SPORT Wednesday 4 January 2017 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 222 Australia run United beatat rampant after 10-man Warner's record ton West Hamm Tsonga bounces back in Doha Doha Agencies QATAR OPEN MEN'S SINGLES ROUND 1 RESULTS ndy Murray of Great Britain began Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-3 his Qatar Exxonmobil Open cam- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 7-6(1), 6-3 paign with a straight set 6-0, 7-6 Dustin Brown (Germany) beat Facundo Bagnis (Argentina) 6-1, 6-7(2) ,6-4 victory against France's Jeremy Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) beat Anil Yueksel (Turkey) 6-2, 6-3 Chardy yesterday while France's Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) beat Illya Marchenko (Ukraine) 7-6(5), 7-6(0) Jo-WilfriedA Tsonga advanced despite a deter- mined fightback from Russia's Andrey Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 Kuznetsov. Gerald Melzer (Austria) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2 At the Khalifa International Tennis Com- Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) beat Malek Jaziri (Tunisia) 6-2, 7-6(3) plex, the world no.1 made light work of Karen Khachanov (Russia) beat Mubarak Shannan Zayid (Qatar) 6-1, 6-3 Chardy in the first set keeping him off the Andy Murray (GBR) bt Jérémy Chardy (FRA) 6-0, 7-6 (7/2) scoreboard all together to win 6-0 in just 21 minutes. However, 29-year-old Chardy fought Earlier, France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga struck back in the second set, breaking Tson- back in the second set, breaking Murray in won through to the second round, but only ga's serve in the tenth game to take the match the first game, only to be broken back after seeing off a determined fightback from into a deciding set, a seemingly unlikely sce- promptly. Murray held his serve in the third Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov. The world nario just 30 minutes earlier. game but Chardy broke back again in the number 12 won 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to set up a last Tsonga though, who hit 28 winners, ral- sixth set to even the score once more. 16, second round encounter with Germany's lied in the final set and two breaks of the A challenge during the tie-break went Dustin Brown. Russian's serve meant any chances of an in Murray's favour to see the Brit take a 4-2 Tsonga, who was playing his first match upset were dashed. advantage and there was no going back as in Doha since taking the Qatar Open title in Afterwards, the 31-year-old said his aim Murray fired an ace down the line to reach 2012, breezed through the opening set in just was to break back into the elite of the men's 6-2. Victory was eventually gifted to him 23 minutes and looked on course for an easy game. by an unforced error by Chardy, moments victory. "It's important for me to be in the top ten later. But Kuznetsov, ranked 46 in the world, and be seeded for tournaments," said Tsonga. Young fans display signs in support of Andy Murray during the Briton's match against France's Jeremy Chardy on the second day of the ATP Qatar Open tennis competition in Doha yesterday. France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga returns the ball to Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia on the second day of the ATP Qatar Open tennis competition in Doha yesterday. Tsonga won 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. ExxonMobil Qatar, QTF celebrate 25th anniversary edition The Peninsula xxonMobil Qatar and Qatar Tennis Federation hosted E a gala dinner earlier this week to celebrate the tourna- ment’s 25th anniversary and its 2017 edition which is now in progress. The event was attended by Qatari officials, key business and community leaders, and several of the tennis players who will be competing in this year’s tourna- ment, including: World no. 1 Andy Murray, 2016 defending champion Novak Djokovic, Jo- Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych. French tennis player Fance's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga poses for a photograph with a life-size statue of him during a gala dinner, hosted by ExxonMobil Qatar and the Each year, the gala features a variety of unique activities and Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha on Monday. RIGHT: QTF President Nasser Al Khelaifi and the President and General Manager performances by world- of ExxonMobil Qatar Alistair Routledge pose for a photograph with World No.1 Andy Murray, the defending champion Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych and renowned entertainers. In a Jo-Wilfried Tsonga alongside other special guests during the event. special performance for the tour- nament’s 25th anniversary, and spoke about the history of milestone in a 25-year journey, let’s not lose sight of