15 FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 sports

Bahrain looks to continue domination at MMA Youth World Murray brothers Championships make winning start

Andy Murray reunites• with brother Jamie for doubles win at Washington Open

Bahrain Youth - From left Yusuf Hassan, Mohammed Alsameea and Bader Tsitsipas, Isner Abdullah move• on to last 16 TDT | Manama tireless work towards the de- velopment of mixed martial AFP | Washington fter climbing up to the arts in the Kingdom. Atop of mixed martial arts In the Youth B category (for hree-time rankings with dominant per- ages 14-15 year-olds), Bader champion Andy Murray formances in the first tour- Abdullah is the main repre- Tmoved closer to a singles naments of 2019, Team Bah- sentative, as he will look to comeback six months after hip rain will look to continue to medal in the Strawweight class surgery, joining brother Jamie show the world its number (under 52 kgs). Mohammed for a doubles victory Wednesday one status isn’t a coincidence. Alsameea and Yusuf Hassan at the ATP Washington Open. This time, the Kingdom will will represent Bahrain in the The Murrays, partnered for have a strong representation Youth A category (16-17 year- the first time since the 2016 Rio Andy Murray (L) and his brother Jamie Murray of Great Britain celebrate a point during their doubles match against at the MMA Youth World olds). Olympics, downed Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France Championships, which takes Alsameea will be in the Nicolas Mahut and Edouard place in Rome, Italy, on 3-4 Strawweight bracket, for fight- Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), layed 3:00 am singles victory ven Klaasen of South Africa. August. ers under 52 kg, while Hassan 10-5 to reach the last eight at the that led him to withdraw. Three athletes between the will look for Featherweight US Open tune-up event. The British duo trailed 5-2 in Top seed Tsitsipas wins ages of 14 and 17 will be repre- gold at 65,8 kg. The trio of “The level of I thought the decisive super-tiebreaker I have no pain. It’s Greek top seed Stefanos Tsit- senting Bahrain at the tourna- Bahrain representatives will was really good,” Andy Mur- but steamrolled back by taking sipas, the 20-year-old who oust- ment as they look to mirror the have the backing of the whole ray said. “It felt like there were the last eight points, with Jamie not restricting me ed Roger Federer on the way to Adults, who have had tremen- country throughout the com- some good points and quick re- Murray’s service winner secur- in any of the shots the semi-finals, dous success in the last few petition as they continue their actions out there.” ing the victory. that I’m hitting. I’m advanced to the third round in years, under the guidance of development into top athletes Andy Murray is practicing It was Andy who began the still maybe a little singles by defeating US wildcard His Highness Shaikh Khaled and future IMMAF World singles and playing doubles as rally with a backhand winner bit slow. I’m hoping Tommy Paul 6-3, 7-5. bin Hamad Al Khalifa and his champions. the former world number one, and added backhand volley and that’s something US fifth seed John Isner ad- now ranked 222, continues his drop volley winners on the two that comes back vanced to the third round by fightback from right hip surgery penultimate points. eliminating Poland’s Hubert in January. Murray declared Monday his with time. Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4. Isner, seeking The 32-year-old Scotsman hip has responded better than ANDY MURRAY his 16th career ATP crown, was a No fun playing since feared he could be forced into expected and he was “quite Washington runner-up in 2007, retirement before the operation. close” to a singles comeback, most recently played singles at 2013 and 2015. He returned to the court in June perhaps as soon as Cincinnati the Australian Open in January, “It was a good start. I’m happy Australian Open: Osaka but only in doubles while he in two weeks. losing a first-round five-setter to with the win,” said Isner, who rehabilitates. That would be only two weeks Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. faces French 10th seed Benoit “I have no pain,” Murray said. ahead of the US Open, with Mur- The Murrays, who helped Paire next. “It’s not restricting me in any of ray also saying if he didn’t play Britain win the 2015 Davis Cup, Canadian eighth seed Milos the shots that I’m hitting. I’m Cincinnati he would likely wait broke the French duo in the fi- Raonic, the 2014 Washington still maybe a little bit slow. I’m until after the US Open, cautious nal game to claim the first set, winner, ripped US qualifier Tim hoping that’s something that of pushing his luck untested in then outlasted them to the finish Smyczek 6-1, 6-4. He next meets comes back with time.” best-of-five-set matches. after one hour and 51 minutes. German lucky loser Peter Go- Murray departed Washington Murray, who won Grand Slam They will play for a semi-final jowczyk, who dispatched Aus- in tears from pain and frustra- titles at the 2012 US Open and in spot against third seeds Michael tralian Alex de Minaur 6-3, 7-6 tion last year after a rain-de - 2013 and 2016 at Wimbledon, Venus of New Zealand and Ra- (8/6).

