sign in sign up
<<
Home , Flat (tennis), Maharashtra Open

West Indies appoint Richard Pybus as interim head coach ahead of tough run of matches

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019 Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2019 Son-spurred Agut frustrates Djoko Koreans face Samurai threat bid for Doha treble at Asian Cup AFP by claiming his side were long ABU DHABI shots to snaffle a record-ex- tending fifth title. WHILE street-wise South “We’re the challengers,” Korea pack a harder punch, said the former Japan mid- former Japan coach Philippe fielder, who has yet to lose Troussier has tipped the Blue since taking over from Nishi- Samurai to push their fierce no after the World Cup. rivals all the way at the Asian “Our job is to try and Cup. snatch the title back.” “Japan have one of the Troussier steered Japan best teams in the competition to the 2000 Asian Cup, where on paper,” the Frenchman his players trained on a bumpy told AFP before hosts United pitch in Beirut surrounded by Arab Emirates meet Bahrain bombed-out houses used as in Saturday’s opening match. hideouts by Hezbollah fight- “Of course teams like ers while Israeli warplanes South Korea, Iran and Saudi roared overhead. Arabia have the same ambi- “The fact Japan got to the tion, but Japan has the poten- last 16 at the World Cup will tial to win the title.” also give them a lot of confi- A South Korea side led by dence,” added Troussier. “It’s A combo shows of Serbia as he reacts while holding his broken racquet during his Qatar Open semi-final match against of Spain at the free-scoring Tottenham for- also a good chance to prepare Khalifa International tennis & Squash Complex in Doha on Friday. (AFP) ward Son Heung-min start as the younger generation for favourites to end more than the next World Cup in 2022.” 50 years of Asian Cup hurt. Meanwhile, Iran coach Spaniard to Iran, Asia’s top-ranked Carlos Queiroz has called on side, also pose a threat to Ja- the country’s football federa- play Czech pan’s hopes, along with hold- tion to protect his players as ers Australia. they chase a first Asian Cup Berdych in the But a new-look Japan since completing a hat-trick of side are capable of springing titles in 1976. final today an upset, as they proved by Qatar will be desperate reaching the knockout stages to make a statement before VINAY NAYUDU of last year’s World Cup in hosting the 2022 World Cup. DOHA Russia after controversially Coach Felix Sanchez has sacking coach Vahid Halil- named a young and attack- SEEDED seven, but other- hodzic in the run-up. minded team to fly the coun- wise little-known Roberto Veteran Japan defender try’s flag. Bautista Agut of Spain caused Yuto Nagatomo insists there The world’s most popu- the biggest upset of the 2019 is more to come. “We have to lous countries -- China and ATP Tour season on a windy believe we can win it,” the Gal- cricket-mad India -- take part, and cold Friday evening as he atasaray full-back told local China once again hoping stunned World No. 1 Novak media. “But all the players to make an impact in Djokovic in the semi-final of need to be at it.” what looks set to be the $1.4mn Qatar ExxonMobil Meanwhile, Japan Marcello Lippi’s last Open 2019. coach Hajime Moriyasu outing as coach. Bouncing back from being a Tomas Berdych returns the ball indulged in some set down, the world number 24 to Marco Cecchinato during their early mind resurged in stunning fashion to Qatar Open semi-final match on games overcome the 14-time Grand Roberto Bautista Agut reacts after defeating Djokovic of Serbia in Doha on Friday. (AFP) Friday. (AFP) Slam champion on the centre court of Khalifa International Results tie-break at 8-6. “He played a good game. Tennis & Squash Complex 3-6, “I wanted to give every- I missed some easy balls and 7-6 (6), 6-4 after two hours and Singles (Semi-finals) thing I had in the match and that’s what you get as a result 35 minutes. fight until the last ,” Agut of losing the focus in the most It was only the second 7-Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt 1-Novak Djokovic (SRB) 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 explained later. important moments and it time that the 30-year-old Agut WC-Tomas Berdych (CZE) bt 4-Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 7-6 (6), 6-3. “Finally I could turn the