Novak Djokovic takes on Steve Darcis in the French Open second round. Michel Euler / AP Photo
Novak Djokovic takes on Steve Darcis in the French Open second round. Michel Euler / AP Photo

Novak Djokovic to go ‘shark’ hunting in bid to seal place in French Open third round



World No 1 Novak Djokovic will go ‘shark’ hunting at the French Open on Thursday as he looks to seal a place in the last 32.

Djokovic, seeking to take a step closer to a first Roland Garros title and complete the career Grand Slam, faces Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis whose nickname is ‘The Shark’.

Darcis, 32, had to qualify for the tournament but he does have Grand Slam pedigree having defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2013.

The Belgian veteran is also keen to cause a shock and dedicate victory to former coach Julien Hoferlin who died of cancer in April at the age of 49.

“I think about him every day, when I train, before playing a match,” Darcis said.

“It’s not easy not easy not having him on my side. It’s not easy not being able to send him a message the day before an important match.

“It’s tough. But whether it’s for my family, my relatives, for him, I have to do my very best. That’s what I’m doing.”

French Open Order of play: Nadal, Djokovic and Williams sisters all in action

Djokovic, a three-time runner-up in the last four years, eased through his first round with a straight sets win over Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun.

He holds a 2-0 career advantage over Darcis and when told he was to face Darcis again, he said: “I like sharks!”

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal, the fourth seed, was equally untroubled in his first round against big-serving Sam Groth, dropping just three games.

He faces Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis, the 26-year-old world No 99 who also reached the second round on debut last year.

Reigning women’s champion Serena Williams continues her campaign to win a 22nd grand slam title and equal the record set by Steffi Graf.

Williams, 34, faces world No 81 Teliana Pereira of Brazil who has never got beyond the second round of a grand slam.

Venus Williams follows her sister on Court Suzanne Lenglen against American compatriot Louisa Chirico.

The 20-year-old Chirico, ranked No 78 in the world, came through qualifying and won her first match at grand slam level by beating fellow American Lauren Davis in the opening round.

Elsewhere, the 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic faces Japan’s Kurumi Nara while former Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard of Canada tackles eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland.

Bacsinszky reached the semi-finals in Paris last year having once taken a break from the sport to work in a hotel.

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Vidaamuyarchi

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Rating: 4/5

 

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

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Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:

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UAE v IRELAND

All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi

1st ODI, Friday, January 8

2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10

3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12

4th ODI, Thursday, January 14

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Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

The biog

Name: Fareed Lafta

Age: 40

From: Baghdad, Iraq

Mission: Promote world peace

Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi

Role models: His parents 

Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule

 

  • 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
  • 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
  • 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele