12 Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Sports

‘Qatar 2022 will be unique; Education City Stadium modern, cozy’

“People would be excited to Martinez, Maldini, Wenger praise World Cup venue be at this beautiful, modern and cozy stadium,” he said. Tribune News Network He also praised the Su- Doha preme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. “They are organised, Structure-wise FIFA they have the knowledge and World Cup Qatar 2022 is shap- the passion. It is really incred- ing to be the best and unique ible. Despite the challenges in football history according to posed by the global pandemic Roberto Martinez, a former Bel- of coronavirus, Qatar have gium player and now manager. been progressing incredibly Martinez opined in an in- well to be ready well in time terview aired on beIN Sports for the 2022 event.” during the digital opening of the Education City Stadium World Cup Qatar 2022 will be “The Qatar World Cup will be Top class, says Wenger on Monday. special,” he said. a turning point in the Middle Former Arsenal manager “Structure-wise the Qa- Martinez, who also coached East, a legacy that will leave an Arsene Wenger, who is cur- tar World Cup is shaping to his country at the 2018 World incredible landmark in football.” rently FIFA’s Chief of Global be the best and unique with Cup in Russia, recalled the Football Development, termed stadiums in vicinity. It is a 2010 World Cup in South Africa ‘Beautiful, modern, cozy Qatar’s upcoming facilities and geographic model where a fan which was also vibrant but was stadium’ the Education City Stadium as can get to watch two games or spread far and wide in terms of Meanwhile, one of Italy’s “top class”. even three matches in a day. cities and venues. “South Africa finest former defenders Paolo “It is commendable the way It will be possible given the had a distinct African tradition Maldini termed the Educa- Qatar is showing its commit- distance between the stadi- to it. Qatar will also be tradition- tion City Stadium as “beautiful, ment and progress towards the ums. Fan experience at FIFA ally unique,” he said, adding, modern and cozy”. 2022 World Cup,” he said.

