In this era of the Big Four, the merciless patricians of men’s tennis, the US Open has been the kindest of the grand slams towards the plebeians of the tour.
Back in 2009, in the heydays of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, New York, the city of opportunities, saw a gangling 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro fight back from a set down to beat Federer, the French Open and Wimbledon champion that year, and become the first grand slam winner not answering to the name of Federer, Nadal or Novak Djokovic since Marat Safin's triumph at the 2005 Australian Open.
Those three – Federer (11), Nadal (6) and Djokovic (1) – had won 18 majors on the trot before Del Potro’s crazy win at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium brought that amazing streak to end.
See also:
• Cincinnati Masters: Marin Cilic ends Andy Murray's 22-match win streak
• Ahmed Rizvi: Andy Murray's Olympic gold medal win proves Scotsman using his brains to succeed
• Graham Caygill: Roger Federer's injury absence a clear sign of decline but his resilience is a lesson to next generation
Then in 2014, a year that started with Stan Wawrinka’s stunning win over Nadal in the Australian Open final, Marin Cilic drubbed Kei Nishikori in the US Open final to deal a further blow to the reign of the Big Four.
That 2014 US Open was the first grand slam final since the 2005 Australian Open, where Safin had defeated Lleyton Hewitt, not to feature a member of the Big Four. For 38 majors in succession, at least one of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Andy Murray had reached the final of a major. In 24 of those, both finalists were members of the illustrious club.
The 2014 US Open, then, can be deemed as the turning point in this struggle against the domination of the Big Four, and New York is the capital of what we could possibly describe as the “99 per cent” movement of men’s tennis, because two of the four grand slam triumphs not involving any of that elite group since the 2005 Australian Open have happened there. Wawrinka has accounted for the other two: the 2014 Australian Open and the 2015 French Open.
The Big Four are still here, of course, but are not the collective force they once were. Injuries have jinxed Nadal in recent years. Federer, meanwhile, is dealing with possibly his greatest adversaries – the growing number of candles on his birthday cake and, for the first time in his career, injuries, which have forced a premature end to the Swiss’s 2016 campaign.
Djokovic, the undisputed world No 1, has looked fallible since completing an emotional career grand slam at the French Open in June, although Murray haswon Wimbledon and the Rio Olympic gold this year.
Murray's 22-match winning streak, however, has just been brought to an end by the 2014 US Open champion Cilic in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
The Croatian, who parted ways with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic following his Wimbledon quarter-final exit, replacing him with Murray’s former coach Jonas Bjorkman, looked in absolute control as he cruised to his first ATP Masters 1,000 title in straight sets, becoming, alongside Wawrinka, only the second active player outside the Big Four to win both a grand slam and a Masters 1,000 title.
“I felt that this week I played really great tennis,” said Cilic, whose Cincinnati triumph has brought a streak of 18 straight Masters titles for Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray to an end. “That’s obviously a big sign for me for moving forward.”
Djokovic was not present in Cincinnati, and both Murray and Nadal were probably exhausted following the Olympic Games, but Cilic’s triumph should add some spice to the US Open starting on Monday.
The presence of world No 142 Del Potro adds to the intrigue too. The Argentine, who along with Cilic is the tallest grand slam champion in history at 1.98 metres, has been given a wild card following his heroics in Rio, where he was responsible for Djokovic’s teary first-round exit and Nadal’s semi-final loss.
Notmany were thrilled with that decision. As Steve Johnson, the No 1-ranked US player pointed out, the decision to give Del Potro a wild card could leave “a lot of American fans upset” if he beats one of the top home players in the opening round.
The ceremony for the men’s draw then promises much excitement. So buckle up. Allured by the spirit of New York, Cilic and Del Potro, both giant-killing former champions, could really liven up the US Open.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
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 specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
The%20specs
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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.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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