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SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2021 DjokovicD defends Australian Open ddynasty against Medvedev rampage There has been a lot of talk about the new generations coming anda taking over from the three of us but realistically that isn’t happeningh still. I’m not going to stand here and hand it over to them.t I am going to make them work for it. Novak Djokovic Sport | 10

PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE: Quetta Gladiators 121 (Gayle 39; Maqsood 2/21, Iqbal 3/16) 126/3 (Clarke 46, Nabi 30*) Trainer Julian Smart celebrates yet another Amir Sword victory Magnificent Mon’nia steals the show as Lukasek corners Amir Sword glory

RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA

Mon’nia yesterday ended the hat- trick bid of title favourite Ebraz to win the prestigious Amir Sword in spectacular fashion at Al Rayyan Park. The Julian Smart-trained five- year-old mare (Amer x Margouia) won the $1m race ahead of Ebraz following a thrilling run in the 2400 marathon turf run. Owned by H E Sheikha Yasmeen Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Mon’nia looked hard to catch after the final bend as jockey Tomas Lukasek steered the Smart-trained entry to secure the top prize of $570,000. Just three weeks ago, the Lukasek-Mon’nia combination had warmed up for the Amir Sword race by winning the Gr3 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy. Ebraz, who was seeking a hat- trick of Amir Sword wins yesterday, ended 1.25 meters behind Mon’nia in a field of 14 entries. Lady Prince, ridden by Julien Auge, was second for most part of The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presenting a trophy to trainer Julian Smart after Mon’nia won the prestigious Amir Sword at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. the last stretch but got nudged to Jockey Tomas third spot by a galloping Ebraz - Lukasek also trained by Smart - in the last 100 meters. celebrates as Smart, who saw Ebraz clinch Julian Colin the Triple Crown with wins at Smart-trained Goodwood and Longchamp in 2019 Mon'nia (FR) before clinching last year’s Amir crosses the Sword, yesterday celebrated his finish line to sixth successive Amir Sword win in win the Qatar. The Amir “Mon’nia is a very good filly. Sword (GR1 PA) THE AMIR SWORD (GR1 PA) (Sponsored by Al Hazm) Mon’nia is a very good horse on as at Al Rayyan Total Prize Money: $1,000,000 Race Time: 02:36.40 (2,400m) a fast ground maybe not a softer Park yesterday. FP Horse, Trainer, Jockey round. We knew before the race The five-year- 1 Mon'nia (FR), Julian Colin Smart, Tomas Lukasek that she was in good form. She had old mare (Amer 2 Ebraz (GB), Julian Colin Smart, Maxime Guyon horses like Ebraz, Princess and Tayf x Margouia) 3 Lady Princess (FR), Thomas Fourcy, Julien Augé won the $1m to compete against and it was not THE AMIR TROPHY (QA GR 1) (Presented by Longines) race ahead of going to be easy but she was in very Total Prize Money: $1,000,000 Race Time: 02:30.65 (2,400m) Ebraz following good form,” Smart said after the 1 Noor Al Hawa (FR), Georges Mikhalides, Alberto Sanna a thrilling run race. 2 Berkshire Rocco (FR), Andrew Balding, Jason Watson “I am very happy about it. I have in the 2400 marathon turf 3 Hellenistique (FR), Zuhair Mohsen, Ronan Thomas been in Qatar for 11 seasons and I THE AMIR SILVER SWORD have won the Amir Sword six times. run. Total Prize Money: $250,000 Race Time: 02:00.77 (1,850m) I have very good horses for sure, 1 Munir Du Soleil (FR), Thomas Fourcy, Tomas Lukasek thank you very much,” he said with spots respectively. Watson won 4-year-old colt - owned by Khalifa Zyzzyva, ridden by Ryan Curatolo. a smile. $220,000 while Thomas got richer Bin Sheail KH J Al Kuwari - looked The 4-year-old gelding - trained by 2 Hidalgo Du Croate (FR), Mohammed Hussain Afroz, Jason Watson “I just got very, very good by $110,000. unbeatable as Auge won the top Osama Al-Dafea - clocked a time 3 First Classs (USA), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Alberto Sanna horses. I am not the kind of trainer Before saddling in for the prize of $142,500. King Pacha of 1:09.50 as Sanna won $142,500. H.H. THE AMIR SHALFA who gets his horses ready in feature race of the day, jockey clocked a time of 1:59.69. Pazeer Curatolo won $55,000 while Auge, Total Prize Money: $250,000 Race Time: 01:59.69 (2,000m) October and November or Lukasek yesterday stunned a strong (trained by Bader Al Balushi and who guided X Force to third place, 1 King Pacha (IRE), Zuhair Mohsen, Julien Augé December. This is the biggest race field with Abdullah Bin Fahad Al ridden by Soufiane Saadi) and The got richer by $27,500. 