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SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2021 Third seed Simona Halep withdraws from Miami Open with shoulder injury I'm sad that I can't continue, I wanted to come here to give my best and play many matches but unfortunately I can't. Hopefully, next year I will be back healthy and better.

Simona Halep Sport |06

NBA: Nets 113 - Pistons 111; Lakers 100 - Cavaliers 86; T' Blazers 112 - Magic 105; Hawks 124 - Warriors 108; Celtics 122 - Bucks 114 Al Haydos stars as Qatar beat Azerbaijan

THE PENINSULA/AGENCIES — DEBRECEN, ways of reopening large-scale public HUNGARY Qatar’s Hassan Al Haydos (centre) celebrates after scoring their first goal events amid the coronavirus pandemic. They saw Stéphanie Frappart make against Azerbaijan at Nagyerdei Stadionin Captain Hassan Al Haydos scored a history by becoming the first woman Debrecen, Hungary yesterday. brace including a spectacular winner to referee a men’s World Cup as reigning Asian champions registered qualifier. their second straight win at the Netherlands coach European Zone FIFA World Cup 2022 made three changes to the starting qualifiers, beating Azerbaijan 2-1 at lineup that slumped to defeat in the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, opening match against Turkey on Hungary yesterday. Wednesday. After Ramil Sheydayev put He brought in striker De Jong, Ajax Azerbaijan ahead in 16th minute with midfielder and PSV a spot kick, Al Haydos, who was wing back in an looking in good form yesterday, lev- attempt to add an attacking edge elled the score in 55th minute. lacking in Istanbul. The Qatari star then fired a The three almost combined for a stunning goal from a distance three goal in just the sixth minute. Dumfries minutes later to guide Al Annabi to crossed from the left, De Jong headed their second win. back across goal and Igors Tarasovs’s Qatar defeated Luxembourg 1-0 in timely intervention just stopped their first match last week. The Felix Klaassen from bundling the ball into Sanchez-coached side will now take the net. After two close misses, the on Ireland on March 30. Netherlands finally took the lead in the Meanwhile, the Netherlands got 32nd minute when Berghuis curled a its World Cup qualification back on shot past Roberts Ozols after a pow- track yesterday by beating erful run by . Luuk de 2-0, while Turkey continued its Jong repaid De Boer’s faith in him by strong start in Group G with a 3-0 heading in ’s corner to victory over Norway to go top on goal complete the scoring. difference. in the 69th as the Netherlands city of Malaga, Ozan Tufan scored a Dutch authorities allowed 5,000 Earlier yesterday, beat curled in a left- rebounded from a 4-2 midweek defeat goal in each half and Caglar Soyuncu fans to attend the match under strict Gibraltar 4-1 in to make it footed shot in the 32nd minute and in Turkey. headed his country’s second goal as conditions, divided into different two wins from two matches and take headed home a corner In a match played in the Spanish Turkey easily beat Norway. bubbles as a test to evaluate possible second place in the group.

