14 Wednesday, February 17, 2021 Sports Djokovic outlasts Zverev, to play in semis against Grand Slam debutant Karatsev Serena sets up last four clash It’s an unbelievable feeling. with Osaka Of course, it’s first time. DPA First time in main draw; first SYDNEY time semis. It’s incredible. WORLD number one Novak Aslan Karatsev, first man in Djokovic remained on course towards a record-extending Open Era to make a Grand ninth title at the Australian Slam semi-final on debut. Open as he advanced into a semi-final against Russian sensation Aslan Karatsev. Djokovic came from be- hind for a 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) triumph over Al- exander Zverev on Tuesday night, showing little signs of an abdominal injury he suf- fered in the third round. The 114th-ranked Karatsev earlier became the first man in the Open Era to make a Grand Russia’s Aslan Karatsev hits a return against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov during the men’s singles quarter- Serena Williams hits a return against Romania’s Simona Halep during their women’s singles quarter-final Slam semi-final on his debut final at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday. The 114th-ranked Karatsev became the first man in on Tuesday. Williams beat the world number two Halep 6-3, 6-3. (AFP) when he rallied to beat an in- the Open Era to make a Grand Slam semi-final on his debut. (AFP) jured Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, Former world number her 10th win in the 12th meet- netted stroke point put her 4-3 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. 12th game with an ace en route anybodies match until the last Grand Slam quarter finals after three Dimitrov looked like ing with Halep in 1 hour 21 up. Williams wrapped up mat- On the women’s side, Sere- to victory in 3 hours 30 min- shot, a very close encounter,” Daniil Medvedev and Andrey stopping after losing the third minutes and was happy with ters two games later on second na Williams beat world number utes, on second match point Djokovic told Eurosport. “At Rublev qualified along with set but continued on after re- her performance as she reached match point with a crushing two Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3. with his 23rd ace shortly after the end of the day I am really Karatsev. ceiving treatment for a back the last four of a Grand Slam for forehand winner. Chasing a record-equalling midnight. proud with this win. I feel emo- Medvedev plays Rublev issue, and limped off the court the 40th time. She now plays Osaka for the 24th title at the majors, she Sixth seed Zverev failed to tionally and physically drained. on Wednesday which means after the match. “This is definitely the best first time since their USO pen now faces third seed Naomi capitalise on his good start in “I had to adapt my game that Russia will have two semi- He had trouble serving and match I’ve played in this tour- final in 2018 which Osaka won. Osaka who stopped Taiwan’s the sets and also blew an early due to the injury. It helped me finalists. won only three games in the nament so far and I had to do “It’s good to see someone Hsieh Su-Wei 6-2, 6-2. advantage in the opening set he release a little bit of pressure. Karatsev thwarted top-20- third and fourth set, saying lat- that going up against the num- who is so inspiring and I’ve Djokovic got through a ma- eventually took in the first tie- I felt best today since injury ranked players Felix Auger-Ali- er the back problems started on ber two in the world, so that’s been watching her and I’m sure jor catch-up effort against the break. happened.” Looking ahead at assime and Diego Schwartzman Monday “out of the blue.” what I did and I’m excited,” the she has been watching me. It’s sixth-seed Zverev. Djokovic then squared the the semi-final against Karat- to reach the quarters where the Karatsev said: “It’s an un- American veteran said. an opportunity to do my best,” The eight-time Melbourne sets after racing off to a 4-0 lead sev, he said: “Credit to him ... 18th-seeded Dimitrov won the believable feeling. Of course, Williams rallied from 3-1 Williams said. champion rallied from 4-1 by allowing Zverev a mere three He has a lot of firepower and opening set but then wasted it’s first time. First time in down in the second set and Osaka fired 7 aces as she down in the third set and from points in the period. nothing to lose.” several break points early in the main draw; first time semis. paved the way to victory in downed unseeded Hsieh in 66 3-0 behind in the fourth. “It was a rollercoaster in For the first time at the ma- second to allow Karatsev into It’s incredible.” the seventh game when a con- minutes but had plenty of praise He saved a set point in the every sense of the word. It was jors, Russia had three men in a the match. Williams meanwhile got verted sixth break from Halep’s for her Taiwanese opponent. Bandar Al Shafi elected Al Ahli make winning start in QVA Qatar Cup to ABF executive office QNA KUWAIT BANDAR Mubarak Al Shafi, Secretary-General of the Qatar Bowling Fed- eration, has been elected for a second time to the Executive Office of the Asian Bowling Federation Yazeed Al Rajhi in action during the 2019 Sharqiya Baja. (ABF) for a four-year term. Bandar Al Shafi. He was chosen during the meeting of the ABF Saudi Arabia set to General Assembly, which was held on Mon- day via videoconferencing in Kuwait, during which Sheikh Talal Al Mohammed Al Sabah, host 3rd round of President of the Kuwait Bowling Federation and the ABF, won the presidency of the ABF for a new term. FIA Baja Series In a statement on the occasion, Bandar Mubarak Al Shafi said that winning mem- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK bership of the continental federation is a RIYADH great honour, adding that he will try to con- Al Ahli SC scored a narrow 3-2 win over Al Arabi SC on the opening day of the Main Round action of Qatar Cup volleyball at the tinue Qatar’s approach in supporting the Qatar Volleyball Association Hall on Tuesday. Al Ahli lost the opening set but bounced back to win the thrilling encounter 17-25, THE Saudi Automobile continental and international sport. 25-21, 23-25, 33-31, 18-16. (TNN) and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) will host the Sharqi- yah International Baja Toyota, round three of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas from March 3-6. India wrap up 2nd England Test Following hot on the heels of the opening round held The SAMF held the first through the frozen Russian ever Sharqiyah Baja through wastelands in early February the Eastern deserts in Decem- and this week’s second round ber 2019. This event was won quickly as WTC race heats up in the UAE’s Al-Qudra desert, by local driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi Saudi Arabia’s round of the se- and ran as an FIA candidate Scoreboard ries will take place in the East- event as well as being the fifth Five-wkt haul for ern Province. round of the Saudi Desert Ral- India 1st innings (329, R. Sharma 161; M. Ali M. Ali st Pant b Yadav ....................................43 It will be organised by a ly Championship. Axar; Series 4-128) O. Stone lbw b Patel .......................................0 team working under HRH Spanish legend Carlos England 1st innings (134, B. Foakes 42 not S. Broad not out ..............................................5 Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Sainz also took part and fin- squared 1-1 out; R. Ashwin 5-43) Extras: (b6, lb1) ���������������������������������������������7 Abdullah Al Faisal, SAMF ished second overall as he India 2nd innings (286, R. Ashwin 106; M. Ali Total: (All Out, 54.2 overs) ..........................164 President and Chairman of the made his final preparations 4-98, J. Leach 4-100) Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Sibley), 2-49 (Burns), AGENCIES England 2nd innings (target 482 - overnight 3-50 (Leach), 4-66 (Lawrence), 5-90 (Stokes, Organising Committee and is for the first Dakar Rally to run CHENNAI 53-3, Lawrence 19, Root 2) 6-110 (Pope), 7-116 (Foakes), 8-116 (Root), also the opening round of the through the Kingdom in Janu- R. Burns c Kohli b Ashwin .............................25 9-126 (Stone), 10-164 (Ali) 2021 Saudi Toyota Desert Ral- ary 2020. IT took India just over a ses- D. Sibley lbw b Patel .......................................3 Bowling: Sharma 6-3-13-0, Patel 21-5-60-5, ly Championship. The area also hosted a sion to wrap up proceedings in D. Lawrence st Pant b Ashwin .......................26 Ashwin 18-5-53-3, Siraj 3-1-6-0, Yadav 6.2-1- Based at the Holiday Inn candidate event and a round the second Test and seal a huge Teammates celebrate with India spinner Axar Patel (2nd left) after one J. Leach c R. Sharma b Patel ..........................0 25-2. Resort on Half Moon Bay, of the FIA Middle East Rally 317-run win against England at of his wickets on the fourth day of the second Test against England at J. Root c Rahane b Patel ...............................33 Toss: India.