Sport FRIDAY 11 JUNE 2021 11 Krejcikova and Pavlyuchenkova beIN Sports renews to clash for French Open title UEFA soccer REUTERS — PARIS Garros in 1981. Earlier yes- broadcast rights for terday, Pavlyuchenkova Barbora Krejcikova held a steady course to beat yesterday became the first a wildly erratic Tamara three years Czech woman in 40 years to Zidansek 7-5 6-3 in the first reach the French Open final semi-final. Slovenian world THE PENINSULA — DOHA as she beat Greek 17th seed number 85 Zidansek made a Maria Sakkari 7-5, 4-6, 9-7 flying start with her aggressive UEFA and beIN Media Group, the global sports in a nail-biting contest. style earning her an early and entertainment group (“beIN”), yesterday The world number 33 break but Pavlyuchenkova announced a major new media rights agreement struggled with nerves soaked up her opponent’s best that will see beIN Sports, beIN’s flagship sports throughout but eventually shots and proved way too Barbora Krejcikova becomes the network, exclusively broadcast UEFA’s premium proved more consistent than solid in the end. first Czech woman in 40 years to club competitions across the 24 country region Sakkari, who got tight when Zidansek, like Pavly- Czech Republic’s Barbora of the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”) she served for the match at uchenkova a Grand Slam reach the French Open final as Krejcikova celebrates for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24. 5-4 in the third set. semi-final debutant, cracked she beat Greek 17th seed Maria winning her semi-final The 3-year major renewal includes rights Krejcikova will face down 27 winners but Sakkari 7-5, 4-6, 9-7 in a nail- match against Greece’s to the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Russian 31st seed Anastasia struggled to contain errors biting contest. Maria Sakkari yesterday. Europa League, the UEFA Europa Conference Pavlyuchenkova, who will at key moments of the match League and – importantly – new rights to UEFA’s also be making her maiden and handed over the first set premium women’s football competition, the appearance in a major with a double fault. UEFA Women’s Champions League. beIN will singles final, tomorrow. The 29-year-old Pavly- Zidansek comeback, reached her first Grand Slam Roberta Vinci who made the exclusively broadcast the UEFA competitions She will be looking to uchenkova forged 4-1 ahead clinching victory when her final at the 50th attempt, 2015 US Open final in her in Arabic, English and French across all 24 coun- emulate Hana Mandlikova, in the second set and then opponent blazed a backhand breaking the previous 44th appearance in one of tries of the MENA region, from Morocco in the who won the title at Roland snuffed out an attempted wide. Pavlyuchenkova has record held by Italy’s the majors. west to Oman in the east – and every MENA country in between. The new deal further strengthens and extends the existing 12 year relationship in MENA between UEFA and beIN, where beIN is also the Djokovic gears up for big battle with Nadal exclusive broadcaster of UEFA national team football tournaments, including UEFA EURO REUTERS — PARIS having dropped down to abandoned the tournament Nadal and Roger Federer, Wednesday’s clash with 2020, UEFA EURO 2024, the UEFA Nations world number three and because of a wrist injury. told reporters after beating Berrettini was played in League and all European qualifiers for the FIFA Novak Djokovic predicted a being placed in the same Since then Nadal has heavy-hitting Italian Matteo front of a raucous 5,000 World Cup 2022. beIN and UEFA will also con- “great battle” when he half of the draw as top seed been unbeatable, extending Berrettini 6-3 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 crowd, until the 11 p.m. tinue their close partnership and alliance on continues tennis’s most Djokovic. his record title haul to a jaw- in an intense duel on curfew kicked in midway anti-piracy measures in countries and regions prolific rivalry in today’s Should Djokovic manage dropping 13. Wednesday. through the fourth set and all around the world. French Open semi-final to get the better of Nadal “Obviously it’s a well- “It’s not like any other the fans departed. Outside MENA, beIN is UEFA’s trusted against claycourt king Rafa today he will be favourite to anticipated semi-final,” match. Let’s face it, it’s the Nadal claimed his 105th broadcast partner in a range of other continents, Nadal. take onlyy his Djokovic,Djokovic, who has 18 Grand biggestb challenge that you match win at the French including the official broadcaster of UEFA Euro The pair haveave facedfaced offoff secondseecon d SlamSlam titles,titles, two can have playing on clay Open when he beat Diego 2020 and the UEFA Champions League