Bento Aims to End South Korea's Asian Cup Drought
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Ronaldo brace seals new record for voracious Juve Sunday, December 30, 2018 CRICKET Rabia II 23, 1440 AH Cummins wages GULF TIMES lone fight as India close in on win SPORT Page 2 TENNIS/ QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN FOOTBALL Djokovic to open Qatar seek solid 2022 Qatar campaign rehearsal in Asian Cup against Dzumhur Reuters Doha Swiss star Wawrinka gets tough first round against rising Russian Karen Khachanov n in-form Qatar will be hoping to use the 10th Asian Cup in nearby United Arab Emirates Aas a platform for a successful maiden World Cup campaign as the hosts of soccer’s biggest event in 2022. The Jan. 5-Feb. 1 tournament will be Qatar’s last major com- petition ahead of the next World Cup and the tiny, wealthy Arab state will look to improve on their Asian Cup quarter-fi nal appearances of 2000 and 2011. Comprised largely of play- ers from 2018 AFC Champions League semi-fi nalists — Al Sadd and Al Duhail — the Maroons have been pooled alongside Leb- anon and Saudi Arabia in Group E, with only North Korea below them in the FIFA rankings. However, Felix Sanchez’s year. Despite being just 22, Afi f men will be confi dent of advanc- has already played in Belgium ing deep into the tournament, and Spain, and scored the win- having been boosted by two im- ning goal against Switzerland, pressive displays in international breaking clear and rounding friendlies last month. home keeper Yvon Mvogo to fi n- Qatar pulled off one of the ish with aplomb. most impressive results in their The Qatari midfi elder, who history when they won 1-0 in primarily operates behind the Switzerland and fi ve days later, attack, will look to cement his they fought back to earn a 2-2 status as one of Asia’s top talents draw against 2016 UEFA Euro during his fi rst Asian Cup. Marius Copil, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Robin Hasse and Marco Cecchinatio at the draw ceremony yesterday. quarter-fi nalists Iceland. Qatar have also won two more “The Asian Cup is a very im- recent warmup matches against By Sahan Bidappa French Open semifinalist portant tournament, and we Jordan and Kyrgyzstan, lost Doha Marco Cecchinato. want to give it our best,” Qatar narrowly to Algeria and com- Thiem had a good run in goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb told plete their preparations against Doha last year before he with- sports weekly Doha Stadium a Carlos Queiroz-coached Iran, orld No.1 Novak drew from his semi-fi nal match Plus. the top side in the continent, in Djokovic will open against eventual champion “Our preparations have been Doha tomorrow. his Qatar Exxon- Gael Monfi ls due to a fever. The very good. We played two high- “The four friendly matches Mobil Open cam- Austrian will open this year’s intensity matches in Europe and will be a good opportunity to Wpaign against 47th ranked Damir campaign against 55th-ranked did well and hopefully, we can prepare the players,” Sanchez Dzumhur, but it is a tough fi rst Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Her- continue in the same way at the told reporters. “I have several round draw for Stan Wawrinka, bert, to whom he lost in the only Asian Cup.” players to choose from the pre- the three-time Grand Slam match they have played each Qatar’s defence will be boost- paratory camp and I will wait till Champion. other two years back in Rotter- ed by the presence of Abdelkar- the friendly matches to decide Switzerland’s Wawrinka, who dam. im Hassan, who was named 2018 on the fi nal squad. is on a comeback trail after suf- Tomas Berdych, who has not AFC Asian Player of the Year af- “Every team goes into any fering a series of injuries in the been competing since June, ter the left back played a pivotal competition eyeing the title. The last couple of years, will take on has received a wild card for role in Al Sadd’s run to the Asian Qatari team’s goal is no diff erent. third seed Karen Khachanov of the event. The Czech, ranked Champions League semi-fi nals “I know Qatari fans have big Russia in the opening round at 71 now, will take on German this season. hopes from the current batch of the Khalifa International Tennis Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fi rst However, Hassan’s club team- players and I hope we can de- and Squash complex. round, the winner of which may mate Akram Afi f is likely to be liver. Having said that we are