14 Sunday, November 17, 2019 Sports

Qatar to begin Gulf Cup campaign Tsitsipas stuns Federer against Iraq at Khalifa Stadium to reach London final 6th-seeded Greek beats the Swiss maestro in straight sets

AFP an easy time to Roger. He was knew he had to break Tsitsi- London playing well.” pas for only the second time Coming into the match, the in the match. Stefanos Tsitsipas shocked Greek 21-year-old led the tour- The Greek slipped to 15-40 six-time champion Roger nament in service games won, down but Federer again could Federer 6-3, 6-4 to reach the with 35 out of 37. not take advantage, spraying a final of the ATP Finals in his Tsitsipas conceded a break forehand out to give his oppo- tournament debut on Saturday. point in his first game as cries nent a match point and he won The Greek sixth seed, 17 of “Let’s go Roger, let’s go” rang with a thundering ace. years younger than his 38-year- around London’s O2 Arena but Federer, who was shaken by old opponent, beat the Swiss at he survived the scare and broke his two fluffed smashes, rued the Australian Open but had Federer in the next game, tak- his missed chances. fallen to him twice since then. ing advantage of two missed “I’m frustrated I couldn’t Federer was unrecognis- overheads from the Swiss. play better, and when I did and able from the player who Thereafter it was a case fought my way back, I threw it dominated Novak Djokovic in of what might have been for away again,” said the Swiss. his final round-robin match, Federer, who dropped just six “It was also parts of him. struggling on serve and hit- points on his serve in the first He did come up with the goods ting a total of 26 unforced er- set and saw a whopping six when he had to and he was bet- rors compared with just five break points come and go. ter than me today. against the Serbian. Tsitsipas was forced “It’s the year-end. It’s over But Tsitsipas belied his to dig deep in a dramatic now and I can’t make it better. years with a performance full 13-minute final game in I tried everything I could, to of confidence and grit, saving which he saved two break be honest.” 11 out of 12 break points during points and needed seven set A year ago, Tsitsipas won the match. points to close it out 6-3. the Next Gen ATP Finals. Now, “I’m so proud of myself to- Federer was in deep trou- on his tournament debut he day, a great performance and ble when Tsitsipas broke him is one match away from win- once again the people were to love in the third game of the ning the season-ending event, great,” he said. second set but he finally made a featuring the year’s best eight “I really enjoyed myself on break point count -- his 10th, to players. will kickoff the 24th against Iraq at the the court and sometimes in level at 2-2. Tsitsipas first broke into the Khalifa International Stadium. The Gulf Cup will run from Novem- matches like these you wonder Undaunted, Tsitsipas, dom- top 100 of the ATP rankings ber 26 to December 8. Group A which includes the hosts Qatar, how you recover from difficul- inating rallies from the back of only 25 months ago. UAE, Yemen and Iraq will play their matches at the Khalifa Stadi- ties and break point down. the court, broke again straight He will play either defend- um, while Group B with defending champions , , Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his win against Switzerland’s “It is a mental struggle and away with a forehand cross- ing champion Alexander Zverev and will play their matches at the Abdullah Bin Roger Federer during the men’s singles semi-final of the ATP World I’m proud how many I saved court winner for a 3-2 lead. or fifth seed Dominic Thiem in Khalifa Stadium (Al Duhail). Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday. (AFP) today, I was trying not to give At 5-4 down Federer Sunday’s final.