2 Pazeer (FR), Bader Al Balushi, Soufiane Saadi in Qatar and we plan and get ready Attiyah’s Munir Du Soleil to win the Blue Eye (Mohammed Hussain Earlier in the day, H E Sheikha 3 The Blue Eye (GB), Mohammed Hussain Afroz, Maxime Guyon for this day,” he added. “After the Amir Silver Sword. Afroz and Maxime Guyon) com- Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa AL BIDDAH MILE (QA Gr 2) first two days, everyone said ‘where With an overall prize of pleted the top three. Al Thani’s Methgal won Qatar Inter- Total Prize Money: $250,000 Race Time: 01:34.31 (1,600m) are you?’ ... ‘no winners yet?’. I just $250,000 on offer, Munir Du Soleil Also yesterday, Devious national Cup (Gr1 PA sponsored by 1 Devious Company (IRE), Mohammed Ghazali, Maxime Guyon said hang on and wait until Sat- clocked a time of 2:00.77 to win the Company - ridden by Guyon - won Daam) giving popular trainer Smart 2 Pom Malpic (FR), Ali Yousuf Al Kubaisi, Tomas Lukasek urday,” Smart said. race with 15 entries. Lukasek won the Al Biddah Mile (QA Gr 2) trophy. and jockey Guyon a valuable win on 3 Thunderstone (IRE), Gassim Ghazali, Alberto Sanna Earlier, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s $142,500. The Mohammed Hussain Owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Al the last day of the Amir Sword fes- DUKHAN SPRINT (QA Gr 3) (Sponsored by Breeders' Cup) Noor Al Hawa won the Amir Trophy Afroz-trained Hidalgo Du Croate, Kuwari, Devious Company edged tival. Methgal clocked a time of Total Prize Money: USD 250,000 Race Time: 01:09.50 (1,200m) with Alberto Sanna in the saddle. ridden by Jason Watson, finished past Pom Malpic to win the 1600m 1:42.16 and finished a small margin 1 Taxiwala (IRE), Osama Al Dafea, Alberto Sanna The 8-year-old showed stunning second worth $55,000. First Classs, race held in daylight at Al Rayyan ahead of Al Naama ridden by Saadi. 2 Zyzzyva (FR), Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Ryan Curatolo speed after the final bend, racing to with Sanna in the saddle, sealed the Park. Guyon won $142,500 after Arguya, with Auge in the saddle, fin- 3 X Force (IRE), Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Julien Augé victory with impressive speed. third place. Devious Company sealed the deal ished third. Trained by Georges Mikhalides, In the fifth race of the day - the in a time of 1:34.31. The day’s proceedings started QATAR INTERNATIONAL CUP (GR1 PA) (Sponsored by Daam) Noor Al Hawa clocked a time of Amir Shalfa - jockey Auge steered Thunderstone, ridden by Sanna, with Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred Al Total Prize Money: $250,000 Race Time: 01:42.16 (1,600m) 2:30.65 as Sanna won the top prize King Pacha - trained by Zuhair finished in third place worth Lusail winning the Al Rayyan 1 Methgal (FR), Julian Colin Smart, Maxime Guyon of $570,000 in the invitation only Mohsen - to a convincing win in the $527,500. Lukasek, astride Pom Breeders Cup. Trainer Hadi Al 2 Al Naama (FR), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi race. 2000m mar- Malpic, won $55,000. Ramzani and jockey Sanna teamed 3 Arguya (FR), Ali Yousuf Al Kubaisi, Julien Augé Berkshire Rocco, ridden by athon. The Taxiwala, ridden by Sanna, won up for victory in the race worth AL RAYYAN BREEDERS CUP Jason Watson, and Hellenistique a hard-fought battle with Zyzzyva $142,500. Equinoxe (Ronan Thomas) Total Prize Money: $250,000 Race Time: 02:03.15 (2,000m) with Ronan Thomas in the in the Dukhan Sprint (QA Gr 3 spon- and Black Pearl (jockey Saadi) fin- 1 Al Lusail (QA), Hadi Al Ramzani, Alberto Sanna saddle, secured the second sored by Breeders’ Cup). Taxiwala ished second and third respectively 2 Equinoxe (QA), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas and third finished half a meter ahead of in the 2000m marathon. 3 Black Pearl (QA), Bader Al Balushi, Soufiane Saadi

Tomas Lukasek (right) celebrates as Mon'nia (FR) crosses the finish line to win the The Amir Sword (GR1 PA) at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11

The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani posing for a photograph with the winners of the Big Tour competition on the final day of the Amir Sword Festival at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. Young Al Qadi wins the Amir Sword CHINTHANA WASALA helping me win,” Al Qadi said. Mohammed Khalifa Albaker THE PENINSULA “I am doing well in Hathab, (Verona) andFaleh Suwead Al I’m second in the points tally of Ajami (Demilion) rounded up Young Qatari rider Hamad the Big Tour right now and we the top five. Nasser Al Qadi yesterday still have three rounds to go. I Meanwhile, in the Medium received the golden Amir Sword think and hope that I’d still be Tour, Brennus Villelongue, from the Amir H H Sheikh on top,” Al Qadi, who is 14 ridden by French show jumper Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani points behind points leader Al Cyrine Cherif, produced a after winning the Big Tour Ghazali, said. flawless routine on way to fin- competition at the Qatar Eques- Saeed, who was aiming