Ex-England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole bids adieu PAGE 19 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 Former captain Wayne Rooney savours TENNIS PAGE 19 England comeback despite criticism ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS ‘Federer deserves special treatment’ “If he doesn’t have it, who is going to have it? People want to see him play in showtime,” says Djokovic REUTERS Benneteau was particu- his round-robin victory over night in Rod Laver Arena. ther, saying the likes of LONDON larly referring to the Austral- American John Isner at the “I understand Julien’s Federer, Djokovic and Rafael ian Open where he said 20- ATP Finals on Monday, Djoko- point because sometimes it Nadal should get even more WORLD number one Novak time Grand Slam champion vic said Federer had earned the does seem that maybe certain privileges. Djokovic leapt to the defence Federer played “12 or 13” of right for special treatment. players get more favoured “If anything, maybe they of great rival Roger Federer his 14 matches at Melbourne “In the end of the day, in year after year in certain tour- should get more special treat- on Monday after claims that in the past two years at night, a way he deserves the special naments. On the other side, ment because those guys, the the Swiss enjoys preferential so avoiding the often scorch- treatment because he’s six-time you have to understand that top players, have made other treatment on Tour. ing temperatures. champion of Australian Open Federer is a driving force of players below them a lot of Frenchman Julien Ben- He also suggested Feder- and arguably the best player tennis in terms of revenue, in money,” the American said af- neteau caused a stir during er’s Laver Cup project, an ex- ever,” Djokovic told reporters. terms of attention. ter his 6-4 6-3 defeat. an interview on French radio hibition team event in which “If he doesn’t have it, who “Julien and guys like him “It is like the Tiger Woods station RMC Sport on Sunday Australian Open tournament is going to have it? People are also benefiting from ten- effect in golf. So that is how you in which he said tournament director Craig Tiley is also in- want to see him play on the nis, because of Roger, be- can look at a guy like Roger. He referees were often kinder volved, represented a conflict centre court, and they want to cause of what he has done for is men’s tennis in my opinion. to Federer when it came to of interest. see him play in showtime, the the sport.” He deserves everything and scheduling his matches. Asked for his thoughts after best hours, which is 7:30 at Isner went even fur- more that he’s ever had.” Zverev won’t play revamped Davis Cup finals REUTERS also announced the start of a ri- must win to qualify for the We’ll see how it goes.” LONDON val World Team Cup to begin in Madrid finals. American John Isner, Australia in January 2020 with “I’m not going to play Da- beaten by Novak Djokovic on GERMANY’S Alex Zverev the likes of world number one vis Cup in November,” world his ATP Finals debut, said he says he will not take part in Novak Djokovic and 20-time number five Zverev told re- supported the idea of revamp- a revamped Davis Cup finals Grand Slam champion Roger porters after his win over Ma- ing the Davis Cup but said or- showpiece event in Spain next Federer likely to prioritise it. rin Cilic at the ATP Finals on ganisers needed to think again Date issues November. The 21-year-old Zverev, Monday. “I am going to play about staging the finals at the The Davis Cup has some Changes to the 118-year- regarded as one of the play- in February in Germany, in end of a gruelling season. old team event will see the ers to lead men’s tennis into Frankfurt, I’m going to do that. “The format’s unique. I, for serious issues to think competition turned into a a new era, said he would still “The Davis Cup has some one, don’t like the date. I think about. One of them is the week-long competition taking be available for the Davis Cup serious issues to think about. that’s the big beef with players dates. I think the date is place in November, with 18 qualifying round in February One of them is the dates. I now,” said the 33-year-old. very important and I think nations battling for the title. but said he would not play in think the date is very impor- The International Tennis none of the top players will The first two editions will the November finals week, tant and I think none of the top Federation (ITF) announced take place in Madrid’s La Caja suggesting the date was a bad players will play, except Rafa in August that its proposals to play, except Rafa (Nadal) Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, seen