in In a twist to the tale, Khach- Tournament director Karim Alami with Qatar Tennis Federation Secretary-General Tariq Zainal and face eight seed Fernando Ver- the most recognisable face in a tough group, and all the teams anov is Wawrinka’s doubles other off icials at yesterday’s draw. dasco next. the squad after his breakthrough deserve the respect.” partner this week at the ATP Fourth seed Cecchinato and World Tour 250 series tourna- Paris Masters last year, where sixth seed David Goffi n will ment, which will begin from to- THE DRAW Dzumhur retired hurt after los- await the qualifi ers in their morrow. ing the fi rst set. opening round matches. Last QATAR FACTBOX Former World No. 3 Wawrin- Djokovic is hoping to put on year’s runner-up Andrey Ru- ka missed three months of ac- First Round [6] D. Goff in (BEL) vs. Qualifier/ a strong 2019 campaign after blev, who received a late entry FIFA world ranking: 93 Jan 9 Qatar v Lebanon Al Ain tion last year after additional [1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs. D. Lucky Loser an outstanding 2018 season. after No. 53 Mikhail Kukushkin Ranking in Asia: 13 Jan 13 North Korea v Qatar Al Ain knee problems and dropped out Dzumhur (BIH) D. Lajovic (SRB) vs. A. Manna- The 31-year-old managed to withdrew, will take on Andreas Previous Asian Cups: 9 Jan 17 Saudi Arabia v Qatar Abu from the top-250 for the fi rst M. Fucsovics (HUN) vs. M. Copil rino (FRA) return to his best form dur- Seppi. Best performance: Quarter-finals Dhabi time since 2003. He recovered (ROU) G. Pella (ARG) vs. [WC] C. Ilkel ing the second part of the last Meanwhile, World No 50 (2000, 2011) Qatar arrive in the UAE for their late in the season to fi nish the A. Rublev (RUS) vs. A. Seppi (TUR) season. Most notably, the Serb Robin Haase, who will kick-off 2015: Group stage 10th Asian Cup on the back of year ranked 66. In the New Year, (ITA) Qualifier/Lucky Loser vs. [4] M. won back-to-back Grand Slam his 2019 season against Nicholas Nickname: The Maroons some strong results in international the 33-year-old will be eager to A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs. [5] N. Cecchinato (ITA) titles at Wimbledon and the US Jarry of Chile, said he was ready Coach: Felix Sanchez Bas friendlies and hoping to make an get back to his best. Wawrinka Basilashvili (GEO) [8] F. Verdasco (ESP) vs. Quali- Open, as well as returned to to start the new season but add- Regular captain: Hassan Al-Haydos impression on the soccer community is in Doha for the fi rst time since [3] K. Khachanov (RUS) vs. S. fier/Lucky Loser the No.1 spot for the fi rst time ed he didn’t want to go with any Player to watch: Abdulkarim ahead of their maiden World Cup 2008, when he lost in the fi nal to Wawrinka (SUI) P. Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. [WC] since 2016. expectations. Hassan appearance in 2022 as hosts. Andy Murray. R. Haase (NED) vs. N. Jarry (CHI) T. Berdych (CZE) Last night, Djokovic “I don’t have any expecta- Recent form: The tournament will be Qatar’s last But Wawrinka won’t have it [WC] M. Zayid (QAT) vs. Quali- Qualifier/Lucky Loser vs. P. showed he is in a good shape tions, because expectations is Oct 16 Uzbekistan 2-0 Qatar before the 2022 World Cup and easy against the 22-year-old fier/Lucky Loser Gojowczyk (GER) after winning an exhibition the mother of all disappoint- Tashkent theywill look to better their best-ever Khachanov, who was one of the M. Berrettini (ITA) vs. [7] R. P. Herbert (FRA) vs. [2] D. Thiem tournament in Abu Dhabi. ments. So I just try to do my Nov 14 Switzerland 0-1 Qatar Asian Cup show of reaching the leading players of last season. Bautista Agut (ESP) (AUT) The 14-time Grand Slam best and work on my game. It’s Lugano quarter-finals. The Russian began 2018 just champion will be the absolute going well with my coach, who Nov 20 Qatar 2-2 Iceland Eupen Felix Sanchez’s men would hope to inside top-50 and fi nished the favourite to win his third title has been with me for two years. Dec 23 Qatar 2-0 Jordan Doha advance deep in the tournament, year just outside top-10. His in Qatar since there are just If you keep pushing the bounda- Dec 25 Qatar 1-0 Kyrgyzstan Doha having been boosted by two stellar breakthrough title came at the 2018, Khachanov will be chasing Doha, in 2016 and 2017, should three other top 20 players in ries and work hard then the re- Dec 27 Qatar 0-1 Algeria Doha performances in recent international Paris Masters, where he toppled bigger goals this year.