FOOTBALL | Page 6 Emery seeks Europa win to salvage season

Monday, May 27, 2019 CRICKET Ramadan 22, 1440 AH Old warhorse GULF TIMES Malinga keeps Lanka dreaming SPORT Page 3

FOOTBALL/ U-20 WORLD CUP Qatar facing crucial test against Ukraine

By Sports Reporter takes they made in their clash against topped their group thanks to wins the Ukrainians. Coach Miguel is a fi rm Tychy, Poland Nigeria last Friday. The Maroons were over hosts and Chinese Taipei. They believer in the ability of Ali to spear- second best throughout the game as defeated Thailand 7-3 in the quarter- head his side to success over the next the Africans scored four goals to ease fi nals after extra-time to secure their few weeks. And not without good rea- atar will have to bounce back to an easy victory. U-20 World Cup spot before losing to son, following the forward’s fi ve-goal from their defeat against Ni- “Our start was not successful, said South Korea in the semis. haul at the Asian Cup, an impressive re- geria if they are to keep their Qatar’s Yousif Abdulrasaq. “We played against a Abdulrasaq was hoping for a similar turn that has Qatar pinning their hopes chances alive in the FIFA Un- Abdulrasaq. strong side but that doesn’t mean we turnaround this time. “I know we will on the young striker. der-20Q World Cup in Poland. won’t compete well. We were caught fi ght in our remaining group matches. After the match against Nigeria, Bruno Miguel’s boys face Ukraine in up in mistakes and I urge my team- Our coaching staff is trying their best Miguel said Qatar players fought well Tychy today and a loss today will mean mates that we don’t commit the same to work with the boys ahead of the against ‘one of the best teams in the Qatar’s destiny won’t be in their hands mistakes,” he said yesterday, after a next two matches. We want to reach world’. going into the fi nal Group D match training session. the next round of the tournament and “We played against Nigeria who are against USA. Ukraine beat USA in their This Qatar team is capable of mak- for that to happen, we must be win the one of the best teams in the World Cup. opener and will seal their spot in the ing a comeback as they did in the AFC next two matches,” the centre forward The physical fi tness was diff erence be- last 16 if they win. Nigeria, who face U-19 Championship last year, where added. tween the two sides. I have to say the USA today, will also be gunning for a of the road for the Qatar; the tourna- groups to also progress. they booked their ticket to Poland. Qatar, who were runners-up in the pitch was not at the required level. We victory and a place in the round of 16. ment’s 24-team format allows the four Qatar forward Yousif Abdulrasaq Having lost their opener to United 1981 edition of the event, will be hoping still have two matches to go,” Miguel Even a defeat does not mean the end best third-placed countries from the urged his teammates to avoid mis- Arab Emirates in Indonesia, Qatar forward for Hashim Ali to fi re against said.

FORMULA 1 This is for Niki: Hamilton wins emotional Monaco GP The result extended Mercedes’ run of season-opening wins to six, but brought an end to their sequence of one-two triumphs

AFP Monaco RESULTS AND STANDINGS

ewis Hamilton resisted in- RACE tense race-long pressure yesterday to secure a nar- 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 43min 28.437sec, Lrow, dramatic and emo- 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 2.602, 3. Valtteri tional victory for Mercedes at the Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 3.162, 4. Max Verstappen (NED/ Monaco Grand Prix. Red Bull-Honda) 5.537, 5. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull- The defending fi ve-time world Honda) 9.946, 6. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) champion and current series 53.454, 7. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Honda), 54.574 leader, who came home less than 8. Alexander Albon (THA/Toro Rosso-Honda) 55.200, a second ahead of Red Bull’s Max 9. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1:00.894, 10. Romain Verstappen, said he survived the Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1:01.034, 11. Lando Norris Dutchman’s late attacks by “fi ght- (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 1:06.801, 12. Kevin Magnussen ing with the spirit of Niki (Lauda)”. (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap, 13. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing He lifted his red helmet in tribute Point-Mercedes) 1 lap, 14. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Re- to the three-time champion Aus- nault) 1 lap, 15. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) trian and non-executive chairman 1 lap, 16. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1 of Mercedes who died last Monday. lap, 17. Kimi Räikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) Verstappen, who was involved 1 lap, 18. Robert Kubica (POL/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap a pit-lane collision with Valtteri Bottas during the race, was classi- Fastest lap: Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull-Honda) fi ed fourth after taking a fi ve sec- 1:14.279 on the 72nd lap onds penalty. This elevated four- time champion Sebastian Vettel DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP to second for Ferrari and lifted the 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 137 points, 2. Valtteri Bottas luckless Bottas to third in the sec- (FIN) 120, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 82, 4. Max Verstap- ond Mercedes. Both joined Ham- pen (NED) 78, 5. Charles Leclerc (MON) 57, 6. Pierre ilton in donning red ‘Niki’ hats in Gasly (FRA) 32, 7. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 18, 8. Kevin tribute to Lauda for the podium Magnussen (DEN) 14, 9. Sergio Perez (MEX) 13, 10. Kimi ceremonies. Raikkonen (FIN) 13, 11. Lando Norris (GBR) 12, 12. Daniil “Lewis, it’s James... Incredible Kvyat (RUS) 9, 13. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 8, 14. Alex- drive,” said Mercedes’ strategist ander Albon (THA) 7, 15. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 6, 16. James Vowles before team boss Lance Stroll (CAN) 4, 17. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 2 Toto Wolff told him: “That was for Niki.” CONSTRUCTORS “That was the hardest race I 1. Mercedes 257, 2. Ferrari 139, 3. Red Bull-Honda 110, think I’ve had,” said Hamilton. “I 4. McLaren-Renault 30, 5. Racing Point-Mercedes 17, 6. was fi ghting with the spirit of Niki. Haas-Ferrari 16, 7. Toro Rosso Honda 16, 8. Renault 12, 9. He’s been truly an infl uential per- Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 13 son in our team and we miss him.” Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton points at the name of late Formula One legend Niki Lauda on his helmet after winning the Monaco Formula 1 Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Grand Prix at the Monaco street circuit yesterday. Pierre Gasly came home fi fth ahead of Carlos Sainz of McLaren, Daniil At the start, Hamilton led Bottas inside Grosjean at Rascasse. As rain a fi ve-second penalty, announced “No, it’s all fi ne,” replied Mercedes. Kvyat and his Toro Rosso teammate through Sainte Devote and up the fell, his Monegasque fans leapt in on lap 22. By then, Leclerc’s cameo “I think I’m in big trouble guys,” Alex Albon. hill, the pair maintaining a Silver celebration. was done, the showman retiring Hamilton repeated, on lap 50, to be Daniel Ricciardo, last year’s win- Arrows one-two ahead of Verstap- But a lap later, trying to pass with his “terrible” car. told Mercedes had no intention of ner for Red Bull, was ninth for Re- pen into Casino Square. Nico Hulkenberg’s Renault, he Verstappen’s collision with Bot- pitting again. Lapping back mark- nault ahead of Romain Grosjean of Sporting a new red helmet in made contact and spun, punctur- tas had caused a puncture for the ers had slowed him, allowing the Haas. tribute Lauda, Hamilton raced ing his right rear tyre against the Finn who had to pit again for new top four to close within four sec- It was Hamilton’s third win in with all the elan shown in se- barriers. Leclerc limped back to the hard tyres. He re-joined fourth onds. Monaco and the 77th win of his ca- curing his 85th pole on Satur- Ferrari pits as a safety car was de- behind Vettel as Hamilton led the Hamilton’s dramas intensifi ed, reer opening up a clear lead in the day while his team wore black ployed. rampant Dutchman. but engineer Pete Bonnington title race. armbands and, like many others, “The tyres are starting to fall Verstappen pushed Hamilton, stayed calm. “These tyres are dead. The result extended Mercedes’ carried messages on their cars, apart,” warned Hamilton, before who complained his front left was We’re going to lose this race Bono,” run of season-opening wins to a poignant sight after a pre-race Mercedes double-stacked his pit- “opening up”, to maximum con- he radioed again. six, but brought an end to their minute’s silence had created a stop with Bottas. Verstappen came centration. Yet he stayed half a second sequence of one-two triumphs, sombre mood. in with them and was released By lap 42, Hamilton led him by ahead and resisted a lunge from buoying up Ferrari despite another Leclerc, near the back of the grid alongside Bottas, forcing the Finn six-tenths with Vettel third, 1.7 sec- the Dutchman on lap 76. They mixed weekend that saw local hero following Ferrari’s qualifying bun- into the barriers as he stole second onds adrift, ahead of Bottas. “I feel touched, but continued, Hamilton Second placed Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel Charles Leclerc, who started 15th, gles, was 13th after two laps and place. like I have the wrong tyre on,” said cutting the chicane to retain the smiles as he is presented his trophy by Princess Charlene retire in the opening stages. 12th on lap eight when he swept The stewards gave Verstappen Hamilton, running on mediums. initiative and win. of Monaco. Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 27, 2019 SPORT