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Kuwait to host 3rd Shami stars as India crush B’desh India’s Phogat makes GCC Games in 2020 AFP in the first innings, took Kuwait: Kuwait will host the Indore for 18. dominant MMA debut third GCC Games in April 2020, skipper Momi- President of Kuwait Olympic Mohammed Shami took nul said the batting of Mush- Tribune News Network Committee Sheikh Fahad four wickets as India crushed fiqur and of Beijing Nasser Sabah al Ahmad al Sa- Bangladesh by an innings and had been the only “positives” bah announced on Saturday. 130 runs inside three days of in the disappointing defeat. Indian wrestling superstar The 3dr GCC Games will include the opening Test on Saturday. The second and final match Ritu “The Indian Tigress” 12 events including, football, Bangladesh were bowled is a day-night clash, with India Phogat made a successful volleyball, basketball, handball, out for 213 in the final session hosting its first-ever pink-ball mixed martial arts and ONE swimming and athletics, in in Indore after their gamble to Test at Kolkata’s Championship debut, putting addition to six other games bat first after winning the toss from November 22. together a dominant perfor- to be determined later, Kuwait backfired badly against the In- mance en route to a technical Olympic Committee President dian pace attack. knockout victory over South said in a press statement. He Shami’s fellow fast bowlers Scoreboard Korea’s Nam Hee Kim. explained that the tournament Umesh Yadav and Ishant Shar- Bangladesh 1st innings 150 ( Phogat immediately will be held from April 4 to 14 ma shared three wickets be- 43; M. shami 3-27) scored on a takedown in the India 1st innings (overnight 493-6 dec, M. Agarwal with the participation of Saudi tween them after India declared 243, A. Rahane 86, A. Jayed 4-108) opening seconds of the bout. Ritu Phogat after defeating Nam Arabia, the United Arab Emir- their first innings on 493 for six, India’s Mohammed Shami (right) celebrates the dismissal of Bang- Bangladesh 2nd innings She executed another suc- Hee Kim on her debut MMA, One ates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, with a lead of 343 runs. ladesh’s on the third day of their first Test at the Holkar b I. Sharma ...... 6 cessful takedown moments Championship fight in Beijing. in addition to the host Kuwait. “The gave me the Stadium in Indore on Saturday. (AFP) b Yadav ...... 6 later, this time keeping Kim Mominul Hauqe lbw shami ...... 7 freedom to bowl the way I Mohammad Mithun c Agarwal b shami ...... 18 on the mat and proceeding one hundred percent.” wanted and it went well,” Sha- first innings, got last man Eba- ing Imrul Kayes for six on a ball Mushfiqur Rahim c Pujara b Ashwin ...... 64 to deal damage with ground- Speaking about the bout, Verstappen grabs mi said after the game. “Hav- dat Hossain for one to spark In- that curved into the left-hander c R. Sharma b shami ...... 15 and-pound. Ritu said it was always her ing Umesh and Ishant along- dia’s victory celebrations. and rattled the leg stump. c & b Ashwin ...... 35 After securing the mount- plan to go for the takedown pole for Brazilian GP b Yadav ...... 38 side me is a plus.” India were dominant Ishant Sharma got Shad- Taijul Islam c Saha b shami ...... 6 ed crucifix position, Phogat at the very beginning, “I be- Sao PAULO: Max Verstappen Bangladesh batsman Mush- with the bat and ball against man Islam for six in the next Abu Jayed ...... 4 pounded Kim out until the lieved that if I got her down secured the second pole posi- fiqur Rahim offered some re- Bangladesh. over. Shami then trapped Ebadat Hossain c Yadav b Ashwin ...... 1 referee intervened. early, I could finish her via tion of his career to mark his sistance, hitting 64 after Rohit Opening batsman Mayank skipper lbw Extras (b2, lb9, nb1, w1) ...... 13 After her dominant debut ground and pound. The Total (all out, 69.2 overs) ...... 213 Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s Sharma dropped him on four Agarwal played a key part in the for seven. Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Imrul), 2-16 (Shadman), 3-37 victory, Ritu, who hails from plan worked.” 