Ons Jabeur and Mirra Andreeva greet each other at the net after their second-round match at the Australian Open. AP
Ons Jabeur and Mirra Andreeva greet each other at the net after their second-round match at the Australian Open. AP
Ons Jabeur and Mirra Andreeva greet each other at the net after their second-round match at the Australian Open. AP
Ons Jabeur and Mirra Andreeva greet each other at the net after their second-round match at the Australian Open. AP

Ons Jabeur tumbles out of Australian Open second round in less than an hour


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Ons Jabeur has exited the Australian Open in the second round after a comprehensive defeat to teenager Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday.

The Tunisian sixth seed was well below her best, while the Russian debutant played one of the best matches of her prodigious career to claim a 6-0, 6-2 victory on Rod Laver Arena in just 54 minutes.

Ranked world No 47 and playing her first tournament at Melbourne Park, Andreeva was electric to earn her first win over a top-10 player, having burst onto the scene when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year as a 16-year-old qualifier.

"I was really nervous before the match because I am really inspired by Ons and the way she plays," Andreeva said. "Before I started to play on the WTA tour I always watched her matches.

"In the first set I showed amazing tennis, I honestly didn't expect that from myself. I just wanted to play on this big court for the second time and just to enjoy the tennis and the time, and I did."

While making her professional debut at the tournament, Andreeva played on the Australian Open's primary stadium court last year when she made the girls' final, losing to fellow Russian Alina Korneeva.

"I feel like I am a bit more mature than I was before," she said. "Over this year I think I have changed a lot and I think you can see that on the court."

Having appeared to find form and momentum in the second set of her first-round win, Jabeur was completely out of touch on Wednesday.

She won only eight points across the six games of the first set, and just three from the baseline, while making 10 unforced errors. Her serve was not firing, either, with only 38 per cent of first serve points won and just 13 per cent on second serve.

Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, finally held serve to get off the mark in the opening game of set two, raising her finger in the air in celebration. But the teenage Russian kept coming and broke again for a 2-1, then 4-1 as Jabeur's shoulders slumped, knowing it was all over.

It is the second time in as many years Jabeur has been eliminated from the Australian Open in the second round after last year's health scare when she required medical assistance as she turned blue and struggled to breathe.

For Andreeva, this was another statement victory for a player who appears increasingly destined for the top. She is now into the third round of a Grand Slam for the third time in her career, having reached the same stage at last year's French Open and going one better at Wimbledon a month later.

Andreeva, who turns 17 in April, is also the second-youngest player in the Open Era to concede three games or fewer to a top-10 player in a Grand Slam match – after Jelena Dokic, who defeated Martina Hingis by the same score in the first round of Wimbledon in 1999.

The Russian will face France's Diane Parry in the third round.

Jabeur will next be in action at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on February 5 to start the WTA Tour's Middle East swing.

Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a huge scare before beating home hope Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the third round.

The Serb, aiming for a record-extending 11th crown in Melbourne, was in deep trouble in the third set when errors began to flow and he had to save four set points.

With the packed night-time crowd on the edge of their seats, top seed Djokovic used his vast experience to win the pivotal tiebreak and then broke a dispirited Popyrin midway through the fourth set to finally seize control.

The 36-year-old duly racked up his 30th successive victory at the Australian Open - his last defeat coming in 2018 - but for the second successive round he was pushed hard.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

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2.

China

3.

UAE

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Japan

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Norway

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Singapore

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Saudi Arabia

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UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

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France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

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Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib

Stars: Shadi Alfons,  Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab 

Two stars out of five 

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Date started: March 2013

Founder: Hussam Hammo

Based: Amman, Jordan

Employees: 55

Funding: $6m

Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media

Company%20Profile
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

SPECS
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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)
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

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Final: June 1, Madrid

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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SPECS

Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR

Engine: 5.7-litre V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 362hp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)

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While you're here
In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Updated: January 17, 2024, 1:27 PM`