SPORT Friday 5 October 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 England, SL to use ODI Wozniacki and series as World Cup Kvitova book WTA preparation Finals berths Qatar Arabian trophies up for grabs at Saint-Cloud

THE PENINSULA

PARIS: A day before the racing action shifts to a renovated Paris Longchamp, Saint-Cloud, near the French capital, will serve up a taster, including Purebred Arabian racing, today. Ten horses will line up for the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pou- lains (Gr1 PA for 3yo colts) at Saint-Cloud today, while nine entries remain for the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA for 3yo fillies). Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani owned Marid and Neef will line up with Olivier Peslier and Pierre-Charles Boudot as Rajeh, winner of Qatar Total Arabian their respective partners in the Trophy Des Poulains 1. 2,000m race for the colts. While Antoine de Watrigant- Ten horses will line Fourcy has decided to take Al Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa trained Marid won a Gr1 PA over up for the Qatar Arabian Shaqab Racing’s Gtnah out of the Al Thani’s Adiba, fourth behind the distance at Deauville on his Trophy des Poulains (Gr1 contention, while Borkowski has Al Haffanah, won her second last outing, it will be a step up for supplemented Awasef Al outing at Mont de Marsan earlier Didier Guillemin-schooled Neef, PA for 3yo colts) at Saint- Khalediah. in September and will have who had won a Gr3 at La Teste Cloud today, while nine The filly has two victories in Peslier for company. Buch over 1900m earlier in Sep- entries remain for the Poland, including a Group II at While it’s a step up for wards tember. Thomas Fourcy will have Qatar Arabian Trophy des Wroclaw over a mile from July, of Fourcy and Guillemin, it Al Shaqab Racing’s Shalaa, who Pouliches (Gr1 PA for 3yo and will be making a debut in should throw up some interesting has run just once so far, in the fillies). France today. action today. race with talented Qatari jockey Fourcy still has another Al Ali Hamad Al Attiya-owned Faleh Bughanaim partnering the Shaqab Racing filly Al Haffanah, Mashael will line up for E. Dahess colt. three victories in last five outings to be helmed by Julien Auge, and Mikhalides under Aurelien A horse goes through the paces during the Purebred Arabian Sales Didier Guillemin has Deryan including a Polish Gr1, in the Douhha Al Cham, to be ridden Lemaitre. organised by Arqana in Paris, yesterday. It was part of Qatar Prix de in the race, while Damien de card, while GT Zoetelief has sup- by Jerome Cabre, in the race. The race is also a step up for Watrigant has two entries — plemented Probat T, a 1300m Al Haffanah has won her only Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte I’Arc de Triomphe-associated events under the partnership between Bel’Izam and Sea Bird Al Maury. sprint winner in Duindigt, outing in France, shedding her Baseel, who has three victories the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) and France Galop. The Trainer Michal Borkowski Netherlands. maiden status at La Teste Buch from as many races, but none at events will continue till October 7. has Sahm Al Khalediah, who has In the 2,000m race for fillies, early August. the Group 1 level.