Barwa Grand Bagnaia clinches season’s first Prix of Qatar pole with new Qatar lap record Grids MotoGP Front row THE PENINSULA — DOHA 1. (ITA/ Former Moto2 World Champion Ducati) 1:52.772 Francesco Bagnaia yesterday 2. (FRA/ grabbed the new MotoGP Yamaha) 1:53.038 season’s first pole position by 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP/ smashing the lap record at the Francesco Yamaha) 1:53.088 iconic Losail International Bagnaia in 2nd row Circuit (LIC) ahead of today's action during 4. (ITA/ Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar. qualifying Yamaha-SRT) 1:53.114 The 24-year-old Italian for Barwa 5. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) Grand Prix of impressed in his first outing as 1:53.215 Qatar at Losail a Ducati rider by clocking a time 6. (FRA/ International of 1:52.772 seconds, the fastest- Ducati-Pramac) 1:53.286 ever two-wheel lap time Circuit, 3rd row recorded at LIC. yesterday. For the 22-lap race today, DOWN: Bagnaia 7. (ITA/ Bagnaia will be on the front grid gestures during Yamaha-SRT) 1:53.313 along side Fabio Quartararo and the qualifying 8. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/ Maverick Vinales, both of stage. ) 1:53.315 Yamaha. 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) “I’m happy. Yesterday, I 1:53.490 thought it was possible to reach 4th row 1m52s today and on the second 10. (ESP/Suzuki) attempt, when I started to without making mistakes and Chantra (Idemitsu Team Red Bull KTM Ajo duo then and will launch from pole, and 1:53.682 attack, I saw that it was possible at the end the lap time is quite Asia) and 2019 Moto3 World launched themselves onto the he’ll line up alongside a rookie 11. after the third sector, which was impressive, a ’53.1. Unfortu- Champion front row, Raul Fernandez P2 sensation in Raul Fernandez. (JPN/Honda-LCR) 1:53.721 very close to this time back. So nately, it was not enough to stay (Italtrans Racing Team) finished and Gardner P3, but the Aus- The Spaniard has taken to 12. Pol Espargaro (ESP/ I am very happy,” Bagnaia said on the front row, but we are not within a tenth of each other to sie’s lap would get cancelled. Moto2 like a duck to water as Honda) 1:53.930 after the official qualifying so far and starting from P4 is get another crack at the whip The ever-impressive Bend- Bendsneyder picks up his first Moto2 under lights at LIC. important for the race in Q2. sneyder demoted Bezzecchi off front row start since the 2017 “It is my first pole position tomorrow,” Rossi said. As Q2 kicked into life, the the front row on his final lap as Moto3 Dutch GP, like as a Front row and my first race with this race, Pre-season testing star fastest rider after the opening Gardner then threatened Lowes’ rider springing new life into the 1. (GBR/Kalex) so I would like to do everything Ducati’s Jack Miller will start flying laps slammed in was time on his last lap. However, a talented Dutchman. 1:58.726 possible to finish tomorrow’s fifth on the grid alongside Lowes. Jake Dixon (Petronas crash for (Petronas Earlier South African rider 2. Raul Fernandez (ESP/ (Sunday's) race in the best pos- Johann Zarco () Sprinta Racing) made it a British Sprinta Racing) at Turn 10 – Darryn Binder yesterday pro- Kalex) 1:58.866 sible way. Because I think we in sixth place when the season’s 1-2 but working in tandem, Red minutes after the Spaniard and duced a lap record time to 3. (NED/ can make a really good result,” first Grand Prix starts tonight at Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez teammate Dixon collided at clinch the opening pole position Kalex) 1:58.959 he said with a smile. 8:00pm. and then took Turn 3 – put a halt to Gardner’s in the Moto3 class. 2nd row Lowes claims Moto2 pole MotoGP icon and a crowd over at the top – the latter late charge. In the end though, The Petronas Sprinta Racing 4. (ITA/ favourite wherever he races, Also yesterday, British rider leading his rookie team-mate Lowes was untouchable. The rider performed wonders to Kalex) 1:59.052 Valentino Rossi clinched the Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS with a 1:59.245. 2020 third place finisher has come through Q1 to bag the first 5. Joe Roberts (USA/ fourth-fastest time to be first on Racing Team) was once again Incidentally, Lowes’ first lap been in supreme form at Losail pole position of 2021 at the Kalex) 1:59.168 the second grid. in superior form at the Barwa time was then scrapped Barwa Grand Prix of “I am very happy. This qual- Grand Prix of Qatar as he but soon after, his second Qatar, setting a 6. Remy Gardner (AUS/ ifying is a great way to start the clocked 1:58.726 to beat rookie lap then saw him fly to 2:04.075 – a new lap Kalex) 1:59.197 new season with the new team,” Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM P1, 0.447s faster than record. Reigning FIM Moto3 Rossi said. “With the second set Ajo) to pole position by 0.140s Gardner’s best. CEV Repsol Moto3 Front row of tyres I felt very comfortable in the Moto2 class. Bo Bend- Once again, Dixon Junior World 1. Darryn Binder (RSA/ with the bike and I had very sneyder’s (Pertamina Mandalika made it a British 1-2 but Champion Izan Honda) 2:04.075 good grip. SAG Team) awesome early Lowes’ lead was still con- Guevara (GASGAS 2. Izan Guevara (ESP/Gas) “The lap was great and I was season form sees the Dutchman siderable. Bendsneyder Gaviota Aspar) 2:04.278 able to ride well, pushing claim just his third Grand Prix then catapulted himself claimed a wonderful 3. John McPhee (GBR/ front row start in P3, he finished to P2 to go 0.312s off debut Grand Prix TODAY’S SCHEDULE Honda) 2:04.358 0.233s from Lowes’ pace. Lowes but the latter, for front row after also 2nd row 14:40-15:00 - Moto3 - WARM-UP Ahead of the opening Moto2 a third straight lap, pulled progressing from Q1, 4. Jeremy Alcoba (ESP/ pole position battle com- clear of the chasing pack. as the rookie lines up 15:10-15:30 - Moto2 - WARM-UP Honda) 2:04.437 15:40-16:00 - MotoGP - WARM-UP mencing, four riders entered the Marco Bezzecchi (SKY one place ahead of fray from Q1. Fabio Di Giannan- Racing Team VR46) then the most experienced 5. Jaume Masia (ESP/KTM) 17:00 - Moto3 - RACE (18 laps) tonio (Federal Oil Gresini took over the second Moto3 rider – third 2:04.498

