REUTERS ABU DHABI

Qatar’s Abdulaziz Hatem scored with a stunning late strike as the 2022 World Cup hosts upset Son Heung-min’s South Korea 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Cup for the first time yesterday.

The defensive midfielder’s left-footed shot came out of the blue in the 78th minute and flew past South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to decide a largely dis-appointing contest in front of a crowd of only 13,700 at Zayed Sport City.

Twice former champions South Korea poured forward to try and rescue the match but were unable to produce an equaliser and it will be the Qataris who face the hosts United Arab Emirates for a place in the final next Tuesday.

“We’ve achieved something special today, this is history for us,” said coach Felix Sanchez, whose team will go into the semi-final without having conceded a goal.

“We played a great game, the players made a huge effort and we achieved something great for our country.

“I’m the happiest coach in the world.”

Pre-tournament favourites South Korea, who had been looking to reach the last four for a record-extending 11th time, bowed out before the semi-finals for the first time since 2004.

Both teams had played their last 16 matches on Tuesday, which perhaps contributed to a forget-table first half with just one shot on target -- Akram Afif’s long-range effort after 32 minutes which South Korea keeper Kim safely gathered.

The Qataris, who started with five at the back, came out with more attacking intent in the second half but were almost immediately caught on the break with Hwang Ui-jo forcing a save out of Saad Al Sheeb.

The game was opening up with chances at both ends and Son, who had looked fatigued since joining the South Korean squad for their third group game, started to impose his influence.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward got a low drive on target in the 72nd minute which went straight to Saad and made a decoy run before Kim Jin-su curled the ball onto the outside of the post from a free kick three minutes later.

Just when it looked like the Koreans might be getting on top, though, the ball broke for Hatem in midfield and seconds later it

was nestled in the bottom right-hand corner of the South Korean net.

Hwang Ui-jo had the ball in the back of the opposite net two minutes later but was ruled offside, a decision confirmed by

the video assistant referee, and Qatar held on to secure a famous victory.

“We tried to dominate the game as we had in our previous matches but they were very well-organised,” South Korea’s

Portuguese coach Paulo Bento said after suffering his first defeat in 12 matches in charge.

“We were eliminated because we weren’t efficient enough in converting our opportunities into goals.”

SPORTSaturday 26 January 2019

PAGE | 17 PAGE | 19Asensio and

Bale boost Madrid after

injury layoffs

Dominant Djokovic sets up Nadal final in Melbourne

Hatem’s stunning strike takes Qatar into semis

Qatar upset 2015 finalists and former champions South Korea 1-0

Al Annabi set maiden last-four appearance at AFC Asian CupQatar to meet hosts UAE in the semi-final on January 29

QFA President hails Qatar’s heroics

QNA ABU DHABI

President of Qatar Football Association (QFA) Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani yesterday praised the qualification of the Qatari team to the semi-final of AFC Asian Cup in the UAE, after beating South Korea through Abdulaziz Hatem’s goal.

The win saw the national team reach the semi-final of the competition for the first time in its history. The pres-ident of QFA said in a statement to the press that the delight of the Qatari and Arab people with win made it even more pleasing.

He then congratulated the players, coaching staff, and Qatar’s citizens and residents on the qualification to the s e m i - f i n a l o f t h e competition.

Holders Australia crash out as UAE book Qatar semiREUTERS AL AIN

Defending champions Australia crashed out of the Asian Cup yesterday when a contentious Ali Mabkhout goal earned hosts the United Arab Emirates a 1-0 victory and a semi-final meeting with Qatar next week.

Mabkhout struck midway through the second half after Milos Degenek under-hit a pass back to Mat Ryan, and the Al Jazira man swooped to round the goal-keeper and slot the ball into an empty net for his ninth goal in two Asian Cups.

The Australians com-plained Degenek had been fouled prior to giving away possession by Mohammed Abdulrahman, but Japanese referee Ryuji Sato waved away the protests and the goal stood.

Victory means Alberto Zaccheroni’s side will move on to the semi-final against their Arabian Gulf neigh-bours, who earlier stunned South Korea 1-0.