for ishing at the top 21-strong field trian Federation’s (QEF) repeat success in consecutive to clinch the victory. Outdoor Arena. days, only managed to finish Cherif, who regularly On the second day of the third after his 12-year-old appears in equestrian events in prestigious equestrian event, Al gelding Andreas SPB Z clocked Qatar, clocked times of 75.74 Qadi guided his 12-year-old 76.89 secs and 53.85 secs during and 45.19 secs to win a brand mare Electra B to victory in the two rounds, making 13 faults new Lexus car. 56.79 seconds despite four on their way to complete the “It was a technically good errors in the second round and tasks. He got richer by QR17,225 course and I’m happy my horse managed to escape with a total after booking the was in really good shape today. of nine faults during his two podium spot. We now know each other very rounds, the least by any rider in well and that made things much the 8-entry field. easier. We worked hard for the The victory made Al Qadi an win and emerged as successful. owner of a brand new Lexus I couldn’t have asked for a car. better result,” Cherif said after In the first round, he clocked yesterday’s victorious ride with a time of 78.54 secs but com- the 10-year-old stallion. mitted four faults. Al Qadi had Kyrgyzstan’s Kamil Sabitov, made one error during his ride astride Carmen, clocked 76.67 The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presenting the prestigious Amir Sword to Big Tour on the opening event of the day and 49.56 secs in his two rounds winner Hamad Nasser Al Qadi at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. on Friday, but managed to finish making no errors and finished second behind his brother and second to win QR11,250 in prize C8 BIG TOUR: TABLE A, TWO ROUNDS AGAINST THE CLOCK (135/145CM) PRIZE MONEY QR65,000 & CAR eventual winner Saeed Nasser money. Rk Horse Rider Day 1 Round 1 Round 2 Total Prize Al Qadi. Sheikha Fatima Jabor Al Faults Faults Time (secs) Faults Time (secs) Faults Money Quel Homme, with Nasser Thani who guided Eddie who 1 Electra B Hamad Nasser Al Qadi 1 4 78.54 4 56.79 9 Car Al Ghazali in the saddle, com- complete the same task in 2 Quel Homme Nasser Al Ghazali 4 8 80.19 0 57.63 12 QR21,450 pleted the task in 80.19 and 73.18 and 54.64 secs (8 3 Andreas SPB Z Saeed Nasser Al Qadi 1 4 76.89 8 53.85 13 QR17,225 57.63 secs in his two rounds errors), won QR9,000 4 Verona Mohammed Khalifa Albaker 11 4 83.67 4 55.63 19 QR11,700 yesterday, but conceded a total after finishing third in 5 Demilion Faleh Suwead Al Ajami 8 8 76.75 12 52.06 28 QR8,450 of 12 faults to finish second in the Medium Tour. the feature event of the day. Al Jaber Rashid Al Ghazali won QR21,450 in prize Amri (Canavaro De C9 SMALL TOUR: TABLE A, TWO ROUNDS AGAINST THE CLOCK (100/120CM) PRIZE MONEY QR30,000 money. Muze (E.T.) finished 1 Lucratief Mohammed Abdulla Juma 0 0 81.12 0 40.08 0 QR7,500 “Thanks to God I got a good fourth and bagged 2 Graffiti de Lully CH Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi 0 0 73.45 0 42.21 0 QR6,000 result. On both days. Yesterday QR6,750 in prize 3 Fito R Saad Ahmed Al Saad 0 0 82.73 0 46.83 0 QR4,500 and today it was so hard for me. money while Rashid 4 Cinderella B Abdulla Rashid Al Amri 0 0 68.36 4 41.41 4 QR3,000 But I finally managed to win the Towaim Al Marri 5 Irschi Abdulrahman Eisa Al Bukhari 0 0 70.73 4 41.68 4 QR2,100 prestigious Amir’s Sword,” vic- (Lamm Addiction Z) torious Al Qadi said yesterday completed the top C10 MEDIUM TOUR: TABLE A, TWO ROUNDS AGAINST THE CLOCK (120/135CM) PRIZE MONEY QR45,000 & CAR after winning the event. five and got richer 1 Brennus Villelongue Cyrine Cherif 0 0 75.74 0 45.19 0 Car “My horse Electra was by QR4,500. 2 Carmen Kamil Sabitov 0 0 76.67 0 49.56 0 QR11,250 ready for the big action today Earlier, the and while I was quite sure of a Small Tour podium 3 Eddie Shka. Fatima Jabor Al Thani 0 4 73.18 4 54.64 8 QR9,000 finish in the top three, I’m was booked by 4 Canavaro De Muze (E.T.) Jaber Rashid Al Amri 0 4 83.55 8 46.35 12 QR6,750 thankful to God for Mohammed 5 Lamm Addiction Z Rashid Towaim Al Marri 4 4 71.79 8 46.21 16 QR4,500 Abdulla Juma (Lucratief), Khalifa winning the 100/120cm event Earlier yesterday, Asma respectively. Maryam Ahmed Abdulla Al Khaldi while Al Khaldi and Al Saad won Yasser Mohammed won the Alsemaitt emerged winner in (Graffiti de Lully CH) QR6,000 and QR4,500 in prize Dressage Level 2 Preliminary the Dressage Level 1 Medium and Saad Ahmed Al money as all three riders com- Level competition ahead of Level. Jassim Al Jaham Al Al Qadi celebrates Saad (Fito R). pleted flawless routines on their Marie Albane Charlotte Ben- Kuwari won the second place his victory astride Juma got richer way to complete the two sussan and Michelle Shaffers while Maryam Ahmad Al Boinin Electra B. by QR7,500 after rounds. who finished second and third rounded