SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 11 ‘Dynamic’ Belgium staying true to attacking style for Portugal Djokovic faces British teen at Wimbledon as Halep withdraws Defending champion Simona Halep withdraws from Wimbledon with calf injury Novak Djokovic to play• British teenager BETTER Jack Draper KNOW AFP | London Belgium’s Spanish coach Roberto Martinez looks on during a training session AFP | London efending champion Si- Halep’s withdrawal mona Halep pulled out follows that of four- oach Roberto Martinez Dof Wimbledon with a time Grand Slam Csaid Belgium won’t alter calf injury as Novak Djokovic champion Naomi their approach for Sunday’s We cannot change learned yesterday he will face Euro 2020 last-16 tie against who we are. We’re a Britain’s Jack Draper at the start Osaka, who pulled out holders Portugal despite the dynamic team built of his quest for a 20th Grand of the French Open threat of the tournament’s to attack and to get Slam title. after citing struggles leading scorer Cristiano Ron- at the opposing goal Romanian Halep, who beat with depression and aldo. as soon as possible, Serena Williams in the final in anxiety Belgium, the world’s top- but we’ll have to be 2019, tore her left calf muscle in ranked side, face a difficult Rome last month and was forced champion Andy Murray are in draw after taking maximum patient to miss the French Open. the draw but there are fitness ROBERTO MARTINEZ 2019 Wimbledon Men’s singles champion Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (L) and points from their three Group She travelled to London earli- Wimbledon Women’s singles champion Romania’s Simona Halep (R) poses for a doubts over both players. B matches, with Portugal go- er this week but announced her photograph with their trophies World number one Djokovic ing through as one of the four Belgium came third at the withdrawal minutes before the arrives at the All England Club best third-placed teams, just as 2018 World Cup but have their draw for the championships, Grand Slam singles title her after winning his 19th Grand they did in 2016. work cut out to reach the July which return on Monday after late former coach and idol Jana Slam at Roland Garros and will But with an in-form Rome- 11 final at Wembley with It- they were cancelled last year Novotna won, in 1998. first face 19-year-old Draper. lu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne aly and France or Spain pos- due to the coronavirus pandem- I can honestly say Serena Williams is seeking to One more major for the back fit after a facial injury sible opponents in the next ic. that I’m really down equal Margaret Court’s Grand 34-year-old Serbian, who has sustained in the Champions two rounds if they get beyond “I can honestly say that I’m Slam record of 24 Grand Slam won Wimbledon five times, League final and Eden Hazard Portugal. really down and upset about and upset about singles titles after missing out would pull him level with making his first start in the 2-0 “It’s a tough path but if you having to take this decision,” having to take this on equalling the mark on mul- Federer and Nadal. win over Finland, the Belgians get through then it’s all the said the world number three. decision. This period tiple occasions in recent years. Federer, who is set to play ex- have no shortage in firepower nicer,” said goalkeeper Thiba- “This period has been difficult has been difficult The 39-year-old American, perienced French campaigner of their own. ut Courtois. “That’s the draw but to miss the last two Majors but to miss the last seeded sixth, takes on Aliak- Adrian Mannarino in the first “We cannot change who we’ve got but we hope to finish has made it even more challeng- two Majors has sandra Sasnovich in the first round, is seeded sixth this year we are. We’re a dynamic team well.” ing mentally and physically.” made it even more round and could play German but has avoided Djokovic’s half built to attack and to get at First up is Ronaldo and co. Halep’s withdrawal follows Angelique Kerber, to whom she of the draw. the opposing goal as soon as in Seville, where Belgium will that of four-time Grand Slam challenging mentally lost in the 2018 final, in the third The Swiss master looks vul- possible, but we’ll have to be have the advantage of two ex- champion Naomi Osaka, who and physically round. nerable after losing in the sec- patient,” Martinez told a news tra days’ rest over Portugal, pulled out of the French Open SIMONA HALEP - Djokovic eyes No. 20 - ond round of Halle, his tradi- conference yesterday. who