UK Sport announces Al Gharafa keen to arrest slide as plans to host decade Al Arabi seek ‘winning mentality’ FAWAD HUSSAIN Last week's action from QSL match between that goalkeeper Yousef Hassan of high-profile events THE PENINSULA Al Gharafa and Al Kharaitiyat. Al Gharafa has returned from his injury. It REUTERS are looking to bounce back in the QSL. has boosted the confidence of the list is the football World Cup,” DOHA: Despite their poor form, team,” he said. UK Sport Chief Operating Al Gharafa are keen on pursuing Al Gharafa coach said fin- LONDON: UK Sport said that Officer Simon Morton told their target of a top-four finish ishing inside top four was pos- holding the 2030 World Cup reporters at Lord’s cricket at the QNB Stars League (QSL) sible for his team. in Britain would be a ground when asked to assess hoping for a turnaround from “Our ambition is to be in the “crowning achievement” to which events would con- setbacks when they host Al Arabi top four, but now, we aim to bookend a decade of sport stitute a successful in their Round 8 clash today. provide a good game to regain that includes plans to host the programme. The Christian Gourcuff’s the confidence. We have to get Ryder Cup, the world athletics “If we bid for that event, team is struggling in this season into our style and fight our way championships and the grand landing (it) would the so far, owing to injuries to key back into the tournament,” said departs of the three major crowning achievement on players and upsets. They are Gourcuff. cycling tours. this, almost irrespective of reeling at 7th position with as Meanwhile, Al Arabi was also British Prime Minister what we’ve got.” many points from just two wins targeting a victory against under- Theresa May earlier this week Britain held its first world and a draw, as they lost four strength Al Gharafa. gave her backing to a potential athletics championships last matches, a disappointing show “We will try to get back to World Cup bid, which is cur- year in London and there is a by their own standards. winning ways with a victory rently the subject of feasibility strong desire to host it again Their Dutch playmaker against Al Gharafa. At the same studies from the English with the event having broken time, Al Gharafa had lost in their Football Association. attendance records. last three games and may come UK Sport, the country’s With France having just hard at us. We must be wary of governing sporting body, pub- staged golf’s Ryder Cup, the them,” said coach Luka Bonacic lished a list of 54 “mega” and next available opportunity to “We have to get back our “major” events it said it would host the biennial event would winning mentality. We hope to be interested in hosting over be 2026 or 2030. Morton said TODAY Wesley Sneijder is on the side- ahead of Round 8 clash against put up our best. We must be pre- the next 15 years to showcase that a planned course in lines due to an injury while Por- Al Arabi. pared for all scenarios. I can Britain to the world. Bolton, England could be the 5:40pm: Al Gharafa vs Al Arabi tuguese Diego Amado is also out “All is well with the team make physical and tactical These also included the venue for either year. at Al Gharafa Stadium due to suspension. Adding insult despite some negative results changes, but I cannot change the women’s Rugby World Cup There are ambitions to 7:50pm: Qatar SC vs Al to injury, Al Gharafa were and the management is very sup- mentality of the players. We play as well as the men’s edition, host the grand departs of the shocked by Al Kharaitiyat, who portive of us. There is no problem one or two games very well, and which was hosted in England cycling tours a lot sooner, Kharaitiyat at Qatar SC Stadium registered a 2-0 win last week to with us off the field. Our then fare badly in one or two and Wales in 2015, and the with the country hoping to TOMORROW register their first win of the problems are on the pitch. We games,” he said. multi-sport European cham- capitalise on the fact that all season. are in a difficult stage. Bonacic also urged his pionships, hosted in part this three titles are held by British 5:40pm: Al Khor vs Al Rayyan Gourcuff said absence of key “We need to play with deter- players to remain focused. year by the city of Glasgow. riders -- Chris Froome (Giro at Al Khor Stadium players hampered his team’s run mination and make less mis- “We lose concentration A plethora of sporting d’Italia), Geraint Thomas 7:50pm: Al Shahania vs Al Ahli but hoped his team will make a takes. The onus is on our young- sometimes. The ups and downs events are already scheduled (Tour de France) and Simon comeback. sters to grab the chances with are difficult to handle. But then, to be hosted in Britain over Yates (Vuelta a Espana). at Al Arabi Stadium “We are suffering from the both hands,” he said before we must be ready for them. The the next few years, with the Wales could host the Giro, SUNDAY absences