Sport THURSDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2021 US Open: Qualifier Raducanu makes history as Sabalenka reaches semi-finals I needed extra balls kind of a little bit to move, a little bit to feel my legs, to feel the move, to feel the court. Also my serve was really, I wouldn't say terrible, but was really bad today. I was trying to find the rhythm. Aryna Sabalenka Sport |16 QATAR 2022 QUALIFIERS: Paraguay vs Venezuela, Uruguay vs Ecuador, Colombia vs Chile, Argentina vs Bolivia, Panama vs Mexico Youssif Hassan We have benefitted from playing ‘tough matches’ in Europe, says Qatar's Youssif THE PENINSULA – DOHA big teams that we shall play in the World Cup,” Hassan added. Qatar goalkeeper Youssif Hassan has “We could have come out better said the team had benefited immensely against Luxembourg, but we did not from playing ‘tough matches’ at the adjust to the atmosphere of the match European Qualifiers for next year's FIFA quickly. That does not mean that we World Cup. did not get a good return. We were On Tuesday, Asian champions Qatar good, especially in the second half,” he produced a fighting 1-1 draw against said. Luxembourg following two tense Regarding his absence from the matches against Portugal and Serbia national team in the last week, he con- earlier in the week. cluded: “I had to step away due to In their third match of the second injury, and I am now returning grad- leg of the UEFA Qualifiers, Ivandro ually, step by step.” Borges Sanches scored for hosts Lux- Earlier, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez embourg while Homam Alamin had also said that the team stands to equalised for Qatar. gain a lot by playing against top “Our team has benefited immensely European teams like Serbia – ranked from the experience of participating in 29 on FIFA computer – and Portugal – the European qualifiers. We faced Qatar's Abdelkarim Hassan tries to block the ball during the match against ranked 8 in the world. strong teams such as Serbia, Portugal Luxembourg, on Tuesday. In recent times, Qatar have also and Luxembourg. Playing against was appeared in Copa America and CON- an outstanding experience,” Hassan said qualifiers as a guest team, having “The results are not important in CACAF Gold Cup to enhance player after the match on Tuesday. already qualified as hosts of the global such matches, and the most important experience ahead of next year’s World Al Annabi took part in the European football spectacle. thing is to gain experience from facing Cup. Qualifier Raducanu makes history QFA's Al Mohannadi meets Iran Football as Sabalenka reaches semi-finals Federation President REUTERS – NEW YORK Emma Raducanu of the United THE PENINSULA – DOHA British teenager Emma Raducanu Kingdom returns the ball to produced yet another exquisite Belinda Bencic of Switzerland Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mohannadi, Vice-President of the performance to become the first during their US Open quarter-final Qatar Football Association (QFA), received in his office qualifier to reach the US Open match, yesterday. yesterday, Shahaboddin Azizi Khadem, President of the semi-finals yesterday, defeating Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). Olympic champion Belinda Vice President of IFA, Dr. Mahad Hamy, was also present. Bencic 6-3, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe This visit comes on the sidelines of the Iranian team’s Stadium. presence in Doha. Iran played Iraq in their 2023 Asian Cup Down an early break, the and 2022 World Cup joint qualifying match at Khalifa Inter- Briton recovered swiftly to win national Stadium on Tuesday. four straight games to close out During the meeting, the officials discussed topics of the first set in which she had common interest between the two federations, the impor- seven forehand winners and three tance of initiating ways to develop football in the two coun- aces. tries in the coming months and years. Like Raducanu, Bencic had It is worth noting that the two federations have had close reached the last eight without relations over the past many years following a joint dropping a set in Flushing agreement to develop the sport in Iran and Qatar. Meadows but yesterday she The discussions also dealt with the consideration of struggled with her first serve and future projects at the level of exchanging experiences related misfired a pair of costly double to football and how to enhance the roles between the two faults in the opening set. to hold serve, then came back in In men's side, Felix Auger-Ali- Coming off gruelling back- sides in order to serve the game. Raducanu maintained her the second game to break a assime moved into the semi-finals to-back five-set matches, At