Paris // Six-time grand slam title champion Novak Djokovic and big-hitting giant killer Ernests Gulbis will clash for a French Open final place after their straight-sets quarter-final triumphs on Tuesday.
World No 2 Djokovic, who needs a Roland Garros title to become the eighth man to complete a career grand slam, tamed big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6, 6-4 to reach his sixth semi-final in Paris.
“It was very complicated against his serve, which is so precise and powerful, but I’m really happy,” the Serb said.
“It was difficult to return and important for me to keep concentration, but I’m delighted to be in the semi-finals.”
Djokovic, 27, made it three wins out of three against Raonic, following Rome in May and a Davis Cup semi-final in 2013.
His next opponent, Gulbis, put out Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to back up his shock defeat of Roger Federer in the fourth round.
“Gulbis is a very good player. He beat Roger and now Berdych in three sets, which is really impressive. He’s playing his best tennis, so it’s going to be an important match for me,” Djokovic said.
Gulbis, 25, the 18th-seeded Latvian who is more known for his colourful behaviour and outspoken comments off the court than his achievements on it, stormed into his first semi-final at a major.
Beating Berdych made Gulbis the second most successful match winner of 2013. He now has 32 wins, with just Rafael Nadal ahead of him on 38.
“This is very special. I am very happy to share it with you,” Gulbis said. “It was my best match of the tournament so far. Everything worked. Tomas was getting angry because I was hitting the lines all the time but, sorry, that’s part of the sport.”
Gulbis has a 1-4 record against Djokovic, with whom he once trained when they were youngsters in Munich.
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.