FOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Bess Claims Real Madrid Fi Ve As South Go Top Aft Er Africa Hang on Scrappy Win in Third Test Over Sevilla
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CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Bess claims Real Madrid fi ve as South go top aft er Africa hang on scrappy win in third Test over Sevilla Sunday, January 19, 2020 TENNIS Jumada I 24, 1441 AH Federer hopes GULF TIMES for fast start at Melbourne Park SPORT Page 2 TENNIS Qatar Open champ Rublev makes history in Australia Young Russian becomes first man in 16 years to win back-to-back titles in the opening two weeks of the season Agencies kian lifted titles in Adelaide and chances in the fi rst set and he Adelaide Auckland ahead of the Austral- didn’t make it. He was, I think, ian Open. a little bit down and I started to “I was not thinking about [this play even better.” ndrey Rublev became statistic], but it’s an amazing On his fi rst match point, Ru- the fi rst man in 16 feeling… I’m really happy. I hope blev moved to the net behind a years to win back-to- I keep working. I hope I keep im- powerful forehand and forced Aback titles in the open- proving, and we’ll see what’s go- his opponent into a backhand ing two weeks of the season yes- ing to happen,” said Rublev. error with a short volley. The terday, beating Lloyd Harris 6-3, Rublev claimed the first Russian turned to his team in 6-0 to capture the inaugural Ad- break of the match in the sixth celebration and smiled, having elaide International title. game, focusing his attack on doubled his ATP Tour trophy Harris’ forehand to extract collection since the start of the “I was not thinking about multiple errors. From 0/40 year. [this statistic], but it’s an down in the following game, “This is what we are working amazing feeling… I’m Rublev once again targeted his for, to be more consistent, to be really happy. I hope I keep opponent’s forehand to hold more mentally strong,” said Ru- working. I hope I keep serve for 5-2 and served out the blev. “This is what we’re work- improving, and we’ll see set two games later. Consisten- ing for. And I’m happy that these what’s going to happen” cy proved crucial in the open- two weeks went this way… I got ing game of the second set, as two titles. It’s amazing. I never The World No 18 saved all four Rublev took advantage of Har- had this before.” break points he faced to clinch ris’ errors to break serve for a Harris was aiming to capture the trophy in 56 minutes. Rublev second time. The 22-year-old his fi rst ATP Tour trophy in his is now unbeaten in 12 matches, rode the momentum, earning maiden tour-level champion- which includes an 8-0 start to two further service breaks be- ship match. The South African, Andrey Rublev of Russia poses with the 2020 ATP Tour season. Last fore closing out the match with who represented his country the winner’s trophy after defeating week, the Russian won the Qa- attacking play. at the inaugural ATP Cup, de- Lloyd Harris of South Africa in their tar ExxonMobil Open in Doha “The fi rst set was really tough feated sixth seed Cristian Garin men’s final singles match at the without dropping a set, beating because he had a couple of break and fourth seed Pablo Carreno Adelaide International tennis Frenchman Corentin Moutet in points. [It] was a really nervous Busta en route to the champion- tournament in Adelaide yesterday. the fi nal. and tough fi rst set. And then, I ship match. Rublev received 250 The last man to capture two don’t know, I started to play even FedEx ATP Rankings points and trophies in as many weeks to better,” said Rublev. collected $91,625 in prize mon- open the season was Dominik “I think he got maybe a little ey. Harris earned 150 points and Hrbaty in 2004. The Slova- bit disappointed because he had $50,710. GOLF QATAR BEAT JAPAN IN ASIAN HANDBALL Magical eagle puts Westwood in lead AFP majors and WGC events. Abu Dhabi Even though a lot rides on a good performance early in the season, Westwood said he rare- ee Westwood conjured ly played golf or hit balls in the up a magical eagle to off season. help lift him into a third “Coming here, I expected to round lead at the Abu have to work hard on my game LDhabi Championship yester- and scramble a lot. I don’t play day. a lot