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Saturday, September 5, 2020 CYCLING Muharram 17, 1442 AH Pogacar loses GULF TIMES time and Van Aert secures double SPORT Page 6 FOOTBALL / QNB STARS LEAGUE FOCUS No winners as Duhail open with Messi decides to stay at Barca

Reuters rout of Umm Salal Barcelona, Spain Martin, Muntari and Afif score for Duhail; Al Ahli fight back to beat Al Wakrah 2-1 arcelona fans will be cel- ebrating the fact they By Sports Reporter of the table at one stage, had will get to watch their Doha reinforced the squad in the new beloved Lionel Messi season, but that was not enough Bfor another season after he an- for them in front of the might of nounced he would be staying at efending champions Al Duhail. the Nou Camp yesterday. Al Duhail got their But the result of the high- 2020-21 season off to AHLI WIN profi le arm wrestle between the a cracking start, drub- Meanwhile, Al Ahli fought back world’s most iconic soccer player bingD Umm Salal 3-0 in the QNB from a goal down to beat Al and one of its biggest clubs ap- Stars League yesterday at the Wakrah 2-1 at the Al Ahli Sta- pears to have ended with neither Education City Stadium. dium. camp able to claim victory. Luis Martin (fi fth minute), Khalid Muneer took Al Wak- On the face of it, the 33-year- Mohamed Muntari (36th rah ahead in the 25th minute, old six-time world player of minute) and substitute Ali but Al Ahli replied through the year appears to have backed Afi f (90+3) scored for The Red Omid Ebrahimi (38th minute) down in the raging contract row Knights as Al Duhail served ear- and Nabil El Zhar (51st-minute ignited last week when he stated ly notice of their intentions after penalty). he wanted to leave for free. having won their seventh title Al Wakrah had more of the ball Barcelona president Josep last month, edging Al Rayyan by and chances, but they lacked in Maria Bartomeu, backed by La one point. fi nishing. Liga, insisted Messi’s contract, In terms of creating scoring On the other hand, Al Ahli due to expire next summer, con- opportunities particularly, Al were more pragmatic in their tained a release clause, meaning Duhail dominated Umm Salal, approach and reaped the re- that for him to move to a new who put up a brave fi ght in the wards for it. club a 700mn euros fee would game after conceding two fi rst- Muneer found the target with need to be paid. A fan gestures in front of a Lionel half goals. However, The Orange an opportunistic strike when Al In a statement yesterday, Messi picture outside Barcelona’s Fortress conceded a late goal as Ahli goalkeeper Ivanildo Rod- Messi said he was staying on re- stadium. (Reuters) well. Al Duhail’s Mohamed Muntari (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Umm Salal during rigues fumbled with collecting luctantly, rather than face a bit- Al Duhail had two new faces in the QNB Stars League match yesterday. Jassim Ali al-Hashimi’s cross ter court battle with the club he “I want to compete at the Eduardo Rodriguez (Dudu) and from the left. joined as a teenager and with highest level, win titles, compete Ramin Rezaeian, who switched Omid helped The Brigadiers whom he has amassed more than in the Champions League. You from relegated side Al Shahania. draw level by slotting the ball 30 major trophies and netted can win or lose in it, because it Overall, their players more than home following a corner kick over 600 goals. is very diffi cult, but you have to made up for the absences of in- from Nabil El Zhar. This was no ringing endorse- compete.” jured key players like Edmilson Nabil struck what turned out ment, though. Messi’s love for Barca, and his Junior, Karim Boudiaf, Yousef to be the winner when he con- “I wanted to go and it was adoring fans, means he is unlike- Msakni and Bassam al-Rawi. verted a penalty, awarded for a entirely my right, because the ly to go through the motions next After Muntari tested Umm foul by Murad Naji on Hazem contract said that I could be re- season but new manager Ron- Salal goalkeeper Baba Malick, Shehata. leased,” Messi said in an inter- ald Koeman, a Bartomeu pick, Luis Martin put Al Duhail in It was a face-off between sides view with Goal.com. “I wanted now has an unhappy player on the lead with a long-range left- of invariably equal strength. to go because I thought about his hands as he tries to rebuild a footer. Captain Almoez Ali set Al Ahli, who could end up only living my last years of football squad that has gone stale. him up after Luis Martin played ninth in the 2019-20 season QNB happily. Lately I have not found Bartomeu may claim victory a one-two with him following Stars League, are targeting a bet- happiness within the club.” over Messi’s U-turn but the club Baba Malick’s clearance. ter fi nish this time around. So Messi is rich beyond imagina- could now see its greatest asset The second goal came when they will be happy with the three tion; the fact that he will pocket leave for nothing next summer Muntari rose high to head in points they bagged at the start. a 70mn euros loyalty bonus, and instead of the mind-boggling Rezaeian’s measured cross from Al Ahli have the technical get to leave on a free transfer next sum that would have come after the right. stability, as Montenegrin coach summer, would not have been a an unprecedented bidding war For Umm Salal, Yannick Sag- Nebojsa Jovovic and his staff are factor in his decision. for his signature. bo and Walid Mesloub led the continuing with the team. The Argentine has clearly be- Manchester City, the club in challenge and the former sent Al Wakrah had punched above come disenchanted with life at pole position to sign Messi until a wayward shot as the fi rst half their weight to fi nish sixth Barcelona. On the pitch Barcelo- yesterday’s development, will be drew to a close. last season. It was a creditable na’s 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich disappointed. Umm Salal showed alacrity achievement, given that they in the Champions League was a Ultimately, perhaps the most in the second session and Sagbo were playing in the top fl ight af- humiliation; off it, his relationship obvious benefi ciaries of Messi’s linked up with Kesse Amanguao, ter a gap of two seasons. with Bartomeu has hit the rocks. decision are his family. who also joined them from Al Al Ahli’s Mohamed Diame (left) in action with Al Wakrah’s Lucas Mendes (centre) and Ousmane Coulibaly. Mohamed Salah al-Neel’s “I told the president and, well, “When I communicated my Shahania, in the 50th minute, fi rst half brace was in vain as the president always said that wish to leave to my wife and but the former could not con- Duhail goalkeeper Khalifa Abu- counter-attack. with all West Zone matches be- Al Arabi squandered a 2-0 lead at the end of the season I could children, it was a brutal drama,” trol the ball properly and skied backer. The fi rst two league matches ing scheduled in Doha. against Al Khor after Ibrahim decide if I wanted to go or if I Messi said. “The whole fam- a shot. Al Duhail sealed the issue, are good preparations for Al Umm Salal, who fi nished in Amada scored a penalty in the wanted to stay and in the end he ily began crying, my children did Umm Salal’s Lawrence when Ali Afi f, who came off the Duhail ahead of their campaign the 10th position in the 2019-20 72nd minute and Helal Moham- did not keep his word,” Messi, not want to leave Barcelona.” Quaye’s beaming shot in the bench for Dudu, gave fi nishing in the 2020 AFC Champions season after staring at relegation ed levelled in injury time for a who called the management of There may still be more tears 67th minute was blocked by Al touches to his own eff ort off a League, which will resume soon and even occupying the bottom 2-2 draw. the club “a disaster”, said. to come though.

HORSE RACING Alkedri lands fi rst group victory for Al Shaqab Racing Agencies Alkedri, who was ridden by Jean- La Teste-de-Buch, France Bernard Eyquem, showed a nice Majd Al Arab wins at Chelmsford for Mohamed al-Attiyah turn of foot in the straight, going on to win decisively. Agencies on this occasion by jockey hree-year-old Purebred The Ali bin Hamad al-Attiyah- Chelmsford, United Kingdom Franny Norton. Arabian Alkedri landed owned My Belle Du Soleil fi n- Majd Al Arab chased the leader her fi rst Group victory ished second. Open The Eagle throughout when taking the French Trainer Gourdain said: “She aking his debut on the the early stages of the 1,400m ArabianT Breeders’ Challenge- is a progressive and consistent all-weather having contest, travelling easily in his Pouliches (Group 2 PA) by a two- fi lly. We needed to improve a few Mafter three outings on action. length margin at the line at La things in her training regime. the turf Majd Al Arab landed Appreciating the switch to the Teste-de-Buch, France yesterday. She’s quite delicate and we had to an impressive four-and-a- all-weather, the bay colt was The fi lly, owned by Al Shaqab be gentle with her. half length victory for owner asked to extend his stride by Racing and trained by Charles “Her exercise rider has done Mohamed bin Hamad Khalifa Norton as the field raced out Gourdain, scored for the second an amazing job with her in the al-Attiyah in the tote Placepot Franny Norton rides Majd Al of the home turn. Majd Al Arab time in succession, having land- mornings.” Your First Bet Median Auction Arab to victory on Thursday. closed down the longtime ed her fi rst victory over a mile Jean-Bernard Eyquem said, Stakes, a race for two-year-olds (Meganrosephotos) leader with ease, going on to back in July. “She’s a good-looking fi lly who at Chelmsford on Thursday a land a very comfortable suc- Hafsa De Monlau took the fi eld Jean-Bernard Eyquem rides Alkedri to victory in the French Arabian is very strong and tough. She will evening. Majd Al Arab, a name- Arabian Stallion, is trained by cess from Harrier Hawk, who along during the early stages of Breeders’ Challenge-Pouliches (Group 2 PA) in La Teste-de-Buch, now target the Qatar Arabian Tro- sake of the famous Purebred Mark Johnston and was ridden finished second. the 2,000m contest race before France, yesterday. (Robert Polin) phy des Pouliches (Group 1 PA).” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, September 5, 2020 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT NATIONS LEAGUE Portugal coach Spain’s Gaya denies pessimistic over Ronaldo for Croatia

