Mohammed Albaker dazzles on Verona to claim his first Big Tour title of the season page 15

SUNday, NOVEMBER 8, 2020 Numero Uno lifts trophy for a second time Egyptian becomes only the fourth man to win the title twice Tribune News Network Doha

Living up to his new billing as the World No.1, Egyptian Ali Farag retained his Qa- tar Classic 2020 title in style as he accounted for World No.5 Paul Coll of New Zealand in the final of the PSA World Tour Platinum tourna- ment on Saturday evening. Farag, 28, dropped a game but had no difficulty in van- quishing Coll 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 in 61 minutes to lift his 21st PSA title at the Khalifa In- ternational Tennis & Squash Complex. The triumph also saw Far- ag extend his domination over Coll to 13 matches.

When I was younger, I used to watch the Qatar Classic and see all the great names of our sport lifting that trophy and I could only imagine standing there one day. To do it twice is an amazing feeling. Al Farag HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee and Nasser Al Khelaifi, President of Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation, applaud as Ali Farag lifts the Qatar Classic trophy soon after the prize distribution at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Saturday. Just as he went about business, Farag’s retrieval skills and graceful movement around court was breathtak- ing. He picked almost all that Coll could throw at him and counter-attacked superbly. Coll did manage to equal- ise after dropping the first game, but Farag recovered from a 4-0 deficit to take the third. Coll then battled back from 9-5 down to draw level in the final game, however Farag moved up a gear to seal the victory in four. Farag now become only the fourth man in Qatar Clas- sic history to win the title twice, following in the foot- steps of current World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy and the now retired and . It’s his second PSA World World No. 1 Ali Farag celebrates winning the Qatar Classic 2020 final against Paul Coll of New Zeland. Tareq Zainal, Secretary-Generalof Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation with the finalists. Tour title after the tour’s re- start following the six-month the Windy City Open back in of our sport lifting that tro- down, go on with your busi- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and I’ve played well here year the men’s CIB Road to Egypt suspension due to the COV- March, 2020 also ending in a phy and I could only imagine ness and work hard, you can Al Thani and His Excellency in, year out. I wanted it pretty Standings. Platinum tourna- ID-19 pandemic. defeat to Farag. standing there one day. To do achieve everything you want Nasser Al Khelaifi for bringing bad today but fell short. It’s ment winners will qualify for For Coll, it marks a second “The first time I couldn’t it twice is an amazing feeling. in life. I have no doubt he this here year after year.” a tough one to swallow, but the season-ending CIB PSA year of frustration in Qatar believe it and this time around We’ve been playing with each will reach even higher lev- Coll said: “It’s a tough feel- Ali is World No.1 for a reason World Tour Finals as well as following his defeat to World I can’t believe it even more,” other for a good few years els than he’s already reached ing at the moment. I’m obvi- and he played the end of every the top eight players on the No.3 in the PSA said Farag following the now, he wasn’t necessarily a and I have a lot of admiration ously very happy to reach game very well, so well done standings. Farag is currently Men’s World Championship match. very good junior or the most for him. We couldn’t be hap- another final here in Qatar, to Ali.” the only man to qualify fol- final here 12 months ago. It “When I was younger, I talented, but he’s a living ex- pier to be here, everyone takes it’s a great tournament and a Farag takes home over lowing wins at both the CIB was his second Platinum final used to watch the Qatar Clas- ample of inspiration. good care of us and I’d like to fantastic location. $26,000 for his title win and Egyptian Open last month appearance, with his first at sic and see all the great names “If you put your head thank His Highness The Amir “I always love coming here also strengthens his lead on and today in Qatar. Zverev downs Nadal to set up Paris Masters final with Medvedev

AFP (7/4) win over Milos Raonic. against a player who is play- double faults, but has put that dev, who won both the Cincin- between them. Paris It ended Nadal’s hopes ing great on a surface that he’s problem behind him since the nati and Shanghai Masters last The drama came at the of a first title at Bercy Arena winning a lot (on),” said Na- return from the coronavirus- year, is looking for his eighth end of the second set as, af- Alexander Zverev over- and the 20-time Grand Slam dal. “So it has been a positive enforced suspension of profes- career title. ter Raonic missed three break powered Rafael Nadal in champion remains with only tournament for me.” sional tennis. “The first set was great, points for a 5-3 lead, he was straight sets on Saturday to one tournament win on indoor Nadal had been looking second was tougher, I had to broken himself in the 11th reach his first Paris Masters hard courts in his career. to equal Novak Djokovic’s re- Medvedev edges out Raonic save some break points. Really game. But Medvedev failed to final, where he will face third The 34-year-old will now cord of 36 Masters crowns this Medvedev battled past happy to be through in the fi- serve out the match as Raonic seed Daniil Medvedev. prepare to challenge for a week. Instead, Zverev is just Raonic earlier on Saturday to nal,” he said. forced a tie-break. Medvedev The German claimed his maiden ATP Tour Finals tro- one win from a fourth Masters reach his first final of the sea- The world number five powered into a 4-0 lead but second successive win over phy in London, with the sea- success but first since the 2018 son. The Russian secured his took a tight opening set by Raonic pegged him back to Nadal in impressive fashion, son-ending event starting on Madrid Open. Germany’s Alexander Zverev third victory from as many a single break as both men 5-4, but he secured a final spot easing to a 6-4, 7-5 victory af- November 15. Zverev struggled for long during the match against Rafael meetings with the Canadian. served strongly, dropping on his first match point with a ter Medvedev’s earlier 6-4, 7-6 “I was there until the end periods of last season with Nadal in Paris on Saturday. (AFP) The 24-year-old Medve- just four points on first serves smash into the open court.