and it undoubtedly informing about the return of best teams survive the downs,” Cricket World Cup, golf’s while English county York- affects any team. At the same goal-keeper Yousef Hasan from Al Arabi coach said. Solheim Cup and the World shire, which hosted the grand 5:40pm: Al Duhail vs Umm time, it will give opportunities to injury. “It was not easy in the Road Cycling Championships, depart of the Tour de France Salal at Al Duhail Stadium other players, especially young- “Diego Amado cannot play beginning as we had made among others, set to take in 2014, was being looked at 7:50pm: Al Sadd vs Al Sailiya sters. We are trying to rectify the due to suspension. So is Wesley many changes from last season. place next year. as a destination for the mistakes that we have made. We Sneijder with an injury. Ahmed We are trying to improve our “The biggest target on this Vuelta, Morton added. at Al Sadd Stadium will definitely find solutions to Alaaeldin was back in training, game and our ambition is top them,” Al Gharafa coach said but is a doubtful starter. It’s good four,” he said. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER 2018 Shaw shines with ton on Test debut AP was out in the first over for a $187,500 for the Indian Premier India’s opening batsman Prithvi Shaw celebrates after scoring a century duck, but Shaw and Pujara League. (100 runs) during the first day of the first Test against the West Indies RAJKOT: Prithvi Shaw became cruised, putting on 206 runs “I was thinking about my the fourth youngest debutant to together. father (after reaching the at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot yesterday. score a Test cricket century as Shaw reached his fifty off 56 hundred),” he said. “He has sac- India walloped the West Indies balls, and Pujara scored his 19th rificed a lot for me. This first to be 364-4 on day one of the Test half-century off 67 balls as century is all for him. I wanted series yesterday. the duo scored at 5.32 runs per to make this opportunity count. Opening for India, the over in the morning session. The wicket was good and I 18-year-old Shaw scored 134 off West Indies improved its should have kept batting. I 154 balls, hitting 19 boundaries. lines post lunch, but it didn’t needed to be more careful as Chesteshwar Pujara added hamper Shaw, who reached his there were only 10 minutes left 86 and captain Virat Kohli was century off 99 balls, the third before tea.” 71 not out, as India notched its quickest on debut in Test history. He was out trying to drive highest test total in a day’s play He became the second legspinner Devendra Bishoo but against the West Indies. youngest Indian to score a only chipping straight back to the “I was a bit nervous to start maiden hundred after Sachin bowler. off but when I got in, I got com- Tendulkar (17 years, 112 days) in Meanwhile, Pujara poked at fortable,” Shaw said. 1990 against England. Overall, a wide ball and fell for 86 off 130 “I just tried to play my he’s the seventh youngest balls, giving fast bowler Sherman natural game. I have played a lot batsman in Test cricket to Lewis his first Test wicket. of cricket since a smaller age. I achieve this feat. In the final session, Kohli and used to play 30-35 school games His immediate success in the Ajinkya Rahane added 105 runs in a year, and played a lot of Test arena justified the selectors’ for the fourth wicket. (first-class) Ranji (Trophy) cricket move to build for the future. Kohli reached his 20th Test as well. So I was just thinking it India regular Test openers half-century off 100 balls. is only another game for me.” Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Overall, he faced 137 balls and The stage was ideal for Shaw. Vijay were dropped after poor hit only four boundaries, not the Rajkot was where he made form during the recent tour of most fluent knock by the world’s a century on debut in the Ranji England. No. 1-ranked Test batsman. Trophy. And the West Indies Shaw earned a reputation as Rahane, too, lacked the ease SCOREBOARD attack was depleted. Kemar a batting prodigy. He scored 546 with which Shaw batted earlier INDIA, first innings Roach returned home for the runs in a school game in 2013, in the day, and fell on 41 to P. Shaw c & b Bishoo ...... 134 funeral of his grandmother, and and captained India to the Roston Chase in the last hour. L. Rahul lbw b Gabriel ...... 0 captain Jason Holder withdrew Under-19 World Cup title in Kohli and Pant, 19 not out, C. Pujara c Dowrich b Lewis ...... 86 because of an ankle injury. January in New Zealand. Delhi handled the attack to stumps on V. Kohli not out ...... 72 India opener Lokesh Rahul Daredevils signed him for day one of the first Test. A. Rahane c Dowrich b Chase ...... 41 R. Pant not out ...... 17 Extras (b9, lb1, nb4) ...... 14 “I was thinking Total (four wickets, 89 overs) ...... 