18:20 - Moto2- -RACE (20 laps) Moto2) was the quickest as place baton, but the place John McPhee 6. Kaito Toba (JPN/KTM) 20:00 - MotoGP - RACE (22 laps) rookie Celestino Vietti (SKY Italian was still over (Petronas Sprinta 2:04.673 Racing Team VR46), Somkiat three tenths behind. The Racing). SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2021 SPORT 07

President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani honouring the top riders after the final round of onginesL Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab, yesterday. Nasser, Cherif and Al Khaldi emerge overall winners as Hathab season ends Al Rumaihi clinches Big Tour glory

THE PENINSULA — DOHA as the overall Big Tour the overall winners’ trophies. champion for season 2020-21 In the day’s feature event, Mubarak Yousuf Al Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi after accumulating a tally of 196 Al Rumaihi produced a flawless Rumaihi in action yesterday guided Casal Des points. routine with Casal Des Forets during the final round Forets to Big Tour glory in the The Medium Tour award to emerged win in the Big Tour of the Longines Hathab final round of the Longines was clinched by Cyrine Cherif class. Casal Des Forets clocked Qatar Equestrian Tour, Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour. who managed to collect 198 a time of 41.61 seconds as Al yesterday. In what was the 12th and points. Rumaihi won the top prize of final round of the hugely Khalifa Abdullah Al Khaldi QR14,000 in the 130/145cm. popular series, Qatar Olympic finished as the overall winner Faleh Suwead Al Ajami Committee (QOC) Chairman H of the Small Tour class with a (Ulano, 43.44 seconds, QR E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al tally of 200 points from 12 11,500) and Nasser Al Ghazali Thani yesterday graced the rounds. (Quel Homme, 41.29 seconds, occasion and later distributed Maryam Ahmed Al Semaitt QR 8,750) completed the top prizes among the season and and Asma Yasser Muhammad three. 12th round winners at Longines (dressage) and Hadi Mansour Al Also yesterday, Cyrine - one Arena Al Shaqab. Shahwani and Cain Monty of the most consistent riders in Nasser Al Ghazali emerged (Future Riders) also picked up the country - clinched the Medium Tour honours by Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour: Final Round guiding Brennus Villelongue to a flawless routine in the Comp. (1)Small Tour | Table A, Table A. Two rounds against the 120/135cm competition. clock, FEI Art. 273.3.3.1 | 100/115 cm | Prize Money QR 25,000 Brennus Villelongue clocked FITO R Alqaqa Adel NASSAR 00 63.26 0 38.77 0 QR 6,250 an impressive time of 38.44 VIAHIPI D’AUZAY Hussain Saeed HAIDAN 00 61.380 39.43 0 QR 5,000 seconds as Cyrine won QR CALGARY VD HATERBEEK Z Hamad Ali AL ATTIYAH 00 65.33 0 8,750 for what turned out to be A Vena, 51.30 seconds, 5 faults, finished in third place. Calgary experience to do well in future 44.20 0 QR 3,750 a commanding show. QR 3,500) and Khalid VD Haterbeek Z finished in a local and international compe- BIRDDYZ Abdulaziz