the end of the meeting, Al Mohannadi stressed the momentum in the second set, listless Krejcikova, who had just when Spanish teenager Carlos including a third-round win over importance of continuing permanent cooperation between fending off three break points in five winners in the first set and Alcaraz retired due to an abductor Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alcaraz the two federations. the second game. struggled badly with her serve. injury while trailing 6-3 3-1. stepped onto the court with both Khadem said he was pleased to be in Qatar where ‘QFA A frustrated Bencic handed Krejcikova, who captured her The 18-year-old Spaniard legs heavily strapped and seemed has always welcomed the Iranian sides with open arms’. Raducanu a break with a double maiden major at Roland Garros showed no signs of distress as to lack the power and energy that He added that the two federations will continue to join fault in the fifth game and her this year, saw her serve broken Auger-Aliassime took the had carried him to the hands to develop football around the Asian continent. frustration boiled over as the at the start of the second set and opening set but after the quarter-finals. match progressed, the Swiss while she got a bit of her spark Canadian broke to open the "I didn't see it coming. It's smacking her racket to the back as the match went on it was second Alcaraz slumped. unfortunate to finish like this," ground. too little, too late. During the first changeover said Auger-Aliassime. "I didn't Infantino in Doha Down 0-30 in her final two Belarusian Sabalenka, who of the second set, Alcaraz called really see anything. service games, Raducanu kept her reached the semi-final at Wim- for the physiotherapist but did "Either I was too focused on The current match calendardar showsshows us thatthat nerve on both occasions and bledon, won eight of the first 10 not receive any treatment. A my game or I'm not seeing we have reached some lilimits...mits... wwee hahaveve ttoo soaked in the cheers of the New points in the second set and did game later, however, the things." have a system that is simple,mple, which clearlclearlyy York crowd after triumphing in a not face a single break point after Spaniard turned and indicated Auger-Aliassime becomes defines when there are nationalnational teamteam nine-shot rally in the final point. fending off five of the six she faced he could not go on. the first Canadian man to reach games and when there areare club games.games. Earlier, world number two in the first set. "It's really tough to end a the US Open semi-finals where Aryna Sabalenka bulldozed her She closed out the match after great tournament like this," said he will take on second seeded FIFA President Gianni Infantinontino way past Barbora Krejcikova 6-1 one hour and 26 minutes with an Alcaraz. "I had no choice to still Daniil Medvedev of Russia. says that there are too manyny 6-4 to reach the semis for the first ace and beamed at the cheering playing. The 21-year-old joins com- meaningless games and thathat time. New York crowd. "First of all I have to take care patriot Leylah Fernandez, who such a structure was unsus-s- Sabalenka had three double "I’m really enjoying my game of my body. booked her spot in the women's tainable for the health off faults in the first game at Arthur here and every second on this "I didn't feel good to still last four earlier in the day by players and the global Ashe Stadium but still managed court," said Sabalenka playing, so I had to retire." beating Elina Svitolina. game. Doha to host FINA World Cup Stage set for second round of Qatar National Sprint THE PENINSULA – DOHAA (HUN) on OctoberOcto 1-3, and October THE PENINSULA – DOHA Emadadhi excel in two categories, winning both Open 7-9,7-9, respectively,respe while Doha Class 2 and Production Cars Class 2 events. The Qatar Swimmingng (QAT)(QAT) andan Kazan (RUS) will The second round of the Qatar National Sprint 2021, Abdullah Al Khelaifi (Westfield Sport - Open Class 1), Association (QSA) beganan stagestage theth two remaining legs organised by the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation Abdulla Al Abbassi (Lotus Exige - Open Class 3), Henry its preparations to hostost on OctoberOc 21-23 and (QMMF), will take place outside Losail International Circuit Kahy (Renault Clio - Production Class 1) and Francesco the 3rd round of thehe OctoberOctob 28-30. tomorrow. Fornaciari (Lotus Exige - Production Class 2) were the rest FINA Swimming Worldrld AllAl four stops of the The opening round of the popular series saw Ali of the winners in the opening round. Cup, which will bee at 2021 World Cup will be Hamad Aquatics Centerenter competedcomp in 25m-pools A driver next month.