GOLF LPGA Hataoka and Law share Kingsmill lead Na takes two-shot so that was huge to keep that go- AFP Washington ing,” said Law, who fi nished with six birdies and two bogeys in her four-under 67. “That was really apan’s Nasa Hataoka my goal when I teed up on 18.” eagled the par-fi ve 15th in a The leading pair were one six-under par 65 Saturday stroke in front of Song, who card- to grab a share of the 54- ed a 68 to drop out of the leading lead into fi nal Jhole lead with Bronte Law at the group for the fi rst time all week, LPGA Pure Silk Championship in and Canadian Brooke Hender- Williamsburg, Virginia. son, who had eight birdies in her Hataoka, who earned her third seven-under 64. LPGA title at the Kia Classic in It was a further shot back to Carlsbad, California, in March, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who had fi ve birdies in her fi rst 12 holes carded a 68 for 202. at Kingsmill Resort and bounced Song said unpredictable winds round at Colonial back from her lone bogey at the made for a challenging day. par-four 14th with an eagle at 15. “The wind was just switching Na seized the lead at 10-under par with back-to-back birdies at the first and second holes “I wasn’t thinking about where here and there,” she said. “It was I was going to get a bogey or any- kind of hard to make decisions AFP thing like that, so when it came, it with my club.” Los Angeles came,” Hataoka said. “Then I just Whatever the conditions Sun- cleared it.” day, Law said, she’ll have to stay She was in the clubhouse on aggressive if she is to have a shot evin Na fi red a one- 13-under 200 when Law, who at a fi rst LPGA title after six top- under par 69 to take a shared the overnight lead with 10 fi nishes. two-shot lead in the Americans Jennifer Song and Jac- “I think you have to keep push- US PGA Tour Charles qui Concolino, birdied the 18th to ing, you can’t sit on anything,” KSchwab Challenge, where three- join her. Law said. “At no point can you time major winner Jordan Spieth “I’ve led from the start and I stop making birdies, and you’ve was among those in hot pursuit. kind of wanted to continue that just got to limit those mistakes.” Na, in search of a fourth US PGA Tour title, started the day one off the lead of Sweden’s Jo- nas Blixt — who slid down the leaderboard with a four-over 74. Na seized the lead at 10-under par with back-to-back birdies at the fi rst and second holes at Co- lonial Country Club. An unlucky double-bogey at the par-fi ve 11th cost him the lead, but he steadied himself with a birdie at 13 to fi nish with a nine-under par total of 201. That put him two strokes clear of Spieth, fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Tony Finau, Taiwan’s Pan Cheng-tsung and Canadian MacKenzie Hughes, who shared second on 203. “After the double-bogey I hit a bad tee shot at the next hole and it looked like the wheels could fall off,” Na said. “But I stayed positive, tried to put the next one in play.” The Californian, who carded a 62 on Friday, believes Co- lonial is one of a handful of courses used on the PGA Tour that gives him a good chance at a title. Kevin Na of the United States reacts after playing a shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at the “Over the years I’ve had Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. some good rounds (at Colonial) and it’s a golf course you don’t Pan, a month removed from over 71. Pan said that after noting that the narrow fair- tory since the 2017 British have to overpower,” he said. his first PGA title at the Her- his Heritage victory he knows ways left little room for error. Open, opened his round with “You have to keep it in play. itage in Hilton Head, South what he needs to do on Sun- “Seventeen, you only have back-to-back birdies — rolling Nasa Hataoka of Japan watches her second shot on the third hole “From fairway in I’m a pretty Carolina, had four birdies in day to come away with anoth- probably 10 yards wide fair- in putts of 30 and 21 feet as his during the third round of the Pure Silk Championship on the River good player, so I think it plays his first 10 holes and briefly er trophy. “It’s only a month way. If you miss it you will mastery of Colonial’s greens Course at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. right into my game.” held the lead, but closed with ago, so I’m quite familiar with get blocked by a tree,” he said. continued. Hughes posted a bogey-free back-to-back bogeys at 17 and that,” he said. “You’ve just got “Eighteen, same thing. Obvi- He drained another long one 65, hitting his second shot 18 in a 68. Furyk and Spieth to hit really good shots.” ously the last two holes weren’t for a birdie at seven, although BOXING at the 18th to four feet for his also carded two-under rounds He wasn’t too discouraged my best, but that’s OK.” that would prove to be his last fifth birdie of the day. while Finau signed for a one- by his bogey-bogey finish, Spieth, seeking his first vic- birdie of the day. China’s Xu Can FORMULA 1 stops Kubo to retain Mercedes to keep permanent featherweight title red star for legend Lauda

Reuters Monte Carlo

ercedes will keep a red star on their For- mula One cars as a permanent remem- Mbrance of triple world champion Niki Lauda, the team’s non-ex- ecutive chairman who died last Monday. A red three-pointed star on Xu Can of China celebrates after winning his WBA featherweight the engine cover was one of boxing title bout against Shun Kubo of Japan in Fuzhou, China, several on-car tributes to the yesterday. Austrian at yesterday’s Monaco Grand Prix, with the ‘halo’ head AFP But he was on home soil for his protection device painted red as Shanghai fi rst defence and with the close- a reference to Lauda’s familiar knit arena in Fuzhou, southeast- red cap. ern China, fi rmly on his side, Xu “Niki we miss you,” is writ- hinese boxer Xu Can enjoyed success as early as the ten on top of the halo, while the successfully defended second round. nose of the car bears Lauda’s his WBA featherweight He rattled Kubo, back in the signature. title at the fi rst attempt ring after more than a year out The Austrian, who was 70, Cby stopping Japanese challenger because of an eye problem, to- wore a red cap to cover the burns Shun Kubo in round six yester- wards the end of the round and sustained in a fi ery 1976 crash at day. appeared to have more power and the Nuerburgring which almost The 25-year-old Xu is just pace in his punches. cost him his life. the third Chinese in history to The 29-year-old Kubo tar- The then-Ferrari driver, a hold a boxing world title, along geted the home boxer’s body, but two-times Monaco Grand Prix with WBC minimumweight Xu was the aggressor and caught winner, returned within weeks titlist Xiong Zhaozhong and the Japanese fl ush once more to- and battled James Hunt for the WBO flyweight champion Zou wards the end of the third round. championship, losing out that Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) takes off his helmet next to second placed Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel after Shiming. Wearing red trunks with yel- year but winning again in 1977 the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix yesterday. Xu, who improves to 17-2 (3 low trim — the colours of China and 1984. KOs), holds the lesser version of — Xu began the fi fth in style, “I’m really happy how we grid for the showcase race, with “To beat those records is and look set to celebrate their of changing my life,” said the the WBA’s two featherweight ti- rocking Kubo and piling in on started off this weekend with fi ve-times world champion and something that makes me very sixth successive top-two fi nish Briton. tles, but the ease of his victory is him. the red halo, and the little star overall leader Lewis Hamilton proud, very proud for the team,” this season. “If I hadn’t had the call all more evidence that he is a force Kubo was in trouble and hit the — which is going to stay on the on pole position. said Wolff . “But as Niki would Hamilton paid a moving trib- that time ago, I would be a one to be reckoned with in the weight canvas with 23 seconds left in the car forever — and the signature,” That pole position was also say it’s all not worth anything ute to Lauda after qualifying on time World Champion now and class. The Chinese scored a stun- round following a pinpoint Xu said team principal Toto Wolff . a record for Hamilton as his if you don’t win the champion- Saturday, highlighting the role probably 22 wins... and I sit here ning upset of Puerto Rico’s Jesus left hook. “It was nicely done.” 59th for a single team, beating ship.” he had played in his 2013 move a fi ve-time world champion and Rojas with a 12-round unani- Kubo beat the count and just Mercedes have both their Michael Schumacher’s 58 with Mercedes have won the fi rst from McLaren to Mercedes. I defi nitely feel like I owe him a mous decision victory in January about survived to the bell, but it cars on the front row of the Ferrari. fi ve races of the season one-two “He was part of the process lot.” in Houston. was just a matter of time. Gulf Times Monday, May 27, 2019 3 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT WORLD CUP Kohli sees positives in lower order Old warhorse despite NZ drubbing

Reuters London

ndia skipper Virat Kohli Malinga keeps preferred to highlight the positives from their six- wicket defeat to New Zea- Iland in a Cricket World Cup warm-up on Saturday and was particularly pleased with the performance of the lower order. Twice champions India Lanka dreaming slumped to 39-4 in the 11th over before all-rounders Hardik Pan- Pacer reminded the world of his qualities when he took 16 wickets for Mumbai in IPL dya (30) and Ravindra Jadeja (54) off ered some resistance. All out AFP for 179 in the 40th over, India Colombo were then unable to contain New Zealand’s batsmen and a 114-run progressed. stand from skipper Kane Wil- “It’s going to be very diff er- asith Malinga will be one liamson (67) and Ross Taylor ent when batting second and we of the World Cup’s old- 27 - 05 -2019 (71) helped them to victory with saw that in the later half of our est players but the Sri nearly 13 overs to spare. innings as well,” said Kohli, who Lanka paceman shows “The one thing we spoke made 18 before losing his stump Lno signs of slowing down as he about in a tournament like the to Colin de Grandhomme. bids to prove his critics wrong. World Cup is, you could eas- Jadeja said they were not wor- Malinga was stripped of the ily have your top order out for ried despite the batting collapse. Sri Lanka one-day international not too many, so the lower order “The wicket was soft in the captaincy in April after los- has to look forward to that and I fi rst 15-20 overs but it got better ing all eight matches in a trou- think Hardik batted really well,” and better,” said the left-hander. bled reign that lasted just four Kohli said. “Coming from India where months. “MS (Dhoni) absorbs the you play on fl at, low-bounce Sri Lanka’s selectors, led by pressure really well and Jadeja wickets, suddenly you’re in former fast bowler Ashantha de got a few runs as well, so I think England and batting fi rst on a Mel, said Malinga was unable from that point of view, we got spongy wicket. to unite the team, while he was a lot out of this game, which is “It was diffi cult... but nothing also accused of falling out with what we wanted to. The lower to worry, we’ll do whatever little other senior players. order getting some runs that was bit of tuning is needed.” That hammer blow report- the biggest positive.” India begin their bid for a third edly prompted Malinga to con- Kohli said The Oval surface World Cup title against South sider retirement, but he opted got easier to bat on as the game Africa in Southampton on June 5. to stay on after being named in the World Cup squad. The 35-year-old recently re- minded the world of his endur- Win over India means little for ing qualities when he claimed 16 World Cup, says NZ’s Taylor wickets for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. New Zealand have moved to quarter-final and semi-final He produced a sensational temper expectations ahead at home before the final in fi nal over in the Twenty20 fi nal of the Cricket World Cup after Melbourne, which they lost by against Chennai Super Kings to their six-wicket victory over seven wickets to Australia. hand Mumbai a record fourth India in a warmup match on “I think that’s what makes Eng- IPL title. Malinga frequently Saturday, with conditions likely land the favourites,” Taylor said. hits speeds of over 86 miles- to be more conducive to bat- “They know these conditions per-hour (138kph), while his ting during the tournament. very well. “But there is a lot of devastating slower balls were New Zealand skittled India out cricket and some good cricket in evidence during the IPL, a for 179 in the 40th over at needing to be played before we welcome sign for embattled Sri game. Malinga fi rst burst into Ross Taylor top scored with 71 even think about semi-finals Lanka ahead of the World Cup World Cup warm-ups abandoned due to rain global prominence after claim- as the 2015 finalists coasted to and finals. If you get off to a in England and Wales, which ing four wickets in four balls 180-4 in 38 overs. good start and get onto a bit of starts on May 30. World Cup warm-up matches between South Hashim Amla making 51 and Quinton de Kock 37. against South Africa at the 2007 The 35-year-old Taylor, how- a roll and make the semi-finals With several inexperienced Africa and West Indies and Pakistan and In the other warm-up game, Pakistan against World Cup. ever, said New Zealand had the then you’re only two wins away bowlers in Sri Lanka’s squad, Bangladesh were both abandoned due to rain Bangladesh in Cardiff was abandoned without a In the 2011 edition, Mal- benefit of exploiting a green- from lifting the trophy.” Malinga, with 322 ODI wickets yesterday. In Bristol, South Africa had reached ball being bowled. The bad weather was frustrat- inga grabbed another hat-trick topped pitch early on, which Opening bowler Trent Boult, to his name, is expected to be 55-0 before play was halted for the first time as ing for South Africa, who are scheduled to play against Kenya, and went on to saw them reduce Virat Kohli’s who took 4-33 off 6.2 overs the cutting edge to the team’s rain began to fall. hosts England in the World Cup’s opening match bowl a memorable new-ball side to 39-4 in the 11th over. against India, added that pitch- attack. Once he got over the Although there were two more brief interludes at the Oval on Thursday. West Indies begin their spell in the fi nal against India, “It is a warm-up and you have es around England and Wales shock of losing the captaincy, when play was able to resume, the match was campaign against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on when he grabbed the prized to take what you want out of it,” were already starting to look Malinga’s appetite for the game eventually called off just after 1500 GMT. Friday. Bangladesh’s first match is against South scalps of Sachin Tendulkar and Taylor told reporters. dry, which would aid batters as returned as he shuttled between South Africa had scored 95-0 in 12.4 overs, with Africa at the Oval on June 2. Virender Sehwag in quick suc- “Time out in the middle for the tournament progressed. Sri Lanka and India to play in cession. most of the batters is crucial.” “It was nice to see it swinging the domestic tournament and If Sri Lanka are to have any Taylor added that familiarity around a little bit and I would fulfi l his IPL commitments. Sangakkara and Tillakaratne De Mel believes did not fully get the best out of the old war- chance of repeating their 1996 with conditions should benefit like to see that everywhere but Malinga was Sri Lanka’s cap- Dilshan. back the quick bowler as skip- horse. magic, when they won the tour- tournament hosts England, with there are some good wickets tain when they won the 2014 But following the retirement per. New captain Dimuth Karu- Some of Malinga’s most nament under Arjuna Rana- New Zealand experiencing a around the country... (and) I World T20 title with a host of of Sri Lanka’s big guns, a new naratne’s fi rst major goal will be memorable performances have tunga, they need Malinga fi t and similar boost in 2015 when they think the other wickets look stalwarts by his side including crop of players made their way to bring a hurting Malinga back come at the World Cup, where fi ring in what is likely to be his played all of their pool matches, quite dry,” Boult said. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar into the side, a group selector into the fold to ensure the team the bowler frequently raises his fi nal World Cup.