The home side who looked comfortable despite

the changes and within a minute of kickoff almost took the lead. Ismail Al Hammadi flew through the Australian defence, but Ryan was equal to his goal-bound effort.

Al Hammadi threatened again 19 minutes later, with Ryan called into action again after the winger had stepped inside Australia’s backline.

T h e S o c c e r o o s threatened, too, in an open and entertaining first half.

Mabkhout, though, should have scored in the dying seconds of the half, only for his close range header to fizz over the crossbar.

He made amends after halftime when he capitalised on Degenek’s poor pass to give his side the lead.

Australia coach Graham Arnold threw on strikers Awer Mabil and Andrew Nabbout in a last-ditch attempt to take the game into extra time.

However, the UAE held firm to avenge their loss to the Socceroos in the semi-finals four years ago in Australia.

We’ve achieved something special today, this is history for us. We played a great game, the players made a huge effort and we achieved something great for our country. I’m the happiest coach in the world: Sanchez

Qatari misfielder Abdulaziz Hatem

(second right) celebrates with

team-mates after scoring the winning goal

during the AFC Asian Cup quarter-final match

against South Korea, yesterday.

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez celebrates after yesterday’s win.

South Korean goalkeeper

Kim Seung-gyu unsuccessfully

attempts to stop Hatem’s strike,

yesterday.

Qatari players celebrate their historic victory.

REUERS LONDON

Chelsea produced the perfect response to manager Maurizio Sarri’s weekend criticism to beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on penalties on Thursday and set up a League Cup final showdown against holders Manchester City.

Trailing 1-0 from the semi-final first leg, Chelsea turned the tie on its head with goals by N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard in the first half but Fernando Llorente struck for Spurs in an enthralling Stamford Bridge duel.

Chelsea had 20 goal attempts to Tottenham’s five but the visitors held firm to set up a penalty shootout.

Christian Eriksen scored Totten-ham’s first spot-kick but team mate Eric Dier, the hero of England’s World Cup shootout win over Colombia last year, fired over and Lucas Moura’s penalty was well-saved by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea’s penalties were more clinical and David Luiz slotted past Paulo Gazzaniga to seal the victory and send Chelsea into their 15th cup final in 17 years.

Spurs battled hard but their wait for silverware goes on.

After Chelsea’s 2-0 weekend Premier League defeat at Arsenal, Sarri raised eyebrows by accusing his players of being “difficult to motivate” and pub-licly demanded more of his Belgium forward Hazard.

But a visit from rivals Tottenham, with a Wembley final at stake, provided the incentive for a far sharper display, with Hazard at the heart of Chelsea’s attacking endeavour.

Tottenham, who are four points above Chelsea in the Premier League

standings, looked comfortable early on but the hosts gradually began to exert a measure of control. Chelsea went ahead in the 27th minute when Kante’s shot from the edge of the area went through the legs of two Spurs players and squirmed past Gazzaniga -- in goal instead of Hugo Lloris.

With their tails up Chelsea began to dominate and they went ahead in the tie in the 38th minute when a fluid passing move ended with Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross being calmly side-footed home by a stretching Hazard. Tottenham responded after the

break and Kane’s replacement Llorente bundled in a header from Danny Rose’s cross to put them back on level terms on aggregate in the 50th minute.

The Spanish striker also wasted a great chance from Eriksen’s raking pass before being replaced by Moura. However, it was Chelsea who looked the more likely side to avoid the need for penalties. Hazard twice went close and Spurs needed some last-ditch tackles to keep Chelsea at bay.

It was all in vain for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, though, as they fal-tered with a domestic final in sight.

CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA

Qatar have been drawn along with global football heavy-weights Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay in Group B for this summer’s Copa America, it was revealed yesterday.

The official draw ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro and Brazilian legend Cafu picked up Qatar’s slip during the glam-orous event which was attended by his countrymen Zico, Ze Roberto and Marta, Argentina’s Javier Zanetti, Uru-guay’s Diego Lugano, Colom-bia’s Francisco Maturana and Paraguay’s Romerito.

