TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 12 Federer out of Australian Open after knee surgery Muharraq stay unbeaten after defeating Riffa Bahrain Club take their first win of 2020/2021 season in Zain Bahrain Basketball League • Mohammed Kuwayed Standings buries five triples to spearhead P W L Pts Muharraq charge Muharraq 5 5 0 10 Al Ahli 4 4 0 8 Bahrain Club end four- Samaheej 5 3 2 8 Roger Federer waves to fans after a match (file photo) game• losing streak with Al Najma 4 3 1 7 Nuwaidrat 5 2 3 7 AFP | Sydney victory against Sitra Riffa 5 2 3 7 Al Hala 3 3 0 6 wenty-time Grand Slam TDT | Manama Sitra 5 1 4 6 Tchampion Roger Federer Bahrain Club 5 1 4 6 will miss the Australian Open uharraq maintained their un - Isa Town 5 0 5 5 6 Manama 2 2 0 4 for the first time in his career Australian Open trophies beaten record in the 2020/2021 as he continues his recovery have been won by Roger MZain Bahrain Basketball League Al Ettihad 4 0 4 4 from two rounds of knee sur- Federer who has never following a 95-72 win over Riffa last night gery, organisers said Monday. missed the event since his at Zain Arena in Um Al Hassam. Meanwhile, Bahrain Club claimed their The 39-year-old Swiss has debut in 2000 Muharraq asserted their dominance in first win of the season after beating Sitra been out of action since Feb- the first half before closing out the game 97-83 in yesterday’s early game. ruary but recently resumed strong to register their league-leading fifth Bahrain Club led from the opening tip training and was on the entry forward to seeing him in Mel- triumph in as many contests. and used a strong second quarter where list for year’s opening Grand bourne in 2022.” The victors held a 19-14 lead at the end they outscored Sitra 22-13 to turn a slim Slam, which will make a de- Federer sat out most of the of the first quarter, which they turned to 19-16 lead after the first period to a 41-29 layed start on February 8. Covid-disrupted 2020 season a 48-32 advantage heading into the half- advantage at the interval. They did well to Federer, a huge favourite after losing to Novak Djok- time break. maintain the gap from there. with the Melbourne crowds, ovic in the Melbourne semis Riffa then stretched the gap further in Baqer Isa was their top scorer with 23 hasn’t missed the Australian in January, his last competitive the final canto, during which they enjoyed Muharraq’s Mohammed Kuwayed drives to the basket points, which included three three-point- Open since his debut in 2000, match. their biggest lead of 26, as they made their while being guarded by Riffa’s Mohayad Ameer ers. Bosnian-Serbian professional Dragan winning the trophy six times. He underwent keyhole sur- way to the final buzzer. Tubak added 15, 22 rebounds and five as- “In the end Roger ran out of gery on his right knee in Feb- Versatile national team forward Moham- despite playing just half the game. sists while Fadhel Abbas had 13 off the time to get himself ready for ruary, before needing a fol- med Kuwayed led Muharraq with 20 points For Riffa, Dexter Pittman from the US bench and Ebrahim Al Basri chipped in the rigours of a Grand Slam low-up operation and calling while coming off the bench. He was red hot had a game-high 31 but it was not enough with 12. and he’s very disappointed he off his season to recover. from beyond the arc, firing in five of his to help lift his squad. Hassan Abbas added For Sitra, Ali Eid had 20 points while won’t be coming to Melbourne The Swiss could only watch eight three-point attempts. 20 as their only other player to finish in Diallo Aboubaker added 19, Isa Abdulameer in 2021,” said tournament chief as Rafael Nadal matched his Younis Kuwayed added 13, while Bader double-digit scoring. 