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SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2021 Empty stadium better than one filled with silent fans, says world champion Lyles I've competed in a stadium where the audience was silent and it was extremely weird, I think I would rather have nobody there.

Noah Lyles Sport |10

NBA: Clippers 125 - Bulls 106; Nuggets 97 - Thunder 95; Lakers 115 - Grizzlies 105; Spurs 125 - Hawks 114; Pistons 108 - Celtics 102 QSL: 's side clinches 3-0 win as Al Sailiya and Al Khor claim full points Al Sadd crush Al Ahli to consolidate top spot

THE PENINSULA — DOHA Khor’s third win of this QSL Al Sadd's players season. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Nasr Al Sadd inched closer to title celebrate after (79th minute) pulled one back after thrashing Al Ahli 3-0 as the for Al Kharaitiyat. QNB Stars League (QSL) (right) scored After the victory in bottom- resumed yesterday with three team's opening goal of-the-table clash, Al Khor Round 16 matches. yesterday. moved to 13 points on 11th Al Sailiya and Al Khor also position while Al Kharaitiyat bagged victories yesterday after remained last with 6 points. winning their respective Al Kharaitiyat had defeated matches. The Knights with the same At the Jassim Bin Hamad margin. Stadium, Baghdad Bounedjah Al Kharaitiyat’s Tiberkanine (23rd minute) and Khoukhi Rachid received a red card for Boualem (26th minute) gave Al a dangerous foul against Sadd a two-goal lead at Radwan, five minutes before halftime, while substitute Tarek halftime. Salman scored the third (88’) to Referee Salman Falahi, who conclude the scoring. The result earlier showed a yellow cared means that the Wolves maintain to the Moroccan changed his their lead at the top of the QSL decision and sent Al Kharaitiyat table with 44 points, 16 points forward out after consulting ahead of second-placed Al with VAR. Duhail, who will play their Earlier at the same venue, Round 16 match today. Al Sailiya beat Al Gharafa 1-0 Al Sadd had a quiet start to with Mohammed Mudather the game and did not pose any scoring the only goal of the real danger in the Al Ahli box match in the 70th minute. for the first quarter of an hour. Al Sailiya moved on to 22 Gradually, Xavi’s side points with their sixth victory. stepped up and Baghdad Al Gharafa failed to add to their tally of 27 points as they suf- fered their fifth defeat.

Bounedjah succeeded in scoring in the 60th minute, replacing Ali Asad’s header went just the first goal in the 23rd minute, Yousuf Abdurisag with Ali Asad, wide. pouncing on the ball after Nam who almost had an immediate Finally, in the 88th minute, YESTERDAY’S RESULTS Tae-hee’s shot had been impact, setting up Rodrigo Al Sadd managed to score their deflected, and converting past Tabata with a through ball but third goal and it came from the Al Sadd beat Al Ahli 3-0 Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim. the latter’s shot was kept out for substitute Tarek Salman. Al Khor beat Al Kharaitiyat 2-1 Three minutes later, a corner. After a corner sent in by Al Sailiya beat Al Gharafa 1-0 Khoukhi Boualem headed in the Further substitutions were Cazorla, Salem Al Hajri headed TODAY'S FIXTURES Wolves’ second goal following made as the second half pro- the ball towards the far post and ’s perfect gressed, with Tarek Salman and Tarek was at the right place to 4:45pm: Umm Salal vs Qatar SC from a free-kick. Salem Al Hajri coming on in poke the ball past Yazan Naim. at Al Duhail Stadium Al Sadd went into the tunnel place of Pedro Miguel and Jung Also yesterday, Al Khor 7:15pm: Al Duhail vs Al Rayyan with a 2-0 lead and returned Woo-young in the 72nd minute. defeated 10-man Al Kharaitiyat with a desire to score more. As a result of the change, 2-1 at Qatar SC Stadium, at Al Duhail Stadium However, Al Ahli stood firm and Musaab Khidir moved to the yesterday. 