A team of Qatar Football Association (QFA) officials, headed by Ibrahim Khalil Al Mohannadi, Executive Com-mittee Member of the QFA, par-ticipated in the draw ceremony. The Qatari delegation also included Fahad Al Thani, Director of the Development Department of QFA, Khalifa Saleh Al Haroun, Senior Mar-keting Advisor to the Secretary-General, Abdul Rahman Abdul Jabbar, Media Officer and Mubarak Al Ali, Security Officer.

The draw also saw hosts Brazil getting a relatively easier group. Eight-time winners Brazil, the top seeds in Group A, were given a pool with Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru.

Japan, making their second appearance after a disap-pointing debut in 1999, landed in a tough Group C as they drew 15-time champions Uruguay, holders Chile and Ecuador.

Qatar - along with Japan will take part as guests in the 12-team tournament in Brazil and will be playing in their first tournament in South America.

The 2019 Copa America - the 46th edition of the event - will be played across five cities in Brazil - Belo Horizonte, Porto

Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo. The tournament is set to get under way on June 14 and will run for three weeks until the final on July 7.

Qatar’s opening match of the tournament will be against Paraguay on June 16. The match will kick off at 10.00pm Qatar time.

Next up, they will meet Colombia in their second Group match on June 19 and the match is set to kick off at

12.30am Qatar time on the fol-lowing day

In their third and final Group B match, Al Annabi will be up against the former world champions Argentina on June 23. The match is set to kick off at 10.00pm.

Chile have won the past two tournaments but have slipped to 13 in the world rankings - below Denmark - as hosts Brazil who start off as favourites, will attempt to win

the tournament for the first time in 12 years.

All eyes will be on global icon Lionel Messi who could return to lead Argentina after a disappointing World Cup campaign.

Argentina have won the tournament 14 times but their last cup win came in 1993.

Uruguay is the most suc-cessful team in the tourna-ment’s 103-year long history with 15 title victories.

17SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2019 SPORT

Brazillian legend Cafu pulls out Qatar’s slip during the official draw ceremony of the 2019 Copa America in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday.

Qatar set for Argentina dual in Copa America

Al Annabi pitted along with Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay in the June 14-July 7 event

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Qatar - along with Japan will take part as guests in the 12-team tournament in Brazil and will be playing in their first tournament in South America.

During the group stage, Qatar will take on Paraguay on June 16, Colombia in their second Group match on June 19 and Argentina on June 23.

The 2019 Copa America, the 46th edition of the event, will be played across five cities in Brazil from June 14 to July 7.

Chelsea edge Spurs to reach League Cup final

Argentina coach hopeful of Messis’ returnREUTERS RIO DE JANEIRO

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he has a “good feeling” about

Lionel Messi’s possible return to interna-tional football

and will talk to the Barcelona forward about a possible return from his self-imposed exile.

Messi took a sabbatical from the national side after another disap-pointing World Cup, with Argentina knocked out in the second round after winning just one game in four.

He has not said whether he will return for the Copa America in Brazil in June but the interim coach said at Thursday’s draw he was hopeful the inspiring forward might return for a March friendly.

“We will speak with Leo in the

days before the March list. When the time is right we will speak,” Scaloni told reporters. “I hope he can be here but more than that, we want him to be happy. I have a good feeling.”

Argentina, who are desperate to end a trophy drought that dates back to 1993 when they last won the Copa America, were drawn in Group B for the upcoming tournament, alongside Colombia, Paraguay and invited side Qatar.

REUTERSRIO DE JANEIRO

Argentina coach Lionhe has a “good

Liop

and will talk to the Barabout a possible returimposed exile.

Lionel Messi

Chelsea players celebrate

after winning the penalty

shootout against

Tottenham Hotspur during

their League Cup semi-final

on Thursday.

Asensio and Bale boost Madrid after injury layoffsREUTERS MADRID

Real Madrid forwards Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale both returned to full training yesterday after injury layoffs, handing the European champions a boost in attack three weeks before their Champions League last-16 tie with Ajax Amsterdam.