AFP Sheffield Utd, Villa braced New York for Premier League restart The US Open tennis tournament is to go ahead as planned pending formal US Open to go ahead government approval, the New York )11( Education City Stadium in global spotlight Times reported on Monday. The Times cited four tennis officials AFP Villa Park, but Wilder will not speaking on condition of anonymity as as planned: NYT London allow himself to get distract- saying that the Grand Slam event would ed by talk of Europe. take place in its usual late August-Sep- Sheffield United manager “If it gets to the situation tember slot. Chris Wilder and Aston Villa where we are one or two games The status of the tournament has boss Dean Smith said they out and we are still in a fantastic been mired in uncertainty for weeks as were aware the eyes of the position then we will possibly New York battles the coronavirus, while world would be on their match talk about that,” said Wilder. a number of top players have expressed when they relaunch the Pre- “But at the moment we doubts about playing in the tournament. The US Tennis Associa- mier League on Wednesday. have quarter of a season to The Times report said the tour- tion will stage the US The high-flying Blades go, near enough. I am sure nament would take place at Flushing Open as planned in late travel to Villa Park for the that you have seen the fixture Meadows without fans from August 31 August pending formal first game in the English top- list as such as I have seen it. to September 13 after receiving support government approval, flight after a three-month There are some incredible from the ATP and WTA Tours. reports said on Monday. suspension due to the coro- challenges in front of us.” The US Tennis Association is expect- (AFP) navirus pandemic. ed to announce the decision later this Later on Wednesday, ‘Itching’ to play week, the Times reported. Manchester City host Arsenal, Villa manager Smith, Forbes magazine also reported that their entourage to the event. commentators, for so many people.” a fitness trainer, then a physiotherapist.” with 92 games packed into whose side are in the rel- the Open would take place as scheduled, Singles qualifying would be eliminat- Djokovic however said the pro- Djokovic’s misgivings were shared just five-and-a-half weeks. egation places, said it was with a decision expected “soon”. ed while the doubles tournaments would posed safety measures and restric- by defending men’s singles champion “First game back is go- an honour to be playing the The proposed plans for the tourna- be reduced from 64 pairings to just 24. tions on the numbers of support staff Rafael Nadal, who would be chasing a ing to be a little bit differ- first game in the English ment had been met with widespread “This is the world we are living in,” were problematical. 20th Grand Slam title at Flushing. ent, what we understand is top-flight since March. reservations amongst leading players in USTA’s director of player relations Eric “We would not have access to Man- Nadal, the world number two, said the magnitude of the game, Victory over the Blades, international tennis, with world number Butorac told ATP and WTA players dur- hattan, we would have to sleep in hotels earlier this month that he would not play the coverage of the game,” their game in hand over their one the most outspoken ing a conference call last week. at the airport, to be tested twice or three in New York if the tournament was tak- Wilder said at his pre-match relegation rivals, would take critic. Under proposed safety protocols, “We believe this is a good plan times per week,” Djokovic said. ing place now. video press conference on them out of the drop zone US Open players would be confined to a and believe it is good for the sport. “Also, we could bring one person to The 34-year-old says tennis should Monday. with nine matches remaining. hotel outside of Manhattan and would It’s good for the tennis economy, the club, which is really impossible. not resume until it is “completely safe” “Villa-Sheffield United “The eyes of the world only be allowed to bring one member of creates jobs for you, for coaches, for “I mean, you need your coach, then for all competitors. was a Championship game will be on us and we are last year and would possibly looking forward to it,” said have been seventh or eighth Smith. on (BBC’s) Match Of The Day “The players have been and now it is 6:00 pm on the itching to get back,” he add- Djokovic breaks down in tears at his event TV and worldwide coverage. ed. “From our point of view Smith questioned the we want to put on a good temporary rule change to al- AFP love you all and thank you so cise, you can also say this is show and make sure we play low five substitutions during Belgrade much for coming.” dangerous or not, but it’s not well.” games, saying it would ben- Third-ranked Dominic up to me to make the calls Sheffield United, who efit certain clubs. Teams can Emotional Novak Djokovic Thiem, number seven Al- what is health-wise right or have 10 games to play, are also name nine substitutes broke down in tears in front of exander Zverev and Grigor wrong,” he told reporters, seventh in the table, chasing instead of seven. an enthusiastic home crowd Dimitrov, the world 19, also stressing he was acting in line Champions League football. “I wasn’t for it,” he said. in Belgrade after he failed to took part in the Adria Tour with recommendations of the They could move up “I just believe we started the make the final in the first leg event that got underway on Serbian government. to fifth place season with certain rules of his Balkans charity tennis Saturday. Balkan countries coped with three and now we have changed tournament on Sunday. The four headline stars with the coronavirus pandem- points at it. I suppose it “I am not crying because were joined by Serbian ATP ic with relative success. helps the clubs I missed the finals. I am just players -- , Filip The region of some 22 mil- with the bigger overwhelmed by emotion Krajinovic and Dusan Lajovic. lion people registered about squads. because this reminds me of Two big surprises marked 24,000 infections and fewer “There was talk to my childhood,” the world the first day -- Djokovic lost than 800 deaths. change it because there is number one told 4,000 fans to Krajinovic in three sets The ATP and WTA Tours more risk of injury but hav- packed into the Novak Ten- and Dimitrov went down in have been suspended since ing more subs doesn’t help nis Centre on the banks of two against late call-up Niko- Novak Djokovic gives a speech after the final match between Austrian March due to the pandemic that. I just wanted it to stay the Danube. la Milojevic. and Serbian Filip Krajinovic at the Adria Tour, Novak and will not resume at least as it was. I think Sheffield “It’s been an emotional Djokovic’s win against Djokovic’s Balkans charity tournament in Belgrade on Sunday. (AFP) until the end of July. United were the same.” few days and I want to thank Zverev on Sunday was not Initially, the organisers in everyone who supported the enough to secure him a place ment on that both Serbia and the re- Belgrade, respecting the rules Chris Wilder has taken Sheffield United event and made it happen.” in the final which saw Thiem measures during the Belgrade gion had been relatively suc- in force after the relaxation of from the third tier to the Premier League To a standing ovation, defeat Krajinovic 4-3, 2-4, 4-2. weekend, which witnessed cessful in containing the virus. the lockdown in Serbia, put since taking over in 2016. (AFP) the 33-year-old added: “I Meanwhile, asked to com- packed stands, Djokovic said “Of course you can criti- 1,000 tickets on sale.