7:15pm: Al Arabi vs Al Wakrah prevented that from right-back position and he went Khalid Radwan (9th minute) at Al Arabi Stadium happening. on to deliver a great cross into and Lasogga Pierre Michelle Action during the match between Al Gharafa and Al Sailiya. Xavi made his first change the box in the 76th minute, but (55th minute) scored goals in Al at fault again as Leicester PSG beat Nice to go top earn comeback win over Liverpool as Barca clash looms REUTERS — LEICESTER REUTERS — was nursing a knock he sustained in a 1-0 French Cup win at Caen on An error by Liverpool goal- Paris St Germain geared up for their Wednesday. The Italian was keeper Alisson helped Champions League trip to Barcelona replaced by Draxler, who lived up Leicester come from behind with a 2-1 home win against Nice to the task as he drove the ball home to earn a 3-1 win yesterday, that sent them provisionally top of from close range after Mauro with the champions losing the Ligue 1 standings yesterday. Icardi’s attempt had bounced off the three successive Premier Italy striker Moise Kean netted post into his path in the 22nd League games for the first the winner after Rony Lopes’s 50th- minute. time since November 2014, minute goal had cancelled out Julian Nice, however, stepped up a when they were managed by Draxler’s opener for PSG in the first gear after the break and Lopes Brendan Rodgers. half. The French champions are on equalised with a powerful shot Liverpool were forced 54 points from 25 games and lead under the crossbar following a rare into another defensive Lille, who host Brest today, on goal poor clearance by Marquinhos. The reshuffle due to Fabinho difference with Olympique Lyonnais visitors went close to taking the lead being injured, with January in third place on 52 points. on the hour but Amine Gouiri’s loan signing Ozan Kabak The result left Nice in 13th place attempt crashed against the bar. handed his debut. The with 29 points from 24 matches. Kean punished them in the 76th 20-year-old’s slip let Jamie PSG, who face Barca in their minute, heading home from point- Vardy in in the first half, only Champions League last-16 first leg blank range to give PSG all three for the Leicester striker to hit Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (left) scores their second goal, yesterday. on Tuesday, were without three key points after Icardi had stretched in the crossbar. players with Neymar and Angel Di the air to deflect Kylian Mbappe’s It was Trent Alexander- Maria injured while Marco Verratti cross. Arnold’s turn to hit the minute. Harvey Barnes made “On the pitch we were the perfectly flighted free-kick woodwork from a free-kick sure of the win four minutes clear dominant side. We had beat Schmeichel but not the PSG’s Moise just after the interval before later to complete another mis- chances and then we concede frame of the goal, the Kean (left) finally broke erable afternoon for Liv- two goals.” chances continued to come, the deadlock in the 68th erpool, who have now won The match started at a at both ends, before Salah in action minute after being set up by a just two of their last 10 league ferocious pace, and James finally made one count, with OGC superb back- games. Maddison almost caught scoring his 17th league goal Nice’s wards flick. With Manchester United Alisson off his line with an of the season. Hassane After VAR had overturned not in action until today, audacious effort from his own A frantic final 12 minutes Kamara, a penalty awarded to Leicester jumped to second in half early on. But the Liv- saw Leicester storm to yesterday. Leicester, James Maddison the standings, while Liverpool erpool keeper got back to victory. equalised from a free-kick, sit fourth, 10 points off leaders make the save. VAR had a long look at before Alisson, who made two City having played two games The injuries continued to Maddison’s free-kick, which glaring errors in Liverpool’s more. pile up for Liverpool as James went through a sea of bodies loss to Manchester City last “The second goal is a mis- Milner had to be withdrawn, into the net, before Alisson’s weekend, cost his side again. understanding,” Liverpool but the visitors remained a ill-fated rush of blood to the The Brazilian came racing boss Juergen Klopp told BT threat on counter, with Kasper head that left Vardy with an out of his goal to meet a long Sport. “Alisson had a super Schmeichel, on his 100th con- open goal - his eighth career ball over the top but collided game and then at that moment secutive strike against Liverpool. with Kabak and allowed he came out, I didn’t hear him appearance, in fine form. Barnes then made sure of Vardy in to score in the 81st shouting." After Alexander-Arnold’s the win with a fine finish. SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11

