Despite a combination of age, injury and long-held prediction of a new generation of stars about to burst through, Djokovic insisted the four veterans remained the players to beat.

“I think if we are healthy and playing well, the four guys still have probably the best chance to always win Slams,” said Djokovic in Doha, ahead of playing in his season-opener, the Qatar Open.

Djokovic is the favourite to dominate in 2019, having finished last season so strongly, overcoming an injury-hit start to the year to claim the Wimbledon and US Open titles.

The 31-year-old also rose from world number 22 to number one, becoming the oldest ever player to finish the year as the highest ranked player in the world.

His rivals, especially Nadal and Murray, are still battling back to full fitness, increasing the chances that the Serbian could add to his 14 Grand Slam titles.

One more major win and he will overtake Pete Sampras to become third on the all-time list of Grand Slam winners. Only Federer (20) and Nadal (17) have more.

Since and including 2010, the “Big Four” have won 32 Grand Slams between them, with Djokovic top of that list with 13 of his titles coming in the current decade.

Djokovic though insisted that “the next generation is already there” and singled out Germany’s world number four Alexander Zverev, Croatia’s Borna Coric, number 12 and Greece’s number 15 Stefano Tsitsipas as the main threats.

“It’s a matter of time when we will see some of them competing in the last stages of Grand Slams,” he added.

Another of those who might challenge the usual suspects is Austria’s Dominic Thiem, who is also in Doha, and the number two seed after the Serb.

The world number eight admitted it was time for the next generation to step up.

“All the guys who won Slams in previous years are on tour, so it will be very tough,” Thiem said.

“Yes, there are four chances for us… and we are very pumped to take one Grand Slam and maybe it is going to happen this year.”

Djokovic won a Qatar Open doubles match on Monday, partnering his brother Marko.

He begins his quest for a third Doha singles title on Tuesday against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In Doha, his main challenge is likely to come from Thiem and Karen Khachanov who ended Djokovic’s 22-match winning streak in November.

Khachanov starts against three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.

“I’m happy, I’m fit, I’m ready for the season and I’m looking forward to starting it,” said Swiss star Wawrinka.

On Monday, there were wins for Thomas Berdych, the Czech beating Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) and Russia’s Andrey Rublev against Italy’s Andreas Seppi, 7-5, 6-1.

The “sin” tax is being introduced just weeks after the conservative Muslim Gulf state announced in its annual budget statement that it would introduce a levy on “health-damaging goods”.

The policy was revealed by the Qatar Distribution Company, the country’s only alcohol store, in a 30-page list of new prices for beer, wines and spirits, citing the introduction of a 100 per cent “excise tax”.

The list was widely shared on social media and showed drinks doubling in price overnight, as it detailed charges which come into effect from January 1.

When asked if the document was genuine, a government spokesman told AFP: “it is true”.

With the new levy, a 100cl bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin will now cost 340 Qatari riyals ($93, 81 euros) and a 75cl of Shiraz wine from South Africa will be sold for 86 riyals ($23, 20 euros).

A 24-pack of Heineken 330ml beers will now cost 384 riyals ($105, 92 euros).

It is legal to buy alcohol in Qatar with a permit, and also to drink in licenced bars, clubs and hotels — although drinking in public is banned.

The issue of alcohol is likely to be a sensitive subject in the run-up to the World Cup in four years’ time.

Tournament organisers in Qatar have said alcohol will be available for fans in designated areas, but not in public spaces, out of respect for the country’s traditions.

Roger Federer and Serena Williams, two of the greatest players in history, will face off across the net for the first time on Tuesday when United States go up against defending champions Switzerland in the mixed doubles of the unique two-player, mixed teams event.

This year’s tournament is expected to be Perth’s final Hopman Cup and Tuesday’s group tie is an early sellout on the back of the prospect of seeing two of the all-time greats, with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them, on the same court.

“It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it,” said Federer after opening his Hopman Cup campaign with an easy singles win on Sunday.

“I admire everything she’s done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win,” added the 20-time Grand Slam champion of the once-in-a-lifetime match.