Spain international Asensio has been out for over a month with a thigh injury sustained during Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign, while their record signing Bale has been sidelined since a 2-2 draw at Villarreal in early January with a calf problem.

Despite their pedigree, Asensio and Bale both face a daunting task in attempting to win a place back in the team ahead of Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr, who has spearheaded Madrid’s return to form in an otherwise disappointing season.

Santiago Solari’s side lie third in La Liga, 10 points behind leaders Barcelona, but earned a fourth win in five games in all competitions by beating Girona 4-2 in a Copa del Rey quarter-final, first leg on Thursday.

That win followed a therapeutic 2-0 victory over Sevilla in the league in their previous outing.

“We are playing well, at the start of the year we had two slipups which didn’t help us at all, but now we are feeling good again and believe we can achieve great things,” said Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez on Friday at a promotional event.

“The best way to fight for the Copa del Rey and the Champions League is to do well in the league. We are on a good run now and the way we played in the last two games is the way we want to go.”

18 SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2019SPORT

Australia in command of day-night TestAFP BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Half-centuries from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne and a last-ball strike by Pat Cummins put Australia firmly in command of the day-night Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba in Brisbane yesterday.

Head hit a Test best 84 and Labuschagne posted 81 as Aus-tralia amassed 323 to hold an imposing 179-run innings lead over the Sri Lanka after the second day.

Sri Lanka lurched into further strife losing the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne on the last ball of the day by Cummins for three as the tourists had to negotiate a tricky six overs facing the pink ball under lights.

Karunaratne was snapped up behind by Tim Paine as Sri Lanka reached stumps at 17 for one with Lahiru Thirimanne on six to trail by 162 runs overall and battling to avoid defeat with three days left.

“A massive wicket. It’s nice to get them one down and break the left-handers up,” Head said.

“I think the way Jhye

(Richardson) and Pat bowled against the right handers yesterday by swinging the ball away we can put them under real pressure in the morning.”

Head was trapped leg before wicket by Suranga Lakmal, meaning no Australian batsman has scored a Test century in nine innings against India and Sri Lanka this summer.

“Two of us had opportunities today to go on and get a big score,” Head said.

“It’s disappointing to miss the

chance to really drive the game and get a massive lead and be still with batters in the shed tonight.” Labuschagne was out shortly before dinner, also with a maiden Test century beckoning.His patient 150-ball knock ended when he skipped down the wicket to lift a drive only to find the bottom of his bat and was taken at short mid-on by Thir-imanne off Dhananjaya de Silva.

Sri Lanka grabbed a few wickets towards the end of Aus-tralia’s innings. Cummins was unable to get off the mark in 21

balls before he was squared up by Dushmantha Chameera and tickled a catch behind to Niroshan Dickwella. Skipper Paine was out first ball, edging a Lakmal outswinger to Kusal Mendis at second slip for a splendid low catch and young Test newcomer Kurtis Patterson showed prom-ising resilience to bat for 82 balls before he was lbw to Lakmal for 30. Mitchell Starc hit out lustily for 26 with four fours and a six before Jhye Richardson was the last wicket to fall, for one. Lakmal fin-ished with five for 75.

“We are still in the game and we need to bat as long as we can and take a lead and put some pressure (on Australia) after tomorrow,” Lakmal said.

“I treasure the Australian five (wickets) because I always had a dream of achieving a five-wicket haul in Australia and it’s a dream come true.” Head and Labuschagne put on 166 runs for the fifth wicket to seize the momentum and put Australia in command after losing two wickets in the opening session chasing Sri Lanka’s modest 144.

Qatar Superstock 600: Al Sulaiti clinches pole positionTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Saeed Al Sulaiti and Abdulla Al Khelaifi clinched the pole posi-tions in Qatar Superstock 600 (QSTK) and Qatar Touring Car Championship (QTCC) respec-tively at Losail International Circuit during the third round of both championships.

Al Sulaiti was on top at the Free Practice 2 and also did the fastest lap at the Superpole, 2:04.283 so he will start from the front row today, ahead of Mishal Al Naimi, who finished second with a time of 2:05.010.