here at the ATP World Tour Finals in Magica, the current venue for choice for most players. (Nadal) because it’s in Spain. breathe new life into the Davis because it’s in Spain. London on Monday, leapt to the defence of great rival Roger Federer the Madrid Open. Germany host Hungary “I’m very, very sure that a Cup had been backed by the ma- Alex Zverev of Germany. after claims that the Swiss enjoys preferential treatment on Tour. (AFP) Men’s Tour the ATP have in February in Frankfurt and lot of top players will not play. jority of national federations. Inclement weather forces route changes for Manateq TITLE SPONSOR International Rally of Qatar Speaking from the QMMF’s new been impossible, even for a 4x4 Drivers to carry out offices at the Qatar Handball Sports vehicle, to cross them. Arena, Almeida said: “We have had “We have done a big job to reconnaissance of exceptional weather conditions in prepare a second rally in one stages today Qatar and this resulted in flooding week. Competitors will receive a and damage to the stages. We were bulletin with the changes when they obliged to modify the route in or- complete their registration.” TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK der to avoid any difficult situations. Rally officials had hoped to run DOHA We did that to avoid any possible 203.40 competitive kilometres in cancellation of stages. a total route of 832.75km before FREAK weather conditions and the late modifications. Friday’s ac- heavy rain have inundated parts of tion is scheduled to be fought out northern Qatar and forced officials over two runs through the Eraida at the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle and Al Dhakira stages, while Satur- Federation (QMMF) to make last We have done a big job to day’s timetable included two runs minute changes to the route for this prepare a second rally in one through a new northerly Al Khor weekend’s Manateq International week. Competitors will receive a special, Al Ghariyah and the Al Ru- Rally of Qatar, the final round of the wais timed test. FIA Middle East Rally Champion- bulletin with the changes when Rain and adverse weather have ship (MERC). they complete their registration. affected the event in the past and Twenty cars and 40 competitors route modifications have taken place from nine nations are making their Clerk of the course Pedro Almeida on several occasions. The worst final preparations for the three-day weather in the history of the event event, which gets underway with a “If the rain continues, then we occurred back in 1993 when the area ceremonial start at Souq Waqif on may have to do more changes. In was inundated when the event ran Thursday (November 15) afternoon. fact, we have now done two rallies. out of the former Ramada Renais- They will carry out their re- We had rally A and now we have sance Hotel in downtown Doha. connaissance of the revised route rally B. The rally still has five dif- That event was synonymous on Wednesday. ferent stages and four of them have with large areas of standing water Clerk of the course Pedro been modified. That has resulted in and small lakes on many stages and Almeida and his Portuguese assis- shorter stages, but safer stages. We was eventually won by Nasser Khal- Come meet the champions during the ceremonial start of Manateq - Qatar International Rally, tant Jaime Santos have been out in have made short cuts to avoid mud- ifa al Attiyah and Mubarak al Hajri the final round of the Middle East championship the northern deserts checking the dy sections and areas where the cars in a Toyota Celica GT4. at Souq Waqif - Western Square as follows: condition of the tracks and making would get stuck. There are lakes in This year’s event will start and any necessary changes to enable the desert. Some tracks disappeared finish at Souq Waqif in down- Ceremonial start Prize giving the event to run into the water. It would have town Doha with the ceremonial Thursday, 15 November 2018 Saturday 17 November 2018 smoothly. start planned for 19.05hrs on Thursday (November 15). at 07:05 PM at 05:35 PM OFFICIAL PARTNERS: CULTURAL PARTNER ORGANIZED BY: MEDIA PARTNERS: Ace rallyist Nasser Saleh al Attiyah seen in action in Jordan faces the possibility of a wet stage surface in Qatar. Sports Wednesday, November 14, 2018 17 TENNIS TIME FOR FOOTBALL STAR CRISTIANO RONALDO AT THE O2 ARENA Football club Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) with Georgina Rodriguez (left) and his son Cristiano Jr (right) as they watch the game between US player John Isner and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their round-robin men’s singles on Day Two of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London on Monday.