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SUNDAYSU 13 JUNE 2021 AfterA toppling Nadal, Djokovic hopes to be rreadye for Tsitsipas in French Open final It’sIt’ not the first time that I play an epic semi-final in a Grand SlaSlam and then I have to come back in less than 48 hours and playpla finals. My recovery abilities are pretty good, I must say, tthroughouth my career... I know what I need to do.

NovakNoN Djokovic Sport |15

EURO 2020: GROUP STAGE Wales 1, Switzerland 1 (Group A); Finland 1, Denmark 0 (Group B); Belgium 3, Russia 0 (Group B) Gold Cup: Team Qatar reaches Croatia for training camp

THE PENINSULA — DOHA played in Houston. Al Annabi’s participation in the tournament Reigning Asian champions Qatar is seen as crucial as the national yesterday reached Croatia for a team continues to prepare for the training camp ahead of the next next year’s FIFA World Cup Qatar month’s Gold Cup, where Al 2022. Annabi will make its debut. “Participation in the Gold Cup The Felix Sanchez-coached will be a good opportunity for us will undergo preparations for the in our preparations for the next top challenge before leaving for year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” the US on July 4. Sanchez said last week. Qatar will feature in the Gold “The conditions there will be Cup as a guest side and will face different and we will prepare Panama in their first Group D accordingly. Being the Asian match on July 13. They will play champions, we are expected to do Qatar striker Akram Afif (foreground) their other matches against well at the Gold Cup and we will along with team-mates at the airport Grenada on July 17 and Honduras do best possible preparation and as national team reaches Croatia on July 20. will be ready for the challenge,” for a training camp. All of Qatar’s matches will be he added. Euro 2020: Belgium thrash Russia; Eriksen ‘awake’ after collapsing debutants Finland shock Denmark during Euro

REUTERS — SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA 2020 match Belgium eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over REUTERS — COPENHAGEN Russia yesterday with two goals from Romelu Lukaku Denmark midfielder was and one from Thomas conscious in hospital yesterday, soccer offi- Meunier to confirm their cials said, after collapsing during his side’s status among the European Euro 2020 opening soccer match with Championship favourites. Finland and being given CPR on the pitch. The Belgians, top of the Eriksen collapsed suddenly in the 42nd FIFA rankings, went ahead minute of the match while running near the after only 10 minutes through left touchline after a Denmark throw-in. As Lukaku and doubled the a hush fell over the 16,000-strong crowd, score before the break his team-mates formed a ring around him through Meunier. as medics pumped his chest. Lukaku scored his A Reuters photographer at the game saw second of the night two Eriksen raise his hand as he was carried away minutes from the end -- from the pitch on a stretcher, and the Danish extending his record tally for football association later said on Twitter that his country to 62 goals. the 29-year-old was awake at the nearby Belgium’s obvious supe- Rigshospitalet, where he was being riority was evident examined. Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku scores their first goal yesterday. throughout the Group B “We have been in contact with him and RIGHT: Denmark’s Christian Eriksen is carried off after collapsing encounter in St Petersburg, the players have spoken to Christian,” said and victory for Roberto Mar- during the match. Peter Moller of the Danish Football Associ- tinez’s team came without ation. The game was initially suspended but Kevin De Bruyne, out with continue. Denmark domi- then it was decided that it would resume at injury, and only a cameo nated the match before and 1830 GMT. substitute appearance from after the traumatic incident, “He is doing well and they are playing captain Eden Hazard, but Finland striker Joel the match for Christian,” Moller said. another of the team’s Pohjanpalo headed home the The game was scoreless when Eriksen, talismans. winner on the hour with his who plays club soccer for Inter Milan in Italy, Belgium go to the top of side’s only attempt of the collapsed just before halftime in their Group the group standings, ahead on game. B clash. Teammates Martin Braithwaite and goal difference from