The women's Australian Open final will have a lot to live up to if it is to match the dramatic possible dress rehearsal staged yesterday by Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, the two brilliant Belgians who left a massive void in the game during the time they spent together in premature retirement.
Clijsters, who began her comeback five months before Henin launched her own a week ago, just had the edge in a thrilling resumption of a fascinating rivalry to prevail 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 in a dramatic showdown that had almost everything.
Brisbane did not know what had hit it. A second-tier venue shunned by the top-ranked women on their way to Melbourne - next week's Sydney tournament has attracted all but Venus Williams from the world's top 10 - the packed Pat Rafter arena found itself hosting two former No 1s competing for a comparatively paltry first prize of Aus$37,000 (Dh125,000).
The destiny of that small but significant cheque was in the balance for almost the entire contest. Firstly Clijsters took command and looked a sure-fire champion; then it was Henin's turn to hold what looked an unbreakable grip on what would have been a 42nd career title.
Neither player could press home their dominant situations and it was no surprise when the 2hr 23min contest needed to be decided by a final-set tie-break.
Even then it had to be settled twice because Clijsters, arms aloft in a mixture of elation and relief, was initially denied her moment of glory by the most outrageous of line calls on the second of her four match points. Even Hawk-Eye was not required to confirm that Clijsters had hit the cleanest of winners and that the sideline judge had made the most horrendous of errors.
Somehow Clijsters composed herself and, after seeing a further match point slip away, she summoned up the strength to accept her fourth, presented to her by Henin's 11th double fault.
That desperately tight verdict left Henin lamenting her own failure to accept the two match points that came her way in the 10th game of the final set.
"What a match," gasped an exhausted Clijsters as she celebrated her 36th singles title. "We've set the bar pretty high now for the rest of the season," added Clijsters, who earned a prolonged standing ovation when it was announced that she donated her prize money to the local children's hospital.
Henin told the crowd at the presentation ceremony to bear with her as she had forgotten how to make a speech in the time that she has been absent from a sport she left when sitting unrivalled at the top of the rankings in May 2008.
She made a good effort though to find the words to describe her disappointment at failing so narrowly to make a triumphant return to competitive action which will resume when she takes another wild card place among the high class Sydney line-up.
There is every chance that she will be able to assess the level of her form and fitness against world No 1 Serena Williams in Sydney. The American, holder of the Australian Open, has a bye into the second round of that Medibank International tournament where she will face the winner of the first-round encounter between Henin and Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Both Henin and Clijsters will then be at the mercy of the draw for the Australian Open. There is a possibility, tantalising but unwelcome of them both coming out in the same section of the draw with one of the Williams sisters who are their main rivals for the Melbourne honour.
Let us hope instead for the two re-emerging Belgians and the two powerful Americans to occupy separate quarters. If so, a vintage Open is in the offing.
@Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kinetic 7
Started: 2018
Founder: Rick Parish
Based: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Clean cooking
Funding: $10 million
Investors: Self-funded
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 299hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 420Nm at 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 12.4L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh157,395 (XLS); Dh199,395 (Limited)
TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
A QUIET PLACE
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
The Afghan connection
The influx of talented young Afghan players to UAE cricket could have a big impact on the fortunes of both countries. Here are three Emirates-based players to watch out for.
Hassan Khan Eisakhil
Mohammed Nabi is still proving his worth at the top level but there is another reason he is raging against the idea of retirement. If the allrounder hangs on a little bit longer, he might be able to play in the same team as his son, Hassan Khan. The family live in Ajman and train in Sharjah.
Masood Gurbaz
The opening batter, who trains at Sharjah Cricket Academy, is another player who is a part of a famous family. His brother, Rahmanullah, was an IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders, and opens the batting with distinction for Afghanistan.
Omid Rahman
The fast bowler became a pioneer earlier this year when he became the first Afghan to represent the UAE. He showed great promise in doing so, too, playing a key role in the senior team’s qualification for the Asia Cup in Muscat recently.
Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
Kill
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Starring: Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Raghav Juyal
Rating: 4.5/5