AFP help from my teammates and all Lisbon of the Juventus staff , we work once again to conquer Italy, Eu- Germany as Nations rope and the World!” he wrote. ristiano Ronaldo missed Portugal are returning to the his third consecutive city where as hosts they won the training session yester- inaugural Nations League in June day with Portugal coach 2019, beating the Netherlands CFernando Santos pessimistic he 1-0. Because Euro 2020 has been will recover from a toe infection postponed a year, they also re- League kicks off in time for the start of their UEFA main European champions. Nations League title defence After Croatia they face Swe- against Croatia. The Juventus den in Solna on Tuesday, with star, who has 99 goals in 164 in- their group also containing Bale starts for Wales but was taken off at half-time in their 1-0 victory over Finland ternational matches, is with the world champions France. Aside squad preparing for the match in from Ronaldo both Portugal and AFP Porto today but has not trained Croatia will be without other star Paris since Tuesday. “I am very doubt- players. The Portuguese foot- ful that by tomorrow (Saturday) ball federation said that another he will be 100% OK,” Santos said. member of the squad that won ose Luis Gaya’s late goal gave Spain He said Ronaldo, 35, was con- Euro 2016, Lille midfi elder Re- a 1-1 draw away in Germany on tinuing “gym work” having nato Sanches, has been released Thursday as the start of the UEFA trained “very well” at the start of from the squad for unspecifi ed Nations League marked the return the week. medical reasons. ofJ international football in Europe fol- “Then suddenly (on Wednes- Croatia, meanwhile, have ex- lowing a hiatus of 10 months due to the day) one of his toes was red, as if cused Luka Modric and Ivan coronavirus pandemic. he’d been stung by a bee,” Santos Rakitic from international du- Valencia defender Gaya was on hand to reported, adding that Ronaldo ties against Portugal and for a score from close range in the sixth minute was on a course of antibiotics af- World Cup fi nal rematch with of added time in Stuttgart after Rodrigo ter seeing a dermatologist. “Now France on Tuesday. Modric, who Moreno had nodded down a Ferran Torres we have to wait. With an injury is 34, played a crucial role as Real cross, in a dramatic ending to the League you can have an idea of how the Madrid rallied when La Liga re- A, Group Four encounter. recovery is going to take. With an sumed after the lockdown and Earlier, new Chelsea striker Timo infection you never know.” was only rested when the title Werner had given Germany the lead just The fi ve-time Ballon d’Or had been secured. after half-time in an entertaining contest winner has not played since ear- Rakitic, 32, was also a regular between two of the last three World Cup ly August when Juventus were starter as Barcelona collapsed winners. It was Luis Enrique’s fi rst game knocked out of the Champions in the league in June and July, of his second spell as Spain coach, despite League by Lyon. He scored 37 though he had been relegated being re-appointed in November 2019 goals in all competitions last to the bench for the Champi- just after their last game in Euro 2020 season, a record for a Juve player, ons League quarter-fi nal and qualifying. and insists he remains ambitious, the traumatic 8-2 loss to Bayern “This team is full of faith and hunger. laying out his season ‘goals’ on Munich. He has since been sold We didn’t deserve to lose and we kept Instagram last week. “Victo- back to Sevilla for 1.5mn euros fi ghting to the end,” said Spain captain ries. Commitment. Dedication. ($1.8mn). With La Liga resuming Sergio Ramos, who earned his 171st cap. Professionalism. With all my on September 13, both wanted to These two teams will hope to feature strength and with the precious extend their off -season breaks. prominently in the European Champi- onship, which was postponed by a year because of the pandemic and will now go ahead — all going to plan — in June and July next year. In the meantime, this second edition of the Nations League will be crammed into the next three months, with the four group winners in League A advancing to the fi nals later in 2021. For now, all games are being played behind closed doors, just like the recent Champions League and Spain’s defender Jose Luis Gaya Pena (left) is congratulated by midfielder Mikel Merino after scoring during the UEFA Nations Europa League ‘Final Eight’ tournaments League match against Germany in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on Thursday night. (AFP) in Lisbon and in Germany. The stands in Stuttgart were there- Lviv. Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham had no football at all,” Wales coach Ryan The Nations League action continues fore empty as Barcelona winger Ansu United had put Ukraine ahead with a Giggs said. “It was a real juggling act, every night until Tuesday. The Nether- Fati came on for the second half to make backheel eff ort, before Haris Seferovic picking the team. Gareth has had the least lands, who lost to Cristiano Ronaldo’s his Spain debut. Fati, who was born in equalised. football out of everyone and I thought, Portugal in the inaugural Nations League Guinea-Bissau, does not turn 18 until In League B, Artem Dzyuba netted a ahead of Sunday, it would be best to take fi nal last year, entertain Poland in Am- October. At 17 years and 308 days, he is brace as Russia beat Serbia 3-1 in Mos- him off .” sterdam in their fi rst game since coach the second-youngest player ever to rep- cow, while in the same Group 3, Hun- Tomorrow, Wales host Bulgaria, who Ronald Koeman quit to take the Barce- resent Spain, behind Angel Zubieta, who gary were surprise 1-0 winners away in were held to a 1-1 draw by the Republic lona job. was a few weeks younger when he played Turkey. In Group 4, out-of-favour Real of Ireland in Sofi a. Bozhidar Kraev put As well as the four-team fi nals, the against Czechoslovakia in 1936. Madrid star Gareth Bale started for Wales Bulgaria ahead only for recent Celtic loan Nations League features promotion and Elsewhere on Thursday in the same but was taken off at half-time in their 1-0 signing Shane Duff y to head in a stop- relegation and off ers the two best group group, Manchester City’s Oleksandr victory over Finland in Helsinki. page-time equaliser for Ireland in their winners who do not qualify automatically Zinchenko scored a fi ne goal to give Kieff er Moore scored the winner 10 fi rst game under new manager Stephen for the 2022 World Cup a second chance Cristiano Ronaldo has not played since early August when Juventus Ukraine a 2-1 win over Switzerland in minutes from time. “Gareth Bale has Kenny. to make it to Qatar via play-off s. were knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon. (Reuters)

FOCUS ROUND-UP Sanchez wanted PSG announce ‘three new positive’ Covid-19 cases aris Saint-Germain on Thursday PINTO TELLS COURT ‘FOOTBALL by fi ling a complaint in October 2015. bian defender Santiago Arias have both Man United exit aft er announced “three new posi- LEAKS’ MAKES HIM PROUD In Portugal, attempted extortion is tested positive for Covid-19, their club tive cases” of Covid-19 in their Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto told a punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Atletico Madrid said. Before the resump- squad, a day after Neymar and Lisbon court yesterday at the opening of His lawyers insist he is “a very important tion of training yesterday, the entire fi rst fi rst training session twoP teammates were revealed to have his trial that his “Football Leaks” are “a European whistleblower” and plan to call team squad underwent tests except for contracted the virus, casting serious reason for pride and not shame”. 45 witnesses, including Edward Snow- Costa and Arias. AFP doubt over the start of their season in “I was outraged by what I discov- den, a former employee of the American London France. Neymar, Angel Di Maria and ered and I decided to make it public,” intelligence charged with espionage. SWEDEN’S FOOTBALLERS FORGO Leandro Paredes were the fi rst three to the 31-year-old said in a brief initial After leaking the hacked documents in WAGES TO HELP WOMEN’S TEAM test positive, all after a recent holiday statement at the start of a trial expected 2016, Pinto fl ed Portugal and took refuge The Swedish men’s football squad said nter Milan forward Alexis on the Spanish Mediterranean island of to last several months. “My job as a in Hungary where he spent four years they would play the remainder of their Sanchez has revealed he Ibiza. Sports daily L’Equipe reported that whistleblower is over,” he added, his face there before being tracked down and matches this year without pay in order asked his agent if he could Brazilian defender Marquinhos, Argen- covered by a mask. “I never did anything extradited by Portugal in March 2019. On to support the women’s national team’s leave Manchester United tine striker Mauro Icardi and goalkeeper for money.” The documents Rui Pinto his return he was put in pre-trial deten- demand for equal pay. Real Madrid’s Iafter just one training session Keylor Navas — who were also in Ibiza hacked and released to news organisa- tion for a year. He was released to house Kosovare Asllani said that equal pay was at the Premier League club. — were the new positive cases. Another tions as the “Football Leaks”, brought to arrest after co-operating with Portu- “about respect”, and noted Sweden’s Sanchez moved from Arsenal to with big expectations on his PSG player, midfi elder Ander Herrera, is light tax evasion and possible fraud and guese prosecutors by giving them access reputation as a longstanding champion United, then managed by Jose shoulders after becoming Unit- also known to have been in Ibiza. corruption involving star players and to a mass of encrypted unpublished of gender equality. Brazil on Wednesday Mourinho, in 2018. ed’s top-earner. He believes he PSG are due to play their fi rst game club offi cials. Pinto faces 90 charges, documents. joined Australia, Norway and New Zea- But the Chile international was the scapegoat for United’s of the new Ligue 1 season away at Lens including a series of computer off ences land on the list of football associations endured a torrid spell at Old struggles under Mourinho. next Thursday, September 10, but there and more seriously attempted blackmail ATLETICO’S COSTA AND ARIAS who had publicly committed to paying Traff ord, scoring only fi ve goals “Journalists at times would are increasing doubts as to whether that against Doyen Sports, an investment TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 their men and women players the same in 45 appearances. Sanchez was speak without knowing the facts match will now go ahead. fund, which triggered the investigation Spanish striker Diego Costa and Colom- amount for earning a senior cap. loaned to Inter Milan for the and it hurt — they had no idea 2019/20 season, a move he made what was going on inside the permanent last month. club,” said Sanchez. “They said it The 31-year-old has explained was my fault, and this, and that, his side of the story in a video on but sometimes a player depends AFC ‘confi dent’ of nishingfi Champions League season: top offi cial Instagram, admitting he imme- on the environment, the family diately had a bad feeling about that is created around him, and Kuala Lumpur: Asia’s football body is everything will be completed before the reiterated that the governing body was diff icult decisions if necessary,” he said. his switch to United. “I ended up I think that in that moment we “confident” of completing its coronavi- year’s end. “We remain committed and “confident” of finishing the tournament “Our commitment remains focused on signing without much informa- weren’t really a family. And that rus-hit Champions League this year, a confident of completing the competition this year. completing our competitions as much tion about what was happening translated onto the pitch, and senior off icial said yesterday, as it heads within the 2020 calendar year,” he said. A bio-secure “bubble” has been put as possible and the safe resumption of in the move,” Sanchez said. since there needed to be some- into a frantic period of games with some John said more details on East Zone in place for the resumption of matches Asian football.” “The fi rst days that I was with one to blame, they blamed me.” venues still unknown. matches would be announced after an in Qatar, similar to one implemented for John also played down concerns over my colleagues, sometimes there Sanchez recalled one moment The region’s showpiece tournament AFC executive meeting next week. The the UEFA Champions League. Under the the introduction of VAR, which is due to are things that you do not realise at United when he was left out of has been on hold since March, creating competition’s single-leg final is sched- arrangement in Lisbon, players and of- be used from the quarter-finals of this until you arrive. The fi rst train- the matchday squad by Mourinho a heavy backlog before West Asia group uled for December 5. The pandemic ficials were subject to strict rules. year’s Champions League for the first ing I had I realised many things. for a game against West Ham in games resume in Qatar on September continues to spread worldwide and These included having to undergo time. Video assistant referees have been I came home and I told my repre- September 2018. “In a game with 14. Two of the East Asia groups will be several countries in Asia are battling seri- virus tests, and only being allowed to used in competitions worldwide from the sentative: ‘Can’t the contract be West Ham I wasn’t picked,” he played from October 16 in Malaysia, but ous outbreaks. But John said he believes leave their hotels with prior agreement. Premier League to the 2018 World Cup, terminated to return to Arsenal?’ said. “That had never happened no host has been announced for the two the Champions League can restart safely. Asked if Asian football will continue to be but their decisions have often sparked They start laughing and I told to me as a player. It bothered me remaining pools or the knockout stages “We have engaged with our medical disrupted even into next year, John said controversy. them that something did not sit and I said it couldn’t be possi- for the Eastern clubs. experts to establish several guidelines the AFC was working on the 2021 calen- John said VAR had already been used right with me. It (the contract) ble. To go from being one of the Only two rounds of games were pos- taking reference the industry’s best prac- dar, but that safety was paramount. in Asian tournaments, including the 2019 had already been signed.” best in the Premier League to not sible before the shutdown, and teams tices to minimise the risks,” he said. “The safety of our teams, players, Asian Cup, and that off icials had been Sanchez, who had scored 80 playing in fi ve months. I came from China have played no matches at When asked separately about a Japa- off icials, broadcast partners and stake- trained to use the technology. “The AFC goals in 166 appearances for Ar- to my house and I was very sad. all. But Asian Football Confederation nese report claiming the AFC had asked holders will always remain the highest has a proven track record in the imple- senal, arrived at Old Traff ord The next day I trained in a double general secretary Windsor John said for a further postponement, an off icial priority, and we will not hesitate to make mentation of the VAR system,” he said. in the January transfer window shift, because I love what I do.” Gulf Times Saturday, September 5, 2020 3 SPORT