in 57 times withth DjokovicDjokovic FrenchF r e n c h behindbehind thethe against Nadal on this court. Schwartzman on France, while also being UEFA’s club compe- leading 29-28. ButBut Nadal has OpenOpen title men’smen’s recordrecord It doesn’t get bigger than Wednesday although he did tition broadcaster in a range of territories in Asia. been his nemesisesis at Roland havingh aving shared byby that. drop a set for the first time beIN’s new acquisition of the UEFA Women’s Garros winningng seven ofof wonwwon it inin “There’s that extra since the 2019 final. Champions League rights will form the centre- their eight clasheslashes therethere 20162 016 tension and expectations. Looking ahead to piece of beIN’s “beINSPIRED” broadcast port- including lastt year’s finalfinal whenwhhen Nadal The vibes are different Djokovic he said: “It’s folio and corporate commitment, in which beIN which turned intointo a demo-demo- walkingw on the court with always a big challenge. provides a global platform to events and talent lition job. him. But that’s why our That’s something that is that have not historically been given the Unusually theythey rivalry has been historic I good because we are living exposure they deserve. This includes showcasing are meeting inin a think for this sport. the sport for these moments. inspiring on-air talent, broadcasting sports, semi-final ratherher “I’m confident. I believe The negative thing, it’s dif- developing business partnerships, events and than a final,al, I can win, otherwise I ficult because you play creative campaigns; all aimed at telling the most Rafa Nadal courtesy ofof Novak Djokovic wouldn’t be here. Let’s have against one of the best inspiring stories that sport – all sport – has to Spaniard Nadall a great battle.” players in history.” offer. Brazil seek to forget troubles BIG PLAYERS MISSING EURO 2020 WITH INJURIES Brisbane wins Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne: The Manchester City playmaker underwent a minor surgery after IOC board’s the Champions League final against Chelsea and is unlikely to compete in the opener against ahead of Copa America Russia. approval, set England's Trent Alexander-Arnold: The Liverpool right back sustained a thigh injury after a REUTERS — BRASÍLIA that has beset the country in overcoming arch rivals friendly against Austria in the beginning of June and will be out for the duration of the tournament. to land 2032 recent years and led to mass Argentina 2-0 in the semis, and England's Joe Gomez: The Liverpool centre back has been out since November with a tendon in- Brazil team playing in the Copa street protests. beating Peru 3-1 in the final. jury to his left knee. Games America at home on the back One of the big questions As usual, they have an Germany's Marc-Andre ter Stegen: The Barcelona goalkeeper will miss the Euros with a knee of a seven-game winning streak facing the Brazil team as they abundance of talent to choose injury sustained in mid-May. REUTERS — LAUSANNE would normally be hot go into the Copa, which is due from, with players such as Man- Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai: The midfielder has not been able to play for RB Leipzig since favourites to triumph but this to kick off on Sunday when they chester City goalkeeper December due to a groin injury. The Australian city of Brisbane is no ordinary year and no face Venezuela in Group B, is Ederson and striker Gabriel Italy's Stefano Sensi: The Inter midfielder suffered another muscular injury in the final Serie A moved closer to landing the ordinary Copa. whether the current contro- Jesus plus Liverpool pair game of the season, following an injury-plagued 2020/21 campaign. 2032 Olympics yesterday after Brazil’s run of form is versy will bring them together Fabinho and Roberto Firmino Italy's Nicolo Zaniolo: The midfielder was ruled out for the entire league season with Roma after winning the approval of the impressive - they are the only or pull them apart. all struggling to find a place in a cruciate ligament injury in September. International Olympic team in South America to have Brazil are the holders, the starting XI. Netherland's Virgil van Dijk: The Liverpool captain has not played since October, after suffering Committee’s executive board won six of their 2022 World having won the 2019 tour- Coach Tite has expertly and the choice will be put to a an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a clash with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Cup qualifiers and have done nament when it was also played managed the egos and the final vote next month. Netherland's Donny van de Beek: The Manchester United midfielder has been ruled out until so by keeping clean sheets in in front of their own fans.