Follow the latest news on the 2024 Paris Olympics
The 60th – and potentially final – clash between tennis giants Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal turned out to be a more one-sided affair than many would have hoped for at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
The Serbian came out on top 6-1, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, where Nadal has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.
But Nadal, 38, had warned before the match that his old rival was “the clear favourite” due to the Spaniard's injury problems over the past two years, which have limited his time on court.
And so it transpired as 24-time Slam winner Djokovic blew away his opponent in the first set and looked to be coasting in the second before Nadal belatedly sprang into action when he won four games in a row before eventually going down 6-1, 6-4.
It is only Nadal's fifth defeat in 118 singles matches at Roland Garros, with Djokovic now having been responsible for three of those.
Djokovic has not had the greatest year either, failing so far to win a tournament at any level and undergoing knee surgery following a slip during the French Open.
His right knee was still strapped up but he arrived in Paris having reached the Wimbledon final – where he was beaten by Nadal's doubles partner in Paris, Carlos Alcaraz – and chasing the one major prize still missing from his vast collection.
“I'm very relieved,” said the 37-year-old top seed. “Everything was going my way, I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances.”
He added: “I never thought back in 2006 that we'd still be playing each other almost 20 years later.”
Meanwhile, Britain's Tom Pidcock recovered from a puncture to secure a second consecutive Olympic mountain bike gold after a dramatic battle with Victor Koretzky at Elancourt Hill.
Pidcock's hopes of retaining his title suffered a nightmare blow when he got a flat front tyre on the fourth of eight laps, shortly after he had taken control of the 35km race.
“You are all used to things going well so even my mechanic wasn't ready for it,” said the Briton. “He did a super fast change in the end, my bike was perfect apart from my mistake of puncturing.”
It meant Pidcock had fallen 40 seconds behind Koretzky, but he fought his way back to reclaim the lead with a lap and a half to go.
There was plenty of drama still to come, though, as the pair traded blows in the last couple of kilometres – dramatically touching wheels at one point, which would result in jeers from the French crowd afterwards – before Pidcock burst forward to take the win just 16 days since pulling out of the Tour de France after testing positive for Covid-19.
“I knew that Victor was going to be fast in the last lap even if I couldn't get rid of him,” added Pidcock. “I knew it was going to be a big fight, and he left a gap and I had to take it.
“That's racing. I know people might view it differently but sport is about not giving up. It is a shame that the French were booing me.”
Over at the new Olympic Aquatics Centre, China continued their dominance in the diving as Lian Junjie and Yang Hao breezed to victory in the synchronised 10-metre platform.
The three-time reigning world champions finished with a whopping 490.35 points, receiving several perfect 10s from the judges and no marks lower than 8.0 to seal China's second gold in Paris.
“Obviously, China dived absolutely incredibly today. They showed incredible form,” said Tom Daley, the five-time British Olympian who won gold in this event at Tokyo but settled for a silver this time around. “Every single one of their dives was flawless.”
China, which has dominated the sport in the post-Greg Louganis era, is trying to become the first country to claim every diving gold medal since synchro was added in 2000, doubling the programme from four to eight events.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
Paltan
Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