what the forward to seeing the many more between the energy company famed magician and mentalist the strong partnership their one that began with the sowing Qatar ExxonMobil Open means contributions of the Qatar Exx- ExxonMobil and QTF aimed at Oz Pearlman intrigued the audi- organizations share; and the of some very small but well- for the country and its people. onMobil Open that lie ahead,” taking the sport to higher heights ence with an interactive show. people behind the tournament’s selected seeds a quarter of a It’s one of the many projects Routledge added. and bringing the community of His performance featured a daz- success. century ago. Those seeds took Qatar has created for the world Tariq Zainal, Secretary Gen- Qatar the finest tennis and zling mind-reading routine and “Welcome to the 2017 Qatar root in a relationship between to enjoy, and it has contributed eral of the Qatar Tennis entertainment.” involved the tennis stars to the ExxonMobil Open. This year is a ExxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar significantly to its standing as an Federation, said, “It is a great “As we are about to experi- audience’s amusement. very important one in the life of Tennis Federation that has now international business and privilege to welcome our fans ence another exciting week of Nasser Al Khelaifi, President our tournament – it’s our 25th blossomed into a success story investment hub. It is also a won- once again to Doha in the 25th top-level tennis, I would like to of the Qatar Tennis Federation, Anniversary, and we are thrilled that serves as an example of derful venue for inspiring an anniversary of this world-class appreciate everyone, especially and Alistair Routledge, President that you are here to celebrate what partnerships can achieve.” appreciation for active lifestyles event. The Qatar ExxonMobil the committees that have worked and General Manager for Exxon- with us,” said Routledge. “While we’re all here to in the Qatari community – par- Open is a symbol of the strategic assiduously to ensure a success- Mobil Qatar, welcomed guests “This event marks a major watch some incredible tennis, ticularly among the youth. I look and enduring partnership ful event yet again,” he added. SPORT 4 JANUARY 2017 WEDNESDAY 21 Serena shakes off rust for Australia run rampant comeback win Auckland AFP erena Williams over- after Warner's record ton came rust and a Stroublesome wind to launch her comeback from a Sydney four-month lay-off with a Reuters Century in 1st session 6-3, 6-4 win over 69th- Dashing Australian batsman ranked Pauline Parmentier at avid Warner hit a record cen- David Warner reached the the Auckland Classic tury inside one session and his hundred mark from 78 balls in yesterday. fellow opener Matt Renshaw 118 minutes to become the In her first outing since she a maiden hundred over three fifth batsman to notch up a was shocked by Karolina as Australia reached 365 for century before lunch on the Pliskova in the US Open semi- Dthree at close of play on the opening day finals in September, the world first day of a Test. of the third Test against Pakistan number two made a sluggish yesterday. start to a season in which she With the series already secure after As pugnacious as ever, Warner barely is seeking a record 23rd Grand last week's victory in Melbourne, Austral- hit a false note in his 95-ball innings, hit- Slam title. ia's openers gave the hosts the best ting the second ball he faced for four and In her first-round match, possible start to their quest for a 3-0 series not letting up until he had run the three delayed from Monday when sweep. runs that secured his 18th Test century. rain washed out play, Williams Warner, playing on his home ground No batsman had ever hit a century in struggled initially as France's just a few hundred metres from where he the opening session of a Test match in Aus- Australia's David Parmentier broke the Ameri- was born, reached the hundred mark from tralia and only compatriots Victor Warner celebrates can's first service game and 78 balls in 118 minutes to become the fifth Trumper, Charles Macartney and Don after reaching his then held to love. batsman to notch up a century before Bradman as well as Pakistan's Majid Khan century during the The 35-year-old, using lunch on the first day of a Test. had done it elsewhere. first session of the Auckland to warm up for the The left-hander was unable to add to Warner also bettered his own record t hird Test against Australian Open, only had a his tally of 17 fours before being caught for the fastest Test century at the SCG, hav- Pakistan at the 48 percent success rate with behind off Wahab Riaz for 113 soon after ing taken 82 balls to reach the milestone Sydney Cricket her first serve and double- lunch but Renshaw, playing his fourth test, against West Indies here last year.