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SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2021 Bayern,Bayern, PalmeirasPalmeira bid for more silverware at Club World Cup

WeW want to crown this outstanding year by winning the Club WWorld Cup, so we’re very ambitious concerning this trophy. AsA a European team, we are certainly favourites. We want to uunderline that and win the trophy as well, but it’ll certainly be a challenge.

Bayern forward Thomas Mueller Sport | 15

CRICKET: ENGLAND VS INDIA 1ST TEST England 1st innings: 263/3 (D. Sibley 87, J. Root 128 n.o.) against India (J. Bumrah2/40)

Al Duhail fans during the match against Al Ahly on Thursday.

Qatar's Al Duhail look to finish Club World Cup campaign on a high

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA We tried to equalise in Qatari champions Al Duhail gave Egyptian giants Al Ahly a run for the second half after money before going down in the coaching staff their debut match at the FIFA made some changes, Club World Cup on Thursday, but the team did not and The Red after their gallant show in the opener have succeed in scoring now shifted focus on the fifth despite our clear position play-off as they aim to possession of the ball. finish the elite tournament on a We returned to our true high. A first half goal by Egyptian level in the second half, national team’s striker Hussein El but we did not succeed Shahat gave nine-time African in finding the equaliser, champions a 1-0 win over the and I must congratulate host country’s club at the Edu- cation City Stadium. Al Duhail, Al Ahly and wish them however, fought well in the match success in their next particularly in the second half. match: Al Duhail striker Al Duhail coach Sabri Lam- Almoez Ali ouchi was overall satisfied with the performance of his side on a Al Duhail players during a training session. big stage, saying lack of expe- rience cost his team the match. learned from this match and we “I do not blame my players are now focusing on our final who showed a very good per- match of the tournament,” he said. formance in the second half,” I do not blame my players who showed said the Frenchman. a very good performance in the second Mosimane happy to defy “It was a great honour for me half. It was a great honour for me and Al Duhail’s fightback and the players to participate in the players to participate in the first the first match in this important In Thursday’s match, Al tournament. In such matches, the match in this important tournament. In Duhail dominated the second fine details are what makes the such matches, the fine details are what half and made as many as 15 difference, but despite the loss, makes the difference, but despite the attempts with seven shots on the team gained experience and loss, the team gained experience target, and Al Ahly coach Pitso we will try to change some Mosimane praised his team for things,” Lamouchi added. and we will try to change some their resistance. The Red Knights now face things: Sabri Lamouchi “We faced a tough opponent. Asian champions Ulsan Hyundai They have a lot of great players, as they target fifth position at but we managed to achieve our Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium goal and win the match,” said tomorrow, with Lamouchi Mosimane. hoping for an improved show many chances his team failed to equaliser, and I must congrat- “Moreover in the last ten from his players after their outing find an equaliser. ulate Al Ahly and wish them minutes of the game, Al Duhail Tribute to Maradona, Rossi in the first match. “We tried to equalise in the success in their next match.” SC created several chances but QNA – DOHA Education City Stadium. “Al Duhail lacked experience second half after the coaching Defender Mehdi Benatia said we managed to deal with their The committee played and we could have made the dif- staff made some changes, but the Al Duhail are now looking pressure in the best possible The FIFA Club World clips of the two late ference with experience, and we team did not succeed in scoring forward to the next match after manner,” he added. Cup 2020 organising legends, that included will work hard to achieve victory despite our clear possession of gaining valuable experience from Al Ahly will meet tournament committee paid tribute their goals for Italy and in our next match against Ulsan the ball,” he said. Al Ahly game. favourites Bayern Munich in the to football legends Paolo Argentina, before the Hyundai,” he said. “We returned to our true “We played much better in the second semi-final to be played Rossi and Diego match between Al Ahly Al Duhail striker Almoez Ali, level in the second half, but we second half after mistake cost us