SPORT Monday 1 January 2018 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 34 PAGE | 3366 Barshim ascends Smith and Kohli Fit-again AndyAndy throne in world dominate Murray readyready of athletics ICC rankings for 20120188 QATAR OPEN RECORDS Gasquet, Thiem and Berdych MOST SINGLES TITLES: 3 Switzerland Roger Federer (2005, 2006, 2011) MOST CONSECUTIVE SINGLES TITLES: 2 in spotlight at Qatar Open Sweden Stefan Edberg (1994–1995) Switzerland Roger Federer (2005–2006) ARMSTRONG VAS The withdrawal of United Kingdom Andy Murray THE PENINSULA Djokovic provides (2008–2009) DOHA: Former Champion an opportunity Serbia Novak Djokovic (2016-2017) Richard Gasquet will be look- for some players MOST SINGLES FINALS: 4 ing for a positive start when the to shine at the United Kingdom Andy Murray Frenchman opens his Qatar (2007, 2008, 2009, 2017) ExxonMobil Open campaign $1,286,675 MOST CONSECUTIVE SINGLES against Victor Burgos Estrella tournament. FINALS: 3 of Dominican Republic here United Kingdom Andy Murray today at the Khalifa Interna- (2007–2009) tional Tennis and Squash and he hopes to hold aloft the MOST DOUBLES TITLES: 4 Complex. winner’s trophy after the Jan- Spain Rafael Nadal The World No. 31 defeated uary 6 final. ( 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015) Russian Nikolay Davydenko in “I’m the first (one) here for MOST DOUBLES FINALS: 4 the final five years back to win the press (conference) and I The Bahamas Mark Knowles his maiden title in Qatar in one hope I’m going to be the last (1996, 2000, 2001, 2003) of the season’s traditional one for the press (conference curtain-raisers. after the final). That’s always Top seed at the Qatar Exxonmobil Open, Dominic Thiem of Austria Canada Daniel Nestor Seeded fifth this year, the the best one when you come (left) and Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic pose for a photograph (1996, 2001, 2003, 2009) 31-year-old is among the eight first and leave last. Let’s hope with Tournament Director Karim Alami (centre). Spain Rafael Nadal seeded players who will be for that,” he added. (2005, 2009, 2011, 2015) vying for the top prize along In the other interesting with 24 other players, four of clashes of the first round, World them who are qualifiers and No.5 Thiem of Austria will take three wildcards. on Evgeny Donskoy of Russia The Frenchman faces a her- while Spaniard Lopez, faces culean task with a number of compatriot Guillermo Tennis is more than just players ranked much higher to Garcia-Lopez. him in the fray. Two other seeded players Besides Gasquet, the other from Spain, Fernando faces the top players who are in the spot- challenge of Sela Dudi of Israel light with the withdrawal of while Ramos-Vinolas will need ‘big four’, says Berdych former World No.1 Novak Djok- to overcome Pella Guido of ovic, include top seed Dominic Argentina. Number two seed, Thiem of Austria, Filip Kraji- Busta faces Croatia’s exciting ARMSTRONG VAS pretty long time. So it was very “It’s about that day, and from novic of Serbia and Tomas young talent, Borna Coric. THE PENINSULA exceptional. The guys (were) that one day you can create a Berdych of the Czech Republic, A lot of local interest will be having great results and really great week. From one great while the Spanish quartet of centered around the clash of DOHA: The 2018 battle for the being consistent for so many week, you can make it two and Pablo Carreno Busta, Albert Qatar’s Jaber Al Mutawa, who ATP top spot rankings is all set years,” Berdych said. They (the big four) that’s what you are looking for. Ramos-Vinolas, Feliciano squares up to a qualifier. to begin from today. The ques- The injury concerns of were (on top for a) To be honest, that’s the only rea- Lopez and Verdasco Fernando Outside the seeded list, Gael tion utmost on the most tennis Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and pretty long time. So it son why I’m still around,” he complete the seed players list Monfils the 2014 runner-up to fans mind is - will the race to the Andy Murray and with age was very exceptional. added. at the $1,286,675 event. Rafael Nadal, who is one of the World No.1 rankings again be catching up with Roger Federer, Berdych wants to push him- The withdrawal of Djoko- three players handed wildcards, confined to just the ‘big four’ or the new season has thrown open The guys (were) hav- self to achieve some of the goals vic provides an opportunity for will aim to spring a surprise. will it be wide open? the door for the start of a new ing great results and he has set in the new season. some new stars to emerge out The Frenchman, who at his Wimbledon finalist Tomas