Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/441179
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 4 JANUARY 2015 Sport 37 FORMULA 1 TENNIS Tourism Tourism is an essential sector for our country, and has yielded encouraging results over the past few months. REPORTER discusses what more can be done within this sector, and asks whether government plans are in place to ensure that tourism in Malta remains sustainable and of a high standard. Guests include Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and PN Deputy Speaker for Tourism Robert Arrigo, while tourism entrepreneurs Tony Zahra and Micheal Zammit Tabona will also join in the discussion. REPORTER will be shown live tomorrow Monday at 8.40pm on TVM2, with a repeat on 9.55pm on TVM. REPORTER is the second most-watched discussion programme on TVM. reportermalta reporterontvm Mercedes: Alonso an option if Hamilton talks fail MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff says that McLaren driver Fernando Alonso is the primary alternative to Lewis Hamilton, should the squad be unable to agree a new deal with the World Champion in 2016. Hamilton's three-year deal with Mercedes expires at the end of 2015 and contract negotiations were put on hold in 2014 to en- able the Briton to focus on his title fight with team-mate Nico Rosberg, who signed a multi-year contract extension last summer. Both Hamilton and Mercedes have expressed a desire to con- tinue their relationship into 2016, but Wolff says Mercedes has considered Alonso – as well as Williams' Valtteri Bottas – as an alternative option should talks end without a successful resolution. "There's no hurry, we' ll discuss it during the year," Wolff told La Gazetta dello Sport. "I'm optimistic [that Hamilton will stay], the priorit y is to carry on with these drivers. Should it be impossible, then Alonso rep- resents the top alternative, fol- lowed by Bottas." Wolff believes that Williams, which is powered by Mercedes, could provide the reigning World Champions with the sternest test in 2015 but is wary of a revival from Red Bull. "I put Williams at the top of the list, but I also fear a lot Red Bull: they have won four consecutive titles and will field every re- source in order to fight again for the title," he said. Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso Novak Djokovic pulls out of Abu Dhabi final against Andy Murray ANDY Murray picked up his first trophy of the season without hav- ing to play a match after Novak Djokovic withdrew ahead of their final in Abu Dhabi because of ill- ness. The world number one had looked in fine nick in brushing aside Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals of the exhibition Mubadala World Ten- nis Championship on Friday. But the defending champion re- vealed on Saturday he has been suffering from a fever and handed the title to Murray. Djokovic's withdrawal denied the Scot the chance to follow his thrashing of Rafael Nadal in the last four with another confidence- boosting win over one of his big- gest rivals. But it may also prove to be a blessing for Murray, who felt pain in his left shoulder during his 6-2 6-0 win over Nadal. Speaking to reporters at the tour- nament, the 27-year-old said: "I don't know exactly what happened. I've never had anything happen to my left shoulder before. "It's pretty sore and at the end of the match when I was reaching out to sign autographs it was quite painful. "I'm going to have an ultrasound scan to check and see if there's anything there or not then I'll see what happens after that." Provided the scan does not show anything untoward, Murray will continue his build-up to the Aus- tralian Open at the Hopman Cup in Perth next week. Murray will join Heather Watson to represent Great Britain at the mixed team event, with their open- ing match due to be against France on Monday. Andy Murray