Exactly one year ago, Novak Djokovic was holed up in an immigration detention hotel in Melbourne awaiting the outcome of his visa appeal.
The Serb had arrived in Australia with what he understood to be a valid medical exemption to Australia's strict Covid-19 entry rules. But the Border Police viewed it differently and detained the nine-time champion of the country's Grand Slam. After court battles, appeals and demonstrations on the streets, Djokovic was deported and slapped with a three-year ban.
With the relaxing of Australia's entry rules – visitors no longer need to provide proof of vaccination against Covid – Djokovic's ban was cancelled and a visa was issued, so all eyes were on the 21-time major winner on his return to the country this month.
Thankfully, this year's experience has been a decidedly happier affair so far, more in keeping with Djokovic's previous visits Down Under.
After all the smiles and the "love" came the obligatory title. It might not have been under the bright lights of Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena – not yet, anyway – but it was a thoroughly satisfying start to the 2023 season nonetheless.
Competing in the Adelaide International for the first time in his career, Djokovic had to dig deep to get his hands on the trophy, saving match point at the end of the second set before defeating American Sebastian Korda 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in an entertaining and highly competitive final.
"Amazing performance today, you were probably closer to the victory than I was," Djokovic, 35, said to Korda. "It was decided by one or two shots, one or two points, so tough luck, but you have a bright future and you are an amazing player."
It was indeed a final of fine margins. Korda edged himself ahead by breaking for a 5-4 lead in the first set but his serve, which had been impeccable up to that point, faltered in the very next game to allow Djokovic to level. A tiebreak was required to decide the opener and it was the American who drew first blood after a marathon 18-point breaker.
Serve continued to dominate in the second set until Korda, the world No 33, carved out a golden opportunity to seal the title. But facing championship point while serving at 5-6, Djokovic displayed his trademark clutch composure with a perfectly executed point, sealed with an emphatic overhead smash.
It proved a turning point in the momentum of the set as Djokovic sealed the second set tiebreak, 7-3, to level the match.
The final continued to be finely-poised throughout the deciding set, with both players remaining strong on serve. That was until Korda afforded Djokovic a break point while serving at 4-5, and in typically ruthless Djokovic fashion, he closed out the show when Korda sent a forehand long.
"I hope you enjoyed the show tonight," Djokovic said to the crowd after collecting the 92nd title of his career. "It's been an amazing week and you guys made it even more special for me.
"To be standing here is a gift. I gave it my all today and this week to be able to get my hands on this trophy and the support I've been getting the last 10 days has been something I haven't experienced too many times in my life, so thank you so much."
Djokovic will now head to Melbourne for a tilt at a record-extending 10th Australian Open title, and having extended his winning run in Australia to 34 matches, the Serb will undoubtedly be the man to beat at the year's first Grand Slam.
In the day's other finals around Australia, Belarusian world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka won the WTA title in Adelaide with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Czech qualifier Linda Noskova, and the United States clinched the inaugural United Cup mixed team event by dominating Italy in the final.
Over in New Zealand, American world No 7 Coco Gauff continued her Australian Open preparations in fine style, easing to the Auckland Open title with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
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.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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 specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
LIKELY TEAMS
South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.
India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
