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The Netherlands, who missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, have returned to the big stage with a bang. A three-time runners-up in World Cup history, the Dutch yesterday beat Senegal 2-0 with a confidence-boosting performance at Al Thumama Stadium.Cody Gakpo yesterday produced a stunning header late in the second half before substitute Davy Klaassen added one more in injury time to lift Netherlands to win in their opening match at Qatar 2022.Gakpo, the 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven forward, sent the ball into the net in the 84th minute from close range following a slick cross from Frenkie de Jong to score the first goal in the Group A clash. In added time, Klaassen picked up a rebound inside the Senegal box to score his team’s second goal with an easy shot into the net.With three points in the bag, Dutch coach Louis van Gaal must have been a relieved man after watching his side struggle against the African giants - who are missing Sadio Mane in Qatar - for most of the match.Dutch skipper Virgil van Dijk said the 2010 runners-up needed to perform better. “We won but we also know that we can and must do better,” Van Dijk, who got his 50th cap, said yesterday.“Going forward we sometimes tried to force things, and we too often left ourselves exposed to Senegal’s counter-attacks,” he told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “That is an area in which we will need to improve because it is an art that our next opponents, Ecuador, are very good at. But I am optimistic because I feel we are going to get better.”The Dutch have now extended their unbeaten streak to 16 matches. Senegal, who were on a four-match unbeaten streak in the warm-ups prior to the World Cup, could not score against debutant goalkeeper Andries Noppert, the tallest player at the World Cup in Qatar at 6’8”.With Noppert marshaling his team from the goalline, the match got off to a steady start though both teams adopted measured moves early on. Watford star Ismaila Sarr charged into the box Dutch but his shot was blocked in the second minute of the match. Soon afterwards, the Dutch nearly almost scored but Steven Berghuis failed to deflect on a low Gakpo cross from the right of box.Continuing with early game surge, striker Sarr in the 9th minute swivelled and produced a left-footed drive but the shot sailed above the Dutch crossbar. In the 16th minute, Daley Blind found momentum to jump above Senegal’s Youssef Sabaly on a Gakpo cross but the headed deflection bounced away from the goalpost.A minute later, Gapko provided a loopy cross but Vincent Janssen’s header missed the goalpost right to Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. In probably the best chance to score, midfielder Frankie de Jong took long to shoot as the Senegalese defence quickly thwarted the dangerous move from inside their own box in the 21st minute.A corner kick close to the half-hour mark by Gapko was tad off the mark but Van Dijk still laboured for a header that sailed away from the goalmouth after the Dutch skipper was crowded by Senegalese defenders.Midfielder Berghuis went solo with a left-footed drive but the shot sailed above the Senegalese crossbar in the 39th minute. Four minutes from the the break, Sarr found pace on his shot from the edge of the box but Nathan Ake stood solid to kill the move.With no substitutions made by either side in the first half, defender Denzel Dumfries charged into the Senegal box with the ball but Abdou Diallo was alert to mark him in his own box to force a corner. In the 52nd minute Van Dijk jumped over Idrissa Gana Gueye inside the box but the Dutch skipper’s headed deflection narrowly missed the Senegal crossbar from close range.In another wasted opportunity to score, Senegal’s Krepin Diatta failed to deflect home on a cross from close range in the 57th minute. Soon after the hour-mark, Senegal’s Boulaye Dia - inside the Dutch box - slipped a low shot past Van Dijk but keeper Noppert dived to his left to flick the shot away.Noppert once again stood like a wall when in the 71st minute as he blocked a fierce shot by midfielder Gueye who was standing unguarded on the edge of the Dutch box. Sarr, despite losing his balance in the 81st minute, managed another close range header but his deflection went above the crossbar.In a sudden twist to the match, Netherlands scored. Gakpo beat keeper Mendy with a high jump to head home from close range for his side’s first goal on a perfect De Jong cross from outside the box. Gakpo tad blindsided but he still managed to score in the 84th minute.A minute later, Dutch keeper Norries ensured his team’s lead was intact when he dived to his left on a powerful long-range shot from substitute Gueye.In injury time that saw the referee add eight minutes, Deepay fired a shot that was initially blocked by keeper Mendy but the ball bounced off his hands and landed at the feet of Klaassen who had no trouble in scoring the second goal for Netherlands in the dying moments of the game. “It was a boyhood dream for me to play at a World Cup but I never thought it would be possible,” Noppertsaid. “It was really special when the goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek told me that I was going to play. The closer the game got, the more tense I became, but it was a healthy tension. ”

Coach Louis van Gaal believes his team has the potential to win the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as Netherlands prepare to take on African giants Senegal in their opening match at Al Thumama Stadium today.Van Gaal, with a wealth of experience as a coach, yesterday warned Senegal that he commands a disciplined squad that is ready to impress fans in Qatar.“I think we could become world champions. There are teams with higher level in my view than my squad. Whether we can become world champions is another thing but we can,” Van Gaal said at a news conference ahead of today’s Group A clash.“I believe in this squad. In 2014, we came third. We were of lesser quality compared to this team. I expect more from this squad. It depends not only on technical skills and tactical skills, but it also depends on a bit of luck, that you score at the right time and that the others don’t score,” he said.“This group is higher in skills. They have a wonderful captain to work with in Virgil van Dijk. He’s an excellent captain. I didn’t appoint him as he was already a captain,” Van Gaal said.Dutch skipper Van Dijk, who was also present at the press conference, yesterday said he called Senegal star Sadio Mane who has been ruled out of the World Cup with an injury.“Yes, I called him the next morning (after Mane pulled out injured). I wanted to know how he was. There were so many rumours so as a friend I wanted to know how he was feeling,” Van Dijk said yesterday. “Unfortunately he was not well but there was hope he would be before the announcement was made. I am sad for him. He has been so important for Senegal. Obviously he is going to be a big miss for them. Hopefully we can benefit from his absence,” Van Dijk said of his Liverpool teammate Mane.“I am excited. The last past few days have passed slowly. We can’t wait to get going. Hopefully it will be a great adventure,” he said. “Like I said I am very excited for the first game. We are looking forward to it. We have trained hard,” the 31-year-old added.Van Gaal said Senegal would miss Mane’s ‘extraordinary’ talent.“Senegal are the African Cup of Nations champions. They are not just any opponents. Mane is not playing. How is their team going to play without him? That is my question,” Van Gaal said.“I think Mane is an extraordinarily player. I wanted him when I was at Manchester United. I chased him. He can break open a match. I feel Senegal will miss him,” the 71-year-old Dutchman said.When asked about his playing XI, Van Gaal said: “I never give up my lineup before a game. I am reasonably confident of my decisions though. Of course you always have question marks (about selection) but the choices remain the same. I also look at my opponents. I analyse them and then I pick my players looking for players who are suited for the best slots. “The fact is this group of players is well connected. The players work in a professional way. And that will always contribute to success. They have to carry out what we want. Not every group wants that. I have been coaching for 30 years. I remove the group that doesn’t listen.”Senegal coach Aliou Cisse yesterday said his team won’t be overawed when they take on 2010 World Cup runners-up Netherlands today.“We have a good team consisting of young players who are ready to rise to the occasion. Of course it is not easy to play without Mane who is injured but all of our players are ready for the opening match,” Cisse said at the official pre-match news conference.“It is an important match, there’s no doubt. We want a good result. We want to start the World Cup on a good note,” he said. “Obviously it’s a great shame for Mane and for the team that he is not here. We have to think about the player safety. All coaches build their team around their best player. That’s what we have done too. I hope he recovers soon. The Dutch are a good side but we need to be true to ourselves. We don’t have to copy other people’s style of play. We are not going to invent a new Senegal style of play. We will stay true to our style.”When asked whether his team tactics would involve an all-out attack on the Netherlands team, Cisse said: “I think you have to look at all aspects. In football you have different aspects where you need to defend and attack when you can. We have to see how the match will go.”Cisse was full of praise for Van Gaal.“Louis Van Gaal is the benchmark for other coaches. Everyone knows about him being a disciplinarian. At the top you have to be disciplined. I am like that also as you have to be disciplined at the top,” Cisse said.“When you talk about the spirit and morale, of course it (Mane’s absence) affects you. He is our best player and a leader,” Senegal’s Krepin Diatta, 23, said at the press conference yesterday.“But we are determined to do what we can without him. We are going to have to work harder individually and harder as a team. We still have a very strong mentality, we are comfortable being together and we are strong together.” Cisse added: “This is my fifth major competition with Senegal – three African Cup of Nations and two World Cups. I am the only coach with this kind of experience. We are delighted to be here. We are working as well as we can. There are nerves but we are confident about our chances in this World Cup. We are humble yet confident.”FACTBOX - Senegal v NetherlandsWhen: Monday Nov. 21, 1900 local (1600 GMT/1100 ET)Where: Al Thumama Stadium, DohaCapacity: 40,000Key stats:Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 15 matches.The Netherlands’ last defeat was against the Czech Republic in the last 16 at Euro 2020.The Dutch are three times runners-up but failed to qualify for Russia 2018.Senegal are one of three African countries to reach a World Cup quarter-final.Senegal were unbeaten in their last four warm-up matches before the tournament.Previous meetings: The teams have never previously met at the World Cup.

