Sport SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2021 SwiatekS beats Bencic to win Adelaide title ItI wasn’t like one time during the French Open. It gives me mmore confidence that I’m (a) more developed player and I ccan play good more often. It just gives me motivation. I feel llike sometimes I have weeks when everything clicks, and tthat’s just the effect of the work we’re doing. Iga Swiatek Sport |06 PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE T20: Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 6 wickets; Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 7 wickets Defending champ Sabalenka gets tough draw FAWAD HUSSAIN memories here,” Jabeur, THE PENINSULA considered as the most suc- cessful female Arab tennis Since Qatar Total Open player, told a video con- began in 2001, only three ference yesterday. players have captured the “I am practising here Falcon Trophy twice and OFFICIAL DRAW and It feels great,” the defending champion Aryna Tunisian – one of the Sabalenka faces a difficult players affected by Aus- challenge to emulate the tralian Open lockdown, elite group. said. The third seeded Bela- Meanwhile, fifth seed rusian, who won the title Kiki Bertens faces former after defeating two-time World No.5 Jelena Grand Slam winner Petra Ostapenko, a wild card Kvitova in last year’s final, entrant in her opening yesterday got a tough draw round match. for the prestigious tour- “It’s my first tour- nament, which started with nament in a long time, so qualifying matches at the for me it’s just to be able to Khalifa International compete again, see where Tennis & Squash Complex. my level is, get the rhythm The main round begins again and try to and tomorrow and will continue enjoying my time on the till March 6. The 32-player court again. So that’s my list of the 19th edition of the first goal,” Bertens, a tournament, carrying a total former French Open semi- prize purse of $565,530, finalist said yesterday. includes four of the World’s Also in the first round top-10 players. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates with the trophy after winning tomorrow, seventh seed The top four seeds, led the Qatar Total Open in this February 29, 2020 file photo. Jennifer Brady, a World by 2019 Wimbledon Open No.13 will take on Estonian semi-finalist Elina Svitolina, Anett Kontaveit with eye 2017 champion Karolina Pliskova (2), winner – who was drawn against Rus- or two-time champion Victoria Aza- expected to produce thrilling matches on a possible second round clash Sabalenka and former champion sia’s World No.34 Veronika Kuder- renka, eighth seed, in the semi-final. with Czech Pliskova likely to face against Germany’s Angelique Kerber, Kvitova will start their campaigns in metova in the first round. Anastasia Myskina (2003, 2004), Tunisian star Ons Jabeur, who will who will meet Turkey’s Cagla Buyu- the second round after each of them The 22-year-old may face sixth Maria Sharapova (2005, 2008) and face a qualifier in the first round kakcay, wild card entrant in the first got a bye in yesterday’s draw. seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic, a World Azarenka (2012, 2013) are the only tomorrow. round. World No.8 Sabalenka, is expected No.11 or America’s World No.19 players who have clinched the pres- “Doha is a special venue for me. The two-day qualifying round will to open her title defence against Spain’s Madison Keys in the last 8, and pos- tigious title in Doha twice. This tournament gives me extra moti- conclude today, setting the stage for Garbine Muguruza – a two-time major sibly, Ukraine’s Svitolina, a World No.5 The other half of the draw is also vation because I have lot of good main round action. SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 07 CHI Al Shaqab: Ahlmann, Dominator 2000 Z steal the show on final day RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA This is a prestigious tournament Germany’s Christian Ahlmann organised and hosted by Al is considered a calm rider with Shaqab for the eighth year in a soft hands. row since 2013. It is one of the That very combination was most important tournaments on witnessed in ample proportion the international equestrian yesterday when the 47-year-old Germany’s Christian calendar. It is our right to guided Dominator 2000 Z to CHI commend the current edition of Al Shaqab Grand Prix win. Ahlmann, the CHI Al Dominator is a fantastic horse and very Shaqab Grand Prix the Commercial Bank CHI Al Producing a clean routine, Shaqab - presented by Longines - Dominator 