18 and Husain Safar 17. Craig Tiley. all-time men’s record of 20 Abdulla Malabes had 11 and Mohammed Muharraq’s unblemished 5-0 win-loss Bahrain Club’s first victory came after “We wish him all the best Grand Slam singles titles with Juma’a had 10. record tops the league standings, whereas starting the campaign with four straight as he prepares for his come- a 13th victory at the French American professional Murphy Holloway Riffa remained in the middle of the table setbacks. Sitra has an identical 1-4 win-loss back later in the year and look Open. chipped in with nine points and 11 rebounds after dropping to a 2-3 mark. record. Alex Wincocq joins Bahrain Raid Xtreme, Kohli, Perry named cricketers of the decade replacing Dani Oliveras as co-driver to Nani Roma AFP | London TDT | Manama ndia captain Virat Kohli was Inamed the ICC’s male crick- ahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) eter of the decade yesterday Bhas confirmed that expe- as Australia all-rounder Ellyse rienced Dakar Rally competi- Perry swept the top women’s tor, Alex Wincocq will replace awards. Dani Oliveras as Nani Roma’s Kohli and Perry were the big co-driver, for the team’s first winners in the International entry into the iconic motor- Cricket Council’s Awards of the sport event, which begins this Decade, while Australian bats- week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. man Steve Smith was crowned Wincocq joins Bahrain Raid the best Test player. Xtreme, as a replacement Kohli, who was also named co-driver for BRX pilot Nani ODI player of the decade, lifted Roma, as a result of Oliveras the 2011 World Cup and the recently returning a positive 2013 Champions Trophy with COVID-19 result. Although there India, before inspiring their might have been time for Dani first Test series victory on Aus- Indian captain Virat Kohli looks on during a match (file photo) to recover and test negative Xtreme, Alex Wincocq said: “It able to put all the hard work tralian soil two years ago. Bahrain Raid Xtreme is com- is incredibly disappointing for into practice. I have known “It’s just been an honour for 39 centuries and 48 fifties at an mitted to preserving the health Dani (Oliveras) not to be able Alex for a long time, and he is a me to be able to go out there average of 61.83. and safety of all Dakar Rally to help Bahrain Raid Xtreme very experienced and talented and perform for my team, and Perry was named female participants, and therefore did in the teams first Dakar Ral - person to have alongside me. it’s a great honour for me to It’s just been an cricketer of the decade as well not want to take any undue ly, but I am delighted to join We are ready to hit the ground win this award,” Kohli said in a honour for me to be as the top ODI and T20 player as risks that could compromise Nani and grateful to the BRX running together, and the video message. able to go out there she cleaned up in the women’s this. team for welcoming me. I had whole team is excited to have “My only intention was to and perform for awards. Wincocq is no stranger to the been preparing for the Dakar him join us, especially at such make winning contributions for Perry, who also played foot- Dakar Rally, and brings a wealth for some time, but my previous short notice.” the team and I just strive to do my team, and it’s a ball for Australia at the 2011 of experience to his partner- plans did not play out the way The Dakar Rally begins on that in every game,” he added. great honour for me World Cup, won four T20 ship with Nani Roma. In 1999 I had anticipated, so to get the the 3rd January, in Jeddah, India’s all-formats cap - to win this award. world titles and the 2013 one- Wincocq attended his first Da- chance to compete with such an Saudi Arabia. Nani Roma will tain was the decade’s highest My only intention day World Cup, scoring 4,349 kar Rally, as a team mechanic, experienced and skilled driver drive BRX’s bespoke Dakar Ral- run-scorer with 20,396, hitting was to make winning runs and taking 213 wickets in before going on to compete in as Nani, is hugely exciting.” ly T1 car – a four-wheel drive the most fifties (66) and hav- contributions for the decade. a range of vehicles including Bahrain Raid Xtreme pilot, car, powered by a 3.5 litre tur- ing the highest average (56.97) the team and I just “It has been tremendous quadbikes, pro trucks and bug- Nani Roma, added: “I would bo-charged petrol V6, that will of players with more than 70 to develop the women’s T20 gy’s. just like to thank Dani for all take on almost 5,000 kilometres innings. strive to do that in game and take it forward,” Per- Commenting on the an - his commitment and support in of competitive driving across He was also the only player every game ry said. “Amazing to see where nouncement that he will join preparing for the Dakar Rally, the 12 stages through the King- with more than 10,000 one-day VIRAT KOHLI it’s come from when I was in- Nani Roma and Bahrain Raid and sorry that he will not be dom of Saudi Arabia.