CCRICKETRICKET | Page 5 NNBABA | Page 3 Crawley sees Pistons’ Casey Aussie echoes applauds ‘the in England beginning of competition the changes’ Saturday, June 27, 2020 TENNIS Dhul Qa’da 6, 1441 AH Davis Cup and GULF TIMES Fed Cup fi nals postponed to 2021 SPORT Page 6 RACING FOCUS Djoko’s coach Sheikh Mohamed’s Big Five wins Ivanisevic also Prix Matahawk in France positive for Agencies coronavirus Deauville, France is Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned Big Five Hopened his scorecard in the Prix Matahawk at Clairefontaine, Deau- ville, in France yesterday. The debutant bay gelding, which is also bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed, ran a little green in the 2400m race for three-year- old maidens. The Francis-Henri Graff ard-trained Big Five had to hold in the straight line to fi nd the gap, but fi nished bravely under Pierre- Charles Boudot to get his head in front of Keep Away, who ran in the colours of Ecurie Normandie Pur Sang and fi nished second for trainer A. Schutz with Ronan Thomas astride. Rockwood, trained by JP. Carvalho and owned by BB Bloodstock GBR, was further two-and-a-half lengths behind in third un- der Ioritz Mendizabal. Big Five was gelded last November. He is a brother to the superstar Flotilla, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Group 1) and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1). Big Five was bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Pierre-Charles Boudot rides His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Big Five to Prix Matahawk victory at Clairefontaine, Shahania Stud at Haras des Cruchettes. Deauville, in France yesterday. (Scoopdyga) AFP Zagreb SPOTLIGHT roatia’s former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic said yesterday he has tested posi- Ctive for coronavirus just days after attending an exhibition tournament organised by world number one Novak Djokovic, whom he coaches. “Unfortunately...I have just found out that I tested ‘It’s for you’, tearful positive to Covid-19,” Ivanisevic said on Instagram. “I feel good and I don’t have any symptoms,” the 48-year-old Croat said and asked everyone who has been in close contact with him to take good care of themselves and their loved ones. “I will continue to self-isolate,” said Ivanisevic, add- ing that he had tested negative twice in the past 10 days. Ivanisevic is part of world number one Djokovic’s Klopp to Reds fans coaching team and was the director of the now-aban- doned Adria Tour which led to several top players be- coming infected with coronavirus. ‘IT’S SUCH A BIG MOMENT, I AM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED’ Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive after taking part in the sec- AFP ond leg of the event held in Zadar, on Croatia’s Adriatic Liverpool coast, last Sunday. Players had embraced across the net, played basket- ball and even danced in a nightclub the week in the fi rst iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was leg played in Belgrade. overcome with emotion as he dedi- Djokovic was widely criticised for hosting the charity Lcated the club’s fi rst league title in 30 tournament. years to the fans on Thursday. On Tuesday he issued an unstinting apology for the Klopp wiped away tears of joy during a tel- now-cancelled Adria Tour, where social distancing was evision interview minutes after Chelsea’s 2-1 minimal and matches were played in front of thousands win against Manchester City sealed the Pre- of fans. mier League crown for Liverpool. The 33-year-old Serbian has said he is “so deeply “It’s such a big moment, I am completely sorry” that the tournament “caused harm”. overwhelmed,” Klopp told Sky Sports. His wife Jelena has also tested positive after the cou- “Tonight it is for you out there,” added ple travelled back from Croatia to Belgrade to be tested. Klopp. Ivanisevic strongly defended Djokovic after the tour- “It’s incredible. I hope you stay at home, nament. or go in front of your house if you want, but “Everyone is so smart now and many attack Novak, it not more. We do it together in this moment is rather popular,” he told local media this week. and it is a joy to do it for you.” The Croat argued Djokovic “tried to make something Thousands ignored Klopp’s plea to respect big, something with a charitable character after we social distancing rules amid the coronavirus were all locked up for three months”. as they partied the night away in the streets Meanwhile, Coric has told fans he is feeling well and around Anfi eld. experiencing no symptoms. But the German promised Liverpool will Liverpool fans celebrate winning the Premier League with flares outside Anfield after Chelsea won their match against Manchester City on “A few days have passed since I tested positive for hold a celebratory parade through the city Thursday. At right, file photo of Jurgen Klopp. Covid-19,” world number 33 Coric said on Twitter, with when it is safe to do so. a picture of him standing on a treadmill. “We will create pictures in the future with me to coach them,” said Klopp, who watched “What a season. We’ve been incredible. To be “I think back then if you’d have said it “I’m extremely grateful that I still feel well and don’t the parade whenever it will be for all our sup- City’s defeat alongside his players at a hotel. part of this group of players and part of this would take 30 years you’d have been arrested have any symptoms...TY very much for all the messages porters,” added Klopp. “We will be together “It’s just been a really exciting ride from journey is incredible and I am very proud to and sectioned, but sometimes things hap- of love and support I have received whilst isolating.” and enjoy this in a proper manner.” the fi rst day I arrived and it is not over yet, be able to call myself a Premier League win- pen,” Dalglish told BT Sport. Djokovic has apologised and said the timing of the The long-awaited title was clinched that’s the good thing. ner,” he said. “Since Jurgen came in, it has been very event was “too soon” while world number three Do- without Liverpool kicking a ball as City’s “The team all look like they have a good “In the league this year we have taken it positive all the way. He’s been fantastic and minic Thiem, who played in the Belgrade leg, said play- defeat meant Klopp’s men have an unassail- few years in their legs but for tonight we just to another level. We have been so consistent he epitomises everything that Liverpool ers behaved “too euphorically”. able 23-point lead at the top of the Premier enjoy this moment. It is the best thing I can and played so well.” stands for. Djokovic’s compatriot, Manchester United midfi eld- League with seven games to play. imagine, it’s more than I ever dreamed of to Liverpool’s principal owner John W Hen- “I think there will be plenty more days to er Nemanja Matic, came to his defence, saying there has A fi rst league title in three decades caps a be honest.” ry, whose Fenway Sports Group bought the look forward to as long as Jurgen is there.” been a “campaign” against him despite the event break- meteoric rise for the Reds back to the top of Virgil Van Dijk’s signing from South- club in 2010, paid tribute to their incredible Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lifted ing no local rules. the English game after Klopp arrived in 2015 ampton in 2018 has proved one of the key campaign. the Champions League trophy last season In an open letter published by Serbian media, Matic with the club struggling just to break into the moments in Liverpool’s renaissance under “This was a season for the ages and for the and the midfi elder said clinching the Premier said the “mice” had came out of their holes to criticise top four. But the former Borussia Dortmund Klopp. faithful of Liverpool Football Club,” Henry League was just as sweet. Djokovic. coach remains hungry for more silverware in The Dutch defender said Liverpool had to tweeted. “I’m just a little bit overwhelmed right “Very soon the cat will be on the court, and the the coming years with most of his squad still raise their game even higher this season to Kenny Dalglish, who won three titles as now, it’s just an amazing feeling and just so mice back in the hole,” he wrote.”The only thing I hold in their prime. overhaul City after a club record 97 points Liverpool manager and was the last man to proud of what we’ve achieved,” he said. against Novak is that he apologised to the mice who “What they did over the last two or three was still only good enough for second last guide them to the trophy in 1990, admitted “Another moment in our lives that we’ll criticise him for no reason. years is just exceptional and a pure joy for season. he never expected the wait to be so long. never forget.” “No, Nole.They will apologise to you — soon.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, June 27, 2020 FOOTBALL FOCUS LA LIGA No word from Barca on Arthur departure, ‘More than just says manager Setien AFP Madrid, Spain football’, media hail uique Setien said yes- terday that Barcelona Qhad not told him that Arthur Melo was leav- ing the Catalan giants, with the Brazil midfi elder being tipped to move to Juventus.