14 Sports Thursday, June 3, 2021

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Novak Djokovic hails ‘bold, brave’ Osaka PARIS: World number one Novak Djokovic on Tuesday hailed Naomi Osaka as “brave and bold” for withdrawing from the after reveal- ing her struggles with depression and anxiety. “I support her. I think she was very brave to do that. I’m really sorry that she is going through painful times and suffering mentally, is what I have heard,” said Djokovic after reaching the second round of the tournament. This was, I must say, a very bold deci- sion from her side.” Djokovic kicked off his cam- paign for a 19th title with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Tennys Sandgren inside an empty stadium. , the 13-time champion and chasing a record-setting 21st major, defeated Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3). The Spaniard now has 101 wins against just two losses at the tournament. World number one Ashleigh Barty marked her Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates during F1 Grand Prix. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com return to Paris for the first time since her 2019 title triumph by beating American left-hander Bernarda Pera 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 but admitted she was fighting a hip problem. “I’m not going to hide behind the fact I’m not quite 100%,” said the 25-year-old. Italian 37-year-old , playing in his 63rd suc- cessive Grand Slam, stunned 20th seeded Felix Alcaraz, Musetti and latest ‘NextGen’ Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 6-4. Venus Williams, playing the tournament for the 24th time and a runner-up 19 years ago, saw her 89th Grand Slam end as Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova eased to look to shake up old order at French Open a 6-3, 6-1 win. Carla Suarez Navarro came close to winning her first match back after recovering from cancer, but bowed out 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 at the PARIS: The much-hyped ‘Next Gen’ He lost to his illustrious compatriot hands of Sloane Stephens. — AFP have so far failed to break Rafael in the second round, but Nadal was Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak upbeat about the teenager’s future. Djokovic’s hold on ’ biggest “He already has a great level of tennis News in brief titles, but a new group of teenagers today, but I really believe that he’s are hoping to show they can take over going to be a fantastic player in the Kuwait matches without fans at the top of the game. near future,” said the 20-time Grand Carlos Alcaraz qualified for the Slam champion after beating the KUWAIT: Kuwait’s World Cup qualifying match main draw aged just young pretender in straight sets. against Australia will be held today without fans, 17 earlier this season and at the Rising stars like Alcaraz and Kuwait Football Association has confirmed. French Open, now 18, won his first- Musetti are being increasingly mould- Kuwait’s qualifying football home matches for round match this week. The progres- ed into future champions from a very both the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 sion of Italian is being young age. Alcaraz, who warmed up Asian Cup in China will continue to be held with- closely followed by tennis fans, but his for Roland Garros by winning a sec- out spectators as the country follows strict health compatriot and fellow 19-year-old ond-tier Challenger event in Portugal precautions against COVID-19, KFA explained. Lorenzo Musetti is also threatening to to break into the top 100, is trained at race up the rankings. former world number one Juan Carlos With Federer 39, Nadal turning 35 Ferrero’s academy. Today, he faces Cycling team empresses today and Djokovic 34, there is a clear Georgia’s 28th seed Nikoloz opportunity for the youngest mem- Basilashvili. KUWAIT: Kuwait pro cycling team achieved bers of the ATP top 100 to make their “From the moment he gets up to good results from its participation in the Tour of PARIS: Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns the ball to France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert presence felt in the coming years. But when he goes to sleep, we try to edu- Estonia championship, as one of the team mem- during their men’s singles first round tennis match on Day 2 of The Roland the same was previously said of the cate Carlos on all the recovery bers came third in the individual category, 1 sec- Garros 2021 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on May 31, 2021. —AFP likes of Dominic Thiem, Alexander processes,” his fitness coach Juanjo ond behind the runner-up and 5 seconds behind the winner. This is considered a major achieve- Zverev, and Daniil Moreno told atptour.com. While and en trained with Nadal ahead of the tour- ment in Europe, as a large number of cyclists par- Medvedev. younger players have traditionally ticipated. Teams from the US, Britain, Sweden, route to the last 16 as a nament, after seeing off three-time So far, though, the only one of that struggled in best-of-five-set matches, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, quartet to win a Grand Slam title was Alcaraz is confident he is ready for the qualifier. He started this season in Grand Slam quarter-finalist Goffin 6- Belarus, Czechia and Kuwait participated, each Thiem at last year’s US Open, when highest level. Challenger tournaments, but has 0, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). with six riders. the Austrian was already 27 and with “I trust a lot in my physical (condi- since reached two ATP semi-finals, “Certainly training with Nadal is an Nadal and Federer both absent and tioning), yeah. I could play a really, losing twice to Tsitsipas in Acapulco exceptional experience that I will car- Djokovic dramatically defaulted in the really good game during the whole and Lyon. ry within me forever, but I liked the Emerson back at Barcelona fourth round. match,” he said after beating Bernabe His defeat of 13th seed David victory against Goffin because I Spaniard Alcaraz