TTENNISENNIS | Page 2 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Smart Lampard Medvedev embraces one move pressure of ahead of rivals spending spree Friday, September 11, 2020 CRICKET Muharram 23, 1442 AH Morgan has an eye GULF TIMES on World Cup in Australia ODI series SPORT Page 3 ATHLETICS Duplantis, Kendricks, Lisek and Lavillenie all set for Doha DL ole vault six-metre club champion, who topped 6.02m, Lisek, the 2019 world silver Doha’s Qatar Sports Club will members Armand Du- the second highest clearance of medallist, has a 5.90m season’s host a revised 12-event pro- plantis, Sam Kendricks, his career. best to his credit and has won his gramme — the fourth and fi - Piotr Lisek and Renaud “After Lausanne I was desper- last two meetings at the Skoli- nal competitive meeting of the PLavillenie will return to battle ate to get back out and compete, I mowska Memorial in Silesia, truncated 2020 Wanda Diamond at the Wanda Diamond League felt like I was in the zone and it’s where he beat Kendricks, and League season — which includes meeting in Doha on September hard to take a step back in those again in Dessau two days ago, sprint hurdles and 800m for both 25. situations, but I had to play safe,” topping 5.82m and 5.80m, re- men and women; 100m, 3000m Duplantis, the world record Duplantis said. spectively. and long jump for women; and holder at 6.18m, has been un- “I’m excited to compete in Lavillenie, the most experi- 200m, 400m, 1500m and pole stoppable this year, unbeaten Doha and to continue this sea- enced of the quartet and former vault for men. thus far in 13 competitions son. After a delayed start we’re world record holder, is working his Due to the impact of Cov- in 2020. In the fading light of all getting into good shape so this way back to fi tness after suff ering a id-19, the 2020 Wanda Diamond Lausanne eight days ago, the should be a great competition. I hand injury in the summer. He fi n- League will not form a structured 20-year-old topped 6.07m, best love pole vault – we all do – and ished second at the Golden Spike series of events leading to a fi nal outdoor vault in the world for 26 when we compete against each World Athletics Continental Tour and athletes will not earn Dia- In this September 4, 2020, picture, Sweden’s Armand Duplantis is in action during the men’s Pole Vault final years. It took that vault to beat other we really push each other Gold meeting in Ostrava on Tues- mond League points this season. at the Brussels Diamond League event at the King Baudouin stadium. (Reuters) Kendricks, the two-time world on, it brings out the best of us.” day, topping 5.74m. (World Athletics) FORMULA 1 Came close to retirement before Aston deal: Vettel Four-time champ, who was told by Ferrari his contract will not be renewed, will join Aston Martin starting next year Agencies London/Mugello I didn’t expect that, says axed Racing Point driver Perez ebastian Vettel said he had come close to retir- AFP ing before Racing Point Mugello, Italy off ered him a chance to Scontinue in Formula One next season. ergio Perez was given Vettel has signed for the re- only a few hours notice named Aston Martin team for the Sthat he was to be 2021 season “and beyond”, the replaced at Racing Point next ambitious British Formula One year by Sebastian Vettel, the outfi t announced yesterday. Mexican driver said yesterday. The 33-year-old German won Perez, who had a contract for four consecutive titles from 2010 2021 and believed the team to 2013 with Red Bull before join- wanted him to stay, learned his ing Ferrari, but the Italian team fate during a phone call from has not renewed his contract. team owner Lawrence Stroll on Signing Vettel was “a clear Wednesday, shortly before his signal” to the racing world, said departure was confirmed. Racing Point, which will take the The Canadian billionaire told Aston Martin name next year af- him the team was going “in ter Canadian billionaire owner another direction”. Lawrence Stroll’s investment in “I didn’t expect that. It is how it the British brand. is,” Perez told a news confer- Vettel will drive alongside ence yesterday ahead of this Stroll’s son Lance and replace weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix. Mexican driver Sergio Perez who Until then, said Perez, “nobody announced on Wednesday he will told me anything”. leave Racing Point at the end of Perez announced his exit, alternatives. the season. after seven years