The boxing promoter Don King, centre, has been roped in to promote the slug-fest of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the US Open.
The boxing promoter Don King, centre, has been roped in to promote the slug-fest of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the US Open.

The Grapple in the Apple



American marketing men, never slow to exercise a touch of hyperbole, have used the talents of the famous boxing promoter Don King to label the 128th US Open championship, which begin today, as the "Grapple in the Apple". The "Rumble in the Jungle" and the "Thrilla in Manila", in which Muhammad Ali overcame George Foreman and Joe Frazier in two wonderful world heavyweight battles, were staged by King in the 1970s.

However, there is no guarantee that the two latest prize fighters will even be stepping into the ring together at the Flushing Meadows on Sept 7. In one corner of this captivating showdown is Rafael Nadal, the new world No 1 and the newly crowned Olympic champion, who has been in devastating form. His intended "challenger" is the defending champion and four-time US winner, Roger Federer. The Swiss maestro who, until this year, was the imperious ruler of the tennis world and stood head and shoulders above those aspiring to knock him off his perch.

Now Federer is at the crossroads of a career which saw him top the rankings for 237 weeks before Nadal's long wait to overtake him finally ended this month. Federer's lack of success in any of the major events of 2008 - he has won only two titles in the comparatively minor events at Estoril and Halle, unlike his usual haul of grand slam honours - has enabled Nadal to bridge the rankings gap much sooner than envisaged.

Apart from Roland Garros, the Swiss has also failed to respond to the threat to his supremacy by losing his Wimbledon title to Nadal in an epic final in July. As Nadal has been endorsing the back-to-back grand slam triumphs with two more titles, Federer has suffered embarrassingly early defeats in the recent Masters Series events in Toronto and Cincinnati and was a surprise loser to the American James Blake in the quarter-finals of the Olympics.

The Swiss arrives in New York to occupy an unaccustomed position at the bottom of the draw knowing that the two men he defeated in the last two finals here - the home favourite Andy Roddick and the brilliant young Serbian Novak Djokovic - are blocking his path to the intended re-match with Nadal. Federer maintains, however, that the pressure under which he played as numero uno for the last four years, will now be switched to the broad shoulders of Nadal, who has beaten him in the last four finals.

The Spaniard, who has been seeded second at the last 10 grand slams, has the seventh-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian in his half and is likely to face either Spain's David Ferrer or Britain's Andy Murray in the semi-finals. Murray, who has risen to a career high sixth spot in the world after winning the recent Cincinnati Masters, will not be daunted to face Nadal for his first grand slam final despite having lost to him at Wimbledon and Toronto.

The US Open is Murray's favourite grand slam and if he reproduces the kind of performances he has displayed so far on the North American hardcourt circuit, then the "Grapple in the Apple" may yet have a Scotland-Serbia flavour rather than its intended Spanish-Swiss mix. wjohnson@thenational.ae

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
MATCH INFO

Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Messi at the Copa America

2007 – lost 3-0 to Brazil in the final

2011 – lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals

2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final

2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

'The%20Alchemist's%20Euphoria'
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ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

HOW TO WATCH

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

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Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

About Housecall

Date started: July 2020

Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech

# of staff: 10

Funding to date: Self-funded