TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 12

Andreescu climbs to sixth as Zidane: Nobody should Barty holds on to top ranking write off Real Madrid Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says his team are being underestimated

• Real Madrid is set to meet Liverpool in BETTER Champions League quarter-final today Bianca Andreescu of Canada shakes hands with Ashleigh Barty of Australia KNOW after retiring during the final of the Miami Open AFP | Madrid AFP | London WTA rankings as of April 5 ianca Andreescu climbed 1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 9186 pts inedine Zidane believes if Real Madrid can three places to sixth in B 2. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7985 Real Madrid are being overcome Liverpool, the WTA rankings yesterday, 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 6965 underrated ahead of the they will have a following her run to the final Z 4. Sofia Kenin (USA) 5915 first leg of their Champions semi-final to come where she lost to Ashleigh 5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5750 League quarter-final against Barty, who remains the world against either Chelsea 6. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 5265 (+3) Liverpool on Tuesday. number one. or Porto and be within 7. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 5085 (+1) Madrid have endured a Andreescu, a 20-year-old sight of a 14th Euro- 8. Serena Williams (USA) 4850 (-1) patchy season but remain alive Canadian who was forced to 9. Karolína Pliskova (CZE) 4660 (-3) in the Champions League and pean triumph retire in the second set in Mi- 10. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4490 (+1) La Liga, with the gap to Atletico ami after turning her ankle, Zinedine Zidane (C-R) speaks with Real Madrid’s French coaching assistant Madrid down to three points Liverpool bounced back from is approaching her best rank- David Bettoni (C-L) during a training session (file photo) with nine games left. their defeat in Kiev by winning ing since winning the 2019 her nearest challenger Naomi And if they can overcome Liv- Zidane raised the possibil- duty last month with Spain. the Champions League and Pre- US Open when she reached Osaka closed the gap by 150 erpool, they will have a semi-fi- ity of Eden Hazard being in- Ramos played a key role as mier League over the next two fourth. points although the Japanese nal to come against either Chel- volved in the first leg in Ma - Real Madrid beat Liverpool in seasons but, like Madrid, they Barty, who retained her title player remains more than sea or Porto and be within sight drid on Tuesday, even though the Champions League final in have wavered since, falling be- in Florida, shrugged off crit- 1,000 points behind. of a 14th European triumph. the Belgian has missed the last 2018, after his challenge forced hind Bayern Munich and Man- icism of her continued pres- The best progression of the “I think my team has been three weeks with a pelvic injury. Mohamed Salah to be substitut- chester City. ence at number one on Sat - week came from the Greek underestimated,” said Zidane in Hazard trained at Valdebebas ed in the first half. “We don’t think about the urday, saying “I thoroughly Maria Sakkari who reached a press conference yesterday. “I yesterday morning. “I know Sergio, he is a team- past,” said Zidane. “It’s a big deserve my spot at the top of the semifinals in Florida af- trust my team a lot and I know “We have talked a lot about mate, a friend,” said Madrid de- game for them and it’s a differ- the rankings”. ter knocking out Osaka. The what it can give. But we can’t this, Hazard has to be calm. The fender Nacho Fernandez. “It’s ent game from the final in Kiev. The Australian has ben - 25-year-old Athenian moves change what people think. We important thing is that he has a shame, nobody likes to be in- We’re preparing for a different efited from a tweak into the up six places to 19th, her high- can only work day by day and recovered,” said Zidane. “If the jured in moments as important game.” way rankings are calculated est ranking yet. while there is still a chance, we player is well, I want him with as this and even more so when “We are at a club where every which takes into account the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, never give up. the team. We are going to do you know Sergio, who is the day, every minute we live with disruption caused by last year’s who made it to the last eight “We are going to fight for things little by little and we’ll captain. pressure,” added Nacho. “We pandemic shutdown. Barty in Miami, climbed one step to everything. We have had diffi- see what happens.” “I’m sure that not just Salah know how to handle it, we try skipped last year’s resched- seventh place with Serena Wil- cult moments this season and Madrid will be without their but everyone from Liverpool to use it in the best possible way, uled US and French Opens to liams dropping down to eighth now we are better but it doesn’t captain Sergio Ramos, who in- will want to take revenge and which is to lift a trophy at the remain at home. and Karolina Pliskova going mean anything tomorrow.” jured his calf on international win the game, just like us.” end of the season.” In spite of Barty’s victory, down three places to ninth.

