Batting Star Friends Kohli, De Villiers Face
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BBASKETBALLASKETBALL | Page 5 GGOLFOLF | Page 6 Curry is India’s Shiv red-hot in Kapoor wins return for 3rd Asian title Warriors of the year Monday, January 1, 2018 CRICKET Rabia II 14, 1439 AH Friends Kohli and GULF TIMES De Villiers face off in India-SA series SPORT Page 3 TENNIS/ QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN New hope in the new season That has been pretty much the case The shadows of Rafael Nadal, time and of the sport.” Czech Republic’s over the past few years, and as the new Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Berdych, who made the Wimbledon Berdych says 2018 Tournament Director Karim tennis season gets underway, things are and Andy Murray loom larger fi nal in 2010 where he lost to Nadal, how- Alami (C) poses with top seed Dominic not too diff erent. than ever for the ‘young guns’ ever is still hopeful of winning a Grand will be a “very Thiem of Austria (L) and third seeded The shadows of Rafael Nadal, Roger and some of the underachieving Slam. Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Mur- older players hoping to make a “I think that’s the beauty of our sport interesting year” as ahead of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. ray loom larger than ever for the ‘young splash on the world scene that no matter where you are, you still guns’ and some of the underachieving have a big chance. It’s about that particu- Djokovic and Nadal older players hoping to make a splash on year” as Czech veteran Tomas Berdych lar day, and from that one day you can battle injuries the world scene. put it during his interaction with report- create a great week. From one great week, There is some early promise, though. ers in Doha yesterday. you can make it two and that’s what you Djokovic has pulled out of the Qatar Exx- Berdych, 32, who has won 13 singles ti- are looking for. To be honest, that’s the on Mobil Open with an injury and Nadal tles since turning pro in 2002, will be one only reason why I’m still around.” By Anil John has skipped Brisbane with a knee issue. of the players hoping to cash in on Djoko- Berdych is a two-time semi-fi nalist in Doha Murray, on the other hand, is feel- vic’s absence in Doha, along with 31 other Doha where Djokovic’s absence means ing refreshed after a season hampered players in the draw. the tournament is wide open, unlike in by a hip injury and Federer just keeps on But the Czech star wouldn’t commit previous years. appy New Year! It’s time improving. He is still referred to as ‘Fed- fully to a question if the top quartet had With world number fi ve Dominic to cast your fears away, re- Express’, especially in his native Switzer- had their time and it was time for the Thiem handed the pride of place in the new your commitment to all land, for the way he used to steamroller others to gatecrash the scene. seedings, and with only one previous things good, stay fi t and hope opponents. At 36, he shows no signs “It’s hard to say right now. But yes, I winner, Richard Gasquet (2013) among Hfor an exciting next 12 months during of slowing down – in fact he is gliding think it’s very possible,” said Berdych, the contenders, the tournament could which fame and prosperity beckon. across the court with eff ortless ease, not who is seeded third in Doha and will open well have a new winner. Also, if you happen to be a tennis pro- like any random high speed train, but like against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff . And that is surely something to look fessional, wish for the ‘Big Four’ to some- a Maglev. “I’m not saying that it’s over, but I forward to in a week’s time. how fade into the sunset. All that makes for a “very interesting think it’s the nature of the process of the (See Page 2 for order of play) Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 1, 2018 TENNIS FEATURE SPOTLIGHT Will new faces Qatar Airways and QDF back challenge the ATP tourney in Doha legends in 2018? By Sports Reporter Live on beIN Doha ATP World Tour looks at what could happen in the new season atar Airways and Qatar Duty beIN will cover live the Qatar Exxon- Free (QDF) will celebrate the Mobil Open beginning in Doha today opening of the highly-an- at the Khalifa International Tennis and Qticipated Qatar ExxonMobil Squash Complex. Open Men’s Tennis Tournament 2018, Andy Kerr and Nicky Crosby will be as the Offi cial Airline and Retail Spon- joined by former tennis star Prakash sors. Amritraj to preview and recap the World number-fi ve Dominic Thiem day’s play