TENNIS | Page 3 NBA | Page 4 Keys holds off Non-Orlando Aussie Open teams want champ Kenin in their own camp, Charleston league: report Monday, June 29, 2020 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 8, 1441 AH City, Chelsea and GULF TIMES Arsenal reach FA Cup semi-finals SPORT Page 2 HORSE RACING Qatar Racing’s Time Scale wins at Newmarket Agencies smartly away to sit up on the pace and Roger Varian-trained Un- Newmarket, United Kingdom in the six-furlong straight run for dertake was further two-and-a- two-year-olds on Newmarket’s half lengths behind in third under Rowley Mile. David Egan. n the colours of Qatar Racing Travelling strongly through- By young stallion Charm Spir- Limited, Time Scale lined up out under Oisin Murphy, Time it, who stands under the Qatar in the Listed Empress Fillies’ Scale began to pull clear of her ri- Racing Limited banner at Tween- IStakes at Newmarket as a fa- vals inside the final two furlongs. hills Stud, Time Scale is out of vourite yesterday, following her With a professional attitude and An Ghalanta, who was Group impressive six-length victory at an impressive acceleration, she placed for trainer and breeder Jim Chepstow a fortnight ago on her won in a dominant display by Bolger. An Ghalanta was bought second career start. three lengths and three quarters by Qatar Racing Limited at the The Ralph Beckett-trained bay in front of Concessions, who fin- Goffs November Sale in 2012. She filly dazzled again yesterday af- ished second for trainer Richard is the dam of Bletchley, who was ternoon at Newmarket. Once the Hannon and jockey Ryan Moore. second in the Group 2 Nassau start signal was given, she was The Cheveley Park Stud-owned Stakes at Woodbine, Canada. Oisin Murphy (foreground) rides Time Scale to Listed Empress Fillies’ Stakes victory at Newmarket, United Kingdom, yesterday. (Racingfotos) TENNIS SPOTLIGHT Second round of ‘Ugly schedule’: Nadal Covid-19 tests for QSL clubs continue NB Stars League Clubs Al Gharafa, Al Sadd, Al Wak- continued to the sec- rah, Qatar SC, Al Khor and Al wavers; Murray fears ond round of corona- Rayyan clubs underwent the Qvirus (Covid-19) tests tests yesterday in co-operation ‘Not safe for players to go from and blood samples were taken with the Ministry of Public for laboratory analysis after they Health and Aspetar hospital. New York to play in Madrid at completed a period of 14 days in The testing process contin- their respective team hotels, as ues according to the schedule altitude on the clay court’ per the general plan and protocol and date of entry of each team to player safety developed ahead of the resump- the hotel, where they must have tion of 2019-20 season QNB completed 14 days before the AFP Stars League. second round of tests. London, United Kingdom s Rafael Nadal was de- scribed as wavering over defending his US AOpen title or preparing for an assault on a 13th Roland Garros, Britain’s Andy Murray said Saturday he fears for the safety of top players as tennis emerges from its five-month coronavirus lockdown. Tennis has been on ice since mid-March and will not return until early August. The US Open will run from August 31 to September 13 on the hard courts of New York with the rescheduled French Open on clay taking place just a fortnight after. In between are Masters events in Madrid and Rome, both on clay and also rescheduled from the spring. “I have spoken to Rafa and he is doubting which tournaments to play,” Nadal’s uncle — and long-time former coach — Toni Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni said, “I have spoken to Rafa and he is doubting which tournaments to play. The schedule is unrealistic, especially for told ESPN Deportes. veteran players, who cannot compete for so many weeks in a row.” (Reuters) Al Sadd and Al Rayyan team members (below) underwent Covid-19 “The schedule is unrealis- tests in co-operation with the Ministry of Public Health and Aspetar. tic, especially for veteran play- ers, who cannot compete for so Murray withdraws from Battle many weeks in a row. “I think it is a bit ugly what of Brits third place clash the ATP has done. This deci- sion is totally against players like AFP decided not to push his body Rafa and Novak Djokovic.” London any further. Murray, meanwhile, ex- The match will still go ahead pressed his fears over player with James Ward taking Mur- safety in quickly switching from ormer world number ray’s place, before Evans takes surface to surface. one Andy Murray pulled