NBA | Page 5 NHL | Page 6 Hardaway, Matthews To Advertise here McCollum lift s Leafs Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 win with to win over career highs the Wings Tuesday, January 3, 2017 FOOTBALL Rabia Il 5, 1438 AH Defoe punishes GULF TIMES Liverpool, Man U sink Hammers SPORT Page 4 QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN Djoko survives Struff scare, Murray beaten in doubles ‘I needed more time to get the engine started I guess. It’s my first match of the year. You never know how you’re going to start. As well as you have trained in the preparation period and the days prior to the tournament, it’s a diff erent scenario when you are out there on the courts amidst the crowd’ By Joe Koraith Doha t was a stumble out of the blocks that could have proved costly. But then again, such a scenario would have been ‘just another day at the Ijob’ for Novak Djokovic. At the Qatar ExxonMobil Open yes- terday, the defending champion was down 1-5 in the fi rst set during his opening match against Jan-Lennard Struff . The German, ranked world No. 63, had come out attacking and this had unsettled Djokovic. But then the gears clicked and the Serb won fi ve games in a row to snuff out the possi- bility of a challenge. There was a minor hiccup when Struff won the 12th game to make it 6-6. But Djokovic dominated the tie- breaker, and took the fi rst set. With this fi ghtback under his belt, the spec- tators at the Khalifa Complex knew that the second set would be a mere formality for Djokovic. And it was. The world No. 2 won his fi rst match 7-6 (1), 6-3 to register his fi rst win of 2017. “I needed more time to get the en- gine started I guess. It’s my fi rst match of the year. You never know how you’re going to start,” said Djokovic. “As well as you have trained in the preparation period and the days prior to the tour- nament, it’s a diff erent scenario when RESULTS (FIRST ROUND) you are out there on the courts amidst the crowd,” he added. Fernando Verdasco (Spain) beat Vasek Pospisil Djokovic acknowledged that the ag- (Canada) 7-5, 6-0; Radek Stepanek (Czech gressive approach from Struff helped Republic) beat 8-Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) in his opponent gaining the initial up- 6-4, 5-3 (Baghdatis retired); 4-David Goff in per hand. “I was a bit fl at on my feet, (Belgium) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) and Struff , credit to him for playing 7-6(4), 6-2; Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) beat aggressive, hitting the serves well, and Florian Mayer (Germany) 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(9); ripping the ball from the baseline. Also Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat Paolo Lorenzi things were coming in, so that resulted Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat (Italy) 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-3; 2-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in a 1-5 defi cit.” German Jan-Lennard Struff (inset) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 7-6(1), 6-3; And then, just like we have seen 7-6(1), 6-3 in his first round match Dustin Brown (Germany) beat Facundo Bagnis him do in the past, his fi ghter instinct of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, at (Argentina) 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-4; Jiri Vesely (Czech kicked in and Struff had to concede. the Khalifa International Tennis Republic) beat Anil Yueksel (Turkey) 6-2, 6-3 “I stayed composed because I knew, I Complex yesterday. (Reuters) believed that I could fi nd the rhythm. I started reading his serve better, and that’s what happened,” added Djoko- my life, and I think the experience of ess of continuing my training each day datis. The Cyrpus player retired from That’s why it was not easy to play fast ceived a wild card into the singles main vic. “I can certainly play better. But, knowing what to do, you know, in what and getting myself in a better shape as his match against qualifi er Radek like I used to do,” said Goffi n yesterday. round and will take on Russian Karen again, it’s fi rst match of the year. I particular moment helps.” the tournament progresses.” Stepanek with the scoreline at 6-4, “But at the end, I’m really happy with Khachanov today. know that I can’t be at my top the very He credited the ‘return’ of his return Djokovic’s next opponent will be Ar- 5-3. the way I fought in the fi rst set. Then I World No. 1 Andy Murray, partner- fi rst match, but I believe that the proc- of serve, which helped him claw back gentine Horacio Zeballos, who caused The other seeded player in action won the fi rst set and was much better ing Poland’s Mariusz Fyrstenberg, lost ess is right.” from a huge four-game defi cit. “I was an upset by defeating German Florian yesterday, ended up in the winners’ col- in the second.” 