at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Armando Maradona, at and Al Duhail. lamented that despite creating did not succeed in finding the a goal in the first half. We have Monday. Al Ahly get set for Bayern semi-final We played much better in the second All Al Ahly players were at the half after mistake cost us a goal in the highest level during the match first half. We have learned from this against Al Duhail, and everyone match and we are now focusing on our was at the top of their focus. We final match of the tournament. We have have a big match against Bayern to fight and show the same performance and we are trying to appear in a we did in the second half against Al Ahly. manner befitting the name and We need to have confidence and we popularity of Al Ahly. We promise have to respect the coach’s plan to Al Ahly fans to do our best to improve and score goals: Al Duhail make them happy: Al Ahly defender Mehdi Benatia Al Ahly players taking part in a training session in Doha yesterday, a day after their win over Al Duhail in the second round of the FIFA defender Ayman Ashraf Club World Cup Qatar 2020. The African champions face European giants Bayern Munich in the semi-final on Monday. PIC: ALAHLYFC SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 15

UEFA hands Palmeiras, Bayern bid for more Ajax keeper Onana 12-month silverware at Club World Cup doping ban REUTERS – DOHA REUTERS – AMSTERDAM

Teams from two of football’s Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre superpower nations found out No South American team Onana has been suspended for 12 their opponents in the Club have won the months by European soccer’s World Cup semi-finals on tournament since governing body UEFA for violating Thursday as Tigres of Mexico Corinthians beat Chelsea doping rules, the club said on Friday. set up a showdown with in 2012 and Palmeiras Traces of the banned substance Brazilian club Palmeiras and Furosemide were found in the Cam- Al Ahly qualified to face are eager to go one eroon international’s urine during an German giants Bayern better than in 1999, out-of-competition test on Oct. 30, Munich. when they lost 1-0 to Ajax said, leading to a year-long ban Tigres beat South Korean Manchester United. for the player from all football activ- side Ulsan Hyundai 2-1 and ities effective from Friday. Egyptian side Al Ahly Furosemide is not known to be overcame Al Duhail 1-0 to The winners of the performance enhancing itself, but can firm up the last four in Qatar. Tigres-Palmeiras match be used to mask the use of other kinds No South American team will likely face of doping, according to the World Anti- have won the tournament Champions League Doping Agency (WADA). since Corinthians beat winners Bayern Munich Bayern Munich players train at their Club's training ground in Munich. Onana said the violation was the Chelsea in 2012 and Pal- result of a mistake, as he accidentally meiras are eager to go one in the final. took a medicine meant for his girl- better than in 1999, when they friend on the morning of Oct. 30. lost 1-0 to Manchester United. Victory in Qatar would “I mistakenly took it for a aspirin The Sao Paulo club won be Bayern’s sixth title in because the packaging was almost their second Copa Liberta- nine months, a record identical, which I greatly regret”, dores less than a week ago, Onana said in a post on his Instagram beating Santos with a last- for German football. account. gasp goal at the Maracana “I respect the UEFA Appeals Body, stadium. but I do not share their decision in this FIFA rules mean Breno case. I consider it excessive and dis- Lopes, who scored that proportionate as it has been acknowl- winner, cannot participate edged by UEFA that it was an uninten- but in Danilo, tional mistake.” Ajax and Onana said and , they they would appeal the ban at the Court have a young and highly- of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). rated midfield, as well as Onana’s doping ban is the second exciting wingers and blow for Ajax within a few days after and veteran the discovery earlier this week that goalkeeper Weverton. Palmeiras players taking part in a practice they had failed to register their record However, even reaching session at Aspire Zone yesterday. signing Sebastien Haller for the Europa the final is no longer a given League knockout rounds. for the South Americans. The 24-year old Onana has played When this title was winning five league titles and the Koreans. “We came here in which they won the Cham- had with the Champions 142 matches for Ajax since 2015 and reserved solely for South a CONCACAF Champions to make history and we are pions League and their eighth League win last summer,” said has been one of the key players