A smashed net became an unlikely ally of defending champion Jannik Sinner during a sweltering day's action at the Australian Open.
World No 1 Sinner and fourth-round opponent Holger Rune were visibly struggling with the humid conditions on Rod Laver Arena during a match disrupted by medical timeouts for both players on Monday.
The Italian was visibly shaking in the second and third sets as he sat slumped with ice towels around his neck during the changeovers.
“I knew in my mind even before the match I would struggle today,” said Sinner, who eventually came out on top 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against the 13th seed.
“This morning was a very strange morning because I didn't even warm up today, trying to go on court as fit as I could.
“Game-wise I played well, I served well. The time off the court, me and the doctor, we talked a little bit, it helped me today.”
He refused to say exactly what was wrong with him, only that he was “not there health-wise” and had been “a bit dizzy at times”.
There was also a 21-minute delay when Sinner smashed the metal brace that secures the net to the floor with a thunderous serve early in set four.
That time back in the air-conditioned locker room came as a welcome relief for the 23-year-old, who beat Daniil Medvedev in last year's final to win his first Grand Slam title.
“I was lucky today that … 20 minutes off court, you know, trying to get back physically, putting some cold water in my head, it was very helpful,” Sinner added. “It was big, big luck to me today.”
Rune, who played five, four and five sets in his first three matches, admitted he was also being stretched to his limits physically in the stifling Melbourne heat.
“It was really, really tough,” said Rune, who also needed medical treatment on a sore knee. “I mean, I was almost dying, also. It was really a struggle. I could see he was also struggling.”
Next up for Sinner – who is now on a 17-match win streak – will face Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur after the home hope defeated Alex Michelsen 6-0, 7-6, 6-3.
American teenage qualifier Learner Tien's fairy-tale run is over after he suffered a thigh problem in a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat to Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.
Tien, who defeated fifth seed Medvedev on his run to a Grand Slam-best fourth-round appearance, had strapping around his right thigh which clearly hampered his efforts.
“I'm so sad that he had a problem,” said the 29-year-old Sonego, who has never previously gone so deep at a Grand Slam.
“It's not the right way to win, but I'm so happy to reach the quarter-finals.”
The Italian will now take on American 21st seed Ben Shelton whose match against Gael Monfils ended with the French veteran retiring in the fourth set.
The 22-year-old won 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 with each of the first three sets lasting almost an hour.
“At 38 I hope I'm still walking without crutches,” Shelton said of Monfils. “To push me the way he did the way he did today and entertain everyone is so impressive.”
In the women's draw, world No 2 Iga Swiatek produced another ruthless display at Melbourne Park.
After thrashing former US Open winner Emma Raducanu in the previous round, Swiatek made short work of lucky loser Eva Lys, beating the German 6-0, 6-1 in 59 minutes.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has yet to drop a set and the first-set bagel was her third of the tournament.
“Usually I don't feel comfortable with my game at the Australian Open, but this year it is a bit better,” said the Pole, who has never been beyond the semi-finals Down Under.
“I'm just enjoying being on the court and off the court as well because I definitely have a good time here. Hopefully it's going to last even longer.”
Swiatek will now face American eighth seed Emma Navarro - who defeated Russia's Daria Kastakina 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 - in the quarter-finals.
American Madison Keys upset sixth seed Elena Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a roller-coaster match on Margaret Court Arena.
Rybakina seemed to be struggling with a lower back injury that had affected her in the third round and 19th-seed Keys was able to play aggressively to neutralise her big serve and take control of the rallies.
Keys will play Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-1 earlier on Monday, for a place in the last four.
Company%20profile
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat & Other Stories From the North
Edited and Introduced by Sjón and Ted Hodgkinson
Pushkin Press
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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)
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
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
