LONDON // Laura Robson could not contain her excitement after mounting an incredible comeback to become the first British woman to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon in 15 years.
As Robson, 19, said afterwards, she was getting her "butt kicked" in the first set of her clash against world No 71 Marina Erakovic.
She climbed off the canvas, however, coming back from a break down in the second set to record a rousing 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 win on a sun-baked Court Two.
"I was really struggling to return her serve," said Robson. "She is playing really well and I just thought I would try as best as I can, work as hard as possible, and just stick with it until she started to get nervous, which is what happened."
The last time that a Briton made it through to the fourth round was when Sam Smith enjoyed a memorable run to the second week in 1998.
Robson has the potential to go even further as her next opponent will be Alison Riske or Kaia Kanepi. Robson's stock is already high after she beat 10th seed Maria Kirilenko on Tuesday.
She will now definitely enter the WTA top 30 after her performance this week. The last time that a British woman reached that high was in 1987.
"It's only my second time in the fourth round of a slam and I am pretty happy with how I closed things out today," she said
Former champion Petra Kvitova showed impressive character to avoid becoming the latest high-profile, first-week casualty.
The eighth seed came through 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 against Ekaterina Makarova.
Bad light and rain had halted them on Friday, and their third-round clash resumed on Court One yesterday with world No 27 Makarova a break up at 2-1 in the decider, but it was a challenge Kvitova tackled eagerly.
She dug deep to take a topsy-turvy third set to secure a last-16 clash with Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.
American 17th seed Sloane Stephens came through against Czech Republic qualifier Petra Cetkovska to win 7-6, 0-6, 6-4.
The American will face Monica Puig in the fourth round, after the Puerto Rican recovered from a set and a break down against Czech Eva Birnerova to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska beat American teenager Madison Keys 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to set up a fourth-round clash with Tsvetana Pironkova, who overcame Petra Martic.
Italy's Roberta Vinci beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-4.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic stormed into the fourth round with a demolition job of 28th seed Jeremy Chardy.
The Serb needed just over 80 minutes to dispense with the Frenchman, who struggled throughout to get points on the Djokovic serve.
After his victory, Djokovic told the BBC: “Everything went my way.
“I haven’t lost many points on my service game, I enjoyed it very much and it’s very enjoyable when everything works well.
“Not many times it happens on the grass against a big server you get to return this well on what is the fastest surface.”
Djokovic will now play Tommy Haas in the fourth round after the German beat Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson would be forgiven for never wanting to set eyes on Tomas Berdych again after the Czech beat him for a ninth successive time at Wimbledon.
The seventh seed won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a last-16 clash against Bernard Tomic.
Berdych and Anderson had played each other eight times in the last 18 months, with the former Wimbledon finalist winning on every occasion.
The 27th seeded Anderson was cut down to size by the heavy-hitting Czech who overcame losing the first set to scrap his way into the lead.
Juan Martin del Potro says he needs to consult a doctor after injuring his left knee and ankle during his third-round victory.
Del Potro overcame a late fall to beat Grega Zemlja of Slovenia 7-5, 7-6, 6-0 yesterday, but said he twisted his ankle and hyperextended his knee.
The eighth-seeded Argentine said: “It was really painful. I was a little scared at that moment ... Now I start to feel something in my knee and my ankle, as well. I will check with the doctor very soon.”
Britain’s Andy Murray will play Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth round.
Youzhny, seeded 20th, beat Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a meeting against the world No 2.
David Ferrer had his work cut out with a crowd-pleasing performance from Alexandr Dolgopolov but the Spaniard whose seeding caused such a pre-tournament fuss tonight continued his Wimbledon run.
Ukrainian Dolgopolov won the hearts of the Court One crowd yet Ferrer took the contest after five sets, edging it 6-7, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to earn a shot at unseeded Croatian Ivan Dodig.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
%3Cp%3E%0DIf%20Catherine%20Richards%20debuts%20for%20Wales%20in%20the%20Six%20Nations%2C%20she%20will%20be%20the%20latest%20to%20have%20made%20it%20from%20the%20UAE%20to%20the%20top%20tier%20of%20the%20international%20game%20in%20the%20oval%20ball%20codes.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeren%20Gough-Walters%20(Wales%20rugby%20league)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBorn%20in%20Dubai%2C%20raised%20in%20Sharjah%2C%20and%20once%20an%20immigration%20officer%20at%20the%20British%20Embassy%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20she%20debuted%20for%20Wales%20in%20rugby%20league%20in%202021.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESophie%20Shams%20(England%20sevens)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWith%20an%20Emirati%20father%20and%20English%20mother%2C%20Shams%20excelled%20at%20rugby%20at%20school%20in%20Dubai%2C%20and%20went%20on%20to%20represent%20England%20on%20the%20sevens%20circuit.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFiona%20Reidy%20(Ireland)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMade%20her%20Test%20rugby%20bow%20for%20Ireland%20against%20England%20in%202015%2C%20having%20played%20for%20four%20years%20in%20the%20capital%20with%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20previously.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