HORSE RACING CRICKET Tiz the Law aims to Harbhajan latest to sustain treble bid quit IPL at Kentucky Derby Not since 1992 has a Derby favourite left the gate at even odds or shorter

AFP Chennai but fl ew back last New Delhi weekend, also for “personal reasons”. He cited a deadly at- tack on his family by robbers ormer India Test off - after leaving. spinner Harbhajan The tournament was moved Singh yesterday add- out of India because of the Fed to a growing list of pandemic. top names to pull out of the But two Chennai players — coronavirus hit Indian Premier Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj League. Gaikwad — and 11 offi cials and The 40-year-old has also support staff have tested posi- become the second key player tive for coronavirus and this to withdraw from three-time has delayed the start of Chen- champions Chennai Super nai’s training. Kings ahead of the start on Harbhajan, who has claimed September 19 in United Arab 150 wickets in 160 IPL appear- Emirates. ances, was part of the Mumbai “Dear Friends, I will not be Indians squad for 10 years be- playing IPL this year due to fore joining Chennai in 2018. personal reasons,” Harbhajan Other big name players have announced on Twitter. also withdrawn from the tour- “These are diffi cult times nament in recent days. and I would expect some pri- England’s Jason Roy of the vacy as I spend time with my Delhi Capitals will not go be- family.” Harbhajan, who had cause of injury. been at the centre of grow- Australian international ing speculation as he had not Kane Richardson pulled out of joined the other players in Royal Challengers Bangalore to Dubai, said Chennai had been be at the birth of his fi rst child. “extremely supportive” and he The IPL has yet to release In this file photo, Tiz the Law 8, ridden by jockey Manuel Franco leads the field to the finish line to win the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 20, 2020 in wished them a “great IPL”. a fi xture list for the league, Elmont, New York. Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law will bid to capture the second leg of US racing’s Triple Crown on September 5, 2020 at the 146th Kentucky Derby. Former Test batsman Suresh which runs through to No- The biggest event on the US racing calendar is taking place without any of its usual pomp and ceremony, with the threat of COVID-19 meaning the usual crowd of 150,000 Raina went to Dubai with vember 10. spectators will not be allowed at Churchill Downs.The coronavirus pandemic upended the US racing season, forcing the Kentucky Derby to be moved from its slot on May 2, and rearranging the normal timetable for Triple Crown events.

AFP fi dence in him.” Tagg, 82, isn’t a believer in Women’s Big Bash League moved to Sydney Washington Tiz the Law, fancied by bettors curses and hopes gate 17’s time at 3-5, will leave from the 17th of as fi nally arrived after 41 failed Sydney: Australia’s Twenty20 be finalised. 18 gates alongside his two clos- attempts. women’s Big Bash League was Many of Australia’s World elmont Stakes winner est rivals among oddsmakers, “I just put those kind of things yesterday shifted entirely to Cup-winning T20 squad will Tiz the Law will bid to Honor A.P. at 5-1 in post 16 and out of my mind,” Tagg said. Sydney as coronavirus travel play the BBL, including Meg capture the second leg 8-1 Authentic on the far outside. “There are a lot of horses who restrictions forced drastic Lanning, Alyssa Healy and of US racing’s Triple “It’s not ideal for Authentic, didn’t win the Derby, so frankly venue and schedule changes. Ellyse Perry. CrownB today at the 146th Ken- but I’m OK with it,” said trainer I’m not that worried about it.” The eight-team tournament Dobson said he was working tucky Derby. Bob Baff ert, who seeks a sixth Rain dampened workouts was originally set to start on with the Australian govern- The biggest event on the US Derby triumph. “He’s out of Wednesday and Thursday, al- October 17, with 59 games ment to ensure overseas racing calendar is taking place harm’s way. Just glad to be in the lowing Tiz the Law only a two- across six cities. players could also enter the without any of its usual pomp gate.” mile jog on Thursday. But they will all now be played country to join their clubs. and ceremony, with the threat Not since 1992 has a Derby fa- “I wish I could have done more in Sydney, starting a week Players had been expecting of Covid-19 meaning the usual vorite left the gate at even odds with him, but couldn’t because later, due to Covid-19 border the switch to a single-location crowd of 150,000 spectators or shorter. we’ve had two days of hard rain,” closures and quarantine hub, and Brisbane Heat captain will not be allowed at Churchill Tiz the Law trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He’ll gallop tomor- requirements. and Australia all-rounder Jess Downs. A general view of Churchill Downs ahead of the 146th running of the Tagg is fi ne with his horse’s gate, row.” Cricket Australia’s head of Big Jonassen said it was good to The coronavirus pandemic Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. even though it’s the only one Tiz the Law’s only career loss Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson have certainty. upended the US racing season, from 1-20 that has not produced came at the Kentucky Jockey said a huge amount of work “Now there’s that little bit of forcing the Kentucky Derby to in the order and the Preakness, Manny Franco, won two Florida a derby winner. Club Stakes last year at Churchill had gone into ensuring the clarity around what the season be moved from its slot on May usually the middle leg, set for prep races before taking the Bel- “I like being on the outside,” Downs when he was third. sixth edition could go ahead is going to look like, everyone 2, and rearranging the nor- October 3 at Pimlico in Balti- mont and last month’s Travers Tagg said. “I didn’t particu- “He’s the same horse. He’s in full. is able to prepare for that,” she mal timetable for Triple Crown more. Stakes, the latter over the same larly want to be out that far but more experienced,” Tagg said. “I “We can achieve great things said. events. While the order is shuffl ed 1 1/4-mile distance as the Derby. he seems to handle everything don’t think it was a lack of expe- together and the spirit of “I think everyone is just really The Belmont Stakes was and the recovery time for horses “He usually breaks sharp and that’s thrown at him, so we’ll rience that got him beat last year. cooperation has been truly excited to get out on the field shortened and delayed two is greater, it’s still no small feat to puts Manny right in the race,” just have to leave it up to him. It was an off track and he came uplifting,” he said, with details and start playing some cricket weeks but run in June as the Tri- seek a sweep in the US dirt clas- said Jack Knowlton, manager at “It gives you a chance, if you out a bit slow. on fixtures and venues yet to again.” ple Crown opener instead of the sics. Tiz the Law owners Sackatoga have any speed at all, it gives you “The pace cooked him. He has fi nale, with the Derby second Tiz the Law, ridden by jockey Stable. “We all have a lot of con- a chance to get a better position.” been pretty nice ever since.”

FOCUS BOTTOMLINE McIlroy announces Ponting wants run penalties birth of baby girl AFP month coronavirus pandemic Miami shutdown in June. “I think from the get-go my mind has been wandering the last not ‘Mankads’ for ‘cheating’ our-time major winner few weeks,” McIlroy said. “And AFP up and whipped the bails off at down the wicket.” “If you are to get to the top of Rory McIlroy revealed now you guys sort of know the New Delhi the non-striker’s end, catching The dismissal was named af- your bowling action and stop, yesterday he has become reason why.” the advancing Rajasthan Roy- ter India’s Vinoo Mankad, who and it shows that the batsman Fa father, announcing the McIlroy’s caddie walked the als’ batsman Buttler out of his ran out Australia’s Bill Brown by is cheating and is out of his birth of a baby daughter with wife course at the BMW Champion- ustralia great Ricky ground. removing the bails at the bowl- crease, I think put a run penalty Erica. ship with a beeper, McIlroy ready Ponting says non- Ashwin has now joined the er’s end during the 1947 Sydney on them. It was only last Saturday at the to leave at a moment’s notice. strikers leaving their Delhi Capitals, coached by Pon- Test. “And do it right from the BMW Championship when world Instead, he was able to fi nish crease early is “cheat- ting who warned recently he The mode of dismissal splits start, because that will stop him number four McIlroy revealed the event, sharing 12th, and be ing”A, but would prefer to see run would not like the spinner to cricket opinion, with many right away. that his wife was pregnant. “Pop- back home in South Florida on penalties instead of controver- repeat the tactic, though legal, thinking it is against the spirit “Imagine taking 10 runs off py Kennedy McIlroy, born August Monday when his child was born. sial “Mankad” run-outs to stop when the virus-delayed 2020 game. You can do it... if a bats- of the game. a team total because you have 31st, 12:15pm,” McIlroy posted on But he was prepared to miss the the practice. season starts later this month. man is cheating, and trying to But opposition to it has been taken yards. Those sort of social media. “She is the absolute Tour Championship if that had India’s Ravichandran Ash- “Yeah, I totally get where you steal a couple of yards. softening recently, particularly things need to be looked at.” love of our lives. Mother and baby been required to be at his daugh- win sparked a worldwide debate are coming from,” Ponting, the “I just think that we have got in limited-overs cricket, when The world’s richest Twen- are doing great. Massive thank ter’s birth. last year with his “Mankading” Delhi Daredevils coach, told to fi nd a way around trying to non-strikers can gain an ad- ty20 league is scheduled to start you to all the staff at Jupiter Med- “I’m going to play in many of England batsman Jos Buttler Ashwin, who favours using the stop the batsman cheating. We vantage when chasing runs by on September 19 in the United ical Center and Dr Sasha Melendy more Tour Championships and in a Twenty20 Indian Premier dismissal, during a web chat. have had this conversation al- leaving the crease early. Arab Emirates with India un- for their amazing care.” it’s only going to be the birth of League match. “I wasn’t trying to say that ready. “I think there should be some able to hold this year’s edition McIlroy, 31, has not produced your fi rst child once,” McIlroy Ashwin, playing for Kings you were (not) justifi ed because I don’t want to see anyone sort of a run penalty,” said Pon- because of the coronavirus a top-10 result since the US PGA said. “That trumps anything XI Punjab, stopped in his run- it is actually in the laws of the running two or three yards ting. pandemic. Tour returned from a three- else.” Gulf Times 4 Saturday, September 5, 2020 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS US facing sanctions Pandemic Olympics: call over funding threat: WADA AFP unilaterally withdraw WADA’s Montreal funding without facing any con- Japan starts virus sequences,” WADA spokesman James Fitzgerald said. “They feel he World Anti-Doping that what is happening with the Agency (WADA) is set to US government could create a consider a rule change devastating precedent interna- which could threaten tionally that could jeopardise countermeasure talks TAmerican participation at the the entire global anti-doping Olympics if the United States system. Therefore, they have withdraws funding from the glo- asked us to look at the possibil- CEO Toshiro Muto says the committee hopes to show results this year bal drugs watchdog, offi cials said ity of amending our rules so that on Thursday. nations which go against the AFP In the latest chapter of an in- spirit of the Unesco Convention Tokyo creasingly acrimonious feud be- Against Doping in Sport in this tween WADA and US offi cials, way would trigger strong sanc- the agency said several govern- tions under the International apanese offi cials and Tokyo 2020 ments and stakeholders had Standard for Compliance.” organisers began talks yesterday on called for the United States to be WADA’s executive committee the mammoth task of how to hold punished if its funding to WADA could discuss the requests for the postponed Olympics safely is withdrawn. a rule amendment this month, whileJ the coronavirus pandemic contin- In June, Washington’s Offi ce when offi cials meet on Septem- ues to rage. of National Drug Control Policy ber 14-15, although it is not on The Games were postponed earlier this recommended that US lawmak- the meeting’s agenda. Any for- year in a historic decision as the scale of ers be given the power to with- mal decision would also need to the coronavirus crisis became clear. But hold funding to WADA, accusing be considered by WADA’s Com- with less than a year until the new open- the body of failing to implement pliance Review Committee. ing date on July 23, 2021, many questions governance reforms. The possibility of US athletes remain — from how border controls will WADA responded by saying being drawn into the feud be- aff ect the movement of athletes and offi - the ONDCP study was littered tween WADA and US authori- cials, to whether audiences will be able to with “multiple inaccuracies, ties was criticised by Han Xiao, pack into venues to watch events. Tokyo misconceptions and falsehoods.” the chairman of the United 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said the com- WADA stakeholders have now States Olympic and Paralympic mittee “hopes to show results this year... urged WADA to consider amend- Committee’s Athletes Advisory and we will make eff orts so that athletes ing rules so any nation which Council. Xiao contrasted the in Japan and overseas will feel that next withdraws funding could be de- possibility of US athletes being year’s Olympics is safe and secure be- clared non-compliant under the expelled with WADA’s treat- cause of our coronavirus measures.” agency’s regulations. Countries ment of Russian athletes caught Muto said yesterday’s discussions fo- deemed to be non-compliant can up in Moscow’s doping scandal. cused on “what kind of measures will be be barred from major events and “If WADA tries to fi nd USADA needed when athletes enter Japan from be denied the right to bid or host non-compliant over funding overseas,” but gave no further detail and major events. withdrawal, will US athletes have declined to confi rm reports the govern- While the commercial impera- their right to compete protected ment may waive quarantine requirements tives of events like the Olympics as the Russian athletes did?,” for athletes if they agree to limit their mean the likelihood of Ameri- Xiao wrote on Twitter. movements inside Japan. can athletes being barred from “Threatening US athletes From October, virus measures at ven- competition are remote, a WADA over this is one of the most ter- ues and the athletes’ village will be dis- spokesman said Thursday the US rible things I’ve ever seen from cussed, he said, with virus measures for funding threat had triggered a WADA. Apparently non-pay- stakeholders and spectators on the agen- strong response. ment is as serious as systemic da from late October and into November. “A number of governments doping. Where’s the rule that Muto repeated that organisers hoped to In this June 3, 2020 photo, the Olympic rings float in the water at sunset in the Odaiba section in Tokyo. and other stakeholders were says this and is it applied to eve- avoid a Games without spectators — an shocked that a country could ryone?” option that has been mooted given Japan tested multiple times, including before tle sign of the coronavirus disappearing that athletes were counting on them to is still limiting audiences at sports events travel, on arrival and before entering the soon, and a vaccine possibly months or successfully hold the event. “We want and its borders remain largely closed to Olympic village. even years away, some experts have ques- you to host the 2020 Games no matter foreign visitors. They would be exempt from quaran- tioned whether holding the Games is fea- what,” he said. Japan’s Yomiuri daily reported Thurs- tine, to allow them to train, but would sible at all. “Athletes are strongly hoping for it. day that the government was consider- be restricted to travel between venues Japanese Olympic Committee secre- We want to head to the Games by making ing a process in which athletes would be and hotels, the paper reported. With lit- tary general Tsuyoshi Fukui told the panel every possible eff ort.”

Anti-doping leaders call for surge in testing ahead of Tokyo

London: International anti-doping “The reduced level of testing Ganus was dismissed as head of Rus- a prerequisite for RUSADA’s return to leaders have called for a surge in testing worldwide (as a result of the COVID-19 sia’s national anti-doping body last week, code compliance,” the statement from ahead of the re-scheduled Tokyo 2020 pandemic) is immensely frustrating for having been appointed to help RUSADA’s the leaders said. Olympics next year, saying the Covid-19 everyone, especially athletes,” a joint push to be re-instated by WADA. Russia “The world’s clean athletes need assur- pandemic should not be a free pass to statement from 16 national anti-doping accused Ganus of presiding over seri- ance that there is robust, compliant test- dope. During a two-part virtual meeting bodies said yesterday. “We understand ous financial violations, allegations he ing in Russia leading into the upcoming held this week, leaders also called for clean athletes’ concerns, and that’s why, denied. WADA and other global sports Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.” the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) once operations are permitted to fully bodies had expressed their concern Russia has been rocked by doping to conduct a thorough investigation into re-start, we encourage a surge in testing when RUSADA’s supervisory board rec- scandals since a 2015 report commis- the recent dismissal of RUSADA Director amounts by Anti-Doping Organisations ommended that Ganus be fired, stressing sioned by WADA found evidence of General Yuri Ganus. ahead of the postponed Tokyo 2020 that anti-doping agencies should operate mass doping among Russian track and The ongoing pandemic has created Olympic and Paralympic Games. without state interference. field athletes. Suspended in the wake of huge challenges for anti-doping agen- “Given the increasingly broad nature “The leaders lend their support to the report, RUSADA was conditionally cies with border closures and events be- of anti-doping strategies — this is a move- WADA to be strong and firm and to re-instated two years ago but declared ing cancelled, prompting concerns that ment that no longer relies solely on test- ensure as the Code requires that the non-compliant late last year after WADA In the latest chapter of an increasingly acrimonious feud between dopers could try and take advantage of ing — the global pandemic does not, and full and ongoing independence and au- found Moscow had provided it with WADA and US off icials, the agency said several governments and the unprecedented circumstances. must not, be seen as a ‘free pass to dope.’” tonomy of RUSADA is and should remain doctored laboratory data. stakeholders had called for the United States to be punished if its funding to WADA is withdrawn. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE RUGBY Warriors Sports Centre inaugurated Sonny Bill ‘best athlete’ ever: Hansen AFP Sydney

ormer All Blacks coach Steve Hansen yester- day nominated “freak of nature” Sonny Bill WilliamsF as the best athlete he has ever worked with ahead of the New Zealander’s return to Australian rugby league. The cross-code superstar, 35, is expected to come off the bench for the Sydney Roosters in their clash against the Canberra Raid- ers tomorrow after completing a mandatory coronavirus quaran- tine period. It will mark his return to a club where he played in 2013-2014, af- FROM LEFT: Syed Shoukath Ali, Binu Kumar, Mohamed Ibrahim, Salim Kainikkara, Dr MP Hassan Kunhi and Gul Khan at the ter fi nding himself at a loose end 61-year-old said Williams was blitz, which also boosts former inauguration of the Warriors Sports Centre. when Covid-19 forced his To- the best athlete. All Blacks captain Kieran Read ronto Wolfpack side to withdraw “The greatest rugby player among its ranks, and from Janu- nnovative training methods and a sci- “We will be coaching children from the Gul Khan of QCA said that such facilities from England’s Super League. I’ve coached was McCaw but ary next year Wallabies skipper entifi c approach to cricket coaching will age of four years and onwards till the age of will not only promote cricket in Qatar but While Williams won National Sonny would be the best athlete Michael Hooper. be at the forefront at the newly-opened 19 years and above. Our players develop- will also produce many cricketers for Qatar Rugby League premierships in I’ve coached from a pure athlete Asked if he missed coaching, Warriors Sports Centre (WSC) at Ideal ment pathway programme will start with National team. On behalf of QCA manage- 2004 and 2013, represented New sense,” Hansen, who quit as New Hansen replied: “The All Blacks IIndian School in Doha. the age group Under-7 years to Under-19 ment, he wished good luck to the manage- Zealand in rugby sevens at the Zealand coach after the 2019 haven’t had a game for a long For the fi rst time in Qatar, WSC has taken and above. The programme will identify ment and all the staff of WSC and appreci- 2016 Olympics and won all seven World Cup, told the Sydney Daily time due to coronavirus situation the initiative to introduce players develop- and evaluate the players skill set within the ated their eff orts in promoting cricket in of his professional heavyweight Telegraph. so I’ve been quite lucky to have ment pathway programme from age group diff erent age groups and develop them to Doha. WSC has upto date equipment’s for boxing bouts, he is best known as “He’s a freak of nature.” the opportunity to get used to not four years to under-19 and above. compete at local and international level. coaching, including a bowling machine, feed a giant of rugby union. He also hailed Williams as a coaching them without having to The academy was inaugurated recently by The courses off er Group Coaching, and 1 to buddy machine and ball pitching machine, He claimed two World Cups role model for younger players. watch them. chief guest Dr M P Hassan Kunhi, President 1 coaching sessions to both male and female they employs high class coaching faculty, with the All Blacks, as well as nu- “As he has got older, he has ma- “I’m sure there will be a tug in of Ideal Indian School, along with guest of cricketers,” Kushal Kumar, an offi cial of certifi ed coaches from International Crick- merous Bledisloe Cups and Rug- tured. His training habits and his the old heart when they fi nally honour, Syed Shoukath Ali, Principal, Ideal WSC said. Hassan praised the facility con- et Council (ICC), Sri Lanka Cricket Board, by Championships, with Hansen off -fi eld habits are world-class get out onto the track,” he added. Indian School, Gul Khan, Head of Domestic structed by WSC and ensured full support to Cricket South Africa and Pakistan Cricket alongside him for much of the now,” he said. “He will be a good “But ‘Fossie’ (new coach Ian Fos- Cricket at Qatar Cricket Association (QCA), Warriors. Syed Shoukath Ali said since WSC Board. The facility includes four AstroTurf ride. Despite coaching some of role model for the young fellas in ter) will do a great job with them Salim Kainikkara, General Manager, One FM is based at Ideal Indian School (IIS), the boys nets, open fi eld playground, running track, the top players the world has the club.” I’m sure, and I’m really excited Radio, and Mohammed Ibrahim, Managing team of IIS will perform better in the inter and high standard modern cricket coaching known, including Richie McCaw, Hansen is now director of rug- for him to take the team to the Partner, WSC. school completions organised by QCA. equipments. Ma’a Nonu and Dan Carter, the by at Japanese side Toyota Ver- next level.” Gulf Times Saturday, September 5, 2020 5 SPORT