up the podium. Atletico slump to Chelsea held to 1-1 draw shock defeat at REUTERS – SOUTHAMPTON something Tuchel once again highlighted as the main challenge for his side. home to Levante Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw away The Blues were punished for not to struggling Southampton in the turning their dominance into chances REUTERS – MADRID Premier League yesterday after Takumi when in the 33rd minute Minamino ran Minamino scored for the hosts with their on to a defence-splitting Nathan La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid fell to their only attack of the first half and Mason Redmond pass and coolly finished after first defeat in 12 league games when they Mount levelled with a penalty after the wrong-footing keeper Edouard Mendy were beaten 2-0 at home to Levante break. and Cesar Azpilicueta with a feint. yesterday. Chelsea remain in fourth place, a The Japan midfielder became the Jose Luis Morales gave the visitors the point ahead of West Ham United, who first opposition player to score against lead on the half-hour mark with a deflected play today, and three points clear of Liv- Chelsea since Tuchel arrived last month. strike from just inside the area to deceive erpool who host Everton later on Sat- The only goal they had previously con- keeper Jan Oblak, while Jorge de Frutos urday. Southampton are 13th. ceded in that time was an own goal. knocked into an empty net to score the The Saints had lost six league games The German brought on Callum second in added time after Oblak had com- in a row before the visit of the Lon- Hudson-Odoi for Tammy Abraham at mitted himself forward to contest a corner. doners - who were looking for their fifth the break and Chelsea briefly looked a After a poor first half, Atletico came out straight win under new coach Thomas bit sharper up front. fighting in the second but could not beat Tuchel - and they spent long periods of The equaliser came when Mount Levante’s Jose Luis Morales celebrates scoring their first goal as Atletico Levante keeper Daniel Cardenas despite the game trying to get hold of the ball. was felled in the box by Danny Ings and Madrid's Jose Maria Gimenez looks dejected during their La Liga match firing 28 shots on goal, 11 of which were But for all of Chelsea’s possession, he got up to convert the spot kick in the on target. played at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. the visitors laboured to create chances, 54th minute. 10 SPORT SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2021 Japanese star crushes Brady to win her second Grand Slam in Melbourne Osaka clinches Australian Open crown

REUTERS — MELBOURNE some life into the contest at 4-4, FACTBOX: Naomi Osaka luring Osaka in with a drop- Naomi Osaka crushed Jennifer shot, then scrambling forward Brady 6-4, 6-3 to secure her Age: 23 to retrieve and lob her for break second Australian Open title Grand Slam titles: 4 (Australian Open 2019, 2021;US Open point. yesterday and cement her 2018, 2020) Osaka cancelled it nerve- standing as the new queen of EARLY LIFE lessly with an imperious the women’s game. * Born to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, Osaka forehand winner fired from the Osaka’s one-sided win over grew up idolising 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena baseline and hung tight until the 22nd-seeded American in Williams. Brady gifted her the lead. the final at Rod Laver Arena * Moved to New York when she was three years old and Serving to stay in the set at gave the Japanese juggernaut turned professional in 2013 aged 15. 5-4, Brady slapped a wild her fourth major crown, with * Played in the main draw of a WTA event for the first time forehand over the baseline to her career still budding at the at Stanford in 2014. Beat Sam Stosur in the first round cough up set point then stepped age of 23. before losing to Andrea Petkovic. in to pound a would-be She joined Monica Seles and CAREER TO DATE forehand winner straight into Roger Federer as winners in * Made her Grand Slam debut as a qualifier at the the net. their first four Grand Slam Australian Open in 2016, beating Elina Svitolina in the The crowd groaned and finals, marking her out as the second round before losing to Victoria Azarenka. Brady went to her chair ultimate big match performer. * Cracked the top 100 in the world for the first time in April ashen-faced. “My reaction is that that’s 2016 and the top 50 later in the year. Osaka seized the very amazing company,” Osaka * Named 2016 WTA “Newcomer of the Year” after making momentum, breaking Brady told reporters, sitting next to the third-round appearances at three Grand Slams and again in the second game of the winner’s Daphne Akhurst reaching her first WTA final. second set with a sumptuous Memorial Cup. * Won her first WTA title in March 2018 in Indian Wells, crosscourt backhand winner. “I