Serbia's world No 1 Novak Djokovic won a fifth Australian Open title Sunday, beating Britain's Andy Murray in four sets in the final.
Djokovic won 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-0 in 3hr 39min for his eighth grand slam title to stretch his formidable record on the Melbourne hardcourts to winning five from five finals in eight years.
Only Australian Roy Emerson has won more Australian Opens with six in the 1960s.
The Serb has now beaten Murray in three of his four Australian Open final losses following earlier wins in 2011 and 2013, although the Scot mastered him in his two major triumphs at the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon.
The victory means Djokovic stays at world No 1 on the next ATP rankings when they are released on Monday, with Murray moving to four from his current sixth.
Murray put Djokovic under pressure with three break points in the third game of the opening set, but the Serb fought back to hold after a 27-stroke rally and an ace.
However, the Serb struck in the next game, breaking Murray to take an early 3-1 lead.
It was hard-fought tennis but the Scot worked his way back by breaking Djokovic on his third break point in the seventh game.
Djokovic jammed the thumb of his serving hand when he slipped chasing a low volley and needed treatment at the next changeover.
It seemed to bother him briefly only and he broke the Scot a second time but was then broken as he served for the opening set, taking it to a tiebreaker.
The top seed trailed 2-4 in the tiebreaker but won five of the next six points to claim the opening set in 72 minutes.
Murray broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set but Djokovic hit back with a double break as the Scot looked in trouble with Djokovic stringing together 13 straight points.
The final was then interrupted for five minutes by political activists, unfurling a banner in support of refugees, with one of them jumping on court. Security guards ringed both players as at least four protestors were escorted out of the stadium.
The stoppage worked in Murray’s favour as he broke Djokovic’s service to level the set at 4-4.
The final went to a second tiebreak which Murray prevailed 7-4 to level the match.
Djokovic suffered an immediate let-down, dropping his opening service in the third set, but stormed back with a double break to edge in front two sets to one with the set taking 39 minutes.
Fired up, Djokovic split the final set wide open, racing through it against a spent and frustrated Murray with a triple break to surge to victory.
Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
