Garcia Survives Cibulkova Scare As Muguruza Advances
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WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 21 To lose the second set was very tough, so I started the third set a bit down. But she UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Caroline Garcia , gave me free points and I 10.45PM Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain just realized I needed to be Following her second-round more aggressive. win against Dominika 10.45PM Liverpool vs Porto Cibulkova TODAY’S ORDER OF PLAY Centre Court: Starts At 12.00noon Garcia survives Cibulkova Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) Followed By Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs Petra Kvitova (CZE) Followed By scare as Muguruza advances Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) vs Simona Halep (ROU) Followed By THE PENINSULA Muguruza shook off some of Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs Carina Witthoeft (GER) her early season struggles to DOHA: Caroline Garcia earn a 6-3, 6-4 win over Not Before 7.00pm weathered a mid-match Duan Ying-Ying. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs Alizé Cornet (FRA) surge from Dominika Muguruza was playing Followed By Cibulkova to make her way her first event since a sur- Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) into the third round of the prise second round loss to Court 1 Qatar Total Open yesterday. Hsieh Su-Wei at the Aus- The No.7 seed kept the tralian Open. After racing out Anna Blinkova (RUS) vs Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) pressure after dropping the to a set and 5-1 lead, the Followed By second set to win 6-3, 6-7(3), Spaniard needed eight match Julia Goerges (GER) vs B Strycova (CZE) 6-0 after just over two hours. points to seal off the Chinese Followed By “To lose the second set veteran and advance into the Samantha Stosur (AUS) vs Angelique Kerber (GER) was very tough, so I started second round after 87 min- the third set a bit down,” utes on court. Court 2 Garcia admitted in her post- The reigning Wimbledon Followed By match interview. “But she champion recently France’s Caroline Garcia returns Catherine Bellis (USA) vs Madison Keys (USA) gave me free points and I just announced her decision to the ball to Slovakia’s Dominika Followed By realized I needed to be more re-add Conchita Martinez to Cibulkova during their second aggressive. I put more pres- her coaching team; Martinez Monica Niculescu (ROU) vs Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) round match of the Qatar Total Court 3 sure on her and so I’m just was with Muguruza during Open at the Khalifa International happy that the third set went her triumphant Wimbledon Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs Naomi Osaka (JPN) Tennis and Squash Complex this fast!” fortnight last summer. yesterday. Followed By The last time Garcia and “She’s going to bring a lot Pictures: Salim Matramkot/ Elise Mertens (BEL) vs Sorana Cirstea (ROU) Cibulkova faced off was in of experience on how to The Peninsula Wuhan last year, where the handle tournaments and Frenchwoman emerged vic- tough moments. When you torious in two tight sets en aim for the best, you need The 27-year-old Czech QATAR TOTAL OPEN 2018: route to lifting the trophy. the best team! player said the easy victory YESTERDAY’S RESULTS That result galvanised Gar- A quarter-finalist in may have been down to her 2nd rd cia’s season, leading her to 2016, Muguruza struck 14 late arrival in Doha. Garbine Muguruza (ESP x4) bt Duan claim back-to-back titles in winners while withstanding She plays Pole Agnieszka Ying-Ying (CHN) 6-3, 6-4 China, qualify for the WTA 22 from the always aggres- Radwanska in round two, in 1st rd Finals and rise to her career sive Duan, maintained a 71% a high-quality field. Carina Witthoeft (GER) bt Tatjana Maria highest ranking of World first serve percentage and Nine of the world’s top (GER) 6-3, 6-0 No.7. broke serve four times to ten players are in Qatar, with Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK x14) bt Garcia’s relentless advance into the third round many just outside the highest Fatma Al Nabhani (OMA) 6-3, 6-1 offense was the key to her for the second time in three rankings also competing. Johanna Konta (GBR x10) bt Bernarda victory, and it was led by her years. Among those is world Pera (USA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 strong serving. The French- Double Wimbledon number 11, Britain’s Johanna Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Irina-Camelia woman struck 12 aces and champion Petra Kvitova Konta, who beat American Begu (ROM) 6-4, 6-2 45 winners, staying in the breezed through her first- Bernarda Pera 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Yulia round match against Cagla positive compared to her 28 yesterday, getting instant Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3, 6-1 winners. As a result, she con- Buyukakcay yesterday, losing revenge on the woman who Petra Kvitova (CZE x16) bt Cagla verted seven of the eleven just four points out of a total surprisingly knocked her out Buyukakcay (TUR) 6-0, 6-3 World No. 6 Karolina Pliskova poses for a photograph with Total’s internal tennis break chances she created. 