NNBABA | Page 5 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 7 Suns burn Hat-trick Jazz in OT, beckons for Nets beat Mumbai Pelicans Indians in IPL Friday, April 9, 2021 FOOTBALL Sha’aban 27, 1442 AH Mbappe answers GULF TIMES critics with brutal display vs Bayern SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL TENNIS French Open delayed by a week Al Sadd and Xavi in hope that more fans can attend AFP one step closer to Paris he French Open was yesterday delayed by a week to May 30-June 13 in the hope that Theightened Covid-19 restric- tions in France will have eased fi nishing unbeaten by then to allow the maximum number of fans to attend the event. ‘We have already won this competition but we have extra motivation to win The French tennis federa- world, and, while there is opti- tion (FFT) said the decision mism for the future, it is clear against Qatar Sports Club because it will mean we are unbeaten all season’ had been made in the wake of that this pandemic is very French President Emmanuel much still with us. Macron’s announcement last “The Grand Slams represent month that the government the most signifi cant spotlights wanted some cultural venues for our sport and so we will do to be back up and running from everything possible to ensure mid-May onwards, “subject to they can be staged success- the improvement of the health fully. situation”. “Further to consultation, FFT president Gilles Moret- the decision by the FFT to ton said the week’s delay “will postpone Roland-Garros by a give the health situation more week in order to enhance the time to improve and should likelihood of the tournament optimise our chances of wel- taking place successfully is coming spectators at Roland- therefore fully supported by By Sports Reporter Garros”. the Grand Slam Board.” Doha “For the fans, the players The FFT’s decision was also and the atmosphere, the pres- given the green light by the ence of spectators is vital for ATP and WTA, the governing aving already wrapped our tournament, the spring’s bodies of men’s and women’s up the title and not most important international professional tennis respec- lost a single match this sporting event,” Moretton tively. season, Al Sadd will added. “Tennis has required an ag- Hbe wary of things going wrong The qualifying rounds of the ile approach to the calendar at the last moment when they clay-court Grand Slam event over the past 12 months in or- clash with Qatar Sports Club in will now be held on May 24- der to manage the challenges their last match of the QNB Stars 28, followed by the main draw of the pandemic, and this con- League season today. from May 30 to June 13. tinues to be the case,” read a Coach Xavi Hernandez has Wimbledon, the next Grand joint ATP/WTA statement. expressed his desire to go un- Slam tournament after the “Both the WTA and @atp- beaten throughout the tourna- French Open, said in a state- tour are supportive of the ment several times but admit- ment that the decision had no decision and are working in ted yesterday that Qatar Sports impact on its planned start consultation with all parties Club, with whom Al Sadd drew date of June 28. impacted by the postpone- earlier in the league, are a diff er- The initial Wimbledon ment to optimise the calendar ent proposition. Santi Cazorla and Baghdad Bounedjah celebrate during Al Sadd’s match against Al Rayyan earlier this week. warm-up events, howev- for players, tournaments and “Our next game is against Qa- er, start on June 7, midway fans, in the lead up to and fol- tar Sports Club, one of the teams Asked about his thoughts on very proud of the squad, of these going into the upcoming games irrespective of the results of through Roland Garros. lowing Roland-Garros.” we couldn’t defeat this season. the rotation of players, Xavi said: players. It is easy to be their (in Asia).” nearest challengers Al Ahli (33 There will now only be a Crowds were limited to just We drew against them and in “Yes, of course, we are going to coach, of course, because of how He added: “Qatar SC are go- points) and Qatar SC (32 points), two-week break between the 1,000 spectators each day at my opinion, they are a very good change some players because the they train, how they feel about ing through a good period now if they beat Al Khor. French Open fi nal and the start last year’s rearranged French team. They are trying to qualify most important thing for us is football and how they work for and they need no introduction. Al Rayyan, coached by of Wimbledon. Open. for the Champions League next the AFC Champions League and the team. The game in the fi rst phase of the Frenchman Laurent Blanc, are However, the decision to Rafael Nadal will defend his season.” then the Amir Cup.” “I’m very happy coaching league ended in a draw, and we currently placed third with 34 move the French Open was title after winning a record- He added: “In their last game, He added: “We have already these kinds of players because want to make up for that by get- points. The Lions have regis- carefully discussed with the extending 13th French Open they drew with 10 players against won this competition but we the spirit of the team is the most ting a win.” tered 10 victories, four draws other major tournaments, un- last year, while Iga Swiatek of 11. It means that the match will have extra motivation to win important thing, and yesterday Hussam concluded by saying: and seven defeats, and have a like last year when the FFT Poland is the reigning wom- be diffi cult and complicated. against Qatar Sports Club be- we showed again our best level.” “The coach made many changes goal diff erence of +9 (30 goals moved the claycourt show- en’s champion. “But, focusing on our team, cause it will mean we are un- Al Sadd defender Hussam in the last few games to give op- for and 21 against). piece into a September-Oc- Roland Garros was one of the we would like to fi nish this com- beaten all season. Kamal said that a win over Qatar portunities to all the players Al Khor, under Winfried tober slot because of the pan- many sporting events aff ected petition unbeaten, and of course, “We want this victory. It SC will help his side ahead of the and to also prepare for the AFC Schafer, were assured of only demic in what was criticised in by the fall-out from the global we want to get three points. We means a lot for us. It means we Asian campaign. Champions League, so that we the 11th place despite holding some quarters as a unilateral coronavirus pandemic. Last are going to use rotation again fi nish the season well. To end Hussam said: “It’s the fi nal go into it in the best manner.” Al Duhail to a 1-1 draw in Week decision. season, the professional tours because in this last period, in six the competition unbeaten is an game of the league for us, against In another match, Al Rayyan 21 as they are on 16 points. The Ugo Valensi, executive di- were suspended from March days, we had three games. But amazing job.” Qatar SC, and we want to end the face Al Khor today hoping they Knights will play the relegation rector of the Grand Slam until August, with Wimbledon there are no excuses. We want to Xavi also spoke of his hap- season without any defeats. Get- fi nish in the third place and thus play-off with Second Division Board, said: “These remain cancelled. This year’s Austral- fi nish well and we want to fi nish piness and pride at the team’s ting a win will be a huge boost for gain automatic qualifi cation for runners-up to retain their berth extremely challenging times ian Open was also pushed back with three points.” achievements this season. “I am us, and will give us an advantage the AFC Champions League, in the top fl ight. for communities around the by three weeks. BOTTOMLINE Lee Elder cherishes honorary starter’s role Reuters “I think it was one of the most emo- He then ventured to the tee with six- knowledged the warm applause, be- Augusta tional experiences that I have ever wit- times Masters champion and 18-times fore Ridley subsequently introduced nessed or been involved in,” Elder said. major winner Nicklaus, who wore a three-times Masters winner Player, “It is certainly something that I will yellow sweater to fend off a slight chill who split the fi rst fairway with a su- clearly moved Lee Elder was cherish for the rest of my life because I in the crisp morning air. perb drive that went a good 200 yards. warmly welcomed at the have loved coming to Augusta National A gallery of several hundred people The South African, one of fi ve play- Masters when he joined Jack and playing here. were on hand, smaller than usual due ers to complete the grand slam of win- Nicklaus and Gary Player as “My heart is very soft this morn- to the limited number of spectators al- ning all four modern majors, kicked Aa new honorary starter for the 2021 ing, not heavy, soft, soft because of the lowed this year because of coronavirus out a leg in playful delight to celebrate tournament at Augusta National yes- wonderful things that I have encoun- concerns.