CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 2 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 4 Pogacar wins Southgate’s fi ft h stage, England Van der Poel ‘masterpiece’ retains yellow silences sceptics Thursday, July 1, 2021 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 21, 1442 AH Loew walks away GULF TIMES leaving Flick to repair misfi ring Germany SPORT Page 3 QATAR WIN FRIENDLY MATCH IN CROATIA Qatar beat Croatia’s reserve side 3-1 in a friendly match at the Aldo Drosina Stadium in Pula, Croatia, yesterday. The Asian champions are currently in Croatia for a training camp as they prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will take place from July 10 to August 1 in the United States. Qatar will play another friendly against El Salvador on July 4 before they leave for the US. TENNIS/WIMBLEDON Djokovic on a mission as he glides past Anderson Sabalenka digs deep to beat wildcard Boulter, Andreescu fails to break Wimbledon jinx, Jabeur beats Venus Williams Agencies London op seed Novak Djokovic has be- gun Wimbledon like a man on a mission, which considering the history the Serb is trying to Tcreate, should come as no surprise. The 34-year-old described his 6-3 6-3 6-3 second-round win over twice Grand Slam runner-up Kevin Ander- son as “almost fl awless” and no one on Centre Court would disagree. His only slight issue was keeping his feet on the still-greasy turf, but his game was at its immaculate best as he appeared to be able to land each shot on a sixpence. Djokovic made only fi ve unforced errors in a masterful display against the South African he also beat in the 2018 fi nal. And while he did lose the fi rst set of his opening round match against in- spired British teenager Jack Draper, what has followed has been an ominous statement of intent. Djokovic is not only chasing a sixth Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Britain’s Katie Boulter Wimbledon title and third in a row, he during their singles second round match on the third day of the 2021 Wimbledon can also match Roger Federer and Rafa Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, Nadal’s men’s record haul of 20 Grand yesterday. (AFP) Slam titles. If that is not enough, he is also half- Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson during their singles second round match son Brengle. Former Australian Open armed with better tactics, denying her way to the calendar-year sweep of all on the third day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, winner Kenin lost 6-2, 6-4 to 82nd- opponent pace on the ball. Boulter re- four majors last achieved by Rod Laver yesterday. (AFP) ranked Brengle who will face either peatedly played the short slice to draw in 1969 and could also be on for the Viktoria Golubic or Danielle Collins for Sabalenka to the net only to lob her, Golden Slam if you add the Tokyo Ol- ed after the high of winning his fi rst to make myself feel that I’m focused, February, defeating French 21st seed a place in the last 16. Kenin committed much to the delight of the Centre Court ympics into the mix. French Open. yet at the same time calm and com- Ugo Humbert before declaring: “Not 41 unforced errors to Brengle’s seven. crowd. Quite simply, by the end of the year “I’m going to try to learn from that posed and clear with my game plan,” he bad for a part-time player”. Second seed Aryna Sabalenka Fifth seeded Bianca Andreescu of Djokovic could well have settled the experience that I had in 2016,” Djoko- said. Kyrgios triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, showed exceptional grit to rally from a Canada was knocked out 6-2, 6-1 by GOAT (greatest of all-time) debate. vic, bidding to become the fi fth man Only when he slipped over did he 6-1, 9-7 in a match held over from set down to beat British wildcard Katie France’s Alize Cornet. Andreescu, the But we have been here before. in history to win the fi rst three Grand look at all ruffl ed, glaring angrily at the Tuesday evening when the fi nal set was Boulter in a thrilling match and reach 2019 US Open champion, is still to win In 2016, Djokovic had also arrived at Slam tournaments of the season since off ending lawn, although he later re- level at 3-3. the third round of Wimbledon for the a main draw match at Wimbledon hav- Wimbledon as a hot favourite having Laver in 1969, told reporters. fused to criticise the courts on which “Ugo is an incredible kid and I knew fi rst time. ing lost in the fi rst round as a qualifi er won the Australian and French Open “This time I’m probably, I would like numerous players have fallen. I was a massive underdog,” said Kyrgios Sabalenka’s best result at the grass- in 2017. titles that year to hold all four slams si- to think, a bit wiser and a bit more ex- “Hopefully as the tournament after fi ring 23 aces and 51 winners. court Grand Slam was a second-round Ons Jabeur the fi rst Arabic woman multaneously. perienced as a player and person. But progresses I’ll also fall less,” he said. Kyrgios also shrugged off an ugly- showing on debut in 2017 as a qualifi er to win a WTA tournament reached the Then, at Wimbledon, he was stunned it’s only two matches into the tourna- “But I don’t mind falling more if the re- looking fall in the 13th game of the fi nal but she bettered that with a 4-6 6-3 third round for the fi rst time yesterday by American Sam Querrey in the third ment, there’s still a long way to go.” sult is winning a match.” set when his right knee buckled be- 6-3 victory in a match lasting over two beating fi ve time champion Venus Wil- round. So Djokovic will certainly not Anderson, on the comeback trail af- Australian fi rebrand Nick Kyrgios neath him. hours. liams 7-5, 6-0. be letting his guard slip when he plays ter knee injuries, played high-level ten- also won his fi rst match in four months. In women’s section. American fourth Boulter had lost in straight sets when Williams follows her sister Serena American Denis Kudla tomorrow. nis, but Djokovic broke serve with ease Kyrgios, ranked 60, but a quarter- seed Sofi a Kenin was knocked out of in she met Sabalenka in their only meet- out of the singles tournament although Looking back to 2016, Djokovic said once in each set for a clean cut victory. fi nalist on debut in 2014, won his fi rst the second round on Wednesday, losing ing at the same stage of the 2019 Aus- she will play with Nick Kyrgios in the he had come in feeling a little defl at- “I’ve done things on and off the court match since the Australian Open in in just 45 minutes to compatriot Madi- tralian Open but this time she came mixed doubles. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 1, 2021 SPORT CYCLING/TOUR DE FRANCE Pogacar wins 5th stage, Van der Poel retains yellow Reuters Spectator who caused mass crash arrested Last year, the 22-year-old Laval, France Pogacar was one of the top climb- The spectator who caused a roadside between Brest and ers in the race and was second on mass crash of riders on the Landerneau caused German the last competitive day when he lovenian Tadej Pogacar opening day of the Tour de rider Tony Martin to fall, who in stunned Roglic in the fi nal time emerged as the over- France has been arrested, a turn brought down dozens of trial to secure the title. whelming Tour de France source close to the investiga- riders behind him. Pogacar, who was the chaser favourite when he de- tion said yesterday. The crash held up the race for last year, can now expect to be stroyedS the fi eld by winning the “The woman has been formally five minutes while bikes and attacked left, right and centre as fi fth stage, a 27.2km individual identified and she was taken bodies were untangled. his massive advantage will force time trial, yesterday. into custody a few minutes The incident and a series of his rivals to take risks. The defending champion ago,” the source told AFP after crashes on the second and “For sure this time I’m already clocked a best time of 32 min- the state prosecutor for the third stages of the race angered ahead and attacks will come eve- utes between Change and Laval city of Brest in Brittany, Camille teams and led to the entire ryday,” Pogacar, who believes he to beat Swiss Stefan Kueng, Miansoni, said “a suspect is in peloton staging a symbolic is in the same form as last year, the European champion in the custody”. protest, briefly halting at a pre- told a news conference. solo eff ort against the clock, by 18 On Saturday, a woman bran- arranged point, at the start of “It’s going to be hard but that’s seconds. Dutchman Mathieu van dishing a cardboard sign on the Tuesday’s fourth stage.