Nobody who has watched Roger Federer perform with distinction on and off the tennis court over the last decade would begrudge the Swiss maestro the French Open title he desperately wants to complete his collection of the sport's four major honours.
Ten years in a row Federer has put his powerful all-court game to the test in what for him are the least favourable conditions of Roland Garros's red clay and each time the former world No 1 has departed frustrated. His last four challenges have been ended by the "King of Clay" Rafael Nadal - the last three of them in the final.
Federer arrived in the French capital to prepare for this year's tournament which begins today in buoyant mood following a rare success over Nadal on the European dirt in the final of the Madrid Open a week ago. His hopes of a 14th grand slam title to equal Pete Sampras's all-time record have been given a timely boost.
That said, the chances of Federer becoming the man to end Nadal's remarkable unbeaten run at Roland Garros remain slim. Slower courts than those in Madrid will reduce Federer's firepower and the need to take three rather than two sets off the world No 1 appears to have become a major psychological obstacle for the Swiss.
Never was that mental block better illustrated than in last year's final when Federer seemed resigned to defeat before he went on court and managed to win only four games in a disappointingly one-sided conclusion to a fortnight of jostling.
It would be better for the game, therefore, for somebody else to take part in what has become a modernised version of the old "challenge round" against the imperious Nadal - and that somebody could well be Novak Djokovic.
The confident (some would say cocky) young Serbian has already shown that he has what it takes to triumph on the big stages when capturing the Australian Open last year.
He held three match points against Nadal in a captivating semi-final in Madrid before the sheer courage of the world No 1 prevailed in a four-hour struggle which left Nadal powerless to take on Federer in a misleading final 24 hours later.
Djokovic's outstanding display in losing to Nadal was the most telling form guide to the French Open of the month-long build-up and Federer was wise enough to recognise that after he had capitalised on Nadal's weariness.
To earn another crack at Nadal on June 7, Djokovic may have to deal with Federer in the semi-finals but there are a cluster of dangerous Frenchmen who will have something to say about that in their attempts to cause major damage in the bottom half of the draw.
Gael Monfils, providing a nagging knee injury does not hamper his customary swift movement, and Paul Henri Mathieu, both have the clay court skills to derail Federer in front of their home crowd, while the brilliant but enigmatic Jo Wilfried Tsonga is a heavyweight obstacle lying in the path of Djokovic.
The biggest shock in the top half of the draw may be the failure of Britain's Andy Murray to justify his career-high ranking of three in earning a semi-final date with Nadal.
Murray could have been given an easier start than the awkward Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, who has drifted down the rankings of late but remains one of the most dangerous floaters in clay court draws.
Assuming Murray copes with that serious opening threat, the Spaniard Albert Montanes is a likely third round rival with world No 7 Gilles Simon, not the most adept Frenchman at rising to the demands of a home crowd, a projected quarter-final opponent.
However well Murray performs, the Scotsman is likely to suffer the same fate as every other player who has tackled Nadal here and bow out in the semi-finals - one round before what is expected to be a gallant Djokovic challenge comes up fractionally short.
wjohnson@thenational.ae
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
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.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
NEW%20PRICING%20SCHEME%20FOR%20APPLE%20MUSIC%2C%20TV%2B%20AND%20ONE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20Music%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410.99%20(from%20%249.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.99%20(from%20%2414.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndividual%20annual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24109%20(from%20%2499)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20TV%2B%3Cbr%3EMonthly%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%246.99%20(from%20%244.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAnnual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2469%20(from%20%2449.99)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20One%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.95%20(from%20%2414.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2422.95%20(from%20%2419.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20premier%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2432.95%20(from%20%2429.95)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.