SPORT Tuesday 13 February 2018 PAGE | 28-29 PAGE | 28-29 PAGE | 31 PSG tie set to Stage set for IOC boss to visit define Real’s Ronaldo-Neymar North Korea afterr sseason: Ronaldo showdown winter Games QATAR TOTAL OPEN 2018: YESTERDAY’S RESULTS Monica Niculescu (ROU) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) bt Shuai Zhang (CHN) 7-5, 6-0 Anna Blinkova (RUS) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS) 6-1,6-3 Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) bt Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 7-5,6-4 Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) bt Ons Jabeur (TUN) 6-2,6-3 Catherine Bellis (USA) bt Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 7-5, 4-1 Ret’d Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 7-6(8),6-4 Cici Bellis of the USA hits a return against Daria Kasatkina of Russia during their Qatar Total Open 2018 match played at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. Pictures: Salim Mtramkot/The Peninsula Qualifier Niculescu stuns Sharapova THE PENINSULA DOHA: Former World No.1 Maria TODAY’S ORDER OF PLAY Sharapova surrendered an early Play starts at noon on Center Court, 5pm on Court 6 and 3.30pm advantage to suffering a stunning elsewhere 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss to Romanian qual- CENTER COURT ifier Monica Niculescu in the first Qiang Wang (CHN) vs Madison Keys (USA) [12] round of the Qatar Total Open here Shuai Peng (CHN) vs Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) [11] yesterday. Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) vs Petra Kvitova (CZE) [16] Also making it to the second Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) vs Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) [4] round of the WTA tournament were Not before 7pm Dominika Cibulkova, Romania’s Julia Goerges (GER) [9] vs Lucie Safarova (CZE) Mihaela Buzarnescu, American Caroline Garcia (FRA) [7] vs Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) qualifier CiCi Bellis, along with Rus- COURT 1 sian duo of Ekaterina Makarova and Johanna Konta (GBR) [10] vs Bernarda Pera (USA) Anna Blinkova. Fatma Al Nabhani (OMA) vs Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) [14] Wild Card Sharapova, playing Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) in Doha for the first time since 2013 COURT 2 began on an emphatic note by win- Anett Kontaveit (EST) vs Alizé Cornet (FRA) ning the first set but struggled to Samantha Stosur (AUS) vs Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) carry forward the momentum in the Elise Mertens (BEL) [15] vs Timea Babos (HUN) next two against a determined COURT 3 Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) [13] vs Donna Vekic (CRO) opponent and crashed out after two Slovakia’s Dominica Cibulkova Tatjana Maria (GER) vs Carina Witthoeft (GER) hours 38 minutes. hits a return to Russia’s Anastasia Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) vs Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) Five-time Grand Slam winner Pavlyuchenkova during their first round COURT 5 Sharapova was not helped by 11 match yesterday. Cibulkova won 7-6, 6-4. double faults and 52 unforced errors Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) while her opponent, who fired 12 Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs Sorana Cirstea (ROU) winners, grew in confidence as the Rybarikova or local wild card semifinalist in Doha where she lost need to get more matches in a row contest went on. Fatma Al Nabhani next. to eventual champion Karolina to win, to get the confidence,” she In her first meeting against Earlier, Cibulkova rallied past Pliskova, the former World No.4 hit said. “I came here a little bit earlier, Russia›s Maria Sharapova, the Romanian veteran Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 23 winners to 20 unforced errors in a few days before just to get used to Sharapova reacts twice trailed by a set and a break 7-6(8), 6-4 as she progressed to a the victory, while Pavlyuchenkova the balls, the courts, to play outside after losing her before turning the tide on the Rus- second round meeting with France’s struck 28 winners to 26 miscues. again, and I think it helped. Qatar Total Open sian breaking at love to level the seventh seed Caroline Garcia. The Slovak is contesting her “It was pretty sad with my per- 2018 first round match and winning 12 of the final “I was expecting a tough match fourth event of 2018 in Doha, but formance at the Australian Open match against 13 points to secure victory. against Anastasia. It’s always tough. has seen an uneven start to her cam- because in Sydney I played really Monica Niculescu of Niculescu and Sharapova We know each other really well and paign since reaching the well, and I just felt good. At the first Romania yesterday. treated the Doha crowd