FOCUS Smith blocks out jeers and warns of more runs to come Reuters posed and calm at the crease and London hitting the balls I want to, to the Australia expected boundary. Hopefully I can keep it up.” ‘ruthless’ England fans, hants of “cheat” ac- Smith’s composure did not says Lyon companied Steve Smith slip even when the home crowd as he came out to bat heckled him over the ball-tam- Australia spinner Nathan Lyon insists his team against England on Sat- pering scandal. were prepared for the “ruthless” reaction from urdayC but the Australian bats- “I heard a few things when I England fans to Steve Smith and David Warner. man was unfazed by the hostile went out to bat but it didn’t get Australia duo Smith and Warner were given a reception and says he is focused to me,” Smith said. torrid time by the Southampton crowd during fi rmly on maintaining his form “I guess everyone is entitled their World Cup warm-up victory over England ahead of the Cricket World Cup. to their opinion in how they on Saturday. Smith, who was stripped want to treat people but it’s just It was the shamed pair’s first appearance of the captaincy and served a water off a duck’s back to me. I against the English since the end of one-year 12-month ban for ball-tamper- was just trying to keep my head bans for their role in the sandpaper ball-tamper- ing, scored a century in Austral- down, move straight ahead and ing scandal in South Africa that plunged Austral- ia’s 12-run win over England in a do my job.” ian cricket into crisis in 2018. warm-up game in Southampton, Smith, who played mostly in There were audible boos, jeers and chants of continuing his run of good form domestic Twenty20 tourna- “cheat”, a soundtrack that Warner and Smith will since returning to the side. ments around the world and need to get used to as the World Cup progresses The 29-year-old scored 89 some club cricket in Sydney be- and then gives way to the Ashes series against not out and 91 not out against fore his ban ended in late March, England. But neither man seemed to fret over New Zealand in warm-up games had elbow surgery earlier this the welcome, Smith with a match-winning 116 in Brisbane earlier this month year and he said it was still on and Warner making 43, and Lyon was far from before scoring 116 from 102 balls the mend. shocked by what he heard. on Saturday. “The elbow is coming along “It was as expected - they’re ruthless over here,” Prior to his ban for his role in pretty well,” Smith said. “I he said. “I’ve had two Ashes tours and a one-day a ball-tampering scandal during haven’t really had to test it yet series over here and haven’t experienced any- a Test series against South Af- throwing-wise. thing else. They’re ruthless and there’s not much rica, Smith had scored 383 runs “I’d say I’m about 80 percent love. They haven’t changed their lines in the last in 15 one-day internationals in- throwing-wise but I’m hoping it 12 months.” nings at an average of 29.46, can progress a little bit more in England cricketers going back several genera- well below his career average of the week leading up to the World tions might be surprised at Lyon’s characterisa- 41.84. “I was actually a little bit Cup.” tion, particularly given the disappointed with my one day Smith added that the injury heckling that takes place in Australia. Lyon form (before the ban),” Smith would not aff ect him bowling his played the provocateur in 2017 when he talked told reporters. legpsinners if required during of ending English careers and rounded on “So it was nice to spend a bit the tournament in England and former wicketkeeper Matt Prior. of time in the middle. Wales. Five-times champions “I’m very competitive and I don’t think I’m going “But I’m not reading too much Australia face Sri Lanka in their to change very much,” he said. into it. They are just practice fi nal warm-up match in South- “I will play the cricket I’ve always played and games but hopefully I can keep ampton on Monday before their make sure I wear my heart on my sleeve. I will up the form as we head into the World Cup opener against Af- Australia’s Steve Smith bats during the 2019 Cricket World Cup warm up match between England and Australia at the Rose be competing against whoever we’re playing.” real stuff . “I am feeling com- ghanistan in Bristol on June 1. Bowl in Southampton. (AFP) Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 27, 2019 SPORT

RAMADAN CRICKET QS Tec beat Serandib to claim Division II title By Sports Reporter Doha

S Tec defeated Serandib by three runs in the Division II fi nal of 25th Gulf Incon Metabo Ramadan Cricket Tournament. QBatting fi rst after winning the toss, QS Tec made 103 for loss of three wickets in their al- lotted 12 overs. Fouzan scored 20 runs in four balls, Farhan Senior made 17 and Farhan Jr scored 15. Serandib started with 19 runs in the fi rst over, but despite that, they could only make 100 for the loss of six wickets in 12 overs. Chanaka top scored with 17 runs while Mafaz and Nifros made 15 each. Haleem of QS Tec took four wickets for 16 runs and bagged the man-of-the-match award. Irshad of Al Fardan was adjudged best bats- man of the tournament, while Firdous of Alli- ance was declared best bowler. Best all-round- er award went to Farhan Juinor of QS Tec and . Mafaz of Serandib received best wicket- keeper award. Metabo/Gulf Incon’s Sajjad Ahmed Khan, Rajkumar Selvarajan, Ramesh Natarajan and Vincent Vimaldas were present at the prize distribution ceremony. QCA national coach appointed by Asian Cricket Council Shahid Mehboob, QCA Head of Domestic Cricket Gul Khan, QCA Offi cial Umpires and Qatar Veterans Cricket offi cials Tahir Mehmood and Naseen were the guests of honour. QS Tec players and off icials celebrate with the trophies.

CYCLING BADMINTON/ SUDIRMAN CUP Momota stunned as China win with Cataldo wins 15th Japan whitewash

