NNBABA | Page 5 GGOLFOLF | Page 7 World trounce Sharma and USA to begin Wang lead All-Star rising stars at weekend Qatar Masters Sunday, February 18, 2018 FOOTBALL Jumada II 2, 1439 AH Cavani, Neymar star GULF TIMES in PSG victory over Strasbourg SPORT Page 3 TENNIS / QATAR TOTAL OPEN Kvitova rallies to reach 16th seed fights back from one set down to beat Wozniacki, sets up maiden Qatar fi nal title showdown with Muguruza Kvitova held on and won four straight many fi rst serves in the fi rst game, and points in the tie-break to send the in the second game she played aggres- match into a third set. sively and I made a few unforced errors. In the decider, while Kvitova was all I felt that was frustrating because I had charged up, Wozniacki was clearly an- my opportunities there,” the 27-year- noyed to have wasted opportunities. old said. At 4-4, a contentious line call made Kvitova, meanwhile, will play her an annoyed Wozniacki complain to maiden fi nal in Doha, having not gone the chair umpire for a long time as the beyond the quarter-fi nal stage in her Dane lost her focus. She lost her serve previous fi ve attempts. For the 27-year- the next game only to break right back old, it will also be her fi rst fi nal appear- as Kvitova served for the match. But ance at Premier 5 level or above since Kvitova didn’t let it get away from her, her title in Wuhan in October 2016 – Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic plays a forehand shot during her Qatar Total Open semi-final match against Caroline Wozniacki (right) of Denmark at Khalifa International saving her best tennis for last to close and the biggest fi nal of her comeback Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil out the battle. from the knife injuries she sustained in In the end Kvitova’s winners made a home invasion that year. By Sahan Bidappa After losing the fi rst set, the former the only semi-fi nal played yesterday, rors, took advantage of Kvitova’s scrap- all the diff erence. The 27-year-old Meanwhile, Gabriela Dabrowski Doha two-time Wimbledon champion hit which lasted for two hours and 35 min- py game. Czech belted 50 winners to Wozniacki’s and Jelena Ostapenko made it to their some exceptional forehand winners to utes and swung like a pendulum. Wozniacki took the fi rst break of the 14. Last night’s victory also extended maiden fi nal as a pair in the doubles. outgun top seed Wozniacki 3-6, 7-6 (3), Australian Open champion Woz- match at 4-2, but was broken right back Kvitova’s dominance over Wozniacki, The Canadian-Latvian duo scored a etra Kvitova’s game plan of ag- 7-5 and seal her place in today’s Qatar niacki had things under control when by Kvitova. The Dane, however, reeled which stands at 8-5 and she has won comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow gressive tennis against Caro- Total Open fi nal against Garbine Mu- she won the fi rst set and served for the off the next two games to take the last four encounters between the two. unseeded pair, Barbora Krejcikova and line Wozniacki almost back- guruza. match not once but twice in the sec- opening set. It was also Kvitova’s 12th successive Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic, fi red on the night. But that’s Spain’s Muguruza did not take the ond. But both times 16th seed Kvitova In the second set, Wozniacki con- win, having won in St. Petersburg a in the semi-fi nals. Pthe way the Czech plays, and despite court yesterday after her semi-fi nal emerged from the deep hole with some tinued to stand like a wall as errors fl ew fortnight ago, followed by Fed Cup wins Dabrowski and Ostapenko were a bunch of unforced errors while los- opponent, No. 2 seed Simona Halep stunning forehand winners. from Kvitova’s racquet as she raced to a last weekend. awaiting the winners of the other semi- ing the fi rst set, she never ditched her pulled out of the tournament citing a In the fi rst set, Kvitova was all over 2-0 lead. “It’s defi nitely disappointing when I fi nal between Monique Adamczak and strategy. foot injury after winning her quarter- the place as she belted eight winners But Kvitova was not the one to give had a chance to serve it out twice in that Lyudmyla Kichenok, and No.8 seeds And that, ultimately brought her fi nal match on Friday. but also committed double the un- up as she pulled things back to draw second set,” said Wozniacki, who was Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Mar- dividends at the Khalifa International While Muguruza enjoyed her day off forced errors. And Wozniacki, who had level at 3-3. At 5-4 and 6-5, Wozniacki seeking to make her third Doha fi nal tinez Sanchez, who were playing a late Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday. in the hotel, she could well have watched fi ve winners and as many unforced er- had a chance to close out the match, but but has never won before. “I didn’t get match last night. SPOTLIGHT FOCUS QTF and Total renew partnership until 2020 Qatar’s Rashid Nawaf By Sports Reporter tournaments in the region to reach the wins international Doha same level of success that Qatar Open has achieved.” Al-Khelaifi reiterated that the QTF is junior tennis he Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) proud and happy with the success it has and Total Qatar have renewed achieved through its partnership with their partnership, and the com- Total Qatar in the past years. QNA in the tournament that was held pany will continue to sponsor the “Total’s partnership with QTF is a Paris there. TQatar Total Open women’s tennis cham- matter of pride for us as it has been a re- “We are very proud of this title pionship for the next three years until lation built from its roots. We were there achieved by Rashid Nawaf short- 2020. when the fi rst tournament started and atar’s Rashid Nawaf ly after his dispatch to France and The announcement of the partner- will remain until for as long as time al- won the international we look forward that he will add ship renewal was made yesterday at a lows. It is also our way at Total to support junior championships more achievements to his career press conference held on the sidelines of the eff orts made by the QTF and the state (under 14 years), which and become a world champion,” the Qatar Total Open, in the presence of of Qatar in general in organising world Qwas held in Paris with the par- said chairman of the National Nasser al-Khelaifi , President of QTF, and class sporting events,” said Wolff sheim. ticipation of 250 players from Teams Committee, Khalid al- Laurent Wolff sheim, Managing Direc- “This tournament is a great achieve- around the world. Khulaifi . tor of Total E&P Golfe and Group Repre- ment not only because of the world class Nawaf won the title with a He added that the Qatar Ten- sentative. players present and successful organi- comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win over nis Federation (QTF) seeks to Total has been a sponsor of the Premier sation but because it reminds us that Macedonia’s Kalin Ivanowski in develop Qatari stars through the 5 WTA event since 2001, with the world’s sports, especially tennis, is loved and the fi nal match on Friday. implementation of a number of top tennis players participating annually. played by many and brings us all togeth- The Qatar Tennis, Squash programmes, including sending Al-Khelaifi said: “I would like to ex- er. I wish to express our gratitude to His and Badminton Federation dis- Qatari players to international tend my sincere thanks and appreciation Nasser al-Khelaifi, President of QTF, and Laurent Wolff sheim, Managing Director of To- Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- patched the national team play- academies abroad and prepar- to His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim tal E&P Golfe and Group Representative, at a press conference yesterday. Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, for er Rashid Nawaf to the famous ing plans in co-ordination with bin Hamad al-Thani for his great support his continuous confi dence in Total, and French Mouratoglou academy these academies to participate for tennis in Qatar. And to Total for its tournaments not only in Qatar but in the category and has shown a very high level to Nasser al-Khelaifi and all the members more than a month ago as part in the largest number of inter- continued support for this tournament, region. of quality. It has raised the bar for other of the Organising Committee of the Qatar of the Qatari players’ scholarship national tournaments in order to which is one of the biggest women’s “The Qatar Open is in the Premier 5 tournaments. It is now diffi cult for other Total Open,” he added. programme, and he participated improve their competitiveness. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, February 18, 2018 SPORT Under, Perotti on target as Roma move to third SHOOTING AFP time. The victory moved Roma two points otti, referring to Roma’s slump in De- handball from Iraqi left-back Ali Adnan, Milan ahead of Inter Milan, who can reclaim cember and January.