FOOTBALL | Page 7 Pence Scores Rashford Will Four As Giants Be Man Utd to Advertise Here Power Past Star, Says Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Diamondbacks Ibrahimovic
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BASEBALL | Page 5 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Pence scores Rashford will four as Giants be Man Utd To Advertise here power past star, says Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Diamondbacks Ibrahimovic Monday, September 12, 2016 MOTOGP Dhul-Hijja 10, 1437 AH Pedrosa stuns Rossi, GULF TIMES Lorenzo to take win in San Marino GP SPORT Page 3 SPOTLIGHT Kerber on top of the world with US Open triumph ‘Amazing to win a second Grand Slam in one year. It’s the best year of my career. It all started for me here in New York five years ago when I reached the semi-finals and now I am here with the trophy. It’s incredible’ AFP Kerber was beginning to look demor- New York alised by the power shots coming her way. Pliskova, gaining in confi dence, ngelique Kerber won the US grabbed her fi rst break of the match Open on Saturday, mark- for a 4-3 lead, lofting a lob over the de- ing her rise to world number jected German. one with a gritty victory Serving for the set three games later Aover Karolina Pliskova to add a second the Czech fi red her fourth ace of the Grand Slam crown to her magical 2016 match out wide for set point. season. Her rocket to the baseline on the “Being there as champion, this year, next point left Kerber helpless and the to hold this trophy, I can’t say it in match was level at two sets apiece. words,” said Kerber, who added the US “In the second set, I found some Open crown to the Australian Open ti- power,” Pliskova said. tle she claimed in January. Faced with the challenge, Kerber ad- Seeded second Kerber rallied from a mitted she was “a little negative” in the break down in the third set to beat the second set. hard-hitting 10th-seeded Czech 6-3, “In the second set my body language 4-6, 6-4 — breaking Pliskova at love to was not the best and I was trying to cap the triumph. change it in the third,” Kerber said. “Amazing to win a second Grand “It was not so easy because Karolina Slam in one year,” Kerber said. “It’s the is a tough opponent and she was up a best year of my career. break early. “It all started for me here in New “I was thinking a little bit of the fi nal York fi ve years ago when I reached the in Australia when I was also in the third semi-fi nals and now I am here with the set and I believed in my game. trophy,” she added. “I was just believing in myself in the “It’s incredible.” third set and going for it... I was trying It certainly seemed improbable to take the chance.” when Kerber fi nished 2015 ranked 10th in the world. IN THE MOMENT The 28-year-old left-hander, who Pliskova couldn’t maintain the advan- beat Serena Williams in the fi nal at tage. Two errors gave a break back to Melbourne and lost to the US great in Kerber in the sixth game. the Wimbledon fi nal, will offi cially rise Even after her capitulation in the fi - to world number one on Monday. nal game, Pliskova said she had no re- But she was assured of that spot grets. “We all know that the last game when Pliskova toppled Williams in the wasn’t great, but it’s so hard against semi-fi nals. her,” Pliskova said. “To be number one and win Grand “I went twice to the net and was go- Slam titles was always my dream ever ing really for the shot. It could go the since I was a little girl,” Kerber said. “It other way... So I would not change it. means so much.” It didn’t happen, but this is the way I Pliskova, who had never made it have to play.” past the third round of a Grand Slam Amidst the disappointment she was in 17 prior attempts, also beat Venus Angelique Kerber of Germany celebrates after winning (6-3) (4-6) (6-4) against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in their US Open women’s singles final. looking forward to building on her Williams en route to the title match, breakthrough Slam performance. becoming just the fourth player to unforced errors were, fi nally, too much tears fl owed. plenty of breathing room. Kerber seized her chance with a “I found out I can play against the beat both Williams sisters in the same to overcome despite her 40 winners. She was able to maintain it with forehand down the line to pocket the best players in the world on the big Grand Slam. When Pliskova’s fi