The year is 2014. A young forward – with potential to be a star for his country – is aiming big. He gets the stage and delivers. That young player was Akram Afif who found the net for Qatar U-19 squad battling North Korea in the final of the AFC Asian Cup in Myanmar in October that year. Afif, just 17 then, scored the only goal of the final in the 52nd minute as Qatar became the Asian champions in U-19. That was the beginning of Qatar’s resurgence in regional and Asian football. Fast forward to today, Afif and his teammate from those years, Almoez Ali, will lead Qatar’s charge as they prepare to make their FIFA World Cup debut against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium today. Afif, the Al Sadd star, and Almoez, the Al Duhail captain, were two of the heroes who guided Qatar to their 2019 AFC Asian Cup title winning campaign in the UAE.Thanks largely to former Barcelona youth coach Felix Sanchez – who has guided the two young players and a series of other young players over the last seven-eight years – Qatar has charted their journey to the World Cup debut in an inspiring manner. The message then was: get hold of them young, groom them under the tutelage of fitness experts and specialised coaches, pick the sharper ones for age specific tournaments for exposure sake and eventually and help the quality young players graduate to the Qatar national side.With a player pool of just 5,000 (a rough estimate), Qatar – coached by Sanchez – went on to become the Asian Cup champions in February 2019 when they beat three-time champions Japan in the final held at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Dubai. The journey to the Asian Cup title three years ago wasn’t easy but clearly not too hard to understand. In just a little over 15 years, Qatar’s heavy investment in sports in general and football in particular has paid rich dividends for a country that is just 24 hours away from hosting the region’s first FIFA World Cup.Just as Afif’s match-winning goal in the AFC U-19 Asian Cup final was a watershed moment in the country’s football journey, the platform to excel on a football field took scientific root when FIFA World Cup heroes Pele and Diego Maradona touched down in Doha for the inauguration of the Aspire Academy in November 2005. The world’s largest indoor sports facility – replete with the most modern set-up to groom young kids for a sound beginning to their cherished dreams – the Aspire Academy has given Qatar football players like Afif, Almoez, Saad al-Sheeb and even global track and field star Mutaz Essa Barshim.In between building a strong base for young players who could go on to deliver positive results on the field of play, Qatar has developed stunning football infrastructure that is quite simply the envy of the football world. After winning the FIFA World Cup bid race for the 2022 edition, Qatar has built seven brand new venues – each a viewing spectacle in itself – and completely revamped the iconic Khalifa International Stadium that was built in 1976.Among the seven new 2022 FIFA World Cup venues, one is in the shape of a ‘gahfiya’, a traditional woven cap worn by men and boys across the Middle East. Another is the 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium which is designed after the tents used by nomadic people living in the deserts in Qatar and the region decades ago. The Education City Stadium is just as unique as the first two. The exterior of the Education City Stadium has triangles that form diamond-like geometrical patterns that sparkle as the sun moves across the sky. Al Janoub Stadium, another brand new venue that was unveiled in 2019, has a captivating design that looks like wind-filled sails of dhow boats usually seen moored at the Corniche bay and other waterfront areas in the country.On the field of play, the hugely popular Qatar Stars League runs nine months every season. Every game is telecast live as are other tournaments falling under the purview of the Qatar Football Association (QFA). Qatar’s top professional football league has attracted some great names in the world of football like Nigel De Jong (Al Ahli, Al Shahaniya), Mario Mandzukic (Al Duhail), Santi Cazorla (Al Sadd), Samuel Eto’o (Qatar SC), James Rodriguez (Al Rayyan), Tobby Alderweireld (Al Duhail), Marcel Desailly (Al Gharafa, Qatar SC), Wesley Sneijder (Al Gharafa), Xavi Hernandez (Al Sadd, coach and player), Juninho (Al Gharafa), Gabriel Batistuta (Al Arabi) and Claudio Caniggia (Qatar SC). The fiercely contested league has 12 clubs with each delivering a platform for youth teams as well. Al Sadd, the country’s premier football club, is a former AFC Champions League title winner. Al Sadd players and Qatar internationals Abdelkarim Hassan (2018) and Afif (2019) have won the AFC Asian Player of the Year awards.Over the last decade and half, Qatar has successfully hosted key football events like the AFC Asian Cup, the Gulf Cup, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, age specific Asian events and a series of West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) tournaments. Just when the fans needed to see football activity resume at a time when Covid-19 pandemic was raging across the world, Qatar activated hundreds of health workers to host the AFC Champions League matches of the East and West Zones in September 2020 and again in November and December the same year. Building bridges between the Asian region and the world, QFA and the Qatar Stars League Management (QSLM) deserve special praise for conducting a series of football development workshops in coaching and refereeing areas for most part of the last decade. A truly creditable service, QFA continues to host workshops recognized by FIFA, UEFA and AFC officials from time to time.In a nutshell, Qatar’s is a football success story – on and off field. The country deserves praise for bringing the FIFA World Cup to this region for the first time. There can’t be a better time for the world to know the region first-hand. As Qatar welcomes the fans for the FIFA World Cup, the national team players should enjoy their golden moment in the sun. They have deserved this moment. Winning and losing are part of the sport but the occasion as big as the World Cup has to be enjoyed and savoured for generations to come.Ahlan Wa Sahlan, folks!

The last time Wales appeared in a FIFA World Cup, a young Pele was about to lead Brazil to a title win way back in 1958.When Wales take on the US at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday, the team captained by Gareth Bales will end a 64-year-old wait to appear in the World Cup once again.Despite the long wait, young defender Ethan Ampadu doesn’t seem to be too bothered by Wales’ lack of World Cup appearances in more than six decades.“We have settled well (in Qatar) since arriving. We are all excited ahead of the World Cup. Everyone is fit and ready to go. There’s a good spirit in the camp and everybody is relaxed,” Ampadu, 22, said yesterday at a press conference.“I am not sure if it’s more of a responsibility (of doing well on World Cup return). I think it is what it is. It is the World Cup. We are here to do the best we can and to show how good we are,” he said confidently.“We’re here to compete and try to win every game. We are here to do the best that we can and if that gives us a possibility to win it, then of course, we’re going to back ourselves,” Ampadu, who plays for Serie A side Spezia on loan from Chelsea, added.Ampadu said Wales – coached by Rob Page – won’t be taking the US – captained by talismanic Christian Pulisic – lightly when the two sides open their Group B campaign on Monday.“It’s going to be a difficult game, of course. We are here for the World Cup. I suppose that’s how it’s going to be no matter who the opposition is. They have great players. We should try to get past them. We have to show what we can do,” Ampadu said.“I think no matter what team you play, you have to go with that mindset that it’s the World Cup. No team is here to draw or lose,” he said.When asked about the warm weather that greeted Wales and other teams in Qatar, Ampadu dismissed it as a concern.“Well, it’s going to be warm for everyone (and not just us). That’s what I am going to say about it. Not sure if they (Wales group rivals) are used to the heat or not, better ask them. What matters to us is how well we do here. We can’t change that,” Ampadu said.Wales forward Mark Harris, however, said his teammates would make the most of the coming three days before opening their World Cup campaign against the US.“Hopefully it will be cooler in the evening.“It was warm when we were walking during the day. We are not used to heat like this. I won’t say any team has any advantage over the other rivals. I am sure the training in the next few days will help us acclimatise better,” Harris said yesterday.Harris, the Cardiff City star, his team would be aiming ‘for three points’ against the US. “They got some quality players. They are a good side. They also have qualified for the World Cup. Their captain Pulisic is a great player. For sure it will be a tough match but we will be playing for three points,” Harris, 23, added.Harris said playing in the World Cup would highlight Wales’ potential on the big stage.“Wales playing in a World Cup has taken 64 years. We have got to two Euro Championships recently but this is the world’s biggest stage. We clearly want to win but we will see how far we can go,” Harris said.“We arrive for every match to win. Our main focus right now is the US. The next three days of training will be all about taking on the US,” he added.Harris said he found staying in Qatar enjoyable.“The hotels are great. We have our own little room for games and other activities. The hotel has everything we need. There are recovery rooms, the gyms. So far so good,” he said before leaving the press conference for his team’s training session at Al Sadd pitch 2.Wales face Iran on November 25 and wrap up the group stage with a clash against England on November 29.

