Rublev in third Qatar Open final, faces Draper for title
DOHA: Russia’s Andrey Rublev reached his third Qatar Open final on Friday after a “super tough” three-set triumph over Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
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Benghazi reopens international stadium in star-studded ceremony
It featured appearances by former football stars including England’s Ballon d’Or-winning Michael Owen, Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Julio Cesar, and Portugal’s Luis FigoWithout directly referencing eastern authorities, Dbeibah congratulated “Benghazi residents” on the stadium’s reopeningBENGHAZI: Libya’s second-largest city Benghazi on Thursday opened its newly reconstructed international stadium with a high-profile ceremony featuring global football legends.The event was attended by a packed crowd and eastern Libya’s strongman Khalifa Haftar.It also featured appearances by former football stars including England’s Ballon d’Or-winning Michael Owen, Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Julio Cesar, and Portugal’s Luis Figo and Nani.Belgacem Haftar, one of the strongman’s six sons and head of the North African country’s Reconstruction Fund, was also in the stands.“The Benghazi international stadium belongs to all Libyans,” his father said, describing it as a place of unity as Libya remains a “single nation despite the challenges and difficulties.”The oil-rich country is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi.It remains divided between an internationally recognized Tripoli-based government in the west, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a Haftar-backed rival administration in the east.Without directly referencing eastern authorities, Dbeibah congratulated “Benghazi residents” on the stadium’s reopening in a statement posted on social media.“Any addition to the country’s sports infrastructure serves Libyan interests,” he wrote.The stadium is set to host as many as 42,000 spectators, a
Raducanu waives complaint against man who caused her ‘visible distress’ at Dubai Championships
BEIRUT: British tennis star Emma Raducanu has waived her complaint against an unidentified tourist who caused her “visible distress” during the Dubai Championships earlier this week. On Thursday, it was reported that the Dubai authorities initiated legal action against the individual, who was identified as a “tourist” and remained unnamed, after the 2021 US Open winner lodged a complaint against him. Raducanu was playing against 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the second-round on Tuesday evening when she was seen approaching the chair umpire in tears. The WTA later linked her reaction to the presence of the unidentified man, who security personnel removed from the first-row seats and ejected from the stadium. Dubai Media Office issued a statement on X saying that the emirate’s authorities took swift action to address the incident “in accordance with local legal protocols.”
Tom Clover eyes Saudi Cup meeting success with Al Nayyir after Qatar triumph
LONDON: Newmarket-based trainer Tom Clover is setting his sights on further international success at the Saudi Cup meeting this weekend, as he prepares Al Nayyir for the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap.
Dortmund ease into Champions League last 16 after Sporting stalemate
DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League after a goalless draw with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday sealed a 3-0 aggregate victory. Serhou Guirassy missed a second-half penalty but it mattered for nothing in the end as last season’s finalists were rarely troubled by Sporting and coasted through. Dortmund’s reward is a last 16 game against Aston Villa or Lille. It was always a tough ask for this young Sporting side ravaged by injury to overturn the damage done in last week’s first leg, when Guirassy, Pascal Gross and Karim Adeyemi all scored. Dortmund dominated much of the return leg on a freezing night in Germany, with Marcel Sabitzer coming closest to breaking the deadlock with a rasping drive from distance that Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva did well to palm around his post. After the break, Dortmund got the chance to put the tie to bed from the spot when Silva was adjudged to have brought down Adeyemi in the box after Nico Schlotterbeck’s long pass split the visitors’ defense. But Guirassy’s well-hit penalty was saved superbly by the Portuguese goalkeeper low to his right, denying the Guinean striker an 11th Champions League goal in 10 games this season. Gio Reyna came off the bench and almost made an immediate impact against the Portuguese league leaders, hitting the post, but this was a night when Dortmund created little and Sporting even less, with the visitors failing to register a single shot on target. Ultimately, Sporting lacked the ambition to turn around the tie, allowing Niko Kovac’s side to progress on the back of a relatively easy night’s work.
Qiddiya Investment Company and Mercedes to launch experience center dedicated to German automotive brand
AFFALTERBACH/QIDDIYA CITY: Qiddiya Investment Company, Mercedes-AMG and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team have announced a game-changing partnership to open a world-class experience center dedicated to the iconic German automotive brand in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City.
Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament
“Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed,” Raducanu wroteWTA issued a statement explaining that Raducanu was approached in a public space Monday “by a man who exhibited fixated behavior”DUBAI: Emma Raducanu said she will be OK after what she called a “difficult experience” related to the presence of a man who had exhibited “fixated behavior” toward her at the Dubai Championships.The 2021 US Open champion had approached the chair umpire early in her second-round match against 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova on Tuesday night.
’It’s a joke’ as Tour of Algarve riders take road to nowhere
With around 800m left on the opening stage, most of the peloton took a right-hand exit“It’s a joke! It’s completely ridiculous!” said Austrian rider Marco Haller PARIS: The Tour of the Algarve was branded as “ridiculous” and a “joke” on Wednesday when a pack of riders took the wrong road and completely missed the finish line.With around 800m left on the opening stage, most of the peloton took a right-hand exit, reserved for officials and team cars, at a roundabout instead of the left which headed to the finish.Only around 30 riders chose the correct route including Filippo Ganna who came home ahead of Frenchman Romain Gregoire and Jan Christen of Switzerland.However, their joy was short-lived as the stage was swiftly canceled and Ganna’s career wins total remains at 33.“It’s a joke! It’s completely ridiculous!” said Austrian rider Marco Haller who blamed the chaos on the lack of clear signage at the entry to the right-hand lane.“The diversion was not blocked off. As a result, the riders followed the motorcycle (of the organization).