AFP same when the 24-year-old Nanning, China Momota won the fi rst game 21- 15, but Shi suddenly found his rhythm and his Japanese rival hi Yuqi stunned world caved spectacularly. stage of Giro d’Italia champion Kento Mo- The 23-year-old Shi raced mota as hosts China to the second game 21-5 and ‘He could attack unexpectedly, up or down, in a key stage or on a transitional stage’ whitewashed Japan for took that searing momentum anS 11th Sudirman Cup title into the decider, winning the AFP contenders took terrifying risks yesterday. third game - and with it the Como, Italy on the fi nal descent. He had Japan have never won the Sudirman Cup - 21-11. to exchange bikes with a team badminton world mixed-team Shi sealed the championship mate and came in 51 seconds championship and their search with a smash and was mobbed stana’s Dario Cataldo behind the winner in a trio that goes on after they were well by his team-mates, who raced won the 15th stage of also contained Trek-Segafre- beaten 3-0 in the Chinese city onto the court after his sur- the Giro d’Italia yes- do’s Dutchman Bauke Mollema. of Nanning. prise win. terday outsprinting the Roglic remains second overall, China’s dominant victory Momota said it had been “a otherA survivor of a long breaka- but is now 47 seconds behind over the top seeds is an omi- painful lesson” and admitted way, fellow Italian, Mattia Cat- Carapaz and a minute ahead of nous indication of the depth that he had felt the pressure taneo in Como. Nibali. they possess in their ranks knowing he had to win to keep Richard Carapaz, the overall with next summer’s Tokyo Ol- Japan in the fi nal. leader, fi nished 11 seconds be- RESULTS ympics on the horizon. “I was surprised that Shi hind with Simon Yates and Vin- 1. Dario Cataldo (ITA/Astana) 5hr China, the long-time pre- played this well,” he added, cenzo Nibali, but Primoz Roglic, 48min 15sec, 2. Mattia Cattaneo eminent power in the sport, also admitting that the rous- who came off his bike on the final (ITA/AND) same time, 3. Simon reclaim the trophy that they ing home support had aff ected descent, lost 40 seconds to the Yates (GBR/MIT) at 11sec, 4. lost to South Korea two years him. Ecuadorean. Hugh Carthy (GBR/EF1) s.t. 5. ago. If the Shi-Momota show- While Catalado and Cattaneo of Richard Carapaz (ECU/MOV) s.t., Roared on by a down fi zzled to a conclusion, Androni played cat and mouse up 6. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) s.t., 4,600-strong crowd, Shi in the Chen-Yamaguchi match the fi nal straight for the stage vic- 7. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/AST) the men’s singles and Chen was a thriller, ending with the tory, the heavyweight contenders 36, 8. Rafal Majka (POL/BOR) Yufei in the women’s both im- Chinese prevailing 17-21, 21- were fi ghting a desperate battle for s.t., 9. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ pressively recovered from go- 16, 21-17. seconds behind them at the end of BAH) s.t., 10. Mikel Landa (ESP/ ing a game behind. Both players fi nished the the 232-kilometre stage. MOV) s.t. China went 1-0 up through match on the court fl oor, Chen Briton Yates, of Mitchelton OVERALL STANDINGS their men’s doubles and then on her back in celebration and Scott, Movistar’s Carapaz and 1. Richard Carapaz (ECU/MOV) took a 2-0 lead overall after her opponent on her backside Italian Nibali of Bahrain Merida, Team Astana rider Italy’s Dario Cataldo celebrates on podium after winning the stage fifteen of the 102nd 64hr 24min 0sec, 2. Primoz a captivating clash between in desolation. along with a second Briton Hugh Giro d’Italia yesterday. (AFP) Roglic (SLO/JUM) at 47sec, 3. Chen and Akane Yamaguchi. “I feel that I played a bit Carthy of Education First, man- Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) 1:47, Japan needed their talisman slow in the beginning, which aged to escape in the closing stag- ways been an inspiration,” said That’s a champion’s mindset. Spaniard Mikel Landa, Mov- 4. Rafal Majka (POL/BOR) 2:35, 5. to beat Shi to keep the tie alive caused me to waste a lot of en- es to fi nish just 11 seconds behind the 34 year-old Sicilian, who has “Nibali said Tour of Spain istar’s team leader, was part of a Mikel Landa (ESP/MOV) 3:15, 6. - but Momota buckled. ergy,” said 21-year-old Chen, Cataldo. Yates snatched third to won four major tours. “He could champion Yates had demonstrat- quintet that fi nished 36 seconds Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 3:38, The world number one had explaining how she surged pick up a four-second bonus. attack unexpectedly, up or down, ed better form.” behind the winners. 7. Jan Polanc (SLO/UAE) 4:12, 8. defeated second-ranked Shi back from going a game down Nibali was greeted at the fi n- in a key stage or on a transitional “He is more than fi ve minutes Slovenian Roglic, who started Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) 5:24, 9. four times in fi ve previous and also losing in the third. ish by the 36-year-old Alberto stage.” away,” Nibali said, “but he has the day seven seconds behind Pavel Sivakov (RUS/INE) 5:48, meetings, including last year’s “I couldn’t keep up with her, Contador, winner of seven Grand “He didn’t want to be second shown that his condition is im- Carapaz, rode into a barrier 10. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/ world championship fi nal. but after a change in my game Tours. “I told him that he has al- or third, he was just riding to win. proving.” taking a corner too wide as the AST) 5:55 It looked like more of the strategy, I took the lead.”

FOCUS QSL runs match analysis-course for Aspire’s administrators n fulfi lment of the collabora- Heitor, Head of Football Develop- ball Development Department and tion between Aspire Acade- ment at the QSL, who oversaw the we are defi nitely going to make the my’s Football Administrations course that he ran with by his col- best possible use of it in the fu- Department and the Football leagues Fahad Fakhroo, Football ture”, said Saeed al-Marri, Football IDevelopment Department of the Development Offi cer at the QSL, Administration Manager at Aspire Qatar Stars League (QSL), a course and Samir Brikci, Performance Academy. titled “Introduction of Match Analyst at the QSL. “It was a pleasure for us to be here Analysis” was held from May 19 to Besides the introduction of the at Aspire Academy and we hope it 22 at Aspire. main topic, they discussed the im- gave the attendees a better under- On initiative of QSL’s Executive pact of match analysis in football standing of what is important in Director of Competitions & Foot- players in connection with devel- match analysis. This was the fi rst of ball Development Ahmed Khel- oping their mental skills. Further- probably many courses that we are lil Abbassi and Aspire Academy’s more, several available tools that going to have in the future as part of Football Administration Manager are currently on the market for this cooperation between the QSL Saeed al-Marri, this four-day-long match analysis such as state-of- Football Development Department course was tailor-made for the ad- the-art technologies and software. and Aspire Academy’s Football Op- ministrative staff of Aspire Acad- They also presented players’ erations and it’s benefi cial for both emy’s football program and focused profi les, explained how the use the of us to exchange knowledge as well on the importance of match analy- data eff ectively and how to be ob- as theoretical and practical experi- sis in the football industry. jective in the analysis. On the last ence”, said Miguel Heitor, who also “We have been working in this day of the workshop, the mile- stressed to importance of this col- fi eld since 2007 and we accumu- stones of the ‘QSL Match Analysis- laboration. lated a lot of experience in terms of Project’ that was launched in 2007 “This is a natural initiative. software and technologies. Now we with a research phase before being The football stakeholders in Qa- have been trying to transfer these implemented in the QSL clubs in tar are like a family and everyone fi ndings to the football admin- 2010, were shown to the attendees. is working for the same goal, the istrative professionals at Aspire “The things we learnt about same purpose and we all want the Academy with the aim to show that match analysis are going to help to best possible football in Qatar. We it is benefi cial for administrators to improve the working relationship just need to align the strategy and have a deeper experience in match between coaches, players and ad- make sure that strengths of each analysis in order to gain a bet- ministrators. This course is a good entity join forces to get the best ter understanding of the needs of example how we can benefi t from possible outcome for the good of coaches and players,” said Miguel the collaboration with QSL’s Foot- the game.” Participants pose during the ‘Introduction of Match Analysis’ course at Aspire Academy. Gulf Times Monday, May 27, 2019 5 SPORT

NBA MLB Mets’ Nido hits Raptors rally past walk-off in 13th Bucks for fi rst to beat Tigers Finals appearance ‘We beat a really good team in Milwaukee. But I’m not satisfied yet’ Reuters Toronto