28 played in the first set. of last month’s Australian Kristina Mladenovic (FRA x11) bt Peng champions following a friendly match played yesterday. Meanwhile, Cibulkova struck Kvitova -- currently Open. 17 winners and 25 unforced ranked 21 in the world as she There were also victories Shuai (CHN) 6-2, 6-4 errors. continues her return to top- for world number 10 Julia Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Maria Sakkari Up next, Garcia will play class tennis following a hor- Goerges from Germany who (GRE) 6-2, 6-3 Total players in friendly tie either No.11 Kristina Mlad- rific knife attack just over a beat Lucie Safarova 6-1, 7-5, Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Anett Kontaveit enovic or Russian qualifier year ago -- won 6-0, 6-3. a former Qatar champion. (EST) 6-2, 6-1 Anna Blinkova in the third The first set took just 19 Top seeds and the Madison Keys (USA x12) bt Wang Qiang with World No. 6 Pliskova round. minutes to complete, the world’s numbers one and (CHN) 6-1, 6-4 Earlier, former WTA whole match less than an a two, Caroline Wozniacki and Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x13) bt Donna THE PENINSULA International Tennis and Squash World No.1 Garbiñe hour. Simona Halep, both play Vekic (CRO) 6-3, 6-4 Complex. DOHA: World No. 6 ranked tennis player Total has deeply committed itself to Karolina Pliskova engaged in a friendly promote sports, physical and mental well- match with Total’s internal tennis cham- being, and as such lauds the efforts made pions, as part of Total’s Qatar National by the Qatar government to encourage a Sport Day celebrations yesterday. healthier lifestyle for its citizens and res- “We have been conducting Total idents through sports. Tennis tournament every year for the past Being diverse in every way, “This 11 years, as part of our ‘Total Cup’ tour- internal tournament, which is in line with nament, and this has resulted in success our sponsorship of Qatar Total Open, for the integration of our present and brings about the positive values of unity new-coming employees”, said Deputy and cultural integration”, Christophe Eon VP – HR, Communications, CSR at Total, added. Christophe Eon. Earlier, commenting on the impor- The friendly match was followed by tance of the WTA event, Head of Public the award cer- Relations Sup- emony for the port at Total winners of Qatar, Total Tennis Mohamed Al Tournament, Mohsin said: which was This internal This is a very “This is a very held last exciting week month. tournament, exciting week for us, espe- The win- which is in for us, especially cially since the ners of the line with our since the Qatar tournament competition sponsorship of Total Open has grown in are Ida Poitre- Qatar Total Open, has grown in magnitude, naud (Ladies), brings about the magnitude, and and is hosting Guillaume many world Chapin (Men), positive values of is hosting many class players in Henri Lion unity and cultural world-class its court. It’s an (Kids 13-14), integration: players in its honor to Inaki LeMi- Deputy VP – HR, court: Head of PR sponsor Qatar gnon (Kids Communications, Support at Total Total Open, as 11-12) and Qatar, Mohamed our partner- Benoit Lion CSR at Total, ship with QTF (Kids 8-10); Christophe Eon Al Mohsin has definitely while the final- helped Total ists are Rkia anchor a social Najmi, Jerome Betat, Titouane Romane, action through sports in Qatar and thus Eloi Depierrefeu and Elise Mottais. contribute to the objective of Qatar Pliskova congratulated the players for National Vision 2030.” their efforts. The two best ranked players in the Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza hits a Total Tennis Tournament coincides world lead a high-quality field in Doha return during her match against with Qatar Total Open, the Total-spon- during the Qatar Total Open, where nine China’s Duan Ying-Ying yesterday. sored world class ladies’ tournament of the top 10 women players are which is being held at the Khalifa competing. 22 SPORT WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2018 Koora Time offers football for everyone on NSD THE PENINSULA Wejdan Al Malki, CSR Manager at Qatar Shell, said: “Koora Time helps DOHA: The Qatar Football Association children develop positive habits such as (QFA) and Qatar Shell celebrated this healthy eating and regular exercise that year’s National Sport Day at Katara with will lead to a healthier lifestyle. National their award-winning corporate social Sports Day is the perfect time to empha- responsibility programme Koora Time’.