when I’m away from tour- Westwood, who turns 47 in naments now,” he said. April, shot a seven-under par After making a birdie on the 65 to move one ahead of Aus- 13th, the 34-year-old Wies- tria’s Bernd Wiesberger, who berger burned the edges on the also had a 65, and overnight next two holes with his birdie leader Francesco Laporta of attempts, but managed to close Italy. with three in a row from the Matthew Fitzpatrick birdied 16th onwards. his last two holes in a round of “I struggled the fi rst two three-under par 69 to go fourth days. I think I hit more fairways at 12-under par 204, while today and I can then get myself American Kurt Kitayama (68) the rough, was his only bogey in into positions to take on the Action from the match and Spain’s Sergio Garcia (69) the last 37 holes. fl ags, which I did well,” said the between Qatar and were tied fi fth one shot further “I played well. I holed a cou- world number 23. Japan in the Asian behind. ple of putts early on which gave Laporta made an early bogey Handball Championship World number one Brooks me some momentum and then on the par-fi ve second hole and in Kuwait yesterday. Koepka (70), coming back to hit a brilliant shot into the was one-over through seven Qatar won 36-28 for their competitive golf after a 14- eighth. Then backed it up with before making four birdies in second straight victory to week layoff due to stem cell a birdie at the ninth, so a bit of the last 11 holes. top Group B and qualify treatment for his left knee in- momentum, got on a roll,” said “I was a bit nervous on the for the main round where jury, was in a tie for 48th place Westwood, winner of 24 titles fi rst couple of holes and made they will face tougher at fi ve-under par 211. on the European Tour. a bad mistake on second when opposition. The event England’s Westwood pro- Westwood was winless last I pulled my second shot,” said acts as a qualifier for duced his eagle on the par-fi ve year but had fi nished 2018 in the reigning Challenge Tour the 2021 World’s Men’s eighth hole, smashing a hybrid style when he won the NedBank Order of Merit champion. Handball Championship. iron from 266 yards to less than Challenge in South Africa. He added: “Tomorrow, it Qatar have won the Asian three feet. He is currently ranked 63rd would be just a dream. I just tournament three times His round also contained six in the offi cial world golf rank- want to think about my score in a row (2014, 2016 and birdies and a solitary bogey. ing, and even though he has and my game. I am trying not to 2018) The dropped shot on the 14th qualifi ed for the Masters this see the leaderboard. I think it’s hole, where he had to stand in a year, getting back into the top- going to be a good day tomor- bunker with the ball outside in 50 would get him into all the row.” Gulf Times 2 Sunday, January 19, 2020 TENNIS SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Nadal surprised to still be on top Federer hopes of the game Reuters Melbourne ustralian Open top for fast start at seed Rafa Nadal entered his third Adecade as a profes- sional ranked No 1 in the world and the 33-year-old Spaniard says he is surprised to be at the summit of the men’s game giv- en his long and varied history Melbourne Park of injuries. Enjoying a rare period of full ‘I know it’s a super long road to victory. That’s why I got to take it one match at a time’ fi tness, Nadal is bidding for his second title in his 15th ap- should be little bit shorter. pearance at Melbourne Park, “But here we are. (I’m) hap- as well as the added carrot of py for that. Even for me is a big matching Roger Federer’s all- surprise to be where I am at my time record of 20 Grand Slam age.” titles. Nadal, the only player to In the 11 years since his claim the world number one 2009 triumph in Melbourne, spot in three decades, plays Nadal has battled back from a unseeded Bolivian Hugo Del- litany of serious injuries, defy- lien in the fi rst round on Tues- ing predictions that his taxing, day and has a reasonably kind all-action game might cut his draw. career short. There is a potential fourth He now has a chance to hold round match-up against 16th three out of the four Grand seed Karen Khachanov or local Slam titles after winning the fi rebrand Nick Kyrgios, who French and US Opens last year.