nal forehand QUICK START authoritative play from the baseline, fi rst frame in 44 minutes, having com- courts,” Pliskova said. “Angie proved Pliskova was the fi rst player to take sailed out, Kerber was launched on a Kerber took advantage of Pliskova’s fending off three break points before mitted just three unforced errors. she is the number one, it was an hon- a set off Kerber at Flushing Meadows. joyous celebration, climbing into box miscues to open the match with a cracking Pliskova’s serve again when Having saved the fi rst break point our to play her.” Her powerful groundstrokes had where coach Torben Beltz was sitting break. the Czech double-faulted to give her a she faced in the second set, but unable All in all, it was an exciting fi nal that Kerber on the run at times, but her 47 then returning to the court where the The quick advantage gave Kerber set point. to make inroads on Pliskova’s serve, had the crowd on their feet. PREVIEW Fiesty contest expected as Lekhwiya face Rayyan in the Sheikh Jassim Cup fi nal today By Sports Reporter good start to the season for us. We “All indications are it will be a Doha missed many players who were on na- feisty contest on the pitch, yes, I tional duty,” he said. expect a tough game. If we win, “I wouldn’t say that aff ected our that will be a good start to the ootball giants Al Rayyan and training since we are used to this sce- season for us. We missed many Lekhwiya will clash in the nario,” he said. players who were on national Sheikh Jassim Cup fi nal on Belmadi praised Al Rayyan for their duty,” said the Lekhwiya coach September 12. Lekhwiya coach ‘remarkable’ run to the Qatar Stars FDjamel Belmadi is expecting a ‘feisty’ League (QSL) title. Al Rayyan, winners “Lekhwiya are considered one of the contest with arch-rivals Al Rayyan of the Qatar Stars League (QSL), domi- top sides in QSL. But the confi dence of when the two sides meet in the Sheikh nated the regular season. my players is high. We want a positive Jassim Cup tomorrow. Lekhwiya won the Emir Cup in May. result from this match’’. Speaking at the pre-match press The winners of these two events con- “It is better to play some games be- conference, the former Qatar national test the one-off match Sheikh Jassim fore playing Sheikh Jassim Cup. But we coach stressed the signifi cance of the Cup fi nal. can’t control that aspect,” Fossati said. season’s opening match in easing his For Al Rayyan, Jorge Fossati will be “I hope we win and add another title side into a felicitous beginning to their looking forward to repeat last year’s fairy to our trophy cabinet,” he said. campaign to reinstate themselves as tale, as he led perennial powerhouse Al This year’s Sheikh Jassim Cup will Qatar Stars League champions. Rayyan to win the Qatar Stars League launch the football season in Qatar “All indications are it will be a feisty title to end 21 years of drought for the which will end next May. contest on the pitch, yes, I expect a country’s most popular football club. The new QSL season will commence tough game. If we win, that will be a Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi (left) and Rayyan coach Jorge Fossati during the pre-match press conference. “It will be a tough game,” he said. on September 15. Gulf Times 2 Monday, September 12, 2016 TENNIS SPOTLIGHT Kerber vs Pliskova - Key points from the US Open women’s final Key moments in Saturday’s time, leads 4-3 and holds for US Open women’s singles 5-3. final where Angelique Kerber — Pliskova levels final in 10th defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-3, game. 4-6, 6-4: Humble and jovial Key set statistics: 1ST SET Pliskova does not face break — Pliskova drops serve in point. nervous first game on back Tweet: “Did Kerber see the of double fault and a horrible finish line too soon and allow forehand volley which flies nerves to get the better of wide. her?? Pliskova certainly raised — Kerber saves a break point her level #USOpen.” Kerber is now a in her first service game to - Former tour player now a TV consolidate lead. pundit Anne Keothavong @ — Kerber wins 14-stroke rally annekeothavong in the ninth game on way to taking set with another break. 3RD SET — Weary-looking Kerber bro- Key set statistics: ken third game of decider. Pliskova commits 17 unforced — Pliskova backs it up with predictable winner errors; Kerber just 3. hold for 3-1, sealed by her fifth Kerber 44-0 this season when ace.