happens,” said Djokovic ad- had done the giant-killing act second set. Novak was up and dressing the media. against Djokovic. The first be- it was really tough. He was very On a sporting note, Djok- ing his straight sets win over consecutive finals reached by power, Agut anticipated well solid and I had to play very ovic then said, “I want to the Serbian in October 2016 in Djokovic, who had also won 13 and moved forward to essay a good tennis. I had to play a lot congratulate him (Agut). Es- the semi-finals at Shanghai. It consecutive matches in Doha telling winner, down the right of lines and I served very well. I pecially in the third set, he was also the only second time till yesterday. flank to bring things to a level did everything well today.” played well.” that Djokovic had lost to Agut The upset also extended at 4-4. In a way, Agut gave Djoko- Agut, who had earlier ac- out of their nine ATP meetings. Djokovic’s wait for a third Fal- Breaks traded and scores vic a taste of his own medicine counted for the three-time The triumph left Agut con Trophy in Qatar. levelled, Djokovic was clearly by keeping it tight and pushing champion Stan- thrilled. “I will remember this Djokovic seemed to be well frustrated and smashed his the opponent hard. islas Wawrinka in the quar- match all my life. It was an on course as he won the first racquet on court. The World No.1 wasn’t too ter-finals on Thursday, will unbelievable atmosphere,” he set and led 4-3 in the second. Soon at 6-5 and 40-40, Agut pleased at the loss and blamed now play wild card entrant said soon after the win. But Agut hung on using his flat missed an easy drop at the net it on losing focus. Tomas Berdych in the final “I work every day to play cross-court to to give Djokovic a crucial ad- “Well, what happened, on Saturday. this tennis. I know it’s difficult force a deuce and then served vantage. The Serbian in a way I lost the match. That’s it. The 33-year-old Czech Tottenham Hotspur’s to play at this level. That’s why well to gain advantage. thanked him coming up with a He managed to turn things defeated World No. 20 and South Korean striker Novak is No. 1 in the world. But The World No. 1 could superb to around, obviously at the end fourth seed Marco Cecchinato Son Heung-Min. I cannot be more happy than I sense the lurking danger as force the tie-breaker. But Agut of the second set. I thought I of Italy 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the sec- am now.” he tackled some hard returns re-emerged with aggressive was pretty much in control of ond singles semis of the 27th Agut’s great show also from the Spaniard. And when and well-directed serves to stay the match, set and a break, edition of Qatar ExxonMobil saw him break a streak of five Djokovic returned one with ahead and eventually clinch the serving 4-3. Open 2019. Dream comes true in Doha for doubles duo Goffin and Herbert

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK the flashier team throughout DOHA the final, with Goffin consist- ently returning well against DOHA turned out to be lucky Haase and Middelkoop, who for longtime friends David It’s a little bit like a dream were previously 3-0 in ATP Goffin of Belgium and Pierre- come true. To win four Tour finals together. It seemed Hugues Herbert of France. matches in the same week, that regardless of where the Having last made the finals it is something unusual. But Dutchmen served, Goffin was of a doubles tournament to- thanks to Pierre-Hugues for right on the return, placing it gether as juniors 11 years ago, at will. the two returned to triumph in the week. He helped me a And while the champions their second professional out- lot this week to win the title. let slip a 4-1 lead in the first ing at the Qatar ExxonMobil set, they did not do so in the Open 2019 on Friday defeat- David Goffin second set or the Match Tie- ing and Matwe break. Herbert took over many Middelkoop of the Nether- points with his movement and lands 5-7, 6-4, 10-4. sons, Goffin is placed 354 in overall play at the net. And Herbert, who was playing the ATP Doubles Rankings. after the Frenchman hit a sec- his first tournament in Qatar, That, however, didn’t stop the ond to Haase’s , and Goffin struggled to survive good friends from clinching eliciting a return well past in the semis on Thursday night the first ATP Tour title of