CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 7 RUGBY | Page 6 Roglic Australia tightens grip beats out New as champion Zealand to host Bernal falters Championship Saturday, September 12, 2020 FOOTBALL Muharram 24, 1442 AH Klopp shrugs off GULF TIMES rivals’ spending as EPL kicks off SPORT Page 3 TENNIS / US OPEN Osaka and Azarenka have unfi nished business in fi nal After Osaka pulled out of their final in the tune-up event, it’s another chance for former world No. 1s to stamp supremacy AFP New York, United States aomi Osaka and Victoria Aza- renka will both be looking to capture a third Grand Slam title when they clash in the Nfi nal of the behind-closed-doors US Open today. The two were set for a title clash two weeks back before the Japanese with- drew due to injury but the former world number ones will have another chance to establish supremacy today. For Osaka, the fourth seed, it would be a third tennis major trophy in two years. For Azarenka, a former world number one, it would be a fi rst since 2013. It’s a match-up between one of the game’s young stars, going from strength to strength, and a veteran whose career is rejuvenated after several years in the doldrums. The 22-year-old Osaka, her profi le rapidly rising due to a combination of powerful tennis and Black Lives Mat- ter activism, says she’s better prepared than when she stunned Serena Wil- liams in the 2018 US Open fi nal. “I would say I feel like my mindset is much diff erent this time around,” said Japan’s Osaka, following her three-set semi-fi nal win over American Jennifer Naomi Osaka of Japan hits the ball against Jennifer Brady (not pictured) of the United States in the US Open semi-final at USTA Brady. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City on Thursday. (Right) Victoria Azarenka of Be- Osaka v Azarenka “I feel like I’ve learned so much larus returns the ball against Serena Williams (not pictured) of the United States during their semi-final. (USA TODAY Sports) through the ups and downs, not even 4-Naomi Osaka Victoria Azarenka counting the fi nals, but just regular names out to as many people as I can,” ter Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, Court and 22 Age 31 tour tournaments. Osaka said. I think seven years ago, aft er fellow Australian Evonne Goolagong — 9 Current ranking 27 “I would say mentally I feel stronger. Azarenka, 31, is brimming with con- I won the Australian Open... to win Grand Slam singles titles in the 1 Highest ranking 1 I feel fi tter now. It’s going to be interest- fi dence after coming from a set down to it was kind of expected for Open era after having children. 2 (Australia 2019; US 2018) Grand Slams (Australia 2012, 2013) 2 ing to see what happens,” Osaka added. stun her old rival Williams and book a ‘ me to be in the fi nal. I don’t Azarenka says she is benefi ting from 5 Career WTA titles 21 Osaka, of Japanese and Haitian herit- third US Open fi nal. think that was the case this year. a more Zen outlook on life and revelling Round 4 2019 US Open performance Round 1 age, is wearing diff erent masks honour- It will be her fi rst appearance in the It feels more fun this year, more in the fact that few commentators ex- Winner (2018) Best US Open performance Runner-up (2012, 2013) ing victims of racial injustice and police fi nal of a tennis major since Williams fulfi lling, more pleasant for me. pected the unseeded player to mount a 2 Head-to-Head 1 brutality throughout the tournament. beat her in the last-two of the US Open — Victoria Azarenka challenge. 2019 Osaka d Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 (French Open, clay) The 2019 Australian Open champion in 2013. “Mentally I’m in such a diff erent 2018 Osaka d Azarenka 6-0, 6-3 (Rome, clay) has donned face coverings bearing the her career was further disrupted by a place. I think seven years ago, after I 2016 Azarenka d Osaka 6-1, 6-1 (Australian Open, hard) names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah Mc- ‘MORE FUN’ custody battle over her son, born in De- won the Australian Open... it was kind Clain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Mar- The Belarusian also suff ered a heart- cember 2016. of expected for me to be in the fi nal. ROAD TO FINAL tin, George Floyd and Philando Castile. breaking loss to Williams in the 2012 US Azarenka is back up to 27th in the “I don’t think that was the case this Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 Rd 1 Barbara Haas (AUT) 6-1, 6-2 She will wear another today for the Open, when she served for the match at rankings though, and is enjoying a fair- year. It feels more fun this year, more Camila Giorgi (ITA) 6-1, 6-2 Rd 2 5-Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-1, 6-3 Arthur Ashe showdown, which will 5-3 in the third set only to lose 7-5. ytale run at the US Open after claim- fulfi lling, more pleasant for me.” Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2 Rd 3 Iga Swiatek (POL) 6-4, 6-2 take place without fans due to the coro- Azarenka’s two major titles came at ing last month’s Western and Southern Azarenka said of Osaka: “She’s a 14-Anett Kontaveit (EST) 6-3, 6-4 Rd 4 20-Karolina Muchova (CZE) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 navirus pandemic. the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Open tune-up event in New York. very, very powerful player. She’s a Shelby Rogers (USA) 6-3, 6-4 QF 16-Elise Mertens (BEL) 6-1, 6-0 “I do think it’s a very big motivating She has endured a diffi cult few years. If she defeats Osaka then she will great champion. She’s won two already. 28-Jennifer Brady (USA) 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-3 SF 3-Serena Williams (USA) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 factor for me just to try to, like, get the Injury plagued 2014 and 2015 before become only the fourth women — af- Aren’t we both looking for a third one?” FOOTBALL / QNB STARS LEAGUE Rayyan aim for top spot with win over Qatar SC By Sports Reporter to build on from their win league does not have an easy “Our match against Al Rayy- Doha against Gharafa. “The team’s match. Whatever the diff erence an is very diffi cult because it is morale is high after the victory in points and other matters be- against a team that competed for over Al Gharafa. We will try to tween the teams, the competition the title till the last round last ith top guns Al Du- go into the break with an im- on the pitch will be equal. And season. They will try to make up hail and Al Sadd not portant victory and seek to ben- there is no doubt that Qatar SC for it in the current season and playing the third efit from it in the best possible will not be a pushover side, espe- we look at this match in a diff er- round of the QNB way,” said Aguirre yesterday. cially since they are coming from ent way. We are not on the win- WStars League due to AFC Cham- “We must be fully focused on two back-to-back losses. So their ning path for a long time. I wait- pions League commitments, Al the game and our players should main goal will be to compensate ed for a great reaction from the Rayyan will have a chance to go not spare any eff ort, so we can for it,” Aguirre said players, especially since we are top of the standings when they obtain the three points and con- Meanwhile, Qatar SC had in a new season and the players face Qatar SC today. tinue on the winning path, hav- dropped many points in the fi rst should look forward to a diff er- After two rounds, Sadd are on ing picked up our fi rst victory last leg last season, but they more ent look for the current season,” top of the standings with two week, against Al Gharafa,” the than made up for it with a series he added. points ahead of Al Ahli, while Uruguayan added. of positive results in the tourna- In other matches today, Al Duhail are fourth after they were Qatar SC, who occupy the bot- ment’s latter session to eventu- Sailiya take on Al Kharaitiyat, stunned by Al Wakrah in the last tom position, are the only side ally end up in eighth position. while Al Wakrah face Umm Salal. round. Rayyan defeated Gharafa yet to open their account in terms Qatar SC coach Younis Ali Tomorrow, Al Ahli play Al Khor, last week after a sluggish draw of points, having lost 0-2 to Al urged his players to show fi ghting with Al Gharafa facing Al Arabi. against Al Sailiya in their opener. Gharafa and 1-2 to Al Kharaitiyat spirit against Rayyan. “We need Now they have a chance to pull last week. our players to show the fi ghting Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre ahead, with Duhail and Sadd Aguirre sounded caution of spirit and we need more time to (left) and striker Yacine Brahimi, slated to play their third round Qatar SC’s poor form and said change the players’ psychologi- who won the QFA Best Coach and match at later date.