Established 1961 27 Sports Tuesday, August 27, 2019 World number one Djokovic to play for Serbia in new Davis Cup Raonic withdraws from US Open with glute injury

BELGRADE: World number one Novak Djokovic “I just feel like the date of the Davis Cup is really will compete with Serbia in the revamped Davis Cup bad, especially for the top players,” he said at the this November in , the country’s tennis feder- time. Serbia will play their first Davis Cup match in ation confirmed yesterday, ending doubts about the Madrid against Japan on 20 November, before fac- star player’s appearance. ing France the following day. “We have fantastic news: Novak will participate Before that, Djokovic is expected to play in the in the final tournament in Madrid. I had the opportu- London Masters,the final of which is set for 17 nity to discuss it with him in New York,” Serbia’s November, according to the Serbian tennis federa- team coach Nenad Zimonjic said in a statement. tion. Meanwhile, Canadian world number 22 Milos The Serb is currently defending his title in New Raonic has pulled out of the U.S. Open with a glute York at the US open. “It’s a huge boost to have injury, tournament organisers said on Sunday. Novak. I am very happy to see him join the team Raonic, whose 2019 season has been hit by after a long absence,” Zimonjic added. The 32-year- injuries, has not competed since he retired from a old, who led Serbia to a maiden Davis Cup in 2010, second round match in Montreal during a U.S. Open hasn’t played in the tournament since 2017, when tune-up in early August. Serbia qualified for the semi-finals by defeating The 28-year-old former Wimbledon finalist, who Spain 4-1. reached the fourth round in New York last year, has Last year he did not show much enthusiasm for the been limited to 11 events this year due to both back new Davis Cup format, in which 18 teams will be split and knee problems. into three groups, with the winners and two best run- Raonic, who has now missed three of the last sev- ners-up to reach the quarter-finals. In October en Grand Slams, was supposed to play Chile’s Djokovic said he was unsure about his participation Nicolas Jarry in a first-round clash on Monday but given the competition’s proximity to the rival ATP his place will be taken by lucky loser Kamil Novak Djokovic World Team Cup at the start of the 2020 season. Majchrzak of Poland. — Agencies Cavani, Mbappe injured as PSG’s I tried to copy problems pile Messi and LeBron: up despite win Griezmann

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain lost star strikers Edinson MADRID: copied Lionel Cavani and Kylian Mbappe to injuries on Sunday as Messi for the and LeBron James for the cele- the French champions’ problems continued to mount bration but it was his night for Barcelona on despite a 4-0 thrashing of Toulouse. Thomas Tuchel’s Sunday after he scored twice in a 5-2 win over men, who lost at Rennes last time out, have seen the . Griezmann imitated the basketball start of their season dominated by the Neymar trans- superstar by tossing confetti into the air to cele- fer saga. brate his second at Camp Nou, a curling effort The Brazilian was once again left out of the matchday into the corner that he said was inspired by squad at the Parc des Princes amid rumours of a move watching Messi. to Real Madrid or return to Barcelona, and Tuchel saw “I saw Leo do this in training, so I tried to copy his strikeforce totally dismantled as Cavani and Mbappe him,” said Griezmann. “And for the celebration, I both hobbled off — as did centre-back Abdou Diallo. like the ritual that LeBron did so we tried to do it as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored a second-half well.” Yet Griezmann was the star, if only for the night with Messi in the stands, the Argentinian still double, but only after coming on as a substitute for the PARIS: Toulouse’s French defender Bafode Diakite (L) vies with Paris Saint-Germain’s Cameroon forward Eric-Maxim injured Cavani, while Mbappe also departed the scene short of fitness following a calf injury. Choupo-Moting during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse (TFC) at the A brilliant Barcelona performance also delivered after appearing to pull up with a hamstring injury fol- Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. — AFP lowing a trademark burst into the box. a resounding response to the doubts arising from “We will wait for the tests,” said coach Tuchel. their defeat by Athletic Bilbao last weekend, among “These are different injuries, in different actions. With Neymar looking increasingly likely to be head- Visiting left-back Mathieu Goncalves scored a them a reliance on Messi, the need for Neymar and “There’s not a single explanation, we have to look for ing to the exit door, PSG’s woes deepened when they calamitous 55th-minute own goal by slicing a tame, the future of Ernesto Valverde as coach. all the possible reasons. I’m disappointed because we’re lost another member of their fabled ‘MCN’ forward line bouncing ball away from Reynet’s gloves and into the But as Carles Perez, and Arturo talking about that when we’ve been very strong.” as Cavani left the pitch in the 14th minute to be replaced roof of the net. Vidal made it three, four and five, the gloom was The capital-city giants sit three points behind early by the usually much less potent Choupo-Moting. A difficult night for PSG got worse when Angel Di forgotten, along with Nabil Fekir’s opener in the Ligue 1 pace-setters Rennes, who made it three wins Silva was introduced before half-time as Diallo, a Maria, who would be expected to step up in the possi- 15th minute, that had Betis level at half-time. from three by beating Strasbourg 2-0. Tuchel respond- close-season signing from , also ble absences of Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe, saw a “After a defeat, there is always a big reaction,” ed to last weekend’s defeat by making three changes to broke down injured. The home side started the second penalty comfortably saved by Reynet. Griezmann said. “We really wanted to play anoth- his starting XI, including dropping captain Thiago Silva period well, though, and it was Choupo-Moting — But former Stoke player Choupo-Moting suggested er game and when so many players are missing, to the bench. whose stint at PSG has so far been best known for a he may be able to shoulder some of the burden, slotting the team steps up.” Mbappe twice came close to settling any early shocking miss last season against Strasbourg — who in his second and PSG’s third with 15 minutes remaining Loren Moron slammed a late strike into the top nerves in the first four minutes, but was denied both turned past one defender, span around another, and before Marquinhos’ late header added further gloss to corner for Betis but by then the game was up as times by Toulouse goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet. drilled the ball into the bottom corner. the scoreline. — AFP Barca ensured no further ground was lost on Atletico Madrid, who beat Leganes 1-0 earlier on Sunday, or Real Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 academy, the forward grew up in the small town of draw on Saturday by Real Valladolid. Who is Ansu Fati, Herrera, 120 kilometres away from and he started Barcelona will hope to have Messi back for the his career with Sevilla. It did not take long for Spain’s big Court backs tax trip to Osasuna next weekend but with Luis Suarez clubs to start circling, with Real Madrid and Barca taking and Ousmane Dembele both out for longer, Barcelona’s latest interest in the nine-year-old. Griezmann’s statement display was timely. “Real Madrid offered better money than Barca,” his evasion case Whether it also affects the club’s attempts to talented youngster? father said. “But they were the ones who came to my prise Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain remains house with the contract and convinced me. When Sevilla against German to be seen. “I have to admit today was an impor- MADRID: Ansu Fati made history for Barcelona during found out they were angry and they didn’t play him for a tant day for Antoine,” said Valverde. The crowd their 5-2 victory over Real Betis as he became the sec- year.” Fati joined Barca aged 10 in 2012. It is not just Ansu FA ex-bosses also enjoyed a goal from the 21-year-old Perez, ond-youngest player to represent the Catalan giants in who is a talented footballer, with both his brothers also on making his first Barca start, and a substitute aged 16 years and 298 days. Barca’s books. Brahima, 21, is on loan at Calahorra from BERLIN: Four former top football officials face appearance from Anssumane Fati, who at 16 Here are some facts about the club’s latest starlet. the Camp Nou while his younger brother plays in the trial in Germany after a Frankfurt court ruled became the second youngest player ever to play Ansu, full name Anssumane Fati, was born in the small same youth team as Thiago Messi, son of Lionel. yesterday they must answer tax evasion charges for the club in La Liga. west African nation of Guinea-Bissau in October 2002 Such is the club’s faith in him, the forward recently linked to the 2006 World Cup vote-buying scan- was at fault for Betis’ opener as and moved to Spain, where his father Bori had settled. signed a deal that will keep him there until 2022 which dal. The court ruled that ex-German Football he gave the ball away, allowing Fekir to drive in his “He came over here aged six or seven, I’d come over contains a 100 million euro release clause. He was called Association (DFB) presidents Wolfsgang debut goal since he moved from Lyon in July. But before and didn’t know that he played football,” Bori told up by coach Ernesto Valverde following injuries to Messi, Niersbach and Theo Zwanziger, as well as former Barca were undeterred and after Rafinha missed an Spanish radio station COPE. “Everyone told me I had no Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele after impressing for general secretary Horst R. Schmidt, are accused excellent chance to equalise, Griezmann took over, idea how good my son was, he ran rings round everyone.” the Under-19 team in pre-season despite being three of tax evasion, or aiding and abetting it, over a volleying in on the stretch four minutes before half- Despite being the latest gem to emerge from Barca’s years younger than most of his team mates. — Reuters 6.7 million euros ($7.5 million) slush fund. time, past the weak hand of Dani Martin. The Swiss Urs Linsi, former general-secretary If Griezmann’s first owed something to the goal- of world football’s governing body FIFA, will also keeper, his second was unstoppable. He collected stand trial alongside the Germans with all four the ball 25 yards out and used Sidnei as a marker under “sufficient suspicion” of tax fraud, accord- to bend his shot around the defender and inside ing to a court statement. the far post. A shadow has been thrown over Germany’s Griezmann ran to the corner where confetti was successful hosting of the 2006 World Cup, often poured into his hands. He threw it into the air refered to as “Das Sommermaerchen” or Summer above his head. Barca were relentless as Perez Fairytale, which became a nightmare for organis- steered a third into the bottom corner and Alba ers after accusations emerged in 2015 of a vote- made it four, latching onto a superb Busquets pass buying fund to secure the finals. On Monday, the inside the full-back. court validated an indictment against the quartet, There was still time for two scintillating strikes, who deny the charges. This paves the way for a the first from Vidal, who was slid in by Griezmann, trial, overturning a regional court’s decision last and the second by Loren, who was given too much October to reject a tax evasion case. —AFP space. It was no more than a consolation. Barcelona stay behind Atletico, who maintained their perfect start with another 1-0 victory, this time over Leganes as Vitolo came off the bench to score a second-half winner at Butarque. Joao Felix, Atletico’s 126 million-euro ($140 mil- Matches on TV lion) buy from Benfica and much-hailed replace- (Local Timings) ment for Griezmann, was again quiet but again delivered the match’s most memorable moment. The 19-year-old’s perfectly-timed pass provided FRENCH LEAGUE set Vitolo free while Felix had been picked out by BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Guinea-Bissau forward Ansu Fati controls the ball during the Spanish League foot- Montpellier HSC v Olympique Lyonnais 20:00 Kieran Trippier, who was faultless on his second ball match between Barcelona and Real Betis at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. — AFP beIN SPORTS Atletico start. — AFP