behind America and European teams League since 2010, all under through a first round that consecutive Bundesliga title Bayern forward Thomas the club’s recent domestic and before 2005, the Latin clubs the guidance of Brazilian wasn’t easy,” Gignac said. and whose striker Robert Mueller. European success. won 22 to Europe’s 21. coach Ricardo “Tuca” “We had the character to Lewandowski was crowned “We want to crown this Ajax have won the Dutch league In two of the last four Ferretti. come back.” the Best FIFA Men’s Player of outstanding year by winning in the past two seasons, and currently years, however, they have Mexican clubs have The winners of the Tigres- the Year. Victory in Qatar the Club World Cup, so we’re hold a seven point lead over rivals PSV fallen at the semi-final stage reached the last four of the Palmeiras match will likely would be Bayern’s sixth title very ambitious concerning this Eindhoven. Onana helped Ajax reach to teams from Japan and the Club World Cup nine times but face Champions League in nine months, a record for trophy. As a European team, the semi-finals of the Champions United Arab Emirates. never the final, and their top winners Bayern Munich in the German football. we are certainly favourites. League in 2019 and the final of the Palmeiras’s opponents scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac final. “The tournament is an We want to underline that and Europa League two years earlier. Tigres are the standout lauded his team after they The German champions opportunity for us to wrap up win the trophy as well, but it’ll Onana has also earned 15 caps for Mexican side of recent years, came from 1-0 down to beat hope to cap a successful year this huge run of success we certainly be a challenge.” Cameroon. Our biggest strengths are our mentality and quality, says Bayern star Kimmich

FIFA.COM It’s always nice to play in In an August 2016 eentryntry in The Players’ new and big stadiums Tribune, Joshua Kimmichmmich tetellslls hhisis storstoryy (which will also be used in of learning to play ffootballootball in his the FIFA World Cup in parents’ garden inn the small German village of Bosingen. 2022). Fortunately here in Total population? Aboutbout 1,700. Germany we also have really When one growsws up in a big and nice stadiums but small town, there’s nnotot a lot to there are no spectators at do, so it’s important to get crcre-e- the moment. This is not ative. After breakingg too manymany of his parents’ windowsindows anandd that nice, but to play ruining their plants with stray shots in these stadiums is in the garden, Kimmich’smich’s parents ggotot two always a really regulation goals fromom the local club and good feeling: instructed him to plplayay witwithh hhisis ffriendsriends Kimmich across the street on aann oopenpen sspacepace of land. It was there, where hhee and his friends built their own “stadium” wwithith makeshift standstands,s, Chelsea’s Jorginho scores their first goal from the penalty spot. that his dreams startedted formulating firmly in his head. Fast-forward overover 18 yyearsears and Kimmich is one of the most important Tuchel's good players on arguably the world’s best team and is preparing forr his FIFA Club World Bayern Munich’s Cup debut, where hee will be playing in ststa-a- Joshua Kimmich. start continues as diums that will be usedsed at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Chelsea beat Spurs FIFA caught up with Kimmich ahead of team-mates it would be outstanding, so strength of Bayern Munich right now? Bayern’s semi-final, which coincidentally, we’re totally motivated to win this big title. Our biggest strengths are our mentality REUTERS – LONDON will land on his 26th birthday. and our quality. Both are really important Now you’re facing teams from different and we have both. We have a great men- Thomas Tuchel continued his impressive start as Chelsea manager FIFA.com: 2020 was a fantastic year for continents. Is there a special motivation tality in our group. We always want to win, by getting the better of Jose Mourinho in a 1-0 Premier League Bayern. What was your favourite moment to play against them? even when we don’t play very well. You can win at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday courtesy of Jorginho's of the year? It is special because you play against always see that we want to win those types first-half penalty. Joshua Kimmich: Of course it was an other countries from far away. It is really of games. Everyone knows we have a lot of German Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard last week, has outstanding year. There were a lot of pos- interesting because it’s not often that you quality in our squad. It doesn’t matter who now seen