SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2019 SPORT 18 It’s nice to be wanted. So hopefully Formula One champion soon we’ll get that sorted. I have Lewis Hamilton CRICKET FOOTBALL obviously considered the next says he hopes to sort out his India vs Bangladesh Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC couple of years and naturally I know next contract soon, but he’s 1st Test (World Test Al Arabi vs Al Sailiya that I want to continue racing. not in any rush. ACTION Championship) in Indore Al Duhail vs Al Khor TODAY’S Nadal beats Federer outclasses Djokovic Tsitsipas to stay to reach ATP Finals semis in contention AP AFP him with Federer, Djokovic and the fifth game to take an iron grip LONDON LONDON American Jimmy Connors. on the match and repeated the Speaking about what was trick to take the second set 6-3. Rafael Nadal staged another comeback to stay Roger Federer produced a different from Wimbledon, he It was the 49th time Federer in contention for a semi-final spot at the ATP serving masterclass as he said: “I won match point I guess. and Djokovic had met. Finals. avenged his Wimbledon defeat It was so close at Wimbledon. It Djokovic, who now holds a The top-ranked Spaniard still needs help by Novak Djokovic and qualified was a privilege to play that 26-23 advantage, had won their from Daniil Medvedev to avoid an early exit. for the last four of the ATP Finals match, so many ups and downs. past five meetings, including Nadal rallied to beat already-qualified Ste- on Thursday with a 6-4, 6-3 I couldn’t be more happy right their epic five-set battle in the fanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 yesterday for victory. now.” final at Wimbledon in July, his second win of the round-robin stage. That The Swiss, playing near- Federer finishes second in during which he saved two still won’t be enough, though, if Alexander flawless tennis, broke once in the Group Bjorn Borg, behind championship points. Zverev beats Medvedev in the last match of the first set and twice in the second Dominic Thiem, who beat both In Thursday’s early match in group phase. to beat his rival for the first time Federer and Djokovic earlier this Group Bjorn Borg, which was a That would leave Zverev, Nadal and since 2015. week. The Swiss will face the dead rubber, eighth seed Matteo Tsitispas with identical 2-1 records. But Nadal Roared on by a raucous Group Andre Agassi winner Berrettini beat Thiem 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. would finish third in the group based on the packed house at London’s O2 today. In doing so, the 23-year-old tournament’s tiebreaker rules. Arena, the six-time champion Djokovic looked nervy at the became the first Italian to win a Making things worse for Nadal is that his dropped just seven points on his start of the winner-takes-all match at the season-ending win ended Medvedev’s chances of advancing, serve in the first set. contest, double-faulting twice in championships. meaning the Russian (0-2) has only pride to play Defeat spells the end of the third game, in which he was Berrettini arrived in London for against Zverev. Djokovic’s bid to overtake Rafael broken to love. at a career-high number eight Nadal lost his opening match to Zverev and Nadal and finish as year-end As cries of “Let’s go Roger, in the ATP rankings after saved a match point at 5-1 down in the third set number one. let’s go” rang around the cav- starting the season outside of against Medvedev on Wednesday before ral- The third-seeded Federer, ernous stadium, Federer was the top 50. lying to win. making his 17th appearance at dead-eyed on his serve, hitting Fifth seed Thiem did not hit Regardless of whether he advances, Nadal the ATP Finals, reached his 16th eight aces, including a second- the heights he reached during his is guaranteed to leave London with the year- semi-final. serve ace, in the first set. three-set win against Djokovic, end No. 1 ranking after Novak Djokovic was Djokovic needed to win the Federer’s service level notching just 12 winners com- eliminated in the group stage on Thursday with Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates his title to have a chance at knocking dipped in the second set and pared with 50 against the a loss to Roger Federer. straight sets win over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic Nadal off the top spot, but now Djokovic earned his first break Serbian. It’s the fifth time that the 19-time Grand Slam in their men’s singles round-robin match during the Spaniard is guaranteed to point of the match in the fourth Stefanos Tsitsipas has winner ends the year atop the rankings, tied for the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London finish the year as