364 Youngest players to score century on Test debut about my father To bat: R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, K. Yadav, M. Shami, (after reaching the U. Yadav RAJKOT: Teenager Prithvi Shaw became the youngest Indian to score a century on Test debut as the hundred) .He has Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Rahul), 2-209 (Pujara), hosts took opening day honours in the first match against the West Indies yesterday. Here’s a list of sacrificed a lot for 3-232 (Shaw), 4-337 (Rahane) players scoring a century before their 19th birthday: me. This first Bowling: Gabriel 18-1-66-1 (nb2), Paul 10-1- 17y 61d_Mohammad Ashraful, 114, Bangladesh vs. SL, Colombo, 2001 century is all for 41-0 (nb2), Lewis 12-0-56-1, Bishoo 30-1-113-1, him. I wanted to Chase 16-0-67-1, Brathwaite 3-0-11-0 17y 78d_Mushtaq Mohammad, 101, Pakistan vs. India, New Delhi, 1961 West Indies: K. Brathwaite, K. Powell, S. Hope, 17y 107d_Sachin Tendulkar, 119no, India vs. England, Manchester, 1990 make this oppor- S. Hetmyer, R. Chase, S. Ambris, S. Dowrich, K. 17y 352d_Hamilton Masakadza, 119, Zimbabwe vs. WI, Harare, 2001 tunity count. The Paul, D. Bishoo, S. Lewis, S. Gabriel 18y 154d_Imran Nazir, 131, Pakistan vs. West Indies, Bridgetown, 2000 wicket was good Toss: India 18y 323d_Salim Malik, 100no, Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, Karachi, 1982 and I should have Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG), Nigel Llong (ENG) kept batting.” TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) 18y 329d_Prithvi Shaw, 134, India vs. West Indies, Rajkot, 2018 Match Referee: Chris Broad (ENG) 18y 333d_Shahid Afridi, 141, Pakistan vs. India, Chennai, 1999 Prithvi Shaw Lack of communication making things tough, says India’s Vijay

AGENCIES ongoing two-Test series against can plan better. Stability keeps West Indies at home. doubts away. Ultimately, one has to BENGALURU: Discarded batsman His comments came in the wake perform and contribute to the Murali Vijay is the latest India player of Karun Nair saying in the past team’s cause.” to speak about a lack of communi- week that he had “no conversations” Prasad said he had spoken to cation between the selectors and with the team management or Nair after leaving him out of the Indian cricket players who have been dropped selectors after he was dropped from 15-man squad for the West Indies captain Virat from the squad. the squad without playing a Test in Tests, and told him to keep scoring Kohli (right) Vijay had made 20, 6, 0 and 0 England. heavily in the Ranji Trophy and for poses for a in the first two Tests of India’s five- Former India offspinner Har- India A, the report added. ‘selfie’ with fans match series in England. He was not bhajan Singh had slammed the MSK India captain Virat Kohli, mean- who invaded picked in the XI for the third Test Prasad-led selection committee and while, distanced himself from the the field during and was dropped from the squad questioned their methods. issue when he was asked about it the first day’s for the last two matches, a report “I tend to agree with what Har- on the eve of the first Test against play of the first posted on Cricinfo yesterday. bhajan Singh has said about param- West Indies. Test against the “Neither the chief selector nor eters of selection,” Vijay said. After being axed from the Test West Indies at any other person spoke to me in “I think it is important that a squad, Vijay signed up with Essex the Saurashtra England after I was dropped from player is told about the reasons for to play in the County Championship, Cricket the third Test,” Vijay told Mumbai keeping him out so that he knows and made scores of 56, 100, 85, 80 Association Mirror. where exactly he stands in the team and 2. India’s next Test series after Stadium “None of them have spoken to managements’ and selectors’ the one against West Indies is in in Rajkot me since. I did have a conversation scheme of things. Australia, and Vijay hoped to make yesterday. with the members of the team man- “As a player it is very important a comeback. “I will be preparing for agement in England and that’s it.” that you are going to get more than the Australia series too in my own Vijay was also not picked for the just one or two games, so that you manner,” he said. England, Sri Lanka to use ODI series as WC preparation

