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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 4 SSWIMMINGWIMMING | Page 7 Former Barca Ledecky eyes president history at Bartomeu ‘diff erent’ Tokyo arrested Olympics Tuesday, March 2, 2021 GOLF Rajab 18, 1442 AH Morikawa cruises to GULF TIMES WGC victory, pays tribute to Woods SPORT Page 6 TENNIS / QATAR TOTAL OPEN In-form Sabalenka bids for rare title double in Doha Only Anastasia Myskina and Victoria Azarenka have managed a successful title defence in the Qatari capital By Yash Mudgal Doha orld No 8. Aryna Sabalenka has rea- sons to be quietly confi dent of a rare WDoha double. The Belarusian is the defend- ing champion at the Qatar Total Open at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, having beaten former champion Petra Kvitova in the fi nal last year. She then won two more ti- tles last year — Ostrava and Linz — after the Covid-19 pandemic- enforced break on the Tour. Aryna Sabalenka (also left) beat Petra Kvitova in the final last year. When the new season began in January, the Minsk-born player result (4-6, 6-2, 4-6 against Ser- ons like Serena. And going on won the title in Abu Dhabi, her ena Williams at the Australian the court, I was thinking ‘what’s ninth overall. It’s safe to say that Open in the round of 16), cou- going to happen, how she’s play- form is on her side in her bid to pled with her fi rst doubles title ing, what her power is and all win the WTA 500 Premier tour- in Melbourne, Sabalenka rose to this stuff ’. Then I stepped on to nament in the Qatari capital for a new career-high singles rank- the court and I understood, like, the second straight year. ing of World No. 7 and doubles ‘wow, actually I can play her, I Last time there were not many World No.1. can beat her’. Yeah, I would say, expectations from Sabalenka, Looking back at her match I missed my opportunity. Defi - but this time despite being the against Williams at the Austral- nitely, I had it.” defending champions she is not ian Open, where she had not Now she wants to focus more feeling anything diff erent. dropped a set in the fi rst three on singles to take her game to an- “I don’t feel any diff erent. I rounds, Sabalenka feels it was a other level. came here for some great match- missed opportunity. “This is actually what we are es, for the great fi ght. Yeah, I’m “Honestly, I felt like I missed kind of thinking with my team, the defending champion but I my opportunity because I feel and that’s why we are trying to still feel there is nothing to lose, like if you are coming back from stop playing doubles at the Grand and, yeah, I’ll just go for it and 1-4 and you’re kind of feel- Slams and we’re trying to play do everything I can. So it’s not a ing your game and you’re there, less tournaments the week before big diff erence compared to last you’re fi ghting, you just have to the Grand Slam to make sure I can year,” said Sabalenka, who was on take this opportunity. I felt like prepare myself better. And this is a 15-match winning streak be- mentally I was a little bit up and something that we are working fore Estonian Kaia Kanepi halted successfully defend the title in The promising Belarusian, the same. It’s a little bit windy. cally lend themselves to present she was down. Yeah, and also on on, like, trying to bring my level the 22-year-old in an Australian Doha. Azarenka accomplished who is known for her attack- It’s cool weather. Its great courts. success, there should also be the fi rst set I didn’t take my serve. on the Grand Slams,” she said. Open warm-up tournament in the feat in 2012 and 2013, while ing style of tennis, had a couple The conditions are pretty good, I plenty of optimism, given her Same situation in the third set,” Sabalenka will start her cam- Melbourne last month. Russian Anastasia Myskina had of practice sessions here and is would say, like last year. And I’m signifi cant success in both sin- Sabalenka elaborated. paign against two-time Grand Sabalenka is hoping to follow done so back in 2003 and 2004. pretty comfortable with the con- really, really happy to be here and gles as well as doubles in recent “I would say it was like not Slam winner Garbine Muguruza in the footsteps of her compatriot The Golden Falcon trophy has ditions. have this opportunity to compete times. really smart mistakes from me. tomorrow. The Spaniard defeated