South Africa Day one of the second Test in Chennai Rugby: beat Pakistan Watson by 6 fight back with late guides in second T20 England to WWW.ICC.COM - LAHORE wickets after Sharma hits 161 easy win A five- haul from AP - CHENNAI 150 off 208 deliveries. Sharma Dwaine Pretorius helped was out against the run of play, South Africa to victory in the India lost three wickets in the caught at backward square leg over Italy second T20I in Lahore final session but was still in a as he went for an aerial sweep yesterday. strong position at 300-6 at against Jack Leach. Pretorius’s figures of 5/17 stumps on the first day of the Sharma faced 231 balls, REUTERS - in his four overs are the best second Test against England hitting 18 fours and two sixes. ever by a South African in T20I yesterday. Rahane survived a dubious England put last week’s and also the best ever Rohit Sharma (161) scored DRS call, which was later Scotland defeat behind them against Pakistan in the format. his seventh Test and put reversed. with a six-try 41-18 Six Nations And the 31-year-old’s phe- on 162 runs with Ajinkya He didn’t survive for too victory over Italy at Twick- nomenal performance helped Rahane (67) for the fourth long afterward, bowled by the enham yesterday as Anthony the tourists level the series at wicket. Both batsmen were dis- recalled Moeen Ali (2-112). Watson scored two tries and 1-1 to turn today’s third and missed after tea as England Pant and Ravichandran Jonny May claimed a memo- final match into a decider. fought back. Ashwin (13) then added 35 runs rable one with an astonishing, Pretorius removed the Rishabh Pant (33) and Axar for the sixth wicket. England acrobatic leap. danger man for 5 Patel (5) are the batters at the dismissed Jonny Hill, Jack Willis and with just his second delivery, crease. Rahane brought up his Ashwin late in the final session. also scored but the trapping the Pakistan captain 23rd Test half-century off 104 Pant was his usual young Italy side were far from lbw. balls. Sharma was motoring aggressive self, hitting five fours disgraced, despite falling to a And the home side along at the other end, crossing and a six so far. 29th successive Six Nations struggled to get going Earlier, Sharma had defeat. throughout their innings, with anchored the Indian innings in England were scrappy and SCOREBOARD England players celebrate an Indian wicket on day one of the even a half-century from the middle session. He and inaccurate in the early stages second Test in Chennai yesterday. PIC@ENGLANDCRICKET Mohammad Rizwan – picking India (1st Innings) Rahane made sure that India but eventually settled to their up from his century in the Rohit Sharma c Ali b Leach ...... 161 didn’t lose a wicket after being . Jasprit Bumrah was Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes task and showing signs of the Shubman Gill lbw b Stone ...... 0 opening match – not enough reduced to 106-3 at lunch. rested and Mohammed Siraj was England’s fourth change. cohesive attacking coach Chesteshwar Pujara c Stokes b Leach ...... 21 to inspire a decent total. b Ali ...... 0 He reached his century off replaced him. He replaces Jos Buttler, who has Eddie Jones had called for after The star man Pretorius Ajinkya Rahane b Ali ...... 67 130 balls before tea. England made four changes been rested for the remaining last week’s poor showing. came back in the middle overs Rishabh Pant ...... 33 India won the toss and to its side which won the first three tests and returns home. In response to that, Jones to remove both Iftikhar Ahmed R Ashwin c Pope b Root ...... 13 opted to bat. Opener Shubman test by 277 runs. The Tamil Nadu Cricket had opted against throwing in and Rizwan just as the pair Axar Patel not out ...... 5 Gill and Virat Kohli were both Fast bowler James Anderson Association is allowing 50% his youngsters, instead fielding looked set to accelerate, with Total: (For 6 wkts, 88 overs) ...... 300 dismissed for ducks as England has been rested, while Jofra crowd attendance at the the most experienced England Pakistan only bringing up their Yet to bat: Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mo- took the initial upper hand. Archer was ruled out with an 50,000-capacity MA XV ever to take the field, with hundred in the 17th over. hammed Siraj. Kohli went without scoring elbow injury sustained in the Chidambaram Stadium for the 810 caps between them A late flurry of runs from Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Shubman Gill, 1.3 ov), after Ali spun one sharply, with previous game. Pace bowlers second Test. against a desperately inexpe- Faheem Ashraf, with 30 off 2-85 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 20.2 ov), 3-86 (Virat the Indian skipper appearing and Olly Stone Long queues were seen rienced Italian team. just 12 deliveries, took Pakistan