Quick, take a guess as to who had more grasscourt singles victories in the Wimbledon warm-up tournaments the past couple weeks: Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov – or Borna Coric, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alexander Zverev?
Three of the ATP’s bright 25-and-under stars, all ranked in the top 11 in the world and each of whom has been to a grand slam semi-final. Or the three highest-ranking teenagers on the tour, ranging from 39 (Coric) to 76 (Zverev)?
It’s actually kind of a trick question. The answer is the trios are even – six grasscourt wins in 2015 apiece.
The framing there isn’t to suggest the teenagers are on the cusp of grand slam glory and global stardom. They may very well be destined for the peak of their profession, but right now there’s no real reason to think they have a run at the All England Club beyond the second or third round in store.
The problem, for the older, more accomplished trio, is there really isn’t much reason right now to expect great things for them at Wimbledon either.
If 2014 was a breakout introduction of sorts for Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov, 2015 can be considered something like a sophomore slump.
Only the Japanese 25-year-old has been able to even so much as win a title this season, triumphing at Barcelona and Memphis. Often times again, frailty has held him back, with various strains here and there – like a calf injury that forced him to retire during the Halle semi-final against Andreas Seppi last week.
If one makes allowance for the uncontrollable nature of injury, Nishikori could perhaps count as a qualified success this year. He at least reached the quarter-finals at the Australian and French Opens, largely solidifying his reputation for being as much a threat as anyone outside the Big 4.
At the opposite end, Dimitrov has seemingly regressed. The Bulgarian, a 2014 Wimbledon semi-finalist, was a first round casualty at Roland Garros and made a fourth round exit at Melbourne Park. He has yet to win a title this year – in fact he has yet to even threaten to win one, reaching only two semi-finals at 250 Series events in Istanbul and Brisbane.
His ineffectual turn could possibly be chalked up to a lack of focus – at his best Dimitrov is an artist on the court, playing shots behind the back, through his legs and however else he pleases. But he can fall too much in love with his own skill, and at times his play will turn sloppy, attention lapsed as he looks bored with the routine process of winning points in tour matches.
Which leaves the Canadian Raonic. Not especially encouraging, not especially disappointing – just ... kind of there.
His talent might be the most tantalising of tennis’s young headliners. His serve is electric, with the kind of velocity and movement to, on its own, place him rightfully among the world’s top ten players.
His forehand can produce credibly audacious shots, the kind worthy of a grand slam champion. He’s quick enough at 24 to play defensively if he has to. He has finesse to his game, but only in spurts and a backhand that could stand to improve, but the makings of an elite player are there.
So why, a year after his own trip to the Wimbledon semis, is Raonic seemingly so much, well, the same? He’s had a consistent enough year that, on its surface, would appear reasonable enough: 23-10 record, quarter-final march at the Australian Open, last eight appearances at seven of the nine tournaments he’s entered.
But nothing stands out in his 2015 record that would be fitting of his talent blossoming into something bigger than just talent. Not even a lone singles title.
He’s just 3-8 against top 15 opponents. He’s won only three of 13 sets in his matches against Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. His lone final appearance, a loss to Federer, was back in January.
In the sudden age of Stan Wawrinka, late-blooming two-time grand slam champion, there’s no reason to really panic that Raonic or either of his young, highly-ranked comrades isn’t yet taking the next step, but it’s still curious.
Absent Nishikori’s failing body or Dimitrov’s failing concentration, Raonic more than the other two gives the appearance of a player plateauing. Maybe there is no extra level in him to reach, maybe he is in fact maxing out his talent as is.
Plenty of other laudable players – Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer – have had excellent careers without a grand slam trophy to their name.
But for Raonic – or Nishikori or Dimitrov, for that matter – it feels like more is still there for the taking. Hopefully, for tennis fans eager to see a “next generation” assert some authority, the All England Club, site of such success just a year ago, will give us a glimpse of that something more.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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.
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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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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