Ghanim AL NUAIMI 04 58.200 40.46 4 QR 2,500 “I am very happy that all the Mohammed Al Emadi (Cantaro time of 44.20 seconds as Al titions,” he added. QUATRO JUNIOR Khalifa Sheail AL KUWARI 00 64.314 44.41 4 QR hard work put has resulted in 32, 48.02 seconds, 8 faults, QR Attiyah won QR 3,750. “What I see is we are 1,750 the success. Thanks to my 2,450) completed the top five Abdulaziz Ghanim Al uaimi building a good reserve of Comp. (5)Medium Tour | Table A. Two rounds against the clock, coach, and my team-mates for out of eight riders. (Birddyz, 40.46 seconds, 4 young riders who can go to be FEI Art. 273.3.3.1 | 120/135 cm | Prize Money QR 35,000 all their support throughout the Earlier in the Small Tour faults, QR 2,500) and Khalifa successful international riders. Brennus VILLELONGUE Cyrine CHERIF 00 60.52 0 38.44 0 QR 8,750 season,” Cyrine said battle, Alqaqa Adel Nassar Sheail Al Kuwari (Quatro Junior, We are confident about this,” LAMM ADDICTION Z Rashid Towaim AL MARRI 00 60.79 0 39.03 yesterday. guided Fito R to the top spot in 44.41 seconds, 4 fault, QR 1,750) he said. 0 QR 7,000 Rashid Towaim Al Marri, the 110/115cm class. Fito R completed the top five. Al Marri praised the Qatar CANAVARO DE MUZE (E.T.) Jaber Rashid AL AMRI 00 61.82 4 44.24 astride Lamm Addiction Z, clocked 38.77 seconds as Nassar Abdullah Muhammad Al Equestrian Federation (QEF) 4 QR 5,250 sealed the second spot. Lamm won the top prize of QR 6,250 Marri, Director of Junior Teams and Al Shaqab for joining hands MAGNUM D’ A VENA Alaa AL SULTAN 01 63.54 4 51.30 5 QR 3,500 Addiction Z clocked a time of in run against the clock. (show jumping and dressage, to host the hugely popular series CANTARO 32 Khalid Mohammed AL EMADI 44 61.27 0 48.02 8 39.03 seconds as Al Marri The second spot was and the Future Riders) praised that concluded the fourth QR 2,450 bagged QR 7,000. grabbed by Hussain Saeed the skills of the riders. season yesterday. Big Tour | Table A. Two rounds against the clock, FEI Art. 273.3.3.1 Jaber Rashid Al Amri Haidan who also produced a “We can see Qatari riders He also praised the | 130/145cm | Prize-Money QR50,000 secured the third place with flawless routine with Viahipi getting confidant every time support of the families for Mubarak Yousuf AL RUMAIHI; Casal Des Forets; 0; 63.45secs; 0; Canavaro De Muze (E.T.). Al D’Auzay. Haidan won QR 5,000 they ride. The young riders look their children during what had 41.61secs; QR14,000 Amri won QR 5,250 after Cana- after Viahipi D’Auzay clocked good during a competition,” Al been a difficult riding season Faleh Suwead AL AJAMI; Ulano; 0; 70.74secs; 0: 43.44secs; QR11,500 varao De Muze (E.T.) clocked a a time of 39.43 seconds. Marri said yesterday. because of the COVID-19 sit- Nasser AL GHAZALI; Quel Homme; 0; 67.93secs; 4; 41.29secs; QR8,750. time of 44.24 seconds (4 faults). Hamad Ali Attiyah, astride “These young riders are uation not just in Qatar but Alaa Al Sultan (Magnum D’ Calgary VD Haterbeek Z, getting the exposure and the around the world. F1: Red Bull’s Verstappen grabs opening pole