NBA Anunoby’s buzzer-beater gives Raptors win over Celtics Anunoby set his feet and fired, and the Raptors narrowed the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series to 2-1

AFP points. He didn’t have to press Miami NBA RESULTS the issue against the Nuggets be- cause the Clippers led 69-51 at NBA playoff games the half and then dominated the G Anunoby drained a Eastern Conference: Semi- third quarter to lead 91-67 head- buzzer-beating three- finals: Toronto 104 Boston 103 ing into the fourth. pointer as the Toronto (Boston lead series 2-1) Los Angeles held Denver to 25% shooting in the second Raptors resuscitat- Western Conference: Semi- edO their NBA title defence on quarter. The Clippers managed finals: Denver 97 LA Clippers Thursday with a 104-103 victory 120 (Clippers lead series 1-0) to contain Denver star Jamal over the Boston Celtics. Murray, who fi nished with just 12 Kyle Lowry, tasked with in- points and six assists after aver- bounding the ball with half a sec- Boston brought in Fall, who tops aging 31.6 points and scored 50 ond on the clock and the Raptors out at 2.26m, to defend the in- points twice in the previous se- down 103-101, lofted a perfect bounds play, but he couldn’t hold ries against Utah. arcing pass over Boston’s tower- back the 2019 champions. Nikola Jokic had 15 points, Paul ing Tacko Fall to Anunoby on the “Much credit to those guys. Millsap fi nished with 13 points opposite sideline. Anunoby set That was a hell of a shot,” said and nine rebounds for Denver his feet and fi red, and the Raptors Boston’s Walker, who led the who were coming off a grueling narrowed the defi cit in the best- Celtics with 29 points. seven-game series victory over of-seven Eastern Conference Jaylen Brown added 19 with the Jazz. Clippers guard Patrick semi-fi nal series to 2-1. 12 rebounds and Jayson Tatum Beverley returned to the lineup “I expected to make it. I don’t chipped in 15, but Boston have a after missing the last fi ve games shoot trying to miss... I wasn’t series on their hands now. Game with an injured calf. Beverley had surprised,” said Anunoby, who four is today. eight points and six rebounds in was mobbed by his teammates. “One game at a time,” Lowry 12 minutes. The Raptors avoided an 0-3 said of the Raptors’ mindset as hole — from which no NBA team they look to level the series in the GRIZZLIES’ MORANT has come back to win a post- NBA’s Covid-19 quarantine bub- NAMED NBA ROOKIE OF YEAR season series. “The pass was ble in Orlando, Florida. “Great Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Mo- nothing. OG made the shot,” said emotional moment right there rant earned 99 of 100 fi rst-place Lowry, who led the Raptors with (but) that’s over. Now we have to votes on Thursday to take home 31 points, six rebounds and eight focus on the next game.” NBA Rookie of the Year honors. assists. “All the credit goes to the In the late game, Kawhi Leon- The 21-year-old Morant, a shot, man. That’s a tough shot. ard had 29 points as the Los An- Murray State product who was Give OG that credit.” geles Clippers got off to a roaring the No. 2 overall pick in last Fred VanVleet scored 17 of his start in their Western Confer- year’s draft, averaged 17.8 points, 25 points in the second half and ence semi-fi nal by crushing the 7.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 67 Pascal Siakam scored 14 of his Denver Nuggets 120-97. Leonard games. He shot 47.7 percent from 16 after the interval and Anu- shot 12-of-16 from the fl oor and the fi eld and 33.5 percent from noby contributed 12 points for made all four of his free throws beyond the arc. the Raptors, who battled back while Paul George had 19 points Morant received 498 points in from a 57-47 halftime defi cit. and Marcus Morris fi nished with the voting, well ahead of second- “We scrapped and clawed and 18 for the second seeded Clippers place fi nisher Kendrick Nunn of fought,” said Lowry. “We never who lead the series 1-0. the Miami Heat, who had 204 quit.” In a fourth quarter that saw Leonard wasted no time points. New Orleans Pelicans seven lead changes — neither putting his stamp on the Nug- forward Zion Williamson fi n- team leading by more than four gets series just as he did in a 4-2 ished third with 140 points and points — Boston looked set to fi rst-round win over the Dallas got the only other fi rst-place take a stranglehold on the series Mavericks. Coming into Thurs- vote. During the regular season, when center Daniel Theis, fed day’s game, Leonard was averag- Morant tallied 15 double-doubles by Kemba Walker’s savvy pass ing 32.8 points and 10.2 rebounds and two triple-doubles. He did through traffi c, slammed home a a game. Los Angeles outscored not take long to make his mark on dunk for a 103-101 lead with 0.5 Denver 38-20 in the second the league, scoring a season-high Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (second left) is mobbed by teammates after making the game-winning three point basket against the seconds on the clock. quarter. 30 points on Oct. 27 against the Boston Celtics in game three of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoff s in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) During the ensuing timeout, Leonard scored 19 fi rst-half Brooklyn Nets.

NHL MLB Goaltender Demko makes history as Alonso’s homer lift s Mets past Yanks Reuters Canucks, Flyers force game seven New York AFP D Davis hit the game-tying homer with one Los Angeles out in the ninth inning, and Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer leading off the 10th as the New York Mets rallied for a 9-7 victory over hatcher Demko stopped all 48 shots theJ visiting New York Yankees on Thursday in a as the Vancouver Canucks staved off makeup game at Citi Field. elimination for the second straight With one out in the ninth, Davis hammered an Stanley Cup playoff game with a 0-2, 99 mph fastball over the center fi eld fence T4-0 shutout of the Vegas Golden Knights on to forge a 7-7 tie. The blast came against Yan- Thursday. Californian Demko won his second kees left-hander Aroldis Chapman. The Mets fi - straight career playoff start, becoming the nally won the four-hour marathon when Alonso fi rst rookie goaltender to do it with his team hit an 0-1, 98 mph fastball off Albert Abreu (0-1) New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a two-run home facing elimination since the maskless Jacques well over the left fi eld fence. The Mets won their run during the tenth inning against the New York Plante in 1953. second straight following a fi ve-game skid while Yankees. (USA TODAY Sports) Demko powered the Canucks to a winner- the Yankees dropped to 4-10 in their past 14 take-all game seven in their Western Confer- games. Edwin Diaz (2-1) pitched two hitless in- at Kansas City Royals. The White Sox had home ence series on Friday night in the NHL’s quar- nings on a day in which the Mets honoured Hall of runs from Edwin Encarnacion, Tim Anderson and antine bubble in Edmonton, Alberta. “I feel Famer Tom Seaver, whose death was announced Luis Robert. Cease (5-2) earned the win, allowing great,” said Demko, shrugging off questions Wednesday. three runs on four hits in fi ve-plus innings. about his fi tness after appearing to injure Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw allowed one hit He battled all night, recording only one 1-2-3 himself on a diffi cult save late in the game. over six scoreless innings and passed Christy inning. The White Sox pulled within a half-game The 24-year-old from San Diego also had Mathewson on the all-time strikeouts list as host of the idle Cleveland Indians in the American 42 saves in his fi rst career playoff start, a 2-1 Los Angeles Dodgers rolled past Arizona Dia- League Central. Royals left-hander Danny Duff y victory in game fi ve while replacing injured mondbacks 5-1. Kershaw (5-1) struck out eight (2-3) settled down after a fi ve-run second inning No. 1 goalie Jacob Markstrom. to raise his career count to 2,505, good for 38th and retired the last seven hitters he faced, but he In Toronto, Ivan Provorov scored in double all-time. His sixth strikeout of the contest moved gave up six runs on seven hits in six innings. overtime as the Philadelphia Flyers kept their him past the legendary Mathewson, who fanned Bryan Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Cole playoff hopes alive by beating the New York 2,502 batters from 1900-16. Only Hall of Famers Tucker a two-run single, both with two outs, as Islanders 5-4 to set up another game seven in Nolan Ryan (31 years, 101 days) and Walter John- host Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a three game their Eastern Conference series. Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson (left) and goaltender Thatcher Demko (right) son (31 years, 197 days) reached 2,500 strikeouts sweep by ending Chicago Cubs’ three-game win- JT Miller had a goal and an assist and Jake defend against Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone during the game six of the faster than Kershaw (32 years, 168 days). ning streak. Virtanen and Bo Horvat also scored for Van- second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff s in Edmonton, Alberta. (USA TODAY Sports) The Dodgers have won fi ve straight games and Reynolds, who before the game returned after couver, which evened the best-of-seven 18 of its past 21. The Diamondbacks have dropped the birth of his fi rst child and came off the pater- series at 3-3. “Thatcher has been our MVP the Flyers who tied the Eastern Conference Martin also scored in regulation and Semyon fi ve in a row and 13 of their last 14. AJ Pollock nity list, also doubled for Pittsburgh, which had both nights. He’s making it easy for us to win second round series 3-3. Provorov’s winning Varlamov stopped 26 shots. homered and Corey Seager had three of Los An- lost fi ve of six. Victor Caratini hit an RBI single for games,” said Virtanen. wrist shot from the point capped an emo- But the biggest star of the contest was Fly- geles’ 11 hits. the Cubs. American defenceman Quinn Hughes now tional day for the Flyers, who welcomed back ers goalie Hart as the Isles outshot Philadel- Andrew Heaney threw seven scoreless innings Pittsburgh rookie JT Brubaker (1-0), making his has 14 assists in this year’s playoff s, join- Swedish forward Oskar Lindblom who played phia 53-31. Canada’s Hart made several bril- and outdueled Mike Clevinger to lead Los Angeles fi fth start, picked up his fi rst major league win. In ing forward Marian Stastny in 1982 and Ville his fi rst game since being diagnosed with a liant saves, including a sequence of stops with Angels past San Diego Padres 2-0 in Clevinger’s fi ve innings, he allowed two runs, one of them Leino in 2010 as the only others to reach that rare type of bone cancer in December. 90 seconds left in the third while Philadelphia Padres debut. Heaney (3-3) struck out six, walked earned, and seven hits with fi ve strikeouts and number. The 20-year-old Hughes has been Lindblom, who underwent months of was killing a penalty. With the Isles storming two and gave up just three hits – all singles – while one walk. Chicago starter Alec Mills (3-3) pitched brilliant on off ence but has struggled on chemotherapy, was cheered by both teams the Flyers net, but Hart made a diving game making 117 pitches. Mike Mayers pitched a score- fi ve innings, yielding four runs on seven hits, with defence when he comes up against bigger, the fi rst time he stepped on the ice for a shift. saving stop from in close off Lee. less eighth inning and Felix Pena retired Fernando one walk and two strikeouts. stronger Vegas forwards like Alex Tuch and “I don’t think there is anything that can de- Lee had another chance to win it with 6:46 Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer in or- Aledmys Diaz capped a four-run fi rst inning Max Pacioretty. scribe how proud we all are of him and how left in the fi rst overtime but Hart stopped him der in the ninth to earn his fi rst save since 2016. with a three-run home run and Zack Greinke Robin Lehner fi nished with 19 saves for much he means to this team,” Hart said of cold again. This time Hart made a calculated Clevinger (1-2) was making his fi rst start for his remained undefeated with six strong innings as Vegas, which will try to avoid blowing a 3-1 Lindblom. move, saving precious seconds by dropping new team since coming to San Diego from Cleve- host Houston Astros topped Texas Rangers 8-4. playoff series lead for the second straight sea- Canadian Matt Barzal, who was a ques- his stick so he could slide faster across the land in a trade on Monday. He gave up two runs Martin Maldonado also homered for Houston, son today. San Jose bounced back to eliminate tionable starter for New York after getting crease to deny Lee again. Both teams had in- on seven hits and one walk in six innings. The An- which won for the sixth time in its past eight the Golden Knights in the fi rst round in 2019. hurt in game fi ve, had a goal and an assist jury problems coming into the game. Barzal gels’ only runs scored on RBI singles from Andrel- games on the eve of an 11-game trip that begins Also, Provorov scored with just under fi ve for the Islanders who are seeking to reach suited up for the Islanders despite being hurt, ton Simmons in the third inning and Justin Upton Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. Shin-Soo minutes left in the second extra session and the NHL’s semi-fi nals for the fi rst time in 27 but Flyers forward Sean Couturier sat out af- in the fourth. Dylan Cease benefi ted from a pair of Choo homered for the Rangers, who lost for the goaltender Carter Hart made 49 saves for years. Derick Brassard, Anders Lee and Matt ter banging knees with Barzal in game fi ve. fi ve-run innings as Chicago White Sox won 11-6 14th time in their past 17 games. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, September 5, 2020 SPORT