Former champions Al Duhail on Sunday beat Al Sailiya 4-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Amir Cup, the country’s most popular football tournament. In the day’s other quarter-final, Al Gharafa edged Qatar SC 2-1 at Grand Hamad Stadium to reach the last-four. Toby Alderweireld opened the scoring for Al Duhail in the 12th minute. His teammate Ismail Mohamed doubled the lead in the 34th minute. Al Sailiya’s Walter Bwalya reduced the deficit in the 54th minute but three minutes later Abdelrahma Mustafa found the net for Al Duhail. Qatar national team player Karim Boudiaf hammered in the fourth goal (76th minute) as Al Duhail completed their resounding win. For Al Gharafa, Amro Surag scored the first goal in the 24th minute but Javi Martinez produced the equaliser for Qatar SC in the 57th minute. Sofiane Hanni managed the winning goal seven minutes later. Scorer of the second goal, Mohamed of Al Duhail said after the match: “I say hard luck to Al Sailiya but we played well. Once we scored the second goal, we knew we were on our way. We fought hard until the last minute. Thank God we reached our target.” He added: “We are ready for Al Sadd now. We will give our best but first we will rest and recover and come back with another strategy. This is a big tournament and we want to do well. That goes without saying. We will continue to play good football. Al Sadd are a solid side but we will come prepared. We are focused on winning the Cup.” Abdullah Mahmood of Al Sailiya said after the match: “They played better football. Their football was better than ours. It was a good tournament for us. We couldn’t get past this match. We will come prepared in the next season. We all worked hard.” Alderweireld jumped high on a corner kick to deflect the ball home from close range as Al Duhail opened the scoring. Mohamed, after a cross from the midfield, hoodwinked his marker and slipped into the Al Sailiya box. Al Sailiya keeper stepped out to kill the move but Mohamed smartly tapped the ball into the net from close range. A defensive error allowed Al Sailiya to score their first and only goal when Bwalya tapped the ball into the net following a short cross inside the Al Duhail box. Al Duhail’s Moustafa – on the edge of the Al Sailiya box – unleashed a powerful left-footed drive that beat the Al Sailiya keeper Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz in the 57th minute. Boudiaf rounded off Al Duhail’s dominant show when he headed home from close range off a corner kick by jumping high for the header. For Al Gharafa, Suraj scored the first goal with a superb chip over Qatar SC keeper for his side’s first goal. Martinez headed home for Qatar SC’s equaliser close to the hour-mark. However, Hanni found the net for Al Gharafa with a close-range strike inside the Qatar SC box for the match winning goal.      

Polish tennis sensation Iga Swiatek Friday crushed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in straight sets to win the Qatar TotalEnergies Open title for the first time. Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, Friday won 6-2, 6-0 in a clinical performance that was loudly cheered by a big group of Polish fans present at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the winner's trophy after winning the final match of the 2022 WTA Qatar Open in Doha Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) president Nasser al-Khelaifi presented the Golden Falcon Trophy to Swiatek at the presentation ceremony. The straight-set demolition of Kontaveit, seeded fourth in Doha, was completed in just 66 minutes with the second set getting over in less than half an hour. Winner Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland celebrates with her trophy next to runner-up Annet Kontaveit of Estonia It was Swiatek’s second WTA 1000 final triumph following her title win over Karolina Pliskova at Rome last year. Friday’s win was Swiatek’s 10th in a row this year. The Polish tennis star, winner of the 2020 French Open, has now won 4 career titles. Seeded seven for the premier event in Doha, Swiatek has now won two titles on hardcourts after her win in Adelaide last year and the only Pole to reach the final in the Qatari capital. A winner over top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarter-finals, Swiatek fired five aces in her convincing win Friday. Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with her trophy “It's been a pretty few intense months but I'm pretty happy that today I could play the way I did today because before the match, I got stressed as it seemed impossible to beat her considering the last tournaments that she has played,” Swiatek said Friday while praising her rival. “You're constantly improving, you're playing really solid. I'm pretty happy that we had this match. Though the score wasn't even, all the points were even as we were fighting. You were fighting because you are a fighter and congrats for all the wins you had here,” she added. “I want to thank Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi, the WTA and all those who make this tournament possible. It's been great. I love it here. This is my second time. I'm always going to remember the memories of this week. “The support that I got here was amazing and it's even though I'm on tour for like three years now, it's still surprising to me how many Polish people came here,” she said with a smile. “I want to thank my team. I know how much work they've put to get me in shape and how much they sacrifice sometimes. I really appreciate that. Without them, I wouldn't be in that place,” the Doha winner said. Swiatek also spoke about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “And lastly, I want to show my support for the people who are suffering in Ukraine. It's really hard to say. Seeing those images is really emotional for me,” Swiatek said. “I wouldn't even imagine stuff like that happening to the country next to me. I hope everybody at the end is going to be safe. I hope that even though this is like a big event looking at all the problems that we have in the world, the (world of) sport is going to connect. And even though there are many things dividing us, (sport) is going to connect us and it's going to bring us joy. So thank you all for coming tonight, and I hope the Ukrainian people are going to be well,” she said. Kontaveit arrived for the Doha title clash having reached more finals and won more matches than any other player on the Tour since 2021. Playing her ninth final during this period, Kontaveit – despite having won a total of 61 matches in the last 14 months – Friday couldn’t halt Swiatek’s charge in chilly conditions. After being tied at 1-all, Swiatek broke Kontaveit in the third game as the Estonian went long on her returns on three occasions. Kontaveit hit back and broke Swiatek in the next game to draw level at 2-all but then faltered again by losing serve in game five. A long return and an unforced error from Kontaveit at deuce allowed Swiatek to manage a decisive service break in game seven (5-2). Swiatek was quick to convert the first set point in her favour to take the set at 6-2. Then there was no coming back for Kontaveit. With momentum on her side, Swiatek switched gears with remarkable ease breaking her opponent three times in the second set to close the match in a little over an hour’s time. Swiatek won 10 successive games after losing the service in game four of the first set. Kontaveit was quick to applaud the victory in her speech after the final. “I want to congratulate Iga. You are fantastic. You just keep getting better and congratulations to you and your team on a fantastic week,” Kontaveit said at the presentation ceremony Friday. “Of course not the result I wanted, but yeah, definitely a very good week for me,” the 26-year-old Estonian said. “I am also very happy with the way my game is improving. And that's of course, thanks to my team and everyone who has been supporting me. “I want to say thank you to the organizers for making this fantastic event happen including everybody involved like the sponsors and the WTA. I am just very grateful to be playing tennis at this level and just happy to be here,” she added. BOX ITEM Iga Swiatek’s last 4 finals: 2020 Roland Garros: 6-4 6-1, Kenin 2021 Adelaide: 6-2 6-2, Belinda Bencic 2021 Rome: 6-0 6-0, Karolina Pliskova 2022 Doha: 6-2, 6-0 Anett Kontaveit     YEAR CHAMPION RUNNER-UP SCORE 2022 [7] Swiatek (POL #8) [7 ] Konatveit (EST #7) 6-2 6-0 2021 [4] Kvitova (CZE #10) Muguruza (ESP #16) 6-2 6-1 2020 [9] Sabalenka (BLR #13) [8] Kvitova (CZE #11) 6-3 6-3 2019 Mertens (BEL #21) [1] Halep (ROU #3) 3-6 6-4 6-3 2018 [16] Kvitova (CZE #21) [4] Muguruza (ESP #4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 2017 [2] Ka.Pliskova (CZE #3) Wozniacki (DEN #18) 6-3 6-4 2016 [8] Suárez Navarro (ESP #11) Ostapenko (LAT #88) 1-6 6-4 6-4 2015 Safarova (CZE #15) Azarenka (BLR #48) 6-4 6-3 2014 [7] Halep (ROU #10) [6] Kerber (GER #9) 6-2 6-3 2013 [1] Azarenka (BLR #1) [2] S.Williams (USA #2) 7-6(6) 2-6 6-3 2012 [1] Azarenka (BLR #1) [3] Stosur (AUS #5) 6-1 6-2

