Buoyant Qatar Eye Saudi Scalp in Battle for Supremacy
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SPORT Thursday 17 January 2019 PAGE | 07 PAGE | 09 Warriors rout Federer and Nadal Nuggets after stay on track with record 51 in convincing wins first quarter in Melbourne Qatari players take part in a practice session in Abu Dhabi, UAE, yesterday, on the eve of their AFC Asian Cup Group E match against Saudi Arabia which will be played at the Zayed Sports City Stadium today. AFC Asian Cup: Buoyant Qatar eye Saudi scalp in battle for supremacy FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA Mourinho’s In-form Qatar today take on Asian Cup debut arch-rivals Saudi Arabia with We are doing exactly just one aim – to win their AFC the same as we have exclusively on Asian Cup group clash, top the done for the previous beIN SPORTS group and enter the knockout games but we know it stage of the tournament with an is a match which will unbeaten streak. THE PENINSULA This is what a confident decide the top spot. DOHA Felix Sanchez said on the eve of We will plan well, as the match, which will determine we did for the other Jose Mourinho will join beIN the Group E winners at the matches, as we want SPORTS, the global sports broad- 43,000-seat Zayed Sports City to win the group: caster, this week as part of the AFC Stadium in Abu Dhabi today. Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez (left) and goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb addressing the media during a Asian Cup 2019 and English The Qatar coach has all the pre-match press conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, yesterday. Coach Felix Sanchez Premier League coverage, which reasons to target a win against viewers across the Middle East and the tough neighbouring rivals coach said his team will go for “We are very proud of our progressing well and that is very go into the match tomorrow. North Africa (MENA) enjoy exclu- after a high-flying start from his nothing less than full points. performance, especially in the important,” he said. Saudi Arabia will enter the sively on the leading sports team, which is yet to concede a “It is going to be a tough last game. It was a very good Saudi Arabia’s Juan Antonio match having defeated North channel. goal. game but hopefully, we can get result but we must keep looking Pizzi, who was also adamant on Korea 4-0 and Lebanon 2-0. In his first TV appearance since They outclassed Lebanon the result we desire,” Sanchez forward. his team’s resolve to win today’s “We have maximum confi- leaving Manchester United in 2-0 in their first match before said at a pre-match press con- “The focus now is on Saudi battle, hailed Qatar as a good dence in the players and have December, Mourinho will be part annihilating North Korea 6-0 ference, yesterday. Arabia and we must plan for a side. no preference as to who we of a panel of expert analysts based after four goals from in-form “We are doing exactly the good game tomorrow,” Sanchez “Qatar is a team with many could play in the Round of 16. in beIN SPORTS’ studios exclu- forward Almoez Ali. same as we have done for the reiterated. qualities and they have good We have an ambition to win the sively covering two highly antici- Sanchez, who oversaw Al previous games but we know it The coach also hailed his strikers. However, we are also title and every match is equally pated games, the AFC Asian Cup Annabi’s famous victory over is a match which will decide the players for their determination doing well collectively and I difficult,” said Pizzi. fixture, Qatar vs Saudi Arabia World No.8 Switzerland last top spot. We will plan well, as to do well in the AFC Asian have full confidence that my The group winners will face today, and the English Premier November, said his team will we did for the other matches, as Cup. players can get the three points,” the Group D runners-up, either League match, Arsenal vs Chelsea, enter with a good plan in the we want to win the group,” said “Their focus has been only Pizzi said yesterday. Iran or Iraq in Round of 16, on Saturday. ‘tough’ match. the Spaniard before adding that on the tournament and they “I have never played a while the runners-up will go up Further information about A draw will be enough for Qatar’s outstanding per- have been working very hard, match in anticipation of who against the top-placed team beIN’s sports and entertainment Qatar to top the group on goal formance in first two games will before we came here and even our next opponents will be from Group F - either Japan or schedule, are available on www. difference, nevertheless, the be helpful in today’s match. now. The players are all and that is exactly how we will Uzbekistan. bein.net/en/tv-guide. PSG stars take part in a traditional camel race THE PENINSULA After the event, Tuchel joked: “I can’t DOHA reveal my technique to win this race, I know that my victory is hard for the