Finland, The hosts had 22 efforts rushed to assist him, with who upset Denmark 1-0 in but could not make them Delaney beckoning furiously for medical Copenhagen. count, including a tame assistance. Also yesterday, Finland penalty from Pierre-Emile Both teams subsequently left the field claimed a shock 1-0 Euro Hojbjerg that was saved by with officials holding up sheets to hide the 2020 victory over Denmark formed a ring around him, Lukas Hradecky with 16 saved by Swiss goalkeeper after halftime. They also had stricken player from view, and the stadium in their first major tour- before he was carried off on minutes remaining. Yann Sommer, guided the a late goal by Mario announcer told fans that the game had been nament appearance yes- a stretcher and both teams Earlier, striker Kieffer ball into the net on 74 Gavranovic correctly ruled suspended due to a medical emergency and terday, but the match was left the pitch. Moore scored a headed minutes from a Joe Morrell out for offside. to stay in their seats. overshadowed by Danish The game was stopped equaliser from a rare chance delivery as he ghosted into Italy lead the group after “Our thoughts and prayers are with midfielder Christian Eriksen for one hour and 45 minutes as surprise 2016 semi- space left by the static Swiss their impressive 3-0 victory Christian Eriksen and his family,” Portuguese requiring emergency medical but resumed after the Danish finalists Wales snatched a 1-1 defence. over Turkey in the tour- star Cristiano Ronaldo said on Instagram. treatment on the pitch. Football Association draw against wasteful Swit- Lively forward Breel nament opener on Friday and “The world of football stands together The match was sus- announced that Eriksen was zerland in their Group A Embolo had put Switzerland will host the Swiss in Rome hoping for good news. I’m counting on pended after Eriksen col- awake and stable in hospital clash at the Baku Olympic ahead when he showed in their second game on finding you soon back on the pitch, Chris! lapsed towards the end of the and both sets of players told Stadium. impressive strength to out- Wednesday. Wales stay in Stay strong!” Eriksen’s team-mate at Inter first half and was given CPR soccer’s European governing Moore, who had a first muscle defender Connor the Azerbaijan capital to face Milan, Lautaro Martinez, wrote on the site: by medics as his team-mates body UEFA they wanted to half opportunity expertly Roberts from a corner shortly the Turks on the same day. “Come on Chris! Please Chris”. Copa America: 12 Venezuelans test Reaching every final a tall order positive for COVID-19 ahead of opener for Croatia, says captain Modric REUTERS — LONDON realistic now, no matter how REUTERS — SAO PAULO Football Confederation (CON- 10 South American nations, confident we are. We still MEBOL) made the diagnosis was moved to Brazil at the last Croatia punched above their believe we are a very good team Twelve members of the Vene- on Friday night and informed minute after Argentina pulled weight to finish as the 2018 of course and the first thing we zuelan delegation at the Copa local health authorities. out because of a COVID-19 World Cup runners-up and must do is keep believing.” America have tested positive “All are asymptomatic, surge there. should not be expected to go all Asked to comment on for COVID-19, health officials isolated in individual rooms, Brazil agreed to host the the way in every tournament, media reports that underdogs said yesterday, a day before and are being monitored by tournament in spite of its own captain Luka Modric said ahead Croatia had accused England they meet hosts Brazil in the the Conmebol team and local coronavirus issues. Some of their Euro 2020 Group D of arrogance ahead of their epic tournament opener. health officials,” the statement 484,235 people have died in opener against England today. Luka Modric clash in Moscow, Modric said “The 12 members of the added. Brazil, more than any country The Croatians sent shock- they were aggrieved by the delegation include players Venezuela are due to take in the world bar the United waves around the world when “All the pieces of the puzzle English media. and members of the on reigning champions Brazil States, with 2,216 reported they beat England 2-1 in the came together in Russia but we “We didn’t maintain so backroom staff,” said a tonight at the Mane Garrincha dead on