“It is going to be one time, probably never again. She is one of the biggest champions in our sport ever, men and women combined, so it is great to be playing against her.”

The original “Battle of the Sexes” saw Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in an exhibition singles match in 1973.

Federer said he had plenty of experience playing against women, going back to his days as a teenage tour hopeful in Switzerland.

Despite their long concurrent careers and having attended a few Wimbledon champion dinners together, Federer said the pair barely knew each other.

“I don’t know her that well,” he said.

“In the corridors and cafes, walking by each other, sometimes in the past she has asked me how are the kiddies and how is everyone doing, but if I said I know her it would be a bit of an exaggeration.”

Williams has said in a television interview that she was looking forward to getting a picture with Federer for her Instagram page.

“It is the age of social media,” said Federer, with a grin.

City’s shock run of three defeats in four league games has allowed the unbeaten Liverpool to close in on a first title since 1990 with the sides set to meet at the Etihad on Thursday.

But after Jurgen Klopp’s men thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday to open up a nine-point lead, the champions responded despite an early scare at St Mary’s.

“We knew it, that with the position of Liverpool, if we drop points then it is over, it is finished,” said City boss Pep Guardiola.

“It would be almost impossible. Of course they are going to drop points but not too many.”

Charlie Austin wasted a great chance to give Southampton the lead before David Silva slotted home Bernardo Silva’s cross to put the visitors in front.

However, just as in defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester, City surrendered the lead when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg blasted high past Ederson eight minutes before half-time.

The game swung back in back in City’s favour just before the break as James Ward-Prowse turned Raheem Sterling’s cross into his own net before Alex McCarthy couldn’t keep out Sergio Aguero’s header.

Guardiola’s men should have added to their advantage as Aguero hit the bar and McCarthy made amends by denying Gabriel Jesus.

Fernandinho had been badly missed in City’s recent defeats, but his return from injury made a huge difference in midfield and Southampton ended with 10 men after Hojbjerg was shown a straight red card for scything down the Brazilian five minutes from time.

– Pogba doubles up –

Pogba had scored just one goal from open play in the Premier League this season under Jose Mourinho, but continues to flourish since the Portuguese’s departure with his second double in four days.

“It is different, we still won games with the old manager but it is just a different style of playing, we are more offensive and we are creating more chances and that is how we want to play,” said Pogba.

The Frenchman’s opener on five minutes owed much to the brilliant skill of Marcus Rashford who dribbled beyond two Bournemouth defenders before crossing for Pogba to tap into an empty net.

Pogba then powered home a header from Ander Herrera’s inviting cross before Rashford’s outside of the boot finish put United 3-0 up.

Nathan Ake reduced Bournemouth’s deficit before half-time, but Pogba turned provider for substitute Romelu Lukaku to make it 4-1 and only the post denied Pogba a first ever hat-trick.

“That is a top, top performance for a midfield player because it’s all-round,” said Solskjaer of Pogba’s display.

Despite Solskjaer’s 100 percent record, United remain eight points off the top four as Chelsea ground out a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace thanks to N’Golo Kante’s winner.

The French World Cup winner has been encouraged by Maurizio Sarri to get into more goalscoring positions with Jorginho occupying Kante’s usual holding midfield role for the Londoners this season.

“He is improving, especially in his movement without the ball,” said Sarri.

“Today his movement was really very good and done with the right timing.”

Southampton are now above the relegation zone only on goal difference as third bottom Burnley secured just a second win in 13 games by beating West Ham 2-0.

Sean Dyche dropped former England number one goalkeeper Joe Hart to the bench for the first time in the league this season and was rewarded with a rare clean sheet as first half goals from Chris Wood and Dwight McNeil secured a vital three points.

Gunn completed an unforgettable week at the Lakeview Resort and Golf Club by carding the lowest score of the day with a 61 to finish on 23-under-par 331, a stroke behind winner Austen Truslow of the United States who topped the class with a closing 65 for a total 331.

