FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 WWINTERINTER OOLYMPICSLYMPICS | Page 6 Duhail face Hirscher rules Al Wahda the slopes as challenge in Russian doping Abu Dhabi spectre returns Monday, February 19, 2018 CRICKET Jumada II 3, 1439 AH Kohli limps off as GULF TIMES India begin T20 campaign with win SPORT Page 4 TENNIS / QATAR TOTAL OPEN Kvitova reigns supreme in Qatar to clinch top 10 spot The triumph is even more extraordinary as Kvitova is still suff ering from nerve damage to her playing hand and cannot entirely clench her fist or feel two of her fingers By Sahan Bidappa Doha fter a terrifying knife attack in December 2016 that seriously injured her left hand, not many gave Petra Kvitova a chance Ato play tennis again. They didn’t know, however, that the Czech is a tough char- acter, with steely determination instilled in her by her father from a very young age. Last night at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Kvitova displayed her never-say-die attitude in abundance as she continued her remark- able turnaround by clinching her maiden Qatar Total Open title. With her back against the wall for sec- ond night in succession, No. 16 seed Kvi- tova came back from a set down to outlast Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic (2L) stands with her winning cheque fourth seed Garbine Muguruza 3-6, 6-3, on the podium between Laurent Wolff sheim, Managing Director of Total 6-4 in the title clash. E&P Golfe and Group Representative (3R) and WTA President Nicky It was Kvitova’s 13th straight win, hav- Lawler (L), as President of the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) and ing come to Doha with victory in St. Pe- Chairman and chief executive off icer of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club tersburg followed by Fed Cup wins. It also Nasser al-Khelaifi holds her winning trophy. rocketed the two-time Wimbledon cham- pion back into top-10 for the fi rst time since June 2016, having started the year at No. 29. She also beat three top fi ve players in six matches that she played in Doha. “It feels great. It’s a beautiful trophy. It took a while to win it, for sure defi nitely,” said Kvitova after taking home $591,750 in prize money. “Today it was a big fi ght. Coming back from one set down was very diffi cult. I spent two and something (hours) on the court again. So I don’t know how I did it. But it’s worth it,” the Czech added, while grinning ear to ear with trophy by her side. The triumph is even more extraordi- nary as Kvitova is still suff ering from nerve damage to her playing hand and cannot entirely clench her fi st or feel two of her fi ngers. “I couldn’t really dream about it one year ago when I was in a totally diff erent position, trying to come back and play. I couldn’t really wish for more. I played great tennis, St. Petersburg and here as Qatar Total Open winner Petra Kvitova poses with children after the final. well. So that means a lot to me,” Kvitova said. “It feels great to be in top 10. I think SPOTLIGHT that it feels much better right now be- cause top 10 is the number. Of course, it’s Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic poses with the Qatar Total Open trophy after her win over Garbine Muguruza in the final such a great achievement to be back there. in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma But I never really was thinking about the Federer wins 97th title numbers, but about the game and kind of on court, including 2 hours and 35 minutes The eff ects of that long semi-fi nal French Open champion Muguruza, with results, which I have it now. So it’s a nice on Saturday night to beat No.1 Caroline showed last night, at least in the fi rst set, the Spaniard twisting her knee while going AFP He is three years older than bonus,” she added. Wozniacki in the semi-fi nals. as Kvitova found herself 0-5 down in no for a deep shot and had to call for a trainer. Rotterdam American Andre Agassi was when The road to her 22nd career title in Doha Muguruza, on the other hand, spent time. The Czech struggled with her serves With a bandaged left knee, she held her previously holding the record for wasn’t easy for the 27-year-old, which is half of that time and was also lucky to get a and committed 15 unforced errors as Mu- serve in the ninth game but Kvitova sealed oldest No.1 back in 2003. why Kvitova would treasure the Golden free pass into the fi nal, after Simona Halep guruza capitalised to pocket the fi rst set, the title on her second championship oger Federer celebrated This was his third title in Rot- Falcon trophy more. Coming into the fi nal, pulled out from the semi-fi nal with a foot despite being broken while serving for the point as a Muguruza backhand found the his return to the top of the terdam following successes in Kvitova had spent 8 hours and 22 minutes injury. set at 5-1. net. world rankings by win- 2005 and 2012 and he now stands The match looked like it would not last Muguruza, who will climb one place to Rning the Rotterdam Open 12-0 for the season. an hour before Kvitova found her range third in the rankings paid tribute to her op- yesterday, his 97th career title. The iconic Swiss star needed Dabrowski and Ostapenko clinch doubles title in Doha in the second set. Her resilience came ponent. The 36-year-old, the oldest just 55 minutes to dispatch Dim- through, too, as she saved a break point in “I think she (Kvitova) has great shots, No.1 in history, thrashed Bulgar- itrov who looked to be under- Gabriela Dabrowski and Jelena Ostap- nals to claim her third title with as many the fi fth game with a stunning backhand so she puts you in diffi culties very soon in ian Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in a cooked in the quickfi re fi nal. enko won their maiden doubles title partners, following St. Petersburg and slice to go 3-2 up. It soon became 4-2 to the point. She has a good serve. She has a one-sided fi nal. Federer now stands a perfect as a pair after defeating No.8 seeds Stuttgart last year with Alicja Rosolska Kvitova as she converted her third break very good fi rst, second shot, so it’s always In the Open era, only American 7-0 over the Bulgarian in their Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Martinez and Raquel Atawo respectively. point from Muguruza’s serve. tricky to fi nd your game or your rhythm,” Jimmy Connors has won more ti- head-to-head series. Sanchez 6-3, 6-3 in the final to clinch the Yesterday at the Khalifa International Going for a decisive lead, Kvitova was she said. tles with 109. Two breaks per set were enough Qatar Total Open. Tennis and Squash complex, Dabrowski once again in trouble as Muguruza earned The Spaniard also rued her missed op- “What a fantastic week,” the for Federer to advance to the tro- Playing just their fourth tournament and Ostapenko were on top of their a break point only to see the Czech turn it portunities, when she could not convert top seed said. “The goal at start of phy. together, the unseeded duo Dabrowski game against long-time doubles special- around with a stunning backhand cross- fi ve break points on off er in the second set. week was to make it to the semi- Federer will now decide within and Ostapenko beat seeded pairs en ists Klepac of Slovakia and Martinez court winner to make it 5-2 . She then “I think in the fi rst set she wasn’t maybe fi nals. This is absolutely amazing, a few days whether or not to travel route to winning the title in Doha. Sanchez of Spain. served out the set in the fi rst opportunity. playing her best. I think she made a lot I’m really pleased.” to Dubai for the ATP event start- For Dabrowski, it marked her seventh The duo saved a break point in the With her serve improving as the match of unforced errors right away, so it gave Federer, the record 20-time ing a week from today. career doubles title and second of the opening game, but did not face another went on, Kvitova was holding all the aces me a lot of advantage. In the second set it Grand Slam winner, will reclaim Federer has a home and train- year following Sydney, alongside Xu for the remainder of the set. Martinez in the deciding set. Playing her third three- was more what I was expecting, a tough the number one ranking he last ing base in the UAE and has won Yifan. The Canadian had also won the Sanchez was broken in the fifth game, as setter of the tournament, mentally too she match. And in the third it was just a little held in October 2012 when the the hardcourt tournament seven Australian Open mixed doubles crown Ostapenko served out the first set. seemed more prepared than Muguruza. bit more equal. I think I had a lot of break new ATP rankings are published times.