hope that I can have one beating Maria Sharapova, Karolina Pliskova and Simona She rolled on to a 4-0 lead grain of how their career has Halep along the way. before Brady belatedly conjured unfolded. But you can only wish * Beat Serena Williams in the 2018US Open final to claim some resistance to break Osaka. and you can only just keep her maiden Grand Slam title and finished the year ranked The American clawed back going down your own path. fifth in the world. to 5-3 but bowed out as she “But it’s definitely some- * Beat Petra Kvitova in the 2019 Australian Open final to started, smashing wild returns thing crazy to hear.” become the first player since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to to allow Osaka to serve out the More major trophies surely win the next Grand Slam after her maiden major. match without trouble. await if she can convert her * Beat Azarenka to win her secondUS Open title in 2020. It was a forgettable display irresistible hardcourt form to Osaka turned up for each of her seven matches wearing from Brady’s racket but she had French Open clay and grass at Japan’s Naomi Osaka celebrates a face mask carrying the name of a Black American to a remarkable run in Melbourne, Wimbledon. with the trophy after winning highlight racial injustice in theUS after being one of the 72 players Having humbled Serena her final match against Jennifer * Beat Brady to win her second Australian Open title and unable to train during their two- Williams in the semi-finals, a Brady of the US. fourth Grand Slam crown, extending her win streak to 21 week hard quarantine in the victory that reinforced a matches. lead-up. changing of the guard, Osaka “I think she’s human like the was untroubled by Brady in the the spotlight of her first Slam Brady to fire a forehand return her, but I was extremely warmed up with two aces but rest of us in this room,” Brady clash of power hitters. final. US Open champion Osaka long, and Osaka held her racket nervous. I honestly just told the fast start fizzled out in a told reporters of Osaka. She romped to a 21st was also short of her best tennis, over her head, beamed and myself before the match, I’m stream of errors from both “She just brings out her best straight win in completed joining Brady in producing a gave a little leap in an under- probably not going to play well. players. in the big moments. matches, a streak dating back dour, error-strewn first set. stated celebration. “I shouldn’t put that A nervous Brady was espe- “But I don’t think, you know, more than a year. But she settled to clinch six “Tonight I felt like was (it) pressure on myself to play per- cially culpable, spraying 18 she’s God,” she added with a Fans hoping for a repeat of straight games, roaring to a 4-0 more of a mental battle,” said fectly but just go out there and unforced errors in the opening smile. the pair’s engrossing US Open lead in the second before Osaka who also won the 2019 fight for every point.” set. “I think maybe Serena is. semi-final last year were left serving out the match to love. title. On a cool and breezy night Both players dropped their Maybe she’ll get there, I don’t disappointed as Brady froze in A big serve sealed it, causing “Of course, I can’t speak for at Rod Laver Arena, Osaka serve before Brady breathed know.” Djokovic defends Australian Open dynasty against Medvedev rampage

REUTERS — MELBOURNE straight victories over something of himself in the Russia’s Daniil top-10 opponents. confident 25-year-old, who A very different Australian Medvedev Djokovic was among boasts similarly elite court Open comes to a familiar during an Medvedev’s victims at the coverage, defence and end today as Novak interview ATP Finals but when the shot-making. Djokovic looks to thwart after winning Serb strolls onto his Medvedev has added another challenge to his his semi final favourite centre court today, mental strength to his Melbourne Park dynasty match against the form-book is unlikely to arsenal, which proved inval- from the latest Grand Slam Greece’s figure. uable in his semi-final aspirant in Daniil Medvedev. Stefanos With the exception of against Stefanos Tsitsipas as The tournament has Tsitsipas. Thiem’s US Open win last he closed out a tense third charted a rocky path year where Djokovic was set after briefly wobbling in through the COVID-19 pan- disqualified for hitting a the face of a hostile crowd. demic and a snap five-day tennis ball into a line judge, He has also shown will- lockdown due to a local out- the “Big Three” have won all ingness to indulge in a bit of break robbed it of much of strain sustained in the third Djokovic has never lost a the Slams since 2017. niggle, saying the pressure its vitality. round. final at Melbourne Park, his “There has been a lot of is all on Djokovic as he But a comforting sense His ability to manage the reign has rarely looked so talk about