18 Monday, February 22, 2021 Sports

Serbian dismisses Medvedev to claim Australian Open

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev with his runners-up trophy. (AFP) Medvedev gracious in Djokovic Novak Djokovic signs autographs for fans after winning the defeat Australian Open Grand Slam title in Melbourne on Sunday. (AFP) Melbourne: Daniil Medvedev was gracious in defeat to an inspired Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open final on on cloud nine! Sunday. A contest billed as a potential classic was over in DPA last month or so with tennis palyers “The love af- completed that set with another one hour and 53 minutes as Berlin coming to Australia but I think when fair keeps going.” break and saved two break points Djokovic claimed a ninth title in we draw a line at the end it was a suc- The 25-year- on his own serve to open the third. Melbourne and 18th career ma- Serbia’s Novak Djokovic won a cesful tournament. old Medvedev Medvedev netted straight after to jor. The world number one, who record-extending ninth Australian “It wasn’t easy but I think they was appear- effectively seal his fate though he lost to Medvedev at the ATP Open and 18th Grand Slam with a should be proud of themseves for ing in his battled on, occasionally hitting his Finals last year, triumphed 7-5, ruthless 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory over what they have put together and second slam racket or trying to gee up the crowd 6-2, 6-2 to extend his record to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev on Sun- allowed us to come here.” Djoko- final having - limited at 7,500 at Melbourne nine victories and zero defeats day. vic won his first slam in Australia lost an epic Park amid the coronavirus pan- in the final of this tournament His latest triumph in Melbourne in 2008 in what was a rare break 2019 five-setdemic - until finally succumbing. and close to within two Grand brought the 33-year-old world num- of the then Federer-Nadal du- US Open duel to “Never easy to speak when you Slams of Rafael Nadal and ber one Djokovic to within two of the opoly. Since then he has es- Nadal but strug- just lost a grand slam final, but I’ll do Roger Federer. record mark of 20 major wins shared tablished himself gled to settle and my best,” said Medvedev. “Congrats Medvedev was disap- by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. as part of that dropped his opening to Novak. Nine Slams in Australia is pointed he could not prolong Djokovic was more aggressive big three with service game. amazing and this won’t be your last the contest but had nothing but throughout but in a first set, which Dominic Thi- He broke back in one.” Djokovic returned the compli- praise for Djokovic on and off had one exchange of breaks, needed em’s US Open the fifth game of the set ment, saying Medvedev was “defi- the court, a player he described until the 12th game to strike deci- win last sea- but Djokovic, who struggled nitely one of the toughest players I as “a god to me”. sively when he took the third of three son - when earlier in the tournament with ever faced in my life. The Russian said: “I first break points to seal the set. Djokovic was what he confirmed was “a tear,of “It’s a matter of time that you practiced with Novak when I Medvedev, who entered on a 20- disqualified the abdominal oblique muscle,” will hold a Grand Slam for sure - if was like 500 or 600 in the game winning streak, threatened to early - the only was succeeding in keeping the you don’t mind waiting a few more world in Monaco and he was come back by breaking at the start of major taken points short. He gradually upped years!” Filip Polasek and Ivan Dodig already number one, he’d just the second set but Djokovic won the out of their the pressure and broke again to earlier won the men’s doubles title won Wimbledon. I thought, next four games to take control of the hands since seal the set. with a 6-3, 6-4 final triumph against ‘There’s no way he’s gonna contest and never looked back. 2016. World number four Med- previous champions Rajeev Ram speak to me.’ The guy was a An early break set the tone in And on the vedev broke at the start of the and Joe Salisbury. god to me. the third set and another in the final blue hard-court second when Djokovic weakly Slovakia’s Polasek and Croatia’s “I was really shy. He was game, taken with an overhead into of Melbourne, found the net but immedi- Dodig claimed their first grand slam talking to me like I was a friend. the corner, secured victory on his Djokovic has se- ately went long to hand it title as a pair against the American- He’s never changed, whether first championship point. cured precisely back and repeated the er- British duo. I’m 600 in the world or four in “It has been a rollercoaster week half his grand slam ror again on his next Ram can console himself with the world, he’s always been a for me,” said Djokovic, who was crit- titles with other service game to the mixed doubles title which he won great sport and a great friend. icized for complaining about corona- wins in 2011, 2012, give Djokovic the Saturday with Barbora Krejcikova of “I really wanted to make virus quarantine conditions players 2013, 2015, 2016 as well as initiative. Djokovic the Czech Republic. this match longer and more had to endure upon arriving in Aus- the two preceding years. entertaining for you. Today was tralia for the tournament. “Rod Laver Arena, I love you Novak Djokovic celebrates with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup not the day.” “There are a lot of mixed feel- each year more and more,” said trophy after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev to win the Australian ing about what has happened in the Djokovic. Open Grand Slam title in Melbourne on Sunday. (AFP)

Ons Jabeur enters Qatar Total Open 2021 main draw medalist at the 2011 Pan Arab Azarenka joins Games in Doha. Al Nabhani made her WTA Ostapenko as Tour main-draw debut at the 2009 Dubai Tennis Cham- wildcard entrant pionships, having received a wild card with Magali de Lat- tre in the doubles tournament, Tribune News Network but they lost to Chan Yung-jan Doha and Sun Tiantian in the first round. Playing for Oman at Novak Djokovic at a press conference after winning his men’s singles With about two weeks to the the Fed Cup, Al Nabhani has a final against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open in Qatar Total Open 2021, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the first Arab woman win-loss record of 13–7. Melbourne on Sunday. (AFP) numbers of stars confirmed to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam “We are delighted with the for the WTA Tour Premier (left), and World No. 13 Victoria Azarenka increasing numbers of stars event has continued to grow of Belarus have joined 2016 finalist Jelena who have confirmed their par- Novak glad to silence critics, with Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, the Ostapenko of Latvia, and Egypt’s Mayar ticipation at the Qatar Total firstA rab woman to reach the Sherif as wildcard entrants for Qatar Total Open 2021. confirms torn oblique muscle quarter-finals of a Grand Slam Open 2021 which will be held at the Khalifa “The strength of this year’s tournament, entering into the International Tennis & Squash Complex in field, which includes eight of DPA “Look, at the end of the day main draw. Doha from March 1 to 6. the world’s top-ten, is an indi- Berlin everyone who has the stage has The tournament will be cation of the quality of play to the right to say what they want held from March 1 to 6 at the debut at the 2017 Qatar To- fying rounds are Al Nabhani be expected at the week-long Novak Djokovic believes he to say. It’s a matter on my side Khalifa International Tennis & tal Open in the doubles draw and Algeria’s Ines Ibbou and event. We look forward to silenced his critics by triumph- whether I’m going to react or Squash Complex in Doha. partnering Fatma Al Nabhani Cagla Buyukakcay from Turkey. another exciting time on the ing at the Australian Open after not, in which way I’m going to Aside from the 26-year- of Oman, will be attempting Al Nabhani is one of the courts of the Khalifa Interna- finishing the tournament with a react. I didn’t allow it to hinder old World No. 30 Jabeur, to book her first entry into the most successful players from tional Tennis & Squash Com- torn oblique muscle. my performance. I think win- the highest-ranked Arab ers, including four qualifiers, main draw. the region, having won ten plex in about two weeks,” said Djokovic clinched a record- ning the trophy is in a way my player in WTA history, two- are expected to feature in the The 19-year-old Al Naimi singles titles and 13 doubles Tournament Director Saad Al extending ninth Australian answer.” After taking a two- time champion and World singles event of the $565,530 is Qatar’s highest-ranked play- titles on the ITF Circuit. On Mohannadi. Open title and 18th major over- sets-to-love lead against Fritz, No. 13 Victoria Azarenka of total prize purse tournament, er and an inspiration for many October 4, 2010, she reached The WTA Tour event, held all with a 7-5 6-2 6-2 thrashing Djokovic suffered the oblique Belarus, 2016 finalist Jelena while 16 teams will slug it out upcoming players across the her best singles