players to The Paris Saint-Germain squad made history accept... but it was an extremely tactical chal- yesterday at the Al Shahaniya Racecourse lenge! The most important thing was to win, near Doha, competing in a camel race as part I had to be ready to step up to the plate and of the Qatar Tour 2019. set an example. I’m very proud that this Fired up by manager Thomas Tuchel’s victory has allowed me to help the Paris stirring speech in the tents pre-race, the Paris Saint-Germain Endowment Fund, which is Saint-Germain players piled into 4x4s, with key for the club, so it is a great success for each player controlling their camels via me.” walkie-talkie. The 13 camels covered the 4km After listening intently to the instructions, racetrack at speeds of up to 40km, with the Neymar Jr. celebrated his victory, adding: “I players steering the dromedaries from cars am very happy. Our group was the fastest. alongside. Dani finished 3rd and I finished 1st. I won! I Neymar Jr and coach Thomas Tuchel won!” emerged victorious in the two thrilling After the races the Paris Saint-Germain morning races. The two winners each players returned to their hotel for an evening received cheques of €25,000 from the club’s training session. The PSG stars will leave Qatar Paris Saint-Germain’s players and officials celebrate after taking part in a traditional camel race at the Al official partner, Ooredoo, and the money will today an intense week of training, sponsorship Shahaniya Racecourse in Doha, yesterday. be donated to the PSG Endowment Fund. activities and media interviews. 08 SPORT THURSDAY 17 JANUARY 2019 Djokovic renews Tsonga rivalry REUTERSREUTERS Djokovic went on to injuries lately. It’s good to see him NOVAK DJOKOVIC MELBOURNEMELBOURNE win a memorable match playing well. It’s good to see him Age: 31 against Tsonga in 2008 back.” ATP Ranking: 1 ElevenEleven yearsyears afterafter theirtheir firstfirst meetingmeet for the first of his 14 The Serb, who beat qualifier Grand Slam titles: 14 (Australian Open 2008, in thethe AustralianAustralian OpenOpen final,final, NovakNov Mitchell Krueger 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016; French Open 2016; DjokovicDjokovic and Jo-Wilfried TsongaTsongn a will Grand Slam trophies. advance, is aware of the lurking threat Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018; US Open 2011, taketake a trip down memorymemory lanelane todayto Tsonga has struggled Tsonga poses having lost to the 2015, 2018) toto renew their rivalry in the secondseco to convert his early Frenchman six times in 22 career 2018 Australian Open performance: Fourth round roundround in Melbourne.Melbourne. potential into titles meetings. Best Australian Open performance: Winner Djokovic went on to winwin thatt “I know what to expect... I lost to (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) on the biggest stage, Serbian World memorablememorable matchmatch in 20082008 forfor thethe first him... in Rod Laver I think back in 2019 Australian Open results: No.1 Novak of his 14 Grand Slam trophies,trophies, whilew having never reached a 2010,” six-times Australian Open First round: beat Mitchell Krueger (US) 6-3, 6-2, Djokovic Tsonga has struggled to convertconv Grand Slam final since. champion Djokovic added. “I’m going 6-2 hishis early potentialpotenttial intoi toto aapproachpproach it as aanyny ootherther Djokovic needed an elbow surgery in February last titlestitles on thethe biggestbigg match.match. Opti-Opti- year, but after some jarring defeats he returned to stage,stage, havinghaving neverne mistic,m istic, the kind of domination he achieved in 2015, winning reachedreached a GrandGran Slam final since. but aalsolso respectful,respectful, tryingtrying Wimbledon and the US Open. WhileWhile inconsistencyinco has dogged to dodo whateverwhatever I cacann to The Serb, chasing a record seventh title in TsongaTsonga throughoutthrou his career, knee winn it.”it.” Melbourne, holds a 16-6 head-to-head advantage surgerysurgery forcedfor the former world InIn thethe women’s draw,draw, over Tsonga, and has finished victorious in each of numbernumbber ffive out of action for Serenaena WilliamsWilliams willwill their last three encounters. sevenseven monthsmo last year to leave lookk to continuecontinue herher himhim outsideou the top 200 for chargearge towards a JO-WILFRIED TSONGA thethe firstfir time since 2007. record-equallingordd-equallling 24th24th Age: 33 Tsonga,T who has Grandand SlamSlam whenwhen sheshe ATP Ranking: 177 clawedclaw his way back to 177 faceses Eugenie Bouchard Grand Slam titles: 0 inin the world, needed a in thehe second round, while 2018 Australian Open performance: wildcardwi to enter the top-ranked-ranked Simona HalepHalep Third round season’sse first major and takeses on unseededunseeded Best Australian Open performance: poweredpo past Slovakia’s Americanerican SoSofiafia Runner-up (2008) MartinMa Klizan 6-4, 6-4, Kenin.nin.