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek on Thursday stunned top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus to set up a semi-final clash against sixth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece. Swiatek won 6-2, 6-3 against the 2020 Qatar champion as the 2020 French Open winner completed her first win in two career matches over the experienced rival at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. Also yesterday, Dubai winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia produced a compact performance to crush fifth seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain in straight sets to reach the semi-finals. Ostapenko, making her sixth appearance in Doha, won 6-2, 6-2 for her 14th victory of the season, the highest by any player in 2022. The 24-year-old Latvian has now reached her third semi-final of the year after making it to last-four stages at St Petersburgh and Dubai. Ostapenko has stretched her winning streak to nine matches, a personal best. Today Ostapenko will meet Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, the fourth seed who yesterday broke Tunisian hearts when she beat eighth seed Ons Jabeur in straight sets to reach the semi-finals. Kontaveit, with one title under her belt this year, won 6-4, 6-1. Yesterday, Sakkari maintained her dominance over Coco Gauff as she beat the American for the third time in four matches on the WTA Tour. Sakkari fired five aces to complete a 6-3, 6-3 win in 1 hour and 26 minutes. It was her third successive victory over an American player in Doha following wins over Ann Li and Jessica Pegula. Swiatek broke Sabalenka four times in the first set and then and another two times to complete her resounding win in just 1 hour and 15 minutes. “I was waiting for this match was quite stressful as it was my first quarter-final on a hard court at a tournament like this,” Swiatek said yesterday. “I just wanted to stay focused as I did in the last few rounds here. I knew Aryna was going to play strong so I am really that my mental game was to the point,” the 21-year-old added. Ostapenko yesterday broke Muguruza three times in each of the two sets to completely dominate the fifth seed in Doha. “I’m really happy with the level I was playing today. I think I was dictating the game very well and obviously I knew she’s a great player, so it was always going to be a tough match. I was really ready for it, ready for a battle. But I think it was a bit easier than I expected,” Ostapenko said yesterday. “I love to play here. I have great memories from this tournament. I’m just enjoying the week. I’m in playing good tennis and just looking forward to the next one,” the 2016 runners-up in Qatar said. About her semi-final against Estonia’s Konatveit today, Ostapenko said: “Of course, it’s going to be a tough match, but I’m really ready for a battle and I hope you guys enjoy it,” she added. After being equal for the first nine games against Jabeur, Kontaveit, 26, broke the diminutive Tunisian in game 10 to close the first set at 6-4. With momentum on her side, Kontaveit, making her fifth appearance in Doha, won the first game of the second set and then broke Jabeur again in game two. Another service break in game sic saw Kontaveit complete a straight-sets win. “It was really a very competitive first set. I think it was so even until we were 5-4 and then I managed to play the good points and take the first set,” Kontaveit said yesterday. “That really helped my level and I had a fun game. I was really enjoying myself today,” she added. “I have just gained a lot of confidence,” Kontaveit said when asked about her sixth semi-finals appearance at her last seven events. “I feel every tournament I play, I can go deep. I have this self-belief that I was perhaps lacking before. That’s made the biggest difference,” she added with a smile. Gauff uncharacteristically was guilty of 26 unforced errors as Sakkari, 27, reached her 15th quarter-final on a hardcourt besides playing the last-four at Roland Garros last year. Sakkari broke Gauff in the very first game and then once more in the ninth to seal the first set at 6-3. In the second set, Sakkari – making her fourth appearance in Doha - broke Gauff in games two and four before closing out the set at 6-3. By virtue of her win yesterday, Sakkari has now moved into her sixth semi-final at the WTA 1000 level or above following Wuhan 2017, Rome 2019, Miami 2021, Roland Garros 2021 and the US Open 2021. “I’m actually very happy with where my game is right now. I’m just enjoying myself, enjoying my tennis,” Sakkari said yesterday. “I think it was a very solid match today from my side. I had to come up with some very good tennis throughout the match because Coco is a very tough opponent. So I’m just, as I said, very pleased and very excited to be in the semi-finals,” she added. “…being one of the top 10 players right now, I feel like I’m here for a reason. I’m here because my tennis is at a very high level. So sometimes it’s like I don’t have to show up on court. Tennis-wise, it’s just that sometimes I don’t have to do that much in order to win. It’s just that emotionally and mentally, you have to be there all the time, but sometimes you don’t need 100 percent of your tennis to win matches,” Sakkari explained. “So I think, you know, obviously for the reasons why I said earlier, my tennis was not great on my first round match, but obviously today’s match was a lot higher and a lot better. You need to save energy in order to go deep every week,” she said.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus on Tuesday looked in a hurry as she demolished French wildcard Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2 to advance at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. In other matches, defending champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic saw her campaign end with an injury while playing against Belgium’s Elise Mertens on Day Three of the $1.2mn tournament. Also yesterday, Dubai winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia beat Amanda Anisimova of the US. Ostapenko won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in 1 hour and 39 minutes. It was Ostapenko’s seventh straight win in the Dubai-Doha trip. Sabalenka, the Doha champion in 2020, yesterday exhibited sublime form, crushing points from the baseline and on her serve. The Belarusian, who reached the Round of 16 in Dubai last week, was quick off the blocks to negate the challenge of her inexperienced rival. The 23-year-old Minsk-born broke Cornet in the third game of the first set. The young French rival managed to save a couple of breakpoints but a long return and an unforced error saw Sabalenka take a 3-1 lead. In game seven, Sabalenka broke Cornet again to jump to a 5-2. A crushing forehand from Sabalenka saw her take the first set at 6-2 in just 40 minutes. In the second set, Sabalenka – one of six former champions in the Doha draw – broke Cornet in games one and five to carve out another impressive win. After wrapping up a match without a single breakpoint, Sabalenkla said she had to battle through a few tough rallies. “No, no. It definitely wasn’t easy. It was a really tough match to play, I had to play really well,” Sabalenka said yesterday. “She pushed me a lot and did well at the start. But I guess I have amazing support here. Thank you guys so much. It’s unbelievable to play in front of fans who cheer for you like this. Thank you for the support,” she added, while waving at the fans present at Centre Court. Sabalenka said she expected long rallies in the match. “Well, I expected long rallies in this match and I prepared myself for this. I knew that these kinds of rallies would be seen often. My tactic was just to stay in the point as long as I can and try to push her as much as I can. I also tried to serve well,” Sabalenka explained. When reminded of her previous title win in 2020, Sabalenka said: “It’s an amazing place. I really enjoy every second on the court here and I have the best support in Doha. I feel like being at home. So it would be really amazing to win another title,” she said with a broad smile. “I really feel the support (of fans) there (in Belraus) also. I know a lot of people are supporting me. I really appreciate their support. They know that I really love them,” she said. Also yesterday, second seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic beat Poland’s Magda Linette in straight sets. Krejcikova won 6-1, 6-3 in 1 hour and 12 minutes. The 26-year-old is bidding to become the fourth Czech woman to lift the Doha title. Third seed Spain’s Paula Badosa beat Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-1, 6-2 while American seeded players Coco Gauff and compatriot Jessica Pegula also advanced. Gauff, seeded 14, beat Caroline Garcia of France 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) while Pegula, seeded 9, edged Slovakia’s Kaja Juvan 6-3, 6-3. Ostapenko, who won her fifth career title last week, also looked impressive yesterday as she battled through her clash against Ainisimova of the US. Back in the top-20 for the first time since October 2018, Ostapenko braved seven aces to emerge victorious in the 1-hour 39-minute marathon. Two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus yesterday pulled out of her match against Madison Brengle because of a hip injury. The 2012 and 2013 Qatar champion beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in a feisty contest on Sunday. Brengle will now meet Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the Round of 16. Muguruza, seeded five, has lost two finals against Kvitova in Doha – last year and in 2018. Eighth seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia yesterday beat Aliaksandra Sasnovic of Belarus 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in 1 hour and 48 minutes. Despite going down in the first set, Jabeur fired five aces to lift herself in admirable fashion. Two years ago, Jabeur reached the quarter-finals in Doha.      