was born in 2003, Zapata Miralles 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 Goffin in the Roland Garros first demonstrated the right mentality, the MADRID: Barcelona have recalled the Brazilian the same year Federer won his first (7/4) in Paris to at least match his run round was barely a shock, with it his one that takes you far.” Musetti will defender Emerson from his loan at La Liga rivals major title at Wimbledon. He has to the Australian Open second round. sixth win from just nine matches be the favourite against Japan’s Real Betis, adding to two new signings in the already been tipped for greatness, against top-20 players. “It demon- in the second close season. The 22-year-old Emerson joins and broke Nadal’s record by becom- Musetti ‘belongs’ at top level strates that I belong at this level, but round today, showing how fast his center-back Eric Garcia and forward Sergio ing the youngest match winner in Musetti announced himself to the there is still a long way to go,” said stock has climbed despite making his Aguero, who both switched to Barcelona from history last month. ATP Tour late last year by beating world number 76 Musetti, who Grand Slam debut this week. — AFP Manchester City. Barcelona said the defender was expected at the Nou Camp on July 1, but he may yet be called into the Brazil squad for the Let the bells ring out, Copa America. — AFP spectators return to Hilal name new coach RIYADH: Saudi giants Al-Hilal, the local league champions for the second consecutive season, have English Test cricket appointed Portuguese Leonardo Jardim as head coach. After winning local championships in LONDON: The family of the late Captain Tom Portugal and Greece, the 46-year-old Jardim Moore who became a global hero for his fundrais- coached Monaco, the French champions in 2017. ing efforts during the coronavirus pandemic rang Al-Hilal’s season has been marked by instability the five minute bell at Lord’s prior to the first Test with four successive coaches, all rapidly sacked between England and New Zealand yesterday. due to poor results. — AFP The World War II veteran died aged 100 on February 2 after raising nearly £33 million ($45 mil- lion, 37.4 million euros) for healthcare charities by Van Bommel Wolfsburg coach completing 100 lengths of his garden before his century birthday in April last year. BERLIN: Former Bayern Munich and In a sign of how far England has recovered dur- Netherlands star Mark van Bommel will coach Wolfsburg after agreeing a two-year deal, the ing a year that has cost over 127,000 lives in the Bundesliga club said yesterday. He will replace United Kingdom, 6,500 spectators were on hand to Oliver Glasner who has taken over Bundesliga see the family ring the historic bell. It is the first time rivals Eintracht Frankfurt. Van Bommel, 44, since September 2019 that England have played in coached PSV Eindhoven for a brief tenure in front of spectators at home. 2019 and was previously assistant for Saudi The crowd are made up largely of Marylebone Arabia and Australia alongside his father-in-law Cricket Club members, who were given priority for LONDON: Spectators observe social distancing rules on the first day of the first Test cricket match between Bert van Marwijk. — AFP tickets. Priority for any tickets left after MCC mem- England and New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London yesterday. — AFP bers — in their famous bacon and egg coloured ties — were given their allocation was given to specta- “I’m so excited. It has been a long time, so I’m People will be happy to be there, there will be the Teen sends death threats tors attending with under 16-year-olds. delighted to be back watching live sport,” he told normal crowd noise.” In a further sign of some sense of normality SINGAPORE: A Singaporean teenager admit- AFP. “It’s a great day and feels like a long time in Wine merchant Edward Clarke, 56, was returning to sporting events there were even ticket ted yesterday to sending death threats to English the making. Just being part of a crowd and watch- dressed more formally than Marks ensuring pro- touts outside the ground. Those queuing in orderly Premier League footballer Neal Maupay after ing live sport, you can’t beat it, and seeing the tection from the sun with a Panama hat, a dark fashion under beaming blue skies were cock a hoop becoming angry while watching a match. Derek players in the flesh again — you can’t recreate blue blazer but eschewed a tie. “It’s surreal and to be returning to watch live cricket. Ng De Ren, 19, sent the messages to the that on TV. It won’t be quite like normal but it’s relieving,” he said. “It’s good for the cricketers Brighton & Hove Albion forward last year from better than nothing.” mostly and to have something to play to. I’m dou- ‘The end of cricket’ the Southeast Asian city-state. He was angered Katie Banks, a 51-year-old solicitor, said she was ble-jabbed (two doses of vaccine) so I suppose I William Marks, 30, who works in the shipping after watching a match between Brighton and ecstatic to be out and about after the ennui of being feel quite reassured about the whole thing. I’m of industry, said it was the perfect storm - the Arsenal in June last year, in which Arsenal goal- stuck at home through three lockdowns. “I feel quite the belief that you can’t stay locked up forever. If keeper Bernd Leno was stretchered off in the weather combined with the opposition being “one safe enough. I miss having fun and talking to people this doesn’t happen, it will be the end of cricket. first half after colliding with Maupay. The French of the best teams in the world” New Zealand. In and having something interesting happening in my It’s a difficult balance. It will be interesting to see forward later scored the winning goal in a cru- keeping with the delightful conditions he was life,” she told AFP. “To share the experience of sport how the size of the crowd can make the noise, the cial win for Brighton. — AFP wearing long shorts. is really great. This is only the very beginning. dynamics of it.” — AFP