CRICKET | Page 3 NNBABA | Page 5 Williamson, Thomas To Advertise here Broom star scores 52 as Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 as Kiwis Celtics edge sweep ODIs Miami Heat Sunday, January 1, 2017 FOOTBALL Rabia II 3, 1438 AH Celtic’s Sinclair GULF TIMES condemns Rangers to Old Firm defeat SPORT Page 7 TENNIS/ THE QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN Murray, Djokovic add spice to 25th anniversary edition ‘That this edition has attracted Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray is a great privilege for the tournament’ Arise ‘Sir Andy’, ‘Sir Mo’ AFP London imbledon champion Andy Murray and Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah will each receive a knighthood in the New WYear Honours. Murray’s knighthood caps a dream season for the Scot, who finished as the year-end world number one for the first time after ending Novak Djokovic’s long spell at the top. The 29-year-old clinched a second Wimbledon title in July before successfully defending his Olympic singles crown and then winning a first ATP Tour Finals crown to stop Djokovic regaining first place. Murray, previously honoured with an OBE in 2012, be- ALL SET: Players,and off icials pose during the draw of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha yesterday. came a father for the first time in February and earlier this month was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the By Joe Koraith Qatar yesterday. isation has been increasing every year. Year for a record third time. imagined where I would be today. It’s a dream come Doha “This tournament has risen and We’re learning from our mistakes and “Obviously it is the highest honour you can get in this true. grown in leaps and bounds over the trying to get the bar higher and higher country. But I feel like I’m too young for something like “I’m so proud to have had the opportunity to race for years. It’s great to see the top two play- every year. We have been having great that,” said Murray before the announcement was made my country and win gold medals for the British people, appy New Year everyone! And ers of the world come to Qatar. A hall- names of tennis taking part every edi- on Friday. “When I win any award or am presented with who have been my biggest supporters throughout my wouldn’t it make for a great mark of this tournament is that the tion and this is very important for us,” anything it is nice because it is recognition for what career. start to 2017 when you get to top players of the world want to come said Alami. you have given your life to — up to now anyway. “My successes have only been possible because of see the top two tennis players here,” he added. The conditions here in Doha, in- Hin the world in action, right in front of ExxonMobil has been the title spon- cluding the court surface, provided “I am still young and there are still a lot of things that their support and the commitment, sacrifices and love can go wrong. I could still mess up and make mistakes. of my amazing family and the team around me now your eyes? The 2017 Qatar ExxonMobil sor for 23 years and have been asso- the players with the perfect prepara- I am just trying to keep doing what I am doing, working and over the years.” Open, which begins tomorrow, will see ciated with the event for all of its 25 tion for the fi rst Grand Slam of the hard and achieving stuff .” Para-equestrian Lee Pearson is also knighted after world No. 1 Andy Murray and Novak years. QTF Secretary General thanked year – The Australian Open. And this Farah receives his knighthood after he retained his adding gold from the Individual Freestyle grade Ib and Djokovic in action. And everybody will the title sponsors for their continued made the tournament a perfect place 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles at the Rio Olympics, silver in Dressage to his golds in Beijing and London. be hoping for a high-octane fi nal in- support. “I would like to thank Exxon- for the stars to kickstart their season. becoming the first British track and field athlete to win The decorated Paralympian already held the MBE, OBE volving these two gladiators. Mobil for their support. We’re proud “This has always been a very impor- four Olympic gold medals. and CBE for services to equestrianism and to disabled To make matters even more special, of this partnership. They are keen on tant tournament in the calendar. The The 33-year-old Somalia-born athlete is already a CBE sport. this is the 25th anniversary of the tour- developing sport in Qatar and in the European players usually come from following his double gold at London 2012. Damehoods go to heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and nament. A quarter of a century since region. I would also like to thank other indoor courts training, where it’s very “I’m so happy to be awarded this incredible honour rower Katherine Grainger, who both retired from com- the top tennis players in the world sponsors for their continued support,” cold. And Doha provides the perfect from the country that has been my home since I petitive action following the 2016 Rio Games. started making Qatar their fi rst stop said Zainal yesterday. weather at this time of the year. And moved here at the age of eight,” Farah said. Ennis-Hill, who had returned to compete in Rio after on the calendar. “We’re celebrating “ExxonMobil has so many goals the surface is the same as Australia. It’s “Looking back at the boy who arrived here from Soma- becoming a mother, has been made a Dame for serv- our 25th anniversary this year. Dur- including development of tennis on just the perfect week to practice and lia, not speaking any English, I could never have ices to athletics. ing these years, this Qatar ExxonMobil Qatar. They also support our national get ready for the fi rst Grand Slam of the Open has become one of the best tour- players. This will help develop the na- year,” said Alami. naments in the 250 series. All the top tional community here in Qatar. It will There will be a few tweaks done to players are keen to participate here,” also help increase tourism during the commemorate the occasion of this be- Andy Murray, who will be playing said Tariq Darwish Zainal, QTF Secre- coming years. We hope the partner- ing the 25th anniversary. He wouldn’t the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, has tary General during the press confer- ship lasts for more than three years,” reveal all the details but asked fans to been honoured with a knighthood ence yesterday. he added. come to the tournament and experi- by Great Britain. “That this edition has attracted Having achieved this milestone of ence it yourself. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray is a 25 years is also a momentous occa- “We always make some special great privilege for the tournament. It’s sion for Tournament Director Karim touches every year. We cannot change a great way to celebrate this momen- Alami. The former tennis player holds the whole tournament but we have tous 25th anniversary milestone,” he this tournament dear to his heart. This brought in a few interesting additions added. is where he had shocked the tennis like beach tennis and mini-tennis etc. Title sponsors ExxonMobil an- world by defeat Pete Sampras in the There are a couple of things planned nounced yesterday that they have ex- fi rst round of the 1994 edition – a time for the VIP village too. Overall we are tended their support for three years, when Sampras was at his dominant looking at improving the experience until 2019. “What a better way to cele- best. Now donning the hat of the tour- and comfort for the spectators as well brate the 25th anniversary of this tour- nament director, Alami is proud of the as the players,” he said. nament than to announce that we have current stature of the tournament. The organisers are ready. The spec- signed a new three-year contract, till “We’re very proud to have the 25th tators are excited. Now to hope that the 2019,” said Allistair Routledge, Presi- anniversary. The tournament has been players make it an exciting start to the dent and General Manager ExxonMobil improving steadily. The level of organ- New Year for us in Qatar. Love-all. BOTTOMLINE Murray handed tougher Qatar draw as compared to Djokovic By Sports Reporter a final clash with Djokovic. Berdych Djokovic, in the bottom half of the Doha is ranked 10th while Tsonga is 12th. draw, starts off against world no. 63 Murray has defeated Tsonga 14 times Jan-Lennard Struff. Next up could be out of their 16 meetings. However, Marcos Baghdatis, who is currently ndy Murray finished 2016 Novak Djokovic gestures on Berdych is a tougher opponent with ranked 36th. The 6’11” Ivo Karlovic, as world number one and arrival in Doha yesterday. The world the Brit having won 10 matches as ranked 20th, is a possible semi-final will be looking to further number 2 said he is “happy and compared to six in favour of Berdych. opponent. A cement his spot at the top excited” to be playing the first Although it must be mentioned that Karlovic has defeated Djokovic in of the rankings as 2017 kicks off. tournament of the year in Qatar.