the the baseline, the winners em- against the Djokovic broth- season. braced. They earned 250 ATP ers – Djokovic and Marko – “It’s for sure something Doubles Ranking points and a but saved three match points. Nasser bin Ghanim al Khelaifi, President, Qatar Tennis Federation; Tariq Darwish Zainal, Secretary-General QTF; Alistair Routledge, President and special. We played our last share of $74,720. And in the final, the Belgian- General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar; and Andrew P. Swiger, Senior Vice-President for ExxonMobil Qatar, with Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2019 final in 2008 juniors in Bra- While Haase and Mid- French combo produced some doubles winners Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France and David Goffin of Belgium (3rd & 4th right) and runners-up Robin Haase and Matwe Mid- zil,” said Herbert. “We were delkoop fell short, it was still a of their best tennis to go on delkoop of the Netherlands at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Friday. lucky enough to play again a strong week for the team that and lift the trophy against the final here and to share it with finished 17th in the 2018 ATP Dutchmen after one hour and come true. To win four match- “But thanks to Pierre-Hu- title. It is really something spe- complished doubles player, a friend, it’s always something Doubles Race To London. The 23 minutes. es in the same week, it is some- gues for the week. He helped cial this week,” he added. qualifying for the Nitto ATP special.” Dutchmen add 150 points to “It’s a little bit like a dream thing unusual,” joked Goffin. me a lot this week to win the While Herbert is an ac- Finals for the past four sea- Goffin and Herbert were their tally and split $38,070. Sports Saturday, January 5, 2019 13 Du Plessis, Bavuma stretch Pujara, Pant tons put SA lead over Pakistan AFP CAPE TOWN SCOREBOARD India in driver’s seat Pakistan, first innings, 177 FAF du Plessis and Temba Ba- South Africa, first innings (overnight 123-2) vuma shared a century part- A. Markram b Shan Masood 78 Unless Australia nership as South Africa moved D. Elgar c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 20 H. Amla b Mohammad Abbas 24 bounce back to win into a commanding position T. de Bruyn c Babar Azam b Shaheen Afridi 13 on the second day of the sec- F. du Plessis c Sarfraz Ahmed b Shaheen Afridi 103 Sydney Test, India will ond Test against Pakistan at T. Bavuma c Sarfraz Ahmed b Shaheen Afridi 75 Newlands on Friday. Q. de Kock not out 55 claim a first-ever V. Philander not out 6 South Africa were 281 for Extras (b5, lb1, nb2) 8 series victory Down four wickets at tea, a lead of Total (6 wkts, 116 overs) 382 104 runs. Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Elgar), 2-123 (Markram), Under since they South African captain Du 3-126 (Amla), 4-149 (De Bruyn), 5-305 (Bavuma), 6-356 (Du Plessis) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 29-9- began touring in Plessis, out for a “pair” during 69-1 (2nb), Mohammad Abbas 31-8-81-1, South Africa’s six-wicket win Shaheen Afridi 26-3-112-3, Yasir Shah 21-1-79-0, 1947-48 in the first Test in Centurion, Shan Masood 5-1-19-1, Asad Shafiq 4-0-16-0 was on 80 not out, the high- To bat: K. Rabada, D. Steyn, D. Olivier Match situation: south africa lead by 205 runs AFP est score of the series. Bavuma with four wickets remaining in the first innings SYDNEY had 60 not out. Their fifth wicket partnership was worth A marathon century by 132 runs. ers’ off stump, which probably Cheteshwar Pujara and a The batsmen had to coun- contributed to the wickets of swashbuckling ton from ter some accurate, hostile South African batsman Faf du Aiden Markram off the last Rishabh Pant all but ended bowling before lunch when Pa- Plessis raises his bat as he cel- ball on Thursday and Hashim Australia’s hopes of saving the kistan took two wickets during ebrates scoring a 100 runs dur- Amla in the second over on series Friday as India built a the first hour and thought they ing the second day of the second Friday. massive 622 for seven declared Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (left) and Rishabh Pant touch gloves between overs on the second day had a third when Bavuma, on Test match against Pakistan at Both Du Plessis and Ba- in the final Sydney Test. of the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney on Friday.