FOOTBALL | Page 4 GOLF | Page 7 Ronaldo scores England’s as Portugal Casey seals rekindle Euro one-shot win at 2020 hopes European Open Monday, September 9, 2019 FORMULA 1 Muharram 10, 1441 AH Leclerc triggers GULF TIMES Ferrari frenzy with Monza win SPORT Page 3 TENNIS FOOTBALL Teen Andreescu India will learn from topples Williams Qatar, says coach Stimac IANS learn and keep improving. for US Open title The 24-year-old said, “We played Doha well against Oman but we could The 19-year-old is the youngest Grand Slam winner since Sharapova in 2006, handing Williams a have done better towards the end. ndia lost to Oman 1-2 but their However, it is important that we fourth consecutive defeat in the final of a major to again deny her a record-equalling 24th Slam title spirited display raised hopes of learn from our mistakes and en- the sport going in the right di- sure that we come out fi ghting and ed with a comfortable hold, a pattern that repeated rection under new coach Igor stronger. The coach has been moti- itself until the Canadian threatened to run away with IStimac. vating us and said that he was proud the opening set. They will now take on Asian of the way we played. Against Qatar, Serving at 2-4, Williams erased fi ve break points champions Qatar in Doha tomorrow we have to be solid and make the with a combination of aces and booming ground- and the Croatian coach is well aware most of our chances.” strokes but Andreescu was knocking on the door once of the challenge that lies ahead. With just fi ve days between In- more as the American served to stay in the set. “As soon as the Oman match dia’s fi rst two group stage fi xtures, A forehand winner earned the youngster a set ended, we shifted our focus imme- midfi elder Rowllin Borges talked point, and Williams duly her gifted her the opener diately to the next match. Qatar are about how the team is recovering with another double fault. the strongest team in the group and after a fi erce battle and “getting in Andreescu had failed to even reach the main draw playing them will not be easy. How- shape” physically and mentally for at Flushing Meadows the past two years, twice falling ever, it’s a great opportunity to learn the challenge in three days’ time. in the fi rst qualifying round, and her confi dence con- from,” Stimac told www.the-aiff . He remarked, “The fi rst match tinued to fl ow as she surged 2-0 ahead in the second com. was a tough one for sure but we — Williams again doubled-faulting on break point. The Croatian added that the team started our recovery process in the That prompted forlorn looks from the Williams has “no reason to fear” ahead of the gym the very next morning and box, where her close friend Meghan Markle, the encounter. He stated, “Obviously, everyone is getting in shape to now Duchess of Sussex, was seated alongside sister Venus we have to change 4-5 players. take on Qatar. It is a very important and fashion titan Anna Wintour. “We’ll see how everyone is feel- match for us and we will put our ing. There is no reason to fear and best foot forward.” ‘This year has been we shall look to score goals and play Returning to the national team good football.” lineup for the fi rst time since Janu- a dream come true. Being Winger Udanta Singh, who al- ary was forward Ashique Kuru- able to play on this stage most opened India’s account against niyan, marking his fi rst appearance Oman after his shot early in the fi rst under Stimac in Guwahati against against Serena, a true legend half came back off the underside of Oman after recovering from an in- of the sport, is amazing’ the crossbar, said that the team has jury. The youngster, who hails from to keep its “chin up”. Kerala, spoke about his return to the “The previous match is now his- Blue Tigers XI and the side’s mind- The American carved out four opportunities to tory and everyone is now focusing set ahead of Tuesday’s game. hit back the following game, benefi ting from a huge on the match against Qatar. We have “I had been working really hard to stroke of luck when a forehand brushed the tape and to keep our chins up. We started our return to full fi tness in the last few trickled over to haul herself back on serve. preparations the very next day and months and I’m glad to wear the In- Undeterred, Andreescu promptly regained the ini- are now looking forward to start- dia jersey once again. We have to ac- tiative with another break and looked to be marching ing training here. We are expecting cept what happened against Oman towards the title when she followed a routine hold by a tough encounter as Qatar are the and learn from it. Qatar are a strong again breaking the Williams serve for a 5-1 lead. Asian champions, but we have to team undoubtedly but we will push Andreescu brought up championship point in the stick to our plans, stay compact and them as hard as we can and play to ensuing game, but Williams smacked a forehand play as a team. If we can do that, we the best of our abilities,” he said. winner to stay alive and then rattled off 14 of 17 points can certainly pull off a favourable The match between India and Qa- to peg her opponent back at 5-all. result,” he said. tar will take place at the Jassim Bin “I was just fi ghting at that point, just trying to stay Full-back Subhasish Bose Hamad Stadium. out there a little bit longer,” said Williams, feeding stressed that the motivation levels As per the latest update of the off the energy of 24,000 cheering fans as she briefl y in the team are high as they gear FIFA world ranking, India are in sparked hopes of an incredible comeback. up for their fi rst away fi xture of the 103rd place while the hosts — the “The fans started cheering so hard it made me start qualifi ers, saying that head coach defending Asian champions — are playing a little bit better and fi ghting a little bit more.” Stimac is “pushing the players” to ranked at 62. The Canadian stemmed the bleeding by holding for 6-5 and an errant Williams backhand handed An- dreescu two more shots at the title. Williams saved the fi rst with an ace but Andreescu secured victory on the next with a blistering forehand return. Five facts and fi gures from the fi nal 100: The number of minutes the match lasted. An- dreescu took the opening set in 42 minutes and won Canada’s Bianca Andreescu kisses the US Open trophy after the second in 58, breaking Williams in the 12th game beating Serena Williams of the US in the final on Saturday. to settle issues in one hour 40 minutes. 33: The number of winners and unforced errors made by Serena Williams in her fourth consecutive AFP “It wasn’t easy at all. I tried to prepare my best like Grand Slam final defeat since becoming a mother. New York I do every match, I tried not to focus on who I’m play- 19: It’s the number of winners hit by Bianca An- ing. I’m really proud of how I dealt with everything.” dreescu, compared to 17 unforced errors. It’s also Andreescu tied Monica Seles, who lifted the 1990 Andreescu’s age, making her the youngest US Open eenager Bianca Andreescu became Canada’s Roland Garros trophy in her fourth major, for the champion since Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in fi rst Grand Slam singles champion on Sat- record as the fastest player to win her fi rst Slam title 2004. She’s also the first teen to win a Grand Slam urday with a rollercoaster 6-3, 7-5 win over in the Open era. since Russia’s Maria Sharapova captured the 2006 T23-time major champion Serena Williams in Williams, 37, suff ered a second fi nals loss in a row US Open. the US Open fi nal. at Flushing Meadows, after a 2018 defeat against 5: That’s the world ranking Andreescu will climb into The 19-year-old Andreescu became the young- Naomi Osaka best remembered for a furious tirade next week, matching Eugenie Bouchard from 2014 est Grand Slam winner since Maria Sharapova at the against chair umpire Carlos Ramos. for the highest ever by a Canadian woman. It’s also a 2006 US Open, handing Williams a fourth consecu- “Bianca played an unbelievable match, I am so career-high for Andreescu, who cracks the top 10 for tive defeat in the fi nal of a major to again deny her a proud and happy for you. It was incredible tennis out the first time. It’s also the number of aces Andreescu record-equalling 24th Slam title. there. If anyone could win this, outside of Venus, I’m had in the match and the number of aces and double “It’s so hard to explain in words but I’m just beyond happy it’s Bianca,” Williams said. faults Williams made in the second set. grateful and truly blessed.