his side take seven points from his three Premier League itive moments, but for me the best moment get to play against such teams. plays, there is always a world class player games in charge with no goals conceded. was winning the Champions League, in the first 11 and that is a big strength. Jorginho's 24th-minute penalty, awarded for a clumsy foul defeating Paris and knowing that we are It will be a new stadium for you, too. How on Timo Werner by Eric Dier, did not do justice to Chelsea's dom- the champions now. much are you looking forward to play in You’ve been raising a lot of money with ination of a Tottenham side who have now lost three league games these brand new stadiums, which will also your #WeKickCorona initiative. What in a row for the first time since 2012. There’s a chance you could win a sixth be used in the FIFA World Cup in 2022? does it mean to you? Chelsea had numerous chances to stretch their lead after the title on the spin. What would it mean to It’s always nice to play in new and big We wanted to help a lot of people and we break with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount going close, you to win the FIFA Club World Cup? stadiums. Fortunately here in Germany we also wanted to give other people who wanted although Tottenham striker Carlos Vinicius, playing in place of Every player wants to win this trophy also have really big and nice stadiums but to help the chance and initiative to help. For the injured Harry Kane, headed one glorious late chance wide. because the qualification for this trophy is there are no spectators at the moment. This us it’s a lot of trust they put in us. We wanted Chelsea were well worth the victory that lifted them into sixth the hardest qualification! You have to win is not that nice, but to play in these stadiums to take this responsibility and give money to spot with 36 points from 22 games while Mourinho's Tottenham, the Champions League to get a chance to is always a really good feeling. these organisations who are helping people. who topped the table in December, have slumped to eighth on win this trophy. We want to win our sixth This is the big goal: to help a lot of people. We 33 points. title in one year. For me and also for my What do you think is the biggest did it in the past and we will do it in the future. Sport SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2021 14

England’s Nortje takes five-for but celebrates his with team-mate Dom Sibley yesterday. PICTURE COURTESY: hosts Pakistan fight back ENGLAND REUTERS — RAWALPINDI SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings (overnight 145-3) (3nb), Maharaj 45-11-90-3, Linde 5.5-2-4-0, Elgar took five Imran Butt c de Kock b Maharaj ...... 15 1.1-0-6-0, Mulder 17-7-40-1 (2nb) as Pakistan were dismissed for Abid Ali c Markram b Nortje ...... 6 272 but South Africa’s struggles Azhar Ali lbw b Maharaj ...... 0 SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings with the bat in the sub- c du Plessis b Nortje ...... 77 D. Elgar c Rizwan b Hasan ...... 15 Fawad Alam run out ...... 45 A. Markram c Shaheen b Nauman ...... 32 continent continued as they Mohammad Rizwan c Rabada b Nortje ...... 18 R. van der Dussen b Hasan ...... 0 limped to 106 for four at the Faheem Ashraf ...... 78 F. du Plessis c Rizwan b Ashraf ...... 17 close on the second day of the Hasan Ali c Elgar b Maharaj ...... 8 T. Bavuma not out ...... 15 second Test in Rawalpindi c and b Mulder ...... 8 Q. de Kock not out ...... 24 yesterday. Nauman Ali c Markram b Nortje ...... 8 Extras: (nb3) ...... 3 Shaheen Shah Afridi c Elgra b Nortje ...... 0 Total: (28 overs; for four wkts)...... 106 Extras: (b2, lb2, nb5) ...... 9 Still to bat: G. Linde, W. Mulder, K. Rabada, K. Ma- (24 not out from 11 balls) and TOTAL (114.3 overs, all out)...... 272 haraj, A. Nortje (15 not out) sur- Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Butt), 2-21 (Azhar), 3-22 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Elgar), 2-26 (Dussen), 3-55 vived in the gloom at the close, (Abid), 4-145 (Azam), 5-149 (Alam), 6-190 (Rizwan), (du Plessis), 4-81 (Markram) but the tourists still trail by 166 7-221 (Hasan), 8-251 (Yasir), 9-272 (Nauman) ; Shaheen 5-1-19-0, Hasan 5-0-29-2 (nb3), runs and will be looking for a Bowling: Rabada 21-2-72-0, Nortje 24.3-8-56-5 Ashraf 5-0-16-1, Nauman 9-5-19-1, Yasir 4-1-23-0 counter-punch on day three. South Africa have passed defeat in the first Test in innings score. South Africa’s Root scores century as 300 just three times in their last Karachi. openers (15) and 25 innings on the sub-con- Nortje (5-56) was superb were positive tinent, and have been prone to with the ball, his aggression and at the start of the innings, but spectacular collapses, as they accuracy leading to a third five- disaster struck as they lost England punish India seek to level the two-match haul in Tests to restrict two wickets in the final two series after a seven wicket Pakistan to a manageable first balls of the middle session. Elgar was caught by wick- SCOREBOARD His battle against Ashwin etkeeper Mohammad Rizwan REUTERS — CHENNAI ENGLAND, 1st innings is one of the sub-plots of the off the bowling of Hasan Ali R. Burns c Pant b Ashwin ...... 