26 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, November 20, 2019 Russia beat reigning champions Croatia in Davis Cup opener Canada claims 2-1 victory over well-fancied Italy MADRID: Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev Matteo who has had such a good season,” said helped Russia open the inaugural Davis Cup Finals with Shapovalov. “I always love representing my country... a 3-0 victory over defending champions Croatia in It’s not often you get to play as a team, so it’s amazing.” Madrid on Monday. World number 17 Khachanov Italy, who won their only Davis Cup title in 1976, clinched the point for Russia by fighting back to beat were the favourites in Group F with Fognini and Croatian number one Borna Coric 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, Berrettini both having enjoyed excellent seasons. The after Rublev had earlier seen off Borna Gojo 6-3, 6-3. 20-year-old Shapovalov saved three set points before “When you’re playing not only for yourself, but for snatching the first set in a tie-break, only for Berrettini your country, you have to fight harder,” said to level the match in a second-set breaker. Khachanov. Russia, who are without US Open runner- A clash without a single break of serve, was decided up Daniil Medvedev due to exhaustion, can wrap up a by another tie-break, with Shapovalov reeling off the place in the quarter-finals with victory over Rafael last three points to win after two hours and 52 minutes Nadal’s Spain in their second Group B tie today. on court. The 18 nations have been split into six groups of Berrettini and Fognini boosted Italy’s hopes of mak- three at the Caja Magica, with the pool winners and ing the quarters with a hard-fought doubles success two best runners-up to play in the last eight of the first over Shapovalov and Pospisil, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. edition of the revamped tournament. The teams face off Canada take on the United States today, with Italy fac- in two best-of-three-set singles matches and one dou- ing the Americans the following day. bles rubber in each tie. Belgium made a victorious start in Group D with Khachanov and Rublev completed the clean sweep back-to-back singles wins against Colombia. The South later on Monday with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 doubles win over Americans are playing at the top level of Davis Cup Ivan Dodig and Nikola Mektic. tennis for the first time, having never played in the old World Group. CANADA DOWN ITALY Steve Darcis saw off Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-2, Canada claimed a 2-1 victory over well-fancied Italy before world number 11 David Goffin had to battle back to strike first in Group F. World number 12 Fabio from a set down to avoid a shock against 194th-ranked Fognini slumped to a 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 defeat by Vasek Daniel Elahi Galan Riveros, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Pospisil, ranked 150th, before rising star Denis But the world number one doubles pairing of Juan MADRID: Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Croatia’s Nikola Mektic return the ball to Russia’s Karen Khachanov Shapovalov edged out Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah grabbed a historic and Russia’s Andrey Rublev during the doubles tennis match between Croatia and Russia at the Davis (3/7), 7-6 (7/5). win for Colombia by battling past Sander Gille and Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid yesterday. —AFP “I’m really happy to get the win against a player like Joran Vliegen 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). —AFP ter neighbours. The ITF decision has not gone down team visit Pakistan when Pakistan has Kazakhstan to Pakistan expelled India’s ambassador well in Pakistan, with leading player assured them of extremely high level and suspended bilateral trade and all Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi deciding to skip security protocol,” he said on his public transport links with its neighbour the tie in protest. “The attitude towards Instagram. NBK to award more host Pakistan in August after New Delhi removed Pakistan of both All Indian Tennis “However, if ITF does not correct “special status” from its portion of the Association and ITF is highly deplorable, their wrong decision then as a protest than 100 participants Davis Cup contested region of Kashmir. to say the least,” Qureshi wrote in a let- against this unjust, unfair and biased Earlier this month, the ITF accepted ter to Pakistan Tennis Federation chief decision I want to raise my voice and during the Walkathon India’s request to shift the tie away from Salim Saifullah Khan. hereby announce not to participate in tie: AITA Islamabad but Pakistan appealed. “The “There is absolutely no threat fore- this tie if it takes place outside Pakistan.” KUWAIT: National Bank ITF has informed us that Pakistan’s seen for Indian tennis team in Pakistan.” India will be without top singles play- of Kuwait (NBK) will MUMBAI: The International Tennis appeal has been rejected and the tie will India and Pakistan signed a pact last er Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who is getting award more than 100 Federation has rejected Pakistan’s appeal be held at Astana (renamed Nur-Sultan) month allowing Indian pilgrims to cross married during the tie, while doubles participants in the 25th against the decision to move its Davis in Kazakhstan,” AITA General Secretary the border to a Sikh shrine in Pakistan, specialist Rohan Bopanna has pulled out Annual Walkathon along- Cup tie with India to a neutral venue and Hironmoy Chatterjee said by telephone. rare cooperation between the nuclear- due to a shoulder injury. side the grand draw for the fixture will be played in Kazakhstan, The nuclear-armed neighbours have armed rivals at a time of tension and An Indian tennis team last travelled two new Renault cars the Indian tennis association (AITA) told fought two wars over Kashmir since clashes elsewhere on their frontier. to Pakistan in 1964 for a Davis Cup from Al Babtain Group. Reuters yesterday. gaining independence from Britain in Qureshi cited the agreement, which tie, defeating the hosts 4-0, while The Walkathon is sched- The Asia/Oceania Group I tie, origi- 1947. They came close to a third in introduced visa-free access from India Pakistan lost 3-2 on their last visit to uled to kick off on nally scheduled for Sept. 14-15, was February after a deadly attack on Indian to the Pakistani town of Kartarpur. “If India in 2006. Other sports have also Saturday 7th, December postponed by the governing body to police by a Pakistan-based militant everyone else can come including hun- been affected by the tension, with 2019. Titled “One Step Nov. 29-30 following a security review group resulted in air strikes by both dreds of other Indians every day then bilateral cricketing ties suspended Can Change Your Life”, amid political tensions between the bit- countries. why can’t a few member Indian tennis since 2008. —Reuters NBK Walkathon this year will hold great sur- Abdul Mohsin Al Rushaid prises. Participants can register online, through NBKWalkathon.com. Applicants can then collect their Fadi Andari Australia assigned T-shirt and number at the NBK’s registration center at the Green Island parking on the Gulf Road starting from Thursday 28th of November. The number a miracle under-23 for each participant will contain a step-counting chip. The Walkathon will be held under the supervision of the refer- in sports players ees of the Kuwait Amateur Athletic Federation (KAAF). Abdul Mohsen Al Rushaid, NBK Public Relations BEIRUT: He has been called a mira- Executive Manager said, “the participation in NBK’s cle in sports. Professional champion banned Walkathon is increasing year after year, and we are Fadi Andari has won 10 champi- MELBOURNE: Football Federation extremely thrilled to take our involvement with this onships in 2019. The natural body- exciting event to a new level.” Australia has handed lengthy bans to building and martial arts champion four members of the country’s Olympic “Our commitment towards being connected with the Andari fulfilled a set of achievements community is the reason why we feel it is important for squad for “unprofessional conduct” at at the world championships after the end of an under-23 tournament in us to maintain the Walkathon annually,” added Al winning four world professional Rushaid. Ten winners will be selected from each of the Cambodia in March following a com- titles in Muay Thai (Thai boxing) in 10 categories of participants. NBK opened a racing plaint from a woman. Nathaniel category for participants aged 60 years old and above Bangkok against Thai pro champion, Atkinson, Lachlan Wales and Brandon and a category for special needs participants to taking his title in a second round Wilson were banned until Aug. 10 encourage a healthier lifestyle among all members of knockout. Earlier they fought at two 2020, meaning they will miss the Tokyo the society. It is worth mentioning that, the walk for world titles because it was a main Olympics. Captain Riley McGree was both the female and male participants will start from the event. The winner got the title of banned until April 1 next year. Green Island on the Gulf Road to the Shuwaikh Beach Muay Thai Live the Legend. All four would participate in “edu- Park, parallel to the Gulf Road, next to KPC building for After the bout, Andari had knee cation courses and counselling” as a distance of 11 Km.