QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Teenaged Swedes make it to main draw of 4-star Katara Beach Volleyball Cup TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 PAGE 14 Bautista Agut withstands barrage of aces to overpower Opelka Karatsev sweeps Dominic Thiem. into 2nd round I still really to meet Thiem AGENCIES love to watch DOHA Federer play, ROBERTO Bautista Agut won the Doha title in 2019, and says Thiem the World No. 13 showed a champion’s mettle on Mon- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK day evening at the Khalifa In- DOHA ternational Tennis & Squash Complex. WORLD No. 4 Dominic Thiem The fifth seed rallied past is looking forward to welcom- American Reilly Opelka 4-6, ing Roger Federer back to the 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and four ATP Tour this week at the Qa- minutes to reach the second tar ExxonMobil Open. round of the Qatar ExxonMo- “We are rivals, and of course bil Open 2021. we want to beat each other in the The Spaniard withstood 22 tournament, (but) I still really aces to take a 2-1 ATP Head- love to watch him play tennis,” 2Head series lead against the said Thiem, who is the top seed big-serving 23-year-old. in Doha. “(He) looks so nice, “I feel very good on this the way he plays, the way he ap- court. I have a lot of good proaches the game of tennis. memories from 2019. I’m just “On the one hand, I’m happy to be here again in Qa- also a big fan of his still, and tar and more happy because that’s why I really love that I played a really good match he’s back and that I can watch and I beat a really, really good him again. That’s what pretty opponent,” Bautista Agut said much everybody is thinking, in an on-court interview. “I’m Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut lets off a cry after defeating American Reilly Opelka in the opening round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021 at the Khalifa International tennis & and I hope that he’s coming really happy that I won today, Squash Complex on Monday. Bautista Agut won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. back strong, as well.” now I want to recover well for The Austrian headlines the next match.” the ATP 250 field in Doha. Bautista Agut’s ninth and Order of Play Tuesday Federer, who is competing for most recent ATP Tour title CENTRE COURT start 2:30pm D. Lajovic (SRB) vs M. Fucsovics (HUN) the first time in more than 13 came in Doha two years ago. J. Chardy (FRA) vs D. Evans (GBR) M. Arevalo (ESA) / M. Middelkoop (NED) months after two right knee The 32-year-old will next [LL] N. Gombos (SVK) vs [WC] M. Jaziri vs [2] N. Mektic (CRO) / M. Pavic (CRO) surgeries, and last week’s ABN play Kazakhstani wild card Al- (TUN) COURT B start Not Before 3:30pm AMRO World Tennis Tour- exander Bublik, who knocked N. Basilashvili (GEO) / A. Bublik (KAZ) nament champion Andrey out Indian qualifier Ramku- Not Before 6pm vs F. Nielsen (DEN) / T. Puetz (GER) Rublev also feature. mar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-2 in [Q] L. Harris (RSA) vs [7] S. Wawrinka (SUI) Not Before 5pm Thiem is competing for the 73 minutes. [6] D. Goffin (BEL) vs F. Krajinovic (SRB) K. Krawietz (GER) / R. Opelka (USA) vs [4] first time since a fourth-round Bublik has already M. Melo (BRA) / J. Rojer (NED) exit to Grigor Dimitrov at the reached two ATP Tour finals COURT A start 2:30pm A. Karatsev (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS) vs L. Australian Open on 14 Febru- this year at the Antalya Open [Q] C. O’Connell (AUS) vs V. Pospisil (CAN) Sonego (ITA) / A. Vavassori (ITA) ary. The 27-year-old will play (lost to De Minaur) and the J. Millman (AUS) / D. Vega Hernandez COURT 1 start Not Before 5pm Russia’s Aslan Karatsev in the Singapore Tennis Open (lost (ESP) vs [WC] B. Rola (SLO) / M. Zayed After Suitable Rest - J. Chardy (FRA) / F. Doha second round. to Popyrin). (QAT) Martin (FRA) vs J. Erlich (ISR) / A. Vasilevski “The (Doha) draw is un- Aslan Karatsev returned Not Before 5pm (BLR) believably strong, so (you) to his winning ways at the never know what’s (going to) Khalifa International Tennis & Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) happen, but I just try to have Squash Complex in Doha. tralia 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in one 6-4, 6-2 a good start and to be there on Two months on from win- hour and 52 minutes. Taylor Fritz (USA) bt Lorenzo a good level from the very first ning three matches at the Basilashvili will next face Sonego (ITA) 7-6 (50, 6-4 point,” said