(AFP) three, edged Mohammad Ab- Newlands on Friday. (AFP) vuma batted cautiously before India began the second day bas to Azhar Ali at first slip. lifting the tempo during the af- at 303 for four and proceeded to Ravindra Jadeja chipped He drove his second ball The on-field umpires gave a contact with the ground while ternoon. Du Plessis had faced twist the knife against a demor- in with a lively 81 in a 204-run SCOREBOARD through the covers for three “soft” signal of “out” but asked the catch was being taken. 162 balls by tea, while Bavuma alised home team that toiled in stand with Pant -- a record sev- INDIA FIRST INNINGS (OVERNIGHT 303-4) before once again dropping for television umpire Sun- Batting was not easy with had faced 127. hot conditions with little joy. enth wicket partnership at the C. Pujara c & b Lyon ...... 193 anchor, blocking and targeting deram Ravi to check whether several cracks widening on the Pakistan took the second Unless Australia win, In- Sydney Cricket Ground. H. Vihari c Labuschagne b Lyon ...... 42 only loose balls. there had been a clean catch. pitch, including one on a good new ball in the penultimate R. Pant not out ...... 159 dia will claim a first-ever series Skipper Virat Kohli finally R. Jadeja b Lyon ...... 81 Throughout his knock, he He decided the ball had made length outside the right-hand- over before tea. victory Down Under since they declared when Jadeja was out, Extras (b2, lb13, w5) ...... 20 hardly played a false stroke in a began touring here in 1947-48. with the tireless Nathan Lyon Total (seven wickets dec, 167.2 overs) ...... 622 demonstration of “old-school” They lead 2-1. taking 4-178 off 57.2 gruelling Did not bat: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Test batting, soaking up the Jasprit Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Rahul), 2-126 Despite the tall task ahead overs. It left new-look Austral- (Agarwal), 3-180 (Kohli), 4-228 (Rahane), 5-329 pressure and counter-attacking Australia skipper Tim Paine ian openers Marcus Harris (19) (Vihari), 6-418 (Pujara), 7-622 (Jadeja) Bowling: when he saw an opportunity. Quick read said they were not ready to and Usman Khawaja (five) to Starc 26-0-123-1, Hazlewood 35-11-105-2, Pujara brought up his 150 throw in the towel. negotiate 10 tricky overs before Cummins 28-5-101-0, Lyon 57.2-8-178-4, with a boundary and seemed Labuschagne 16-0-76-0, Head 4-0-20-0, Khawaja Veteran giant Karlovic reaches Pune ATP final at 39 “We certainly won’t be do- stumps after a torturous day in 1-0-4-0 destined for his fourth Test 200 ing that, we will be fighting as the field. They ended at 24 with- AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS before attempting to whip Lyon PUNE: Croat Ivo Karlovic on Friday became the oldest man in more than four decades to reach an ATP hard as we can for the next three out loss. M. Harris not out ...... 19 down the leg side. Instead, he final after beating Steve Darcis at the in Pune. days. Cricket’s one of those “Every hundred I score is U. Khawaja not out ...... 5 lobbed the ball back into the Karlovic, who turns 40 next month, follows in the footsteps of Australian legend Ken Rosewall who Extras ...... 0 games, if you keep doing that it special for me because I have Total (0 wickets, 10 overs) ...... 24 spinner’s hands. reached a tour-level final aged 43 at the Sydney Indoor tournament in 1977. can turn really quickly,” he said. just started my career. But I To bat: Marnus Labuschagne, Shaun Marsh, Travis Sri Lankan batting legend Standing 2.11 meters tall, Karlovic defeated Darcis of Belgium 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 in the first semi-final of “But you’ve got to tip your don’t really think about hun- Head, Peter Handscomb, Tim Paine, Josh Hazlewood, Kumar Sangakkara summed up the Indian tournament. cap to India. They have worked dreds, I only think about what Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc Bowling: his innings in a tweet. “Yes, I know that I am old. But I am happy that I am still here in all these years with (many) ups Shami 3-0-9-0, Bumrah 3-0-12-0, Jadeja 2-1-1-0, extremely hard for three-and- the team needs from me,” said Yadav 2-1-2-0 Toss: India “A great lesson to all bats- and downs and injuries. And I am able to do this here is