Each day over three weeks, The National counts down the most memorable moments in UAE sports history.
Andy Murray has forged a reputation for winning tennis matches the hard way.
The Scot's first Grand Slam title was a case in point: leading Novak Djokovic by two sets in the 2012 US Open final, Murray proceeded to lose the next two before somehow regrouping to clinch the fifth and the trophy.
Four-and-a-half years later, Murray was at it again, and while the stakes may have been lower, the drama was just as palpable.
It was the quarter-finals of the 2017 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Murray, then the world No 1, was expected to deliver a routine win against the experienced German Philipp Kohlschreiber, whom he had beaten four times in a row.
Murray may have won, but routine it was not.
After losing the first set in a tie-break, the second set needed to be decided the same way. What unfolded would be the most remarkable spell of competitive tennis ever seen at the tournament.
Both players produced moments of brilliance and bewildering misses as Murray saved seven match points, including the first with an outrageous drop shot when trailing 8-9.
“That was probably the worst decision I made in the whole match," Murray said. "Look, it paid off, but if I was coaching someone, I certainly wouldn't tell them to try a shot like that.”
More than half an hour of unbearable tension later, Murray finally converted his eighth set point when Kohlschreiber sent a forehand long. At 20-18, it equalled the record for longest tie-break. The entire set lasted an incredible 84 minutes.
After squandering so many chances to win the match, the wind went out of Kohlschreiber's sails and Murray cruised through the deciding set 6-1.
“It's obviously a special match to win because of how it went,” Murray said. “I'll probably never play another tie-break like that again. I have been playing on the tour for 11, 12 years now, and nothing's been close to that."
The British No 1 was untroubled for the rest of the tournament, beating Lucas Pouille in the semi-finals and Fernando Verdasco in the final, both in straight sets. Following his finest season in 2016, which comprised nine titles, Dubai would be Murray's only trophy in 2017 as the hip injury that would threaten his career began to take hold.
“Of course losing is always disappointing, but I'm not sad,” Kohlschreiber said. “I think I played great tennis, one of my best matches. You can be thinking about one or two shots, but it was just a great match. It’s well-deserved, he’s a great fighter, he never gives up."
No, he doesn't.
You may remember …
Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