Chelsea’s Rudiger, Kepa involved Alderweireld, in training bust-up: Telegraph Aurier left out De Kock escapes fake fielding due to late return: Mourinho charge after Zaman run out AFP | Johannesburg

outh African wicketkeeper SQuinton de Kock is unlikely to face any sanction over the run out of Fakhar Zaman dur- ing the Proteas’ 17-run win in the second ODI, according to reports. Serge Aurier and Toby Alderweireld After reviewing footage of Reuters | London the incident, match officials Antonio Rudiger and Kepa Arrizabalaga talk during a match (file photo) are believed to have come to AFP | London ottenham Hotspur man- the conclusion that de Kock Thomas Tuchel. Tager Jose Mourinho was not in breach of the law on Christian Pulisic was taken said he was without defend- fielders deceiving batsmen. helsea centre back Anto- off before the start of the sec- ers Toby Alderweireld and In the last over of the match, Cnio Rudiger was dismissed ond half due to concerns about Serge Aurier for Sunday’s with Pakistan still needing 30 early from a training session on his hamstring but Tuchel 2-2 Premier League draw to win, de Kock seemingly ges- South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock (R) unsuccessfully attempts to Sunday after he clashed with hoped that by catching the with Newcastle United be- tured for South African Aiden run out Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman (L) goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, problem early they may have cause they did not return Markram to throw to the bowl- the Telegraph reported. prevented a more serious in- from international duty in er’s end, where Haris Rauf was al on to cheating by the South The report said the pair jury. time for COVID-19 tests. heading. African wicketkeeper. squared up to each other af- “Christian did a sprint when Mourinho said Belgian Fakhar, who had struck an “I was looking at Haris Rauf ter Rudiger went in late on he came back out for the sec- Alderweireld and Ivory outstanding 193, looked behind I was looking at Haris because I thought the run-out the goalkeeper and that they ond half and said he felt his Coast’s Aurier only returned him, away from the direction of Rauf because I thought would be at his end. It was my had to be separated by team hamstring would not survive to the club’s training ground the fielder, as he was running the run-out would be at own fault,” he said at the post- mates. The defender was then the game if he continued ... We on Saturday, while the rest towards the wicketkeeper and his end. It was my own match press conference. sent to the changing room five had to make the decision to of the squad had been tested was surprised when Markram’s fault Officials are understood to minutes before the end of the substitute him straight away,” in midweek. throw hit the stumps at that FAKHAR ZAMAN have deemed that de Kock’s session. Tuchel told reporters. “They went for their na- end. actions were not a trick and Reuters has requested com- “I hope it’s not a bad injury tional teams and they didn’t Social media immediately ceive or obstruct either bats- that he was indicating for the ment from Chelsea, who suf- but just a little problem.” make the COVID tests on went into overdrive with cries man after the striker has re - throw to go to the bowler’s end. fered a shock 5-2 defeat by sec- Pulisic was making only his time to be in the training that de Kock had flouted the ceived the ball”. South African fielder Tabraiz ond-from-bottom West Brom- second start under Tuchel and session on Thursday, not law on fake fielding which Fakhar admitted after the Shamsi tweeted yesterday that wich Albion on Saturday that scored the opening goal before even on Friday. They come states that “it is unfair for any match that he had been taken de Kock was calling for a field- ended their 14-game unbeaten the 22-year-old American was only yesterday (Saturday),” fielder wilfully to attempt, by by surprise but did not attempt er to back up the throw at the run in all competitions under replaced by Mason Mount. Mourinho told reporters. word or action, to distract, de- to deflect blame for the dismiss- non-striker’s end.

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