DUBAI // Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer remain on course for a showdown in a semi-final of the Dubai Duty Free Championships, with both making it to the quarter-finals last night, though in contrasting fashion.
Djokovic, the defending champion and a four-time winner, brushed aside Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut 6-1, 6-3 in 57 minutes.
Five-time champion Federer, however, had to labour for his 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3 win over the battling Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.
Federer’s next opponent will also be a Czech – Lukas Rosol, who knocked out No 8 seed Dmitry Tursunov yesterday with a 6-4, 7-6 win – while No 1 seed Djokovic will meet two-time finalist Mikhail Youzhny for a place in the last four.
Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead against Bautista-Agut, who had knocked Juan Martin Del Potro out of the Australian Open last month, and closed the first in only 23 minutes before cruising through the second as well, hitting 22 winners in the match to the Spaniard’s three.
“The positive thing is I feel my game is improving with every match,” said Djokovic, who had taken a break after his defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and returned to action only this week.
Federer also made a good start against a player he has beaten in 12 of 14 matches, but Stepanek fought back to take the second.
This was the first set the 35 year old had won against Federer since beating him at the Rome Masters in 2008. The Swiss had won eight of their duels since.
Stepanek then took a 2-0 lead in the third set before Federer turned it around with five games on the trot. Serving for the match, the Swiss dropped his serve for the fourth time in the match, but got the job done in the next game.
“It was a tough match because I was broken in all three sets in the first game,” Federer said. “Radek did a good job of putting the pressure on me and mixing it up. From that standpoint, it was a really difficult match and I’m very pleased to come through.”
The No 4 seed expects another tough game against Rosol, who knocked Rafael Nadal out at Wimbledon in 2012.
“Heavy hitting, big serving, taking huge cuts at the ball from the baseline on my serve,” Federer said. “That’s kind of what I see coming my way.
“I really remember his match vividly when he played Nadal at Wimbledon. I was watching it, like, I just couldn’t believe it, how he was serving at the end and how he was just running around. That’s kind of what I remember.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
