Alexander Zverev is through to Round 4 of the Australian Open after a straight-sets victory over Radu Albot on Friday.
But the third seed admitted there were “struggles on the court” during his 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win at Melbourne Park as he looks to secure a first Grand Slam title that many felt would have arrived by now.
Zverev has been impressive in his three wins so far in the tournament — where he has yet to drop a set — as he shapes up to a possible quarter-final with 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
“I think Radu is in great form, he's played five matches so far, so he is obviously playing well, feeling the ball well,” said Zverev who is into the second week in Melbourne for the fourth year in a row.
“I am happy to be through in three sets. I had my struggles on the court today, I didn't feel perfect, but who is perfect? At the end of the day I won and I'm happy about that.”
The German needed just a single break of serve in each set to set up a last-16 clash against what is likely to be more formidable opponent in the shape of 14th seed Denis Shapovalov.
Albot, who plays much of his tennis on the second-tier challenger circuit, was shaking his head at the quality of Zverev's play as early as the third game but took the game to the third seed, particularly in the second and third sets.
Zverev always looked to have an extra gear when it mattered, however, and the world No 124 failed to convert any of the five break points he earned.
Canada's Shapovalov sealed his spot in the next round by beating American Reilly Opelka 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini fought off exciting Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz and the effects of a heavy tumble to win a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Berrettini rolled his right ankle in the second game of the final set but continued on after receiving treatment from the physio. His movement did not appear to be significantly restricted. “I'm good. Luckily it wasn't a big one. I'm used to this,” he said.
Berrettini looked to be strolling into the next round as he took the first two sets but the 18-year-old battled back superbly to level the match, only for his more experienced opponent to clinch victory 6-2, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6.
“He's unbelievable,” Berrettini, 25, said about his opponent. “I think at his age I didn't even have ATP points.
“He's impressive and he's proved it playing matches like this. He showed everybody his potential, but luckily today I won. Congratulations to him.”
Alcaraz, who is coached by former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, said he was getting closer to the game's elite.
“When I've played against the top players, apart from Rafa [Nadal], I was close,” said Alcaraz, who reached the US Open quarter-finals last year.
“I think I have the level to play against the top players. I'm getting close, getting closer every tournament I play.”
Next up for Berrettini is Spanish 19th seed Pablo Carreno Busta, who defeated another rising star in American Sebastian Korda, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3.
French 17th seed Gael Monfils overcame Chile's 16th seed Cristian Garin 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 and will play Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, who knocked out Italian 25th seed Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 7-5.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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