Kohli, 21.2 ov), 4-248 (Rohit Sharma, 72.6 ov), shocked at his dismissal. came into the side. prior to the game as fans turned It was the visitors who up to a total of 144, but not 5-249 (Ajinkya Rahane, 75.2 ov), 6-284 (Ravi- India made three changes Off-spinner Dominic Bess up in large number to redeem struck first though, with a before Pretorius had com- chandran Ashwin, 82.3 ov). to its side. Fit-again left-arm was dropped, despite taking paper tickets and vouchers. well-crafted try after two pleted his five-for with the dis- Bowling: Stuart Broad 11-2-37-0, Olly Stone spinner Axar Patel replaced 4-55 in the first innings of the The host association has put minutes by winger Monty 15-5-42-1, Jack Leach 26-2-78-2, Ben Stokes missals of Khushdil Shah and Shahbaz Nadeem and Kuldeep first Test. Spin-bowling all- in stringent protocols for fans Ioane, nephew of former Aus- 2-0-16-0, Moeen Ali 26-3-112-2, Joe Root 8-2- Mohammad Nawaz. 15-1. Yadav came in for Washington rounder Ali took over those inside the venue, including san- tralia wing Digby. Pakistan are one away Toss: India. Sundar as the hosts attempted duties along with left-armer itizing the ball whenever it is hit A pushover score by Hill from bringing up their 100th to shore up their middle-order Leach. into the stands. and a penalty apiece had it win in T20 international level at 8-8 midway through matches, but 144/7 was never the half, before England likely to be enough, even grabbed control with scores by against a South African side both wingers. who went into this match on West Indies 41-3 in second Test, First Watson stepped the back of five straight defeats inside some soft defence for in the format. his first try in 11 months, then A stunning opening spell lead Bangladesh by 154 runs May launched a spectacular from Shaheen Afridi did give dive over a covering defender Pakistan a glimmer of hope - technically an illegal move however, with the left-arm AP - DHAKA SCOREBOARD shared a 126-run stand for the and something more often quick bowler removing Jan- West Indies (1st Innings): 409 Bowling: Shannon Gabriel 21-3-70-3 (nb7), Rah- seventh wicket to reduce the seen in American football - to neman Malan with just the Bangladesh’s spinners shared Bangladesh (1st Innings; Overnight 105-4) keem Cornwall 32-8-74-5, Alzarri Joseph 17.5-3-60- first-innings deficit. take the halftime lead to 20-8 second ball of the innings. And the early wickets to stop West c Moseley b Joseph ...... 44 2 (w1), Kyle Mayers 8-2-15-0,Jomel Warrican 13-2- Cornwall strengthened and his personal try tally to 32, Afridi returned with a wicket- Indies taking complete control c Mayers b Gabriel ...... 0 48-0 (nb3), West Indies’ position by dis- clear in second place behind maiden in the third over – the of the second and final Test Najmul Hossain c Bonner b Gabriel ...... 4 Nkrumah Bonner 3-0-17-0, Kraigg Brathwaite 2-0- missing both of the overnight Rory Underwood (49) in Eng- 20-year-old’s first-ever yesterday. c Da Silva b Cornwall ...... 21 7-0. batsmen, Mushfiqur and land’s roll of honour. c Mayers b Cornwall ...... 54 West Indies (2nd Innings) maiden in T20I cricket. West Indies reached 41-3 in M Mithun c Brathwaite b Cornwall...... 15 K Brathwaite c b Nayeem Hasan ....6 Mohammad Mithun, after Watson ran 60 metres to But South Africa rallied its second innings at stumps on Liton Das c Blackwood b Cornwall ...... 71 John Campbell b Taijul Islam ...... 18 Bangladesh resumed play on score his second after inter- well after the early departures day three for a lead of 154 runs. M Hasan Miraz c Brathwaite b Gabriel ...... 57 Shayne Moseley c Mohd Mithun b M Hasan .... 7 105-4. cepting Paolo Garbisi and of Malan and JJ Smuts, and a Nkrumah Bonner (8) and Nayeem Hasan c Blackwood b Cornwall ...... 0 Nkrumah Bonner not out ...... 8 Cornwall had Mithun caught Willis crossed within a minute partnership of 77 between nightwatchman Jomel Warrican Taijul Islam not out ...... 13 Jomel Warrican not out ...... 2 by captain Kraigg Brathwaite of joining the fray after a great Reeza Hendricks (42) and Pite (2) are at the crease. c Bonner b Joseph ...... 1 Total: (For 3 wkts, 21 overs) ...... 41 on 15. break by replacement van Biljon (42) broke the back Offspinner Rahkeem Extras:(b5, nb10, w1) ...... 16 Yet to bat: Kyle Mayers, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Mushfiqur brought up his scrumhalf Dan Robson, who Total: (All Out, 96.5 overs) ...... 