Sport WEDNESDAY 3 MARCH 2021 AlA Shaqab teams go the extra mile tto keep premier events safe The only real challenge was battling the pandemic threat. Our ridersr and fans are safe and that’s what matters. There are other technicalt logistics challenges but we have gotten used to tackling them.t All the riders arrived last week. Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, and Commercial Sport | 11 Manager, Al Shaqab AMIR CUP BASKETBALL: Al Arabi SC (O. Seck 26) beat Al Shamal 86-76; Al Sadd SC (K. Vasileiadis 30) beat Al Rayyan 98-85 Qatar Total Open: Qualifiers Siegemund and Pegula pull off upsets WTA Qatar Total Open Results Women's Singles Jabeur sets up Pliskova clash Round of 32 Jessica Pegula, United States, def. Wang Qiang, China, 6-3, 6-1. Laura Siegemund, Germany, def. Elena as Keys makes winning return Rybakina, Kazakhstan, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5). Ons Jabeur, Tunisia, def. Anna Blinkova, Russia, 6-2, 6-2. FAWAD HUSSAIN Ons Jabeur of Tunisia returns the Laura Siegemund of Germany in THE PENINSULA ball to Russia's Anna Blinkova action against Elena Rybakina of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russia, def. during their singles match on the Kazakhstan yesterday. Kristyna Pliskova, Czech Republic, 6-2, Doha fans love Ons Jabeur and second day of the WTA Qatar Total 6-3. the Tunisian star doesn’t let Open at Khalifa International Tennis Madison Keys, United States, def. them down. Yesterday also the and Squash Complex yesterday. Belinda Bencic (6), Switzerland, 6-4, World No.31 brought her 6-1. A-game to the Khalifa Interna- tional Tennis and Squash Misaki Doi, Japan, def. Zheng Saisai, Complex and produced a China, 6-4, 6-3. quality win. Jabeur – the highest-ranked Today's Order of Play Arab women ever – showed Centre Court dominating performance to Starts at 02:30 PM stop the qualifier juggernaut on Round of 16 second day of the Qatar Total L. Siegemund (GER) vs V. Azarenka Open, which saw qualifiers (BLR) (8) Laura Siegemund and Jessica FOLLOWED BY Pegula pulling off upsets in first A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs P. Kvitova round. (CZE) (4) Backed by powerful serves FOLLOWED BY and deadly dropshots, Jabeur E. Svitolina (UKR) (1) vs M. Doi (JPN) thrashed Russian qualifier Anna NOT BEFORE 6:00 PM Blinkova 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour 8 stop Rybakina from making a Meanwhile, the top four A. Sabalenka (BLR) (3) vs minutes to set up a rematch comeback in the match. seeds – who got a bye into G. Muguruza (ESP) with second seed Karolina In the second set, the second round – will be seen FOLLOWED BY Pliskova – the 2017 champion 32-year-old missed a match in action from today with – whom the Tunisian shocked point serving at 5-3, and mouth-watering second round O. Jabeur (TUN) vs K. Pliskova (CZE) (2) in the third round last year. another at 5-4, but sealed clashes on the roster. Court A Jabeur, after drawing huge victory with a service winner. Aryna Sabalenka will begin Starts at 02:30 PM crowd support last year, American qualifier Pegula her title defense against Round of 16 reached to the quarter-finals – a World No. 44 – relatively former World No.1 Garbine A. Kontaveit (EST) vs A. Kerber (GER) but this time, the 26-year-old had a comfortable victory as she Muguruza, who defeated FOLLOWED BY is eyeing a title. knocked out China’s Wang Veronika Kudermetova in J. Ostapenko (LAT) vs J. Pegula (USA) “Now, I feel like I have the Qiang 6-2, 6-1. The 27-year-old, straight sets. FOLLOWED BY level to compete in quarters, who reached Australian Open Top seed Elina Svitolina M. Sakkari (GER) vs M. Keys (USA) semi-finals. I know I can go as quarter-final last month, will also start her campaign Doubles Quarter-final far as I can in this tournament,” needed just just one hour and for maiden title in Doha today B. Mattek-Sands (USA), J. Pegula Jabeur told reporters yesterday US Open finalist Madison Keys “I was able to dictate with 15 minutes to beat the World with a game against Misaki (USA) vs N. Melichar (USA), after beating Blinkova, who she made a strong return to the my forehand a little bit better No.35 and advanced into the Doi, lucky loser from the qual- D. Schuurs (NED) (2) regarded as ‘ very good’ player. Tour, dispatching sixth-seeded today, so I think that was second round. ifying stage. Japan’s Doi Court B “Anna was playing really Swiss Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-1 probably why (I won). I think I Also yesterday, Anastasia recorded her first main round Starts at 02:30 PM good. She qualified. She had in one hour and seven minutes. just served really well and kept Pavlyuchenkova defeated qual- win in Doha, beating China’s Quarter-final more matches than me, so it The World No.19 playing her the pressure on her on the ifier Kristyna Pliskova 6-2, 6-3 Saisai Zheng 6-4, 6-3 in yes- B. Krejcikova (CZE), K. Siniakova (CZE) (1) was a tricky match. I’m glad that first match since September, hit return games,” she added. in 75 minutes. terday’s last match. vs K. Bertens (NED), L. Pattinama I handled it really well today.” 