TOUR DE FRANCE FORMULA 1 Pogacar loses time Hamilton on top in and Van Aert Italian GP practice

Reuters wearing a helmet with a pizza secures double pattern — was third fastest after Monza, Italy Renault’s Australian Daniel Ric- ciardo had his time deleted for ‘The important thing is to take all the points that you can from the start’ ix times world champion exceeding track limits. Lewis Hamilton set the The Briton was still unhappy pace for Mercedes in Ital- with his day after suff ering pow- ian Grand Prix practice er unit problems. yesterdayS ahead of a weekend AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was that could bring him a 90th For- fourth on the timesheets with mula One win. Verstappen, who crashed at the The Briton, 47 points clear of Ascari Chicane in the morning, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fi fth. Ferrari had a diffi cult day at the standings after seven races, their home circuit, with Charles lapped the high-speed Monza Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel both circuit — without spectators due outside the top 10 in session one to COVID-19 restrictions — with at the fastest track of the year. a best time of one minute 20.192 Leclerc, last year’s race win- seconds. ner from pole, moved up to ninth Finnish team mate Valtteri in the afternoon with Vettel 12th Bottas, quickest in the sunny after a spin at Lesmo. opening session in 1:20.703, “The car is so hard to drive,” was second on the afternoon complained Leclerc over the timesheets but 0.262 slower. team radio at one point. “It felt like we made some im- Verstappen’s early incident provement from P1 to P2,” said brought out the red fl ags but the Hamilton, who is two wins off Dutch 22-year-old made it back Michael Schumacher’s all-time to the pits and was soon on track record. again after repairs. “It’s quite a bumpy track so “Thankfully it was just a front it’s really about trying to get the wing. We’re not fl ush with parts right balance...I think we have so we’ll need it back from the a few more steps to make and I marshals a bit later,” Red Bull think it will be where I need it to team boss Christian Horner told be. Sky Sports television. “But Valtteri’s quick around “It’s very high speed over here, there’s not a huge amount there, so we’re lucky to get away of corners so it’s often a lot closer with the low-ish amount of than a place like Spa,” added the damage that we did.” 35-year-old Briton, who won The Dutch driver’s Thai team comfortably in Belgium last mate Alexander Albon was third weekend. fastest in the fi rst session, but McLaren’s Lando Norris — 14th after lunch.

Stage winner Team Jumbo rider Belgium’s Wout van Aert (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 7th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race in Lavaur yesterday.

Reuters ing pack again with Slovenian yellow jersey. sprinters behind. the Belgian said he had no inter- Lavaur, France Pogacar, one of the most fancied Yates now leads Roglic by That boosted Sagan’s quest est in the green jersey. underdogs in the race, fi nding three seconds and France’s Guil- for a record-extending eighth “The important thing is to himself trapped behind and los- laume Martin by nine. green jersey for the points clas- take all the points that you can he Tour de France burst ing 1:21 on the line. “We were expecting an easy sifi cation. Green jersey holder from the start but it costs a lot into life when a fast start The 21-year-old UAE Emir- day today but Bora had other Sam Bennett, as well as Aus- of energy and it’s just not pos- and crosswinds blew the ates rider is now expected to be ideas. We rode full gas from start tralian Caleb Ewan, were left far sible to do my work for the team peloton apart in the sev- on the attack in the Pyrenees to fi nish, it was a hard day for behind and could not contest and focus on the intermediate Tenth stage, leaving dark horse this weekend. everybody,” said Yates. the intermediate sprint, where sprints and bunch sprints,” said Tadej Pogacar with a lot catch- “In the fi nale, we’ve seen an “I wasn’t too anxious really, Sagan collected 17 points after Van Aert. ing-up to do ahead of the Pyr- opportunity and we took ad- just a few moments where you being beaten by only Matteo Today’s eighth stage is a enees. Yesterday’s 168km ride vantage of it to split the bunch. had to be in position because of Trentin. 141km mountain trek in the from Millau was dominated by “The Tour de France is also won the wind. Triple world champion Sa- Pyrenees, featuring the ascents Belgian Wout van Aert, who won in stages like this one,” said Ber- It was not too crazy but gan was again beaten in the fi nal of the Col de Mente, the Port his second Tour stage this year, nal in a reminder that talks of enough to split the bunch, so sprint won by Milan-Sanremo de Bales and the Col de Peyre- after a brutal start by Peter Sa- an Ineos Grenadiers demise had you had to be in position.” champion Van Aert, but the sourde. gan’s Bora-Hansgrohe team and come way too early. After a couple of extremely Slovak picked up an extra four While the downhill fi nish crosswinds had split the pack. Briton Adam Yates, along with quiet days, the peloton was points to leapfrog Bennett into might lead the big guns to hold A sudden acceleration by Primoz Roglic, Bernal and Pinot, thrown into a tumbler when the top of the points classifi ca- their fi re again, any Pogacar champion Egan Bernal’s Ineos was on the right side of the break Bora-Hansgrohe’s attack on tion. He leads Bennett by nine move to regain some time could Grenadiers team split the lead- and retained the overall leader’s the fi rst climb left most of the points and Van Aert by 32, but trigger some movement. Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the second practice session at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza yesterday.

Leader turned domestique de luxe Van Aert still bossing the Tour SPOTLIGHT Lavaur: A team leader in the Yet on the Tour, Van Aert’s main “We’ve had a bit of small talk know they’re nothing without it cost him some energy, but he one-day classics, Wout van Aert job is to protect his leaders, Pri- with Michal, and it’s true that he guys that help them. knew I could win,” he said. turns into a domestique de luxe moz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin, has a very important role with “I know this very well because in Van Aert, however, knows there Williams family come the Tour de France — yet on the flat stages, and to pull the Ineos,” Van Aert, a man of few a lot of races, I’m a leader myself. are some limits to his freedom. it has not stopped him annexing team in the mountains. words, told reporters after his It may be hard to explain with While he could go for the green two brilliant stage wins in three When circumstances allow, stage win. words but if you have leaders jersey for the points classifica- wise to walk away days when allowed to play his though, as on Friday’s chaotic While most with his uncommon like Primoz and Tom, they’re tion, he understands it would be own card by Jumbo-Visma. stage seven, he can be let off the talent might balk at domestique thankful.” When he’s not burying detrimental to the team’s main The Belgian won the prestigious leash to devastating eff ect. duties, Van Aert is enjoying him- himself with his mountain slogs, goal of overall victory. from F1, says Hill Strade Bianche and the Milan- He performs a job very similar self, citing the team’s mindset as Van Aert gets his own chance to “It costs a lot of energy and it’s Sanremo ‘Monument’ classic to that of former Milan-Sanremo key to his own success on the shine — and his leaders do their just not possible to do my work Reuters Last year they even struggled earlier this month, when he had and ex-world champion Michal race. “It’s a diff erent approach of bit to repay him. for the team and focus on the London to get their car ready for pre- the whole Dutch outfit at his Kwiatkowski, at Ineos Grena- course,” the 25-year-old said. “Today, Tom kept me in position intermediate sprints and bunch season testing in Spain, with disposal for the one-day events. diers. “In the cycling world, our leaders in the last four kilometres and sprints,” he said.. fears they might not survive. he Williams fam- The team announced last ily have done the right month they had been bought thing in selling their by U.S.-based Dorilton Capital, BOTTOMLINE team and leaving For- with deputy principal Claire mulaT One, according to 1996 Williams and her father Frank world champion Damon Hill. to leave after Sunday’s Italian Comparing Frank Williams to Grand Prix at Monza. F1 ace Hamilton admits to ‘lonely, diffi cult days’ Enzo Ferrari, as a founder wed- Hill said Williams appeared to ded to his racing team and fac- lose momentum when they AFP told reporters at the Italian trying to be and do my best in his record-equalling seventh tory, the Briton spoke in a Daily expanded rapidly after moving Monza Grand Prix. everything. I also have a lot of title. Telegraph column of sadness to a new factory in 1996 and “I’ve got a great group of peo- diffi cult days....especially in the He said he believed it was and relief at the end of an era. partnering with BMW in 2000. ple around me. I think Covid’s bubble that we’re currently in. important that he was open and “I absolutely loved working “When I raced at Williams, there ewis Hamilton urged given me the time to focus on “You get lonely, you miss your expressed himself. there and yet I think, on bal- were 150 people,” he recalled. people to continue dis- communication and improving friends and family, and with “I think as competitors, it’s ance, it is probably a wise move “But then it became too un- cussing their mental that between family and getting back to back race weeks it means not the fi rst thing you think for the family to be saying wieldy, the workforce growing health and said, based on a deeper relationship with my there’s not much time for any- about doing, being open and ex- goodbye,” said Hill, who left to 600 people at some point. Lhis personal experience, that it mum, getting a deeper relation- thing, but work. pressing yourself, but I think it’s Williams at the end of his title “The nucleus of the team was a strength and not a weak- ship with my dad, my brother, “I guess what I’m trying to very important, more important season. found itself overwhelmed by ness for people to show their my sister and those that I work say is it’s never a bad thing to ask than what’s happening here.” “There has to be a degree of the influx of extra staff and it vulnerability. with.” rities and doubts are cast aside for help if you need it or to tell “We arrive — and you’re on sadness for them, given For- started to show signs of losing The championship leader and In a post on social media, and my focus kicks in and will somebody how you feel. Show- TV for three days and it all looks mula One was their life for so direction.” six-time world champion said Hamilton said: “There are two not break until the job is done. It ing your vulnerable side doesn’t pretty good, but the fact is you long, but what was sadder was Hill said Claire Williams, who he experienced “diffi cult days” sides to me. First, the one you feels like I get to have the super- make you weak. Instead, I like to only see the tip of the iceberg. watching the team struggle.” eff ectively ran the team, had in his own life, explaining that see on TV — the competitive, powers I always dreamed of hav- think of it as a chance to become There’s all the stuff that goes on Williams have finished 10th for struggled to turn things around. this season’s run of triple-head- cut-throat, hungry racer in me ing, but behind the wheel. stronger.” in the background. the past two seasons and are “Given a bit of clearance, she er race weekends meant that he that comes out when I close the “Second, there’s just me. Hamilton is only two wins “So that’s what I was trying to now last after seven races. They might reflect on this sale as the was often lonely and grateful for visor. Someone who is fi guring life short of equalling Michael convey — that’s its ok to have the have scored only one point best decision she ever made,” contact from his family. “When the visor is down I out, day by day, just like you.” Schumacher’s record haul of 91 diffi cult days, they’re the grow- since 2018. he added. “I think I’m managing,” he come alive, all my fears, insecu- “Like many of you, I’m just race wins as he heads towards ing days.” Gulf Times Saturday, September 5, 2020 7 TENNIS