the new genera- chases the 20-Slam record. of normality will pervade injury was key in bringing vulnerable. He suffered a tions coming and taking Though Medvedev has Rod Laver Arena when a him within one match of a huge scare against Dominic over from the three of us but won three of their last four healthy crowd files in for a record-extending ninth Aus- Thiem in the five-set decider realistically that isn’t hap- matches, he has only met final that could mark a shift tralian Open crown but he last year, and Medvedev is pening still,” Djokovic told Djokovic once at a Grand in the tennis landscape. said he was fighting fit after possibly the player he would Eurosport. Slam, losing in four sets in Much like the tour- beating Russian qualifier least like to face. “I’m not going to stand the fourth round of the 2019 nament, world number one Aslan Karatsev in the Not for nothing did here and hand it over to Australian Open. and defending champion semi-finals. Djokovic brand him “the them." He said he was happy to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has been forced Victory over fourth seed man to beat”. Contesting his second be the “challenger” against Djokovic into crisis management at Medvedev would mean an The rangy Russian has Grand Slam final but first in the “favourite”. celebrates after times during his campaign. 18th Grand Slam title for been a machine since Australia, Medvedev is “And he’s one of the winning his Pilloried in the leadup Djokovic, pulling him within November, clinching the hungry for success after greatest players in the semi final match for petitioning organisers to two of the record 20 shared Paris Masters, the ATP Finals being edged by Nadal in a history of tennis,” he told against Russia’s ease strict quarantine pro- by “Big Three” rivals Roger and the team-based ATP classic five-set decider at the reporters. Aslan Karatsev. tocols for players, the Serb Federer and Rafa Nadal. Cup in a 20-match winning 2019 US Open. “So playing the final struggled with an abdominal While the 33-year-old streak that has included 12 Djokovic might see against him is superb.”

Canada's Andreescu injured Ram, Krejcikova again after long lay-off storm to mixed

REUTERS — MELBOURNE second round but continued doubles title playing at a WTA event at Mel- Bianca Andreescu’s return to bourne Park. REUTERS — MELBOURNE the tennis circuit after a She reached the semi-finals 15-month injury lay-off was of the Phillip Island Trophy American Rajeev Ram and Czech Republic’s Barbora short-lived as organisers said where she had two match Krejcikova captured their second major title as a yesterday that the 2019 US points before losing to Czech pair after defeating local wildcards Matthew Ebden Open champion had pulled out Marie Bouzkova. and Samantha Stosur in the Australian Open mixed of next week’s Adelaide Inter- “After coming back from 15 doubles final yesterday. national with a left leg problem. months (off) and playing long, The sixth seeds dominated from start to finish The opening round at this tough matches, I’m dealing and did not drop serve in the match as they cruised month’s Australian Open was with a lower body issue,” to a 6-1, 6-4 victory in 59 minutes at the Rod Laver the first match for the 20-year- Andreescu said in a statement Arena, bringing the surprise run of the hometown old Canadian since the 2019 from the Adelaide organisers. pair to an end. WTA Finals in Shenzhen where “I want to think about the It marks Krejcikova’s third straight mixed she retired with a meniscus tear rest of the season so I’m pulling doubles title at Melbourne Park after she triumphed in her left knee. out of Adelaide.” with Ram in 2019 and Nikola Mektic last year, Andreescu, who was in Andreescu was scheduled capping a successful fortnight for the Czech, who hard quarantine for 14 days to head to the Middle East next also reached the women’s doubles final with com- Rajeev Ram (left) of the US and Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova pose with the after arriving in Melbourne, for WTA events in Doha and patriot Katerina Siniakova, losing to Elise Mertens trophy after winning their mixed doubles final yesterday. exited the Grand Slam in the Dubai next month. and Aryna Sabalenka. Sport SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2021 09

A worker sprays disinfectant NBA: Murray at Al Gharafa Beach Hurricanes Volleyball Court ahead of scores 50 as the Doha World Cup. roll over Nuggets Blackhawks; defeat Cavs Jets win

REUTERS — LOS ANGELES REUTERS — NEW YORK

