TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019 15 Governorates’ events finalised Federer, Nadal fight on TDT | Manama ahrain’s governo - Brates have confirmed Andy Murray bows out of Australian Open in what could be his last ever match their programmes to be presented as part of the 2019 Bahrain Sports Day, scheduled for Febru - Maria Sharapova ary 12, it was announced • yesterday. doles out dreaded The third edition of the double bagel to Sports Day is organized Harriet Dart by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) as the Kerber handles nation’s four governorates • will bring a string of activ- Hercog in Aussie opener ities for all members of the family attending this year’s AFP | Melbourne event. A second meeting be - battling Andy Murray tween the organizing com- bowed out of the Aus - mittee and representatives A tralian Open at the first of the four governorates, hurdle yesterday, but it was staged at the BOC premises business as usual for ruthless in Seef, focused on a num- Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal ber of subjects in regards to who joined Caroline Wozniacki the nature of activities to be in round two. Switzerland’s Roger Federer in action during the match against Uzbekistan’s Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against James Duckworth of Australia held during the day. The Scottish five-time Mel- Denis Istomin nals champion Stefanos Tsitsi- double bagel demolition of Brit- The meeting was chaired bourne Park finalist gave it record seventh Australian Open showed no sign of any injury pas. But ninth seed John Isner ain’s Harriet Dart. by Supreme Council for everything he had and showed title. worries. “The energy I feel in became the first top seed to Playing in her 15th Australi- Youth and Sports assistant glimpses of the form that won He swept past Uzbek Denis this place is fantastic.” crash out. an Open, the three-time final- secretary general and Bah- him three Grand Slams, but his Istomin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 said he was The second seed is bidding World number three Wozni- ist said she was pleased to go rain Olympic Committee ailing body let him down during in “disbelief” that he was the to become the first man in the acki, who made her Grand Slam through so easily as she battles (BOC) secretary general Ab- a gutsy 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 double defending champion at Open era, and only the third in breakthrough in Melbourne last back from injuries. dulrahman Askar, in pres- (4/7) defeat to 22nd seed Rob- his age and vowed to give his all history along with Roy Emer- year, opened her defence with “I’m still working through ence of Ministry of Youth erto Bautista Agut. to make it three in a row. son and Rod Laver, to win each a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win over some painful days. But, you and Sports Affairs assistant Murray tearfully revealed “I’m going to try everything Grand Slam on two or more oc- Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck. know, I felt like I did all the undersecretary and organ- before the tournament that he possible (to win again) and casions. It was an emotional win for right things today in order to izing committee member was in constant agony from a leave it all on the court,” said Fifth seed Kevin Anderson the Dane who is struggling with get through that match,” said Dr Shaikh Saqer bin Salman hip injury and planned to retire the world number three. progressed, as did NextGen Fi- rheumatoid arthritis and she the Russian. Al Khalifa, who was briefed this year. His long-time rival Nadal, was in tears afterwards. Fifth seeded Sloane Stephens, on each of the governo - The 31-year-old hopes to end who cut short his 2018 season “Last year I had some special the 2017 US Open champion who rates arrangements made his career at Wimbledon, but has to have surgery on a foot injury, memories and just to be able to struggled in her warm-up tour- prior to the Sports Day admitted the Australian Open showed no mercy to Australian BETTER be back out here on Rod Laver naments in Brisbane and Syd- festivities. could be his last event, unless he wildcard James Duckworth in Arena is something extremely ney, got back to business with an During the meeting, a set has a late change of heart. his opening round clash. special and emotional,” she said. easy two-set win against fellow of unified activities will be “Amazing. That was incred- The 17-time Grand Slam win- KNOW American Taylor Townsend. organized in all four gov- ible, thank you so, so much to ner cruised through 6-4, 6-3, Good test Eleventh seed Aryna Sabalen- ernorates from 3:30 pm on- everyone that came out tonight,” 7-5 and said it was an important Second seed and 2016 cham- ka, widely tipped as a potential wards. These events will in- he said after being given a rap- victory. Stefanos Tsitsipas pion Angelique Kerber was also future champion, also safely ne- clude a walking and running turous send-off. “Not easy to come back after a became the first impressive, breezing past Slo- gotiated round one on a hot day. races for three kilometers, While his tournament ended lot of months, especially against Greek man to win a venia’s Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-2. But Germany’s 14th seed Julia in addition to individual in despair, Swiss master Feder- a player playing super aggres- Maria Sharapova, a winner at Goerges was knocked out, as and team sports contest in er, six years older than Murray, sive on every point,” said the match at the Aus- Melbourne in 2008, signalled was former French Open cham- specific locations in each continued his march towards a 2009 Australian champion, who tralian Open her intent with a rare 6-0, 6-0 pion Jelena Ostapenko. governorate. Guardiola in tough hunt Murray to make career decision within a week AFP | Melbourne his last match as he will soon for ‘new’ Fernandinho need a further major operation ndy Murray said he would on his damaged right hip. AFP | Manchester gled in the role when Crystal Amake a decision on fur - Honestly I’ve loved “I have basically like two op- Palace won at the Etihad Sta- ther surgery that could end his playing here over tions,” he told reporters. “One is ep Guardiola has acknowl- dium on December 22, while career “within a week” after the years. If this was to take the next four-and-a-half Pedged finding a long-term Ilkay Gundogan has not been battling to a gutsy, epic five-set months off, then build up, you replacement for Fernandinho entirely convincing either. defeat in the Australian Open my last match, an know, play Wimbledon. is becoming a matter of in - City have been linked with a yesterday. amazing way to end. creasing urgency for Manches- move for Frenkie de Jong from The Scot, who has said he will I gave everything I ‘I’m really struggling’ ter City. Ajax at the end of this season, retire this season because of had and it wasn’t “I mean, I’m really strug - The 33-year-old Brazilian but the Dutch midfielder is chronic hip pain, seemed fin- enough tonight. gling. I can’t walk properly at has become one of the most attracting significant interest ished at two sets and a break all just now. I could play another ANDY MURRAY important players in City’s from other clubs too. down to 22nd seeded Spaniard match, but ... I want to improve line-up during Guardiola’s Guardiola acknowledges in the first round but somehow my quality of life, because even three seasons at the club, with he cannot expect Fernand- battled back to force a fifth set. Britain’s Andy Murray waves to to end. I gave everything I had if I take four months, I still can’t his hard work and pass- inho, signed from Shakhtar “Amazing. That was incred- supporters after his defeat against and it wasn’t enough tonight.” walk. ing ability as a holding Donetsk in 2013, to play as ible, thank you so, so much Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut Murray announced at an emo- “But having an operation like midfielder providing much for City as he gets to everyone that came out to- erous support. tional press conference on Fri- that, there’s absolutely no guar- both security in front of older, adding a solution has night,” the three-time Grand “Honestly I’ve loved playing day that he would retire at Wim- antees I’d be able to play again. the defence and scope to be found for next Slam champion said after being here over the years. If this was bledon this year, but conceded I’m fully aware of that. It’s a for the team to at- season. swept along on a wave of vocif- my last match, an amazing way yesterday’s clash could well be really big operation. tack. “It’s not easy to Reigning find the specific champions quality of the play- City have lost ers,” said Guardi- just one of ola. Confidence key for Arsenal to make Champions League: Emery the 19 Pre - “Maybe there mier League aren’t many, but AFP | London Chelsea. “I think the most important matches in there are players Emery, who once again omit- thing for us is to recover our which Fer- who can play in nai Emery says his play- ted 2014 World Cup winner confidence and be more com- nandinho that role.” Uers are in dire need of a Mesut Ozil from the squad de- petitive.