CRICKET P51 ‘Both sides are under pressure ’ Sourav Ganguly says ‘97 Sahara SPORT Cup turned his one-day career SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2005 47 Maktoum, Hamdan and Mohammad attend sports events HADRIAN HERNANDEZ/Gulf News TENNIS In tandem Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain (front) returns as doubles partner Paola Suarez of Argentina looks on against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Alicia Molik of Australia during the final of the Dubai Women’s Open. Pascual and Suarez rallied to win 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-1. WAM & Al Bayan Encouraging presence His Highness Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the camel races at Nad Al Sheba yesterday along with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry. The race is being held as part of the closing ceremony of the camel racing festival. General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, meanwhile, attended the Super Saturday horse racing at the Nad Al Sheba in the evening, which is the last card before the World Cup later this month. Horse racing report on Page 50 TENNIS Pascual and Suarez rally Davenport gets past HADRIAN HERNANDEZ/Gulf News to land The X Factor Jelena Jankovic of Slovakia eyes a return against Lindsay doubles title Davenport of the USA during their singles final at the Dubai Tennis Stadium yesterday. BY ALARIC GOMES Staff Reporter battling Jankovic Dubai The world No 1 pair- IT’S OVERWHELMING TO WIN THIS FINAL, SAYS A RELIEVED WORLD NO 1 ing of Virginia Ruano Pas- cual and Paola Suarez pow- ered their way to a 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-1 win against Alicia Molik and Svetlana Kuznetsova to pick up their 27th doubles career crown at the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open last night. Ruano Pascual and Suarez looked a much bet- ter team on court and that showed as the match trick- led into the second set. RESULTS Smiling and enjoying every moment of their time Women’s singles final:Lindsay Boris comes to town together on court, Pascual Davenport (USA) bt Jelena Jankovic Boris Becker, the tennis icon, poses with Saeed Hareb, and Suarez stuck to their 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. chairman of Dubai International Marine Club, during a visit game plan of keeping the BY ALARIC GOMES Doubles final: Virginia Ruano at the Hotel Mina Seyahi in Dubai yesterday. Australian and Russian Staff Reporter Pascual/Paola Suarez bt Svetlana pegged to the back of the Kuznetsova/Alicia Molik 6-7 (7), 6- court. Kuznetsova looked a Dubai The Dubai Duty Free 2, 6-1. bit phased out on her Women’s Open had a wor- serves, but with Molik thy new champion in the keeping her serves low and form of world No.1 Lindsay everything Davenport sent deep, the pair managed to Davenport as she got past a down, and with the Ameri- fight their way to 6-6 to battling Jelena Jankovic 6- can struggling with her force the tie-break. 4, 3-6, 6-4 at the Dubai Ten- first serves, things seemed They were down 0-4 in nis Stadium last night. to be going the Serbian’s the tie-break, but managed Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed way. to fight through for a 8-7 Al Maktoum, President of The best moment of the lead and rightfully it was Dubai Civil Aviation and match was in the second Molik lending the finishing Chairman of Emirates game when Jankovic bal- touches to the set with a Group, was the chief guest anced two double faults to deep serve to Suarez’s right. and handed over the tro- cap a final rally and hold Ironically in the second phy to the winners before a serve for 1-1. With Daven- set, it was a complete turn- packed stadium. port’s game crumbling, around as Pascual and This was a match worthy Jankovic broke in the third Suarez latched on to some of a final as crowd for a 2-1 lead. But, could not exciting play at the net to favourite Jankovic, ranked do anything in the next earn two service breaks on 28th in the world, kept her game to hold serve as they Molik’s serve for a 5-1 lead. nerve and poise before remained tied 2-2. However, Molik and falling to the world’s best Kuznetsova were far from player. Staying with serves finished as they fought back “It’s overwhelming to Both players stayed with for a break on Ruano Pas- win this final,” a relieved their serves till Davenport cual’s serve to make it 