Top seed and world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus says she is rapidly building momentum as she bids to get her first trophy in the new season ahead of her opening match at this week’s Qatar TotalEnergies Open. Sabalenka, who gets a bye in the first round along with seven other players, reached the Round of 16 in Dubai last week. Last month Sabalenka reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, the season’s first Grand Slam. Before the start of the Australian Open, the 23-year-old Minsk-born lost the Adelaide International 2 final against Rebecac Peterson. A week earlier, she was beaten by Kaja Juvan in the Adelaide International title clash. Winner of six career titles, Sabalenka could add one more trophy to her cabinet if she successfully tackles a field that includes a number of Grand Slam champions including Garbine Muguruza of Spain, Iga Swiatek of Poland, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, Angelique Kerber of Germany and Jelena Ostapenka of Latvia. The six-foot tall right-hander – who won the Qatar Open title two years ago - yesterday said she is in a good space at the moment despite being without a trophy in the first two months of the 2022 season. “(Dubai) was (a) tough week. I would say I didn’t perform my best, but I gave everything I had. I felt like things are slowly getting back. I’m working hard and hopefully I can do better here,” Sabalenka said yesterday. “I’m really happy to be here. It’s an amazing tournament. I have a lot of good memories from here,” she added. “I like the conditions (smiling). It suits my game well. Yeah, I like it,” the top seed said. “It’s really strong tournament here. Every match is a battle here,” she said. “But I would say that everywhere every match is a battle for us, and every match, every tournament is (a) challenge. I’m open for all these challenges and looking forward to all these matches,” Sabalenka said. “I (have) won this tournament once and hopefully I can do it again,” she said. Muguruza, who is seeded five in Doha, yesterday said she felt ‘battle-ready for the premier seven-day tournament that offers a staggering $380,000 to the winner besides 900 WTA Tour points. “So far (so) good,” Muguruza, last year’s losing finalist, said yesterday. “I have been training, I have been getting ready. It’s a tournament that I have played (at for) so many years. I know, I think, how it is and how to prepare,” the 28-year-old said. “… just waiting for an opponent and hopefully I can start tomorrow.” The two-time Grand Slam winner said Doha presented a windy challenge to players appearing in the 64-player field. “Conditions are kind of windy here always. It’s always hot during the day and cold at night. Yeah, pretty much Middle East weather (smiling),” Muguruza said. “I keep coming (to Doha) because it is a big tournament. It’s important on our calendar. Like you said, I have played well in the past (lost to Petra Kvitova in two finals). I have been very, very, very close to getting the title twice. “But playing finals, it’s always a very good sign, so I feel like I know how to play here. Hopefully I can bring all of these match experiences into this year’s tournament,” she said. The Spaniard said she followed Roberto Bautista Agut’s title triumph at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex last week. “I saw that he (Bautista Agut) won the title for a second time (in Doha). I think he won it already in the past. That was a great final. I actually saw the semi-finals and final. Hopefully another Spaniard can get the title, so we conquer Qatar 2022 (smiling),” she said with a smile. Muguruza, last year’s WTA Tour-ending championships winner, yesterday said she may not venture out for sightseeing in Doha but is aware of the construction blitz in the country ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Qatar later this year. “There has been a lot of construction lately here in Doha. There are a couple of high profile museums that seem interesting, and obviously the gigantic mall they built here. So far I don’t have plans to do (venture out) much. I just want to concentrate and rest for the tournament,” she added.      

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on Sunday rallied from a set down to beat feisty Yulia Putintseva of Kazkhstan to sign in for the second round of Qatar TotalEnergies Open Azarenka, the Qatar champion in 2012 and 2013, on Sunday won 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in two hours and 49 minutes. The two-time Grand Slam winner fought back from 0-4 down in the deciding set during which Putintseva also held match-point. “I am so happy to have won here. I always love coming here. I even trained here before I went to Dubai. This feels like home because people are so welcoming,” Azarenka said. Azrenka, who fired seven aces in the tense three-set battle, added: “Doha is one of my favourtite stops on Tour. I have made such great connections here. I love playing in front of this crowd. I hope I can pick up my game in the next round.” Fourteenth seed Jessica Pegula of the US yesterday beat Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes. Pegula, who played the Doha semi-finals last year as a qualifier, hit three aces in her second win over Siniakova. The American will face Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan of Slovenia in the next round at the seven-day tournament. In a shock result yesterday, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic was shown the door by Denmark’s Clara Tauson in three grueling sets. Tauson, only the second Danish player to compete at a WTA Tour event in Doha after Caroline Wozniacki, fired 7 aces in her 1 hour and 58-minute win. “It was a very tough match. I know Belinda is playing very well so I had to play my best today, and I did sometimes,” Tauson said after the match. “I have my confidence but every match is really tough at this level, so I’m doing my best.” she added. In another clash, Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck eased past former champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia in straight sets to reach the second round. Van Uytvanck won 6-4, 6-4 in a minute short of two hours against the 2011 champion in Qatar. Also yesterday, Juvan of Slovenia kicked off her Qatar campaign with a commanding show against Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland. Juvan won 6-4, 6-2 in 80 minutes. Romania’s Sorana Cirstea also advanced after she beat Mayar Sherif of Egypt, also in straight sets. Cirstea, sitting on her highest ever ranking of 30, won 6-2, 6-1 in 68 minutes. Cirestea, one of three Romanians in the draw, will now play last year’s runner’s-up Garbine Muguruza of Spain. In another match, Aliaksandra Sasnovic of Belarus beat Shuai Zhang of China 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour’s time. Sasnovic, 27, fired four aces as she wrapped up the match with ease against her vastly experienced Chinese opponent. American Madison Brengle eased past Turkey’s Ipek Oz in straight sets. Brengle won 7-5, 6-3. Croatia’s Ana Konjuh beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in three sets. Konjuh won 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.      