“I feel better this round with my injuries. I am really happy to secure the third Superpole this season. I have a good feeling with the bike and hopefully the weather will be fine,” said Al Sulaiti.

Al Naimi had good feelings with his bike and is looking forward to the race.

Young rider Abdullah Al Qubaisi although will start in the third place with a lap time of 2:05.265, is not happy with his results.

“‘I am not happy at all with my results as I expected a better lap time. I didn’t have the right feeling with the bike but hope-fully todayI can fight in front for the win as the difference is not so big’,” Al Qubaisi said.

In the QSTK Trophy, the fastest rider was again Qatar’s Jassim Al Thani with a lap time of 2:08.600. Kuwaiti riders Mohamed Al Zaidan and Nawaf Al Shuaibi finished second and third in their category.

“The feeling is ok, I am again the fastest rider in the QSTK Trophy and I did a very good lap time. I hope today I can push in Race 1 to work on a good gap to secure the first position in the s tandings ,” Al Thani commented.

In QTCC, Al Khelaifi clinched

another position, he clocked again the fastest time in the Qualifying session with a time of 2:24.174 in front of Mohamad Al

Khaiat. Al Khelaifi was very happy for another pole in the season . “The weather is a bit hot this time so I did some logging

adjusting the map to today’s tem-peratures. In the Qualifying session, I started from seventh and climbed to second and then

to first, but Mohamad Al Khaiat is very close so for sure we will have a good battle and Ibrahim Al Abdulghani,” said Al Khelaifi.

Al Khaiat, with a time of 2:25.231 will start in second place at the grid.

As last round, Ibrahim Al Abdulghani finished in third place in the Qualifying ‘The car is fine, it is faster than last round and I like how the car is running, very consistent. Hopefully I can be a bit better tomorrow and finish in the podium’ Al Abdulghani stated after the session.

Today, QSTK Race 1 starts at 11:30 and Race 2 at 14:30. For QTCC, the first race is scheduled at 13:00 and the second race at 16:00.

Qatar Superstock 600 and Qatar Touring Car Championship are organized by Losail Circuit Sports Club and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation with Pirelli Qatar as sponsor.

Windies take massive lead over EnglandAFP BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS

Jason Holder reached his highest Test score and Shane Dowrich was on the verge of his own third Test hundred as the West Indies seventh-wicket pair continued to pile on the misery for England in the first Test yesterday.

The pair batted through the afternoon session, extending their second innings to 349 for six at tea on the third day at Kensington Oval.

Having resumed from the overnight position of 127 for six, and with a first innings lead of 212 runs after

demolishing the tourists on the second afternoon for just 77, the pair, who came together just before the end of play on day two, are yet to be separated in a stand now worth 229 runs and which has extended the home side’s overall advantage to a mammoth 561 runs.

Holder, the West Indies captain, con-tinued to dominate the scoring in reaching 151 -- his second hundred in Tests against England -- at the break with wicketkeeper-batsman Dowrich content to trail in the all-rounder’s wake in getting to 97.

After putting on 110 in the morning period, they added another 112 in the two hours after lunch, capitalising on weary, dispirited opponents who could not summon the energy to make a difference with the second new ball even though Holder gave them two difficult chances after bringing up his hundred with a straight hit for six off leg-spinner Adil Rashid.Rory Burns could not hold on to a running, diving effort at deep cover when the tall right-hander miscued a heave at part-time bowler Keaton Jennings.

Then just before the interval wick-etkeeper Ben Foakes could only get a glove to a leg-side deflection off Ben Stokes before it raced to the fine-leg boundary. With their confidence severely dented after being routed the previous day for the lowest innings total in 89 years of Test Cricket at the Ken-sington Oval, and their fourth-lowest against the West Indies, England relied at the start of play and again when the second new ball was taken in the afternoon on James Anderson and Stokes to provide a breakthrough.

New Zealand aim to bounce backAFP MOUNT MAUNGANUI, NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand have pin-pointed two “obvious” areas where they need to improve for today’s second one-day international against India -- batting and bowling.

India exposed a huge gulf between the world’s second- and third-ranked sides when they strolled home by eight wickets in the series opener at Napier on Wednesday.