REUTERS — MANAMA qualifying a considerable 0.388 with Hamilton alongside. “We former team mate Carlos Sainz Max Verstappen celebrates seconds slower, with team mate already had a great test week. in the second Ferrari. after qualifying in pole Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set Valtteri Bottas lining up in third There are no guarantees coming Spain’s two times world position. himself up as favourite for the place. to the first race weekend but the champion Fernando Alonso, 39, first race of the Formula One “Well done Max, that’s the whole week so far the car has will start his first race since 2018 season after a perfect pole perfect start,” said team boss been working really well and it’s in ninth place with Renault- position in Bahrain yesterday. Christian Horner over the team just been really enjoyable to owned Alpine. The big losers The Dutch 23-year-old was radio as the mechanics drive,” said Verstappen. were four times world champion fastest in every sector on his final celebrated. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Sebastian Vettel, now at Aston lap as he denied champions Mer- The pole was the fourth of Ver- qualified fourth, but on softer Martin after leaving Ferrari, who cedes the top slot in the season- stappen’s career and continued a tyres, with AlphaTauri’s Pierre starts 18th and Verstappen’s opener for the first time in the perfect start to the year, with the Gasly fifth and McLaren’s Daniel team mate Sergio Perez who V6 turbo hybrid era that started Red Bull driver quickest in pre- Ricciardo lining up sixth for his managed only 11th on the grid. in 2014. season testing and all three free first race with the team since At the back, Michael Schu- Mercedes’ seven times world practice sessions in Bahrain. moving from Renault. macher’s son Mick will start 19th champion Lewis Hamilton had Today’s race will also be the McLaren’s Lando Norris for Haas, one spot ahead of to settle for second on the grid, first time he has lined up on pole qualified seventh, ahead of team-mate Nikita Mazepin. win first-ever Masters title in Doha

THE PENINSULA — DOHA DOHA MASTERS STANDINGS win this time but he still led a 1. Amsterdam Talent&Pro (NED) new-look Novi Sad team all the Amsterdam Talent&Pro (NED) 2. Novi Sad (SRB) way to the final. yesterday won their first-ever New addition Strahinja FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters 3. Liman (SRB) Milosevic led his squad in after defeating 4-time World 4. (LAT) scoring in Doha with 31 points. Tour winners Novi Sad (SRB) 5. Ub (SRB) In the individual contests, 21-19 in a thrilling final of the 6. Graz (AUT) Piotr ‘Grabo’ Grabowski (POL) Doha Masters at Al Gharafa 7. Piran (SLO) won the Elite Air Dunk Contest Beach Games Area. 8. NY Harlem (USA) while Darius Tarvydas (Sakiai With the game tied at 19 Gulbele, LTU) dominated the 9. Edmonton (CAN) with a few seconds to go in the McDonalds Shoot-out Contest, game, new recruit Maksim 10. Princeton (USA) earlier yesterday. Kovacevic swished an amazing 11. Sakiai Gulbele (LTU) All the health and safety shot off the hand off from 12. Lusail (QAT) measures requested by local

outside the arc to give 13. Manila Chooks TM (PHI) and national authorities and Amsterdam Talent&Pro their 14. Doha (QAT) the Guidelines for the Return first-ever title on the World to Basketball, developed by Tour. He scored a whopping 13 the FIBA Medical Advisory points in the championship with 35 points and was named Group (MAG), which were suc- Amsterdam Talent&Pro’s players pose with officials of the Qatar Basketball game. MVP. cessfully introduced last season, Federation after winning the final, yesterday. PIC COURTESY: FIBA His team-mate Arvin Slagter The number one 3x3 player were implemented once again. topped all scorers at the event in the world Dusan Bulut did not FIBA 3x3 Sport SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2021 06