33 four-Test series and the (2-29), and the very next England’s Joe Root celebrated D. Sibley lbw b Bumrah ...... 87 England captain took a single his 100th Test with an D. Lawrence lbw b Bumrah ...... 0 off the spinner to bring up his was deceived by a ball that kept unbeaten 128 against India as J. Root not out ...... 128 20th hundred. low and clattered into his he and opener Dom Sibley put Extras (lb4, nb11) ...... 15 Root jumped in celebration stumps. the tourists in a commanding TOTAL (89.3overs, 3 wickets) ...... 263 while India counterpart Virat (17) looked in position in the opening match Fall of wickets: 1-63 (Burns), 2-63 (Law- Kohli clapped. control until he inexplicably yesterday. rence), 3-263 (Sibley) Root, who suffered cramps tried to cut a wide Faheem The England captain had To bat: B. Stokes, O. Pope, J. Buttler, D. Bess, towards the end, provided a Ashraf delivery and edged to demanded a big first-innings J. Archer, J. Leach, J. Anderson template for playing spin Rizwan. total from his team after Bowling: Sharma 15-3-27-0 (nb4), Bumrah bowling, using his feet and fre- The visitors were dealt a 18.3-2-40-2 (nb3), Ashwin, 24-2-68-1, Na- electing to bat at Chennai’s MA quently playing the sweep shot further blow when left-arm deem 20-3-69-0 (nb4), Sundar 12-0-55-0 Chidambaram Stadium. after his early caution against spinner Nauman Ali deceived INDIA: V. Kohli (capt), R. Sharma, S. Gill, C. When they threatened to Pujara, A. Rahane, R. Pant, W. Sundar, R. Ashwin. Markram (32) and the latter squander their strong start, Ashwin, I. Sharma, J. Bumrah, S. Nadeem India, playing their first chipped a simple catch to Root partnered Sibley in a mar- home series since the Shaheen Shah at mid-wicket. athon 200-run stand to help COVID-19 pandemic struck last Pakistan had resumed their England post a strong 263-3 at tricky task of in the year, looked sloppy in the field innings on 145 for three but lost stumps. fourth innings on a crumbling with several misfields while their two set batsmen from the Root’s unbeaten knock was wicket. Pant dropped a low catch to day before in quick studded with 14 boundaries England got off to a steady reprieve Burns early in his succession. and a six. start with a 63-run stand innings. Captain Babar Azam (77) Sibley made 87 before between Sibley and Rory Burns They bowled 11 no-balls, edged the second delivery of Jasprit Bumrah trapped him but faltered ahead of the lunch four of them by left-arm the morning from Nortje to Du lbw with the final delivery of break. spinner Shahbaz Nadeem. Plessis at second slip, before the the day. Burns made 33 before Bumrah, playing his first centurion from the first Test, “Really pleased with the attempting a reckless reverse- Test on home soil, said there Fawad Alam (45) was run out position we’ve got ourselves sweep against Ravichandran was not much help from the by a direct hit from Bavuma. into now,” Root told the broad- Ashwin and offering a simple pitch. Babar and Fawad had put casters after the opening day’s catch to . “The ball became soft, the on 127 for the fourth wicket to play. Bumrah then trapped Dan wicket was on the flatter side rescue the home side from a “Bit of a shame to lose Dom Lawrence lbw for a duck but and the bounce was low -- we precarious 22 for three on the at the end of the day there but Root and Sibley denied India a were left with limited options,” first morning. we’re just going to try and wicket in the steady second he told a video conference. Faheem Ashraf picked up match that again tomorrow, session. “We put some pressure but the momentum with a superb make use of a really strong first Root survived an early gave away 20-25 extra runs in unbeaten 78, but ran out of day.” run-out chance and the lack of the last session. We’ll come partners as Nortje chipped Root won an important toss carry in the wicket meant a back tomorrow and put Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf (left) celebrates away at the wickets column to and unsurprisingly elected to couple of edges fell short of the pressure on them again,” he his half century with team-mate Yasir Shah. leave the home side all out just bat, avoiding the potentially fielders behind the stumps. added. before tea.