Friday. semi-finals in Russia before can’t reach the final every time much that the England team statement from the Health stadium. The Copa America, South losing the showpiece match 4-2 even though we have raised the and the players were arrogant Secretariat in Brasilia, where The Copa America, the America’s equivalent of the to France and Modric said their bar for ourselves,” midfielder ahead of that game but rather Sunday’s game will take place. oldest tournament in interna- Euros, is due to run until July fans needed to lower their Modric told a news the people around them, some The South American tional football and featuring 10. expectations ahead of the clash conference. of the journalists and the com- at Wembley. “We have to be much more mentators,” he said yesterday. Sport SUNDAY 13 JUNE 2021 15 Krejcikova wins maiden Grand Slam title in Paris

REUTERS — PARIS became a first-time women’s landed on the sideline with the Czech Republic's major winner in Paris for the Russian rooted to her spot. Pav- Unseeded Czech Barbora Barbora Krejcikova sixth successive year. lyuchenkova tried to hang in on Krejcikova completed a celebrates with the Krejcikova could walk away the rallies but did not find solu- remarkable transition from a trophy after winning It’s hard to put words with even more silverware from tions to counter the Czech’s tac- doubles specialist to a Grand the final match against together right now. I can’t Paris this weekend as she will tical game in the opening set but Slam singles champion on Russia's Anastasia believe what has just be back on court on Sunday added a bit of aggression to her yesterday by conquering Pavlyuchenkova. with fellow Czech Katerina Sin- game in the second, jumping to Russia’s Anastasia Pavly- happened, that I’ve just iakova, with the duo attempting a 5-1 lead in no time. uchenkova in the final of the won a Grand Slam. to win their second Roland A niggle on the left leg, French Open. Garros doubles title following however, seemed to restrict her The 25-year-old, a former Barbora Krejcikova their success in 2018. movement and after getting doubles number one, defeated It was Pavlyuchenkova who broken for 5-2 she received Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 started the final on a confident medical attention on court and to become the first Czech to lift note, breaking the unseeded had her thigh taped. the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Czech at the start but that She broke Krejcikova’s Hana Mandlikova, who repre- turned out to be the only game serve after returning to court sented the former Czechoslo- she would win in the opening and got the match level at vakia, triumphed in 1981. set as Krejcikova reeled off six one-set all. Krejcikova was languishing straight games. The players raised their outside the top 100 before last Krejcikova started moving level in the deciding set and the September’s edition of the the Russian around by mixing ferocity of the tennis increased. French Open - her preparations her free-flowing, easy-on-the After an exchange of service restricted to a series of ITF eye groundstrokes with deft breaks, Krejcikova managed to Circuit events back home - but dropshots, making it difficult find an even higher gear to get a run to the fourth round in Paris for Pavlyuchenkova to settle another break for a 4-3 lead. changed her singles career. down. Krejcikova wasted two Her preparations were much She got the break back in match points in the ninth game more solid this year as she won Krejcikova extended her winning further rise to 15th when the together right now. I can’t the second game with a and another with a double fault her maiden WTA title in Stras- run to 12 matches. rankings are updated believe what has just happened, forehand lob on the stretch that at 5-4 up before Pavly- bourg in the run-up to Roland She entered Paris at a tomorrow. that I’ve just won a Grand went over the head of an uchenkova sent a return long Garros. Following Saturday’s win, career-high 33rd spot and will “It’s hard to put words Slam,” said Krejcikova, who advancing Pavlyuchenkova and to end the contest. Auger-Aliassime After toppling Nadal, Djokovic to clash with hopes to be ready for Tsitsipas Cilic in Stuttgart REUTERS — PARIS trophies from the season-ending fantastic win over 13-time French Open final ATP Finals and a Masters 1000 Open winner Nadal might leave a After dethroning ‘king of clay’ Rafa tournament. hangover for most players but that AP — STUTTGART Nadal at the French Open, Novak But he had drawn a blank the might not be a problem for Djokovic Djokovic (pictured) will next face three times he reached the last-four with his incredible mental strength. Felix Auger-Aliassime is back in a first-time Grand Slam finalist in stage at a major before Friday’s “It’s not the first time that I play the final of the Stuttgart Open and Stefanos Tsitsipas as the world semi-final where he took down U.S. an epic semi-final in a Grand Slam will play Marin Cilic after both number one bids to become the first Open finalist Alexander Zverev in a and then I have to come back in less came through the semi-finals man in the open era to win all four thrilling five-set duel. than 48 hours and play finals,” he yesterday. majors at least twice. The first Grand Slam finalist said. Third-seeded Auger-Aliassime Roy Emerson and Rod Laver are from Greece will arrive on Court “My recovery abilities are pretty defeated American Sam Querrey the only men to have won each of Philippe Chatrier on Sunday with a good, I must say, throughout my 6-4, 7-5, and Cilic progressed to the the four Grand Slams on two or 2-5 win-loss record against the career... I know what I need to do.” final when Jurij Rodionov retired more occasions but no one has Serbian but will draw inspiration Djokovic was happy to relax a due to injury when Cilic was leading achieved the feat since 1968, when from the fact that he has a Tour- bit and enjoy his semi-final win over 6-3, 1-0. the sport allowed professional leading win tally in 2021. his great rival but will not take any- Former US Open champion Cilic players to compete at the majors. “I’m looking forward to that thing for granted against the Greek. is going for his first title since 2019 A second trophy at Roland challenge,” Tsitsipas said on Friday, “He’s in great form,” the Serbian at Queen’s Club. Garros, after his 2016 triumph on looking ahead to his first major final. said. Auger-Aliassime will be going the red clay, today will also give the “I’m looking forward to bring “I think he matured as a player for his first title in his eighth final 34-year-old Serbian his 19th Grand my game to kind of challenge myself a lot. Clay (is) arguably his best altogether. The Canadian lost the Slam title - one short of Nadal and to step it up.” surface. 2019 final in Stuttgart to Matteo Roger Federer’s men’s record. Nothing less than his ‘A’ game “We played an epic five-setter Berrettini. His challenger will be a 22-year- would suffice for the Greek as he last year in the semis here. Yeah, I Yesterday, he did not face a old who is bidding to become the has never managed to defeat know it’s going to be another tough break point, and hit 13 aces to beat first Greek to win a singles major. Djokovic on clay though he took the one. I’m hoping I can recharge my Querrey. Tsitsipas has long been marked Serbian to five sets in the semi-finals batteries as much as I can because Cilic won both previous out as a future Grand Slam at the same venue last year. I’m going to need some power and meetings with Auger-Aliassime. champion and has already collected The emotions of Friday’s energy for that one.” Today’s match will be their first meeting on grass. Reigning 400m champion NZ on brink of Test series win

Horton misses Australia AP — BIRMINGHAM edged to the slips off fast bowler Matt Henry Matt Henry. Rory Burns went celebrates team berth for Games New Zealand was within grasp second ball of the innings for a with team- of a first Test series win in duck, and Dom Sibley was out mates after REUTERS — ADELAIDE 0.65 seconds as young gun England since 1999 after the for 8. Henry also got the next taking the Elijah Winnington, 21, swam home side collapsed in its wicket after tea, trapping Zac wicket of Reigning Olympic champion the fastest time in the world this second innings to 122-9 at Crawley on 17 at 30-3. Dom Sibley, Mack Horton was the major year in 3:42.65 with Jack Edgbaston yesterday. Neil Wagner, auditioning yesterday. casualty on day one of the McLoughlin in second place. England was only 37 runs along with Henry to play India Australian Olympic team The first three men swam the ahead at stumps with tail- in the final, got Ollie Pope lbw swimming trials as he fell just fastest three 400m freestyle enders Olly Stone, 15 not out, for 