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BASKETBALL | Page 4 CRICKET | Page 7 US survive Kohli calls scare, edge Bumrah the Turkey 93-92 in most complete World Cup OT bowler around Wednesday, September 4, 2019 TENNIS Muharram 5, 1441 AH Nadal reigns in clash GULF TIMES of former US Open champs as Zverev exits SPORT Page 2 PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil A OF From Arabic language influences to reflections of Middle Eastern culture, the Qatar 2022 emblem represents aspirations and potential of the region Madrid Buenos Aires Kuwait City Beirut QUALIFIERS Contenders for fast start as Asia’s road to Qatar 2022 resumes Agencies Cup on home soil. The Central Asian nation, who “Moreover, playing on an arti- Arabia as well as Palestine, Yem- cation record and are aiming to where they are joined by Syria, Hong Kong The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 went close to sealing a place at fi cial pitch is always unpleasant en and Singapore, ensuring Cu- secure an appearance at a 10th the Philippines, Guam and the champions have continued work- the 2006 fi nals in Germany, start for players who are not accus- per and his team will face a seri- consecutive World Cup — and 11th Maldives. ing and played in the Copa Amer- their latest attempt in Palestine tomed to playing on this kind of ous challenge in the attempt to in total — while Japan are also a Jordan will present the big- atar will headline ica in June and will be ready for the and the Argentine believes a win- surface conditions. But we are progress to the next round. dominant force, having played at gest threat to Australia in Group Group E of the Asian challenges expected in Group E. ning start will stand his team in going to do everything possible in “There is no team to be under- every tournament since 1998. B, which also includes Chinese Qualifi ers for the 2022 The top seeds in each of the good stead. order to get a good result.” estimated in our group,” Cuper Australia, too, are one of the Taipei, Nepal and Kuwait, with FIFA World Cup Qatar eight groups — including World “It’s always very important to The fi rst place fi nishers in each said. “In theory, Saudi Arabia powerhouses of the region, Iran’s meeting with Iraq the Qand AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Cup regulars such as South Ko- start with three points, because a group is guaranteed to advance to may seem to be the main con- booking their place at each World highlight of a Group C that also with Bangladesh, Oman, India rea, Japan, Australia and Iran favourable result will lay the foun- the next round of Asia’s qualifi - tender to win the group as they Cup since their second qualifi - features Hong Kong, Bahrain and and Afghanistan determined to — do not commence their cam- dation for the next victories,” Cu- cation campaign, with the four were in the fi rst pot during the cation was sealed in Germany in Cambodia. challenge the defending AFC paigns until next Tuesday. per told the Asian Football Con- best runners-up across the eight draw, but now they need to prove 2006. Iran, meanwhile, are aim- Japan being their campaign Asian Cup champions. Uzbekistan are among those federation’s offi cial website. groups also advancing. it on the pitch also.” ing to qualify for a third fi nals in a against Myanmar next week Qatar are the overwhelming hoping to mount a challenge for “Talking about Palestine, I The 12 teams will be drawn into The task facing the countries row and a fi fth in total. in Group F, where Kyrgyzstan, favourites to win the group and one of the four guaranteed berths should state that they are a really two groups of six, with the top who are hoping to muscle in on Group G features the United Tajikistan and Mongolia will head coach Felix Sanchez will at the fi nals in Qatar, with former tough and aggressive opponent two teams certain of a place at Asia’s established order is monu- Arab Emirates, Thailand, Viet- also play and South Korea will go be expecting top quality per- Egypt coach Hector Cuper signed who will be trying to take advan- the fi nals. mental. nam, Indonesia and Malaysia. head-to-head with North Korea formances from his team as they up to lead the country to a maid- tage of playing in front of their Uzbekistan share their group South Korea have the conti- China should be strong enough in Group H along with Turkmen- buildup to the 2022 FIFA World en qualifi cation. fans. with fi ve-time fi nalists Saudi nent’s most impressive qualifi - to secure a way out of Group A, istan, Lebanon and Sri Lanka. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, September 4, 2019 TENNIS FOCUS COMMENT Behave like Roger Nadal reigns in clash and Rafa, Zverev tells unruly tennis youngsters of former champs as DPA another suspension over multiple New York off ences recently in Cincinnati and naming the men’s ATP Tour “corrupt.” ‘The emotions I have when I play lexander Zverev is not Zverev, 22, named the veterans impressed by the be- and multiple grand slam champi- here are impossible to describe’ haviour of other young- ons Federer and Nadal role models Zverev exits Asters at the US Open and in this respect, from whom the tells them to look at veterans youngsters should learn. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal “I hope some of the NextGen or to learn how to conduct them- the young guys will kind of learn selves on court. from the older guys like Roger and “There’s a lot of young guys that Rafa who have been unbelievable do things on the tennis court that over their career, really let their maybe is not the best thing to racquet talk for them, not try to do. I don’t want the next genera- distract opponents, something tion to be known for that,” Zverev like that,” he said. said after going out in the fourth But, looking at Medvedev, he round of the US Open Monday in also said that success is the ulti- four sets against Diego Schwartz- mate goal, regardless of behaviour. man. “He’s winning. He’s in the Zverev mentioned antics by quarter-fi nals. He’s playing Stan Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and [Wawrinka]. At the end of the day wondered about Russian Daniil it all doesn’t matter if you’re win- Medvedev and his stirring up of a ning,” Zverev said. now hostile to him crowd. The German himself has also “I think a lot of the times Tsitsi- not always been on his best behav- pas gets over the line with chang- iour and on Monday was docked a ing his shoes 15 times in a tourna- point for a verbal obscenity. He ment, going to the bathroom in contested the call, stating he never the middle of a set. Stuff like that,” heard that he was given a warning he said. “Medvedev is obviously earlier in the match, in which he going over the line a little bit now.” was supported by Schwartzman. Zverev was also bewildered a “Code violation is fi ne. I didn’t few days ago when Frances Tiafoe even argue that. But neither of us took a bathroom break that lasted heard me getting a warning in the more than 10 minutes during their fi rst place,” he said. “I didn’t hear second-round match. it. Diego didn’t hear it. Most of the And he will likely also not be crowd didn’t hear it. I think the pleased with the antics of Aus- umpires next time should let me tralia’s Nick Kyrgios who faces know about it.” Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot during his fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia at the US Open on Monday. (AFP) AFP grasped control by breaking for after the 5ft 7in (1.70m) Argen- “Generally my season so far progress to the US Open quar- New York 3-1 in the third, a series of daz- tine chopped down sixth seed has not been the best,” said ter-fi nals, 42 years after Corrado zling winners drawing an ani- Zverev. Zverev, who has reached just two Barazzutti’s run to the last four mated fi st-pump from golf leg- “He is playing amazing, noth- quarter-fi nals in 18 Grand Slam in New York. afael Nadal ramped up end Tiger Woods at Arthur Ashe ing new, he’s one of the players appearances. Berrettini, the 24th seed, his quest for a fourth Stadium. with best talent on tour,” the 18- Zverev said he was hindered eased to a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) US Open title Monday Nadal reeled off nine games in time Grand Slam champion said a “very swollen” back and right win over Russia’s 43rd-ranked with an impressive win succession across the third and of his upcoming opponent. hip following a fall in his previ- Andrey Rublev to reach the last SPOTLIGHT Rover 2014 champion Marin Cilic fourth sets and 12 of the fi nal 15 “It will be a big challenge. I ous match. eight at a Grand Slam for the to advance to the quarter-fi nals to nail down a 40th Grand Slam have to play my best. I’m happy “I had a lot of chances which I fi rst time. while Alexander Zverev slumped quarter-fi nal appearance, nine for him.