the top-ranked game, which the Swiss saved. already qualified for the semi- second on the all-time list with Djokovic, Federer yesterday. player for the fifth time, tying He broke Djokovic again in finals from Group Andre Agassi. and Jimmy Connors. Pete Sampras did it six times. India’s Mayank Agarwal (left) celebrates after scoring a double-century yesterday. Rookie Quartararo edges Spanish rivals at Valencia practice sessions AFP Petronas Yamaha SRT’s French rider Fabio Quartararo in action VALENCIA during the second free practice of the Valencia Grand Prix yesterday. Breakout French rookie Fabio Quartararo posted the fastest time in both practice sessions for the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix yesterday, with world champion Marc Marquez third on the time- sheets. The 20-year-old Quartararo has emerged as a fascinating subplot this season as he bids to end a 20-year French barren run in MotoGP by winning his first race after five pole positions and six podium finishes in his debut top- flight season. On the 4km Ricardo Tormo circuit, the rider edged out fellow Italian veteran Valentino Rossi than Quartararo. Marquez has Agarwal’s double ton Yamaha man Maverick Vinales in fell twice on Friday, going down in undoubtedly been the star of the the second session, with six-time a shower of sparks as his bike hit 2019 season, winning 11 races and top-class world champion Marquez the ground. He finished the day wrapping up the title with four coming third. 14th. races to spare. flattens Bangladesh Former three-time MotoGP Marquez, who was crowned No one has come close to the world champion Jorge Lorenzo, 32, MotoGP champion for a sixth time 26-year-old’s speed and con- AFP SCOREBOARD second 200-plus score in was way down the rankings in 16th last month, is looking for only his sistency but he has only won once INDORE eighth Test appearance since after announcing he will retire second MotoGP win in Valencia in MotoGP at Valencia, back in BANGLADESH 1st innings 150 making his debut last year in after the race. and was just 0.077 seconds slower 2014. INDIA 1st innings (overnight 86-1) Mayank Agarwal struck his Melbourne. M. Agarwal c Abu b Mehidy ........................243 second double century in four R. Sharma c Liton b Abu ...................................6 His previous best was 215 Tests as India built a giant 343 C. Pujara c sub (Saif) b Abu ...........................54 in the first Test against South first innings lead over Bang- V. Kohli lbw b Abu ..............................................0 Africa last month. Albon fastest before crashing ladesh on day two of their A. Rahane c Taijul b Abu ................................86 Agarwal’s marathon opening Test. R. Jadeja not out .............................................60 knock eased Indian nerves The 28-year-old opener, W. Saha b Ebadat .............................................12 after skipper Virat Kohli was in wet Brazilian practice who has hit three tons U. Yadav not out .............................................. 25 out for a duck -- his 10th in 83 including two double hun- Extras (lb1, nb3, w3) ........................................7 Tests -- in the first session. REUTERS Total (6 wickets, 114 overs) ............493 SAO PAULO dreds in his last five Test To bat: R. Ashwin, I. Sharma, M. Shami Abu, who sent opener innings, hit eight sixes and 28 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (R. Sharma), 2-105 Rohit Sharma packing for six fours in his 243. (Pujara), 3-119 (Kohli), 4-309 (Rahane), on Thursday, got Cheteshwar Red Bull’s Alexander Albon set the Agarwal passed 200 with 5-432 (Agarwal), 6-454 (Saha) Pujara (54) caught at gully pace in a damp first practice for a six off Mehidy Hasan and Bowling: Ebadat 31-5-115-1 (w3), Abu 25-3- soon after the overnight the Brazilian Grand Prix yesterday went on with his big hits until 108-4 (nb3), Taijul 28-4-120-0, Mehidy 27-0- batsman completed his fifty before crashing into the tyre wall he was finally caught at deep 125-1, Mahmudullah 3-0-24-0 with a boundary. and bringing the session to a mid-wicket by Abu Jayed off But it was Kohli’s wicket premature end. Mehidy. He left to another the attack after a 123-run part- that briefly brought joy to The British-born Thai rookie, standing ovation. nership with Agarwal for the Bangladesh after they suc- confirmed earlier in the week by India were 493 for six at fourth wicket. cessfully reviewed an lbw his team for 2020 alongside Dutch Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in pits during practice yesterday. stumps in response to Bang- Agarwal also made 190 appeal rejected by the youngster Max Verstappen, lapped ladesh’s 150 all out on with Ajinkya Rahane, who umpire.