Fencers are seen in action on day two of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Foil Grand Prix Doha 2021 at the Aspire Dome in Doha yesterday. More than 260 fencers from 51 countries are competing for points that help towards qualification for the Tokyo Olympics at the three-day tournament, which ends today. Boubakri, Walczky fail to reach round of 64 as Grand Prix Doha enters final stage

THE PENINSULA - DOHA The rest qualifiers from the opening the pool stage as she could only victory over France’s Ilona Henaff in Ibrahim – could not make it out of the stage slugged it out for the remaining manageThe to competition secure the fifth position ends with the third round to eventually earn her pool stage. In the meantime, Feras Tunisia’s Ines Boubakri, the bronze 32 slots. hertoday 20 points with from the Pool men 10. and well-deserved qualification for Sun- Btaddini, Head Of Aspire Academy medallist at the 2018 Rio Olympics, and In the end, Jacqueline Dubrovich Walczyk’swomen’s pool, last which 64 comprised to day’s round of events. Venues & Facilities, said: “Aspire the World No. 30 Julia Walczyk of (USA), Eleanor Harvey (Canada), Leyla 53rd-ranked Yana Alborova of For Boubakri, the first Tunisian Academy is accustomed to the chal- Poland sensationally failed to make it Pirieva (Russia), Valentina From Cos- Uzbekistanquarter-finals and Brazil’s events Ana Beatriz fencer ever to win an Olympic medal, lenges associated with hosting a high- into the round of 64 at the end of the tanzo (Italy), Fanni Kreiss (Hungary), Bulcao,taking ranked 83, place was surprisingly in the led the road to Tokyo still remained profile event of this nature. We are preliminary rounds of the women’s Erica Cipressa (Italy), Elisa Vardaro by 16-year-oldmorning, Kristina while Petrova the from opened as she could qualify from the happy that the competition has been event of the International Fencing (Italy), Maia mei Weintraub (USA), Ukraine, ranked 275; who garnered a African continental qualifiers to be going on smoothly considering the Federation (FIE) Foil Grand Prix Doha Minami Kano (Japan), Anne Sauer totalsemi-finals of 27 points asand against finals 24 for staged later in the year. challenges of hosting such a large 2021 at the Aspire Dome yesterday. (Germany), Qingyuan Chen (China), Alborovawill start and at16 6:00pmfor Bulcao. at The The 32-year-old left-handed fencer number of contingents in this period More than 260 fencers from 51 Morgan Patru (England), Coralie Brot 27-year-oldAspire Bulcao, Dome. a bronze medalist is the defending champion of Africa. of the global pandemic.” countries are competing for points that (England), İrem Karamete (Turkey), at the 2019 Pan American Games in Meanwhile, Egypt’s Noura “We have successfully hosted 17 help towards qualification for the Camilla Mancini (Italy) and Anita Blaze Lima, also failed to go beyond the pool Mohamed was dumped by Italy’s Elis- editions of the Grand Prix tournaments, Tokyo Olympics at the three-day tour- (France) all made it straight into the stage. abetta Bianchin in the second stage, though not on this scale, which have nament, which ends today. last-64 from their pools. Petrova could have qualified while her compatriot Hany Noha, who continued to receive praises both at Unlike the men’s event on Friday, While it was a smooth sail for most directly for the last-64 from the initial defeated Slovakia’s Kitti Bitterova 14-13 the regional and international level. the first stage of the qualifying rounds of the top-ranks, Boubakri and stage if not that she finished joint-fif- in the second stage, was eventually We are happy to extend the partnership (the pool stage) involved 128 female Walczyk failed to make it. teenth overall with Mancini and Blaze defeated 15-6 in the last stage by with the Qatar Weightlifting and fencers with the top-16 finishers auto- Boubakri, the highest-ranked Arab with the same points, and the subse- Japan’s Sumire Tsuji to put paid to the Fencing Federation even further. We matically securing their last-64 tickets, fencer, succeeded out of her pool, but quent decider went in favour of Blaze. hopes of the Arab athletes at the com- look forward to an exciting finale on where they joined the world’s top-16 she later fell 15-7 to South Korea’s Mi However, the teen sensation con- petition as the four Qatari represent- Sunday,” Btaddini, who is also a ranked athletes who got the prelim- Hye Oh in the last round. On the other firmed that her pool stage performance atives - Amira Boujbara, Lina Al member of the Grand Prix Doha 2021 inary rounds bye. hand, Walczyk could not make it past was no fluke as she secured a 15-9 Buainain, Ghraiba Dhahi, and Rana Organizing Committee, added. Barshim gets Tsitsipas advances at Miami first COVID-19 vaccine dose Open; Barty also wins

Two-time high jump AP - MIAMI shoulder injury. Wild card Ana Konjuh upset No. world champion Mutaz 15 Iga Swiatek. Konjuh’s career has been slowed Barshim is seen receiving No. 2-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the by four elbow surgeries, and this week she has his first vaccine dose, as fourth round at the Miami Open by beating Damir earned her first three wins in main-draw WTA part of Aspetar’s COVID- Dzumhur 6-1, 6-4 yesterday. play since 2018. 19 vaccination campaign Tsitsipas, ranked a career-high No. 5, In other men’s play, No. 12 Milos Raonic and targeting athletes in improved to 15-4 this year. He hopes to take No. 24 Lorenzo Sonego advanced. Qatar. advantage of a draw without Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Halep withdraws Dzumhur, ranked 126th, made the field only because another player withdrew. He came into the match with a 3-1 record against Tsitsipas but from Miami Open never had a break point. In women’s play, top-ranked Ash Barty beat with shoulder injury Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 and had a much easier AP MIAMI time than in the previous round, when she saved a match point to beat qualifier Kristina Kucova. No. 3-seeded Simona Halep withdrew from the That was Barty’s first match away from her native Miami Open before her third-round match Australian since February 2020. yesterday because of a right shoulder injury. She kept Ostapenko on the move and on the “I wanted to come here to give my best and defensive, pulling her in and moving her from play many matches, but unfortunately I can’t,” side to side. Halep said in a statement. Barty is the defending champion as the 2019 Halep earned her 400th career win with a winner. The tournament was canceled last year comeback victory over Caroline Garcia in the at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. second round. Her potential path to the final became easier She had been scheduled to next meet Anas- when No. 3-seeded Simona Halep withdrew tasija Sevastova, who advanced to the fourth before her third-round match because of a right round. CRICKET: England’s Archer to undergo surgery on right hand

REUTERS - LONDON

England’s Jofra Archer is set to undergo surgery on his right hand, the country’s cricket board said, after the fast bowler was sent home from the one-day international series in India due to a wors- ening elbow injury. Archer, who returned to Britain on Tuesday, is also set to miss the start of the Indian (IPL) season on April 9. “(Archer) had a further injection for the right elbow injury that had seen him declared unfit for selection for the current ODI series versus India,” the ECB said in a statement. “The procedure on Jofra’s hand will take place on Monday... so he can recover during the planned break following his elbow injection. “Further investigation and a specialist opinion was sought upon his return to the UK and, in conjunction with the ECB medical panel, it has been decided that surgery is the best option to manage his injury in the longer term.” Archer, 25, missed the final Test against India due to the elbow injury but returned for the five-match Twenty20 series, claiming a career-best 4-33 in the fourth match in Ahmedabad. The three-match ODI series is tied at 1-1 ahead of the final game in Pune today. Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar tests positive for COVID-19 AP - MUMBAI Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining at home. The 47-year-old Tendulkar, Test cricket’s all time leading run-scorer, reported yesterday that he tested positive “following mild symptoms.” “I’ve quarantined myself at home and am following all the necessary protocols as advised by my doctors,” he said on Twitter. Tendulkar, who scored 15,921 runs in Test cricket, thanked “all the healthcare professionals who are supporting me and many others across the country.” India has had more than 160,000 coronavirus-related deaths. Cases had been plummeting since September but began spiking last month. Health officials said Wednesday that a new and potentially troublesome variant has been detected in India, as have variants first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.