Sports Sunday, February 7, 2021 13 beIN SPORTS to broadcast Djokovic, Kenin defend titles but no exclusively Federer at unique Australian Open across MENA DPA Tribune News Network Berlin The coronavirus has made the Australian Open a massive challenge Doha The contrast to 2020 could for players and organizers alike but the best in the world – beIN MEDIA GROUP, the hardly be starker when the global sports and entertain- Australian Open starts Mon- ment broadcaster and its day with and most of them – are now ready to take to the court in Melbourne. flagship sports channel beIN defending the ti- SPORTS will broadcast the tles they won 13 months ago in long awaited 2021 Australian Melbourne. Open live and exclusively for Those wins heralded the its viewers and subscribers start of a tennis season which across the Middle East and would soon be halted by the North Africa (MENA) – in- coronavirus pandemic and cluding exclusive footage of then resumed in limited fash- Tunisian star and ion only months later, after Egyptian talent . the cancellation of Wimble- The date for the start of don, and with a completely re- the was worked schedule. previously scheduled to begin The global health situation in January but was postponed has forced Australian Open to February (8-21) due to the organizers to delay their tour- COVID-19 pandemic. The nament from its usual slot by 2021 Australian Open men’s three weeks from the intended qualifying was successfully January 18 start. hosted in Doha, – where And moving the dates has beIN SPORTS also provided been one of the simpler as- subscribers with exclusive pects of the event which takes content via its OTT service place after players and their beIN CONNECT. entourages had to quarantine This year’s Australian Open for two weeks on arrival in will be the 109th edition and Australia. will feature star players such Some players were allowed as defending champion Novak out for limited periods to train Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return against Germany’s during their ATP Cup group A Sofia Kenin of the US hits a return against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza Djokovic, , Domi- while those unlucky ones - men’s singles in Melbourne on Friday. (AFP) during their Yarra Valley Classic match in Melbourne on Friday. (AFP) nic Thiem, , Sofia more than 70 - who shared a Kenin and more. The tourna- plane with someone who test- the caught at other times. ment will consist of matches for ed positive were confined to Osaka, Azarenka withdraw from respective tournaments due to injuries “There were certainly professional players in singles, their rooms. Berlin: Naomi Osaka and withdrew from their respective Australian Open tune-up tournaments on Saturday due some challenges today but I doubles, and mixed doubles. “It’s like being in the jail. to injuries. Osaka, a three-time champion, opted out of her Gippsland Trophy semi-final against . Azarenka, was happy to click into gear Wheelchair players will also It’s the same, it’s the same with meanwhile, was due to face in the Grampians Trophy quarter-finals. Osaka said her move was a cautious one ahead of and find a way in that third compete in singles and doubles Wifi,” Argentine RobertoB au- the Australian Open, which begins on Monday. set.” Barty cannot meet Wil- tournaments. tista Agut told Israel’s Sport5. “Sorry to Tennis Australia and the fans to have to withdraw today,” she said, via the WTA. “I have a niggling injury and in light of the liams until the final but is beIN SPORTS’ coverage “These people have no idea Australian Open on the horizon, I need to be cautious. I look forward to competing next week.” Mertens will advance to the Gippsland in the same half of the draw of the 2021 Australian Open about tennis, about practice Trophy final. It continues what has been a difficult build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year. (DPA) as women’s champion Sofia will see the global sports chan- courts, no idea about anything.” Kenin of the US, who also lost nel exclusively cover the tour- He later apologized, saying the final of the . nament on its beIN SPORTS his remarks had been miscon- here.” The conditions, or the next generation of players. city that has always carried me in her bid to become the first “After the victory here HD8, HD9, HD10 and HD12 strued, while Serbia’s Djokovic complaints about them, have Austria’s to many victories,” said Djoko- home winner in Melbourne last year I expected a great channels in English and Arabic. was also criticized for sending a threatened to overshadow won the US Open late last year vic, who tuned up at the team since 1978. season but the pandemic beIN SPORTS will also pro- list of demands to organizers in the first grand slam of the to break the long stranglehold ATP Cup tournament. French Open winner in linked to Covid cost me a lot vide daily highlights of all the a letter he explained as trying to year which will have around of the ‘big three’ and he is in Also chasing history is Ser- 2019, Barty did not compete and obviously I was disap- main matches – including ex- stand up for other players. 30,000 fans a day attending the same half of the draw as ena Williams, looking for a at the end of last season as she pointed,” said Kenin, who is clusive content on Arab players Daniel Andrews, premier despite the virus. Djokovic, who wants an 18th record-equalling 24th Grand remained at home during the relishing her return, at a re- Ons Jabeur and Mayar Sherif. of Melbourne’s state of Victo- Swiss great major title to close in on the Slam win, but she had to pull pandemic and is still shaking cent sponsor’s event. ria, however, insisted: “They will not be on site as he con- record of 20 shared by Nadal out of her warm-up competi- off the rust. “I worked hard to be here were all briefed on that before tinues to recover from a knee and Federer. tion at the semi-final stage “I thought I did well to hang and it’s an honour,” she said. “It they came. injury and record eight-time “I am very much looking with a shoulder injury. in there at times,” she said after will be a great challenge, every- “And that was the con- champion Djokovic and world forward to playing in front of That handed world num- a tight three-set win over under- one is excited to be back here dition on which they came. number two Rafael Nadal will the people and joining the ten- ber one Ash Barty a walkover dog this week. with the fans, I can’t wait to see There’s no special treatment face renewed competition from nis frenzy and energy of the as she concludes preparations “Shelby was able to hit me off them and feel their energy.”