Shikhar Dhawan, who finished unbeaten on 75 as India chased down the 156-run target, said there was pressure on all the tourists to perform if they wanted to make the squad.

“The competition is always there in our side,” he said yesterday on the eve of the second ODI in Mount Maunganui.

“Everyone has been performing really well. Our strength (of depth) is very good.” While India have the nice problem of a surfeit of talent, New Zealand swing bowler Trent Boult noted the home side’s issues in the two key areas.

“I think it’s obvious we know where we went wrong,” he said. “We were severely outplayed the other day.” After winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand were rolled for 157 in 38 overs. The match was shortened to 49 overs -- and India given the slightly reduced target -- after glare from the setting sun forced a delay of more than half an hour.

Boult said New Zealand needed to set a good platform at the start of the innings “and obviously put a good target on the board... it’s about batting in part-nerships and taking the game deep so we can really cash in those later overs.”

Mohammed Shami whipped out the New Zealand openers in his first two overs but Boult and new ball partner Tim Southee were unable to make a similar breakthrough.

“We know that early wickets in this format kind of kill you,” Boult said, saying New Zealand needed to be aggressive with the new ball.

“If we can get three wickets in the first 10 overs, we know what pressure that puts on the rest of the team in the shed. “They are human and they do make mistakes.”

New Zealand played Mitchell Santner as their sole spinner in Napier but may add Ish Sodhi to the line-up for game two following the success of India’s spin pair Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who took six wickets between them in the opener of the five-ODI series.

West Indies’ Jason Holder celebrates reaching 150 runs during the first Test against England at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, yesterday.

A man drives a vehicle with tarpaulin cover as rain starts to fall and delay the third ODI match between South Africa and Pakistan at the Supersport Park Cricket Stadium, yesterday.

Action from the third round of the Qatar Superstock 600 championship at Losail International Circuit yesterday.

Sri Lanka (I innings) .............................. 144 Australia (I innings)M Harris c Thirimanne b Kumara ................... 44J Burns c Mendis b Lakmal ............................... 15U Khawaja b Perera ............................................11N Lyon c Mendis b Lakmal ...................................1M Labuschagne c Thirimanne b de Silva .......81T Head lbw b Lakmal ........................................ 84K Patterson lbw b Lakmal ................................30T Paine c Mendis b Lakmal ................................. 0P Cummins c Dickwella b Chameera ................0M Starc (not out) ................................................26J Richardson c Karunaratne b Perera ................1Extras (B6, LB17, NB5, W2) ........................... 30

Total .......................................................323Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-72, 3-76, 4-82 (Lyon), 5-248, 6-272, 7-272, 8-278, 9-304, 10-323Bowling: Lakmal 27-9-75-5 (2nb), Kumara 15-5-37-1 (2w), Chameera 21-3-68-1 (3nb), Perera 32.2-9-84-2, de Silva 8-3-22-1, Karunaratne 3-0-14-0Sri Lanka (II innings)D Karunaratne c Paine b Cummins .................. 3L Thirimanne (batting) ........................................6Extras (B4, LB4) .................................................8Total (for 1 wkt) ...................................... 17Fall of wickets: 1-17Bowling: Starc 2-0-2-0, Richardson 2-1-2-0, Lyon 1-0-5-0, Cummins 1-1-0-1

SCOREBOARD

Australia’s Travis Head reacts after being dismissed for 84 runs during the day-night Test match against Sri Lanka at the Gabba Cricket Ground in Brisbane, yesterday.

AFP MELBOURNE

Novak Djokovic yesterday continued his quest for a record seventh Australian Open crown by swatting aside French 28th seed Lucas Pouille 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a final against Rafael Nadal.

It was a flawless display on Rod Laver Arena by the world number one who moves into a first Melbourne decider since 2016.

“It is definitely one of the best matches I’ve ever had on this court, definitely,” said Djokovic, who hit 24 winners and had just five unforced errors “You know, everything worked the way I imagined it before the match and even more so.

“Tough one for Lucas, but he had a great tournament, and I wish him all the best for the rest of the season,” he added.