2-6, 4-6 to the Spanish-Serbian pair- Djokovic said that it was his previ- returning very well from 2-5 down. To Mayer 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6 (9) in a keenly umn. Fourth seed David Goffi n endured From Qatar’s perspective, local boy ing of David Morreno and Nenad Zi- ous experience in such situations that the end of the match the return was contested battle, especially the third a tough fi rst set against Robin Haase but Mubarak Shannan Zayid partnering monjic. From Murray’s perspective, it helped him emerge victorious. “In going quite well. I also served well at set tie-breaker. Zeballos in currently ended up victorious 7-6(4), 6-2. Tunisian Malek Jaziri, lost their dou- will be a good way to get some court these particular circumstances, you the important moments, including ranked 71st while Mayer is at 50. “I was happy to win the fi rst set. It bles fi rst round match to the French practice. The Brit will be in action to- just need to fi nd a way. I’ve been in the tiebreak. So, there are positives to The biggest casualty yesterday was not an easy set. It was really slow team of Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice day against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy these situations before many times in take,” he said. “I just focus on the proc- though was eighth seed Marcos Bagh- conditions tonight with the humidity. Martin 2-6, 3-6. But Zayid has re- in his opening round singles match. Racing car simulator returns to ExxonMobil Qatar stand he racing car simulator is ing harness, gear lever paddles, battle for the fastest lap time. back at the Public Village and a quick release carbon fibre ExxonMobil Qatar has been Tthis year to delight fans steering wheel, allowing drivers to the title sponsor of the Qatar and tennis stars alike at the Qatar experience the unique move- ExxonMobil Open for 23 years, ExxonMobil Open 2017. The car ment of the car under realistic ac- and a partner of the Qatar Tennis has been a main attraction of the celeration, braking and cornering Federation for 25 years. As the stand for the past several years, conditions. A built-in 5.1 surround title sponsor of the esteemed providing an interactive and sound system also provides users tournament, ExxonMobil Qatar realistic racing experience. with a full-sensory experience. organizes a number of exciting, Based on a full-sized specifica- This year, the likes of Jeremy hands-on activities for people of tion racing car, the state-of-the-art, Chardy, Horia Tecau, Lukas all ages to enjoy at its stand in the aerodynamically engineered Lacko, Jan Hernych, and Sergiy Public Village. simulator off ers unrivalled au- Stakhovsky have all visited the These activities include the rac- thenticity, down to its suspension, ExxonMobil Qatar stand to try out ing car simulator, the 'ExxonMobil front and rear wings, and tires. the simulator. The fierce competi- Minute' competition, and opportu- It includes an authentic, padded tion on the court has extended to nities to meet the tennis stars and cockpit headrest, four-point rac- the stand as players continue to receive a signed tennis ball. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 3, 2017 TENNIS ROUND-UP Nadal hopes schedule Winning return to change brings success action for Federer ‘For a first match it was great, because obviously expectations were quite low. For three and four weeks now I have stopped thinking of it (the knee). I don't have any pain. But I am in a way sad it (the comeback) is over, because I enjoyed it so much, I feel a bit relieved but sad’ Reuters Perth AFP ules,” he added. “Being here in Brisbane Brisbane is good news for me. I like Australia. Last year I decided n emotional Roger Federer made already to come here before. I an impressive comeback to tennis panish superstar Rafael don’t know if that’s going to help yesterday with an easy win over Nadal hopes a dramatic me better or not — I’ll tell you Great Britain’s Dan Evans at the Schange to his longstand- after Melbourne.” AHopman Cup in Perth. ing schedule will lead to success Nadal arrived in Brisbane after The Swiss champion, who has been in the Australian Open later this winning the Mubadala World out of action for six months due to injury, month.