SCOREBOARD 1st innings 430 9-259 (Cornwall), 10-259 ( Warrican) Bangladesh stay in control of first Test WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 75-2) Bowling: Mustafizur 15-4-46-2 (nb1), Shakib 6-1- b Nayeem ...... 76 16-0, Mehidy 26-9-58-4(nb1), Taijul 33.1-11-84-2 John Campbell lbw b Mustafizur ...... 3 (nb2), Nayeem 16-1-54-2 AP — CHATTOGRAM at the crease. Left-arm spinner vital in resisting Bangladesh’s innings included 12 Shayne Moseley lbw Mustafizur ...... 2 BANGLADESH 2nd innings Taijul Islam hopes Bangladesh spinners. Left-arm spinner boundaries. Nkrumah Bonner c Najmul b Taijul ...... 17 Shadman Islam c Da Silva b Gabriel ...... 5 Mehidy Hasan followed up his can set West Indies a target of Taijul Islam (2-84) broke Offspinner Mehidy, who Kyle Mayers lbw b Mehidy...... 40 Lbw b Cornwall ...... 0 Jermaine Blackwood c Liton b Mehidy ...... 68 Najmul Hossain c Blackwood b Cornwall...... 0 first Test century with 4-58 as more than 350 but said “we are through on the opening scored 103 in the first innings, Joshua Da Silva c Liton b Nayeem ...... 42 not out ...... 31 Bangladesh stayed in control of capable of even defending 250 delivery, dismissing Nkrumah claimed Mayers for 40 to take Rahkeem Cornwall b Mehidy ...... 2 not out ...... 10 the first Test against West Indies runs on this wicket.” Bonner for 17. But Brathwaite the first of his four wickets. Kemar Roach c Sub b Mehidy ...... 0 Extras (nb1) ...... 1 yesterday. West Indies was bowled out led the repair job, sharing a Mehidy’s excellent Jomel Warrican b Taijul ...... 4 TOTAL (three wickets; 20 overs) ...... 47 Bangladesh reached 47-3 in for 259 in its first innings in 55-run partnership with deb- bowling, with support from Shannon Gabriel not out ...... 0 To Bat: , Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan, its second innings at stumps on reply to Bangladesh’s 430, utant Kyle Mayers. Nayeem and Taijul, covered Extras (lb 1, nb4) ...... 5 Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman day 3, stretching its lead to 218 giving the hosts a 171-run lead. Nayeem Hasan (2-54) ended up the absence of Shakib Al TOTAL (all out; 96.1 overs) ...... 259 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tamim), 2-1 (Najmul), 3-33 on an increasingly deteriorating Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite the stand, removing Brathwaite Hasan due to a fresh thigh Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Campbell), 2-24 (Moseley) (Shadman) pitch. led the charge with 76 after who was unable to judge a injury. Shakib was playing this 3-75 (Bonner), 4-130 (Brathwaite), 5-154 ( Mayers,), Bowling: 4-1-5-0 (nb1), Cornwall 9-1-28-2, Gabriel 6-253 (Da Silva), 7-253 (Blackwood), 8-253 (Roach), 6-0-13-1, Warrican 1-0-1-0 Captain Mominul Haque (31) West Indies resumed on 75-2. delivery that spun sharply to Test after recovering from a and Mushfiqur Rahim (10) are The captain’s innings was rattle his stumps. Brathwaite’s groin injury. ATP Cup: Germany end Serbia’s Barty downs Rogers as Serena pulls out of semi REUTERS — MELBOURNE title defence to reach semi-finals suspension of play after a Serena Williams withdrew worker at one of the Mel- REUTERS — MELBOURNE warmup against Zverev in the from the Yarra