Top seeds Svitolina, Bale’s round of golf not a concern: Zidane Sabalenka win at Japan’s reacts during her first round match against Reuters | Madrid Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva at the Wimbledon (file photo) WTA San Jose event say much. I hope that he has ers that did travel to Mu- trained there,” the Frenchman nich ensured the 13-times Reuters | Tokyo On Thursday, Osaka posted AFP | San Francisco eal Madrid coach Zinedine told reporters after Real beat European champions a message to her fans on social RZidane says Gareth Bale’s Fenerbahce 5-3 to finish third in had enough firepow- orld number two Naomi media explaining her recent op seed personal life is his own business the tournament on Wednesday. er up front against WOsaka admitted on dip in form. Tof Ukraine and second and not something he would get “I’m not going to stop any- the Turkish side Thursday that the last few “Whenever things go seed of Be- involved in as long as the Welsh one from doing something, you but Zidane months have been “the worst wrong I blame myself 100%, larus advanced to the quar- forward was training. know? Everyone has their own did concede of my life” and that she hasn’t I have a tendency to shut ter-finals of the WTA San Bale, who has been strongly responsibilities and we will see there was had fun on the tennis court down because I don’t want Jose hardcourt tournament linked with a move away from what he’s been up to in Madrid. a prob- since winning the Australian to burden anyone with my with straight-set victories the Spanish club, missed the “I’m not getting involved lem Open in January. thoughts or problems,” Osaka Wednesday. trip to Munich for the Audi Cup with his personal life. He stayed with Osaka’s triumph in Mel - wrote. Svitolina defeated Rus- pre-season tournament because back to train. I think he has the bourne was her second succes- “Unexpectedly, (through) sia’s Darya Kasatkina he was not fit and had stayed in trained. And we will see about num- sive grand slam, following her the worst months of my life 6-3, 6-1 while Sabalen - Madrid to train, Zidane said on everything else.” ber of goals they victory at last year’s US Open, have also had some of the best ka dispatched American Tuesday. The Bale saga has dominated conceded. and propelled the 21-year-old moments cause I’ve met new Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, Media reports in Spain said the closed season at the Madrid “Yes, we’re to number one ranking in the people.” 6-3. the Welsh winger had been club, with multiple media out- going to resolve world. “That being said I can Seventh-ranked Svito- on the golf course on Tuesday lets suggesting he was on his that, we’re going Since then, the Japanese has honestly reflect and say I prob- lina booked a last-eight while his team mates were los- way to China to join Jiangsu to work hard failed to win a tournament, ably haven’t had fun playing date against Greek sev - ing 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, Suning only to then report that and I am one lost her number one ranking tennis since Australia and I’m enth seed Maria Sakka - but Zidane was not about to the move had been blocked with my and crashed out at Wimble- finally coming to terms with ri, who eliminated Ja - start making any judgements. by club president Florentino players,” don in the first round to Yulia that while relearning that fun pan’s Mayo Hibi 4-6, 6-4, “I am here, I’m here with Perez. he add- Gareth Putintseva. feeling,” she added. 6-2. my players, so I can’t really On Wednesday, the Real play- ed. Bale