23 and Dan Lawrence short of qualifying in a scintil- times in the world this year. and last man James Anderson, caught behind for a duck in two lating 400 metres freestyle “This means everything to yet to score, in the middle. overs. final. me, I dreamt of this moment as Today will mark the fourth Spinner Ajaz Patel chipped Horton, who is widely a kid,” Winnington said before morning of the second Test in with James Bracey, who tried known also for his strong anti- paying tribute to Horton. when New Zealand should a paddle sweep and exposed his doping stance, was edged out With just 41 days until the achieve the milestone win and wickets, and got the last recog- Stuart Broad on 1, but Stone and day on 299-3 and Ross Taylor on a night of high drama and Olympics begin, there was a a 1-0 series triumph. It will also nised batsman, Joe Root, after Anderson held on for one more went from 46 to the verge of a quality in Adelaide. cracking atmosphere all night give the Kiwis an extra day of the captain looked at 61 balls to over to force a fourth day of 20th century but he nicked The 25-year-old missed the as swimmers fought it out rest before the World Test make 11. play. Still, England is set to lose Stone behind on 80. top two finish that would have across five different events at Championship final against England was 76-7 and its a home Test series for the first The innings, which allowed him to defend his title the South Australia Aquatic India starting on Thursday. embarrassment in danger of time since 2014. threatened to go past 400, fell in Tokyo next month by just Centre. The Black Caps’ first innings sinking to an innings loss. England’s limp batting away with Wood and Broad finished before tea on 388 for Mark Wood delayed the undid all of the good work by grabbing a couple of wickets a lead of 85. inevitable with a 38-ball 29 the bowlers to restrict the Black each. New Zealand went from But in the six overs to the before becoming Wagner’s third Caps’ first innings to 388. 312-4 to 388 all out. China’s Su Bingtian runs break, both England openers wicket, and Trent Boult bowled New Zealand resumed the Broad finished with 4-48. 100m in 9.98 seconds in PSL: Zalmi beat Gladiators Rabada rips through WI trials for Tokyo Olympics REUTERS — BEIJING sub 10-second run of Su’s as SA seal big victory career, was the joint 13th fastest Su Bingtian has confirmed his in the world this year. REUTERS — SAINT LUCIA Roston Chase, batting in an strong form by clocking 9.98 Su is set to compete in his unfamiliar number four seconds to win the 100 metres third Olympics in Tokyo this South Africa fast bowler Kagiso position, top-scored for the at China’s national athletics summer and will be a key Rabada took five wickets as the home side with a well-played trials for the Tokyo Olympics member of China’s 4x100m tourists cruised to victory over 62, before he was bowled by in Shaoxing, local media relay team, which he helped to West Indies by an innings and left-arm spinner Keshav reported. a silver medal at the 2015 world 63 runs before lunch on day Maharaj (2-23). No-one else The 31-year-old, the first championships in Beijing and three of the first Test in Saint managed more than 14 in the Asian-born athlete to go under fourth at the Rio Games. Lucia yesterday. innings. 10 seconds in the blue-riband “We are not satisfied that West Indies followed their Rabada returned figures of sprint, ran the same time at we were ranked the fourth at paltry first innings score of 97 5-34 in West Indies’ second Zhaoqing in April. the 4x100 metres relay event by being bowled out for 162 in innings after fellow seamer Lungi “The result was satisfying, last time,” Su added. reply to South Africa’s 322, as Ngidi impressed with 5-19 in the though my body was not in top “It’ll require a great effort the tourists’ seamers took first, providing food for thought Peshawar Zalmi players celebrate a wicket of Quetta Gladiators form,” Su told Xinhua after Fri- if we want to take a medal this advantage of a helpful wicket for the hosts ahead of the during their PSL match in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Zalmi won the day’s run. time, but our goal has not that had both variable bounce second and final Test that starts The time, the seventh legal changed.” match by 61 runs after posting 197-5 while batting first. and plenty of seam movement. at the same venue on Friday.