era. really being consist- “I want to challenge myself of the Doha tournament. peak form has touch a summit Berdych said the beginning of a Berdych said the dominance against the young guys as the Djokovic, the champion in ranking of World No.6, but with new era is on the cards and the by a few players for a long ent for so many years: guys that they have been with Doha for the past two years, a present ranking of World No. day will not be far when domi- period is not good for fans. Berdych me around for a long time, and pulled out on Saturday because 46 will take on Italian Paolo nance of the quartet will be a “I think people maybe get just enjoying playing,” Berdych of problems with a niggling Lorenzi, who is ranked three thing of the past. too spoiled of that they are going said. elbow injury. places higher on the ATP rank- “It’s hard to say right now. to say always Roger, Rafa, Andy, hard, been close to that. Unfor- Berdych begins his quest for Last year the Serbian super- ing computer ranking, in the But yes, I think it’s very possible. and we cannot forget Stan tunately, the result didn’t come the title against Germany’s Jan- star beat Britain’s Andy Murray, first round clash. I’m not sayingyg that it’s over but ((Wawrinka)) won also three uppy yet,” , the tall Czech right- g Lennard Struff. then world number one, in a I thinkthink it’s thethe nature ofof thethe proc- Slams.Slams. I thinkthink itit wouldwould bebe veryvery handedhanded said.said. TheThe lastlast twotwo thrilling three-set final in front essess of time and of the sport,”sport,” sadsad if we wouldwould be dominating,dominating, “When“When I waswas No.No. 4 in thethe seasonsseasons havehave beenbeen of a sell-out Doha crowd. BerdychBerdych saidsaid yesterday.yesterday. thethe wholewhole timetime andand therethere willwill be world,worldd, pprobablyrobably ththatat wwouldould bbee a a mano-a-manomano-a-mano The year before, Djokovic TheThe CzechCzech star,star, a two-timetwo-time no otherother youngyoung guysguys comicomingng uup,”p,” betterbetter moment forfor me to bebe talk-talk- contest foforr ththehe destroyed Rafa Nadal in the semi-finalistsemi-finalist at thethe Qatar Exx- BerdychBerdych said.said. inging aboutabout wiwinningnning some (Grand)(Grand) year-enyear-endd ranrank-k-k final, dropping just three onMobilonnMoM bib l OpOOpen,en, waswawas spsspeakingeaaking ttoo TheThe 32-year,32-year, whowho hashas SlamSlam andand beingbeing one ofof them.them. But ings withwith MurrayMurrayy games against the Spaniard in journalistsjoj urnalists aheadaha ead of thethe ATPATPP slippedslipipped too WorldWorld no.19noo.19 fromfrom a I thinkthiink that’sthatt’’s thethhe beautybeauty of ourour edgingedging DjokovicDjookok viv c to a breathtaking display to take tournamenttournament inin Doha.Dohaa. one-timeone-time high of four,four, hashas notnot sportsport that no mattermatter wherewhere you finishfinishs firstfirsts inin 2016.2016. the title, an ideal warm-up “They were (on(on top for a)a) givengiven up onon winning thethe GrandGrand arare,re,e yyouou sstilltill hhaveave a bbigig chchance.ana ce. LastLaL st season alsoalso before claiming his sixth Aus- Slam.Slam. featuredfeatured a two-mantwo-man tralian Open crown a few “Well,“Well, I’veI’ve beenbeen trying it forfor race,race, as NadalNadal beatbeat Fed-Fed- weeks later. quitequite a longlong time,time, erererer to finishfinish atopatop thethe Berdych is another seeded beenbeenn tryingtryyining vevveryeryy rankingsrankings hierarchyhieraarcr hy forforr player who aims to make the thethe fourthfof urthh time.time. most of Djokovic’s absence. The Czech star checked into Doha early to get accustomed to the climatic conditions and is happy to begin the season in Qatar. “It’s a great week to start the season. It’s really amazing how time flies fast and that we are here again for another sea- son. I’m pleased that I can be here (In Doha) and I can play some tennis here after quite a long break for myself, which was the longest so far I had in my career, and just looking for- ward to being back on the court,” said the 32-year-old Berdych. Berdych - a semi-finalist in the past two years in Doha - will begin his campaing against Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 30 SPORT MONDAY 1 JANUARY 2018 Guardiola Crystal Palace draw halts calls for more protection for Man City’s winning run players REUTERS City’s failure to score in a league game for the Manchester City’s Ederson (left) first time since last April meant they fell short LONDON: Manchester City saves last-gasp penalty to avoid manager Pep Guardiola feels in their bid to equal Bayern Munich 19-game defeat.