he Toronto Raptors made history the hard way Saturday night, reaching the NBA Finals Tfor the fi rst time after rallying past the Milwaukee Bucks 100- 94 in Game 6. Trailing by 15 points with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter, the Raptors scored the fi nal 10 points of the frame. Then, with Kawhi Leonard on the bench for the fi rst 3:30 of the fourth quar- ter, they took a two-point lead. Leonard returned, and the New York Mets catcher Wilson Ramos hits an RB single during the game was in good hands. He fi n- fourth inning of the MLB game against Detroit Tigers in New York City, ished with 27 points — seven in United States, on Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports) the fourth quarter — a career-best 17 rebounds and seven assists. Reuters Mets a 4-3 lead. “Just one possession at a New York The Tigers tied the game in time,” Leonard said, describing the eighth, when Josh Harrison the comeback. “We kept fi ght- doubled with one out, went to ing the whole game.” omas Nido homered third on a groundout by Gray- The Raptors, who lost the leading off the bottom of son Greiner and scored on Jones’ fi rst two games of the Eastern the 13th inning Saturday single against Mets closer Edwin Conference fi nals before win- night as the New York Diaz, who was pitching in the ning four straight, will open the TMets fi nally outlasted the Detroit eighth inning for the fi rst time NBA Finals at home on Thursday Tigers, 5-4. this season. night against the Golden State The Mets are 5-1 on a seven- Both teams received surpris- Warriors. game homestand. The Tigers ingly strong performances from “It’s still surreal to me right have dropped 10 of 11. their starting pitchers. now,” Leonard said. “But this is The Mets loaded the bases Carpenter, who was recalled what we’ve been striving for all with one out and failed to score from Triple-A Toledo prior to the season. It’s not over yet.” Kyle Lowry (centre) of the Toronto Raptors walks off the court with the Eastern Conference Finals trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in the bottom of the 11th before game and entered Saturday with Pascal Siakam added 18 in game six of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday. (AFP) the Tigers did the same thing in an 8.90 ERA in eight big league points, Kyle Lowry had 17 and the top of the 12th. Nido, who appearances, allowed two runs Fred VanVleet scored 14 for the son for us. We feel like we’re just Lopez reduced it to two with a was the last player on the Mets’ (one earned) on two hits and no Raptors. getting started.” layup at 3:29. The Raptors went bench when he entered in the walks while striking out fi ve over “Kawhi stays level-headed “We have to get better as a up by fi ve on Siakam’s tip-in 11th inning, capped a four-hour fi ve innings. all the time,” Lowry said. “He team and get better as individu- with 2:06 to play. and 11-minute duel when he hit Mets left-hander Jason Var- brought that pedigree with him.” als,” Antetokounmpo said. “This Lopez made two free throws his fi rst walk-off homer off Buck gas, who hadn’t pitched in the “He inspired us tonight with is the beginning of a long jour- with 29.6 seconds to play, cut- Farmer (3-4). bigs since suff ering a left ham- monster rebounds,” Raptors ney for us.” ting the lead to three, but Mil- Hector Santiago (1-0) tossed string injury May 5, allowed one coach Nick Nurse added. “It “We had a great season, we waukee never had the ball with- two innings for the Mets, who re- run on fi ve hits and three walks wasn’t going well for us, it was just fell short of our goals,” Mid- in one possession in the closing ceived two homers and four RBIs while striking out three over fi ve kind of a frustrating night.... But dleton said. minutes. Siakam and Leonard from catcher Wilson Ramos, who innings. Vargas lowered his ERA we kept playing.” Antetokounmpo was asked fi nished the game off with free left for a pinch-runner in the 11th from 5.92 to 5.22. Lowry has been through many about Leonard’s playoff experi- throws. and was replaced by Nido. The playoff failures in seven years ence. The Bucks were 6-for-9 from two-homer game was the eighth RESULTS with the Raptors. “You can tell from the way he 3-point range to earn a 31-18 of Ramos’ career and his fi rst “It means a lot to me,” Lowry plays,” Antetokounmpo said of lead after one quarter. since last June 25. Minnesota 8-1 C White Sox said. “We beat a really good team the 2014 Finals MVP. “He has so Ilyasova’s 3-pointer with 7:48 Dawel Lugo had a career-high NY Yankees 7-3 Kansas City in Milwaukee. But I’m not satis- much patience, he knows what to play in the fi rst half put the four hits for the Tigers while Chicago Cubs 8-6 Cincinnati fi ed yet. Our goal is to win the we wants to do, he has faith in Bucks ahead 38-23. JaCoby Jones had two hits, an RBI NBA championship.” himself and he has been in the VanVleet’s 3-pointer with and two stolen bases. San Diego 19-4 Toronto Giannis Antetokounmpo had Finals before.” 2:28 to play in the half cut the Nicholas Castellanos lofted Arizona 10-4 San 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Serge Ibaka’s dunk tied the lead to seven. a sacrifi ce fl y in the fi rst inning Francisco Bucks, who had the NBA’s best game at 78 with 10:31 to play in Ibaka’s dunk with 1:32 left had for the Tigers. Ramos homered Washington 5-0 Miami record (60-22) during the regu- the game, and Siakam’s jump- the Raptors within fi ve points, leading off the second. The Mets Oakland 6-5 Seattle lar season. Brook Lopez added er and VanVleet’s 3-pointer and VanVleet’s jumper reduced went ahead in the fourth, when 18 points with nine rebounds capped a 10-0 run to give To- the lead to three with 1:07 left. J.D. Davis reached on an error by Tampa Bay 6-2 Cleveland and three blocks, Khris Middle- ronto a fi ve-point lead. The Bucks scored the fi nal Lugo, took second and third base NY Mets 5-4 Detroit ton had 14 points, Ersan Ilyasova A key play was Lowry’s steal four points of the half to lead on consecutive balks by Detroit Philadelphia 7-2 Milwaukee 13, and Malcolm Brogdon and and his handoff to Leonard, who 50-43. starting pitcher Ryan Carpenter George Hill 10 each. dunked to increase the lead to Middleton’s second 3-pointer and scored on Ramos’ one-out LA Dodgers 7-2 Pittsburgh “This hurts,” Bucks coach eight with 6:46 remaining. in three minutes had the lead single. Houston 4-3 Boston Mike Budenholzer said. “But The Bucks came back with a at 14 with 3:46 left in the third. Brandon Dixon’s two-run St. Louis 6-3 Atlanta what they did in the playoff s 7-0 run to pull within one point The Bucks worked the lead to pinch-hit homer — his fi rst ca- tonight against a really good To- on Antetokounmpo’s layup with 15 before the Raptors went on a reer pinch-hit blast — put the NY Yankees 6-5 Kansas City ronto Raptors team, and to get to 5:19 to play. 10-0 run, with Leonard scoring Tigers ahead 3-2 in the sixth, but Baltimore 9-6 Colorado the Eastern Conference fi nals, Marc Gasol’s 3-pointer had eight. The Bucks led 76-71 after Toronto Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard (centre) handles the ball during the Ramos hit a two-run homer with LA Angels 3-2 Texas the regular season, a special sea- Toronto ahead by four, but three quarters. game against Milwaukee Bucks in Toronto on Saturday. (AFP) two outs in the sixth to give the

NHL Blues march to fi rst fi nal since 1970, rested Bruins open at home

AFP mentum through the Western Confer- ously hold the championships of Major out the regular season but playoff s, it’s Los Angeles ence playoff s. League Baseball, the NFL and the NHL. tough.” “We were trying to get on the right A statue outside the Boston Garden Unheralded forward Jaden Schwartz track,” Berube said. “Once we got going pays tribute to Orr’s high-fl ying goal has helped make up for Schenn’s off en- he St. Louis Blues are enjoying in January and February, I knew we had and while they don’t have a defence- sive struggles by scoring 12 goals in the a storybook turnaround, going a good hockey team. Once you get into man of Orr’s stature in their lineup they playoff s so far, one more than he scored from the worst team at the start the playoff s anything can happen, and are expected to get back captain Zdeno all regular season. of the season to facing Boston it did.’” Chara for game one. One of the more interesting fi nals Tin their fi rst Stanley Cup fi nal since los- Said Blues general manager Doug Boston are led at forward by veteran matchups is the goaltending battle be- ing to the same Bruins in 1970. Armstrong, “They turned it around and Patrice Bergeron who helped lead the tween Boston’s red-hot netminder Tu- It has been 49 years since the Blues just haven’t stopped going.” Bruins to a Stanley Cup title in 2011. ukka Rask and the Blues’ Binnington. were swept by Boston in a series that The Blues were 300-1 long shots to The two-time all-star Bergeron has a Finland’s Rask gives the Bruins the culminated with Bobby Orr’s iconic win the Stanley Cup early in the season strong all around game and has eight decided edge, leading all goalies in the overtime game winning goal. and despite their turnaround they still goals and 13 points in 17 playoff games. playoff s with a 1.84 goals against aver- St. Louis won three straight games to enter the fi nals as underdogs against For the Blues, forward Brayden age. eliminate the San Jose Sharks and reach the Bruins. Schenn is looking to play a bigger of- The Bruins know Canada’s Binning- the fi nal which begins with game one The Bruins will have had a 10-day fensive role in the fi nal. Schenn is one of ton better than any other team in the tonight in Boston. break after sweeping Carolina in four the best two-way players in the league. league as he spent last season on loan They ousted a weary and banged up straight in the Eastern Conference fi - He was in a playoff scoring slump up with their Providence farm team in the Sharks’ team with a 5-1 victory in game nal. until he fi nally potted a goal in the AHL after refusing the Blues request six of the NHL’s Western Conference “It’s the Stanley Cup fi nal, game series-clinching game six against the to go down to the lower division ECHL fi nal, part of an improbable run from one,” said Bruins defenceman Charlie Sharks. farm league. last in the league on January 3 to the McAvoy. “Just the emotion and the ex- Jerseys of St Louis Blues and Boston Bruins are on display prior to Media Day In order for Schenn to continue to championship series. citement in the city and the feeling in ahead of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final in Boston, United States, yesterday. (AFP) capitalise on scoring chances, he is STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE The reversal came after Craig Beru- the building is going to be contagious.” going to have to make that extra move May 27: St. Louis at Boston be replaced Mike Yeo as head coach in are in the fi nal,” DeBoer said. “Every- there for our guys.” around the net instead of just hammer- May 29: St. Louis at Boston November and goaltender Jordan Bin- HEAVY HITTERS one talks about skill and all the small The Bruins are in the fi nal for the ing away at the puck. June 1: Boston at St. Louis nington took over the starting role in Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said it will players, and there is room for that, but third time in the past 10 years and the “I’m a guy that gets put in off ensive June 3: Boston at St. Louis January. be a hard-hitting, physical, grinding I don’t think it’s an accident. 20th time in their franchise history. situations, whether it’s power play or June 6: St. Louis at Boston (if needed) St. Louis fi nished the regular season series. “They’re (Blues) heavy, hard and Should they win, Boston will be playing with the top players on this June 9: Boston at St. Louis (if needed) on a 28-8-5 run and carried that mo- “The two hardest, heaviest teams organized. There wasn’t any room out the fi rst city in 83 years to simultane- team,” Schenn said. “I did it through- June 12: St. Louis at Boston (if needed) Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 27, 2019 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Sarri’s Chelsea Emery seeks Europa future in spotlight as Europa fi nal looms