On beIN SPORTS coverage Chittagong Test excitingly poised of the upcoming 2021 Austral- ian Open, Duncan Walkinshaw, Acting Director of Programs for beIN MENA, said: “We are very Windies need 285 more, B’desh 7 wkts excited to be broadcasting the 2021 Australian Open for our Agencies to push further. fans and viewers across MENA. Chittagong They already had a sizeable beIN is delighted to be at the lead of over 200 and it was up heart of all the action, showcas- took 3/52 in to the two batsmen to ensure ing world class tennis tourna- the fourth innings, accounting that ballooned sufficiently. ments such as the WTA, ATP for the West Indies top order, West Indies, in search of and Australian Open to its mil- putting Bangladesh in a strong , reviewed a lions of viewers and subscribers position on day four of their decision against Liton in the Pakistan’s Hasan Ali holds the ball as his teammates congratulate from across the globe. beIN’s first Test in Chittagong. 33rd over for a catch at slip. him after he took five wickets on the third day of the second Test coverage across 4 dedicated West Indies went to However, replays showed that against South Africa in Rawalpindi on Saturday. (AFP) linear channels and our digital stumps at 110/3, needing 285 the batsman had missed the and Social Media platforms, in more for victory. ball and was fine on the lbw dual language demonstrates After another terrific Me- check as well. SA bowlers fight back our commitment to becoming hidy performance, Nkurmah The visiting bowlers con- the leading global sport and en- Bonner (15*) and Kyle May- tinued to toil but by lunch, the after Hasan Ali five-for tertainment network with such ers (37*) dropped anchor and Bangladesh duo had put up 76 a diverse portfolio of premium added 51 runs for the fourth for the fifth with Momi- Agencies global events.” wicket, ensuring that the visi- nul inching towards his Test Rawalpindi Scoreboard A number of beIN analysts tors did not lose any more hundred. Pakistan (1st Innings): 272 and stars will be covering the wickets. The second session was An eventful day in Rwalap- South Africa (1st Innings; Overnight 106-4) 2021 Australian Open includ- Earlier, West Indies open- equally fruitful for Bangladesh indi saw a total of 12 wickets c Mohd Rizwan b Hasan Ali �������������� 15 ing presenter Areej Salim, Aiden Markram c Shaheen b Nauman Ali ����������� 32 ers Kraigg Brathwaite and as they took easy runs off West falling, which also featured a Rassie van der Dussen b Hasan Ali �����������������������0 analyst/commentator Karim John Campbell negotiated the Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz celebrates after the dismissal of West Indies. Liton, in particular, five-wicket haul from Hasan c Mohd Rizwan b Faheem Ashraf � 17 Alami, Adel Al Shatti, Selima tricky period before tea safely, Indies Kraigg Brathwaite on the fourth day of the first Test at the took on the role of the aggres- Ali on the third day of the first not out ��������������������������������������� 44 Sfar, Anaas Lamrani, former scoring 18 runs in seven overs. Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Saturday. (AFP) sor and played a few cracking Test between Pakistan and b Shaheen Afridi ���������������������� 29 WTA player Kim Wehrmann Wiaan Mulder run out ����������������������������������������� 33 They continued in the same shots to keep the scoring rate South Africa. George Linde b Hasan Ali ����������������������������������� 21 among others. cautious fashion as the final Scoreboard up. He soon brought up his Hasan Ali starred with the Keshav Maharaj b Hasan Ali ����������������������������������1 beIN SPORTS’ HD9 chan- session began. sixth Test fifty. An over later, ball for Pakistan on day three Kagiso Rabada run out ������������������������������������������0 nel also televised the “A Day However, Mehidy finally Bangladesh (1st Innings) 430 12-0-37-2, Jomel Warrican 17.5-0-57-3 (nb2), it was Mominul’s turn to raise with returns of 5/54 but the Anrich Nortje b Hasan Ali ���������������������������������������0 at the Drive” one off event Extras: (nb9) ���������������������������������������������������������9 broke through their defences West Indies (1st Innings): 259 Nkrumah Bonner 2-0-13-0 (nb1), Kraigg the bat. The host captain com- day finished on a seesaw note. Total: (All Out, 65.4 overs) ������������������������������� 201 which was held at the Memo- when he dismissed Campbell Bangladesh (2nd Innings; Overnight 47-3) Brathwaite 1-0-7-0, Kyle Mayers 1-0-11-0. pleted his 10th ton in Tests After Pakistan had South Fall