Jamal Murray scored a career- Martin Necas scored the high 50 points, despite go-ahead goal early in the attempting no free throws, as third period, Nino Niederreiter the visiting Denver Nuggets scored twice, and the Carolina earned a 120-103 victory over Hurricanes notched a 5-3 win the Cleveland Cavaliers. over the visiting Chicago Murray became the first Blackhawks on Friday in NBA player ever to reach 50 Raleigh, N.C. points in a contest without Vincent Trocheck and getting to the foul line. He sank Jaccob Slavin also scored for 21 of 25 shots, including 8 of Carolina, which extended its 10 from 3-point range, and he points streak to five games. added six rebounds. The Hurricanes beat the Black- Murray’s point total hawks for the second time in eclipsed his previous regular- three meetings this season. season career high of 48 Patrick Kane, Ian Mitchell and points, set in the Nuggets’ Carl Soderberg each scored for 115-107 win over the Boston Chicago, whose three-game Celtics on Nov. 5, 2018. He did win streak was snapped. score 50 in two playoff games Jets 2, Canucks 0 against the Utah Jazz last Mark Scheifele and Mason season. Appleton scored, and Laurent Michael Porter Jr. scored Volleyball: QVA prepares Brossoit made 29 saves as vis- 21 of his 22 points in the first iting Winnipeg stifled Van- half and Nikola Jokic cele- couver thanks to Brossoit col- brated his 26th birthday by lecting his second career NHL collecting 16 points, 12 shutout, while Vancouver’s rebounds and 10 assists for the to host Doha World Cup Thatcher Demko stopped 29 Nuggets. Collin Sexton led the of 30 shots in a hard-luck Cavaliers with 23 points, and defeat. Jarrett Allen added 20 points THE PENINSULA — DOHA The Jets continued their and 10 boards. dominance over the Canucks In other match, Joel Embiid The Qatar Volleyball Associ- dating back to the 2014-15 scored a career-high 50 points ation (QVA), under the super- season. Winnipeg is 15-2-0 in to go along with 17 rebounds, vision of the FIVB, will organise its last 17 games against five assists and four blocked the Doha World Cup for Beach Vancouver. shots as host Philadelphia Volleyball 2021 with a one-star Panthers 7, Red Wings 2 defeated Chicago. category. Patric Hornqvist scored Embiid was 17 of 26 from The QVA is preparing to two goals and Aleksander the field and 15 of 17 from the host the top event by following Barkov had a goal and two free-throw line as he sur- all necessary precautionary and assists as Florida recorded its passed the 49 points he scored preventive measures taken to fifth consecutive road victory, against the Atlanta Hawks on limit the spread of COVID-19 burying Detroit early and Feb. 24, 2020. Tobias Harris virus and follow the safe health QVA is coasting to the win. added 22 points, 12 rebounds bubble system in coordination taking strict MacKenzie Weegar and and seven assists for the Sixers. with the Ministry of Public health safety Anthony Duclair each had a It was Philadelphia’s second Health. measures for goal with an assist and Keith win in succession without Ben The tournament will begin the Doha World Yandle recorded three assists Simmons, who sat due to a tomorrow and will conclude on Cup. for the Panthers, who scored stomach illness. Zach LaVine led 26, at the Beach Volleyball a season-high four times in the the Bulls with 30 points. Courts, Al Gharafa. first period. Florida scored on Meanwhile, Kemba Walker More than 33 teams from 16 four of its first eight shots, and returned from a one-game sab- countries are participating in Chris Driedger made 30 saves. batical to score a season-high the tournament: Gambia, Oilers 2, Flames 1 28 points and lead Boston over Morocco, Poland, Turkey, Jesse Puljujarvi and Gaetan visiting Atlanta. Walker sat out Brazil, Lebanon, Tunisia, Russia, Haas provided the offense and the first of the two-game series America, Egypt, the Sultanate referee team will also partic- world rounds (4-star category) with the Ministry of Public goaltender Mike Smith made for load management of his left of Oman, Switzerland, Vene- ipate in the arbitration of the which will be held at Katara in Health. 20 saves as visiting Edmonton knee, a game the Celtics lost. zuela, and Qatar, where six championship competitions, March, and the one-star cat- eased by Calgary despite stars teams participate, including five with 22 referees. egory that will be organised by Connor McDavid and Leon NBA RESULTS teams in the main draw: Cherif Last week, Chairman of the Qatar Volleyball Federation in Draisaitl being kept off the , Ahmed , Ziad and Mahmoud , Board of Directors of the Qatar February at Al Gharafa beach The tournament will begin scoresheet. 76ers 112 - Bulls 105 Danny and Nito, Jasim Al- Volleyball Federation Ali playgrounds. tomorrow and will conclude Edmonton will look to Celtics 121 - Hawks 109 Kuwari and Nasser Al-Meer, Ghanem Al Kuwari chaired the The meeting confirmed the on 26, at the Beach Volleyball sweep a brief two-game set Youssef and Abdullah , as for meeting of the organising com- Federation’s keenness to hold when the clubs meet Saturday Magic 124 - Warriors 120 Courts, Al Gharafa. More than Suns 132 - Pelicans 114 the sixth Qatari team, which mittee for the two rounds of the the two rounds while taking all night in Edmonton. Edmonton, will participate in the prelim- Doha World Cup (February necessary precautionary and 33 teams from 16 countries which has won eight of its last Raptors 86 - Timberwolves 81 inary consisting of the duo 2021) and the Katara Beach Vol- preventive measures to limit the 10 games, received an early Clippers 116 - Jazz 112 are participating in the