AGENCIES the most important part of what Meanwhile Bairstow said we have been planning England are ready to “grit it out” COLOMBO: England are full of towards.” against Sri Lanka if the surfaces confidence at the top of the Sri Lanka, meanwhile, were don’t prove so friendly. rankings while a bruised Sri eliminated from the recent Asia “If you look at the pitches for Lanka is at a low point going into Cup after losing to Bangladesh South Africa they looked like their one-day international and Afghanistan and captain good cricket pitches,” Bairstow series, with both teams looking Dinesh Chandimal said his team told reporters in Colombo. to build some momentum ahead wants to use the England series “Whether they change their of next year’s World Cup. as a turning point. tactics and produce pitches that England captain Eoin “The players are in a good are slightly different for us... so Morgan said yesterday that it is frame of mind,” he said. “If we be it. a “nice acknowledgement” to be can end this series on a winning “We’ve got to prepare like No. 1 in the ODI rankings, but his note it will help us go into the that’s the case. Yes, we’d like to team’s focus is on the World Cup. World Cup confidently.” play on good pitches and yes, “It’s been quite a long Sri Lanka is currently ranked we’d like to have high-scoring process; well thought out, well eighth in the International games but we’re prepared to planned and I think to a point Cricket Council rankings. guts it out and grit it out if well executed,” Morgan said of The five-match series begins needed. his team’s journey to the top. next Wednesday at Rangiri “Both teams have to bat and England cricketers Jos Buttler (left) and Moeen Ali take a break while watching other players during “I still think we have along Dambulla Stadium in central Sri bowl on them, whether it’s a practice session at the P Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo yesterday. The England cricket way to go. It has taken three and Lanka. It will be followed by a batting first or bowling first, team are in Sri Lanka from October 1 to November 27. The two teams will engage in 3 Test matches, a half years to get to where we Twenty20 international and under lights or through the day,” 5 one-day internationals and on T20 game. are now, but we are getting into three test matches. Bairstow said. FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER 2018 SPORT 19

England manager Rugby: Gareth Southgate Manager Southgate signs during a press All Blacks conference at St George’s Park, restore big deal, brings in new faces Burton Upon Trent, Britain, yesterday. guns for REUTERS director Dan Ashworth last week after he opted Springboks MANCHESTER: England national team manager to move to Premier League club Brighton and Gareth Southgate has signed a new deal which Hove Albion, and clearly did not want to risk clash will keep him under contract until the end of Southgate departing before the next World Cup. AP the 2022 World Cup. However, several England managers, Southgate and Football Association (FA) including Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio chief executive Martin Glenn announced the Capello, have left their positions before the end PRETORIA: New Zealand agreement, which also includes Southgate’s of their contracts. Glenn said: “Securing Gareth restored regulars such as assistant Steve Holland, at a news conference on a longer-term contract was always a pri- captain Kieran Read, Aaron yesterday. The former national team defender ority for us. He has performed remarkably well Smith, and Owen Franks for was widely praised after England reached the and has given everyone the belief that England the test with South Africa in semi-finals at the World Cup in Russia before can compete on a world stage again,” he said. the last round of the Rugby losing to Croatia in the last four. Southgate also announced his squad for the Championship tomorrow. Southgate, who had two years left on his upcoming UEFA Nations League games away All three were rested last deal, will now lead England into the Euro 2020 to Croatia and Spain on October 12 and 15, with weekend for the test against tournament and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. more young players given a chance. Argentina in Buenos Aires, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, where an experimental side lead the national team through the next two Borussia Dortmund striker Jadon Sancho and dispatched the Pumas 35-17 major tournaments,” said Southgate, 48, after Mason Mount, on loan at Championship (second to clinch a sixth Rugby Cham- signing his new deal. “The job remains an tier) club Derby County from Chelsea, earned pionship in seven years and incredible privilege and a true honour. Expe- first call-ups to the senior squad. third in a row. riencing at first hand how the nation united Uncapped Nathaniel Chalobah of Watford, No. 8 Read replaced Luke behind the team this summer was something who has played just four minutes in the Premier Whitelock, scrumhalf Smith special and it will be great to see how far this League this season, was a surprise call-up, while was back for TJ Perenara, and young squad can go in the years to come,” he Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks, who has tighthead prop Franks was in added. Southgate initially took over as care- one cap, was recalled after coming back from for Ofa Tuungafasi for the taker manager following the departure of Sam injury. Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Adam Lallana, match at Loftus Versfeld. Allardyce in September 2016 before being con- Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all There were two changes firmed in the role. The FA lost their technical out with injuries. in the forwards, and two in the backs, the other being center Jack Goodhue given his sixth test start and Ryan Crotty made a reserve. “Nothing changes for us,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen ‘Finally clicked’: Osaka says said yesterday. “It’s a test match that everyone in New Zealand expects us to win. The fact that it’s an All Blacks- Springboks test match makes better focus behind super run it even more exciting.” New Zealand lost to the AFP 10th seed Julia Goerges of The Japanese will face home behind both with her score, emerged from a see-saw battle Springboks on Sept. 15 in Germany yesterday, winning 6-1, hope Zhang Shuai in the last Osaka joked: “We’re not talking with third seed Kerber. Wellington, their first home BEIJING: Her chopstick skills 6-2 in 65 minutes to speed into eight in the Chinese capital today about that. Come on, with Shuai, Zhang, 29, grabbed the first defeat to South Africa in nine might not be the best but Naomi the China Open quarter-finals. after Zhang pulled off a shock in let’s face it... But the thing is, I set 6-1, before reigning Wim- years. The Springboks then Osaka says an improvement in Osaka, the eighth seed in defeating three-time Grand Slam hold chopsticks in a weird way bledon champion Kerber fought held off Australia 23-12 last her focus is behind a run of Beijing, similarly thrashed champion Angelique Kerber. anyways.” back to win the second 6-2. weekend in Port Elizabeth. success that culminated in unseeded American Danielle China Open organisers have Turning more serious, the Zhang stepped up a gear in “South Africa are playing winning the US Open. Collins 6-1, 6-0 in the previous had the players competing in a world number six, said: “On the the decider, taking the set with with a lot of confidence, and The 20-year-old, who round and is showcasing the “chopstick challenge” and Zhang court I have to think ‘focus’ a comprehensive 6-0 to thrill the after their two recent wins, stunned Serena Williams to win ruthlessness that saw her beat and the German Kerber are cur- because it’s not something that’s home crowd. their confidence levels will be her maiden Grand Slam last Williams in a controversial New rently winning. natural to me. It’s something that Kerber said that she had even higher,” Hansen said. month, was devastating against York final. Told that she was well I’ve been working on throughout been troubled by a problem with “So we’ll need to respond this whole year and I her right knee, but refused to with real purpose, com- Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with fans think it finally clicked, blame that for the defeat. posure, belief and intensity.” after winning her third-round match or at least it’s more “I was not feeling the best at In its team selection, against Julia Goerges of Germany at consistent.” the beginning of the match, but South Africa recalled three the China Open in Beijing yesterday. Osaka, who then I was playing better and players who were part of the appears increasingly better,” the 30-year-old said Springboks’ win in Wellington at ease with the yesterday. three weeks ago. media, joking and “At the end she played a good Damian de Allende chatting freely, said third set -- she took her chances returned at inside center in that she had also and played a really solid match.” place of Andre Esterhuizen, brought more con- Also into the last eight are Steven Kitshoff was picked to sistency to her game. second seed Caroline Wozniacki start at loosehead prop as he “Not so many and China’s fast-emerging Wang did in Wellington, and unforced errors (com- Qiang, who continued her fine Francois Louw was selected pared to a year ago). recent form by defeating seventh at No. 8 after playing off the I’m not sure how seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-4. bench in New Zealand. many I hit today, but In the men’s draw, Italy’s Those were the only sometimes last year I fourth seed Fabio Fognini changes to the Springboks think I was hitting a remains on course for a fourth starting team from the win lot.” title this season as he swatted over Australia, although prop Osaka, who has away Russia’s Andrey Rublev Vicent Koch made a return to won 24 of her last 28 6-4, 6-3. the national team setup and games, meets Top seed Juan Martin del earned a place on the bench. unseeded Zhang next Potro plays unseeded Serbian “They will test us in every after the Chinese Filip Krajinovic in the quarter- department,” coach Rasssie world number 45 finals today. Erasmus said. “The All Blacks usually hit back hard after a loss so we have to be men- tally and physically ready for a massive contest.” Wozniacki, Kvitova book WTA Finals berths Squads: South Africa: Willie le REUTERS career-threatening injuries to her left local hero Kei Nishikori for a place in him,” he said. “Obviously he’s playing Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse playing hand after a 2016 stabbing that the last four after the fifth seed came at home so he’s going to be super- Kriel, Damian de Allende, SINGAPORE: WTA Finals holder kept her out for six months. through an absorbing contest in two pumped to do well. I need to be well Aphiwe Dyantyi, Handre Caroline Wozniacki and former Kvitova, who lifted the Wimbledon hours, 20 minutes. prepared for that battle.” Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Francois champion Petra Kvitova have clinched trophy in 2011 and 2014, required surgery Elsewhere, second seed Kevin Wimbledon finalist Anderson ulti- Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, places in this month’s season-ending after trying to protect herself from a man Anderson also advanced, while Ger- mately had too much in the locker for Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco tournament in Singapore, the WTA wielding a knife who gained access to many’s Jan-Lennard Struff continued young American Frances Tiafoe, pro- Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans announced yesterday. her apartment. his dream run in Tokyo. gressing with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, The pair join world number one “It will be my first time back there Tsitsipas, ranked 15th in the world, The South African, ranked ninth in Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber and (the WTA Finals) since I came back to is something of a throwback. the world, will face eighth seed Richard Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Naomi Osaka who have already qual- tennis so it means a lot to me and has He bears more than a passing Gasquet in the last eight after the Mtawarira, Vincent Koch, RG ified for the October 21-28 tournament always been one of my big goals for the resemblance to tennis legend Borg -- Frenchman ousted Australian Nick Snyman, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, at the Singapore Sports Hub. season,” Kvitova, who has won five titles from his ice-cool demeanour down to Kyrgios 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1). Embrose Papier, Elton “Winning the WTA Finals last year this season, said. the headband and tight shorts. “Kevin is a top 10 player and has Jantjies, Damian Willemse. was a huge accomplishment for me and The top eight singles players at the His game also relies more on angles been in the Wimbledon and US Open New Zealand: Ben Smith, helped my confidence leading into this $7m prize money event will compete in and touch than today’s power mer- finals so I have nothing to lose,” said Waisake Naholo, Jack season,” Wozniacki, who won the Aus- a round-robin format with the winner chants, and the sweeping one-handed Gasquet. “I know what I have to do to Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, tralian Open in January, said. taking home the Billie Jean King Trophy. backhand Tsitsipas drilled past de beat him but I also know it will be very Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, “I look forward to coming back to The top eight doubles teams will Minaur for most of their match has all tough.” Aaron Smith; Kieran Read Singapore to try and defend my title,” compete for the Martina Navratilova the hallmarks of his idol Roger Federer. Struff, who dumped out top seed (captain), Sam Cane, Shannon the 28-year-old Dane added. Trophy. He reached his first two ATP finals Marin Cilic in the first round, produced Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Wozniacki secured her the spot after Meanwhile in Tokyo, Bjorn Borg this year, losing both times to Rafael a gutsy 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 win over Whitelock, Owen Franks, a routine 7-5 6-4 win against Estonia’s lookalike Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a Nadal in Barcelona and Toronto. But Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Codie Taylor, Karl Anett Kontaveit at the China Open in mid-match meltdown to beat Australia’s Tsitsipas will feel he has the weapons The world number 56 next faces Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Beijing yesterday. Alex de Minaur 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 on Thursday to upset Nishikori, despite squandering Denis Shapovalov after the Canadian Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Czech Kvitova, who won the WTA and reach the Japan Open two match points to surrender the knocked out three-time Grand Slam Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuip- Finals title in 2011, has qualified for the quarter-finals. second set. winner Stan Wawrinka late on ulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Per- first time since suffering The 20-year-old Greek will face “I expect a tough match against Wednesday. enara, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty.