12 Friday, January 10, 2020 Sports Al Duhail wary of ‘technically stable’ Al Sailiya in semis clash The Red Knights take on Sami Trabelsi’s side in the Qatar Cup today Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur AYENI OLUSEGUN bump chests in their ATP Cup DOHA men’s doubles match against Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury AL Duhail coach Rui Faria says in Sydney on Thursday. (AFP) only winning will validate the club’s lofty ambitions as the Australia, Russia Red Knights prepare for the Qatar Cup semi-final against Al Al Duhail players (left) and Al Sailiya players during a training session ahead of their Friday’s Qatar Cup semi-final match to be held at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Al Sadd). storm into ATP Sailiya at the Al Sadd Stadium on Friday. However, against an with all the facilities, our target “We know the value of contrast in stars, Al Sailiya to sixth with 17 points -- 13 be- Cup semi-finals The Portuguese was also Al Sailiya side whom they is to compete for all titles. Some Mandzukic, but we focus on will not be distracted from the hind their league-leading op- quick to praise in his words thrashed on the way to lifting coaches believe good work with the team as a whole. Our new task at hand. ponents. ‘technical stability’ being en- the Amir Cup last year, Faria the team is success, but in Al player Han Kwang-Song is “We are focusing complete- “We are much better than AFP joyed by their modest oppo- said Sami Trabelsi’s side will Duhail, the philosophy is to training with the team, which ly on the Qatar Cup. This is a last season. Our results may SYDNEY nent. pose a strong challenge for win trophies,” the Portuguese is an additional option for us,” tournament we are honoured have been better last season The Qatar Cup features the them. added. Faria said. to compete in. Al Duhail are but we could not start the sea- A dynamic Nick Kyrgios and top four teams from the previ- “We’re facing a team that The current league leaders For Al Sailiya, a leap into looking to reach the final, they son in a good way because there dogged Alex de Minaur pow- ous QNB Stars League season. we know well. They have tech- recently added North Korea’s the elite four has seen them have a team full of stars, with are players who joined us late,” ered Australia into the ATP The second semi-final will see nical stability as their coach has Han Kwang-Song in addition qualify for the AFC Champi- great experience in European the Tunisian said, adding that Cup semi-finals Thursday with Al Sadd take on rivals Al Rayy- been with them for long. We to the marquee striker Mario ons League playoffs and now and Arab leagues. all games will prepare them for an epic 2-1 win against the Tim an in the ‘Qatar Clasico’. know their philosophy and we Mandzukic. the Qatar Cup. All down to the “In the last game against their debut AFC Champions Henman-led Britain, and they Al Duhail, defending cham- will be ready for them,” Faria With a host of attacking club’s stability, the Peregrines them, we made some mistakes League campaign. were joined by Russia who pions from the treble-winning said. options including Almoez Ali, have been a model to follow for which hopefully won’t be re- “All matches we currently overpowered Argentina. run under then coach Djamel “When I came here (to Al Yousef Msekni and Moham- other teams. peated as we target the final,” play are part of our prepara- The home team clinched the Belmadi, head into the match Duhail), I knew the history of med Muntari, the former Jose Tunisian coach Sami Tra- Trabelsi said. tions for the AFC Champions tie after an 18-16 third-set tie- on the back of a stalemate at the our club and its ambitions. The mourinho assistant insists Al belsi – already seven years An inconsistent start to the League. We will focus on get- breaker in the doubles to set up hands of Qatar SC in the QSL. administration has provided us Duhail remains a collective. at the helm, said despite the season has seen Al Sailiya drop ting a positive result.” a potential blockbuster last-four clash against Rafael Nadal’s Da- vis Cup-winning Spain who face Belgium on Friday. Russia, spearheaded by Serena drops set before world number five Daniil Med- Qatar held to 2-2 draw by Syria in AFC vedev won both their singles to sweep past Argentina. Their reaching last 8 in Auckland reward is a semi-final against U23 opener, to play Saudi Arabia next either Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, AFP mined to equal the record of 24 or Canada. AFC Kamel Koaeh’s pinpoint set- AUCKLAND held by Australian great Mar- Kyrgios crushed Cameron BANGKOK piece courtesy of a powering garet Court. Norrie in the opening singles header that gave Qatar goal- SERENA Williams rallied from “Tournament time is su- 6-2, 6-2 before Dan Evans came SUBSTITUTE Alaa Aldin Dali keeper Mohammed al Bakri a set down to beat journey- per-important, match time through a memorable show- struck late on to salvage a little or no chance. woman Christina McHale at is good. After losing that first down against De Minaur 7-6 point for Syria as they came Clearly buoyed by their the WTA Auckland Classic on set I’m just glad to be still in (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) to set up from two goals down to draw goal, Syria started the second Thursday, but said it was just the event.” the decisive, winner-takes-all 2-2 with Qatar in Group B of half brightly, with first sub- the workout she needed. It was the reverse from doubles. the AFC U23 Championship stitute Abdul Kader Adi fizz- With her focus on winning Gauff, seen as one of the ris- Australian captain Lleyton Thailand 2020 campaign on ing a drive narrowly wide on a 24th Grand Slam at the Aus- ing stars of tennis, who started Hewitt took a huge gamble by Thursday. 56 minutes and then Barakat tralian Open, Williams said she strongly against Siegemund but dropping regular doubles pair Dali converted Mohammad thumping an effort into the needs all the court time she can faded as the match wore on. John Peers and Chris Guc- Alhallak’s cross at the far post side netting shortly after. get after a long off-season since The 31-year-old Siege- cione in favour of Kyrgios and to earn a share of the spoils for As the game wore on and losing September’s US Open mund, who played her first de Minaur, and it looked a poor Syria on a night when Yusuf with defences dominating, final. WTA qualifier in 2003 before decision when they lost the first Abdurisag’s early effort and an Qatar forward Khalid Mazeed It took the top seed two Gauff was born, was up 5-4 set 6-3. own goal from defender Yosief forced Ghannam into a smart hours to put away the 27-year- and serving when the Ameri- But, spurred by Kyrgios’ Mohammad had threatened to stop, before the Al Wathba old McHale and advance to a can teen broke twice to take the booming serve, they took the be their undoing. custodian produced a fine dou- quarter-final with Germany’s first set. next 6-3 before a nailbiting tie- In what ultimately proved ble save to deny Hashim Ali Laura Siegemund, who ousted But from there, she used breaker that lasted more than to be a sign of the drama to and Abdurisag. teen prodigy Coco Gauff in the her considerable experience to half-an-hour. come, Qatar were ahead within Qatar U23 players celebrate scoring against Syria during their AFC However, in a dramatic second round. ruffle the 15-year-old, forcing “That was incredible ten- 60 seconds. Syria goalkeeper U-23 Thailand 2020 Group B match on Thursday. late twist, Dali was on hand to Williams was broken three her behind the baseline and nis. All three matches today William Ghannam fumbled draw Syria level and crown a times before losing the first set then drawing her forward with everyone gave 100 percent and Amro Surag’s deep cross leav- away Hashim Ali’s fierce drive his own net when trying to sensational fight back. 3-6 but recovered to take the deft drop shots. left it all out on the court,” said ing Yusuf Abdurisag the sim- following a neatly worked free- deal with Homam Ahmed’s Qatar will next be in action next two sets 6-2, 6-3 in the all- “In the first set I had my Hewitt. plest of finishes from close kick. whipped cross. when they face Saudi Arabia, American affair. chances but let it go. So I just “Really proud of the boys, range. After weathering a brief Syria were, though, to with Syria scheduled to meet “I really need to play tried to keep my level and she the way they were able to turn To his credit, Ghannam Syrian flurry, Qatar stretched throw themselves a lifeline as Japan. Both games will take matches like that to get to my started to miss a little bit more, it around... it could have gone made amends for his error mo- their advantage in the 22nd half-time approached, Abdul place at the Thammasat Sta- goals,” said the 23-times Grand and I guess I just got better and either way.” ments later, this time palming minute as Yosief put through Rahman Barakat converting dium on Sunday.