24 winners against 13 for World Keys will meet Greek Maria The Tunisian said she was No.12 Bencic, who lost to Iga Sakkari in her second round Jessica Pegula of the United Kerkhove (NED) eyeing a repeat show against Swiatek in the final of the match today. States in action during her NOT BEFORE 4:00 PM Pliskova, who she said will be Adelaide International on match against China's Wang Quarter-final looking to avenge her last year’s Saturday. Siegemund and Pegula Qiang yesterday. A. Klepac (SLO), IND S. Mirza (IND) defeat. Keys was playing for the dazzle vs TBD “All players are tough. It’s a first time after her early exit at Quarter-final small draw, so everyone is the French Open. The 26-year- Earlier yesterday, World M. Niculescu (ROU), J. Ostapenko playing really good. I want to old missed the Australian Open No.56 Siegemund displayed one (LAT) vs L. Siegemund (GER), E. win again here like last year. after testing positive for the of her best performances, Vesnina (RUS) You know, it’s going to be like coronavirus shortly before she stunning World No.23 Elena a very tricky match. I’m sure was due to fly to Melbourne on Rybakina - 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) – she’s (Pliskova) gonna come on a charter flight. after two action packed sets court really hungry to win, “I’m really happy with how which lasted for two hours and wants her revenge. But I will be I came out and played today. 29 minutes. ready for that,” she added. I’m a little bit surprised with Kazakhstan’s Rybakina myself but hoping to keep the went into the match confident, Keys wins on return to Tour momentum going tomorrow. leading the German 2-0 in their It’s amazing to be back. I’m previous matches. But, After Jabeur advanced to the smiling under my mask,” Keys Siegemund was ahead in both second round, America’s former told reporters yesterday. the games and fought hard to Amir Cup: Al Duhail, Al Rayyan enter semis Al Rayyan's Yohan Boli celebrates his double. THE PENINSULA – DOHA “We have to change our mentality after winning the Qatar’s football giants Al Qatar Cup, we are living Duhail and Al Rayyan through moments of cele- advanced to the semi-finals bration and we have to of Amir Cup after winning move from this stage. In my their respective quarter- view Al Gharafa is one of finals yesterday. the best teams currently in Al Duhail blanked Al Qatar and they have Shamal 2-0 at the Suhaim become a lot better with bin Hamad Stadium, while their coach Slavisa Al Rayyan progressed after Jokanovic,” said Xavi. identical win over Al The coach added: “Our Kharaitiyat at Abdullah Bin clash with Al Gharafa is a Khalifa Stadium. final, and we have to focus AMIR CUP Kenyan striker Michael more and continue on our QUARTER-FINALS Olunga (45+3) and Abdulla path.” YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Al Ahraq (89) were the Al Duhail's Michael Olunga vies for the ball against Al Shamal players yesterday. “My message to the Al Duhail beat Al Shamal 2-0 scorers for QNB Stars players now is that we Al Rayyan beat Al Kharitiyat 2-0 League champions Al should not be inactive or TODAY'S FIXTURES Duhail last evening. strike in first half stoppage time silverware of the ongoing football lazy. An important match awaits Al Gharafa vs Al Sadd Star-studded Al Duhail failed to put Al Duhail ahead before Al season after an impressive win. us, we have to come out of this At Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium to assert their supremacy over Ahraq put the result beyond doubt Defending champions Al Sadd, atmosphere. It is good that the Kick off at 4:50pm their rivals, more so in the first in the closing stages of the game. who defeated Al Arabi in the final victories continue, but we have Al Sailiya vs Al Arabi half where the Al Shamal pro- Meanwhile, Yohan Boli (45+1 last December will face Al Gharafa to be aware of the importance At Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium duced a solid show in defence.