AFP unrest within the squad he may London not be able to fully command success to salvage their respect. That problem was laid bare by aurizio Sarri faces Kepa Arrizabalaga’s astonishing an uncertain future mutiny during the League Cup as Chelsea manager fi nal when the Chelsea goal- even if the much- keeper refused to be substituted Mmaligned Italian leads his side after suff ering cramp before the Arsenal’s season to victory in the Europa League penalty shoot-out defeat against fi nal against Arsenal. Sarri has Manchester City. endured a traumatic fi rst season Sarri had already publicly at Stamford Bridge and he heads criticised his players after a se- Emery won the competition three years in a row at Sevilla from 2014 and 2016 to Baku with little clarity over ries of bad results in January. His his prospects of staying in charge outburst came after reports some beyond Wednesday’s fi nal. of the Chelsea squad held doubts Despite guiding Chelsea about his rigid tactical approach, into next season’s Champions while many were said to fi nd his League, via a third-place fi n- training sessions monotonous. ish in the Premier League, and Sticking with his former reaching two cup fi nals, there Napoli players Jorginho and remains a sense Sarri is on bor- Gonzalo Higuain despite their rowed time whatever the result mediocre performances did little against Arsenal. to erase Sarri’s stubborn image. The 60-year-old has been Adamant his style can still work linked with a move to Juven- with Chelsea, Sarri this week tus or Roma, with reports say- said: “In the last two years Man- ing Chelsea would not block his chester City won everything in return to Serie A. Even if Sarri England. The way of football of does not join the Italian cham- City is not the same as mine, but pions, he could still be sacked if similar. I think we can play my Chelsea owner Roman Abram- football also in England.” ovich and his coterie of advisors Sarri’s decision to exile club feel the former Napoli boss is not captain Gary Cahill also appar- the man to guide them through a ently angered players, with the turbulent period. defender accusing his manager With a damaging two-window of a “lack of respect”. Chelsea transfer ban looming — pend- sought counsel from their stars ing an appeal by Chelsea to the before Jose Mourinho was sacked Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2015, with then technical di- — and star winger Eden Hazard rector Michael Emenalo citing a set to get his wish to join Real “palpable discord between man- Madrid, the next year promises ager and players”. to be a challenging spell for any Sarri’s cause is not helped manager, let alone one with the by his toxic relationship with baggage Sarri has collected in his the club’s fans, who ridiculed brief reign. his football philosophy several Sarri insists he is happy to stay, times. Rafael Benitez was al- but admits there will be no talks lowed to leave his role as Chel- over his future until after the fi - sea’s interim boss in 2013 despite nal. “I’m very happy to stay in the fi nishing third and winning the Premier League. I will speak to Europa League, in large part be- the club as I want to see if they are cause he was so disliked by Blues happy with me or not,” he said. supporters. “I think for the fans “We had a good season, with a we have to play better, we have lot of problems of course. We lost win more, there isn’t another two or three matches very badly. way,” Sarri conceded. If we are able to win the fi nal then Given the way Manchester it will become a wonderful sea- United collapsed during their son. This group deserves to con- own discordant campaign, Sarri tinue and to try to improve more.” deserves credit for keeping Chel- It is believed Chelsea’s senior sea from completely imploding. Arsenal’s head coach Unai Emery (right) talks to a player during a training session at London Colney training centre in St. Albans. (AFP) decision-makers, including di- But, with Massimiliano Allegri rector Marina Granovskaia, will linked with Chelsea after leaving AFP jani capital. Many fans have been priced season to fi nish third. balance and even left one or other of his gauge the feelings of players be- Juventus, there is a potential re- London out of making the near-5,000-mile Before a meaningless fi nal-day win at two star forwards Alexandre Lacazette fore making a fi nal decision on placement waiting in the wings (8,000-kilometre) round trip, while Em- Burnley, Arsenal had taken just one point and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the Sarri. There are concerns that his as Sarri tries to fi nish his trou- ery’s team selection has also been aff ect- from four games against Crystal Palace, bench for much of the campaign. methods have caused so much bled season on a high note. nai Emery’s fi rst season at Ar- ed, with midfi elder Henrikh Mkhitaryan Wolves, Leicester and Brighton. Emery However, Lacazette and Aubameyang senal will be judged a success deciding not to travel on safety grounds had the diffi cult job of succeeding Arsene have been united of late with spectacular or failure depending on the out- due to political tensions between his na- Wenger after the Frenchman’s 22-year success as once again an Emery team has come of a single game — the Eu- tive Armenia and Azerbaijan. reign came to an end 12 months ago. come good in the Europa League. Even as Uropa League fi nal against Chelsea — but However, Emery shrugged off sugges- In a time of transition, the Basque they stuttered in the Premier League, Ar- the Spaniard has a habit of saving his best tions Arsenal could even consider boy- coach has done a steady if unspectacu- senal beat Napoli and Valencia home and for Europe’s second-tier competition. cotting the match, and is determined lar job. However, doubts remain over his away to book their long trip to Baku. Emery won the Europa League three that those distractions do not impact on ability to lead Arsenal back to the heights “Above all in football, coaches, play- years in a row between 2014 and 2016 his side by the time kick-off comes on they reached under Wenger, particularly ers and supporters want to play to feel a when at Sevilla and would become the Wednesday. “We have the chance to win if they miss out on Champions League special moment. And this is one special most decorated coach in the competi- a title and play in the Champions League revenue once more. moment. Our focus is very clear for this tion’s history with another victory in next season,” said Emery. Emery admitted in the January transfer match,” said Emery. Baku. However, it is not only a fi rst Euro- “All of this is much more important window that the club could only aff ord to Since Arsenal were last in a European pean trophy for 25 years at stake for Ar- than where we are going to play the fi nal. take players on loan. The same defensive fi nal in 2006, the Gunners have won just senal, but also a much-needed return to It’s not possible with Mkhi, yes. It’s not issues that haunted Wenger’s fi nal years three trophies — all FA Cups — com- the riches of the Champions League after possible with the fans like we want, yes. in charge have been repeated. Arsenal pared with Chelsea’s 13 in those years as a two-season absence that will make or But the fi nal is very important.” outscored both Chelsea and local rivals the standards set early in Wenger’s reign break the impression of Emery’s debut Chelsea do not have the added pres- Tottenham in the Premier League but sharply declined towards the end. Getting campaign. sure of Champions League qualifi cation missed out on the top four by virtue of one over on their London rivals this week Arsenal’s preparations for the fi nal resting on the outcome of the fi nal, hav- conceding 51 goals. will not only make Emery’s fi rst season a have been dogged by off -fi eld issues over ing edged ahead of Emery’s faltering side Emery has constantly changed per- success, but allow Arsenal to look to the the awarding of the fi nal to the Azerbai- in the fi nal weeks of the Premier League sonnel and formations to fi nd the right future with renewed optimism. Chelsea’s Italian head coach Maurizio Sarri. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE Race for Premier League riches causing chaos to Championship fi nances AFP mier League no matter the cost,” Kieran Premier League,” added Maguire. London Maguire, a lecturer in football fi nance at As clubs further down the ladder spend the University of Liverpool, said. beyond their means, though, harsh con- However, while the top end of the game sequences are already being felt. Bolton ston Villa and Derby County thrives, clubs lower down the food chain were unable to fulfi l their fi xtures at end face off for the biggest bounty are struggling badly. The 20 Premier the current Championship campaign as in world football today with the League clubs made a profi t of £304mn players went on strike in protest at un- riches of the Premier League in 2017/18, led by £100 million-plus paid wages. guaranteeingA around £200mn ($253mn) surpluses for this season’s Champions The Wanderers will start next sea- for the winner of the Championship League fi nalists Liverpool and Totten- son with a 12-point deduction in League play-off fi nal. ham. In the same season, the 72 teams in One after slipping into administration However, the lure of a Premier League the three divisions below in the English and a food bank has been set up for non- windfall is seeing more clubs in England’s Football League (EFL) made a combined playing staff who have gone without pay. second tier and further down the league loss of £388mn. Birmingham were docked nine points ladder gambling by running at huge loss- From 2014/15 to 2017/18, the 12 clubs this season for breaching profi tability es in the hope of making it to the money- promoted to the Premier League aver- and sustainability rules by losing nearly bags top fl ight. The Premier League re- aged an operating loss of £30mn in the £50mn between 2015 and 2018. leased fi gures for the near £2.5bn ($3.2bn) year in which they were promoted. Rules Bury, who were promoted to League distribution of television rights for the governing the losses clubs can make, One last month, face a winding-up or- recently completed season on Thursday. were “blown out of the water”, according der over an unpaid tax debt of £277,000, Despite winning just three league to Maguire, by booming parachute pay- while the players’ wages have not been games all season, rock-bottom Hud- ments for clubs relegated from the Pre- paid in 12 weeks. And the fi nancial future dersfi eld received £96.9mn, while rel- mier League. for whoever loses Monday’s Wembley fi - egated Fulham and Cardiff made more In order to prevent those clubs who nal is also bleak. than £100mn. Villa or Derby will be able came down from gaining a huge fi nan- Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson on similar television income next season, cial advantage, teams are now allowed to has questioned how both clubs continue plus £75mn worth of parachute payments make losses of up to £39mn over three to live within the EFL’s profi tability and should they go straight back down, and years. However, parachute payments are sustainability rules. Villa posted a £36mn additional revenue from sponsors and still seen as what Maguire describes as a loss after defeat in last season’s play-off ticket sales. “necessary evil”. fi nal to Fulham. Stay in the Premier League for just “Parachute payments help recruit- Derby announced pre-tax profi ts of one season and they can expect to make ment of players to the Premier League for £14.6mn last month, but only after sell- around £300mn. “There is a new breed of the other 14 (outside the top six) ahead of ing the club’s Pride Park stadium to own- ambitious domestic and overseas own- overseas clubs in other leagues across Eu- er Mel Morris for £80mn and then leasing Aston Villa and Derby face off today in the Championship play-off final. (Reuters) ers who see the bright lights of the Pre- rope to enhance the overall quality of the it back. Gulf Times Monday, May 27, 2019 7 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Bayern Cup loss leaves Barca president confi rms Kovac with questions about will stay AFP Berlin