296 Da Silva, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Shan- of the chase, with the Proteas Cornwall earlier helped West Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Soumya Sarkar, 0.6 ov), 2-11 non Gabriel. 22nd Test 50, pushing Corn- looked really lively in a rare well ahead of the rate when Indies take a 113-run first (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 2.2 ov), 3-69 (Mominul Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 3.3 ov), wall’s delivery toward mid-on opportunity to have 30 Hendricks fell to Usman Qadir innings lead, claiming 5-74 as Haque, 14.6 ov), 4-71 (Tamim Iqbal, 15.5 ov), 5-142 2-20 (Shayne Moseley, 8.3 ov), 3-39 (John Campbell, for a single. But he was dis- minutes on the pitch. in the 12th over. Bangladesh was bowled out for (Mohammad Mithun, 45.1 ov), 6-155 (Mushfiqur Ra- 16.4 ov). missed by Cornwall soon after Soon after, however, Willis And the Proteas strolled to 296 in reply to West Indies’ 409. him, 49.2 ov), 7-281 (Liton Das, 91.2 ov), 8-281 Bowling: Taijul Islam7-2-13-1,Nayeem Hasan 10-3- while trying to play a reverse suffered a serious-looking the win with 22 balls to spare It was Cornwall’s second five- (Nayeem Hasan, 91.5 ov), 9-283 ( Mi- 14-1, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-0-14-1. sweep shot. knee injury, the flanker’s as David Miller, with 25 off 19 for in . raz, 92.4 ov), 10-296 (Abu Jayed, 96.5 ov). Toss: West Indies. West Indies appeared set for scream of pain echoing round balls, and skipper Heinrich “The wicket gave me some a big lead but Liton and Mehidy an empty Twickenham, and he Klaasen, with 17 off 9, steered bounce, some of the ball spun. lunch so that we can set a rea- impact. Liton Das was the top- resisted. needed almost 10 minutes of South Africa to 145/4 to com- I just had to work with that,” sonable target for scorer for Bangladesh with 71 Liton brought up his seventh medical attention before he plete a six-wicket win. Cornwall said. Bangladesh.” while Mehidy Hasan, fresh from Test 50 with a fierce cut past was carried off on a stretcher. The teams meet again in “I think we are slightly in Fast bowlers Shannon his first century in the first test, point for a boundary, and has England were caught cold Lahore today for the third and the driver’s seat... We have to Gabriel (3-70) and Alzarri hit 57. Mushfiqur Rahim con- reached 1,000 Test runs in 22 on the restart as Tommaso final match of the series. be in a reasonable position at Joseph (2-60) also made an tributed 54. Liton and Mehidy matches. Allan slipped though a big gap but they hit back immediately with a score by Daly. With Watson delivering a staged by Qatar Volleyball Association great cameo as stand-in flanker and Robson pulling the strings, England were knocking at the door for the final 10 minutes but, hugely to their credit, Italy, who so often crumble in the latter stages, kept them out. “That was back to being us,” said England captain . “Not the best performance we have ever had but in terms of the feeling energy and intent that was back to being us. “We had some honest con- versations in the week, and got things right on the training Players in action during a Qatar Cup clash between Al Ahli and Al Arabi in Doha yesterday. Al Ahli won the match 3-2 (27-29, 25-17, 25-27, 25-23, 15-11). RIGHT: Qatar Cup field. action between Police and Qatar SC in Doha yesterday. Police won the match 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22) “I thought we attacked the game, our intent was brilliant, we got in behind them, not everything went our way but Mercedes say they are dealing with some F1 engine issues we stuck at it.” Italy coach Franco Smith was upbeat despite the defeat. REUTERS - LONDON Mercedes won 13 of 17 races in 2020 -- Lewis Ham- teams this year, including their own, after McLaren “It was another step up for us, ilton triumphant 11 times on his way to his seventh title switched from Renault power. Their other clients are a step in the right direction,” Formula One champions Mercedes have said they were - and have won the last seven constructors’ and drivers’ Williams and Aston Martin (formerly Racing Point). he said. “The spine of our team dealing with some engine issues ahead of the new championships, a Formula One record. Thomas said this year was the first winter where is a really young group but this season but expected everything to be fixed by the first “We have got some issues with the power units; we Mercedes had limits on the amount of time they could was much better than last race. know we have issues