Abdullah Samir and Mubarak leyball Cup (March 2021). spread of the COVID-19 virus tournament. boost when Puljujarvi opened Grizzlies 109 - Pistons 95 Al-Kuwari. The meeting discussed the and to follow the safe health the scoring with his second A local and international latest preparations for the two bubble system in coordination goal in as many games. PSL: Iqbal, Clarke star as Karachi Kings India’s Pant returns for crush Quetta Gladiators in opening game next month's T20 series against England AGENCIES — KARACHI NEW DELHI — REUTERS ’s three wickets and a quickfire 46 from Joe India wicketkeeper Rishabh Clarke yesterday helped Pant (pictured) has been Karachi Kings begin their title included in the defence with a seven-wicket squad for next month’s five- win over Quetta Gladiators in match series against England, the opening match of the HBL the country’s board PSL 6 at Karachi’s National (BCCI) said yesterday. Stadium. This was Karachi’s Pant, who was dropped for biggest win in terms of balls the limited-overs series in Aus- remaining in the tournament’s tralia, has been rewarded for history. his consistent performances The opening match also with the bat in red-ball cricket. welcomed fans once again to The swashbuckling the ground after the National 23-year-old produced spec- Command and Operation Karachi Kings players celebrate tacular fourth innings knocks side ahead of this year’s T20 Centre (NCOC) allowed 20 per a wicket during their opening of 97 and 89 not out in Sydney World Cup. cent crowds to attend the match against Quetta Gladiators and Brisbane to help India pull Batsman Suryakumar matches in Karachi and Lahore. at National Stadium in Karachi. off an epic 2-1 triumph in the Yadav and wicketkeeper Ishan Arshad, later awarded test series against Australia last Kishan have also been included player-of-the-match award, month. in the 19-man squad, while returned three for 16 in his four quick to leave a mark as he hit for Perth Scorchers in Aus- champions Peshawar Zalmi in He also struck half-cen- Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra overs which played a crucial the first six of this edition. Right- tralia’s Big Bash in 2020-21 the afternoon, while two-time turies in the first two tests of Jadeja have been left out. role in bowling out 2019 handed Azam Khan, who came season, crafted a crucial 55-run champions the current four-match series India and England are winners Quetta Gladiators for to bat at number five, posted the partnership with play Multan Sultans in the against England. scheduled to play five T20 121 in 18.2 overs after Karachi second best score of the innings (24 off 20, three fours) to help evening match. Pant, who replaces Sanju matches in Ahmedabad, with Kings (17 off 14, one four, one six). Kings recover from Sharjeel Scores in brief: Karachi Samson, will hope to cement the opening game to be held on opted to bowl. Karachi Kings chased the Khan’s dismissal in the first over Kings beat Quetta Gladiators by his spot in the limited-overs March 12. The 20-year-old right-arm target in the 14th over as Clarke, with four runs on the board. seven wickets Quetta Gladiators INDIAN SQUAD FOR ENGLAND T20S pacer was supported by left- playing his maiden HBL PSL Babar also became the top 121 all out, 18.2 overs (Chris Gayle arm pacer , match, blasted 46 off 23, hitting run-getter in the tournament’s 39, Azam Khan 17; Arshad Iqbal Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar who took two for 21 in 2.2 overs. six fours and three sixes. history surpassing his cousin 3-16, Waqas Maqsood 2-21) Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh With 39 off 24 balls, Chris He smashed three fours and Kamran Akmal’s 1,537 runs Karachi Kings 126-3, 13.5 overs Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Cha- Gayle, who hit four fours and two sixes in Qais Ahmad’s first from 56 matches. ( 46, M. Nabi 30 not hal, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewa- two sixes, was the top-scorer over, fifth over of the innings, In today’s double-header, out, Babar Azam 24; Mohammad

in Quetta’s innings. He featured which went for 27 runs. Lahore Qalandars, the finalists Hasnain 2-18) Player of the tia, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, in a competitive match in The 24-year-old wicket- of the 2020 edition, open their match – Arshad Iqbal (Karachi Shardul Thakur after 14 years and was keeper-batsman who featured campaign by taking on 2017 Kings)