Spain’s Roberto Baustista Agut beat defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in a gripping Qatar ExxonMobil Open final. Baustista Agut won 6-3, 6-4 win in 84 minutes of calculative tennis watched by a packed crowd at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. It was the fourth win over Basilashvili in career head-to-head meetings and his 11th for the season. By virtue of fighting title win Saturday, Baustista Agut has become only the third player in Qatar to have won two or more titles. Tennis icon Roger Federer is the only player with three title wins in Qatar (2005, 2006, 2011) while Stefan Edberg of Sweden (1994, 1995), Andy Murray of Great Britain (2008, 2009), and Novak Djokovic (2016, 2017) have won two titles each. “I'm very happy now,” Baustita Agut said Saturday after exacting revenge on his conqueror during last year’s final. “It's been a while without lifting a trophy and I've been working very hard to play another final to get the chance to win another title,” he added. “It was a big dream for me when I was young to lift this title here and now I have won two times in Doha. “This tournament is being very special for me and I cannot be happier than now. It was a really tough final this year. I was lucky I could play the final as it was not easy to recover after a really tough match on Friday. Really tough battle (in the semi-finals), but I think I did a pretty good job today thanks to my team helping me recover as quickly as I could. “I won another Doha and it's my 10th title with a big title and I am very happy,” he said with a smile. Basilashvili, who fired 8 aces in the match, was the first one to manage a service break in the match when he broke Bautista Agut in game three of the first set. The 33-year-old Spaniard was wayward with a couple of long returns and an unforced error on his serve allowed Basilashvili jump to a 3-1 lead. But the gritty 2019 David Cup winner from Spain fought back in game six when a couple of backhand unforced errors along with a double fault slowed down Basilashvili at 3-3. In game eight, Bautista Agut made the most of a deuce situation when a couple of unforced errors from faltering Basilashvili allowed the 2019 Doha champion to surge ahead at 5-3. He quickly closed out the first set at 6-3 by holding serve. In the second set, Basilashvili broke Bautista Agut in game two to go 2-0 up but it wasn’t long before the eventual champion struck back. Bautista Agut broke Basilashvili in game five and then crucially in game nine when the latter went long on his returns after two unforced errors. With a 5-4 advantage, Bautista Agut saw three unforced errors from Basilashvili give him the set at 6-3 and his second title triumph. Basilashvili, who looked dejected, was quick to praise the new champion. “I'm super happy how I played this tournament in general and I love coming back here but I would like to say congrats to Roberto for a greater tournament,” the 29-year-old Georgian said Saturday. “I say congratulations to your team and his wonderful family. I would like to say thanks to my team as well. They are doing unbelievable job,” the 2021 champion, who beat Fededer here in Doha en route to his title glory, said. “I am extremely happy and pleased to have them with me. I applaud the tournament organizers and the sponsors for making such a great tournament every year. I hope to come back to next year,” he said.

French journeyman Arthur Rinderknech on Thursday showed scant respect to reputation or rankings as he dispatched top seed Denis Shapovalov of Canada in straight sets to reach the semi-finals at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Also on Thursday, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia overcame a stuttering start to beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in three sets to reach his second successive semi-final at the $1.2mn tournament. Rinderknech, up against a formidable opponent, looked remarkably at ease on the Centre Court to win 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour and 20 minutes. In the semi-final today, Rinderknech will take on Basilashvili, the last year’s winner. Basilashvili, down by one set, rallied in slick fashion to carve out a gutsy 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win in a 2 hour and 13-minute marathon in what were labelled as ‘chilly conditions’ by the 29-year-old Georgian. Meanwhile, former champion Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain crushed compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1 in 1 hour and 17 minutes to set up a clash against sixth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia. Khachanov rallied from a set down to beat fourth seed Croatia’s Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in exactly two hours. Thanks largely to a composed game from the baseline in the deciding set, Basilashvili is level at 3-all in head-to-head meetings with Fucsovics. The defending champion is 11-3 in Doha where he beat Bautista Agut in last year’s final. On Wednesday, Basilashvili ended his 8-match losing streak with his victory over Sweden’s Elais Ymer for first win in his 7th match of the season. The Georgian entered Doha last year on a five-match losing streak and ended the tournament as the champion. Basilashvili admitted it was an exhausting clash against Fucsovics in ‘tough’ conditions’. “I think it was really tough conditions, especially for me. It got a little bit cold, windy, so it's really difficult to control the ball,” Basilashvili said after the match. “You need a lot of physical fitness to approach the ball and execute a shot. I got a little bit tired in the nd but I'm really happy that I was able to get through in the end,” he added. The Georgian star said he had to change his tactics because of the wind. “I had to change many things, but mostly I had to put a lot of fitness into a match and so far it paid off. You know, I love coming back here. I really like this Centre Court, but every tournament is new (and that's why) there is no special expectation. I will come and defend my title, but I just love coming back here. I am looking forward to playing the semi-final,” Basilashvili said. Fucsovics, 30, yesterday broke Basilashvili in games four and six to seal the first set in just 31 minutes. Basilashvili, however, picked up the pieces in the second set and with momentum on his side, he broke the Hungarian in game six to jump to a 4-2 lead before quickly wrapping up the second set at 6-3. After losing his serve in game two of the third set, Basilashvili broke Fucsovics – a three-time Doha quarter-finalist - in games five and 11 to seal the match in his favour. Basilashvili said his semi-final opponent Rinderknech will be hard to beat. “We played last year once on grass and I know how he's playing. I think he's improved a lot lately and it will be interesting. But he has a big serve, very good volleys and lines. So let's see. It will be interesting,” he said with a glum look. Earlier, playing just for the second time against Shapovalov, Rinderknech sealed his 9th win of the season against just three losses. The Frenchman said he won’t forget his win for some time to come. “It feels pretty good, especially when it's your best win of your career. I think so. I'm not going to complain and enjoy it tonight,” Rinderknech after his straight-sets win. “Well, I don't know,” Rinderknech said when asked if he feared any player in Doha. “I'm just trying to take one match at a time. I'm coming back from small injuries that I got in Australia, so I'm just enjoying my time on court. Happy to be healthy and ready to play,” he added. Rinderknech broke Shapovalov in game seven before holding his serve to take the first set. A service break by Rinderknech in the first game of the second set helped him to build fine momentum as the 26-year-old secured his win without dropping serve. “That's what I'm trying to do every day – enjoy my time on court. I get better enjoying my time on court and just having fun playing matches all around the world,” Rinderknech said. “The courts here are great and the facilities are unbelievable. I still haven't seen a cloud this week so I'm enjoying the sun. It feels great after a short period in Europe where it's colder, but yeah, just enjoying my week here,” the Frenchman added. Quarter-finals Results (x denotes seeding): Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x1) 6-4, 6-4; Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x3) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5; Karen Khachanov (RUS x6) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x4) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x2) bt Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) 6-1, 6-1 FRIDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY Centre Court starts at 3:45pm: Doubles Final: Rohan Bopanna/Denis Shapovalov vs (3) Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski Not Before 6:00pm: singles semi-finals: Arthur Rinderknech vs (3) Nikoloz Basilashvili; Followed By (4) Marin Cilic vs (2) Roberto Bautista Agut    

          2019 champion Bautista Agut was barely troubled as the Spaniard cruised past two-time Qatar winner Andy Murray            Top seed Denis Shapovalov of Canada Wednesday crushed Alex Moclan of Slovakia in straight sets while former champion Roberta Bautista Agut of Spain hammered Andy Murray to reach the quarter-finals at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Shapovalov, ranked number 12, Wednesday won 6-4, 6-0 in less than an hour’s time on the Centre Court at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. The powerful lefty – who served seven aces – has now improved to 8-3 for the season that includes a quarter-finals loss against Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal last month. Also Wednesday, 2019 champion Bautista Agut was barely troubled as the Spaniard cruised past two-time Qatar winner Murray in straight sets on Centre Court. Bautista Agut, who lost year’s final to Croatia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, won 6-0, 6-1 in 68 minutes. Also advancing to the quarter-finals at the $1.2mn tournament were Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics – who beat Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 – and Alejandro Davidovic Fokina of Spain. Fonika, who cracked 13 aces, beat Great Britain’s Daniel Evans 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in a two hour 53-minute marathon. In a shock result, Arthur Rinderknech of France upset seventh seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in three feisty sets. Rinderknech won 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4 in 2 hours and 6 minutes despite fast-serving Bublik pounding 15 aces. Defending champion Basilashvili also signed in for the last-eight of the tournament as he beat Elias Ymer of Sweden 6-4, 7-5 in 2 hours and 3 minutes. Former US Open champion and fourth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia, meanwhile, ended the dream run of Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp with a 6-3, 7-5 win in 1 hour 43 minutes. In the day’s final clash on Centre Court, sixth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia eased past Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets. Twenty-five year-old Khachanov, who fired 6 aces, won 7-6 (4), 6-3 in 1 hour and 32 minutes to go 2-0 over his Finnish opponent in head-to-head meetings. The day, however, belonged to second seed Bautista Agut who looked peerless in his straight-set demolition of Murray, the losing finalist in Doha in 2007 and 2017. It was the second heaviest defeat for the Briton who had lost to Roger Federer with a similar scoreline in London in 2014. “It’s never easy to win a match. It’s never easy to beat Andy. He’s a great player,” Bautista Agut said modestly. “I feel well after winning my first match here. I love playing in Qatar, I love playing in this court. I have played some of my best tennis on this court,” he added. “I am really happy to be in the quarter-finals and I am looking forward to playing here again,” he added. “We are doing well. We are working really hard. Ours is a really good team and my wife is also here. We are trying our best. And it (the good results) show on the court,” Bautista Agut said when asked about his rotating coaches Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Tomas Carbonell. “As I said I am feeling well, I enjoyed playing here tonight. I hope I can play on this court more. One of my motivations is to play like this. I love playing here. I (have) played really good matches here. I have faced good opponents. I hope I can play another good week of tennis here,” he said. Bautista Agut, who plays Fokina in the quarter-finals today, improved to 10-2 at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The 33-year-old Davis Cup winner broke a sluggish Murray in game two when the three-time Grand Slam winner was guilty of two long returns. A similar pattern ensued in game four when Murray struggled with unforced errors to see Bautista Agut go 4-0 up in the first set. With momentum on his side, the Bautsita Agut sealed the first set with another service break against the Briton in game six. Bautista Agut, who now trails 2-3 against Murray in head-to-head, broke the 2008 and 2009 champion in games four and six to complete his dominance over the faltering Briton. A long return by Murray on match – point summed up his poor show in front of a crowd that included Colombian football star James Rodrigues who plays for Al Rayyan in Qatar.      