Thiem, the 2018 venue to qualify for the Aus- wild card Malek Jaziri of Tu- Richard Gasquet (FRA) (Q)- Doha semi-finalist. tralian Open in Melbourne, nisia or Slovakian lucky loser Blaz Rola (SLO) 6-4, 6-4 “It’s going to be my first where he reached the semi- Norbert Gombos. (WC)-Aslan Karatsev (RUS) bt tournament and (my) first finals (lost to Djokovic), the Russian Aslan Karatsev returned to his winning ways at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex Gombos replaced Borna (WC)- Mubarak Shannan Zayid match (in almost) a month, Russian swept past fellow on Monday sweeping past fellow wild card Mubarak Shannan Zayid 6-4, 6-0. Coric, who pulled out due to a (QAT) 6-4, 6-0. since (a) pretty devastating wild card Mubarak Shannan shoulder injury. (atptour.com) loss at the Australian Open… I Zayid 6-4, 6-0 in 65 minutes. to Dimitrov. great memories playing here. best to win.” Doubles needed some time to digest eve- Karatsev won 24 of 27 first- Richard Gasquet, the 2013 It’s one of the best tourna- Earlier, American Taylor Results Round of 16 rything, to analyse everything service points and now plays champion, eased past qualifier ments in the world, so of Fritz took a 2-1 lead in his ATP Round Of 32 (1)- Juan Sebastian Cabal & (and) to settle down a little bit. top-seeded Austrian Dominic Blaz Rola 6-4, 6-4 for his first course it’s great for me to Head2Head series with Lor- 5-Roberto Bautista Agut Robert Farah (COL) bt (WC)- “Now it’s time to focus on Thiem in the second round at victory of the season. come back and I hope to play enzo Sonego by beating the (ESP) beat Reilly Opelka (USA) Malek Jaziri (TUN) & Mubarak new things. The tournament the ATP 250 event. The Frenchman will next good,” Gasquet said in an on- Italian 7-6(5), 6-4. 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Shannan Zayid (QAT) 6-3, 6-2 in Doha is the first chance to Thiem is competing in play red-hot Russian Andrey court interview. Elsewhere, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Marcus Daniell (NZ) & Philipp play better again, to get good his first tournament since a Rublev. “I know the next oppo- Nikoloz Basilashvili snapped John Millman (AUS) 2-6, 6-4, Oswald (AUS) bt (3)-Ivan Dodig results, to get confidence and fourth-round exit at the Aus- “Of course it’s great for nent will be tough, but I have a five-match losing streak by 6-2 (CRO) & Filip Polasek (SLO) to forget (a) pretty tough start tralian Open where he had lost me to come here... I have nothing to lose and I’ll try my beating John Millman of Aus- Alexander Bublik (KAZ) bt (Q)- 6-3, 6-7 (2), 11-9. of the season.” (atptour.com) Ooredoo announces Silver Sponsorship Djokovic eclipses Federer’s all-time for Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK off on Monday at the Khalifa In- ner Roger Federer has con- record for most weeks as world No. 1 DOHA, QATAR ternational Tennis and Squash firmed he will challenge for Complex in Doha, and is ongo- the trophy this year, joined by DPA/ATP my childhood dream is a beautiful confir- OOREDOO has announced it ing until 13 March 2021. two-time Grand Slam winner BERLIN mation that when you do things out of love is to reprise its role as Silver The event attracts a large stan Wawrinka and Dominic and passion, everything is possible.” Sponsor of the Qatar Exx- number of the world’s top Thiem, the 2020 Australian NOVAK Djokovic made history after break- ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: onMobil Open at this year’s players, who are keen to use Open finalist. ing Roger Federer’s record for most weeks “Novak’s many achievements in tennis are event. the opportunity to warm up Sabah Rabiah Al Kuwari, as world number one on the ATP Tour. nothing short of extraordinary. Among The Qatar ExxonMobil for Grand Slam events later in Director PR at Ooredoo, said: Djokovic surpassed Federer after begin- them this record may stand as his single Open 2021, the 29th edition of the year. “We’re delighted to have our ning his 311th week as the number one most impressive. Reaching No. 1 is some- the ATP 250 tournament, kicked Multiple Grand Slam win- name linked with the ATP player in the men’s rankings on Monday. thing many players dream of and very few Tour again in 2021 at this Serbian star Djokovic reclaimed the ever accomplish, and to have held the top prestigious event. top ranking from fellow superstar Rafael make his long-awaited ATP comeback in spot for longer than anyone is testament Supporting events that Nadal in February 2020 and finished as Qatar this week - and Nadal.