Novak Djokovic has set his sights on finally ending his long wait to be crowned French Open champion next year and complete a career grand slam.
Djokovic brought the curtain down on his 2014 campaign in unexpected fashion by playing a hastily-arranged exhibition match against Andy Murray at London’s O2 Arena after Roger Federer pulled out of their scheduled ATP Tour Final just before the match was due to start on Sunday.
Federer’s shock withdrawal meant Djokovic was crowned Tour Finals champion for the third successive year, ending a triumphant year that included his second Wimbledon title and the year-end world No 1 ranking for the third time in four years.
But it was hardly a day to remember for the 27-year-old, who admitted to feeling awkward when he was presented with the trophy in front of a 17,500-capacity crowd who had just seen their hopes of a fascinating duel between the world’s top two unexpectedly dashed.
Instead of dwelling on one of the stranger days of his career, Djokovic was quick to turn his thoughts to 2015, when he hopes to at last end nine-time champion Rafael Nadal’s reign as the king of Paris clay.
The French Open is the only major title missing from Djokovic’s grand slam collection having lost the 2012 and 2014 finals to Nadal.
“Roland Garros is and was and still will be one of the biggest goals that I have. I’ll keep on trying, of course,” said Djokovic, who has four Australian Open crowns, two at Wimbledon and a single US Open triumph.
“Any grand slam win is another page in the history books of this sport.
“Right now I’m at my pinnacle. I feel physically very fit. I’m very motivated to keep on playing on a very high level.
“So as long as it’s like that, I’m going to try to use these years in front of me to fight for No 1 of the world and to fight for the biggest titles in the sport.”
Before Djokovic turns his attention to the first major of 2015 – the Australian Open in January – he will gladly resume his new role as a father to baby Stefan, who was born only a few weeks ago.
Djokovic is relishing the chance to help wife Jelena with baby duties for a while, even if the sleepless nights so familiar to new parents are less welcome.
“I’m very hands-on. My wife told me what’s expected of me,” Djokovic said.
“I’ve seen it before I came to Paris and London. I’m glad during the stay in London for these 10 days I got a lot of sleep. That will not be the case from now.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s the most beautiful feeling that I experience and my wife have experience as well holding a baby in your arms.
“That will be a lot of that without the racquet in next couple weeks for me.”
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EA Sports FC 24
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, PC and Xbox One
Rating: 3.5/5
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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On sale: September
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
SUZUME
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Stars: Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura, Eri Fukatsu
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90+6'
Manchester City 0