drew 2-2 with France on after citing struggles with de- The men’s draw is also miss- tional Wimbledon warm-up “We will have to make the Wednesday to make sure of pression and anxiety. who is playing her final Wim- ing some big names, with two- tournament, which he has won right decision when to be pa- their place in the knockout World number one Ashleigh bledon before retirement after time winner Rafael Nadal and 10 times. tient and when to make those phase. Barty, who was forced to retire recovering from cancer. US Open champion Dominic Britain’s Murray, who only re- counter-attacks. “It’s probably too early for from her second-round match at French Open champion Barb- Thiem also absent. turned to singles play last week “We’re full of confidence. the two teams to be facing each Roland Garros with a hip inju- ora Krejcikova takes on Dane Eight-time winner Roger at Queen’s after a three-month When we enjoy our football other but you have to be pre- ry, opens her campaign against Clara Tauson, with the Czech Federer, beaten in the 2019 fi- hiatus, will play 24th seed we play at our best,” he added. pared,” said Martinez. Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, star bidding to win the one nal by Djokovic, and two-time Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia. Bottas alarms with pitlane spin, Verstappen fastest Kuwait’s Mutawa becomes world’s most capped player Verstappen top AFP | Doha • with the national team, beating in both sessions a record long held by retired eteran Kuwaiti footballer Egyptian star Ahmed Hassan. Hamilton fourth but KNOW WHAT VBader al-Mutawa became But many top players are with• best time deleted the world’s most capped in- well placed in the race to break ternational player when he Mutawa’s record. ran out against Bahrain in an Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, is set AFP | Vienna Hamilton went faster Arab Cup qualifier in Doha to mark his 179th international than Verstappen in on Friday. appearance this Sunday when ormula One championship the second stint but For the 36-year-old striker, he skippers Portugal against Fleader Max Verstappen has his lap time was wiped who scored two goals on his Belgium, the world’s top- gone fastest in Styrian Grand for exceeding the international debut in 2003, ranked team, in the Euro 2020 Prix practice at Red Bull’s home it was his 185th appearance round of 16. Austrian track while Mercedes’ track limits at the last Valtteri Bottas caused alarm by corner when he went spinning in the pitlane. wide Red Bull’s 23-year-old Dutch- man led both sessions, setting a Frenchman Pierre Gasly had best lap of one minute 05.910 Team members help Bottas get back on track after a spin been second for AlphaTauri in seconds in the morning and the first session but sat out the then 1:05.412 in the afternoon. “Lewis was faster but his lap McLaren said in a radio message afternoon due to power unit McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo time got deleted so it looks a bit to race director Michael Masi. problems. enjoyed some of his best form different than what is shown at “He could have taken our guys Sunday’s race will be the first yet at his new team as he was the moment,” said Verstappen. out there.” of two at Spielberg’s scenic Red second fastest in the afternoon “But overall it has been quite “Thank God nothing hap - Bull Ring. while Alpine’s Esteban Ocon good for us. Of course a few pened,” added McLaren team Red Bull are chasing their was third. things to look into but I’m quite boss Andreas Seidl. fourth successive victory after Mercedes’ seven-time world happy where the car is at the Bottas said he had tried winning in Monaco, Azerbaijan champion Lewis Hamilton, 12 moment.” “something different” in getting and France. points behind Verstappen after Bottas, fourth and 12th, was out of the box. The team last won four in a seven races, ended up fourth. summoned to stewards after “It’s a normal mistake, it hap- row in 2013, before the V6 tur- The Briton had gone faster losing rear grip and skidding pens,” he added. bo hybrid era ushered in seven than Verstappen in the second sideways as he left the Mercedes Alpine’s Fernando Alonso years of Mercedes domination stint but his lap time was de- pits, coming to a halt blocking was fifth in the afternoon, with from 2014. leted for exceeding the track the pit lane but narrowly miss- Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vet- Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was limits at the last corner when ing the wall.