“Fifty-nine was playing on my mind today,” said the 26-year-old Thai, who spent most of 2018 playing on the Japan Tour. “After nine holes, I got a little nervous and I got a little hiccup on 10th, where I hit it into the hazard but still managed to make par. I kept going and on 15th, I put it on the back of my head that I couldn’t do it [break 60]. I’ll have to change my schedule after earning an Asian Tour card.”

India’s Aadil Bebi, the youngest player at 17 to tee up in Hua Hin, showed his mental toughness by posting a 63 to end the week tied for ninth.

After learning he had lost a close friend to a traffic accident at the start of the week, Bebi displayed maturity beyond his years by staying focused to earn his playing rights for the 2019 Asian Tour.

Sadom Kaewkanjana and 2017 SEA Games teammate Kosuke Hamamoto, a Thai-Japanese, were also among the local players to earn their Tour cards. Sadom, who last week helped Thailand beat Japan 15-13 in the Amata Friendship Cup, will now turn pro.

“I’m very excited and happy to earn my card. I’m looking to turn professional after this event, and in 2019 I hope to retain my playing rights for next season,” said the 20-year-old, who also won the All Thailand Golf Tour Q School earlier.

The other Thai graduates yesterday were Itthipat Buranatanyarat, Poom Pattaropong, Naras Luangphetcharaporn and Kwanchai Tannin.

The Serbian coach along with his team are now already in the Middle Eastern country to prepare for continental competition where Thailand will take on India in group A on Sunday.

Rajevac is trying to redeem his pride after hus side failed to defend their title in the AFF Championship, losing to Malaysia in the semi-finals on away goal rules. Thailand must reach the round of 16 or the coach will part with the team, according to Football Association of Thailand chief Somyot Poompanmoung.

Thailand has been drawn in the same group with India, Bahrain and the UAE. Only top two teams from each of the six groups plus four best third placed teams will progress into the last 16.

“We are going to play in the best competition in Asia. We are very motivated and we are aware of the challenge. We hope to play for good outcomes,” said Rajevac, whose team will play a warm-up game with Oman behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Despite the pressure, the Serbian coach insists he is more concerned about winning matches than cautiously racking up the points his team needs to secure a second-round berth.

‘’We will try to win every match we play, as each win is important. The strongest team will be UAE as they have home advantage,” said Rajevac.

His newly selected captain, Teerasil Dangda, says the Thai players are in great mental and physical shape and all share the same target of reaching the knockout stage.

“We all desperately want to reach the second round. We will have time to adjust to the weather and conditions before Sunday,” said the 30-year-old striker, who downplayed his status as the only player in the team with Asia Cup experience.

“Although I have played in Asian Cups over the last 12 years, I haven’t helped the team much. In fact, there are several good players in the team now who have more international tournament experience than I do.”

Roberto Firmino’s hat-trick — the first by a Liverpool player against the Gunners since Peter Crouch in 2007 —  as well as a goal apiece by Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane ensured Liverpool’s front three all scored in the same league game for the first time this season.

It gives Liverpool a nine point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur who surprisingly slipped up 3-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers and 10 over champions Manchester City, who play Southampton on Sunday.

Klopp, though, kept his feet firmly on the ground especially with a potentially title-defining clash away at Manchester City on Thursday.

“All over it was a good performance against a good opponent and our reaction (to going behind to an early goal) was just brilliant,” he told BT Sport.

Klopp said Tottenham’s loss had not affected his players at all.

“For sure Tottenham’s result people out there reacted, but not inside the dressing room where they were completely concentrated on the match and not allowed to have that influence our game.

“That is how I want the team to stay which is to be concentrated nothing else.”

Liverpool’s outstanding central defender Virgil van Dijk, who has added the solidity to a defence which was once a real weakness in the side, said they were not the finished article yet but it was a good moment to be a member of the Liverpool squad.

“We still need to improve a lot of things but we are very happy with where we are at the moment we have to keep intensity high and continue in this way,” the 27-year-old told BT Sport.

“Anything is possible. We are in a good way, it’s tough but it’s a great time to be a Liverpool player.”

Van Dijk’s fellow defender Scottish international full-back Andy Robertson said the City game had been on their minds but they had so far done the business without letting it distract them.

