12-year-old QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Abhimanyu QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune becomes youngest Grandmaster in chess history PAGE 15 THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021 Djokovic sails past Anderson; Andreescu falls by the wayside DPA LONDON All eyes on Asia NOVAK Djokovic looked in ominous form during a sec- ond-round victory over Kevin ahead of the AFC Anderson on Wednesday to stay on course for a third straight Wimbledon title. Asian Qualifiers – But Bianca Andreescu be- came the highest seed to fall in the women’s draw at Wim- Road to Qatar draw bledon after losing in the first round to Alize Cornet. AFC Based on the special FIFA World number one Djoko- KUALA LUMPUR Ranking released for Asian vic produced a scintillating dis- teams on June 18, top seeds play against the South African THE focus of the world’s most Japan and the Islamic Repub- in what was a repeat of the 2018 populous Continent and be- lic of Iran will take their places final at theA ll England Club. yond will be riveted on Kuala in Pot 1, with Pot 2 comprising A straight-sets victory Lumpur on Thursday, 1 July Australia and Korea Republic proved enough for Djokovic to 2021, when the virtual draw while Pot 3 will include Saudi claim the Championship three for the final round of theA FC Arabia and the UAE. years ago and he again made Asian Qualifiers– Road to Qa- Pot 4 will contain Iraq and light work of the big-serving An- tar takes centrestage as Asia’s China PR, followed by Oman derson to progress into round top 12 nations discover their and Syria in Pot 5 and debu- three with a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win. opponents in their quest to tants Vietnam and Lebanon The Serbian, who is look- seal the coveted spots for the completing the line-up in Pot 6. ing to draw level with Roger FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The draw will begin with Pot Federer and Rafael Nadal on With the excitement and 6, with the first and second balls 20 grand slams, experienced anticipation reaching fever drawn from each pot placed in some difficulties on the slip- pitch, some of Asia’s most re- Groups A and B respectively un- pery Centre Court surface but nowned tacticians are expected til the sequence is completed all a standing ovation at the end to join the virtual draw, which the way through to Pot 1. provided a clear indicator of will divide 12 teams into two The AFC Asian Qualifiers – who came out on top. groups of six each, with the Road to Qatar is scheduled to Denis Shapovalov, the winners and runners-up seal- be played on the following 10 10th seed, joined the top seed ing their places for the global match days: September 2 and in the third round with a walk- showpiece, while the third- 7, October 7 and 12, and No- over after Pablo Andujar had placed teams will advance to vember 11 and 16, 2021, as well to withdraw with a rib injury. the Asian playoff to determine as January 27 and February 1, Elsewhere, the wet weath- the side that will advance to the 2022, before reaching its cli- er during the first two days intercontinental playoff. max on March 24 and 29, 2022. saw a number of first round ties still to be completed. Queen’s Club winner Mat- teo Berrettini backed up his Wimbledon Results exploits from earlier in the month with victory over Guido Men’s Singles (1st Round): Aljaz Bedene, Slovenia, Taylor Fritz (31), United States, def. Brandon Pella on Court Three. def. Corentin Moutet, France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0; Kei Nakashima, United States, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5; Nishikori, Japan, def. Alexei Popyrin, Australia, 6-4, 6-4, Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, def. Mikhail Kukushkin, The Italian seventh seed 6-4; Matteo Berrettini (7), Italy, def. Guido Pella, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1; Benjamin Bonzi, France, was pegged back in the sec- Serbian Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson during the men’s singles second round on the third day of the Argentina, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0; Ilya Ivashka, Belarus, def. def. Marco Trungelliti, Argentina, 6-1, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; ond set before he was able to 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Club in London on Wednesday. Djokovic won 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. (AFP) Jaume Munar, Spain, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (5); Jeremy Chardy, Steve Johnson, United States, def. Dennis Novak, progress with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 France, def. Aslan Karatsev (20), Russia, 7-6 (4), 7-6 Austria, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-5. (6), 6-3; Botic van de Zandschulp, Netherlands, def. Second Round: Denis Shapovalov (10), Canada, def. 6-0 win. Sam Querrey, who reached Spaniard Fernando Verdasco his return and also progressed Ukrainian, booked her place Gregoire Barrere, France, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-6 (3); Pablo Andujar, Spain, walkover; Novak Djokovic (1), Nick Kyrgios edged a the semis four years ago, on his way to a 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 against Thiago Monteiro. in the second round with a 6-3 Yoshihito Nishioka, Japan, def. John Isner (28), United Serbia, def. Kevin Anderson, South Africa, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; thriller against the 21st claimed the scalp of Pablo success and Lorenzo Sonego, Former US Open cham- 2-6 6-3 win over Alison Van States, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-4; Sam Querrey, Denis Kudla, United States, def. Andreas Seppi, Italy, seed Ugo Humbert after he Carreno Busta - the 11th seed seeded 23, also progressed pion Andreescu, who is seeded Uytvanck. United States, def. Pablo Carreno Busta (11), Spain, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2; Marton Fucsovics, Hungary, def. Jiri 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5; James Duckworth, Australia, def. Vesely, Czech Republic, 6-3, 5-4, ret.; Daniel Evans clinched the decider 9-7 with - in straight sets and 12th seed with relative ease. fifth, was playing just her sec- Asked whether she would Radu Albot, Moldova, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1; Jordan Thompson, (22), Britain, def. Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4; their match suspended late Casper Ruud was also dumped It was not the case for ond ever match at the grass prefer to play on the main Australia, def. Casper Ruud (12), Norway, 7-6 (6), 7-6 Karen Khachanov (25), Russia, def. Egor Gerasimov, on Tuesday night. A fall brief- out after he lost in five to Jor- Aslan Karatsev (20) and John grand slam and first since show court or see her team (3), 2-6, 2-6, 6-2; Marcos Giron, United States, def. Belarus, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-3. ly threatened to derail the dan Thompson. Isner (28), who saw their 2017, but was taken down 6-2 win, she said: “That’s a very Emil Ruusuvuori, Finland, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4; Daniel Elahi Galan, Colombia, def. Federico Coria, Women’s Singles (2nd Round) Australian’s hopes but he was Another decider was re- Wimbledon challenges end in 6-1 by Cornet. tricky question. Well I would Argentina, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5; Lorenzo Sonego (23), Elise Mertens (13), Belgium, def. Zhu Lin, China, 6-2, quickly back on his feet to fin- quired between Gael Monfils, the first round, but Marin Cilic Elina Svitolina is mean- prefer to play on Centre Court Italy, def. Pedro Sousa, Portugal, 6-2, 7-5, 6-0; Grigor 6-0. ish the job. seeded 13th, and Christopher and Taylor Fritz - the 32nd while dreaming of a super Sat- and then Ukraine beat Eng- Dimitrov (18), Bulgaria, def. Fernando Verdasco, Spain, Aryna Sabalenka (2), Belarus, def. Katie Boulter, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Mikael Ymer, Sweden, def. Britain, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Home favourite Cameron O’Connell and it was the for- and 31st seeds respectively urday where she plays on Cen- land, that’s the ideal.” Second Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-3; Elena Rybakina (18), Kazakhstan, def. Claire Liu, United Norrie, who finished runner- mer who prevailed 4-6 6-2 7-6 - made it through following tre Court in round three and seed Aryna Sabalenka of Bela- Carlos Alcaraz, Spain, def. Yasutaka Uchiyama, Japan, States, 6-4, 6-4. up at Queen’s Club, won his (5) 4-6 6-4. straight-set wins. then watches Ukraine beat rus also had a battle but beat 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Felix Auger-Aliassime (16), Iga Swiatek (7), Poland, def. Vera Zvonareva, Russia, first-round tie with Lucas The 18th seed Grigor Dim- Canadian Felix Auger-Ali- England in Euro 2020. Britain’s Katie Boulter in three Canada, def. Thiago Monteiro, Brazil, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; 6-1, 6-3. Pouille 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-2 7-5. itrov had less trouble against assime, the 16th seed, enjoyed The fifth seed, who is sets in the second round. Sabalenka prevails over battling Boulter on Centre Court AKING her Centre bian teenage debutante Ma- serve. A Sabalenka double saw the second seed fend off a Court debut against ria Camila Osorio Serrano or fault handed Boulter a 4-3 string of break points and she Ma home favourite, and Russian No.32 seed Ekaterina break advantage and the Brit gave out a huge roar when she seeded No.2 at a Grand Slam Alexandrova for a place in the secured the opening set on closed out the win in just over for the first time,A ryna Sa- second week.