NBA | Page 5 Another comeback gives Warriors 3-0 lead on Blazers Monday, May 20, 2019 FOOTBALL Ramadan 15, 1440 AH City stars salute GULF TIMES departing ‘legend’ Kompany SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TENNIS Al Sadd aim to top Nadal downs Djokovic to group with win win ninth Rome title against Persepolis Reuters Pliskova ends Konta Rome run to win Italian Open XAVI TO BRING THE CURTAIN DOWN ON HIS CAREER IN TEHRAN afael Nadal proved Karolina Pliskova ended that he would still be Johanna Konta’s hopes of the man to beat when landing a first claycourt title the French Open be- with a 6-3 6-4 victory in the Rgins later this month after he Italian Open final yesterday. humbled Novak Djokovic 6-0 The Czech world number 4-6 6-1 in the Italian Open fi - seven did not drop a single nal yesterday to win a record service game as she secured 34th ATP Masters 1000 title. the third clay title of her ca- The Spaniard, who had reer in one hour 25 minutes. shared the record of 33 Masters British number one Konta titles with the Serbian world claimed some big scalps on number one, warmed up for her way to the final, beating the defence of his Roland Gar- Grand Slam winners Sloane ros crown by securing his ninth Stephens and Venus Williams Rome title. as well as Madrid Open Nadal got off to a yingfl start champion Kiki Bertens. by whitewashing Djokovic in the However, she struggled to opening set. It was the fi rst time trouble the Czech on serve there has been a 6-0 set during as Pliskova recorded her sev- a meeting between the two ri- enth win in eight meetings vals. Djokovic took the second with Konta. by breaking Nadal’s serve for the fi rst time while leading 5-4, but the second seed responded here in 2005,” said Nadal, who in style by storming through the will be chasing a record ex- decisive set. tending 12th French Open title When Nadal’s previous three when the claycourt major be- claycourt tournaments had gins on May 26. “To have the ended in semi-fi nal defeats, it chance to come back and win no doubt gave his rivals hope this trophy after so many years that his long reign at Roland means everything. It wasn’t an Garros could be coming to an easy week for me.” end this year. The 32-year-old left Djoko- However, the way he demol- vic in a daze as he stormed ished the world’s top ranked through the opening set in 39 player in the opening and third blistering minutes. sets on Sunday would have once The top seed fought back again struck fear into any of in the second as he saved four those challengers who had been break points before winning harbouring hopes of lifting the the decisive game on Nadal’s Al Sadd’s Spanish captain Xavi will be playing the last match of his illustrious career against Iran’s Persepolis in Tehran today. Last Friday, he played his final game on Qatar soil Musketeers’ Cup on June 9. serve to take the set 6-4. when Al Sadd took on Al Duhail in the Amir Cup final, which his team lost. The Spaniard heads into Ro- But the Serb, who had sur- land Garros in top form after vived three-set battles against By Sports Reporter Champions League semi-fi nal between Both teams have already qualifi ed for Al Duhail made up for the disappoint- seeing his serve broken just Argentines Juan Martin del Po- Doha Persepolis and Al Sadd comes under the round of 16, and Al Hilal, with 12 ment of conceding the Qatar Stars League twice en route to claiming his tro and Diego Schwartzman to contrasting circumstances, with Al Sadd points from fi ve matches, are guaranteed title to rivals Al Sadd by defeating the fi rst title of 2019 in his 50th reach the fi nal, faded in the fi - already qualifying and Persepolis elimi- to top the group as Al Duhail can only fi n- latter 4-1 in the fi nal to lift the Amir Cup Masters fi nal. “For me it’s al- nal set as he dropped his open- he famous Azadi Stadium in Te- nated from Group D. ish on 11 even if they win the encounter. trophy last week. ways an honour to be here, I ing service game before Nadal hran will be home to the last Today, the two sides meet for the sixth But despite the fact that the match is Brazilian Edmilson was the star of the still remember my fi rst time surged clear. match in the career of Spanish time in just over a year. Persepolis and