46th birthday in style on Satur- off Shami. win with his 243 – his second Mominul was given not (Mominul), 4-44 (Mithun), 5-72 (Mahmudullah), the hallowed Phogat fam- Asked what she wanted to day when he topped the qualify- Mushfiqur, who scored 43 double century in four Tests – out by the on-field umpire 6-135 (Liton), 7-194 (Mehidy), 8-208 (Taijul), ily known for their excellence do next, she said, “I have only ing times for Sunday’s Brazilian 9-208 (Mushfiqur), 10-213 (Ebadat) Bowling: I. in Bangladesh’s 150 in the first as India amassed 407 runs on but India skipper Virat Kohli Sharma 11-3-31-1, Yadav 14-1-51-2 (w1), shami in wrestling said, “I want to one goal and that’s to win Grand Prix. The 22-year-old innings, finally became one of the second day. successfully reviewed the de- 16-7-31-4 (nb1), Jadeja 14-2-47-0, Ashwin 14.2-6- thank my sisters and my fam- the ONE Atomweight World Dutchman, produced a best three wickets taken by off-spin- The bowlers kept up the cision with replays showing 42-3 ily, they believed in me and Championship for my coun- lap in one minute and 7.508 ner Ravichandran Ashwin. pressure when Bangladesh the ball would have hit leg Toss: Bangladesh motivated me... I want thank try. For me it’s all about be- Result: India won by an innings and 130 runs seconds to outpace Sebastian Ashwin, who reached 250 started their second innings. stump. Series: India lead the two-match series 1-0. everyone for their support, I coming the first Indian world Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. (AFP) wickets in home Tests in the Yadav drew first blood, tak- Shami, who also took three promise I’ll always give my champion in MMA.” Ronaldo targets 100th goal, Euro 2020 berth and revenge AFP (Sunday) he’ll score the most pions League win against penalty or fine by Juve, but Lisbon goals in his career,” Portugal Portugal’s forward Cristiano Lokomotiv Moscow in Rus- he should not escape a grilling coach Fernando Santos told Ronaldo gives the thumb up sia on November 6. by club vice-president Pavel Cristiano Ronaldo travels Saturday’s pre-match press during the Euro 2020 Group Four days later Ronaldo Nedved, according to the Ital- to Luxembourg on Sunday conference. B football qualification was again substituted in the ian sports press. with the objective of helping The symbolic century re- match against Lithuania Serie A match which the Tu- Despite Ronaldo’s poor reigning champions Portugal mains within arm’s reach of on Thursday. (AFP) rin giants won 1-0 against performance last Sunday, his qualify for Euro 2020 and the the striker who despite the AC Milan. demonstration on Thursday 100-goal mark for his country passing years has lost none of Ronaldo was replaced af- against Lithuania led to a within his reach. his lethal firepower. ter 55 minutes on the pretext softening in tone in the Ital- The former Real Madrid Already the top Champions that he had “a slight knee ian media, who had blasted star is also eager to prove he League scorer with 127 goals, problem”, with Paulo Dybala his “lack of respect” for his is not a player in decline af- ahead of his long-time rival Li- taking his place and scoring team-mates. ter his angry reaction to be- onel Messi, Ronaldo this sea- the winning goal. “Here (in Portugal) CR7 ing substituted by Juventus son broke the 700-goal mark The controversy swelled does not go, he embraces (the coach Maurizio Sarri in the in all competitions. when the Italian media re- coach) Fernando Santos and past two games. And with just two weeks vealed that the Portuguese had he remains on the bench. (...) The five-time Ballon d’Or to go before the Ballon d’Or aimed a few harsh words in It is clear that we do not waste winner, who turns 35 years in trophy is awarded, the player Sarri’s direction before return- time to demolish players, in- February, responded in typi- from Madeira has yet another ing directly to the locker room. cluding champions,” wrote cally defiant fashion with a chance to hammer home his He left the stadium a Corriere dello Sport. hat-trick in Portugal’s 6-0 win point on Sunday. few minutes before the final Relieved, the Portuguese over Lithuania on Thursday. A win would help Portugal whistle. press, heaped praise on Ron- It brought his tally to 98 wrap up a spot at Euro 2020 Ronaldo broke his silence aldo after he scored his ninth goals in 163 games, to close in and move on from the their by taking to Instagram on international hat-trick “with on Iranian striker Ali Daei’s 2-1 loss to Ukraine in Kiev last Monday, stating: “Difficult no sign of injury”. world record of 109 interna- month. They hold a one-point Should they slip up un- another shot via the play-offs. physically fit. game, important victory! Portugal will again rely on tional goals scored between advantage over Serbia in the expectedly, Ronaldo and co On Sunday, Ronaldo will The striker reacted furi- #until the end.” their talisman captain Sunday, 1993 and 2006. battle for second behind Group – winners of the inaugural also be keen to prove once ously after he was substitut- His status could prevent and bank on his goals to do the “I hope that tomorrow B winners Ukraine. Nations League – would have again to Sarri that he is ed in his team’s 2-1 Cham- him from being hit with a talking.