Djokovic lost in the fourth round last year, followed by elbow surgery and poor form until he won Wimbledon and turned his season around.

“It was highly unlikely 12 months ago that I would be where I am today, a year later,” said the Serbian top seed.

“But I’ve said it before, and I always have plenty of belief in myself, and I think the self-belief is something that always prevails.”

Djokovic will face second seed Nadal in a 53rd career meeting and eighth in the final of a Slam.

In 2012 the pair contested the longest Grand Slam final in terms of time at the Australian Open when Djokovic edged an epic battle 7-5 in the fifth set after 5hr 53min.

Djokovic, in his 34th Grand Slam semi-final, took just 83 minutes to outclass his regular practice partner Pouille, who was appearing in his first.

The 14-time Grand Slam title winner was fresh because

quarter-final opponent Kei Nishikori had quit after 51 minutes and he jumped all over the world number 31 right from the start.

Djokovic was in total control against the Frenchman who had needed more than three hours to see off Milos Raonic in the last eight.

The Serb ran Pouille ragged so effectively that he dished out a dreaded 6-0 “bagel” in a first set that lasted

just 21 minutes. Pouille held his first service game of the second set to a huge ovation from the centre court fans, but it was a brief respite as Djokovic, a picture of precision on serve and return, would not allow him any chance to get back into the match.

Pouille’s coach Amelie Mau-resmo, who won the Australian Open women’s singles in 2006, could only look on helplessly as Djokovic broke at the next

opportunity and raced to the second set. On Thursday, Nadal had allowed his young Greek opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas to win just six games on the way to the final in an hour and 46 minutes.

Djokovic made that look pedestrian, allowing Pouille only four games and taking 23 minutes less to reach his first Melbourne final since 2016, when he won his sixth title.

Nadal holds a 4-3 win-loss

record against Djokovic in Grand Slam finals, including all three meetings since their Melbourne Park marathon seven years ago, and both players are chasing milestones tomorrow.

A win for Nadal will see him become the first player in the Open era to win all four Grand Slam titles twice, while victory for Djokovic will take him clear of six-time Melbourne winners Roger Federer and Roy Emerson.

It is definitely one of

the best matches I’ve

ever had on this court,

definitely. You know,

everything worked

the way I imagined it

before the match and

even more so: Djokovic

19SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2019 SPORT

Dominant Djokovic sets up Nadal finalRafael Nadal

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return against France’s Lucas Pouille during their men’s singles semi-final match of the Australian Open in Melbourne, yesterday.

Osaka and Pliskova chase double delight in MelbourneREUTERS MELBOURNE

The rewards could not get bigger when Petra Kvitova takes on Naomi Osaka in today’s Australian Open final with one of them set to emerge as a fresh champion at Melbourne Park as well as the new world number one.

Four months after stunning 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the final of the US Open last September, 21-year-old Osaka is one win away from becoming the first player since Jennifer Capriati to win the next Grand Slam after her maiden major title.

The fourth seed, one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in women’s tennis, is not expecting it to be a cakewalk, especially being pitted against an opponent as aggressive as Osaka and also more experienced with two Wimbledon titles under her belt.

Osaka fought back from a set and 4-1 down against Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in the third round at Melbourne Park and showed her determination in winning two more three-setters to keep a 13-match victory streak in Grand Slams running.

She will need all of that grit if she hopes to stop Kvitova, who is yet to drop a set en route to her maiden Australian Open final, in their first career meeting.

“I think to have the opportunity to play her for the first time in a final of a Grand Slam is some-thing very amazing,” Osaka told reporters after her semi-final win. “I’ve watched her play the Wimbledon finals.

“I know what a great player she is. It’s defi-nitely going to be very tough for me.” Kvitova is one match away from capping one of the most inspiring comebacks in the history of the sport, having had to undergo a nearly four-hour surgery on her playing hand in 2016 after being attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in the Czech Republic.

She missed the 2017 tournament at Melbourne Park while recovering from the surgery and it was just not a case of overcoming a physical injury as the attack left an indelible mental scar too.