The 2022 Qatar Batabit Show – a premier event for the region’s biker community - will be held at Katara Thursday and Friday, the organisers have announced. According to the general manager of Qatar Batabit, Ibrahim al-Haydos, the show will be the "biggest event for bikers" with entries coming in from across the Middle East. “This is the third time we will host this massively popular event for bikers. Two years ago, we had the first event at The Pearl-Qatar and last year, it was staged inside Katara. This time we are hosting the event bang opposite The St Regis Doha,” he said Wednesday. The event will be open from 3pm to 10pm on both days. There will also be a biker parade from Stadium 974, one of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues. The riders will start by 2.30pm and reach the competition area in Katara, he informed, stressing that the parade is a "dream show for any biker”. Al-Haydos informed that they have 105 entries so far for the show. "These entries are from Qatar, many are from the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. There’s huge interest from the region’s biker community wanting to be part of our event." The two-day event for bikers features 20 categories, all of which offer prize money to the winners. "From small bikes to big ones, we will have all of them here. People who have seen the last two editions know what a fantastic gathering of bikers it is," the official noted. “Until now, everything is moving according to plan. From the number of participants, the setting up of the mechanical support kiosk and arrangements for fan entertainment, we are ready with our show." He thanked the event's sponsors, noting that they have provided "great support to us for long." "This is a public event backed by the Ministry of Sports and Youth. One of the purposes of this event is to spread road safety awareness among the youth. This is a good platform for us to educate young people on riding safety,” the general manager said. The first edition held two years ago was a huge success, he recalled, adding that last year's event was "even bigger than the first one". "We can clearly see a pattern evolving and we expect this week’s show to be even bigger than last year," al-Haydos said. “This year, we will have judges from the US as part of the show. We want to have experienced judges because there is serious competition among the participants. We want the best to judge the best. “My team has searched all over the world to find the most knowledgeable and reputable members of the motorbike community to judge the 2022 Qatar Batabit Show. Every event has different styles and you need to have experienced judges making their call on the bikes." Next year, the organisers will send invites to bikers around the world. "The biker industry is huge around the world with a massive fan following. We want to bring the same flavour to Qatar for an international event,” the official added. Al-Haydos highlighted Qatar Batabit's support for local bikers, saying: "We have workshops inside the competition arena here and any entry can get our help in setting up the bike as they like. Every season, we have many shows for classic bikes. We offer skills training for young fans who have off-road bikes or adventure rides. “Batabit Centre is for everyone. Qataris and expatriates are equally welcome. The biker family is growing and so is our event, which is open to the public." The organisers said people visiting the bike show would have no issues in finding a parking spot as a vast spot just next to the competition arena is open to the public.

For two-time champion Andy Murray of Great Britain, it was a near-perfect performance on day two of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The three-time Grand Slam champion – a winner here in 2008 and 2009 – Tuesday beat Taro Daniel of Japan in straight sets to kick-start his campaign in Doha on a confident note. Needing a wildcard to enter the Doha field because of the sliding ranking, Murray won 6-2, 6-2 in front of a cheering crowd at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex where the popular Briton looked confident from the first serve. Murray, who fired four aces, has now won 20 matches in Doha against just three losses in six visits. In another one-sided clash on Centre Court, seventh seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan eased past Croatian qualifier Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 6-4 in 1 hour and 22 minutes. Also Tuesday, Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics beat South African qualifier Lloyd Harris 6-4, 7-6 (4), Sweden’s Elias Ymer edged Joao Sousa of Portugal 2-6, 6-3, 7-7 while Spain’s Alejandro Davidovic Fokina hammered Tunisian wildcard entry Malek Jaziri 6-1, 6-3. Murray, building slow momentum in his comeback from injuries and the subsequent lay-off to recover from surgeries – looked every bit like the dominating force he was on the Tour for most of the past decade. The 34-year-old is now 2-1 against Taro in head-to-head and 7-4 for the year. Murray, now ranked No.87 in the world, had a warning ahead of his match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain. “The result today tells me the conditions are good for my game,” Murray, with a towel resting on his shoulders, said. “If I can play to a good level, the courts are going to suit me and here I will make it difficult everyone I am playing against,” Murray said. A finalist in Doha on two separates occasions (2007 and 2017) besides his title wins in Doha, Murray broke Taro in games six and eight to take the first set in just 36 minutes. Murray – the only player to have at least seven wins against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – was quick to pick up flaws in Taro’s tactics in game 6 when the 29-year-old Japanese was guilty of an unforced error and a long return to allow the Briton to go 4-2 up in the first set. In game eight, Murray – holding advantage with three breakpoints – closed out the first set as a Taro return went long on set point. Taro, who beat Murray at the Australian Open last month, exhibited a bit of fight by breaking the Briton in the first game of the second set. But the Briton wasted little breath in breaking his Japanese rival in the next game to draw level at 1-1. Murray saw Taro return long twice on his own serve to go 3-1 up in the second set. Murray did not lose his serve thereafter closing the match with a classic backhand crosscourt shot the Taro did not even attempt to reach on match point. “Obviously it feels great to be back (in Doha), nice to start with a win. I have not played here for a few years. A lot has changed since I was last here. I’ve always played well here. I love the conditions. Everyone involved in the tournament makes it easy for the players. We get looked after really well. Yes, delighted to be back,” Murray said after his impressive win. “He (Taro) played very well in Australia. He had a very good run there. He was too good for me there. I tried to be the one dictating out there from the first point. I think I did that today. It was one of the better matches I have played in recent months,” Murray said when about his Japanese conqueror at the Australian Open last month. When asked about his match-up against Bautista Agut, Murray – the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medallist in men’s singles – presented a quick assessment. “I think he has also played well here in the past. He beat Djokovic one year and reached the final last year. Obviously he likes the conditions here. He is one of the best on the Tour. He has been on top of his game for a really long time. We played a few times in past, usually pretty long matches, long rallies so yeah, it will be a physical one. I need to get rest,” Murray said. The business end of things kicks off for the seeded players who will be seen in action today. Top seed David Shapovalov of Canada will play Alex Moclan, second seed Bautista Agut faces Murray, third seed and defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili takes on Ymer and fourth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia faces Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp.    