ranking of since 2001, has grown to be- of Russian fourth seed Daniil injury. He was forced to a de- Ostapenko of Latvia, Egypt’s in the doubles. country. She is the defending world No. 362. On April 28, come one of the signature Medvedev on Sunday. cider by the American before Mayar Sherif are joining as For the qualifiers, Qatar’s champion of the Qatar Rail 2014, she peaked at No. 238 events on the WTA Tour cal- The Serbian faced criticism eventually managing to ad- wildcard entrants. Mubaraka Al Naimi, who Tennis Open Tournament. in the doubles rankings. endar and a most sought-after before the tournament over a vance. Djokovic said afterwards In all, a total of 32 play- made her WTA main draw Also featuring in the quali- She was also the gold tournament in the region. list of requests for players who he had torn a muscle and may were in quarantine due to coro- need to pull out of the tourna- navirus, while also being ques- ment, although was unwilling tioned over the severity of the to give too much away as the oblique injury suffered during event went on. Man City restore 10-point lead; Leicester second a third-round win over Taylor The 33-year-old, though, Fritz. Djokovic felt the backlash said after his win on Sunday DPA Ham are fourth after a 2-1 win Bertrand Traore pulled one “It is a great result for us,” Moura’s goal and then smash- was unfair, but believes he an- that he had torn his abdominal London over Tottenham. back for Villa early in the sec- West Ham manager David ing the crossbar late on. swered in the best way possible oblique muscle. Sterling gave City the lead ond half but Leicester held on Moyes said. “Today we felt it Moyes said he feels there by winning the title in Mel- “It is a tear, a muscle tear, Manchester City restored after just two minutes when he for the win to leave Villa eighth. was a big, big task. Tottenham was more to come from his side. bourne again. of the abdominal oblique mus- their 10-point lead at the top headed Riyad Mahrez’s cross West Ham moved into the are one of the top sides and “I feel as if there is a half- “Of course, it’s not nice to cle. I felt it right away when it of the Premier League after home, and although Arsenal top four after they beat Lon- have fantastic players. For us job done,” he said. “I think we hear that. I mean, it also seems happened against Fritz in the they won 1-0 at Arsenal on improved, they could not find don rivals Tottenham 2-1 in to get a result and keep our mo- can play much better. unfair from some people that third round. Sunday to extend their record the equaliser. the day’s early match. mentum going is really good. “I don’t think we’ve hit kind of criticize and judge with- “That’s what I said in the winning streak to 18 matches. Earlier, James Maddison Michail Antonio put West Antonio capitalised on a top gear yet. The players have out really checking before,” the post-match interview. I was Raheem Sterling headed and Harvey Barnes scored the Ham ahead after five minutes mistake by Hugo Lloris to put been finding ways to wrestle world number one told a news kind of guessing, but I felt just City in front to maintain their goals as Leicester went sec- and Jesse Lingard added a sec- West Ham in front and Lin- points off the opposition. They conference. that it’s a tear because of the advantage over Leicester, who ond, for a few hours at least, ond two minutes into the sec- gard’s goal was allowed to stand have done a brilliant job.” “But as I said, it’s not really snap and the way I felt after had earlier cut the lead to with a 2-1 win at Villa. ond half. Lucas Moura pulled after a consultation with video Spurs manager Jose Mour- the first time. I have so much that,” Djokovic said. seven points with a 2-1 win at Maddison opened the one back but though Gareth assistant referee over offside. inho rued his side’s defensive experience with this because it “I know there’s been a lot of Aston Villa. scoring on 19 minutes and Bale and Son Heung Min hit Tottenham brought on errors. “I feel the result should happened so many times in my speculation, people questioning Manchester United can go Barnes added the second five the woodwork, West Ham held Bale at half-time and the have been different from (how) life, in my career, that I experi- whether I’m injured, how can I second if they beat Newcastle minutes later as Leicester took on to go fourth, while Spurs re- Wales forward had an im- we played especially in the sec- ence that. It will probably not recover so quickly, it’s impossi- in Sunday’s late match. West control early on. main ninth. pact, sending in the corner for ond half,” he said. be the last one. ble to do that.