to some played so much great matches,” quarterfinals in Sydney to begin her match against Kanepi, I was really thrilling games and rallies, but it Cibulkova told reporters after the year. flat, so it was one of those bad days. was the 2012 Qatar Total Open match. Upset by Kaia Kanepi in the first “I’m just trying to do my best. quarterfinalist’s consistency that “For an opening match it wasn’t round of the Australian Open, I’m very experienced player, and I won the day, hitting 12 winners an easy draw, I would say...I played Cibulkova is coming off a second- was working on just my serve and to just 17 unforced errors and con- the good match for the first round. round defeat in St. Petersburg at the all that stuff because playing wise I verting six of seven break point It’s really nice to win such a tough hands of Kristina Mladenovic. feel really good. So I’m just trying to opportunities. Visibly frustrated match in the first round.” A 2017 “I feel like I’m playing well. I put into the matches and get some by Niculescu’s spins and slices, the more matches to win in a row.” Last 2008 champion was ultimately year’s appearance in Doha, where undone by the 52 unforced errors she knocked off Pavlyuchenkova that canceled out her 31 and Samantha Stosur before losing winners. to Pliskova, marked the first time The 30-year-old has been that the Slovak won consecutive ranked as high as No.28 in the world matches at the event since 2008. but nearly fell out of the Top 100 for She’ll look to repeat that feat this the first time in eight years at start year in the second round as she of the season, and was forced to play takes on No.7 seed Caroline Garcia, qualifying just to make the Qatar against whom she is 1-1 in career Total Open main draw. meetings. Qualifier Niculescu, who used “It’s going to be a tough match,” her slices to good effect and con- Cibulkova said. “I played her...in verted six out of seven break points Young spectators cheer Maria Sharapova during her first round Wuhan, and she won the tourna- in the match to oust Russian Shara- match at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in ment when she was playing really pova, will take on Wimbledon Doha yesterday. well. I want to keep playing good semi-finalist Magdalena tennis like this one here.” 26 SPORT TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2018 QFA and Hungarian Football Federation sign agreement THE PENINSULA Director of Strategy and Institutional Devel- opment of the QFA, Sándor Berzi, Vice DOHA: In a move to continue to develop President of MLSZ, and Márton Vági, Gen- bilateral relations with various football feder- eral Secretary of MLSZ and MLSZ ations within all confederations, the Qatar delegation. Football Association (QFA) and the Hungar- The agreement focuses on cooperation Kari Seitz, FIFA’s Senior ian Football Federation (MLSZ) signed a in several key areas, mainly: technical and Manager of Refereeing and cooperation agreement yesterday at Al Bidda professional exchanges, national teams, Hani Balan, Vice Chairman of Tower. exchange of expertise (including coach edu- FIFA Referees’ Committee and Prior to the signing ceremony, Sheikh cation and youth development), game Chairman of QFA Referees Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Pres- development, player development and ref- Committee during the seminar. ident of the QFA received Sándor Csányi, eree development. It will also focus on the President of MLSZ, Sándor Berzi, Vice Pres- successful and numerous experiences of ident of MLSZ, and Márton Vági, General Qatari football, including Aspire Academy Secretary of MLSZ and the MLSZ delegation and Aspetar Sports Medicine Hospital. High profile women’s referee in his office to discuss matters of mutual The QFA has signed the agreement yes- interest while stressing on the importance terday with the MLSZ as part of its ongoing of building on the relationship between the strategy to develop football in Qatar and two associations and developing it further enhance its relationship with its various Asian seminar begins in Doha in the future for the mutual benefit of both and European counterparts. parties. President of MLSZ, Sándor Berzi com- THE PENINSULA While addressing the referees announced during the period of The agreement was signed by Sheikh mented: “I am happy to be here in Qatar, and Ballan said: “We are happy to host June 7 to July 7 in which only a lim- Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Pres- amazed at the facilities and overall football DOHA: The Referee Candidate you for your medical and fitness ited number of referees will be ident of the QFA and MLSZ President, Sándor management and administration available in Seminar for the FIFA Women’s tests here in Doha, as well as the- selected to participate in the Wom- Csányi and attended by Saoud Al Mohan- Qatar.