia-Lopez of Spain. making a comeback to the Tour his range on his forehand side, las Jarry, but the Swiss stayed Unseeded Dusan Lajovic of after suffering injuries in 2018 earning two set points with a Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures to the crowd after winning his second round match of the Qatar Exxon- steady and ensured a 6-4, 7-6 Serbia booked a quarters clash claimed the third set 7-5. sharp-angled winner before Mobil Open against Marton Fucsovics of Hungary in Doha on Wednesday. (JALAL PATHIYOOR) (3) win in an 89-minute battle. with 4th seed Marco Cecchina- The busy day threw up clinching the set in dramatic For the 14-time Grand to of Italy with a 7-6 (4), 0-6, many absorbing contests but fashion as Fucsovics made an Slam champion Djokovic and 7-5 win over qualifier Ricardas none provided more jitters ill-judged Hawk Eye challenge 3-time Grand Slam champion Berankis of Lithuania, who than the one in which Djokovic on a forehand which clipped Wawrinka to meet in the last had accounted for 6th seeded was involved. the baseline. four, they will have to over- Belgian David Goffin in the All seemed cool in the con- Djokovic was back where come their quarter-final oppo- first round. test till 4-4 in the first set be- he belongs and the final set nents. While Djokovic meets Cecchinato was given a fore an eager Fucsovics began seemed a mere formality. the rising star and world num- walk over by Argentina’s Gui- to make inroads. The Hun- Later, Novak and his ber 21 from Georgia Nikoloz do Pella as he was suffering garian, who won the Geneva younger brother Marko Djoko- Basilashvili, Wawrinka will from lower back pain. tournament, earned two break vic also made it to the doubles play Roberto Bautista Agut of Debutant Pierre-Hughes points but Djokovic stuck to semi-finals. Spain. Herbert of France did him- his guns. A third break point, The Serbian siblings de- The 26-year-old Basilas- self proud registering a hard- however, saw Fucsovics seize feated Damir Dzumhur of Bos- hvili, who won two ATP 500 fought win against German his chance as his backhand on nia and his Serbian partner titles in 2018 to become the qualifier Maximilian 6-3, 6-7 the line caught the Serbian off Dusan Lajovic 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 in first champion from Georgia, (6-8), 7-6 (8-6). guard. the quarter-finals. accounted for 2018 Qatar Exx- In the last match of the day, The Hungarian held his The Djokovic brothers, onMobil Open finalist Andrey veteran Fernando Verdasco nerve, serving out the 10th game who had not won a match to- Rublev of Russia 6-3, 6-4. of Spain fell to Czech Tomas on love to take a one-set lead. gether in their five attempts as World number 24 Agut too Berdych. Verdasco had won the Buoyed by the success, a pair before coming to Doha, was brisk in his 6-1, 6-4 win first set 6-4, while Berdych won Fucsovics tried to keep up have now won two from two Djokovic of Serbia gives high-five to ball girls after his match. over qualifier Guillermo Gar- the second 6-3. Berdych who is the pace but then Djokovic outings. Sports Thursday, January 3, 2019 17 ExxonMobil Qatar extends sponsorship Aspetar provides medical services at Qatar of Qatar ExxonMobil Open ExxonMobil Open 2019 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK what a synergy between part- the tournament’s title sponsor TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK As part of its mission to DOHA ners with similar goals and vi- for 25 years. Our partnership DOHA assist athletes to achieve their sions can achieve when given with the QTF isn’t just about maximum performance and EXXONMOBIL Qatar, the title the opportunity,” said Khelaifi. bringing exceptional tennis to FOR the eighth consecutive full potential, Aspetar is also sponsor of the Qatar Exxon- “The Qatar Tennis Federa- Qatar for the world to see - it’s year, Aspetar will be providing offering tailored physiother- Mobil Open, on Wednesday tion and ExxonMobil are one about supporting the Qatar Na- world-class medical services apy solutions to participating renewed its sponsorship agree- identity together as one team.