“(Manchester City) is a huge one,” the 24-year-old told BT Sports.

“Everyone in the squad has been looking at it.

“But in December we’ve knocked the games off one by one and we’ve now got a healthy lead. We look forward to it.”

IOC MEMBER MARISOL CASADO, WHO IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON UNION (ITU), HAD RECEIVED IT ON BEHALF OF THE IOC IN REYKJAVIK, ICELAND ON FRIDAY.

She presented the award to IOC president Thomas Bach and the IOC Executive Board during the meeting in Tokyo.

The three recipients of the first “POWER, TOGETHER” Award were chosen by Women Political Leaders (WPL), the Government of Iceland and the Parliament of Iceland. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, Iceland is the best country for women. The awards ceremony took place during the “Women Leaders Global Forum”, a conference that brought together people from all walks of life: politics, business, tech, science, media and sports. The Forum is held on an annual basis and is co-hosted by the WPL and the Government and the Parliament of Iceland, co-chaired by leaders of the OECD, World Bank and World Economic Forum.

“The only way to advance society is using our power, together,” said Women Political Leaders President Silvana Koch-Mehrin. “Together, we can create societies of strong diversity and inclusion, and produce the progress we want to see to have equality for women and men.”

The other recipients of the first “POWER, TOGETHER” Award besides the IOC were the #MeToo Movement and the African Women Leaders Network.

Manchester City could cut Liverpool’s lead to seven points when they look to stop a recent slump at Southampton on Sunday, but ahead of their trip to the Etihad on January 3, Jurgen Klopp’s men currently look well on course to deliver a first league title since 1989/90.

“For sure Tottenham’s result people out there reacted, but not inside the dressing room where they were completely concentrated on the match and not allowed to have that influence on our game,” said Klopp.

“That is how I want the team to stay which is to be concentrated, nothing else.”

Liverpool even overcame a rare deficit on home soil as for the first time this season after they trailed in the league at Anfield when Ainsley Maitland-Niles swept Arsenal into an 11th minute lead.

However, the hosts were level within three minutes and 4-1 up by half-time as Firmino struck twice in two minutes before Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah’s penalty made the points safe before the break.

Salah then passed up the chance to move out in front as the league’s top scorer after drawing level with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane on 13 as he allowed Firmino to take Liverpool’s second penalty of the evening 25 minutes from time to complete the Brazilian’s hat-trick.

– Spurs stumble –

Tottenham had surged ahead of City into second place after smashing 11 goals past Everton and Bournemouth in the previous six days, but ran out of steam at Wembley as Wolves scored three times in the final 18 minutes.

A wonderful moment of individual skill from Kane put Spurs on course for a sixth straight league when  he cut inside onto his weaker left foot, but still produced a powerful drive from 20 yards that beat Rui Patricio midway through the first half.

However, much has been made of Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino’s ability to extract the most from a stretched squad and Spurs finally looked like a side jaded by competing on four fronts in the final stages.

“We have had a very good run in the last few weeks and to keep that level is difficult,” said Pochettino. “I think we started to pay for the effort in the other games. We are not machines.”

The comeback began when Willy Boly rose highest to meet Joao Moutinho’s corner to equalise.

As the hosts pressed for a winner, Wolves broke in numbers and Raul Jimenez put the visitors in front six minutes from time before Helder Costa raced clear to score his first Premier League goal.

– “I want to kill him” –

Fulham are now just a point away from safety after Aleksandar Mitrovic saved Aboubakar Kamara’s blushes, but not the wrath of manager Claudio Ranieri.

The Frenchman ignored Ranieri’s orders to let Mitrovic take a late penalty with the scores still tied a 0-0 and saw his effort saved by Jonas Lossl.

“I said to Aboubakar Kamara to leave the ball to Mitrovic, he is the man who shoots the penalties,” said Ranieri. “It is unbelievable, he did not respect me, the club, the team and crowd. I spoke with him, it is not right.

“I want to kill him, that is normal when one man takes a ball, only because he scored the last penalty (against Manchester United). It should be Mitrovic, that is it.”

