Rafael Nadal again had to brave stormy weather on his way to victory at the Australian Open yesterday, but the Spaniard is well aware that the hard times are only just beginning if he is to successfully defend his title.
The No 2 seed dropped a set for a second successive match as he navigated his way past the big serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in their fourth-round tie, despite his opponent firing down 28 aces.
Nadal showed occasional flashes of his brilliant best as he overcame losing the second set to Karlovic to come through the encounter, but with the fifth seed Andy Murray awaiting him in the quarter-final tomorrow, he knows he has to raise his game.
"The important thing: I am in the quarter-finals, losing only two sets," he said. "I think I am OK. I have to play better in the next match if I really want to have a chance to win. That's what I'm going to try. He [Murray] is one of the more difficult players to play against. I have to play my best tennis.
"He's one of the most talented players on tour. He can play offensive, he can play defensive. He can do a lot of things during the same match. That's the most important thing."
A lone break in the ninth game of the first set was enough to give Nadal the opening set, but he was unable to impose his game on his unseeded rival due to the sheer ferocity of the serves coming from Karlovic's racket.
A scrappy game from Nadal in the 10th game of the second set ended with a shot from the baseline going long to hand Karlovic a break and the set to level things up.
But if the blow of losing the set bothered Nadal, he did not let it show as he hit back, breaking in the third game of the next set, which was enough to go 2-1 up.
A double fault in the third game of the fourth set handed Nadal another break and the Spaniard's powerful ground strokes saw him past the winning post, and he acknowledged that the high number of unreturnable serves from Karlovic had made it difficult for him to find his best form.
"Today, the match is probably one of the most difficult matches to play well because it is without rhythm all the time," he said. "So the victory is the only thing in this kind of match. I think I returned aggressive. When I had a chance to touch the ball, I did well."
A disappointed Karlovic said: "I had chances which I didn't take, and that's it."
Murray's path to the last eight was far more comfortable as he proved too classy for John Isner in their match.
Isner, the tallest player on the ATP Tour at 6ft 9ins, had a set point in the first set which he failed to take. Murray subsequently won the tiebreak and then never looked back as he cruised through the next two sets to triumph 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-2.
The Briton made only eight unforced errors in the entire match and said afterwards he was delighted with his display.
"I thought it was a really good performance," he said. "I had, out of those unforced errors, probably three of them were in the 6‑5 game in the first set, and a couple early in one of my service games in maybe the second set.
"So it was really good. I focused well, concentrated hard, and served well. Everything was good."
Murray has yet to lose a set in this year's championship and said he believes he is improving with age.
"Sometimes in the past, when I was sort of 18, 19, you know, I might have been getting worked up or not thinking about what I should be doing on the next point and worrying about what happened in the past. Now, it's just focus on each point. So you make the right decision more often. I guess it's a maturity thing. You learn to deal with the tight situations better and your focus holds for longer."
The last time Murray played Nadal in a grand slam was at the US Open in 2008. The Briton won that match, and he is confident that he can again give his Spanish rival a headache or two when they face each other for a spot in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
"Each time obviously it's a bit different [playing Nadal] and I have played some really good matches on hard courts with him," he said. "I think I've got some tactics that work well against him."
* With agencies
Coverage of the day's play on Abu Dhabi Sports 2 from 4pm
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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.
Company%20Profile
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The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
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.
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
The%20specs
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The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
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