Valley Classic bourne quarantine hotels singles. semi-finals yesterday due to contracted COVID-19. Alexander Zverev shrugged off With Rafa Nadal still side- a shoulder injury, just days In the other half of the a tight loss to Novak Djokovic lined with a back problem, before the American begins Yarra Valley draw, Garbine to end Serbia’s ATP Cup title Pablo Carrena Busta guided her quest for a 24th Grand Muguruza dumped Aus- defence with victory in the a depleted Spain into the last Slam title at the Australian tralian Open champion Sofia doubles as Germany advanced four by claiming a 6-3, 6-4 Open. Kenin out of the tournament to the semi-finals of the team- win against Greece’s Michail Williams had advanced 6-2, 6-2 in a re-match of last based event in Melbourne Pervolarakis at John Cain to a mouth-watering semi- year’s Grand Slam final at yesterday. Arena. final clash against world Melbourne Park. Germany will meet Russia Though eliminated, number one Ash Barty after Muguruza will next play in the last four, with Spain to Greece ended up winning the getting past Danielle Collins Marketa Vondrousova after take on Italy. tie 2-1, with Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 4-6 (10-6), and while she the Czech took down Nadia Zverev, beaten 6-7(3), 6-2, easing past Roberto Bautista showed no sign of discomfort Podoroska 4-6, 6-3 (10-4). 7-5 in a high-quality match by Germany’s Alexander Zverev (foreground) and Jan-Lennard Agut 7-5, 7-5. the WTA Tour later said the At the Gippsland Trophy, world number one Djokovic Struff (left) with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic Spain retired after losing 39-year-old was pulling out world number two Simona earlier yesterday, stepped up to (right) after their group stage doubles match, yesterday. the opening game of the with a right shoulder injury. Halep suffered a surprise 6-2 partner Jan-Lennard Struff to a doubles, handing Greece the Barty had also needed a 6-1 defeat to Ekaterina rousing 7-6(4), 5-7 (10-7) win. super tiebreaker to beat Alexandrova. victory over Djokovic and Open title defence. A year after He was broken at 5-5 in the In a dead rubber between Shelby Rogers 7-5, 2-6 (10-4) Former Australian Open Nikola Cacic on Rod Laver crashing out of the inaugural second set of the doubles after Austria and France in the in her quarter-final. champion Victoria Azarenka Arena. ATP Cup with a huge tally of two double-faults but nailed his evening, world number three Super tiebreakers are advanced at the Grampians Djokovic’s 11-match double-faults, Zverev’s serving serves when Germany grabbed Dominic Thiem’s hopes of being played after two sets Trophy with a 6-4, 1-6 (11-9) winning streak in the team demons returned under match points in the super getting some match practice in all WTA matches as organ- win over Yulia Putintseva but tournament was broken, and pressure against Djokovic in the tiebreak. were cut short when his French isers look to clear a backlog top seed Belinda Bencic fell he will have no more match singles and again in the doubles Djokovic consoled himself opponent, Benoit Paire, retired caused by Thursday’s 7-5, 6-2 to Sorana Cirstea. practice before his Australian on Friday. that he had an excellent while trailing 6-1.