unbelievable,” Karlovic said after the win. a-half Tests to get us to where Pant, who expressed some sym- men in the series and tests in “I have been calm and it has helped me in my career.” they want us today.” pathy for Australian bowlers. general,” he said. “@chetesh- Big-serving Karlovic, currently ranked 100, hit 33 aces in the one hour 55 minute battle against the The methodical Pujara “Obviously when you bowl level best.” war1 showing how trusting your unranked Darcis, who missed all of 2018 due to injury. made a masterful 193 off 373 for two days the body gets tired, Calm and collected number strengths and being unasham- Karlovic, who had already made history this week by becoming the oldest tour-level semi-finalist balls while Pant stroked his but their body language was three Pujara started the day 130 edly dogged in technique and since made the last four at 1993 San Francisco, has now reached seven of his 19 ATP highest Test score in an enter- really good, they were push- not out and picked up where he concentration brings great re- Tour finals after turning 35. He will play the winner of the second semi-final between world number six taining 159 not out. ing themselves and trying their left off. wards.” from South Africa and defending champion of France. (AFP)

Guardiola proud as ‘fearless’ Bayern Munich in Doha Man City stars ignite title bid

AFP MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM

PEP Guardiola saluted his “fearless” Manchester City stars after the champions kept their Premier League title bid France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in action during his match against Austral- alive with a vital 2-1 win over ia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final of the leaders Liverpool on Thursday. tennis tournament on Friday. (REUTERS) Guardiola’s side had no margin for error as a defeat would have left them 10 points Tsonga more than a match to behind the Reds and in danger of surrendering the title they de Minaur in Brisbane battle won in record-breaking fash- ion last season. AFP him play a couple of times and I But they rose to the chal- BRISBANE knew it would be tough,” Tson- lenge in thrilling style, beating ga said. “We have completely Liverpool for the first time in JO-WILFRIED Tsonga’s come- different games. It was good five meetings thanks to Leroy back from injury gathered pace tennis and I’m just really happy Sane’s superb strike in the sec- when he overcame seventh with the way I played.” ond half. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to David seeded Australian Alex de Min- Tsonga said he knew he had Sergio Aguero had put Silva during their match against Liverpool on Thursday. (REUTERS) aur in a high quality Brisbane to attack during the tiebreak. City ahead in the first half International quarter-final on “I was a bit more aggressive and although Roberto Firmi- were outstanding from the ing scorer has now netted in Friday. than him and it made the differ- no equalised after the inter- first minute. all seven of his home league The former world number ence,” he said. val, City held their nerve with “Liverpool don’t concede games against Liverpool. four, who missed seven months Tsonga will play fourth a courageous display that goals, and we scored two. We “We need Sergio Aguero in of 2018 after knee surgery, seeded Russian Daniil Medve- had Guardiola singing their played with courage, so ag- these games, his quality makes looked like he’d never been dev for a place in Sunday’s final. praises. gressive in our pressing. We the difference,” Guardiola away during his 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) Medvedev withstood the “I am proud of them. We are happy for this victory to said. win over the rising Australian huge serving of Canadian Milos knew that it was a final today, reduce the gap. Everything is “To win these games, he Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich arrived in Doha on Friday for star. The Frenchman was in su- Raonic to win a brutal match if we lose it is almost over,” open.” has done it all his career and their annual week-long training camp at the Aspire Zone Founda- perb touch against an opponent 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4. Guardiola said. Guardiola reserved special his finish was incredible.” tion. The camp will run from January 