of wkts: 1-26, 2-26, 3-55, 4-81, 5-114, 6-164, rial Drive Tennis Centre in Ad- for 23 in the 17th over. Camp- Shadman Islam c Da Silva b Gabriel 5 West Indies (2nd Innings: Target: 395) – overtaking Africa bowled out for 201 in 7-186, 8-192, 9-201, 10-201. elaide, Australia on Friday 29 bell, who challenged the on- Tamim Iqbal lbw b Cornwall 0 Kraigg Brathwaite c sub Yasir Ali b Hasan Miraz 20 to record the most number the second session, the visi- Bowling: Shaheen Shah Afridi 13-2-37-1 (nb3), January – all in support of the Najmul Hossain Shanto c Blackwood b Cornwall 0 John Campbell lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 23 Hasan Ali 15.4-2-54-5 (nb6), Faheem Ashraf 8-2- field umpire’s decision, was c Roach b Gabriel 115 Shayne Moseley lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 12 of centuries in the format for tors’ bowlers fought back. 20-1, Nauman Ali 17-8-36-1, Yasir Shah 12-2-54-0. Australian Tennis Foundation. trapped in front of off while lbw b Cornwall 18 Nkruma Bonner not out 15 Bangladesh. Kagiso Rabada provided Pakistan (2nd Innings) The day session featured attempting to sweep. c Mayers b Warrican 69 Kyle Mayers not out 37 After taking the lead past the first breakthrough, trap- Imran Butt lbw b Rabada ���������������������������������������0 eight players including Jannik c de Kock b Maharaj ����������������������������� 13 Two overs later, Mehidy Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Warrican 7 Extras: (b1, lb2) 3 200, both batsmen perished ping opener Imran Butt in Azhar Ali lbw b Linde ������������������������������������������� 33 Sinner, , and got Brathwaite for 20, giving Taijul Islam b Warrican 3 Total: For 3 wkts, 40 overs) 110 one after the other. First Liton front for a duck while Keshav lbw b Maharaj ������������������������������������8 Naomi Osaka, with Rafael Na- a simple catch to substitute Nayeem Hasan not out 1 Yet to bat: J Blackwood, J Da Silva, R Cornwall, was removed by Warrican for Maharaj had Abid Ali caught Mohammad Rizwan not out �������������������������������� 28 dal, Dominic Thiem, Ash Barty Yasir Ali at short leg, as the Extras: (nb4, w1) 5 S Gabriel, J Warrican. 69 when he attempted to re- behind for 13. By the tea break, Faheem Ashraf c Nortje b Linde �������������������������� 29 and headlining visitors slipped to 48/2. The Total: (For 8 wkts declared, 67.5 overs) 223 Fall of wkts: 1-39, 2-48, 3-59. verse sweep. He was followed South Africa had reduced Pa- Hasan Ali not out ���������������������������������������������������0 the evening session. Matches Fall of wkts: 1-1, 2-1, 3-33, 4-73, 5-206, Bowling: 4-1-14-0, Taijul Extras: (b4, nb2) 6 partnership between Sheyne 6-214, 7-222, 8-223. Islam 13-8 12-0, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 16-2-52- by Mominul in the next over kistan to 42/2. Total: (For 6 wkts, 51 overs) ����������������������������� 129 consisted of two tiebreak sets Moseley and Bonner just last- Bowling: Kemar Roach 7-1-17-0 (w1, nb1), 3, Nayeem Hasan 7-1-29-0. when the Bangladesh skipper At the start of the even- Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 7-3-4-1, Anrich Nortje 8-5- with a match tiebreak at one 24-0, Keshav Maharaj 21-3-74-2, Wiaan Mulder ed for 10 runs as the former Rakheem Cornwall 27-2-81-3, Shannon Gabriel Toss: Bangladesh. was caught at deep mid-wicket ing session, Pakistan lost set all. The two-session event became Mehidy’s third victim. off Shannon Gabriel for 115. their skipper Babar Azam, 6-1-11-0, George Linde 9-5-12-3. was supported by the South However, responsi- The next two wickets who made an impressive 77 Australian Tourism Commis- bly, Bonner and Mayers stabi- Bangladesh stuttered at run stand with skipper Momi- of Mehidy and Taijul Islam in the first innings, for just 8. Ashraf (29). sion. Part proceeds of ticket lised the visitors’ innings and the start of the fourth day nul Haque. also fell in quick succession Linde struck thrice in the final Mohammad Rizwan re- sales were donated to the Aus- showed positive intent, mak- when Mushfiqur Rahim fell For Mominul, runs came and Bangladesh declared on hours of the day, claiming the mained unbeaten on 28, taking tralian Tennis Foundation to ing sure West Indies are still in for 18 to easy as he paired effortlessly 223/8, setting West Indies a big wickets of Azhar Ali (33), Pakistan to stumps on 129/6, aid South Australia’s most dis- with a chance on the final day. but not before sharing a 40- with Liton Das and continued target of 395. Fawad Alam (12), and Faheem with a healthy lead of 200. advantaged communities.