US OPEN SPOTLIGHT Tiafoe feeling Medvedev missing positive again aft er the cheers and jeers Covid-19 negativity at Flushing Meadows ‘Sometimes you make amazing points and it’s just your coach applauding you’

Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns the ball during his second round match against John Millman (not pictured) of Australia on Day Four of the US Open on Thursday. (AFP)

Reuters negative. Like, let me see what New York, United States 2021 is talking about because this year has been trash. “But then luckily, great sup- rances Tiafoe says he port system. Guys behind me. would have probably Guys telling me you’re going to laughed if someone told be all right. I felt good, I’m just him he will make the happy to be here right now.” thirdF round of his home Grand It was a proper test of stamina Slam at the US Open when he for Tiafoe on Thursday when he contracted the novel coronavirus had to go the distance against in July. Australian John Millman for a Tiafoe, 22, returned a positive 7-6 (6), 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 win test for the virus and was forced and a spot in the third round to withdraw from the All-Ameri- against Hungarian Marton Fuc- can Team Cup exhibition tourna- sovics. ment in Atlanta. Tiafoe said he felt fi ne physi- He was subsequently unable to cally. compete in the World TeamTen- “I’m cool. Obviously some of nis season at the Greenbrier re- the other players had it pretty sort in West Virginia while his bad. Losing taste, losing smell. buildup to the US Open was fur- Physically when they were com- ther hampered by his fi rst round ing back they were struggling a loss to Andy Murray at the West- lot,” said Tiafoe, who reached Daniil Medvedev of Russia hits the ball against Christopher O’Connell (not pictured) of the Australia on day four of the 2020 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King ern & Southern Open. last year’s Australian Open quar- National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City, United States, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) “I was nervous. I was like... ter-fi nal for his best showing in a this is not what I need right now. Grand Slam. Reuters tralia on Thursday in front of in the stands,” the 24-year-old He has dropped neither set Medvedev but rallied to give the I probably would have laughed,” “Actually my virus was pretty New York, United States empty stands under a closed Medvedev said in his on-court nor serve and off ered only two Russian a proper work-out in Tiafoe told reporters on Thurs- mild, thankfully, me and my roof at Louis Armstrong Sta- interview. break points against 116th- the third. day after crossing the second- brother. My brother had no dium. “That’s why you realise how ranked O’Connell, a 26-year- Medvedev rose to the chal- round hurdle for the fi rst time at symptoms at all. I just had diar- aniil Medvedev’s feisty The subdued atmosphere of important fans are, no matter if old who cleaned boats in Syd- lenge, showcasing the court- the US Open. rhoea and headaches for three interaction with the the evening match was a far cry they’re against you or for you. ney to make ends meet while craft and speed that very few “I was pi**** off , I was real days. So I was okay.” boisterous New York from the drama that engulfed It’s adrenaline. injuries hampered his tennis 6-ft 6-in players (1.98m) can crowd at Flushing Medvedev last year when he was “Sometimes you make amaz- aspirations. hope for, to hold off the Aus- MeadowsD was one of the high- jeered relentlessly at Armstrong ing points and it’s just your Despite a humble back-sto- tralian and seal the win with a FOCUS lights of his thrilling run to the after showing the crowd his coach applauding you. So it’s a ry, O’Connell is no slouch and booming serve. US Open fi nal last year but the middle fi nger during the third bit sad but that’s the world we’re notched an unrivalled 82 wins in Medvedev next faces JJ Wolf rangy Russian is missing the round. living in right now so hopefully 2019, soaring from outside the for a place in the last 16, and “adrenaline” of the fans this He later apologised to fans it will change soon.” world’s top 1,000 to the cusp of admitted the lack of fans could Anisimova fi ghts off year. and won their hearts during Medvedev will have no chance the top 100. work for him against the young Third seed Medvedev ad- his brave fi ve-set loss to Rafael to draw energy from any spec- He took a lengthy medical up-and-comer. vanced into the third round Nadal in the fi nal. tators at this biosecure tourna- time-out to have a trainer work “Yeah, playing an American nerves to win battle with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over “It’s actually sad to play a ment but so far has hardly want- on an apparent back strain at in USA without the crowd is an Christopher O’Connell of Aus- night session with zero people ed for a pep-up. 4-1 in the second set against advantage,” he said. of US teens COMMENT Stephens sees success of Black women inspiring new generation

Reuters New York, United States Masks of Osaka ormer champion Naomi ormer US Open cham- Osaka of Japan is wear- pion Sloane Stephens Fing a diff erent facemask believes the current for each of her matches at cohort of young Black the US Open this year. They Reuters Scott, who is ranked 637th in womenF at the top of the game the world and made her Grand each carry the name of a Black New York, United States bodes well for the future of Af- American and aim to highlight Slam main draw debut against rican-American involvement in racial injustice in the United Russia’s Natalia Vikhlyantseva tennis. States to a wider audience: manda Anisimova has in Tuesday’s fi rst round, was in Stephens beat Olga Govorts- confessed that she was cruise control until Anisimova ova on Thursday to reach the Round I: Breonna Taylor a bundle of nerves after sparked into life with the score third round at Flushing Mead- Taylor, 26, was shot dead by staring down the barrel tied at 4-4 in the second set. ows, where she will play compa- Aof an early exit from the US Open “I’m very surprised with how police in her apartment in triot and 23-times Grand Slam Louisville, Kentucky on March during her second-round battle she was playing,” added Anisi- champion Serena Williams. 13. One police off icer involved against fellow American teenager mova, the 22nd seed. “She was The days when Williams and was fired by the city’s police Katrina Scott on Thursday. serving so big... I was very im- her sister Venus were the excep- you can see now there are so her matches featuring the name department in June. Two other Anisimova, 19, beat her pressed with her game. tion as women of colour playing many amazing players playing... of a Black American in an at- off icers have been placed on 16-year-old compatriot 4-6, “I was just fi ghting the whole at Grand Slams are long gone and obviously tennis is giving us tempt to bring the issue of racial administrative reassignment. 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the third time.” and Stephens thinks that will so much in our lives.” injustice to a wider audience. No criminal charges have been round, but struggled to contend The empty stands around only inspire more Black girls to Stephens, who won the US Frances Tiafoe, the Black filed against any of the three. with Scott’s high-octane brand Louis Armstrong Stadium only give the sport a go. Open title in 2017, was wearing American world number 82 who of tennis in the opening ex- added to Anisimova’s misery. “I think it’s awesome,” a face mask with the words “No earned his own spot in the third Round II: Elijah McClain changes. “I can’t believe this is the US Stephens told reporters. “Right Justice/No Peace” emblazoned round on Thursday, has been McClain, 23, died after a Arbery, 25, was fatally shot “I was defi nitely very nerv- Open, where is everybody?” said now... leading our sport on the on it to draw attention to racial impressed by the campaign. violent encounter with police after being pursued by armed ous,” Anisimova told reporters. the 2017 junior champion. “It’s women’s side is African-Amer- injustice in the United States. “Naomi, that’s my guy... She’s off icers in Aurora, Colorado white men as he jogged “She just kept making unbeliev- defi nitely a huge bummer, I’m ican women, which is amazing.” Her mask had echoes of the special on and off court, what in August last year. His family through a suburban neighbor- able shots. not going to lie and pretend like “From Naomi (Osaka) to Coco statement Osaka, the daughter she stands for. I have been a fan filed a lawsuit against the city hood in Georgia in February. “I’ve had so many matches it’s not. (Gauff ), Venus (Williams), Ser- of a Japanese mother and Hai- ever since she popped off in the and its police last month, alleg- Three white men have been where I’m down, and then I start “It is really upsetting. It does ena (Williams), Maddie (Madi- tian father who grew up mostly Open here a couple years ago,” ing murder and routine use of charged with the murder of freaking out. It takes a lot of ex- cross my mind a lot that there’s son Keys), myself, and then the in the United States, is mak- Tiafoe said. excessive force against Black Arbery in a case that spurred a perience to become good at it be- nobody here to cheer you on.” younger girls coming up. ing with her protective gear at “Always nice and quiet. But to people. national outcry after cellphone cause it’s so easy in tennis to have Anisimova, who reached the “I think there is an amazing Flushing Meadows this year. see her use her platforms and go video of the shooting was a mental breakdown and lose the French Open semi-fi nals last opportunity to get more women The 2018 champion is wearing crazy, it’s special. You tip your Round III: Ahmaud Arbery leaked on the Internet. match. I was really scared of that year, faces Maria Sakkari of of colour in this sport. Because a diff erent face mask for each of hat off to that.” happening.” Greece in the next round.