2-5. Davenport stated after took the lead in the ninth to But with Kuznetsova not picking up the 46th career be 5-4 ahead. With the long showing too much of confi- title of her career. match taking its toll, dence either in her ground “It was a close match and AP Jankovic made one crucial strokes or her net play, she it came down to a few Star billing unforced error to stay 0-30 was broken for the first points in the end. I wanted Lindsay Davenport of the United States holds the trophy after she defeated Serbia's in arrears. time in the match as Ruano to win this final so much,” Jelena Jankovic to win the final in the Dubai Open yesterday. Davenport won the Davenport latched on Pascual and Suarez took the added the 28-year-old match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. this and when Jankovic set 6-2. American, who is on her sent a double handed back- The winners whizzed 13th year on the tour. hand wide, the American through the third, getting Davenport dictated opponent a second time in However, Jankovic was to Serena Williams in the threw her arms in relief for their breaks in the fourth things early as she broke the fifth game, and then not giving up easily as she Australian Open finals this such a hard-fought win. and sixth games. the Serbian girl for a 1-0 served out for the set in 37 broke back and then held year, held serve to trail 3-5. Jankovic paid tribute to “We had come here to win lead. But the American minutes. her serve to lead once But with the crowd strong- her American opponent. AP this title,” Pascual stated. failed to build on this ad- By the start of the second again 3-2. ly behind her, Jankovic “She was simply unbeliev- Country calls “We will try to win as many vantage as Jelena broke and set, Jankovic started get- Jankovic, 20, then broke then served out for the set able,” Jankovic said. Indians Leander Paes (left) and Mahesh Bhupathi titles as possible during our then held serve to lead 2-1. ting her rhythm. But it was Davenport a second time 6-3. “She kind of destroyed congratulate each other after winning their Davis Cup career,” added the pair Davenport used her deep the American who once and then held serve to dis- Going into third set, me tonight. I couldn’t have zonal doubles tie against China’s Wang Yu (right) and which has enjoyed one of ground strokes to maxi- again showed the initiative tance herself for a 5-2 lead. Jankovic was ready for a asked for more from my- Zhu Ben-Qiang in New Delhi yesterday. The Indian pair, their best seasons last year. mum utility to break her as she broke for a 2-1 lead. The American, who lost great fight. She went after self,” she added. former world No 1 on the ATP Tour, won the match 7-6 (11), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to give their country a 3-0 lead. Holders Spain out of Davis Cup Australia build up 3-0 lead over Austria while Roddick helps the US draw level Bratislava, Sydney, Carson (AFP gles rubbers. Feliciano first round tie when Todd & Reuters) Davis Cup hold- Lopez lost 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to Woodbridge and Wayne RESULTS ers Spain lost their title here Karol Beck in two hours and Arthurs beat Austrians Jur- yesterday, crashing out in five minutes before Fernan- gen Melzer and Julian WORLD GROUP the first round of the Davis do Verdasco fell to Dominik Knowle 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 Cup World Group as Slova- Hrbaty 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 in the doubles at Sydney for First round kia took an unassailable 3-0 in two hours 43 minutes. an unbeatable 3-0 lead. At Bratislava: Slovakia 2 Spain 0 lead. Left-hander Lopez, Elsewhere, Andy Roddick At Fribourg: Switzerland 0 The Slovakian pairing of ranked 19th in the world, defeated Mario Ancic 4-6 6- Netherlands 2 Karol Beck and Michal had beaten Beck, ranked 2 6-1 6-4 to help the US At Sydney: Australia 3 Austria 0 Mertinak downed Rafael 36th, in their only previous draw level at 1-1 with Croat- At Buenos Aires: Argentina 2 Czech Nadal — a hero of last year’s meeting on a hard court in ia in their first round Davis Republic 0 Davis Cup triumph — and Canada two years ago. But Cup World Group tie after At Moscow: Russia 1 Chile 1 former French Open winner the Spanish clay court spe- the opening singles on Fri- At Strasbourg: France 1 Sweden 1 Albert Costa in straight sets cialists found it difficult to day.