5 to 10. The Bavarians, who who fought hard but was unable The 22-year-old Rus- “All credit to these in- plaudits for Aguero after the “Now we are four points were welcomed at the Hamad International Airport by a Doha fan to make any inroads into Tson- sian saved eight break points credible players. We had a lot Argentina forward scored his behind them and they are the group, are currently six points behind league leaders and rivals ga’s game. throughout the match and of pressure but we were not 250th career league goal with leaders. We have to fight a lot, Borussia Dortmund and hope a much needed rest will spur the “I expected something like broke Raonic twice to move into scared, we had no fear. We a sublime strike in the 40th but this gives us a lot of confi- team on in the second half of the season. this before the match -- I’d seen the final four. beat an incredible team. We minute. City’s all-time lead- dence,” he said. Germany to face Switzerland again in Hopman final

AFP playing in his fourth successive “I served good and was a 3-0 lead, and returned to the PERTH, AUSTRALIA , then secured the Encore! moving well and Ash is always court with her left thigh heavily tie for the Germans with a 6-4, a tricky opponent,” Kerber said. strapped. GERMANY’S Angelique Kerber 6-3 win over Matthew Ebden. O The Hopman Cup final will Earlier, Spanish star Gar- Muguruza said it was a con- and Alexander Zverev earned That means the final will feature the same four bine Muguruza collected her fidence boosting win and while the chance to avenge their de- feature the same four players as players as last year, a first first singles win over the new she didn’t believe the injury was feat in last year’s Hopman Cup last year, a first for the tourna- for the tournament which is season, but also picked up a serious, she said the leg was final by defeating Australia 2-1 ment in what is expected to be expected to be its final thigh injury that forced her out causing significant discomfort. at the mixed teams tournament its final instalment. instalment. of the mixed doubles as Spain “It (leg) is so sore, we have on Friday. Switzerland claimed their beat France 2-1. The dual Grand been playing a lot this week The winner of the final country’s third Hopman Cup Slam champion and world -- I felt a little bit of pain in my round robin tie would advance last year, with Federer, who first to come back to Perth. number 18 had lost her two pre- quad,” she said. to Saturday’s final against Swiss won the title in 2001 with Mar- “Hopefully I can give Roger vious singles matches in Perth Muguruza is scheduled to defending champions Roger tina Hingis, and Kerber win- a better match than last year. to Kerber and Barty. continue her Federer and Belinda Bencic and ning their respective singles and “I hope it (final) is going to However, she overcame the preparation in Sydney next it was the Germans who pre- the Swiss taking the deciding be just as exciting as last year, injury to beat Frenchwoman Al- week. vailed by claiming both singles mixed doubles. but just going the other way.” ize Cornet, herself troubled by In a see-sawing men’s sin- matches. After overpowering a stub- Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev of Germany react during the Kerber had a little bit too a back injury throughout the gles match, veteran David Fer- World number two Ker- born Ebden, Zverev said he and mixed doubles match against Australia on day seven of the Hopman much class for Barty in their match, 6-1, 6-3. rer was in early control but ber was too good for the 15th- Kerber were motivated by last Cup at RAC Arena in Perth on Friday. (EPA-EFE) match, the German stretch- Muguruza had treatment af- ultimately needed a third set tie- ranked Barty in the opening year’s loss in the final. ing her unbeaten singles run in ter the third game of the first set break to win 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 match, winning 6-4, 6-4. “It’s nice to be back in the we lost to in a very close match me and Angie decided after last Perth to seven matches with the against Cornet, by which time (7/2) after a typically lengthy Zverev, ranked fourth and final and play Switzerland, who last year,” he said. “That is why year’s match that we were going straight sets win in 74 minutes. she had two breaks of serve and rally on match point.