on beIN SPORTS HD12. of Austria leads the lineup of com- Coverage gets underway at 3pm petitors at this year’s championship, everyday throughout the tournament, which will host 32 singles players and with Arabic coverage also available on 16 doubles teams during the exciting beIN SPORTS HD9. six-day event, where all eyes will be on the world’s top players to see who will take home this year’s winning title. The tournament will be held at the state-of- is thrilled to participate in this fantastic the-art Khalifa International Tennis and event and welcomes visitors of all ages to Squash Complex in Doha from 1-6 Janu- watch the competition. We will ensure ary 2018. that spectators are able to sample Qa- Qatar Airways Senior Vice President tar’s world-famous hospitality and are Marketing and Corporate Communica- warmly welcomed by Qatar Duty Free. tions, Salam “Special prizes are available at our Qatar al-Shawa, said: “Qatar Airways is Duty Free booth, and four lucky win- thrilled to once again be the offi cial air- ners will walk away with amazing gifts line partner of the ExxonMobil Open signed by the tournament’s top players.” Men’s Tennis Tournament in Qatar. Both Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Together we have attracted the world’s Free will mark their presence at the most talented tennis players to Qatar to event by hosting special booths at the compete in this fantastic championship. sponsors’ village, off ering tennis fans “This annual competition has become a taste of their world-class hospitality. a major highlight on Qatar’s sporting Qatar Duty Free will also display unique calendar, drawing thousands of interna- gifts signed by the players, providing tional and local fans alike to watch some four lucky fans with the chance to win of the best players in the world compete. them. Spectators can be certain the event will Qatar Airways, the Offi cial Airline serve up some amazing matches dur- partner of FIFA, is a leading supporter of ing the course of the competition. Qatar major global sporting events, including Airways believes in the power of sport the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and the Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal show no signs of slowing down despite their advancing years. bringing people together, and is proud to FIFA Club World Cup. support Qatar’s emergence as a world- The award-winning airline received he 2016 battle for pulled out of the Brisbane Bulgarian offi cially arrived as ters 1000 crown at the Coupe of The Championships, Wim- class sports and entertainment destina- a number of accolades in 2017, includ- No 1 fi nished in a International presented by a Top 5 player this season. He Rogers in Montreal. Surely, bledon, and just how well is tion.” ing ‘Airline of the Year’ by the prestig- sprint, with Andy Suncorp because he needs won his maiden Masters 1000 as Zverev bulks up in the off - his right elbow, which forced Senior Vice President Qatar Duty ious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, TMurray winning 24 more time to recuperate from title in Cincinnati and backed season and gains more experi- him to miss the second half of Free, Luis Gasset, said: “Qatar Duty Free which was held at the Paris Air Show. consecutive matches and fi ve his right-knee injury, which it up by going unbeaten in his ence in fi ve-set matches, his the 2017 season and had both- consecutive titles to edge No- forced him to participate in debut at the Nitto ATP Finals success at all tournaments, ered him for 18 months? vak Djokovic. The 2017 sea- but eventually withdraw from to win the biggest title of his including Grand Slams, will Do not, however, underesti- son also featured a two-man the fi nal two tournaments of life. On paper, he is a clear come. mate two things about Djoko- TODAY’S ORDER OF PLAY race, as Rafael Nadal beat out 2017 – the Rolex Paris Masters contender to compete for the vic’s comeback: He has had six Roger Federer to fi nish atop and the Nitto ATP Finals. year-end No 1 spot in 2018. 5) NO 9 STAN WAWRINKA months to rest his mind and the Emirates ATP Rankings Dimitrov fi nished 2017 at No 3 Climbing to No 1 is one body, a tactic that seemed to 3.30pm: Centre Court: Cedrik-Marcel (QAT) on Court 1; Filip Krajinovic (SRB) for the fourth time, and, at 31, 2) NO 2 ROGER FEDERER in the year-end Emirates ATP of the bullet points missing work out well for Federer, and Stebe (GER) vs Andrey Rublev (RUS); & Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Borna Coric become the oldest year-end It’s hard to imagine Fed- Rankings, a career high.