“I have been in the final of the Grand Slam, but this is a little bit different,” she told reporters on Friday.

“I’m not playing on the grass, but I think it’s just probably a little bit more special because it’s after everything I have been through. So I think it’s just different, but I don’t think it’s, like, more nervous.” The 28-year-old, currently sixth in the rankings, won the Sydney International warm-up before arriving in Melbourne and has not looked back, having strolled past her opponents in a 11-match winning streak.

Saturday could, however, be a different fight against the big-hitting Osaka, who hammered 56 winners and clubbed 15 aces to defeat another Czech player in Karolina Pliskova.

“I need to play my best tennis, what I can say.

I think Naomi is on fire. She’s in very good form,” Kvitova said.

“She’s an aggressive player, which I am, as well. So I think it will be about who gonna take the first point and push the other a little bit.” With both players evenly matched in their aggressive play and ability to serve big, Kvitova’s coach Jiri Vanek believed the player with the bigger heart will win Saturday’s contest.

Vanek’s opposite number Sascha Bajin believes Osaka’s fitness and mindset will give her the edge in rallies.

The number one ranking will be the cherry on the top for the winner as she will unseat Romanian Simona Halep, who was ousted by Serena Wil-liams in the fourth round, at the top spot of the women’s game on Monday.

Osaka vs Kvitova4-NAOMI OSAKA

Age: 21

WTA Ranking: 4 WTA titles: 2

Coach: Sasha Bajin

Grand Slam titles: 1 (US Open 2018) 2018 Australian

Open performance: Fourth round Best Australian Open

performance: Final (2019) Road to final: First round: beat

Magda Linette (Poland) 6-4 6-2 Second round: beat Tamara

Zidansek (Slovenia) 6-2 6-4 Third round: beat Hsieh Su-Wei

(Taiwan) 5-7 6-4 6-1 Fourth round: beat 13-Anastasija

Sevastova (Latvia) 4-6 6-3 6-4 Quarter-finals: beat 6-Elina

Svitolina (Ukraine) 6-4 6-1 Semi-finals: beat 7-Karolina

Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-2 4-6 6-4

The US Open champion was forged in fire at Flushing

Meadows and has relied on the confidence that comes with

winning a Grand Slam to dismiss rivals at the Australian Open.

While she has polished her reputation as one of the

cleanest strikers of the ball in women’s tennis during her

Melbourne run, Osaka has also shown that she has the

stomach for a fight when things are not going her way.

Having reached the final in consecutive Grand Slams,

Osaka meets double Wimbledon champion Kvitova for

the first time in her career in what is now a face-off for the

number one ranking in women’s tennis.

Osaka has matched Kvitova for aggression although

she has not been as dominant in the tournament, but it

is the Japanese player’s endurance and composure that

could help her prevail.

8-PETRA KVITOVA Age: 28

WTA Ranking: 6 WTA titles: 26

Coach: Jiri Vanek

Grand Slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014) 2018

Australian Open performance: First round Best Australian

Open performance: Final (2019) Road to final: First round:

beat Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-2 Second

round: beat Irina-Camelia Begu (Romania) 6-1 6-3 Third

round: beat Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 6-1 6-4 Fourth

round: beat Amanda Anisimova (U.S.) 6-2 6-1 Quarter-finals:

beat 15-Ashleigh Barty (Australia) 6-1 6-4 Semi-finals: beat

Danielle Collins (US) 7-6(2) 6-0

Two years after missing the Australian Open while recovering

from a knife attack by a home intruder, Kvitova is now one match

away from the title and a third Grand Slam trophy of her career.

Having overcome the physical injury and the mental

scars it left, the Czech is finally playing with the freedom and

belief that made her one of the most effective players on the

women’s tour en route to two Wimbledon titles.

Appearing leaner and stronger than before, the left-

hander has mowed down opponents without dropping a set

at Melbourne to enter her first hard court Grand Slam final on

an 11-match winning streak.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka (left) reacting after a point against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova during their women’s singles semi-final match. Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrating her victory against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty during their women’s singles quarter-final match of the Australian Open.