ayern Munich presi- dent Uli Hoeness has identity and coach confi rmed once and for all that coach Niko Ko- vacB will remain in his job next season. Speaking on Bavarian Barcelona fall to another shock defeat as Valencia pull off a thrilling 2-1 victory to win Copa del Rey broadcaster BR, as Bayern cel- ebrated their league and cup AFP double in the centre of Munich Seville, Spain yesterday, Hoeness said he was “one hundred percent” sure Ko- vac would stay. Croatian coach he backing from Barcelona’s Kovac led Bayern to the league club president Josep Maria Bar- title and the German Cup in his tomeu came but it was not as fi rst season at the club, despite convincing as before. Last week facing constant speculation over The said coach Ernesto Valverde was his future. Hoeness’ comments “trusted completely” but as Valencia’s are the fi nal confi rmation the players danced on the pitch at the Esta- 47-year-old will not be sacked, dio Benito Villamarin, tossing the Copa after CEO Karl-Heinz Rum- del Rey between them, his support felt menigge, one of Kovac’s biggest more reserved. internal critics, had hinted as “Ernesto has a contract for next sea- much in recent days. son,” Bartomeu said. “He’s the coach. I In April, Rummenigge ap- don’t think this defeat is his fault.” peared on Sky TV the day after When asked about Valverde’s future Bayern’s 5-0 win over title ri- on Friday, Lionel Messi indicated he vals Borussia Dortmund to insist wanted him to stay, the captain’s ap- “nobody had a job guarantee”. proval perhaps even more signifi cant “I said that after the 5-0, be- than that of the president. “I honestly cause I came into the dressing believe the boss has done an impressive room and saw this incredible job during his time in charge,” said Mes- euphoria, but we were only one si. “I would like him to continue.” point ahead of Dortmund at that But that was before the 2-1 fi nal de- time,” Rummenigge explained to feat to Valencia on Saturday, which, BR yesterday. “I wanted to po- despite a second-half surge, inspired larise a bit and bring the eupho- by Messi and his goal 17 minutes before ria down a notch.” the end, leaves a title-winning season Kovac himself thanked the swamped in disappointment. Valverde Bayern fans for their support has never been loved at Camp Nou, the during a turbulent season. “We question marks hanging over him to do would not have managed it with issues less tangible than results. without you. Always stay as you After all, in La Liga, they fi nished this are, I love you,” he said. season 19 points ahead of Real Madrid, whom they beat by an aggregate score of BOATENG ON BRINK 10-2 over four matches, and 11 clear of OF BAYERN EXIT Atletico. Instead, his sceptics complain Disgruntled defender Jerome about style, seen as overly-rigid, and Boateng is on the verge of leaving suitability, a 55-year-old in charge of his Bayern Munich after president sixth club, sensible and statesmanlike, Hoeness told him to fi nd a new but lacking the fi zz for a coach of Bar- club. Boateng, 30, has appeared celona. increasingly unhappy at Bayern The two arguments are linked and, this season, after losing his place until now, lacked evidence to give them in the team to Niklas Suele. weight. But perhaps doubts can be self- Having remained on the bench fulfi lling and when Rodrigo headed in as Bayern won the German Cup Valencia’s second on Saturday night, Valencia’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) final against Barcelona in Sevilla on Saturday night. (AFP) fi nal on Saturday, Boateng im- the players may have begun to believe mediately disappeared down the them too. “It has been a good year,” said At the other end of the spectrum is pions League, a reassertion of identity instead gazing into space and wallowing ther Ajax or Tottenham. tunnel after the fi nal whistle, Gerard Pique. “But we expected to do Quique Setien, a football purist regular- and, now, rejuvenation. It would be un- in self-pity. Beat a Valencia side still struggling and did not join his teammates’ a much better year. The taste is bitter- ly linked in the past, except he has just fair on Valencia’s determined, gutsy “We’re down, we can’t hide it,” said even to make La Liga’s top four and all on-pitch celebrations. “I would sweet.” parted ways with Real Betis for failing performance to say this fi nal was a game Valverde. three major trophies would be theirs. advise him to leave the club. I Bartomeu must now decide if Val- to match style with results. Or former Barcelona never wanted to play. When Barcelona won the league with It seemed within touching distance. think he needs a new challenge,” verde can take Barcelona where they midfi elder Xavi, with a sense of destiny But for 30 minutes before half-time, three games to spare last month, Bar- Instead, 41 almost faultless weeks have Hoeness said. “He looks out of desperately want to go, to victory in and very real adoration of the fans. He they were fl at, disheartened by Kevin tomeu felt confi dent enough to declare: been undone in less than three. When place. As a friend, I would advise the Champions League, and if not, who has the trophies too but fewer days, let Gameiro’s opener and, in the end, de- “We want the treble”. If it looked like he the fi nal whistle blew, Valencia’s staff him to fi nd a new club.” could. There is a summer sale on super- alone clubs, as a fully-fl edged coach. feated by Rodrigo heading in again 13 was putting pressure on his players, it and substitutes rushed on, past Barce- The 2014 World Cup winner’s coaches but none of Massimiliano Al- Any successor to Valverde would minutes later. Each time, Valverde’s was because they believed too. lona’s players, some of whom sank to contract at Bayern expires in legri, Jose Mourinho or Antonio Conte be charged with improvement, which players looked beaten, drained of the They took a 3-0 lead over Liverpool, their knees. Others just trudged off , ea- two years, and has linked with a are proponents of the Barca DNA. could only mean winning the Cham- conviction that made them champions, with a potential fi nal to come against ei- ger for it all to be over. move to Inter Milan or PSG.

SERIE A Dutch referee scores ‘bizarre’ goal, awards it The Hague: Players for Dutch a ball from danger in the 66th daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad Allegri's Juve era ends with a whimper fourth-tier outfit Harkemase minute of the match. reported, and described the ef- Boys reacted with fury and dis- Hoek midfielder Rik Impens fort to make it 3-2 to Harkemase AFP belief after a strange deflection however takes another shot at Boys as “bizarre”. Rome saw a referee scoring against goal from a tight angle, but the In any case, the goal turned them in a game — and then ball hits the front post before out to have no impact on the awarding the goal. The incident then glancing off the referee’s full-time result as Harkemase assimiliano Allegri ended his happened as the Frisian amateur shins and rolling across the goal Boys wrapped up their season Juventus career in disappoint- club faced southern visitors line. Seconds later Paarhuis with a 4-2 win against Hoek. ing fashion yesterday after the Hoek on Saturday. In a clip post- allows the goal, to the great con- The Dutch ‘Derde Divisie’ is champions were undone by two ed on Twitter shortly afterwards, sternation of Harkemase Boys three leagues below the elite Mlate strikes at Sampdoria to fi nish the Serie the referee identified by Dutch who immediately surround him Eredivisie in the Netherlands, A season with a fi ve-match winless streak. media as Maurice Paarhuis, is to protest, to no avail. with Harkemase Boys lying sixth A scuff ed fi nish from Gregoire Defrel six seen running into the penalty “The referee was a so-called in the table, two places below minutes form the end and a superb stop- box as the Harkemase Boys’ ‘dead element’ and could not Hoek with one round of the page-time free-kick from Gianluca Caprari defenders seem to have cleared but allow the goal,” the Dutch season to play. sank Juve, who picked up just three points after securing their eighth straight league title late last month. However despite a poor fi nal few weeks they still fi nished 11 points ROUND-UP ahead of second-placed Napoli, who ended their underwhelming campaign beaten 3-2 defeat at Torino on Saturday thanks to an acrobatic Federico Santander header two Sampdoria’s Gianluca Caprari (left) celebrates with Jacopo Sala after scoring against Juventus deny Guardiola swoop minutes from the end. Juventus in the Serie A in Genoa, Italy, yesterday. (AFP) Allegri rested a host of fi rst-choice play- uventus yesterday poured ons League title in over two dec- let the English winger leave. ers, including star attacker Cristiano Ronal- seventh, level on 63 points with Roma ahead poli win at Inter, the ‘Viola’ would go down cold water over rumours ades despite signing Cristiano “It is safe to assume that Jadon do, for the meaningless fi xture, which gave of the capital club’s match with Parma. for the fi rst time since bouncing back from in Italy that they were Ronaldo last summer. will not play for Dortmund for the league’s leading scorer Fabio Quagliarel- Atalanta, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Roma bankruptcy in the early part of this century. planning a dramatic Paratici added that Juve would the next ten years,” said Watzke. la the chance to extend his lead at top of the — who are also bidding farewell to captain They can also go down if Genoa beat them pounceJ for Pep Guardiola, saying wait until the end of the season “But in terms of the present day, scoring charts. The 36-year-old, who is and local hero Daniele De Rossi — will duke by two clear goals, Udinese lose to Cagliari that they had never even spoken to announce Allegri’s successor. we have very clear agreements. strongly linked with a move back to Napoli, it out for the fi nal two top-four positions, and Empoli beat Inter, as they would be to the Manchester City boss. Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri Jadon is not on the market and the club he supported as a boy, failed to add with Atalanta favourites to qualify for the overtaken by Empoli and lose a three-way “It’s a strange world, we’ve not and Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi he is guaranteed to be a Dort- to his 26 goals but should still be assured his Champions League for the fi rst time in their tie-break with Udinese and Genoa. had any contact with Guardiola are among the favourites to take mund player next season.” place as top scorer as he is four ahead of AC history. Fiorentina could join in Serie B already- and nor have we ever thought over at the Allianz Stadium. Dortmund have repeatedly Milan young gun Krzysztof Piatek and Ata- Meanwhile Serie A’s head-to-head tie- relegated Chievo, who ended a miserable about it given that he’s under ruled out selling Sancho, but lanta’s Duvan Zapata. Earlier, Torino fi n- breaker format means that 15th-placed season in the worst possible fashion when contract,” Juve’s sporting direc- ‘JADON IS NOT ON THE speculation resurfaced this week ished their exciting campaign in fi ne fashion Fiorentina are in real danger of being rel- they set an embarrassing points record tor Fabio Paratici said. MARKET’: DORTMUND after the club signed two similar with a 3-1 win over Lazio. Quickfi re goals egated. The Tuscan outfi t are three points thanks to a drab goalless draw at also-down Juve sealed their eighth Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans- attacking players in Thorgan just after the break from Iago Falque and ahead of 18th-placed Genoa ahead of the Frosinone. Chievo, who had three points de- straight Serie A title weeks ago Joachim Watzke has categori- Hazard and Julian Brandt. The Sasa Lukic set Walter Mazzarri’s side, who a pair’s do-or-die clash in Florence — but ducted for false accounting before the start and are on the hunt for a new cally ruled out selling England 19-year-old joined Dortmund few weeks ago were pushing for Champions have lost fi ve straight in the league and of the season, ended the campaign with 17 boss after removing Massimil- starlet Jadon Sancho ahead of from Manchester City for 7.8mn League football, on their way. haven’t won a game in any competition points following Saturday’s non-event at iano Allegri earlier this month, next season. Sancho, 19, has euros in 2017, but his estimated Former Toro man Ciro Immobile pulled since mid-February, despite the return of the Stadio Benito Stirpe. following a Champions League been linked with a number value has skyrocketed in the one back for Lazio with a super strike in Vincenzo Montella as coach last month. That is the lowest in the three-points- quarter-fi nal exit to Ajax in of Europe’s top clubs after an past year. Sancho earned his fi rst the 66th minute, but with 10 minutes left Should they lose to Genoa and Udinese, for-a-win era since the league returned to April. Allegri had won the league explosive second season in Dort- England call-up in October, and Lorenzo De Silvestri clipped home on the who are level on 40 points with Fiorentina, 20 teams in 2004, with Pescara getting 18 in fi ve times in as many years but mund, but on Sunday, Dortmund established himself as a regular rebound to seal the points and keep Torino not lose to Cagliari and 17th-placed Em- 2016/17. the club are without a Champi- boss Watzke said they would not starter at Dortmund.