Victoria Azarenka, who she had also been lifted twice by Rus- “I’m really happy to be here. here again,” the 22-year-old said. With three straight titles, 15 Yeah, but it was a good experi- Russian Veronika Kudermetova beaten for the title in Ostrava, to sia’s Maria Sharapova (2005 and It’s actually my favourite place While past achievements and consecutive match wins and al- ence. Because I never played 6-2, 7-6 in the fi rst round yes- become only the third woman to 2008). to play. The conditions are still experience may not automati- most a Grand Slam breakthrough against these kinds of champi- terday. SPOTLIGHT Pliskova keen to fi nd rhythm at Qatar Total Open By Yash Mudgal “Well, I don’t really want to feel I’m maybe missing a little Russian Anna Blinkova. Doha look that much into the future bit more matches and the tour- Jabeur had beaten Pliskova in or in the past right now, because nament mode or the rhythm, so the pre-quarters last time in Doha. anyway there is not much you I don’t feel like I’m playing the “She’s a tough opponent, espe- orld No. 6 Karolina can do about it. So, it’s mostly best. But I hope it’s going to come cially here. I don’t know if there is Pliskova hasn’t real- about being in the present. Then with me playing maybe more going to be some crowd. Last year ly got going this sea- mostly the goal for me now is just weeks, more tournaments, and was quite, you know, tough. The son. She has played to play as many tournaments or having more matches,” said the crowd here was a little bit noisy Wthree tournaments, including the as many matches as I can, be- 28-year-old. (smiling). But other than that, I Australian Open, and has made cause I really feel like I’m missing Talking about the Doha event, think she’s also a great player. She an exit earlier than her ranking that tournament rhythm,” Plisk- she said, “It’s always nice to be gives you a lot of diff erent balls. would suggest. ova said yesterday. back in Doha; of course, still I think it’s never going be easy In her last match, the Czech The former world No. 1, who memories from a couple years with her. We also played in the US player was beaten by compatriot has won 16 singles and fi ve dou- back when I won the title here. Open I think two years ago, so I Karolina Muchova 7-5, 7-5 in bles titles on the WTA, is confi - I think the conditions here are think it was always quite a tricky the third round of the Austral- dent that she is on the right path. a little bit slower. I like that. Of and tough match against her. So ian Open, and is keen to fi nd her “Although I played some course it can be windy, but let’s it’s going to be defi nitely tough,” rhythm in the Qatar Total Open matches, I still don’t think I’m see what it’s going to be on my the 2017 champion said. at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash close to how I want to play. But match day.” Complex in Doha. other than that, I think in the Pliskova awaits the winner of Karolina Pliskova, the 2017 The lanky player is not too practices everything is going today’s match between Tunisia’s champion, arrived in Doha worried, either about her form or quite well. My team is great, so Ons Jabeur, the highest-ranked for the Qatar Total Open on her future. everything is working. But I just Arab player in WTA history, and Saturday. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, March 2, 2021 TENNIS QATAR TOTAL OPEN FOCUS Qatar Airways, Qatar Duty Free sponsor Ostapenko, Kerber, Qatar Total Open atar Airways and Qa- Qatari sports calendar, and we tar Duty Free (QDF) look forward with anticipation are proud to sponsor to welcome these world-class the Qatar Total Open players to Doha. Women’s ten- Q2021 Tennis Tournament at the nis is an integral part of Qatar Muguruza advance Khalifa International Tennis and Airways’ extensive sports spon- Squash Complex in Doha. The sorship portfolio with the stated tournament started yesterday aim of making the nation a hub and concludes on Saturday. for sports across the region and Joining the list of women’s worldwide.” tennis stars competing this year Qatar Duty Free Vice Presi- is Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian su- dent Operations, Thabet Mu- perstar and fi rst Arab woman sleh, said: “Despite the chal- in straight sets to reach the quarter-fi nals of a lenges faced by the travel-retail Grand Slam tournament.