but we have plenty of plans in test engines on the dyno. week. Unfortunately we made The comment, in a team interview with engine head place to fix all of those issues,” said Thomas. “I’m sure “Also it’s the first winter where we have prepared a lot of unforced errors - our Hywel Thomas, drew some wry comments on social it will all be ready for the first race.” for only one single upgrade for the whole season,” he game management needs media from those who recalled the sport’s dominant The season starts in Bahrain on March 28. added. “So we have to get all of our performance into attention but a lot of boxes manufacturer saying something similar last year. Mercedes are supplying engines to four of the 10 the first Power Unit that goes to the first race.” were ticked today.” Sport SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2021 10

Day 7 features Nadal and Medvedev advance as Serena and other Grand Barty downs Alexandrova at Open Slam winners

AP — MELBOURNE 7-6 (5). Berrettini will next play LOOK AHEAD TO fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, SUNDAY Daniil Medvedev finally worked a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 winner over Serena Williams con- out how to a win a five-setter. Mikael Ymer of Sweden. tinues her quest for a All by himself. Two women with titles record-tying 24th Grand The fourth-seeded already this year are through to Slam singles title when she Medvedev was 0-6 in Grand the Round of 16. plays No. 7 seed Aryna Slam matches that went to five Top-ranked Ash Barty, who Sabalenka in the fourth sets, and his Australian Open won the Yarra Valley Classic last round. Williams’ last Grand third-round match against No. week for a title in her first tour- Slam singles title came at 28-seeded Filip Krajinovic nament back from almost 12 the 2017 Australian Open, looked like it was going all the Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates months on the sidelines, beat her seventh championship way. winning his third round match Ekaterina Alexandrova of at Melbourne Park. After some angry outbursts against Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Russia 6-2, 6-4. She’s hardly the only from an increasingly animated Barty said while it felt woman with major tro- and chatty Medvedev directed strange not having fans in the phies at home who will be at his box in an otherwise empty stadium for the first time in her in action today. Garbiñe Rod Laver Arena - fans have career at the highest level, there Muguruza, winner of the been banned as a COVID-19 were some things she didn’t French Open in 2016 and precaution - his coach, Gilles mind. Wimbledon in 2017, faces Cervara, got up and left. Barty next faces American Naomi Osaka, whose three “He said just before leaving Shelby Rogers, who beat No. 21 Slam titles include the 2019 that he’s sure I’m going to win Anett Kontaveit 6-4, 6-3. Australian Open. Reigning the match. He’s going to leave Elise Mertens, a 2018 Aus- French Open champion Iga me alone to be more calm,” tralian Open semifinalist who Swiatek meets two-time Medvedev explained in his on- won the Gippsland Trophy major champ Simona court TV interview after yester- ATP Finals, said while that’s 20-time major winner, is also When he fell behind 5-2 in tuneup tournament last week, Halep. day’s 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-0 nice to hear, he’s got a long way in his half of the draw. the fourth, Medvedev shouted, had a 6-2, 6-1 victory over 11th- In men’s play, eight- win. “It was a good thing to do. to go. Nadal extended his winning “I never saw something like seeded Belinda Bencic. She’ll time Australian Open Luckily I won.” He’ll have to face unseeded streak against fellow left- this!” take a seven-match winning champion Novak Djokovic Some pundits, including American Mackenzie McDonald handers to 16 with a 7-5, 6-2, He returned to better much streak into her next match is scheduled to play Milos John McEnroe, are tipping the in the next round. After that 7-5 victory over No. 69-ranked play in the deciding set, against Karolina Muchova in the Raonic at night, but 25-year-old Russian to make could be a quarter-final against Cameron Norrie, reaching the smacking an inside-out fourth round. Djokovic injured a side his major breakthrough in Aus- No. 7 Andrey Rublev, who fourth round at Melbourne Park forehand winner to a corner to No. 25-seeded Muchova muscle in his five-set win tralia. Medvedev, on a 17-match helped him win the ATP Cup for the 14th time