on Kyle Edmund in the final. He suggested that a rankings Fout of his last match at A tweet from the Lawn Tennis rethink might be a solution. the Battle of the Brits exhibi- Association read: “@andy_mur- “It’s not safe for players to go tion event on Sunday. ray has withdrawn from the from the semis or final in New Murray was due to face Cam #BattleOfTheBrits 3rd Play-Off. York, quarters even, and then Norrie in a third place play-off Andy has been replaced by @ you’re playing on the Tuesday in Roehampton after losing in JamesWardtennis.” in Madrid at altitude on the clay the semi-finals to Dan Evans Murray’s next event is likely to court, when players haven’t on Saturday. be the Citi Open in Washing- competed for a very long time,” Britain’s Andy Murray. (Reuters) But after playing four matches ton, scheduled to start on said Murray. in the previous five days in August 14, as the three-time “None of the top players have well last year and are not able careful with the rankings.” his first tournament since Grand Slam champion builds competed a week before a Slam. to defend their points properly Murray, returning from inju- November, the 33-year-old up to the US Open. The rankings, if you can keep the aren’t punished. ry, went down to a 1-6, 6-3, 10-8 points as they are, could get a bit “There are big tournaments loss to Dan Evans in the semi- skewed.” every single week and it’s going finals of the ‘Battle of the Brits’ since last November after being old is confident he is heading Murray added: “It might be to be very difficult for players tournament exhibition event in sidelined because of bone bruis- back to his best. worth potentially looking at a that are winning consistently Roehampton on Saturday. ing on his pelvis. “My game is there, I just need two-year ranking for the time to commit to that many events. It was Murray’s fourth match Murray also needed hip sur- more time to practise and pre- being so that the guys who did I just think we need to be a bit in five days in his first event gery last year, but the 33-year- pare and I’ll get there,” he said. Gulf Times 2 Monday, June 29, 2020 FOOTBALL TOP OF THE LINE SPOTLIGHT City will give Liverpool guard of honour: Guardiola Groningen used Reuters of honour of course,” Guardiola Juergen Klopp’s side an unas- London, United Kingdom said. “We will greet Liverpool, sailable 23-point lead with sev- when they come to our house, in en games left. Jordan example to an incredible way. We are going Englishman Milner, who won anchester City will to do it because they deserve it.” two Premier League titles with give newly-crowned The 49-year-old added that City before joining Liverpool in lure Robben back Premier League he was already looking for- 2015, expects a strong response Mchampions Liver- ward to helping City come back from Pep Guardiola’s team. Reuters World Cup final in Johannesburg. pool a guard of honour when the stronger next season. “You see how difficult it is for Groningen, Netherlands “The difference in the stand- teams meet at the Etihad Sta- “In sport you have to live any team to defend the title,” ard between Bayern and Gronin- dium on Thursday, manager Pep in the future,” Guardiola said. Milner, 34, told the Times. gen is naturally a lot different but Guardiola has said. “Never can you have one eye on “City managed it last season.. C Groningen used the ex- I’m here to help the club,” Rob- Liverpool ended their 30-year what you have done. Never for- but they tried twice before and ample of Michael Jordan’s ben said. wait for a top-flight title when get that we are an incredible club failed. basketball comeback “You do that by showing the last season’s champions City and organisation and what you “The two times I was there in Fin their bid to persuade right attitude. I don’t have any- were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea last have to do is learn. seasons after winning titles we Dutch international Arjen Rob- thing to lose and I’m going into week, handing the Merseyside “I think we know the reason were never at the races... That’s ben to return to his first club. the challenge with a positive at- club an unassailable 23-point why we suffered this season and something I’ve learnt from. Groningen played Robben titude and to try and make the lead at the top of the table. we are going to try to solve it for Liverpool fans gather outside Anfield stadium to celebrate the club’s “This Liverpool team has clips from the Jordan documen- best of it.