Monday, May 27, 2019 GULF TIMES TENNIS

FRENCH OPEN FOCUS ‘It’s a great package ‘On edge’ Federer deal’: Dimitrov hails Agassi as new coach

AFP Paris wins on Paris return, rigor Dimitrov de- scribed his coaching link-up with US legend Potapova beats Andre Agassi and mer- Gcurial Radek Stepanek as a “great Kerber; Svitolina package deal” yesterday. Dimitrov said that the duo Kerber crashes knocks Venus out have injected some much-need- AFP ed “positive enthusiasm” into Paris his rollercoaster career after needing fi ve sets to defeat Janko Tipsarevic in the fi rst round of “We’ve started to speak a little oger Federer marked Roland Garros. bit more and potentially try to set his return to Roland Agassi, the champion at the up the exact weeks or how many Garros after a four-year French Open in 1999, has linked weeks we can do, but all that is in absence with a straight up with Bulgarian Dimitrov for the air now a little bit. setsR win over Italy’s Lorenzo Roland Garros alongside former “Him and Radek are getting Sonego yesterday, admitting world number four Stepanek. along so well. So it’s a great pack- he “felt on edge”, as Angelique The American was previously age deal.” Kerber’s hopes of completing coach of world number one No- Dimitrov, a former world a career Grand Slam suff ered a vak Djokovic before their nine- number three who is currently quick kill. month partnership ended in an down at 47 in the world, won the Federer, a 20-time major acrimonious split in March 2018. last of his eight career titles at winner, hadn’t played the tour- “We have a pretty special rela- the ATP Finals in 2017. nament since 2015 when he tionship. We’ve known each oth- His Grand Slam best perform- reached the quarter-fi nals. er for a crazy amount of years,” ance remains a semi-fi nal run at However, yesterday, it was said 28-year-old Dimitrov after Wimbledon in 2014. as if the 37-year-old had never his 6-3, 6-0, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4 However, he has yet to reach the been away as he swept to a 6-2, win over Tipsarevic. second week at Roland Garros. 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour 41 minutes on a packed, rebuilt Court Philippe Chatrier. SPOTLIGHT It was his 60th successive fi rst round win at a Grand Slam. “I felt on edge at the start, my heart was beating crazily,” said Muguruza can win Federer, who hailed the new- look stadium which has been 90% rebuilt in readiness for the any tournament at installation of a retractable roof for 2020. “I felt great playing on this her peak: Corretja court. It looks very attractive, so congratulations to everyone Reuters involved. Bengaluru “Hopefully I can play here again for my next match.” That match will be against pain’s Garbine Mugu- German lucky loser Oscar Otte ruza has the potential and who won just his second match Switzerland’s Roger Federer plays a backhand during his French Open first round match against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego (not pictured) at talent to win any tourna- in eight years on the tour by see- Roland Garros in Paris yesterday. (Reuters) ment in the world when ing off Malek Jaziri of Tunisia sheS is at her peak despite her re- 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0. NEW COURT UNVEILED Canada teenager Felix Auger- cent slide down the singles rank- “I would be surprised if Roger The new Court Simonne Math- Aliassime withdrew from the ings, two-times French Open fi - knew my name,” said Otte, the ieu, a 5,000-capacity semi- tournament with a thigh injury, nalist Alex Corretja has said. world number 145. sunken arena enclosed by just a day after fi nishing runner- Muguruza, a 2016 winner at Federer broke serve fi ve greenhouses, was offi cially un- up to Benoit Paire in Lyon. Roland Garros, is seeded 19th times and fi red 36 winners past veiled on Sunday. The 18-year-old was seeded 25 this year and has not been in the 24-year-old Sonego, the world It forms part of the 350mn and had been due to face Austral- best of form this season, winning number 73 who made the quar- euro upgrade of the entire site ia’s Jordan Thompson in the fi rst only one title at the Monterrey ter-fi nals at the Monte Carlo which will also see the demoli- round on his maiden appearance Open in April after her fi nal op- Masters. tion of the Court 1 ‘bullring’ af- in the main draw in Paris. ponent Victoria Azarenka retired German fi fth seed and reign- ter the 2018 tournament. Auger-Aliassime’s spot in the with an injury. ing Wimbledon champion Ker- Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, the fi rst round draw has been taken From a career-high number Corretja also said that the ber saw her hopes of a career 2016 champion, had the honour by Spanish lucky loser Alejandro one singles ranking in 2017, she 25-year-old two-times grand Grand Slam ended by Russian of opening proceedings against Davidovich Fokina. has since slipped to 19th af- slam winner could go far by fl y- teenager Anastasia Potapova. America’s Taylor Townsend and Second seed Karolina Pliskova ter a poor 2018 season and was ing under the radar and main- Kerber slumped to a 6-4, 6-2 the 19th seed marked the occa- closed play on Chatrier with stretched in the opening round taining her consistency over a defeat to 18-year-old Potapova sion with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win. “It’s a 6-2, 6-3 win over Madison on Sunday by American Tay- season. who was making her French cute,” said the Spaniard. “It’s not Brengle of the United States. lor Townsend before eventually “Not too many people are go- Open debut. small, but it’s, you know, cosy.” Ninth seed Elina Svitolina claiming a 5-7 6-2 6-2 victory. ing to talk about her at the be- “Kerber is actually one of my Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in action during her match against Other winners on the fi rst day knocked seven-time Grand “I’ve been watching her, she’s ginning,” the Spaniard added. idols, and when I was young I Germany’s Angelique Kerber (not pictured) yesterday. (Reuters) included Japanese seventh seed Slam champion Venus Williams practising hard, been in the gym “I think she will be able to go a was looking for her game,” said Kei Nishikori, a quarter-fi nalist out with a comfortable fi rst- a lot,” Eurosport analyst Corretja long way without people talking the 81st-ranked Russian who hit second round tie in Madrid. Czech Republic. in 2015, who eased past France’s round victory. told Reuters. “One thing about about her... I think that might 28 winners past her German op- “I didn’t have many expecta- Greek sixth seed Stefanos Quentin Halys 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. The Ukrainian, twice a quar- Muguruza is when she’s in good help her in this moment of her ponent. tions coming in,” said Kerber, Tsitsipas, who stunned Fed- However, Italian 16th seed ter-fi nalist at Roland Garros, shape she can win any tourna- career. Kerber, 31, has now lost six who was broken six times in the erer on his way to the Australian Marco Cecchinato, the man who eased to a 6-3, 6-3 win on the ment in the world. “Maybe she’s not as consist- times in the French Open fi rst match which brought the cur- Open semi-fi nals and beat 11- sent Novak Djokovic crashing new Court Simonne Mathieu “When she hits her peak she’s ent as we wish — we always want round. tain up on the newlook Chatrier time Roland Garros champion out in the quarter-fi nals in 2018, over the 38-year-old American so dangerous because she moves them to be consistent for 25 The German left-hander had arena. Rafael Nadal in Madrid, also fell at the fi rst hurdle. who made her debut at the tour- well. She knows the clay, she has weeks of the year — but she can come into Roland Garros car- Potapova’s fi rst win over a made the second round. Cecchinato lost to 37-year-old nament in 1997. already won there, so I think the win anywhere.” rying a right ankle injury which top 10 player gives her a second The 20-year-old sixth seed Frenchman Nicolas Mahut — who Svitolina will face compatriot fi rst few rounds for her will be Muguruza plays Sweden’s forced her to pull out of the Ital- round clash against 19-year- brushed aside Germany’s Maxi- has slipped to 253 in the world — Kateryna Kozlova for a place in very important to build up her Johanna Larsson in the second ian Open and retire from her old Marketa Vondrousova of the milian Marterer 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4). 2-6, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. the third round. confi dence.” round.

COMMENT Second ‘Nole Slam’ would put Djokovic up with Federer, Nadal: Wilander

Reuters again, it would be the most im- action in Paris, said. Paris pressive thing we have ever seen,” “If Rafa doesn’t win the Eurosport analyst Wilander told French, I kind of see him having Reuters in an interview. a hard time winning Wimbledon ovak Djokovic stands The greatest of all time (GOAT) or the US Open... then next year’s on the verge of holding debate usually splits fans into the French Open comes into doubt. all four Grand Slam ti- Federer and Nadal camps and “If Novak wins I mean the door tles for the second time Djokovic earns less adulation will be wide open to reach 20 Nin his career and should he do it than those two. Grand Slams. Then if he equals by winning the French Open, “If Novak wins the French, Roger’s 20 he would be regarded it would surpass anything Ra- suddenly then he has to be com- as the greatest player of all time.” fael Nadal or Roger Federer have pared to the greatest players of all That said, Wilander says this achieved, said Mats Wilander. time,” Wilander said. year’s men’s tournament is more Three years ago Djokovic be- “He will have 16 (slams) if he open than usual with a host of came the fi rst man since Aus- wins the French. Okay Roger will young players such as Greek Ste- tralian great Rod Laver in 1969 still have 20 but it would be com- fanos Tsitsipas, Austrian Domin- to hold all four Grand Slams si- parable because he would have ic Thiem, Russians Karen Khach- multaneously when he beat Andy won the Nole Slam twice, I mean anov and Daniil Medvedev and Murray to win the French Open. that’s unbelievable. Chilean Cristian Garin equipped A career slump followed but “To me that’s incredible, No- to cause trouble. the Serb rebounded last year to vak winning here is a bigger deal “So many guys hit the ball so win Wimbledon and the US Open than Rafa winning 12 (French hard today,” Wilander said. I’m and this year took his Grand Slam Opens). But then if Rafa wins, not saying they will necessarily total to 15 after holding aloft the he’s on 18 majors so it’s getting beat them but the worry for Novak Australian Open trophy for a sev- crowded at the top.” or Rafa is how many matches will enth time. Wilander said the French Open they be pushed to over the four Now he has the chance to win was ‘monumental’ in terms of the hour mark in the fi rst four rounds? four in a row again and seven- longevity of Nadal’s career, say- “Rafa, Roger or Novak time Grand Slam champion Wi- ing a failure to retain his crown against (Grigor) Dimitrov or lander believes victory in Paris could have knock-on eff ects for (Kei) Nishikori, they have great would pave the way to surpass the Spaniard. records against them, but if Rafa both Federer (20) and Nadal (17) “I think the bigger picture for played Tsitsipas he would be in Grand Slam titles. me is more long term,” Wilander, nervous from the fi rst point. “In the grand scheme of things part of Eurosport’s daily ‘Game “The young guys have less re- Novak Djokovic acknowledges the crowd during a training session ahead of his French Open campaign in Paris. (Reuters) Novak winning four in a row Schett and Mats’ review of the spect for reputations.”