SPORTS Saturday, December 30, 2017 23 Andy Murray (file pic)

Dubai now ranked 16, said: “I felt better ndy Murray was comfortably as it went along - obviously a bit beaten 6-2 by Roberto slow at the start. Roberto is one of ABautista Agut in a one-set the best players in the world and exhibition match at the Mubadala when you haven’t competed for World Tennis Championship in a long while it takes time to get Dubai. back up to that pace. The British number one has “I started to feel a bit better not played competitively since towards the end, but I’ll need to Toto Wolff (file pic) Wimbledon in July 2017 due to keep improving for sure.” a season-ending hip injury but Murray was himself a looked very rusty less than three late replacement for Novak Wolff reveals weeks before the Australian Open Djokovic, who withdrew with Murray Despite six months of rest and an elbow injury. talks between rehabilitation, his movement With Rafa Nadal missing appeared hesitant and stilted as Brisbane due to a knee Mercedes and the Spaniard Bautista Agut easily complaint, fans hoping to McLaren outmanoeuvred him. see tennis’s ‘Big Four’ back Murray showed some fight to together in Melbourne could be beaten in London win a 12-minute service game disappointed. ercedes F1 chief Toto at 1-5, and saved three match Only Roger Federer, who Wolff has revealed they points, but looked worryingly competes in the Hopman Mwere willing to supply McLaren short of his best. Nonetheless, the Cup in Perth this weekend, with an engine for 2018 but ran Scotsman travelled on to Brisbane is currently injury- out of time due to long-running on Friday night to take part in free among the men’s negotiations. the Australian Open warm-up game’s biggest stars. exhibition The McLaren-Honda tournament. (eurosport) partnership over the last few The former world number one, years has made the likes of Fernando Alonso even less competitive so they began looking for other engine providers over the course of match 2017. They have agreed a deal with Renault for three years but Wolff’s latest comments appear to suggest Mercedes were Ostapenko excited over seriously being considered. “We wanted to give McLaren an engine, the problem is that it dragged on for a long time Serena Williams clash and we just didn’t have the structure in place and the capacity to supply them an Abu Dhabi the first time since winning the unseeded player, was looking engine for 2018,” Wolff told elena Australian Open at the start of the forward to her battle with her ESPN. “It was simply too late.” Ostapenko year. “childhood idol”. But Wolff left the door open saysJ she She was two-months pregnant at “I am a little excited because I on a future deal between the has nothing that time and took off for the birth have never played her before,” said two. to lose and of her first child in September. Ostapenko, who has been practicing “You must never rule out everything to The 20-year-old Ostapenko was since Thursday in Abu Dhabi. supplying anybody in the gain when she not even a thought in her parents’ “I am really honoured to play future and this is why McLaren takes on the mind when Williams turned Serena in her first match after or anyone else in the future returning former professional in September 1995. coming back and I think it is such a could be a partner.” world number one Williams also has more grand great opportunity for me. That said, one unlikely Serena Williams in slam singles titles - 23 - than the “She was actually my idol when partner would appear to be Red Abu Dhabi today. age of her rival Saturday. I was growing up, and I saw her Bull. The Milton Keynes based The exhibition match And the reigning French Open matches and I really liked the style team tried to get a Mercedes will be the highlight of the champion, who shocked the she was playing. I also think she is deal in 2015, but failed, with three-day Mubadala World tennis world at Roland Garros by very big for women’s tennis. Wolff admitting this was partly Tennis Championship becoming the first player from “To play such a great champion is due to their very public falling as it marks Williams’ Latvia to win a grand slam title just great. I have nothing to lose and out with Renault and a lack return to the court for having started the event as an I will just enjoy the match.” (AFP) of respect shown toward its Jelena Ostapenko (file pic) partners. (givemesport) Djoker elbow injury makes him a doubt

against Roberto Bautista Agut “I am terribly disappointed that the practices and everything I Abu Dhabi and admits the injury “might I am forced to withdraw from did to get ready for the start ovak Djokovic’s Australian affect the start of the season”, the Mubadala World Tennis of the season, including the Open participation is in with the Australian Open Championship. Unfortunately, tournament in Abu Dhabi, Ndoubt after he was forced to starting on January 15. in the past few days I started where I always enjoy playing. withdraw from an exhibition Andy Murray, who had to feel pain in the elbow and “Now I need to accept this event in Abu Dhabi with an been at the event just with after several tests, my medical situation, and to wait for the elbow injury. the intention of training as he team has advised me not to results of the therapies, in order The Serbian has been out recovers from his own injury risk anything, to withdraw to start playing tennis again and for almost six months and had problems, will now step in to from the tournament and to getting back to full rhythm. been due to make his return face Bautista Agut, according immediately continue with the “This might affect the start of to action at the World Tennis to a post on the tournament’s therapies. the season and the tournament Championship. Facebook page. “I am very sad because I plan, but the decision will be However, he has now pulled Djokovic said in a statement was eager to return to playing made in the following days.” Novak Djokovic (file pic) out of a scheduled match on his official personal website: official matches. I enjoyed (eurosport)