PARIS // Beaten French Open finalist Lucie Safarova has backed Serena Williams to complete the calendar Grand Slam in 2015.
World No 1 Williams won her third Roland Garros title and 20th career major with a tough 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 win over the 13th seeded Czech.
Despite holding a 2-0 lead in the deciding set, the 28-year-old Czech then gave up the next six games to the rampant American.
Safarova saw enough to predict that Williams, having already secured the Australian Open in January, can go on and win Wimbledon and the US Open.
That would make her the first woman to complete the sweep since Steffi Graf in 1988.
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“She’s a great player. She has obviously the experience. She won all those grand slams already,” said the left-handed Czech.
“I think she can do it. If she’s on her best and in great shape, she’s playing the best tennis.”
Playing in her first grand slam final, Safarova had knocked out defending champion Maria Sharapova on her way to the title match.
She said that Williams showed little sign of the flu bug which had laid her low this week and with which she struggled during her three-set semi-final win over Timea Bacsinszky.
“She served amazing and was rallying very well. It may be question to her, but to me she seemed pumped and ready today.”
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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