with the He was reluctant to criticise Asked yesterday ahead of the Silverstone-based team, on Racing Point’s handling of the Tuscan Grand Prix at Italy’s social media later Wednesday situation too forcefully but sug- Mugello circuit how close he was and Vettel was confirmed as gested that he could have been to walking away, the four-times joining on a multi-year contract given more clarity. world champion replied: “Close”. starting in 2021, with the re- “I understand it. It’s the nego- “Is there a measure of how branding of the team as Aston tiations going on,” he said. close you can get? It was close in Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel attends the drivers’ press conference ahead of the Tuscan Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit yesterday. (AFP) Martin, yesterday morning. “They probably took longer terms of having a lot of thoughts “Nobody told me anything, but than I thought... Probably, a bit and deciding what’s ultimately...I “The second key factor for me He said joining Racing Point/ something very special together.” Racing Point’s current season I already knew and figured out more clarity would have helped have to put myself fi rst in that re- has been answering to myself the Aston Martin, where his teammate He added: “I still have so much has been marred by controversy a couple of things,” said Perez. regarding my future as well. gard, what’s best for me,” Vettel question of what I want to do and Lance Stroll is the son of billionaire love for Formula 1 and my only with accusations they had copied “Final confirmation came “Then I would have looked for a told reporters in a video confer- get out of myself in a potential Canadian owner Lawrence, just motivation is to race at the front Mercedes’ brake ducts. yesterday. It’s fine. Seven years plan B, which probably wouldn’t ence. future in Formula One,” he said. seemed the right thing to do. of the grid. To do so with Aston On Sunday, Racing Point with the team — I know every- have changed anything.” “What I’ve decided now I be- Vettel would not reveal details “It feels good that the news is Martin will be a huge privilege.” dropped their appeal against thing has a beginning and also Perez, who now has no seat for lieve is the best for me, and I’m of his contract or the duration, out...a lot of questions will prob- a 15-point deduction and an end. 2021, said he wants to stay in looking forward to proving that.” although Racing Point have said ably stop now.” ‘NEW ERA’ AT ASTON MARTIN 400,000-euro ($472,000) fi ne. “We still have nine races to Formula One next year with a Vettel was told by Ferrari in it is for 2021 and beyond. The last of Vettel’s 53 victo- “Everybody at Silverstone is Vettel’s arrival means that make each other proud.” competitive team. May, after the Covid-19 pan- “I’m looking forward to the ries — the third most in F1 history hugely excited by this news. Se- the team will dispense with the Only four weeks ago at the “I think everything is an option demic had delayed the start of change because I believe we can — came at the 2019 Singapore bastian is a proven champion popular Perez, a dependable and Spanish Grand Prix, Perez right now. My main target is to the season, that they would not do well,” he said. “I believe the Grand Prix. Only Michael Schu- and brings a winning mentality fast racer who played a promi- quashed speculation that he remain in F1. I feel that I’m still be extending his contract beyond team has huge potential. There’s macher (91) and Lewis Hamilton that matches our own ambitions nent role in saving the former was to be replaced by four-time very young and hungry and this year. some really good, clever people (89) have won more races. for the future as Aston Martin F1 Force India team during a fi nan- champion Vettel. want to carry on, but it has to In July, the 33-year-old Ger- on board and I’m looking forward “It’s a new adventure for me Team,” said team principal Otmar cial crisis two years ago before it be the right package. man recognised he could leave to help and show those qualities with a truly legendary car com- Szafnauer. was taken over by the consortium ‘I UNDERSTAND IT’ “A package that really gives Formula One for good. are there and demonstrate that as pany. I have been impressed with “On a Saturday or Sunday af- that renamed it Racing Point. Perez signed a three-year me the maximum motivation Racing Point, to be renamed well with results.