Sixth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia on Monday sailed into round two of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a straight-sets win over Mackenzie McDonald of the US as former champion Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain braced for a similar positive start at the $1.2mn tournament. Khachanov, 25, battled well from the baseline to carve out a 7-6 (3), 6-3 in 1 hour 25 minutes on the Centre Court. By virtue of yesterday’s win, Khachanov leads McDonald 3-0 in head-to-head meetings while improving to 8-4 for this season. The Russian, who broke into the top-10 for the first time in 2019, on Monday cracked eight aces in his impressive win that was wrapped up under lights at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. “It was a tricky test, the first round,” Khachanov said yesterday. “That’s true, it was my first match here that went well because in my two earlier outings here I couldn’t win and I am really happy to win. I am also happy to see the crowds. I had two weeks off after the Australian Open and that helped,” he added. Khachanov, the silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year, will now meet the winner from today’s match between David Goffin of Belgium and Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland for a place in the third round. Meanwhile second seed Bautista Agut yesterday sounded confident ahead of his first match tomorrow. The Spaniard will meet the winner of the match involving former champion Andy Murray – who is playing with a wildcard – and Japan’s Taro Daniel scheduled for today. Bautista Agut, the 33-year-old Davis Cup winner for Spain in 2019 just days after his father passed away, lifted the Qatar ExxonMobil Open three years ago before losing to Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in final Doha last year. “Yes, of course I like this tournament. I think it’s great for my game,” Bautista Agut said yesterday. “I really enjoy playing here in Doha. I think the conditions are very nice to show some good tennis,” the Spaniard added. Echoing top seed Denis Shapovalov’s sentiments from Sunday, Bautista Agut said the Doha field had many players with potential for winning the title this week. Shapovalov is joined by two-time Qatar winner Murray, former US Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia and defending champion Basilashvili. “It’s also a very special 250 event. They always get really good players in the draw, and it’s very special to be here,” Bautista Agut said. When asked about Spain’s chances at the Qatar FIFA World Cup later this year, Batista Agut said yesterday: “Yes, I think they (Spain’s football team) are doing very well. It’s a very young team. When I see their matches, I feel the intensity. I feel the passion, the passion of the group. I think Luis Enrique is a great coach. I think he’s doing a great job. Well, just wishing them a great event at the World Cup (in Qatar).” When asked if he would be coming back to Qatar, he said: “I don’t think I have time enough to come, no (smiling)? But of course if I’m here, around the World Cup, I will watch some games.” Earlier yesterday, Korean star Soonwoo Kwon overcame an ace blitz from American qualifier Christopher Eubanks to reach the second round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Kwon won 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-4 in almost two hours. It was the first meeting between the two players. The 24-year-old Korean – ranked 55 – sealed his win despite 15 aces from the 6`7” tall American. In the day’s first clash yesterday, Alex Molcan also took three sets to reach the second round. Molcan from Slovak Republic clinched the first meeting against Christopher O’Connell, winning 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-4 in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Molcan fired 4 aces compared to 9 by the 27-year-old Australian. Moclan will now play the top seed Shapovalov in the second round. Shapovalov yesterday managed his first official workout in Qatar when he teamed up with India’s Rohan Bopanna in the doubles to beat Molcan and Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-5, 4-6, 10-6. Basilashvili joined hands with Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to beat Ruusuvuori and Elias Ymer of Sweden 6-1, 7-5 in their doubles match. Also advancing to the second round in the singles was Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp who beat Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano in straight sets yesterday. Van de Zandschulp won 6-2, 7-6 (5) in 93 minutes. In the day’s final match yesterday, fifth seed Daniel Evans of Great Britain beat Egor Gerasimov of Belarus 6-4, 6-4 in 91 minutes.      

Canada’s rising tennis star Denis Shapovalov believes the exploits of Grand Slam icons Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are unlikely to be matched by any player in the future. Nadal last month lifted his 21st Grand Slam trophy to nudge ahead of Federer and Djokovic, both with 20 titles each. In his promising young career, Shapovalov of Canada has so far played a Wimbledon semi-final and two other Grand Slam quarter-finals. The 22-year-old last month checked out of the Australian Open at the quarter-finals stage against eventual champion Nadal. “I think it is unbelievable (winning the 21st Grand Slam). What he (Nadal) has been through (because of injury) and to see him on court after that and the way that he played at the Australian Open, it is inspiring to see,” Shapovalov said yesterday. “I have always been a huge fan of him and his game. It was definitely amazing to see him lift the 21st Grand Slam title. To see the other two (Federer and Djokovic) now – kind of – sweating a little bit (smiles) again while they try to beat him,” the Canadian said. “This rivalry is something that’s never going to happen. And to witness this (race to win the highest number of Grand Slam titles) is amazing. Like I said, the way Rafa was playing physically in Australia after taking a long break was something special. It was awesome,” Shapovalov said. When asked whether Nadal had nudged ahead in the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ race in tennis, Shapovalov quickly said: “Stop the call to judge who is the greatest of all time (smiles). Winning a Grand Slam title is a very big thing and he’s made it. Regardless of what they have done in tennis, all three of them are the greatest. That’s what has to be said. In my opinion, it doesn’t really matter who finishes with the most Grand Slam titles. All these guys have something special that tennis will never see again.” Shapovalov, the top seed at this week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open, said the modern-day players stood a better chance of having long careers, if not being as successful as the “Big Three’ “I see today’s players having longevity just because the science of the sport is better. Players can stay on the Tour longer,” Shapovalov said yesterday. “In terms of results, in terms of what these three guys have done, I don’t think it’s ever going to happen again. I think it will be a long time before we witness something like this. But I do think in terms of longevity, today’s players will stay on Tour for a long time,” the Tel Aviv-born said.      

Top seed Denis Shapovalov feels confident ahead of this week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open where the Canadian would be looking to bag his first title of the new season. The 32-player field has attracted former champion Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia and 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic of Croatia. Great Britain’s Daniel Evans is seeded five while Russia’s Karen Kachanov is the sixth seed at the $1.2mn tournament to be played at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex from Feb 14-19. Alexander Bublik is seeded seven while Lloyd Harris is the eighth seed at the popular event. World number 12 Shapovalov, who has a bye in the first round, yesterday said he felt ready to launch his Doha campaign with a win. “Any tournament you go to, it has a strong field. It’s a difficult tournament for sure. In terms of my game, I feel good. Conditions are pretty similar to Australia actually,” Shapavalov said yesterday. “I played really well there (in Melbourne). Just a little bit comfortable on the courts here. The balls are the same as in Australia. I feel comfortable with myself and my game. The practice sessions I had here felt good. I am feeling really, really good. Hopefully I can have a great week. I am looking forward to playing here. “It’s an amazing place. One of the best weeks on Tour, really. So I am excited to start here,” the 22-year-old Canadian said. Last month, Shapovalov lost to eventual Australian Open winner Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals. The tall Canadian said he is in ‘privilege class’ to be the top seeded at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, now into its 30th year. “First of all, there’s always pressure in any match you play. Obviously there’s different pressure as a top seed compared to an underdog,” Shapovalov explained. “For sure, it is different (being seeded) and it is something I am learning to deal with well. It’s definitely something I am working on. I think it is a privilege to be seeded and have that pressure in general. I think it is something that top players get used to and they do a good job of it,” he added. The rising Canadian star said he is keen to deliver improved performances in Doha and in the rest of the season. “I just want to improve my game, I don’t really have so many goals. I just want to keep getting better in the areas I can improve,” Shapovalov said. “I feel like if I can become a better tennis player, the (good) results would come on their own. (It’s) not about any specific results for me. It’s just about improving every day. I just look forward to getting back to work and just putting in the time, and really working as a team and try to be a better tennis player. Shapovalov said he has the game to challenge the top players though he could not go past Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon semi-finals last year before losing to Nadal at the Australian Open last month. “I think against Novak, the occasion probably got to me (last year in the Wimbledon semi-finals). I was a little bit more in the moment than the match itself,” Shapovalov said yesterday. “I was playing well but wasn’t able to hold on to the lead in the first set. “Against Rafa (in the Australian Open quarter-finals), I think it was a great match. He just played better in the fifth set. The level was really high. He’s an unbelievable player. I played good tennis though,” he said. Shapovalov, who is in the top half of the draw, is expected to meet third seed Basilashvili who beat Bautista-Agut in the title clash last year. The two could meet in the quarter-finals of the six-day tournament where former champion Andy Murray of Great Britain is appearing with a wildcard. Murray beat Basilashvili in a thrilling five-set clash at the Australian Open last month. If Murray goes past Japan’s Taro Daniel in their first-round clash, then the Briton is lined up to play against this week’s second seed Bautista-Agut, the 2019 winner in Doha. Fourth seed in Doha, Cilic could be playing sixth seed Kachanov in the quarter-finals this week. Winner of 20 titles, Cilic bagged the 2014 US Open title and was a runner-up to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final in 2018. The title winner in Doha picks up $$114,875 while the losing finalist takes home $$80,410.