in 16 trips. close an 18-stroke exchange rallied from a 5-0 second-set over American Taylor Fritz winning streak that includes title for Russia last week. No. He is chasing a men’s record and break to go up 2-0. deficit in near silence, which on Friday. US Open titles at the 2020 season-ending 2-ranked Rafael Nadal, a 21st major title but entered the He didn’t drop another only made the turnaround seem champion Dominic Thiem tournament with back stiffness game as he seized the more bizarre as she beat No. 6 will take on Grigor Dim- and without any competitive momentum back from Kraji- Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 7-5. itrov, while 20-year-old matches in 2021. novic, who was previously 4-1 There were no fans in the Felix Auger-Aliassime goes “Today is better, yeah,” in matches that went the full stands due to the start of a five- up against Russian qualifier Nadal said of his back soreness. five sets. day lockdown imposed by the Aslan Karatsev, who is “First day I feel an Medvedev, the US Open Victoria state government in making his Grand Slam improvement, and that’s the finalist last year, will next play response to a COVID-19 out- singles debut. most important thing for me McDonald, a player he com- break at a quarantine hotel. Up Alexander Zverev, who today.” pared with Roger Federer in to 30,000 spectators daily - lost to Thiem in last year’s He hasn’t dropped a set in style. McDonald beat Lloyd 50% of capacity - had been US Open final, plays Dusan three matches that, he said, “I Harris in straight sets to equal admitted on previous days. Lajovic, to complete the hope will help me for what’s his best Grand Slam result by No. 61-ranked Jessica Pegula fourth-round matches in coming.” reaching the round of 16 at the had a 6-2, 6-1 win over Kristina the top half of the men’s In his immediate future is Australian Open. Mladenovic and will next play No. draw. No. 16 Fabio Fognini, who had Seventh-seeded Rublev had 5-seeded Elina Svitolina, who SUNDAY’S a straight-set win over Aus- a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Feli- won the last nine games to beat FORECAST tralia’s last hope in the men’s ciano Lopez, ending the Yulia Putintseva 6-4,6-0. Mostly sunny, high of 21 draw, 21st-seeded Alex de 39-year-old Spaniard’s 75th No. 22 Jennifer Brady degrees Celsius (68 Minaur. consecutive major dropped only four games to Fahrenheit) Medvedev had been tournament. advance to a fourth-round SATURDAY’S Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in action bothered by a problem with his The Russian men had one match against No. 28 Donna WEATHER during her third round match against upper left leg and had a medical loss on Day 6, with No. 19 Karen Vekic, who saved a match point Mostly sunny, high of 21 Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova. timeout for treatment late in the Khachanov beaten by No. 9 and beat Kaia Kanepi 5-7, 7-6 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). fourth set. Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5), (2), 6-4. Dodgers trade Empty stadium better reliever Adam NBA: Utah Jazz beat Milwaukee Kolarek to A’s Bucks by double digits again than one filled with silent fans, says Lyles REUTERS — LOS ANGELES REUTERS — NEW YORK REUTERS — NEW YORK more engaged then having The Los Angeles Dodgers Four players for the NBA- silent audiences. traded left-handed reliever leading Jazz scored at least 25 It would be better to compete “I’ve competed in a stadium Adam Kolarek to the Oakland points in Utah’s 129-115 win in an empty stadium at the where the audience was silent Athletics for two prospects. over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tokyo Olympics than one and it was extremely weird, I The A’s also acquired Friday night in Salt Lake City. where spectators would be think I would rather have minor-league outfielder Cody Utah earned its sixth forced to sit in silence, nobody there.” Tokyo Olympic Thomas in exchange for straight win and its 17th victory American 200 meters world officials earlier this month infielder Sheldon Neuse and in 18 games. champion Noah Lyles unveiled the first of many minor-league right-handed Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles (pictured) said. COVID-19 rules for the Games pitcher Gus Varland in the deal. each scored 27 points to lead Lyles, who will compete this summer, including the Kolarek, 32, went 3-0 with the Jazz. Donovan Mitchell fin- indoors for the first time in banning of singing and an 0.95 ERA in 20 games last ished with 26 despite 6-of-20 three years on Saturday chanting during events and season. He also appeared in shooting from the field, and running the 60m and 200m at mandating participants to wear four postseason games, Jordan Clarkson continued his Utah Jazz the New Balance Grand Prix in masks at “all times” except allowing five earned runs in 3 stellar play off the bench with center Rudy Staten Island, said he will be at when eating, sleeping or 1/3 innings for the World 25. Gobert shoots the delayed Games in Tokyo outdoors. Series champions. In 143 Giannis Antetokounmpo the ball against this year. The Tokyo Olympics were career games over four tallied 29 points, 15 rebounds, Boston Celtics However, if the COVID-19 delayed by a year due to the seasons for the Dodgers and six assists, two blocks and two forward Tristan guidelines laid out by officials novel coronavirus pandemic in Tampa Bay Rays, Kolarek is steals, but the Bucks dropped Thompson (13) remain in place then the 2020 and are scheduled to 11-3 with a 3.32 ERA. their second game in a row. and centre 23-year-old believes fans begin in July. Neuse, 26, is the key piece Brook Lopez added 23 points, Daniel Theis (27) should stay home. Rated a gold medal going to the Dodgers. Oak- Khris Middleton had 18, Bobby during the first “No chanting, no cheering prospect in the 100m, 200m land’s No. 5 overall prospect, Portis 15 and D.J. Augustin 12. quarter at Vivint - that kind of sucks,” said Lyles, and 4x100m relays, Lyles plans according to MLB Pipeline, Utah used a 34-21 second Smart Home when learning of the protocols to be in Tokyo unless “ridic- Neuse could help pick up the quarter to seize a double-digit Arena. during a video conference. ulous” regulations are slack at third base if Los lead that it maintained the rest “It would kind of be better implemented. Angeles doesn’t bring back of the way. if there weren’t fans if that is “I definitely plan to go no free agent Justin Turner. Neuse The game began with an what they are going to continue matter what as long as they are appeared in 25 games for the Ingles shooting clinic. The Jazz with. not ridiculous,” he said. A’s in 2019, hitting.250 with small forward drained three “That way you could just “If it is definitely within seven RBIs, but his trajectory consecutive 3-pointers to open sstaytay hhome,ome, theythey wouldwould bebe reasonreason like if I aamm adadvisedvised was blocked by All-Star Matt the game, then hit a fourth ableable to chant there and they toto get the vaccine, yes I Chapman at third base. He triple after a Gobert dunk for a could probabprobablyly send cancan getget vaccine, if youyou spent all of last season at the 14-7 lead. videosvideos throughthrough social ttravelravel a certain way, I A’s alternate training site. Ingles finished the first half strained left hamstring. Mean-- mediamedia aandnd willwill definitelydefinitely travel a Varland, 24, was the A’s No. with six 3-pointers and 20 while, the Bucks’ Jrue Holidayy things like that certain waway,y, if I nneedeed to 28 prospect, according to MLB points while dishing out five missed his third game in a roww andand be a llotot quarantinequarantine fforor ttwowo Pipeline, and in two minor Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles assists. due to the NBA’s health andd wweekseeks I’ll do tthat."hat." league seasons he compiled a each scored 27 points to lead Clarkson added 16 before safety protocols for COVID-19.9. 2-2 record with a 1.54 ERA in the Jazz. Donovan Mitchell the break as the Jazz went into Jazz forward Georges Niangg 18 games (15 starts). He pitched the locker room ahead 69-52. left early in the fourth quarterr at Single-A Stockton in 2019. finished with 26 despite Utah was exceptional offen- after injuring his right ankle. Thomas, 26, was ranked No. 6-of-20 shooting from the sively in both quarters, shooting The Jazz have beaten thee 29 on the Dodgers’ prospect list field, and Jordan Clarkson 54.3 percent from the field and Bucks both times season, andd by MLB Pipeline. In four seasons hitting 12 of 24 3-point attempts both by double digits. They’vee in the minors he reached as high continued his stellar play off in the half. lost only one game since theirr as Double-A, hitting.236 with a the bench with 25. All-Star candidate Mike Jan. 8 victory in Milwaukeee slugging percentage of.443 for Conley missed his third game started a string of 11 straightt the Tulsa Drillers in 2019. in a row for Utah due to a wins.