It may have taken three matches but Novak Djokovic finally delivered a statement of intent at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic, the top seed, was strangely subdued in his first-round win over qualifier Tomas Machac - needing a third-set tiebreak to prevail - and while he was much improved in the second round against world No 39 Tallon Griekspoor, it still contained uncharacteristic lapses and errors.
Yet, when faced with a significant step up in quality, Djokovic delivered. It wasn't that the world No 1 necessarily dominated the sixth-seeded Hurkacz, more that he just looked so comfortable in his 6-3, 7-5 victory; rarely troubled, always in control, one of those all-too familiar performances where he cruised along in third gear and only revved into fourth when the moment called for it.
Playing against a player of Hurkacz's calibre and with the big weapons the Pole possesses, chances are usually at a premium and so it transpired for the majority of this match on Centre Court, a break in each set proving the difference.
Djokovic looked like he finally got a read on Hurkacz's massive serve in the 11th game of the second set and finally earned the deserved break at the fifth attempt before closing out the victory on serve with ease.
It was Djokovic's 15th straight win to start the year, following titles in Adelaide and at the Australian Open, and he is now just two wins away from a sixth trophy in Dubai.
"It was a challenging match again Hubert, like it always is," Djokovic, 35, said on court. "I think he's got one of the best serves in the game, so in the second set until the 11th game I didn't have too many chances. Fortunately I was able to find a rhythm on my serve.
"Really one or two points can decide the winner of a match like this. There's not much separating the players, so I'm just really glad with the way I played under pressure."
Next up is the semi-final most tennis fans would have hoped for when the draw was released last weekend.
Daniil Medvedev has been in similarly scintillating form and extended his winning run to 12 matches - a run that has earned the Russian titles in Rotterdam and Doha, and demonstrates that he is very much back to his ruthless best. The latest was a clinical 6-3, 6-2 victory over Croatian eighth seed Borna Coric.
At the opposite end of the draw, Andrey Rublev produced a far less stressful victory than his effort in the previous round by beating Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6.
The defending champion saved five match points against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday, but was a more comfortable winner in the quarter-finals despite a late wobble while serving for the match.
If the Russian second seed is to keep alive his title defence beyond the semi-finals, he will need to beat Alexander Zverev for the first time having lost to the German in all five previous meetings. The Olympic champion booked his place in the last four with a 7-5, 6-4 over Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.
"I need to play good tennis, to play aggressive," Rublev said about Zverev. "He's a top player, he was winning so many great titles and beating all the top players, so he knows how to play tennis and he knows how to play against me. I also know how to play against him. It will be about all the little details."
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
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Persuasion
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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West Asia rugby, season 2017/18 - Roll of Honour
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
