NEW YORK // Novak Djokovic better have his heavy armour on when he steps out to stop four-time US Open champion Roger Federer from reaching his fifth successive final at Flushing Meadows today.
The Serbian is likely to be greeted by 23,000 hostile fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium after his astonishing outburst against the American Andy Roddick following their quarter-final tussle.
Irked by Roddick's suggestion that he was a hypochondriac, Djokovic told the booing crowd on Thursday: "Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries in the last match so obviously I don't, right? That's not nice anyhow to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I am faking it."
Less than an hour later, and realising that he had overreacted, Djokovic tried to do some damage control.
"He made a joke and it was a misunderstanding, so I don't blame it on him. If I exaggerated on the court today and I made maybe a mistake [by] saying that in front of 20,000 people, I apologise. This was just impulsive.
"So I just hope people understand."
Whether the fans will accept his apology remains to be seen but with Federer being a firm crowd favourite, the Serb is unlikely to be Mr Popular today.
In the other semi-final, Rafael Nadal, who deposed Federer as the world number one last month, will take on the Briton Andy Murray.
In a year when Federer's aura of invincibility has been pricked, punctured and ripped apart, the US Open remains his final chance to rescue what has been a dreadful season by his own immaculate standards.
The winner of 12 grand slam titles at the start of 2008, he relinquished his Australian Open crown to Djokovic. He then received a mauling by Nadal in the French Open final but the most painful defeat was undoubtedly at the All England Club.
Going for a record-equalling sixth successive men's title, he ended up playing the supporting act to his bogeyman Nadal in what is considered by many as the greatest tennis match ever.
While New York fans are desperate to see another final showdown between the Swiss master and the Spanish muscleman, Djokovic hopes he can turn out to be the joker in the pack.
The 21-year-old snapped Federer's record streak of reaching 10 successive major finals in January at Melbourne Park, and despite his trials and tribulations on court and his losing 6-2 record against the Swiss, he feels he could repeat the feat.
"That (win in Melbourne) was one of my best matches. Hopefully I can do the same. I just need to be myself and need to be aggressive," said Djokovic, who finished as runner-up at the US Open last year.
With a tropical storm forecast to wash out today's programme, Djokovic also felt that could help his cause in recovering from his exhausting run. In the past six days he has been engaged on court for almost 10 hours.
"Physically I've been struggling... so any extra day of relaxation and just recovery would be good for me," he said.
Federer was banking to capitalise on his Open experience.
"He's been very consistent with his young age... (but) he's never won the US Open, so I have that over him," he said.
Nadal and Murray are in unfamiliar territory since both have reached the last four in New York for the first time.
In Murray's case, it is his first grand slam semi-final and if he wants to become the first Briton to reach the final since Greg Rusedski in 1997, he will have to overcome a 5-0 losing record against the irrepressible Spaniard.
"The one thing that I need to improve is to return better," acknowledged the 21-year-old Scot.
"The first couple of times I played him I returned very well. The last two or three matches I didn't return well at all. That's the only thing that I need to do."
Murray will probably discover that what looks simple on paper may be more difficult when he faces Nadal across the net.
In a season when Nadal finally spread his tentacles outside Roland Garros, by grabbing his first Wimbledon title and an Olympic gold, the US Open title is now his next target.
Seeded number one at a slam for the first time, he would like nothing better than fulfilling his billing and Murray will have to play the match of his life if he is to hand the Spaniard only his third defeat in his last 57 matches.
"My goal is find my best feeling and my best performance (then I will have) all the chance for winning," he said.
*Reuters
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SPECS
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Racecard:
2.30pm: Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoun Emirates Breeders Society Challenge; Conditions (PA); Dh40,000; 1,600m
3pm: Handicap; Dh80,000; 1,800m
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Mile Prep Rated Conditions; Dh110,000; 1,600m
4pm: Handicap; Dh95,000; 1,950m
4.30pm: Maiden; Dh65,000; 1,400m
5pm: Handicap; Dh85,000; 1,200m
Company%20Profile
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Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Honeymoonish
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The%20Specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Company%20Profile
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Company%20Profile
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Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
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.
More from UAE Human Development Report:
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MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets