NNHLHL | Page 5 GGOLFOLF | Page 6 Capitals’ Woods shoots Ovechkin hits one-over, milestone in Cantlay and win over Wild Finau lead Saturday, February 17, 2018 CRICKET Jumada II 1, 1439 AH Record-breaker Kohli GULF TIMES leads India to another win over South Africa SPORT Page 2 TENNIS / QATAR TOTAL OPEN FOOTBALL QFA president backs Iraq to host Gulf Cup Wozniacki through for us that Iraqi football return to By Sports Reporter Doha its former status at the Asian and GCC level, which would have its positive refl ections. atar Football Associa- “The Qatari association is tion and Gulf Football strongly supporting to enhance Federation president the eff orts of lifting the ban on Sheikh Hamad bin the Iraqi football venues through to semis, Halep QKhalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani has its relationship with the FIFA on affi rmed that Qatar would will- one side, and through the pres- ingly vote for Iraq at the meeting ence of Qatari association in Iraq With the victory over Kerber and the of the GCC associations to de- and playing matches on the other termine the host country for the side.” Romanian’s withdrawal, the Dane ensures 24th Gulf Cup tournament. He pointed out that there are “We are very happy to be in many benefi ts for both the Qatari she will stay on top of the rankings the Iraqi capital. The visit would and Iraqi associations from the pulls out not be the last one in the light of agreements signed in Doha re- the joint projects with the Iraqi cently, including exchange of ex- By Sahan Bidappa association in the near future,” pertise in diff erent fi elds related Doha Sheikh Hamad was quoted as to development of football in both saying during a press conference countries, in addition to playing by Al Sumaria News. international and friendly match- ust when everything seemed to be He added: “It is very important es, and hosting training camps. going Simona Halep’s way, the foot injury that caused her so much distress during the Australian FOCUS JOpen fi nal loss last month came back to haunt her. The Romanian had shown little pain though during the course of the Qatar Top of the world: Total Open, as she dismantled her oppo- nents to reach the semi-fi nals. Yesterday too at the Khalifa Interna- Federer, 36, is oldest tional Tennis and Squash complex, the second seed showed her command as she won seven straight games before over- number one coming a second-set resistance from American teen Catherine Bellis 6-0, 6-4 in the quarter-fi nals. But moments later, the 2014 Qatar champion Halep announced her with- drawal from the Premier 5 tournament, unable to bear the pain in her right foot, thus giving a free pass to fourth seed Garbine Muguruza into tomorrow’s fi - nal. Muguruza earlier had to work hard to beat seventh seed Carolina Garcia, com- ing back from a set down to get past the Frenchwoman 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Muguruza, knowing she might have to face Halep next, had her coach and 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martin- Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in action against Germany’s Angelique Kerber during their Qatar Total Open quarter-final at Khalifa ez watch the quarters clash between Ha- International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma lep and Bellis. But to her luck, the Span- iard will have a Saturday off as she awaits had snatched from the Romanian after fourth quarter-fi nal between ninth seed and Makoto Ninomiya (JPN) 7-6(5), 6-1 her opponent in the fi nal. winning in Melbourne. To displace Woz- Julia Goerges of Germany or the 16th seed Monique Adamczak (AUS) and AFP there. I had to win a lot of match- After the match, Halep went for an MRI niacki, albeit temporarily, Halep had to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, who Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) bt 1-Ekaterina Rotterdam, Netherlands es last year,” said Federer, who scan on her injured foot, which revealed fi nish the tournament with one win more were playing a late match last night. Makarova (RUS) and Elena Vesnina (RUS) was as low as 17 in the world in fl uid and tendinitis on her fourth toe. than the Dane. “Angie is in such great shape, so I knew 6-3, 6-3 January 2017 before he returned The 26-year-old said she won’t play the It wasn’t an easy night on court for it would be an even playing fi eld heading Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) and Jelena oger Federer became to form with the Australian Open next two hardcourt events and will decide Wozniacki though, with Kerber nearly into the third set,” Wozniacki said. Ostapenko (LAT) bt Kateryna Bondarenko the oldest world number title. whether to return for Indian Wells tour- stopping her remarkable run of form. “I got a little bit lucky because I felt (UKR) and Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 6-3, one yesterday when the “I never imagined this after nament, which is scheduled for March Kerber was facing Wozniacki for the fi rst we both played well for big periods of the 6-4 20-time Grand Slam my (February 2016) knee surgery. second week. time since beating her in the US Open match. I’m sure she’ll have a great year Rtitle winner reached the semi- Number one is a tough place to 8-Andreja Klepac (SLO) and María “Well, I am surprised that I could play semi-fi nals in 2016. The German also going forward, but I’m happy I got the Jose Martínez Sanchez (ESP) bt 4-Timea fi nals of the Rotterdam Open. get to. three matches (in Doha) and to win them. held the advantage in career meetings be- win today,” the last year’s fi nalist in Doha Babos (HUN) and Kristina Mladenovic The 36-year-old Swiss over- “The most important thing is I felt pain every day, so it was not easy to tween the two, winning eight of their 13 added. (FRA) 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 came an early setback to beat to be healthy, I would have had manage it. I didn’t have much time to re- encounters. Robin Haase of the Netherlands great regrets if I had not come cover before this tournament. But today And she had Wozniacki on the mat, RESULTS ORDER OF PLAY (Starts at 5pm) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 and will replace old here this week.” (the pain) was too much, and I decided while serving for the fi rst set 5-4. But SINGLES (QFs) DOUBLES (SFs) rival Rafael Nadal at the top of Yesterday, Federer dropped his to stop,” a clearly frustrated Halep said, Wozniacki bounced back breaking the 4-Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt 7-Caro- Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) and Kateri- the rankings. fi rst set of the week against the while announcing her withdrawal from serve and then went on to win the tie line Garcia (FRA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 na Siniakova (CZE) vs Gabriela Dabrowski Federer surpasses Andre Agas- aggressive Haase but regained the Qatar Total Open. break 7-4. Kerber found her focus to win 2-Simona Halep (ROU) bt Q-Catherine (CAN) and Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) si, who held the top spot aged 33 control to ease to victory as the “Yeah. I withdraw because I cannot second set as the game went to decider. Bellis (USA) 6-0, 6-4 Monique Adamczak (AUS) and Lyud- years and 131 days in 2003, as the Dutchman struggled with a back play anymore and it’s going to be danger- In the third set, the match was on equal 1-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) bt 8-An- myla Kichenok (UKR) vs 8-Andreja Klepac oldest man to claim the world injury. ous if I force it. It’s the same foot like in footing before Wozniacki took the advan- gelique Kerber (GER) 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3 (SLO) and María Jose Martínez Sanchez number one spot. The Swiss triumphed to the Melbourne,” she added. tage by breaking Kerber’s serve in a tight 16-Petra Kvitova (CZE) bt 9-Julia (ESP) It is Federer’s fi rst time back at cheers of the fans in 79 minutes, Halep will now consult her doctor be- eighth game to go 5-3 up. The 27-year-old Goerges (GER) 6-4, 2-1 - retired the summit since October 2012 ending with six aces. fore taking a decision on her next course then served out the match comfortably, SINGLES (SFs) having fi rst claimed the top posi- Haase, the 30-year-old world of action. “Today it was worse, and that’s by whipping a forehand winner, to seal DOUBLES (QFs) Not before 7:00 pm tion in February 2004. number 42, fi nished on a disap- why I took this decision. It’s not easy, but her place in the semis. Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) and Kat- 1-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs “Reaching number one is the pointing note with his second I talked to my doctor. He said that I didn’t Wozniacki will face the winner of the erina Siniakova (CZE) bt Miyu Kato (JPN) 16-Petra Kvitova (CZE) ultimate achievement in tennis. double-fault on match point. have enough time to recover. I rested only When you’re older you have to Second seed Grigor Dimitrov for a few days, and I need more rest. The work double the amount, you have edged towards a possible fi rst MRI shows that I have fl uid and also tend- to wrestle it back from someone Rotterdam fi nal as he dispatched initis on the fourth toe.