Saturday, September 5, 2020 GULF TIMES TENNIS

US OPEN Serena advances to last 32,

‘I’m just happy to get through it Murray crashes out and focus on the next round’

Former champion Osaka survives scare to reach last 16

Reuters by 28 unforced errors. New York, United States Li did however give a good account of herself, taking risks with some powerful forehand ormer champion Naomi winners that caught the 17th Osaka survived a third- seed Kerber off guard, but the Fround scare before grind- 32-year-old German dictated ing out a 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2 victory play on the crucial points and over Ukrainian teenager Marta was broken only once in the Kostyuk to reach the last 16 of contest. the US Open yesterday. Kerber will next face either The Japanese fourth seed France’s Caroline Garcia, who looked out of sorts in the knocked out top seed Karolina second set tiebreaker but re- Pliskova in the second round, grouped to secure the victory or American Jennifer Brady. in the deciding set after two hours and 33 minutes against MARTIC WINS an 18-year-old who was making Croatian eighth seed Petra her US Open main draw debut. Martic survived another sloppy Osaka, whose left leg was display to see off Grand Slam heavily taped after suff ering newcomer Varvara Gracheva a hamstring injury that forced 6-3, 6-3 yesterday and reach her to withdraw from the final the US Open round of 16 for the of a tune-up event last week, second consecutive year. wasted little time in the decider After victories over two players as she went up a double break outside the top 100, Martic will before serving out the match have to clean up her play with at love. Grand Slam champions Naomi The two-times Grand Slam Osaka, Petra Kvitova and An- champion will face either Esto- gelique Kerber lurking on her nian 14th seed Anett Kontaveit side of the draw. or Polish 24th seed Magda Linette in the fourth round. GOFFIN PASSES KRAJINOVIC TEST KERBER ADVANCES WITH In the men’s draw, seventh STRAIGHT SETS WIN OVER LI seed David Goff in was made Serena Williams of the United States serves the ball against Margarita Gasparyan (not pictured) of Russia Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada returns a volley during his match Germany’s Angelique Kerber to work hard by Serbian Filip on Day Four of the 2020 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of against Andy Murray (not pictured) of Great Britain on Day Four of the advanced to the last 16 with a Krajinovic before clinching a the New York City, United States, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) US Open on Thursday. (AFP) 6-3, 6-4 victory over 20-year- 6-1, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win yesterday, old American Ann Li at the moving into the fourth round AFP Louis Armstrong Stadium for the fourth consecutive year New York, United States Results yesterday. at Flushing Meadows. Kerber, a three-times Grand Goff in will face either 12th Slam champion who won the seeded Canadian power-hitter erena Williams contin- MEN’S SINGLES (ROUND 2) „ Jeff rey Wolf (USA) bt Rob- 6-3, 6-4 „22-Amanda Anisimova (USA) title at Flushing Meadows in Denis Shapovalov or home ued her hunt for a record „6-Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bt erto Carballes (ESP) 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 „31-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt bt Katrina Scott (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 2016, converted four break favourite and number 19 seed seventh US Open title Ugo Humbert (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, „3-Daniil Medvedev (RUS) bt Norbert Gombos (SVK) 6-3, 1-6, „26-Sloane Stephens (USA) bt points while Li — who is ranked Taylor Fritz for a place in the with a straight-sets win 7-6 (6) Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-5 Olga Govortsova (BLR) 6-2, 6-2 128 in the world — was let down quarter-finals. onS Thursday as Andy Murray „ „ „ 30-Casper Ruud (NOR) bt 6-2, 6-4 2-Dominic Thiem (AUT) bt 3-Serena Williams (USA) bt crashed out in the second round Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6-4, 6-3, „8-Roberto Bautista (ESP) bt Sumit Nagal (IND) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 6-2, at Flushing Meadows. 3-2 retired Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3, 6-4 Williams, the tournament’s „Salvatore Caruso (ITA) bt 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 WOMEN’S SINGLES (ROUND 2) „Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt third seed, dispatched unseeded Ernesto Escobedo (USA) 3-6, 6-4, „Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt „7-Madison Keys (USA) bt 5-Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-1, 6-3 Russian Margarita Gasparyan 6-3, 6-4 25-Milos Raonic (CAN) 6-7 (1), Aliona Bolsova (ESP) 6-2, 6-1 „20-Karolina Muchova (CZE) 6-2, 6-4 under the roof of a near- „10-Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 „Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Ysaline bt Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 6-3, empty Arthur Ashe Stadium on a Gregoire Barrere (FRA) 6-2, 6-4, „21-Alex De Minaur (AUS) bt Bonaventure (BEL) 7-6 (4), 6-3 7-6 (4) wet New York evening. 7-6 (4) Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-4, 6-3, „18-Donna Vekic (CRO) bt „Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt The 38-year-old closed out the „Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt 6-7 (6), 7-5 Patricia Tig (ROU) 6-2, 6-1 Johanna Konta (GBR x9) 2-6, 7-6 fi rst set with ease before a slight 14-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6-7 (5), „11-Karen Khachanov (RUS) „Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) (5), 6-4 wobble in the second when she 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 bt Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 6-3, bt 10-Garbine Muguruza (ESP) „27-Ons Jabeur (TUN) bt Kaia was broken twice by Gasparyan, „Frances Tiafoe (USA) bt 6-4, 6-1 7-5, 6-3 Kanepi (EST) 7-6 (8), 6-0 before progressing into the third John Millman (AUS) 7-6 (6), 3-6, „15-Felix Auger-Aliassime „15-Maria Sakkari (GRE) bt „2-Sofia Kenin (USA) bt Ley- round. 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 (CAN) bt Andy Murray (GBR) 6-2, Bernarda Pera (USA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 lah Fernandez (CAN) 6-4, 6-3 “I’m just happy to get through it and try to focus on the next round,” said Williams, who will Williams’ chances have been seed, continued her impressive coming in, my toss, my rhythm. champion Marin Cilic for a place take on 2017 champion Sloane improved by the absence of sev- form this year with a straight- Everything was going well in the fourth round after the Stephens in the last 32. eral top players, included top- forward 6-4, 6-3 victory over through the whole match,” said Croatian advanced in four sets Williams is seeking a record- ranked Ashleigh Barty and Simo- Canadian Leylah Fernandez to Felix Auger-Aliassime. against Slovakia’s Norbert Go- equalling 24th singles Grand na Halep, over coronavirus fears progress into the third round. In early men’s matches, second mbos. Slam title at a subdued, spec- or injury. In the men’s draw Andy Mur- seed Dominic Thiem celebrated “He’s one of the big champions tator-free Billie Jean King US She was handed a further ray, slumped to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, his 27th birthday with an easy of the last decade, Thiem said of 6-4. ing light work of Spain’s Aliona National Tennis Center in New boost on Wednesday when top defeat against a dominant Felix straight-sets win against India’s Cilic. Elsewhere, sixth seed Italian Bolsova 6-2, 6-1, while Stephens York. seed Karolina Pliskova tumbled Auger-Aliassime. Sumit Nagal. “It’s not a guy I want to face in Matteo Berrettini brushed aside easily overcame Belarusian Olga A tournament victory next out of the tournament. The 15th seed Canadian The Austrian triumphed 6-3, the third round.” France’s Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4, Govortsova 6-2, 6-2. week would also see her break The Czech was stunned in smashed 24 aces and 52 winners 6-3, 6-2 against Nagal, who be- Third seed and beaten fi nalist 7-6 (6) while Spaniard Roberto British ninth seed Jo Konta away from Chris Evert, on six straight sets by France’s world in a one-sided aff air that saw came the fi rst Indian man since last year Daniil Medvedev made Bautista Agut progressed against became another high-ranking titles, as the most decorated US number 50 Caroline Garcia. Murray muster just two and nine 2013 to reach the second round of light work of Australia’s 116th- Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. woman to be sent packing, losing Open champion of the women’s Williams’ American compa- respectively. a Grand Slam. ranked Christoper O’Connell, Seventh seed Madison Keys of in three sets to Romania’s Sorana game in the modern era. triot Sofi a Kenin, the number two “I just felt like everything was Thiem will play 2014 US Open easing into round three 6-3, 6-2, the USA also progressed, mak- Cirstea after going a set ahead.

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Murray hopes to build physical conditioning Rampant Azarenka

Reuters fi cult physical eff orts.” downs Sabalenka New York, United States The Scot arrived for the US Open tuneup at the Western & Reuters Southern Open having not played New York, United States uilding the stamina to a professional match since the consistently survive the Davis Cup Finals in November. rigours of playing fi ve- Murray picked up back-to- nseeded Victoria set matches will top back wins over Frances Tiafoe Azarenka put fel- AndyB Murray’s agenda as the and world number seven Alexan- low Belarusian Aryna former US Open champion, who der Zverev but his level dropped Sabalenka fi rmly in has undergone two hip surgeries, against Milos Raonic in the round Uher place with an emphatic plots the revival of his career. of 16 loss. 6-1, 6-3 victory in the sec- Playing his fi rst Grand Slam “I felt like I played some good ond round of the US Open on singles match since the 2019 stuff at times, but it was quite up Thursday. The 31-year-old Australian Open, Murray pro- and down. I would like to play con- former world number one duced an astonishing fi ghtback sistently better tennis,” he said. reached the fi nal at Flushing from two sets down to defeat “If you aren’t playing at a high Meadows 12 months ago and Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in level consistently, then you will signalled that she will take four hours and 39 minutes in his play longer matches because some stopping this year in her ery or Iga Swiatek. opening round. you’re having dips. contest with the fi fth seed. “Today was really solid,” the But that match seemed to take With recent injury struggles, Azarenka whipped through 31-year-old twice Austral- a toll on the 33-year-old as he Murray accepted it would be “ex- the fi rst set in less than half an ian Open champion said. “I bowed out against Canadian Fe- tremely diffi cult” to add to his hour as her Fed Cup team mate felt like I stepped on the court lix Auger-Aliassime in straight three Grand Slam titles. Sabalenka sprayed 17 unforced and I was really making her sets on Thursday. “It was hard enough when I errors on the Louis Armstrong earn every single point that we “The more tournaments that had two normal hips. So it will be Stadium court. played. That was my goal to be you play, the more matches that diffi cult, but I’ll keep trying, like, Sabalenka off ered more re- really, really strong. you play, you build up that sort why not? Why shouldn’t I try my sistance in the second stanza “I would really like to con- of robustness in your body which hardest to do that?” he said. but twice Australian Open tinue in that way. I got to a lot right now I don’t really have,” “And if I don’t, that’s all right. champion Azarenka was un- of balls and ... I’m so happy Murray, who won his fi rst Grand in 2012, told reporters. need to build up over the next few of next year if I can stay healthy, I But I might as well shoot for the relenting as she set up a third- that I stayed really strong in Slam title at Flushing Meadows “So that’s something that I’ll months and hopefully beginning will be better able to back up dif- stars.” round date with Sachia Vick- the end.”