only of academic interest in the larger victory, scoring twice, while Mohamed football legend Xavi as Al Sadd Al Sadd were pitted together in Group C context of the tournament, Al Duhail Muntari had recorded a brace in the semi- Tface Persepolis in their fi nal Group C game last time around. A brace from Baghdad are motivated by the thought of revenge, fi nals. With the dangerous Youssef El in the AFC Champions League today. Bounedjah helped Al Sadd to a 3-1 win in having lost the reverse fi xture in Riyadh Arabi and Ali Afi f also in their ranks, they The former Barcelona and Spain mid- Doha on Matchday Two. 3-1 in early March. have enough fi repower to prevail over the fi elder brings to an end a four-year stay A victory for Al Sadd, who have 10 A victory in front of their home fans Saudis. Al Hilal, meanwhile, had a blank in Doha as he prepares to hang up his points, will help them top the group. would be the perfect boost they would be season, fi nishing runners-up to Al Nassr boots following the Persepolis clash, But a loss, combined with a win for Uz- looking for before the knockouts beckon in the Saudi Pro League and being elimi- bringing down the curtain on a 22-year bekistan’s Pakhtakor (8), against Saudi in August. The Saudi side had beaten Al nated in the semi-fi nals of the King’s Cup career which saw him win 32 titles, the Arabia’s Al Ahli, will see the Uzbeks rise Ain 2-0 in the previous matchday, taking by eventual winners Al Tawoun. last of which was the 2018-19 Qatar Stars to the top. their tally to 12 points. Meanwhile, Al Du- Pericles Chamusca, Al Hilal’s third League. Xavi played his last match on Qa- Meanwhile, Al Duhail will aim to carry hail settled for a 1-1 draw against Estegh- coach this season got off to a positive start, tari soil on Friday but Al Sadd ended up forward the momentum of their crushing lal at Azadi Stadium, which was enough with three consecutive wins since taking losers to Al Duhail in the Amir Cup fi nal. 4-1 Amir Cup win over Al Sadd when they to send them through. over at the end of April. A 2-0 win over Al A win against Persepolis therefore would take on Saudi giants Al Hilal in their last The two teams also go into the fi nal Ain on Matchday Five of the AFC Cham- help him end his career on a winning note. Group C game at the Abdulla bin Khalifa game of the group stage following con- pions League was followed by two league In Tehran, a repeat of the 2018 AFC Stadium in Doha tonight. trasting results on the domestic front. victories over Ettifaq and Al Shabab. Qatar says 48-team World Cup will not be ‘imposed’ Doha: The organisers of the 2022 Qatar World Cup that there is no benefit to it, or that the negatives are the Al Janoub stadium, the first purpose-built for the said yesterday that “there will be no decision imposed” more than the positives, our decision will be to remain tournament, “we have now six more stadiums to go”. on the country to extend the tournament to 48 on 32 teams.” “By the end of this year (or) first quarter of next teams. “In case it is increased, (the feasibility study) favours year we will be launching two stadiums as well,” he said. Anticipation is mounting ahead of the final decision, expansion to other countries,” said al-Thawadi. The exact date would depend on the timing of events due to be announced in Paris at the beginning of June, “We are studying (it) in all seriousness and the decision to launch the two venues, he added. whether to retain a 32-team format or expand it. will be next month and it will be final.” “By 2021 all our stadiums will be ready,” he said, adding “(The) decision will be made between FIFA and Qatar,” Talks between FIFA and Qatari organisers are ongoing, that the remaining stations of the recently-launched said Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary-general of Qatar’s he added during a media briefing in Doha. metro system would be fully operational by 2020, link- Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. “I will leave the period of suspense until we announce it ing stadiums and the airport. “In case a decision is made it will be due to our willing- next month,” said al-Thawadi. “I’m very proud to say that infrastructure-wise, we are ness and belief in the benefits of the increase.