A missed penalty was also the turning point at the King Power where Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge saved James Maddison’s spot-kick for Leicester.

And Cardiff snatched a first away win of the season in stoppage time when Victor Camarasa unleashed a rocket to move the Welsh side four points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory.

Brighton also boosted their survival chances by beating Everton 1-0 thanks to Jurgen Locadia’s solitary goal.

Newcastle are also four points above the drop zone after they were denied a vital three points by Abdoulaye Doucoure’s late equaliser for Watford in a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road after Salomon Rondon had opened the scoring.

Not to be outdone, however, Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik also bagged a brace with a 3-2 home win against Bologna to keep the pressure on the champions.

Ronaldo-powered Juventus have achieved a record number of points before the three-week winter break with 53 from 19 games.

Napoli are nine points behind in second, with Inter Milan a further five adrift in third, days after their clash at the San Siro was overshadowed by the death of a supporter with Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly targetted by racist chanting.

Koulibaly was suspended for Saturday’s game but fans showed their support in his San Paolo stadium by wearing masks with the defender’s face and holding up banners saying: “We are all Koulibaly”.

Dries Mertens sealed victory two minutes from time after Bologna battled back twice to level Milik’s goals on 15 and 51 minutes.

“It was important to end the year on a high and it wasn’t at all easy,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri after a game in which the video assistant referee played a key role.

Two penalties were decided by VAR with Sampordia also having a late equaliser ruled out.

Ronaldo curled in the opener after just two minutes in Turin, adding a second from the spot on 65 minutes, to go top of Serie A’s scoring charts on 14 goals.

Fabio Quagliarella pulled the Genoa outfit level with a penalty on 33 minutes, before Riccardo Saponara’s late equaliser was ruled offside.

Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo, dismissing Ronaldo’s penalty as “a gift,” adding “that Saponara goal should never have been cancelled”.

“For me, morally, the game was 2-2.”

The seven-time reigning champions have dropped points just twice, against Genoa in October and Atalanta midweek, and are firmly on track for an eighth consecutive Scudetto.

“Records are meaningless, if not to improve and raise the bar,” said Allegri.

“We do have the perception that with Cristiano Ronaldo there’s a better chance of winning the Champions League. However, we’re not even in January yet and there’s a very long way to go.”

– Higuain rescues AC Milan –

The Portuguese striker found a way through early, picking up a Paulo Dybala cross to fire in past Sampdoria’s on-loan Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero.

Sampdoria pulled level following a penalty awarded following an Emre Can handball with Quagliarella making no mistake.

The 35-year-old became the first player to score in nine consecutive Serie A games since David Trezeguet for Juventus in 2005.

Audero deflected over a Ronaldo header on the hour but the hosts went ahead when the referee pointed to the spot for an Alex Ferrari handball.

Substitute Saponara looked to have grabbed a point deep into injury time but VAR ruled he was in an offside position.

Napoli got back to winning ways after last week’s defeat in Milan, despite missing Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne, who were both suspended, and injured captain Marek Hamsik.

Bologna’s Federico Santander and Danilo levelled twice with headers before Mertens secured the win with a powerful drive from a distance.

“We’re on track with expectations,” said Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“We had some good results that have only been watered down by an extraordinary Juventus run.”

Earlier Inter Milan earned back-to-back wins with Senegalese winger Keita Balde scoring on 72 minutes in a game played without their fans after the racist abuse aimed at Koulibaly in the San Siro.

Roma profitted from Sampdoria’s defeat to move up to sixth just two points off the Champions League places, thanks to second half goals for Bryan Cristante (58) and Cengiz Under (75) in a 2-0 win over Parma.

Lazio were held 1-1 by Torino in the Stadio Olimpico, as Atalanta beat Sassuolo 6-2 with Slovenian Josip Ilicic scoring a second-half hat-trick.

At the San Siro, Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain got back scoring after a two-month drought firing in the winner in a 2-1 victory for AC Milan over struggling SPAL.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side move up to fifth, one point behind Lazio, to end their four-game winless run.