2000 Z clocked a intelligent. I was the first to go and it wasn’t winner who captured since its inception as one of five time of 36.17 seconds in the the best position to be in. But I tried as hard as major honours on annual CHI events. It is also a jump-off of the 1.60m I could. I got good turns and everything worked the final day of the competition. like I wanted it to. But with opponents like this, Commercial Bank CHI unique event in the region as this Ahlmann’s reward for a you can never be sure. In the end, it worked out Al Shaqab Presented tournament attracts the best spectacular performance with well. The ride was brilliant. Dominator did a by Longines, receiving riders and horses in addition to the 11-year-old stallion was the great job from the beginning. We felt safe and his trophy from entries in dressage and para top prize of €135,300. good from the beginning and it was a great day Event Director and dressage competitions. This event The tall German, who won for us: Christer Ahlmann, winner Organising Committee is well recognised right around the FEI Show Jumping World Member Omar Al the equestrian world: Hamad bin Cup with Taloubet Z in 2011, yes- I’m very happy with my second place finish Mannai. Ahlmann Abdulrahman Al Attiya, guided Dominator terday remained flawless in the today. When I walked into the second round, I Organising Committee Member, 2000 Z to a first two rounds also before felt as if we had so many fantastic horses. I Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab memorable victory at clinching the issue in the jump- think this is going to be a fantastic year of Presented by Longines the Longines Arena at off scoring the fastest time under competitions: Olivier Robert Competition lights with his trademark Al Shaqab yesterday. calmness at the magnificent Longines Arena at Al Shaqab. FEI TEST GRAND PRIX FREESTYLE - CDI5* French rider Olivier Robert, Al Qadi had 4 faults in the first third place with 13-year-old astride Vivaldi des Meneaux, run that ended with a time of Faustus (81.865 %) to claim the RANK, HORSE, COMPETITOR, NATION E H C M B TOTAL PRIZE grabbed the second spot in a 71.70 seconds. But the young prize of €15,000. 1. Zaire-E, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) Tech.: 78.750 79.000 79.250 80.000 78.000 84.780 % €26,000 time of 36.27 seconds. Robert got Qatari - who won the prestigious Finland’s Henri Ruoste (Kon- Art.: 90.200 90.400 91.200 91.600 89.400 richer by €82.000 after the Amir Sword last week at QEF’s testro DB, 81.265 %, €10,000) Total 84.475 84.700 85.225 85.800 83.700 jump-off that featured six riders. Outdoor Arena - yesterday made and French rider Morgan Bar- 2. Damsey FRH, Helen Langehanenberg (GER) Tech.: 71.000 78.500 79.250 79.250 77.500 82.050 % €21,000 Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels, up for the faults with a flawless bancon (Sir Donnerhall II Old, Art.: 80.800 89.000 87.800 89.600 87.800 in the saddle with Delux van T routine in the jump-off. 78.655 %, €7,000) completed the Total 75.900 83.750 83.525 84.425 82.650 & L, posted a time of 36.82 “It was a hard class from the top five. 3. Faustus, Dorothee Schneider (GER) Tech.: 75.500 76.000 77.500 77.750 75.500 81.865 % €15,000 seconds to seal the third spot. beginning. When I entered the Art.: 85.800 89.400 86.400 87.600 87.200 Bruynseels won €43.050. last phase, my idea was to do a Total 80.650 82.700 81.950 82.675 81.350 The top five was completed clear, safe round with rea- FEI TEST GRAND PRIX SPECIAL - CDI5* RANK, HORSE, COMPETITOR, NATION E H C M B TOTAL PRIZE by Germany’s Maurice Tebbel sonable speed. Thankfully, my I thank all those who contributed to the (Don Diarado, 37.81 seconds, plan worked, and I’m delighted 1. Quater Back Junior FRH, Nicolas Wagner Ehlinger (LUX) 73.085 74.681 73.830 73.723 75.319 74.128% €6,400 success of the Commercial Bank CHI Al 32,800) and Sweden’s Evelina with my performance,” Al Qadi 2. Delatio, Dennis Fisker (DEN) 70.426 72.234 71.170 71.383 67.553 70.553% €5,000 Shaqab. We get great support for this Tovek (Winnetou de la Hamente said yesterday. 3. Diavolessa VA, Tatyana Kosterina (RUS) 69.894 67.979 66.915 70.745 67.340 68.574% €3,800 Z, 38.33 seconds, €24,600). Faleh Suwead Al Ajami, who championship. We have achieved high Earlier in the day, French won the Amir Sword in 2019, standards that are well appreciated by INT. JUMPING SPEED AND HANDINESS COMPETITION (1.45 M) rider Julien Epaillard posted his yesterday grabbed the second all those who participate in our events.